Singletrack 6 Race Review and Lessons Learned
Singletrack 6 presented by Transrockies was epic in more ways than one. Here’s a compilation of lessons learned.
Singletrack 6 Preview
To help get you faster for your next XC stage race and/or MTB adventure, the hosts of the Ask a Cycling Coach podcast signed up to race Singletrack 6, the epic six-day MTB stage race presented by Transrockies. Each day of their race adventure (which was unfortunately cut short, but more on that later) they recorded their insights and dished about their experiences.
Before taking off for the race, they recorded an episode dedicated to how they prepared themselves and their equipment for the race. Listen in and check out the full lists of their equipment below.
Jonathan’s Equipment
Nate’s Equipment
Chad’s Equipment
Day 1, Stage 1 Recap
During Stage 1, Coach Chad suffered from near-debilitating cramps among the vast number of elements in such a rigorous event. Following sheer and loose descents, steep climbs, and sustained technical descending, TrainerRoad’s Head Coach, a master’s athlete, discusses in this episode his plans to take a day to recalculate before moving into Stage 3.
Nate: 305 FTP – 184 lbs. – 3.65 W/kg
- Duration: 3:44:28
- Distance: 38.95 kilometers
- Normalized Power: 224 W
- Training Stress Score: 200
- kJ expenditure: 1,919
Jonathan: 295 FTP – 145 lbs. – 4.49 W/kg
- Duration: 2:42:18
- Distance: 38 kilometers
- Normalized Power: 246 W
- Training Stress Score: 193
- kJ expenditure: 1,850
Chad: 315 FTP – 179 lbs. – 3.88 W/kg
- Duration: 3:46:03
- Distance: 45.03 kilometers
- Normalized Power: 178 W
- Training Stress Score: 132
- kJ expenditure: 1,667
Day 2, Stage 2 Recap
Jonathan flew solo and ended up taking a wrong turn in the midst of dusty conditions and rugged terrain during Stage 2. Despite his setback, there proved to be a lot to learn from navigating Stage 2’s technical climbs and rough landscapes. In this episode, the guys discuss how Jonathan was able to pass riders on climbs to make his way back into the pack.
Jonathan: 295 FTP – 145 lbs. – 4.49 W/kg
- Duration: 2:41:12
- Distance: 30 kilometers
- Normalized Power: 237 W
- Training Stress Score: 183
- kJ expenditure: 1,699
Day 3, Stage 3 Recap
Coach Chad makes his comeback in another big day of descending on Stage 3.
Technical singletrack through rocky terrain presented the need to manage fear, among other things, in today’s day of racing. In this episode, the guys explain how aggressive tire choices in a speedy stage with nearly 100% singletrack played to their advantage.
Jonathan: 295 FTP – 145 lbs. – 4.49 W/kg
- Duration: 2:36:00
- Distance: 34 kilometers
- Normalized Power: 213 W
- Training Stress Score: 140
- kJ expenditure: 1,366
Chad: 315 FTP – 179 lbs. – 3.88 W/kg
- Duration: 3:23:49
- Distance: 34.57 kilometers
- Normalized Power: 168 W
- Training Stress Score: 97
- kJ expenditure: 1,317
Day 4, Stage 4 Recap
Stage 4, appropriately coined The Queen Stage, did not fall short of expectations. It proved to uphold its reputation as demanding, yet prestigious, as Coach Jonathan tackled another grueling day. In this episode, the guys discuss how to attack aggressive climbs despite dealing with nagging blistered hands.
Jonathan: 295 FTP – 145 lbs. – 4.49 W/kg
- Duration: 3:11:23
- Distance: 42 kilometers
- Normalized Power: 216 W
- Training Stress Score: 184
- kJ expenditure: 1,923
Day 5, Stage 5 Recap
Stage 5 took an unexpected turn….right into a rock. Joking aside, Coach Jonathan struggled to maintain focus and ended up in a heap. Singletrack 6 has been full of lessons for the team and we wrap the final episode of this series up in dedication to one broken bike, a bruised-faced Coach Jonathan, and a thoroughly spent Coach Chad.
PS: For those asking, all was not lost … they were able to salvage Jonathan’s hair.
Jonathan: 295 FTP – 145 lbs. – 4.49 W/kg
- Duration: 2:48:53
- Distance: 35 kilometers
- Normalized Power: 226 W
- Training Stress Score: 173
- kJ expenditure: 1,537
Chad: 315 FTP – 179 lbs. – 3.88 W/kg
- Duration: 3:05:20
- Distance: 36.82 kilometers
- Normalized Power: 234 W
- Training Stress Score: 171
- kJ expenditure: 1,940
Singletrack 6 Recap
The dust has settled and Coach Chad, Jonathan and Nate share their final thoughts on Singletrack 6.
To learn more about Ask a Cycling Coach presented by TrainerRoad, visit the podcast’s homepage.