The Trans North Georgia is the race of all races. I go back and forth between underestimating it and overestimating it, but the truth is I don't know what to expect. All I know is that it will be an extremely intense multi-day adventure. But that leaves a lot of questions concerning how to prepare.
The old theory of endurance training centers on endurance riding, but a huge volume of miles doesn't really do all that much for fitness past a certain point. Miles do not equal speed. Riding regularly does more for endurance, and speed comes from a combination of strength and lactate threshold. The latter is a very interesting phenomenon. It is the fine line between aerobic and anaerobic, or sustainable effort and unsustainable effort. Essentially it's a personal speed limit.
Over the years, as I've naturally progressed through bike racing, I've become much more in-tune with my body. It's easy to find and ride at lactate threshold in an effort to raise that bar. It also means that when I eat crap, I ride like crap. Where I used to be able to eat fastfood with no noticeable consequences, now it's just a greasy gut bomb. I also avoid processed and simple sugars, especially before a ride, as they produce an insulin spike that leaves me shaky and weak feeling only a few miles in. Even simpler carbs can have this effect, like potatoes, white bread/flour, and rice. The king of carbs turns out to be oats, which led me to develop the Power Waffle: an oatmeal, whole wheat, chocolate chip waffle. No syrup required. With three levels of carb complexity, one of those will keep me fueled up for hours.
The Power Waffle is great for training days, but for the most part I maintain a largely bean-based diet. Partly because beans are cheap and partly because they're packed with complex carbs and protein. They're also one of the most satiating foods, in my opinion. I've also been increasing my leafy vegetable intake and subsequently cutting back on rice, pasta, and meat.
My other preparation efforts include testing my comfort on the bike - saddle, shoes, clothing, etc. I think I'll end up wearing baggy shorts and a long sleeve shirt for sun protection rather than the typical spandex. This means forgoing a chamois, which is probably unthinkable to some, but it's really not needed with a leather saddle. I've also practiced eating while riding. Just the other day, I was eating a cold-cut sandwich while riding to class and basically wound up with a grilled cheese by the time I was done. Too hot out!
One of the biggest challenges of the TNGA may turn out to be navigation. Looking at the cue sheets, it seems there's a turn or intersection every couple of miles. A good GPS is considered a necessity for riding this route, but I was hesitant to spend $200+ for something I may never use again. I considered looking for one to borrow when I realized I already had one: the almighty smartphone. With a large screen and excellent battery life, it can't be beat. The trick was finding the right app. After experimenting with various free apps, I decided to pony up the $20 for the GAIA app. I must say it's quite impressive: simple, easy to use, and unlimited map downloads for offline use.
As far as sleeping goes, I've basically just decided to wing it. I'll ride until I get tired, pull over, and sleep. How long I sleep really depends on how far I make it the first day. If I can make it halfway on the first day, I can get by with only a few hours. If it looks like I'll be spending two nights out there, I better get some good rest. Sleep deprivation effects really come into play on the third day.
So, while I don't really know what to expect, my goal is to be prepared for anything. I'm pretty excited about being back in the North Georgia mountains.
