Atlas Mountain Race 2024 Diary - Day 2 - My toughest day

[@arvesandve9961]

Great film, impressive ride and really great to watch your journey 👍

[@nordenrhazali2696]

Great ride, well-done.

[@uclaalum88]

Tor, I loved watching your AMR 24 videos! Nicely done. I’m glad you took the time & energy to record video. Plus, you now have a video diary of your race that you’ll be able to share with your g’kids. How did you train for this event? Did you have weekly or monthly mileage or saddle time goals? Were you already an experienced cyclist? It seemed to me that you paced yourself nicely to CP1. Not rushed … just steady riding. Impressive. Looking back, how did you feel about how you paced yourself? Would you do anything differently?

[@TorHovland]

Thanks! I have been riding lots this winter, and I also have several years experience with long-distance cycling. Training has been less focus on FTP and intensity, and more about just getting a high cumulative training load, so basically just riding as much as possible. But I've also tried to have one threshold interval and one VO2 interval session per week. My pacing to CP1 was partly a conscious decision, partly enforced by my food poisoning, and partly because I'm relatively slow on the first day of a long event. If I were doing the event again, it would be fun to try to make better progress the first two days. If I knew we would not have any cold nights, I would take a lighter sleeping bag, bivy, jacket, and gloves. And I would get a more active suspension seatpost. I would have to figure out how to lower pressure on my sit bones (distribute weight across more of the saddle). Other than that, there isn't much I would do differently.

[@CycleXplorer]

I shared your experience of are we at the top yet? This must be the top? The decent after was so good!

[@TorHovland]

Yes, the descent to Afra was the highlight for me. I loved your video too, particularly as you were about half a day ahead of me, so I got to see the things I missed due to darkness. I'm even in the video, at 1:21!

[@CycleXplorer]

I'm looking forward to your last day and maybe I'll see the last 92km in daylight and the coastline!

[@NabilRobiati]

Tor you legend. how did you run the 10 x gps files? did you have 2 gps systems? or just one. were you able to collate all the files at the end so you can brag on Strava or not? what wahoo functions did you have on, and which ones are not necessary?

[@TorHovland]

Thanks! I just downloaded the collection of routes and used them on my Garmin. I only used one, but had a spare one with me. Yes, I combined all the tracks after the event. You'll need to charge the device occasionally anyway, so you can just use it with all the functions you normally use. Just make sure you have a decent map of Morocco/Africa on it.

[@NabilRobiati]

@@TorHovland thanks man. how much water did you have on ur bike? 4L?

[@TorHovland]

@@NabilRobiati I had 3,4 l. This was just enough on the 100 km stretch to Afra, but if I hadn't started before sunrise, that might have been too little. Halfway in the race, one of my bottle cages fell apart (don't use cheap alu ones), and I only carried 2,5 l. This was a little on the low side on the final stretch from Imsouane. Most riders use hydration packs. I didn't want to put extra weight on my back. Bring water purification tablets, in case you can't find resupply.

[@NabilRobiati]

@@TorHovland thank you. that stretch seems really daunting. i see most people in the mid pack do it in 10-12-15 hours! is there really no water possibility in the way? on google earth there seems to be 2 places which look like irrigation or agriculture pots. wouldnt they have any water? its the only bit that scares me...

[@TorHovland]

@@NabilRobiati Don't count on finding anything. Yeah, it took me 11 hours, but that was with hardly eating anything. If you have 4 liters, and bring another liter in your bag or pockets, you'll be fine. Just make sure you portion your drinking. If you can do some of the stretch during darkness, do it, but don't miss out on the magnificent decent to Afra! And after a fuel break in Afra, you know you will be able to do the rest of the ride too!

[@colingoulding3227]

Excellent footage and well done!! 👏 I’m participating in this event next year. What bike would you suggest? I have a Giant Revolt Gravel Bike with 40mm front suspension, dropper post & 50mm tyres, would this be ok? What lessons did you learn, what would you have done differently and what foods would you avoid, what caused the stomach upset as it appears lots of people get hit with this? Thanks

[@TorHovland]

Thanks! You're gonna love it! Your best bet is a mountain bike, if you have one. And full suspension is really the fastest and most comfortable. Gravel bikes work, but they're just not as comfortable. It depends a lot on you. Some people did descend rocky trails without trouble on gravel bikes, others hated it. At least you have 40 mm suspension, but ideally you would have 100 mm. 50 mm tires should be OK, although I was happy on 2.35". I would recommend a suspension seat post, and a beefier one than my eeSilk+. I would try the RedShift one. If you get similar weather to us, i.e. always above freezing, I would take a lighter jacket and gloves, and a lighter sleeping bag and mat, and just an emergency bivy. I would still take all of my tools and spares, but I would replace my 3 butyl tubes with 2 solid (not superlight) TPU tubes. And take less than 125 ml sealant. I would make sure I could comfortably fit all my stuff in my bags, and still have room for food and an extra bottle of water/Coke. Avoid salads at all costs, even at the fancy start hotel, and anything else that may have been rinsed in tap water and isn't cooked. Bring water purification tablets in case you need to fill up on tap or stream water. Make sure you can stay comfortable on your saddle for days! Bring something to clean up with, and either chamois cream or foam dressings. Don't use aluminium bottle cages, they're not up for the abuse!

[@TorHovland]

Oh, and use tires with extra sidewall protection, and if you run tubeless, take tire boots, rubber glue, a needle (preferably curved upholstery needle) and dental floss for sewing.

[@colingoulding3227]

Thank you for the detailed response - much appreciated! I do downhill mountain biking so should be ok on the rough stuff but agree it’s being comfortable is key. I’ll try a coupe of local long distance rocky rides to see how it feels and may try a straight bar rather than drops for more control/comfort on the descents. Thanks again.

[@colingoulding3227]

Effectively you run tubeless and if you had an issue you have the back TPU tubes. I have Badlands in September so need to get a tyre puncture strategy so any tips would be welcome. I’m lucky and never get punctures as historically run high tyre pressures

[@TorHovland]

@@colingoulding3227 Yeah, I don't get punctures either, but didn't want to scratch because of it, so I brought tubeless repair plugs as well as tubes and patches. At least one participant did have to sew a tire sidewall.