Don't know what you might make of this - a non cyclist deciding to do the Etape on 6 weeks training. But he thinks he'll make it on 'grit' and by spending about $10,000. http://theclimb.blogs.nytimes.com/ I'll reserve my scorn - Bike Snob NYC does it so much better than I: http://bikesnobnyc.blogspot.com/2008/06/its-not-about-riding-cycling-blogging.html
It has a 10 hour limit for 160 something Kms and the first hundred is flattish (OK the rest isnt) so anyone with reasonable fitness and not too much lard should be able to do it, even without the private feed stations. Actually I dont mind the $10k bike buyers - I'd rather bikes were seen as something aspirational than something for beardie schoolteachers as they were until recently.
It's the throwing of money at the problem rather than doing the training that grates. Maybe I'm just envious.
i couldnt agree more goat, he should adopt my approach to the white rose classic, Do not throw money at it, Do not train for it........ andy
If he has enough grit he could do the etape I reckon. Also he is pushing the beginner cyclist angle - but perhaps he was a fell runner or something beforehand? However, I doubt the $10,000 he is proposing spending will make any difference whatsoever and at odds with his 'i'm a beginner' pose. I reckon he should be made to do on the bike he used to cycle around the park in. Then he would earn some respect!
