Six Gaps = X Wachusett repeats?

[mattsolar]

So I'm trying to coerce a friend into trying Six Gaps. He's done two and thinks six is insane. Certainly hard but not impossible - especially with the right gearing and easy pacing.

I'm arguing that Six Gaps is, roughly, equivalent to approximately 11 repeats up Wachusett.

My reasoning:
Six Gaps: 130 miles + 12k vertical
Wachusett: 7 miles + 1.1k vertical
Wachusett 11x: 77 miles + 12.1k vertical

Obviously there's a lot more miles for Six Gaps so my logic could be way off but I suspect Six Gaps will have more rollers and recovery points. Has anyone tried both or know an equivalent? I trying to gauge if we're ready for Six Gaps.

Thanks,
Matt

[pace21]

"Time in saddle" is another key metric, and I suspect 6 gaps would easily have 50% more, if not double. Plus 11 repeats of wachusett would be so mind numbing i'd want to shoot myself

[slisab72]

I recommend adding some Pack Monadnocks in there for good measure! Those would help with Lincoln Gap - it's a wall. Re: Lincoln Gap - Go up the pavement side and down the dirt side. Going down the pavement is worse in my opinion. I flagged down a truck after skidding out on the moss. Don't use carbon wheels on that descent either. The truck picked up the guy whose wheels melted on that descent after he dropped me off. Kid you not. Six gaps has some longer climbing, so if you could go up Greylock that could be helpful. Also, there are some gravel descents. As far as Wachusetts go, it would probably be good to start at the lowest point - like in East Princeton and make the climb longer - or from the north side (I think that's 31, past the ski entrance, then take the auto road - lengthen the time climbing. S

[scottc]

The 6 gap ride is a long, hard day in the saddle and every climb is much longer and more interesting than Wachusett. Have you or your friend ever done a 130 mile ride before? Good news is you'll find a great VT country store at the bottom of nearly every hill. And the advice of going up Lincoln on pavement is spot on - descending the pavement is a death trap unless you have disc brakes!

[Mast]

It's doable. If you have good fitness and the right gearing, you should be able to grind up the hills. Just get some hill work and long rides in before. I did a twin peaks ride (Pack and then Wawa up the gravel road in the back) a couple of weeks before, and that worked well as a training ride, plus some non-paved climbing practice on my roadie. I'd also suggest riding higher volume tires (25s at least).

I've got a strava track of the twin peaks ride, if interested PM me.

[mattsolar]

@slisab72 - great advice, thanks. (Especially the part about how to keep your wheels on). We'd be leaving from Brandon, VT for what it's worth. I've had my eye on "Concord to Greylock" as well as the "Twin Peaks" that @Mast mentioned. More just a question of finding time (and permission) to take off for the better part of a weekend day.

@scottc - I've done a 200 before but I think my friends longest road ride is probably 80 miles, so we'll have to work on that. We've slogged through some 5hr MTB rides, which helps, but, to your point, it's far from a 10 hour slog.

[slisab72]

I'll look on a map to see where Brandon is. When are you going? There is a Twin Peaks ride likely happening this Sunday, if you're interested. I'm organizing - it was a Monsters ride that got called off bc of the hurricane on Monday. If you're interested lmk and I'll send the details. Concord-Pack-Wachusett-Concord. Heck, I suppose I could just post it on the forum. I'm probably going to start in Ayer and meet the group in Westford then stop off in Holden after Wachusett for my nephews 5th bday party then solo home later. But those plans could change. Weather calls for showers, which is likely to change too.

[mattsolar]

Aiming to do Six Gaps in late July.

Thanks for the note re: Twin Peaks this weekend. I've seen that loop on RideWithGPS.com but I won't be able to make it this weekend. ...and will likely need a few more longer rides under the belt this season before hitting those two.

Matt

[markreid]

My bud Dennis Marino did it @ 63yo:
http://dennismarino.com/pages/25/index.htm
10hrs 7mins, 137 miles, over 14,000 vertical feet climbing.