I asked the wrong question I’m more curious about the amount of “smooth”. It sounds like quite a bit!
Joe
+1 on this as a guideline, but it really depends on how you respond to altitude and what percentage of ftp you can push for ~9 hours. Also, raw watts are mor important than w/kg on the flatter sections, so 3.8 might get it done if you are 190 lbs, but very doubtful if you are 140.
I’ve done the race 3x with sea level ftp at or above 4w/kg, 2 times under 9 and once over. 4w/kg and great execution will get me in under 9, but not by much. For me, a better measure of readiness (than ftp) is w/kg I can hold for 7+ hours. If I can get to around 3.1w/kg (at ~75kg), I know I have the fitness to go under 9.
Depends on your definition of smooth, but I’d say 85% if you’re looping in pavement, smooth and medium gravel.
The primary sections that are not (IMO) - Sugarloaf, Powerline, Top of Columbine. Carter to me is pretty mild and I cooked through there much faster than the prior three. There are other small sections that are rougher here and there, but short.
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Thank you Sir!
Joe
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No problem. If you are planning on running Leadville and wondering about bike setup, keep in mind though the chunkier sections are somewhat defining. Literally almost nobody runs a Gravel Bike at Leadville because of them. Lots of Hardtail (especially in pros and fast riders) and even more FS MTB. Almost all flat bars, with a couple of people like Dylan Johnson experimenting with Drop Bar MTB.
I got a new bike for this year, could have chosen anything, I’m running a 120/120 Full Suspension with Lockouts, will run 2.2" Race Kings with Vittoria Airliner Light Inserts on a lightweight 25mm internal wheelset. I will have a set of narrower bars, and bar tape at the centers.
Lots, and lots, and lots of discussion on this in the yearly Leadville threads over the last couple of years. Definitely go check them out.
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Thanks for the feedback. There seems to be a lot of different views of this. Since this is such a long event, no one obviously rides at their LTP. That said, knowing what percentage you can maintain (Intensity Factor) seems to really be what you need to know. And of course the longer you are out there, likely the lower your IF will be. A 7 hour rider can ride at a higher IF than a 12 hour rider…just like in an IM. So maybe it’s more about what is the ‘watts per kg’ you need to avg for a sub 9 hour Leadville mtb. Durability and efficiency (fueling too) I would think plays a big role.
I saw on strava a guy who had a power avg of 185 that went 8:40 and he weighed 155. That’s about 70.5 kgs/187 = 2.65 watts per kg. I know avg power vs NP is quite different too and I think in Leadville the Variability Index (VI) is quite high…1.15-1.25? So, avg power ends up looking quite low.
Thoughts?
You should really go check out the other Leadville threads where this has been discussed. Like, this one for example, and then then read through the yearly threads below. But, 2.5 w/kg NP at altitude is around 9 hr.
This year I was NP 196, Avg Power 156, VI 1.26, 80 kg +/-. Sea Level W/Kg right around 4.0 +/- depending on the day. NP W/KG for the race 2.45. Time was 9:02:28 on a pretty good day. I could have gone sub 9 if I’d had support and been in/out of the aid stations faster, or just pushed a little harder because I had a little left in the tank meaning I could have pushed harder up Powerline, although I’m splitting hairs. Had a really good day overall and was trying not to blow myself up.
Check out these threads too, there’s been a LOT of discussion on this race in the past.
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Anyone wants to check out my actual race files - here you go
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Thanks for this! Love it!
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The most impressive part of this on first glance is the diligence you had with the lap button. lol
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Ha. I had an NP / Power Pacing Plan for different segments of the course taped to my top tube. When I was getting to the start of a new segment I’d hit the lap button so I had all the data fresh on my head unit in front of me.
Here’s what stuck out to me in how I paced. 197 NP for the race. 217 NP from the beginning of the climb to carter aid in to the finish. 241w NP for the Boulevard Climb to the finish. (Adjusted FTP of 255-260 at altitude) Passed a whole bunch of people in the second half of the race and was able to push at close to 95% up the boulevard at the end after 9 hours.
So, that’s what I was referring to when I probably paced a little too conservatively. I think an ideal day for me on that course with better pacing, less time in aid stations was probably around 8:45, but hard for me to tell as I’ve never blown myself up trying in any event or ride remotely that long. And, I’m splitting hairs. I had a good day with no issues.
What do you figure you weighed on race day? And rough bike weight too if you’ve go it would be most appreciated 
Joe
Posted this above, but probably 80 kg ish . Could have been a couple pounds lighter. (175-177#)
Bike 21.5# with Sealant, Inserts, Cages, Computer Mount, but before toolkit, water, gels, USWE. Full suspension 100/100 Orbea Oiz with Front / Rear Lockouts.
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I didn’t read everyone’s comments closely but aero matters everywhere. There is not really a speed where it doesn’t count. I went an 8:55 and would not have made the big buckle without optimizing aero gains, reducing rolling resistance, and making good choices at the aid stations.
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Well, except the parts of Columbine and Powerline where you’re stuck in a conga line. 
Agree though, regardless of where it mattered on course, I did everything I could to be more aero.
Rolling resistance is a big one. Big fan of race kings here, and lower pressure with inserts.
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Hahahaha true 
With regards to rolling resistance I also ran Race Kings with inserts.
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My biggest mistakes were tire selection and pacing a little too conservatively. All you have to do is watch any footage of Keegan at Leadville riding solo and you’ll see being in a nice low position is very important on the cruisy parts. Next time I will use a 34t chainring again because it worked great, wrap my bars again for my aero position, but will use faster tires and just go a little deeper. I finished in 9:05 with 5 minutes of stopped time all day (3 quick stops for bottles and to pee). I was happy with only 5 minutes off the bike with no crew so that wasn’t something that hurt me at all.
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This totally shows that gearing is super individual. I rode a 30 x 9-52. I never felt like I spun out. The only part that I voluntarily walked was power line on the way back. I actually rode almost all of Columbine but had to dismount for others at a couple of points.
Why not a hardtail? I am in the same situation as you, but leaning towards a hardtail. Curious as to your rationale. Was your decision more for comfort, or more for speed?
Hardtail wouldn’t get much use, a FS is much more versatile and a better all around bike. If you don’t mind having a very specific bike for certain use cases, that’s fine, but if I buy more MTB right now, it’ll be an Enduro / Heavy Trail and/or a Fat Bike, not a hardtail. And, I’m also in the market for a gravel bike where I could always run a gravel fork, so hard to justify a hardtail.
I have front and rear lockouts, so can lock or unlock both front and rear (or just front), so there’s no pedaling efficiency benefit, only weight, and I was just over 21# on a FS last year, so it’s not like the weight benefit is huge.
There is a significant comfort and descending benefit on a FS(for me anyways). Comfort over 8-12 hours matters. And, I’ll be faster on Powerline, Columbine, and Sugarloaf Descents.
This wasn’t hardtail / FS, but I’m also a big fan of a dropper post.
A hardtail isn’t a bad choice, and many of the pros run them and will be faster on them, but I think for most people a FS is probably a better choice and for many will be faster.
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