6’3" and 210lbs (190cm/95kg) checking in. Last year I decided to disregard weight and go all in HV and made it to about 3.4W/kg by the end of base. The rate I was progressing felt like 3.6W/kg was very within reach, but some life stress hit and I didn’t make it through the build and just kind of hovered there all year. Covid hit in fall and my FTP took a 10% hit and I gained about 15lbs so I am trying to calorie count down to 86-90kg, or at least where I was. The power is slowly coming back and I am giving MV polarized plan a shot to work in more strength training. My target has been about 86kg and 345FTP - that feels very realistic but it might not be this year unless I ramp up volume.
Mentally I struggle when my BW gets below 90kg, so I tend to go for the watts part of the equation and let my weight be what it wants to in training. The more volume the better.
Ah Ok. I wouldn’t consider that a bench mark segment for climbing per se. The leaderboard is dominated by elite/professional riders from TT nationals and fast group ride/ training races. I’m a good climber, and not very high up that segment because I just haven’t been there on a fast day - doesn’t really indicate my climbing ability much.
A better bench mark segment that represents climbing ability in gatineau park, would be the fortune hill climb as that’s where the selections normally happen. Even that climb isn’t very steep, but still seems to bring the best climbers to the front.
Over the years, I have seen a few bigger guys do well on that loop in a race/simulation race, but it’s a small population of riders. So, yes, it’s possible, but you gotta have mega watts and some real natural ability/gifts.
I think a segment dominated by elite men is a perfect benchmark. Fortune has a stop sign which really makes it less than ideal. TT out is much more direct route to the elevation which is probably why the national TT took place there. You should certainly give it a shot when you can, ideally solo for proper benchmarking.
The course as a whole is 40/40/20 split of gravity areo and rolling resistance so it’s certainly a good place for a bigger rider.
Is your goal for road races or TT? Also, have you any real races or simulation race experience in Gatineau park? I’ve likely done a 100 or more over the years as a cat 1 and I can assure you it doesn’t favour bigger riders - some bigger riders can do well, but it’s def more the exception.
Edit: I’m in no way trying to be negative- just want to give my experience as I’ve been riding and racing in the area for decades. Many high level cyclists have come through these training races on these roads all the way up to the world tour, so I’ve seen a very large sample size.
Yeah I’ve done all the group rides and whatnot, it just isn’t steep enough for the real lightweight climbers, and generally favors the rouleur type guys who have enough punch to climb outside their means for 5-8minutes as needed.
That being said you rarely see guys firing from right at the start line in order to start putting the “sitting in” w/kg puncheur guys in difficulty so I wouldn’t be surprised to see most group rides not really playing out in favor of heavier guys.
Personally I prefer even the segment that starts way down at the park entrance coming in along the bike path up until p3, just because it gives enough of a warmup and makes attacking right from the line at p3 more nominal.