After a successful inaugural year, the Climbing Challenge is back. Join us for this fun (and challenging) 4 day event, September 29th-October 2nd.
By Alison Powers, ALP Cycles Coaching
Climb as much as possible in 4 days, but you must do it in a timely manner. Just like with cycling fitness and bike racing, the goal is speed. This means you not only have to climb a lot, you must do it within time constraints.
The 4-day challenge is highlighted by our ALP Climbing Ride on Saturday October 1st. We start in Boulder, climb up 4-mile to Logan Mill, up and down Arkansas Mtn to Sugarloaf, up to the Peak to Peak, and finish with the shelf road to Eldora Ski area- a 26mile ride with almost 5,000ft of climbing and sections up to 17% on dirt roads. It will test everyone's fitness, bike handling, and comfort zone. i.e.- a chance to make yourself a better and more complete bike rider. Here is a link to the route on Strava-https://www.strava.com/segments/10356632?filter=overall&gender=F
The Details
If are you under the age of 30, you have 10 hrs in 4 days to climb as much as you can. If you are 31-49, you have 10.5hrs in 4 days to climb as much as you can. If you are 50+, you have 11hrs in 4 days to climb as much as you can. You must have a Garmin or an on-bike computer that has GPS and can be uploaded to Strava. You must create a basic Strava account (it's free).
You do not have to live in Colorado or come to the ALP ride on the 1st. That's the cool thing, no matter where you live you can participate (as long as there is something you can climb on your bike). You do not have to do the challenge in order to come on the Saturday ALP ride. This challenge and the ALP ride are open to everyone.
So invite your friends, family, teammates, etc. The more the merrier! This is our way of motivating people to train for a fun/hard event and giving non-ALP athletes a chance to ride with us and see how cool our little ALP community is.
Prizes
We will have prizes for the 4-day challenge. These prizes include- A free month of coaching ($225 value), a one hour skills/clinic with your ALP coach of choice ($85 value) and ALP Schwag (hats, T-shirt, Pactimo Jersey).
If you are interested in joining us and/or would like more info, please email Info@Alpcyclescoaching.com
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Alison Powers only recently retired from cycling, finishing her final season on the UnitedHealthcare Women’s Team. Her career has spanned a wide array of wins, including the 2013 USA Cycling Professional Criterium National Championship where she won in memorable fashion by soloing after an early breakaway that obliterated the pro women’s peloton. Other standout results during the 33-year-old’s 2013 season include the win at Redlands Bicycle Classic, second at the Tour of Elk Grove, third at the US National Road Championship and the US National Time Trial Championship, and stage wins at Cascade Classic, Tulsa Tough, Tour of the Gila and Redlands Bicycle Classic. Hailing from Fraser, Colorado, Powers has been racing bikes professionally for eight years and is a true athlete with her career beginning as a teenager in mountain bike racing. In her mid 20s, she added in alpine ski racing before switching over to the road. In addition to being the current Criterium National Champion, Powers has two other national championships (Time Trial, Team Pursuit) and 2 NRC titles (2009, 2013).
About ALP Cycles Coaching
ALP Cycles Coaching is located in the mountains of Colorado, and is a cycling coaching company with over 25 years of professional sports experience. ALP Cycles Coaching is unique in that we have 4 coaches, Alison Powers, Jennifer Triplett, and Patricia Schwager who each brings her own coaching strengths and personal experiences. We work together to create a training plan that works for each and every person. Visit them online at http://alpcyclescoaching.com
