Big days in average conditions - they have to happen
Training is something you must enjoy. Although some people see it as a necessary evil, it just depends how you go about it. I’ve managed to create a relatively agreeable lifestyle in the past few years, based around training in amazing places, and racing in even better ones. One of the fundamentals of making this work was ‘Monster Blocks’. And to be honest, I still find they help.
The opportunity to leave for a known European training location for a week or two every of hard graft every 6 weeks has been diminished. But jetting off with a bike bag on the shoulder and a backpack on the back put you in a position to sow the seeds for your upcoming season. My mentality shifted overtime. At first, a 120 kilometre daily average was good. This quickly ended up at 160 kilometre averages, with happiness attained by a 500 kilometre three-day mini-block. That’s all well and good, until you add in early season snow levels, big mountain passes, hunger flats and hypothermia.
So what is to gain from these seemingly contraindicated training sessions? Experience and endurance, as far as I am concerned. When things get hard, I know I can endure it. I typically know how and when to eat and drink to keep myself going. And if it’s 5 or 6 degrees celsius and wet? Well, experience has shown that I do not respond well to this. It’s time to get dry and warm, or find someone to help you do so!
But beyond this, I loved it because of where it took me. My bicycle sent me far into the French Alps, the high Sierra Nevada, the Maritime Alps, the Languedoc and along the Riviera. At other times I was buckled into the Mistral, rattling along cobbles, powering up bergs. There were times for socialising, and the people I met during these Monster Blocks are still friends to this day. Locations for classic training also tend to contain good tapas bars, crepe bars, pizzerias or gelaterias. Even better, the adventure of trying the selection of local bars for your morning espresso is an endless joy.
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- Big days in average conditions – they have to happen
Monster Blocks also create suffering. That is what our sport involves, and what is required in preparation for the season ahead. Personally, I would normally incorporate some kind of ‘test piece’ day. Perhaps I would attack a renowned road climb, or aim for a good 4000m climbing day. Other options may be circumnavigation of a gorge or mountain – or merely trying to cross multiple borders (an exciting prospect for an Australian, where our individual state’s boundaries cover more land than a lot of countries). It was these days where I gained my own mental strength. Everyone else probably does something more sensible and in line with proper sports science. But I draw strength from blowing myself into pieces, and having to let my body rebuild itself. Everything else seems a bit easier afterwards.
And so, with my first race after illness ‘under the belt’, as it were, I can start good training again. Alas, I am no longer a quick jump from Europe and its classic roads. I can only pine over my collection of Michelin maps, and dream of the mega loops that can be completed. Sydney based Monster Blocks are different, but still unique. At least mates are certainly involved, as are a combination of road and mountain bikes, and a thankfully familiar mattress and pillow.
That’s not to say bigger Monster Blocks aren’t on the horizon though. Australia is home to a great Alpine region, with vast amounts of rolling terrain. There comes a time of year where it’s good to disappear for a few days, pack a backpack, your compass, a big map and forget about Wally: that’s when it’s time to go find some form.