Battenkill Archives - Tailwind Coaching

Tour of the Battenkill is one of the hardest races and gran fondos on the calendar. Billed as “America’s Queen Of The Classics,” the Battenkill is one of the biggest challenges many riders will ever face.

In this category, you’ll find posts about Battenkill, training advice for and information pertaining to the Tour of the Battenkill race and gran fondo. You can check out my Battenkill training store for my Battenkill training plan (which includes my Unbreakable Core Stability program and works well for any longer gravel grinder event.)

Spring Classics Discount Code!
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Spring Classics Discount Code!

Battenkill, Dirt roads and gravel grinders, Motivation

Spring Classics Discount Code!

Spring means a lot of things. It means the end of a long, cold winter. It heralds the end of the trainer season and the arrival of outdoor riding. Roads are clearing, salt is washing away and buds begin to appear on the trees. Spring also means that classics season is on the professional peloton's menu. The world is coming alive and with it, the cycling community begins to emerge from winter hibernation.

Hopefully, you've been building some solid base fitness indoors with Zwift and you're ready to take your training outdoors. To help you do that, and to pay homage to the spring classics, I'm offering you a chance to pick up any of my downloadable training plans at a discount.

Click through the jump for details on how to grab this awesome deal!

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Tags: classics, Coaching, discount code|

Tips To Crush Battenkill (And Other Gravel Grinders)
Tips To Crush Battenkill (And Other Gravel Grinders)

Battenkill, Coaching discussion, Cycling and training tips and tricks, Dirt roads and gravel grinders, Training discussion

Tips To Crush Battenkill (And Other Gravel Grinders)

So you want to enter a gravel grinder event like Tour of the Battenkill, but you're worried that you don't have the skills necessary to compete? Maybe you want to turn down that dirt road that you've passed a hundred times on your rides but you're nervous about staying upright on the gravel? Or perhaps your goal is to tackle some tough, unpaved backroad climbs like those in the Vermont Green Mountains to prove how tough you are?

You're not alone. Gravel grinder events have witnessed a meteoric rise in popularity in the past few years. They have even spawned a completely distinct line of bikes and equipment. The best equipment in the world won't help you if you don't know how to train for a gravel grinder, though. I'll show you what you need to succeed.

Gravel Grinder Success Is In The Preparation

Many people think that success in a gravel grinder race or event like Battenkill comes on race day. In fact, you can lose an event or miss a target goal by not prepping yourself for success along the way. Whether you're nervous about riding on dirt roads or how to handle your nutritional requirements, I've got a few tips to help set your mind at ease and prepare you for the worst dirt roads you can imagine.

Click through the jump and pick up 6 tips to get you gravel grinding with the confidence of an off-road veteran.

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Tags: battenkill, classics, Coaching, tips and tricks, training|

2013 Tour of the Battenkill Route Released

While I've long talked about riding dirt roads and getting out into the back roads of east rural nowhere (all in an attempt to find your inner child and just plain enjoy riding your bike) there's something special about racing on dirt. There's a modicum of uncertainty as the tires slip, the increased resistance ratchets up the pain meter and your face cakes with dust (or mud, depending) and sweat. It's a thrill like nothing else, unless you're heading over for the Tour of Flanders or Paris Roubaix. Since most of us aren't pros, and we don't generally have the time to fly to Europe just for a sportive….

Enter Tour of the Battenkill. The toughest one day race in America. America's Queen of the Classics. America's answer to the Hell of the North.

It's 63 miles of pain, 5,000 feet of grinding elevation, and about 25% dirt, gravel or broken up, nasty roads. Combine that with an early April race day, and you could have anything from a beautiful sunny day to a greasy, nasty, gritty fight for survival.

Oh what a race it is!

It's no secret that this week was the release of the 2013 route, which you can see below:

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Tags: battenkill, classics, Coaching, racing, road bike, training|