We would love to get Cillian in for more challenges 🙌 If you make sure your notifications are turned on you won't miss the next instalment of this series 🔔 How do you think he's going to get on?
Me and my wife did Flanders sportive some years ago on our Cannondale tandem. We got up every hill and smashed the descents. Best days cycling in over 50 years cycling. Enjoy it!
Definitely pay particular attention to your bike set up Cillian. I did it many moons ago and got away with it, but now with wide, tubeless tyres, make the most of them. Also go with a good gear range, you'll be grateful later on the bergs with easier gears to climb in, some of those hills are severe! Other than that, nutrition and hydration are huge, use what you learned on the Etape, it'll serve you well. Have a blast, and enjoy the pro race the day after. 🙂
He's going to smash it for sure! We'll done on completing the challenge! That sounds like an epic ride, did you catch Ollie take on the Flandrien Challenge? 👉ruclips.net/video/TFG_PWkdArY/видео.html
After a couple weeks, I doubt you'll see it but... Go Cillian! I love (type 2) the Sufferfest workouts. The random bursts of humour get me. As for advice...do some zone 2 type rides offroad, preferably with the same bike you'll be riding in the tour. Working on pacing yourself on hills, and bike handling.
you will love this ride Cillian.. most of it flat but those cobble hills are tough, stay seated and don't stop pedalling and stay away from other peeps as that'll be why you'll come off. I did it on a 28 tyre and was fine. Its an honour to ride where men fought for our freedom too..lots of history to occupy ur mind from the pain. And best of all Belgium beer and frites at the end 😃
When we rode a few times together on Zwift during the 30 in 30 - I did wonder what your FTP was. Finally, a working man’s level! Love it! Some of these riders saying - yeah I averaged 258 watts - how did you do? I just can’t relate! Keep up the great work!!!
Hey Cillian! We’ll see you at The Ronde! We’re coming from California: our cycling group C510. Was supposed to happen in 2020 but got pushed off for obvious reasons! Look forward to seeing you train and hopefully seeing you at the start line! Go Cillian!
My FTP is around the same as yours, finally an FTP i can relate to! Are you sure the wahoo didn't tell you to 'take a hike pal' rather than 'go for a walk' 😂
I expect that like the rest of us life will get in the way of his training and he will start to panic a bit. Wouldn't be entertaining if everything went to plan! Of course he will smash it on the day. 🚲
The Grand Designs method ... intially all very exciting ... along the way trials and tribulations and near failure .... only to win out in the end ..... @@DougieAB
Nice challenge ! You’ll crush it. As a wahoo Systm user for many years, I just can stay it works! Remember you can always adjust your plan to your schedule ( move a training from one day to another, remove one to better recover when you feel crushed, swap a training for another one of roughly the same IF or TSS, etc); do not neglect recovery weeks: it’s sometimes tough to go so easy after training hard but you’ll progress better that way. And if you can’t find cobbles in your region, try to go to Flander one day or 2 before the sportive to « acclimatize » to the terrain. Good luck!
Mate, you're going to love it! Best training advice...easy! Find the biggest, longest escalator you can (maybe the ones near St. Paul's?) and walk up and down them at the busiest time of the day. Try to pass as many people as possible, swearing left and right. That'll prepare you for the ant hill march on the day of the event! You're going to do great Cillian.
I think Dan gave you the best advice of all - " Don't crash on the cobbles!" . The lose of teeth & skin coupled with all of the broken bones in your face alone is just too much to think about. You will be fine.
So good! See you there, Cillian-I’m coming over from Australia to do both Flanders and Roubaix (trying to get fit from a similar base to you)!! This vid is really helpful and inspiring!
Best of luck! We participated last year with a couple mates from work and it was a blast - despite the s**t weather. Painful at times, but a blast none-the less. About those cobbled climbs: if it's wet, you might have to walk the steeper ones as they will be filled with people who had to unclip because it gets too slippery. No chance to ride them up as there is nowhere to go. (so you'll have an excuse if you can't ride up haha)
Love this and keen to hear more. Training for first 100 miler in September in the peak district. Using rouvy for indoor training currently focused on fitness. Joining organised monthly winter gravel events for something different(which could result in gravel bike purchase). Outdoor training on the MTB at the moment as too lazy to take road bike off the indoor trainer. Not started to plan what training will look like when weather gets better and the trainer gets put away.
Looking good already Cillian, you look in a lot better shape than you did before you started training for the Etappe sportive. You're gonna smash the cobbles mate! Looking forward to seeing your progress 👍
I love this video it simply shows the commitment to a goal required for improvements. Also relates very well to beginners and novices. Absolutely Brilliant. All the very best with your training
It takes a lot to build the fitness, I think Cillian will be the first to say the indoor training has really helped 🙌 - Has it inspired you to get out and ride?
I did the Flanders sportive a couple of years ago. Good fun, but quite busy. One thing I found useful was the ability to keep relaxed and stable at low speed and high torque. It made it easier to deal with crowds on the busier climbs if you weren't worried about touching wheels ahead. I even managed to stay clipped in on the Koppenberg as a result!
Good luck, Cillian! I’m looking forward to following how your training goes-the good days and the bad days (those are just as important-I used to tell my high school tennis players that failure is one of the best teachers).
Great to see you back, Cillian. To me, your saddle looks too low on the trainer. FWIW I'm 59 and my FTP hovers between 350-375. You can do it... by keeping at it. Consistency is king.
Thanks for that John. Yeah a few people have said that to me in the comments. I’ll raise it a bit and see how it feels? Although I would say it feels rather ok currently… but maybe I’m wrong.
Hi Cillian! I'll see you at the Flanders 170km this year then! I have done the Flandrien Challenge solo last year with a 3.1w/kg ftp, never did more than 150km in group, let alone solo.... The one thing I can advise is to be very mindful of your nutrition (set timers or eat a bit after every tricky cobbled climb) and don't overdo it between climbs. Get ready for many 2-5min zone 5-6 efforts and chill at zone 2-3 in the meantime. Most of all enjoy the cobbles!
Cillian is going to have a great ride this time around. Just remember Dan’s advice about pacing yourself, especially at the beginning, and following distance at the base of the climbs. You’re going to have the ride of your lifetime, Cillian!
Cilian Kelly - The Average Hero. You nailed the Etape, you have proven time and again, that with the right tools, anyone can conquer cycling's most prestigious challenges the general public can enter. The word inspiration often gets thrown around too easily some times but you are a huge inspiration, Cilian. You're going to smash Vlaanderen.
Go Cillian! Never ridden in Belgium or on one of the bergs myself but I'm rooting for you. Maybe I'll actually get out and ride some local cobblestone streets where I live near Seattle.
Loving this one. Might want to invest in one of those cool cameras @BenjiNaessen uses for the front of the bike. Good luck! Don't drink the beer till after the ride.
What an awesome journey you get to be part of Cillian!! I have my Full Frontal 4DP tomorrow as I start to focus my training for the Leadville Mtb 100 in August. Looking forward to following you over the next couple of months!!! YOU CAN DO IT!!!
We are both sprinters! I am guessing I have a few more years on you, maybe 15? It's a painful test but I hit my highest NM number of 860watts today. @@cilliankelly1
Myself and a mate did Flanders last year and the weather was horrible. Whole day rain and alot of wind. Tip: Look at the weather and try to find out where you have headwind, find a group and try to recover in it. And go to a cobbled road couple of days before and find your perfect tire pressure and just try to ride it a couple of times and every time a bit faster, get the feeling of it. Good luck with it
I love using strava and check the local segments of routes i often ride. Its a great mental boost to see yourself improving over time and even if its just 1 or 2 segments where you are pushing all out to improve your time it feels like you accomplished something. Even nicer if you can get a 'top 10 of all time' on a certain segment, even if its only a 30 second stretch on the flat. And goals such as these long sportives are a great way to work towards a goal over time.
Strava is great for motivation! Getting a KOM is really nice but its also cool to just keep track of your progression and see how much you have improved
@@FlyingGravelMan Getting a KOM? Lol, that's really for the happy few. All KOM's where I live have been set by pro or elite level cyclists. No way I will ever ever set a KOM here, unless I invent my own segment.
@@irfuel you just need to be creative. I cycle in The Netherlands where it’s only flat. So all KOMs are set with a tailwind. I just wait for the perfect storm and then I just go for it on a TT bike. Feel free to check my KOM attempt on a landing track on my channel if you’re interested 😉. During storm Ciarian i got 9 KOMs, lol
@@FlyingGravelMan yeah same :) and if you have some segments that are not frequented that much that of course helps. No alpine climbs here, just bridges, 2min max effort haha
I've done de Ronde twice (full length) and L'Étape du Tour three times. I'd say L'Étape is harder because of the heat and altitude. De Ronde you need to get "saddle fit" as well, used to some long time in the saddle. Be prepared for bad weather (2023 was freezing and very wet). Train for steep hills - low cadence efforts. Fit big tyres. Consider mudguards. I'm doing both rides again this year - good luck!
Good luck, Cillian! I’m spending this year deciding I can do things I had previously said I can’t do. I think having this mindset going in should be helpful
Non Stop to Lake Garda, a classic for all Germans who live near the alps: from doorstep to lake Garda, in my case ~380km/6000hm I did it 6 years ago and on a 4000hm route and want to test my limits again
nice video,i follow and do the GCN training videos at least 3 times a week,and cycle outside everytime the weather alows,training this year to a trip at Angliru and maybe Pirineus in May.
As you said it yourself Cillian: you want to make sure you can tackle the hills and even enjoy yourself along the way. So I would say prepare to a certain level that gives you the confidence of being able to reach the finish line and my most strong advice is: don't forget to enjoy every second of the ride (which you might if you're over doing it a bit...) Flanders is awesome, have fun!
@@cilliankelly1 Absolutely....not! But I know both cycling and Flanders well enough. And apart from that: isn't it a simple basic rule to enjoy your bike, your ride and your cycling friends every second of the journey? 😉
Way to go Cillian you got this, the mental training is big, stick with it, it takes time to improve like training your fitness, but so worth it. It appeared to me that your saddle height while on the trainer was too low?! and I couldn't get a good view of it when you were on the bike, but might be worth getting a bike fit?! Good luck, following your every move!
Thanks Ewan! Yeah a few people are saying that about my saddle in the comments. I believe Wahoo provide a kind of bike fit setup for that specific bike (which I didn’t do 😬, so I should probably do it)
Great to see Cillan take this on. My FTP is about the same as his, so very relatable. I'm taking on one of the Tro Bro Leon sportives in May. Only 105 km.
Can't stress enough how important the advice of take it easy is for We Ride Flanders. Loving in Belgium I've ridden up the Paterberg a fair few times without having to put a foot down - except the times I've ridden We Ride Flanders and the accumulated fatigue you have by then mean it immeasurably harder. But its has crowds, cheerleaders and a DJ plus the event photographer all there to witness and document you getting off and pushing.Truly and walk of shame. So Take it real easy to avoid that walk!
Oh, and like the étape don't get embarrassed by other passing you - it probably won't be as bad as when I thought I was pretty fit to do We Ride Flanders on my light carbon Gravel bike with comfy 38mm tires - only to be overtaken on the Oude Kwaremont by a guy on a Brompton!
Thanks so much for the advice. I definitely won’t have any shame when people are passing me during the first couple of hours. But I don’t think I’ll have shame in walking up a hill or two either. Eddy Merckx did it!
Oh, and for your bike... double bar tape, 34/34 gear if you can, the widest tyres you can fit. Comfort is king on this ride. You can not believe how much the cobbles slow you down and batter you, but keep pedaling and you'll get around it and love the beers on the Sunday in a bar, watching the race, in awe of the pro's!!!
Pump up the tires....and hit 'em hard ! My bike can only 23's and I rode 10 days in Flanders last spring without a flat @ 105psi. (Favorite climbs The Muur, Molenberg, Kemmelberg). Enjoy the trip!
practice your bike handling skills so you are confident on the cobbles - get somewhere with cobbled roads if you can and practice. Being able to find a good line and stay smooth over the rough sections means you aren't "wasting" power. At least where you are you'll be able to get plenty of wet weather practice in too.
Did it in 2017. Went out Wednesday before and rode all the great climbs with fewer people and the odd pro on recon. That way you can avoid disappointment when you get stuffed up on the Koppenberg on the day.
@@gcn on the day only the Koopenberg (of course) proved unridable due to crowds. Best part was we got to do laps on the Paterberg, Koppenberg and Oude Kwaremont at leisure. All just a short spin from the Museum in town with a few mineral waters to refresh oneself in the cafe upon completion.
I am like Cilian in that I need a goal or event to train for. This year it is the Tour de Steamboat and possibly the Race C4 in Cardston, Alberta, Canada. Ride on Cilian. Ride on.
Belgian cobbles are vicious, so i would reccommend a very plush bike with wide tyres and relaxed geometry. Plus the hills are also worse than you think, so a 1:1 gearing would be a good shoutt
I've literally just been on holiday to flander this week and riding here is absolutely brutal especially on my 25mm tires at 80psi so please get a suspension gravel bike or something. The Muur, Bosberg, etc are brutal
I first did PRX in 2008 & RVV in 2009. Since done PRX another 4 times & RVV twice more. My trusty 2003 Colnago C50. I’ve since become a bit lame in my dotage & had to use 25mm tubs.
3 bits of advice from me. I did this ride in 2023. 1. Wear two pairs of shorts. 2. Ride in the gutters wherever you can - the cobbled ones are laid differently and are easier on you. 3 . Don't feel embarrassed to walk up a berg if you have to. Prepare yourself mentally for that possibility and don't allow it to feel like a failure. The last 20k or so are a blast if you get in a group and hammer it on the flat main road run-in to the finish. You'll love it!!!
When I did the RVV Sportive 10 years ago the guys who had the best run up the bergs were those who shouted loud enough for the stragglers to get out the way! Up, up, up!!!😂
Go on Cillian! Does the trainer have a “cobble” mode? Those cobbles are very steep and very … cobbly. At 14:45, though, you have never “gotten” to do intervals outdoors! I especially “love” those outdoor 1 min climb efforts outdoors on a real hill rather than a trainer. I can empty myself going up a steep little hill like I cannot on a trainer - plus which that is what you are going to have to do. Lots of 1 min efforts.
Cillian's looking fit, and not entirely dissimilar to Andrew Feather. Is there a family connection?! Is GCN fielding a ringer?!?! Best of luck Cillian, you're representing the MAMIL contingent (me very definitely included)
Hi Cillian, my one piece of advise I'd give to you is get some experience of riding cobbles. There is nothing like it. The bike feels like is exploding beneath you, you can't hold the bars properly and your power goes through the roof. If you get the chance to hit some pavé before the big day, take it to avoid an almighty shock. Good luck with the training.
Fair play Cillian, it’s a mental day out! And nothing can prepare you for the cobbles, but big tyres and low pressure helps a lot. Also keep pedaling as freewheeling is your enemy! Dropped chain, faster is smoother. Can’t for the next episode! Allez GCN 🚴🏽
We have the same goal, I‘ll also do the 179km. See you there. My advice would be gym work. With weights. And track your nutrition. This got me a big step forward and I think it‘s very useful when you run out of gears which will happen on the Paterberg most likely.
Cillian, Just plan a 20km post ride loop around Oudenaarde for a 200km total. Maybe to a cafe and back kind of deal, a zero rush kind of roll. Plan it, ride it beforehand (the 21km. Like day/s before), so you know it's landmarks for 'already here? cool.' and 'Almost done' headspace. It's COMPLETLY DISMISSABLE! bu-ut when you cross the line for the 180km if you just feel knackered but not a destroyed wreck, that extra 20km is just half a casual Sunday roll... *wink wink, nudge nudge* I always found the extra km beyond 100km is much easier than trying to get to it in the first place. It's a weird mental space. Going from 80 to 100km weighs on you, but 100 to 120 isn't similar, feels less heavy. On familiar roads or not. [I can already hear Dr. Oliver shaking his head an going "UGH! Sample size of one. FOR SHAME!"]
The Raleigh Ti Jersey was the BEST part of this video, tbh. Great video, otherwise, too. Just sayin'. Guess I got old since when i started with GCN and now.
Change the diet, no alcohol from now till the race (only cos I’m having a month off the booze🤣) that’ll help combat snacking on junk food too. I reckon you could lose at least 10kg ready for the race which will have huge impact. Also, mix it up, don’t just cycle, go for a run or play a game of squash for example, you’ll get a real indicator of fitness when you do something that engages your whole body not just turning the pedals. Practice the push/pull technique on the pedals, that can really help on hills. You’ll smash this CIllian, looking forward to following your journey. You’ve got this…👍🏻
Pat attention to your food and drinks. Especially when it's wet and cold, you consume a lot more energy whilst the cobbles are more of strain on your muscles than you might imagine. Go look for cobbles near home. You need to get used to those long hours out there. I did most of the classics about 30 years ago, and count your blessings having those modern gears instead of the 42x24 we struggled with. Good Luck.
4DP is a cruel joke 😂 Quite similar to my results. FTP 190W; MAP 235W; AC 358W; NM 887 the last time I did it. really interested to see how you get on with your training
What event are you training for? Let us know 👇
Paris-Roubaix 2024! Just turned 20 and it’s my first major event (125km+)
@@thb9926excellent! That is an amazing one to ride!
Good luck!! Just keep the legs spinning and you will be fine. We know you are a warrior 💪
@@adossantos69751 thanks pal! You training for anything?
for the event that ebike tries to pass me. :D edit: well that or roadbike or electric scooter.
We need more of Cillian on screen! Very relatable for me and, I should imagine, many more of the GCN viewers.
Thanks so much. I really hope you’re right and this has resonated with the ‘average’ cyclists out there
We would love to get Cillian in for more challenges 🙌 If you make sure your notifications are turned on you won't miss the next instalment of this series 🔔 How do you think he's going to get on?
Fully agree! Very relatable 😅
Agreed. I love Ollie, but he is no longer relatable as an "average" cyclist.
My advice:
1. Shave your head
2. Get an earring
3. Buy a Bianchi
4. Buy full Mercatone Uno kit
5. Go full Pantani! 🏴☠️
Or was Pantani doing a half Cillian?
Me and my wife did Flanders sportive some years ago on our Cannondale tandem. We got up every hill and smashed the descents. Best days cycling in over 50 years cycling. Enjoy it!
Definitely pay particular attention to your bike set up Cillian. I did it many moons ago and got away with it, but now with wide, tubeless tyres, make the most of them. Also go with a good gear range, you'll be grateful later on the bergs with easier gears to climb in, some of those hills are severe! Other than that, nutrition and hydration are huge, use what you learned on the Etape, it'll serve you well. Have a blast, and enjoy the pro race the day after. 🙂
Of course you can, I'm 47, 92kg and very average. Last year, I did the Flanderian Challange in 50hours. You'll crush this
He's going to smash it for sure! We'll done on completing the challenge! That sounds like an epic ride, did you catch Ollie take on the Flandrien Challenge? 👉ruclips.net/video/TFG_PWkdArY/видео.html
After a couple weeks, I doubt you'll see it but...
Go Cillian! I love (type 2) the Sufferfest workouts. The random bursts of humour get me.
As for advice...do some zone 2 type rides offroad, preferably with the same bike you'll be riding in the tour. Working on pacing yourself on hills, and bike handling.
you will love this ride Cillian.. most of it flat but those cobble hills are tough, stay seated and don't stop pedalling and stay away from other peeps as that'll be why you'll come off. I did it on a 28 tyre and was fine. Its an honour to ride where men fought for our freedom too..lots of history to occupy ur mind from the pain. And best of all Belgium beer and frites at the end 😃
When we rode a few times together on Zwift during the 30 in 30 - I did wonder what your FTP was. Finally, a working man’s level! Love it! Some of these riders saying - yeah I averaged 258 watts - how did you do? I just can’t relate! Keep up the great work!!!
Hey Cillian! We’ll see you at The Ronde! We’re coming from California: our cycling group C510. Was supposed to happen in 2020 but got pushed off for obvious reasons!
Look forward to seeing you train and hopefully seeing you at the start line! Go Cillian!
My FTP is around the same as yours, finally an FTP i can relate to! Are you sure the wahoo didn't tell you to 'take a hike pal' rather than 'go for a walk' 😂
Exactly- a beginner that’s not a former pro 😂
Hahahah great to hear you enjoyed this video! Cillian is great isn't he, how do you think he'll get on in the next episode? 🚴
I expect that like the rest of us life will get in the way of his training and he will start to panic a bit. Wouldn't be entertaining if everything went to plan! Of course he will smash it on the day. 🚲
The Grand Designs method ... intially all very exciting ... along the way trials and tribulations and near failure .... only to win out in the end ..... @@DougieAB
@@DougieAB Yep - the Grand Designs method ... excitement followed by near failure and set backs ... followed by overwhelming success
Nice challenge ! You’ll crush it.
As a wahoo Systm user for many years, I just can stay it works! Remember you can always adjust your plan to your schedule ( move a training from one day to another, remove one to better recover when you feel crushed, swap a training for another one of roughly the same IF or TSS, etc); do not neglect recovery weeks: it’s sometimes tough to go so easy after training hard but you’ll progress better that way. And if you can’t find cobbles in your region, try to go to Flander one day or 2 before the sportive to « acclimatize » to the terrain. Good luck!
Cillian, don't let GCN break you. That's what Hank is for.
Hahahah now we have two 😆
Mate, you're going to love it! Best training advice...easy! Find the biggest, longest escalator you can (maybe the ones near St. Paul's?) and walk up and down them at the busiest time of the day. Try to pass as many people as possible, swearing left and right. That'll prepare you for the ant hill march on the day of the event! You're going to do great Cillian.
Hahahaha that's a whole new meaning to "cross" training 😡
I think Dan gave you the best advice of all - " Don't crash on the cobbles!" . The lose of teeth & skin coupled with all of the broken bones in your face alone is just too much to think about. You will be fine.
Hahahah sounds advice! 😆 We think Dan might of found out the hard way 👀
So good! See you there, Cillian-I’m coming over from Australia to do both Flanders and Roubaix (trying to get fit from a similar base to you)!! This vid is really helpful and inspiring!
Would be great to see more vids in this series in the lead-up to the sportive too (especially any tips you pick up along the way)!
Keep the positive vibes going Cillian! Doing yoga is a gas! You'll do great. And, don't dis Dan. He's the the best experienced presenter.
Oh I’ll never stop dissing Dan
It's in Cillian's contract that he has to dis Dan 😆
@@gcn but we all know he loves Dan really.... man crush 🥰
Best of luck! We participated last year with a couple mates from work and it was a blast - despite the s**t weather. Painful at times, but a blast none-the less.
About those cobbled climbs: if it's wet, you might have to walk the steeper ones as they will be filled with people who had to unclip because it gets too slippery. No chance to ride them up as there is nowhere to go. (so you'll have an excuse if you can't ride up haha)
Ha! Cheers! Oh don’t worry I am preparing a catalogue of excuses for having to do several walks of shame
Sounds like you had an epic time! It wouldn't be Flanders without bad weather 😆 - Would you go back to ride the event again?
@@gcn Oh you bet I will. This year will be Liège but we'll definitely go back to Flanders
With Sagan gone, Cillian is my favorite "man of the people" cyclist!
he's a gem isn't he!?
Love this and keen to hear more. Training for first 100 miler in September in the peak district. Using rouvy for indoor training currently focused on fitness. Joining organised monthly winter gravel events for something different(which could result in gravel bike purchase). Outdoor training on the MTB at the moment as too lazy to take road bike off the indoor trainer. Not started to plan what training will look like when weather gets better and the trainer gets put away.
Looking good already Cillian, you look in a lot better shape than you did before you started training for the Etappe sportive. You're gonna smash the cobbles mate! Looking forward to seeing your progress 👍
The adventures of Cillian are always the best, some of the best content on GCN!
Hear! Hear!
What would you like Cillian to do after Flanders?
@@gcnhave a rest!
The mental training on SYSTM has been a game changer for me. I’ve done it a few times now, and have found value each time.
Go well Cillian. Will see you on the start line in Flanders 🇧🇪🇧🇪🇧🇪
Cillian you are an inspiration for all of us weekend warriors. Thank you for showing us your pain.
Thanks so much for watching my pain! 🙌🏼
I love this video it simply shows the commitment to a goal required for improvements. Also relates very well to beginners and novices. Absolutely Brilliant. All the very best with your training
Thanks so much! Still slogging away in the attic here 👍🏼
It takes a lot to build the fitness, I think Cillian will be the first to say the indoor training has really helped 🙌 - Has it inspired you to get out and ride?
I did the Flanders sportive a couple of years ago. Good fun, but quite busy. One thing I found useful was the ability to keep relaxed and stable at low speed and high torque. It made it easier to deal with crowds on the busier climbs if you weren't worried about touching wheels ahead. I even managed to stay clipped in on the Koppenberg as a result!
Ah, the mighty Koppenberg, hopefully the Cillian Kelly fanclub will be there waiting to cheer on the Lion of Ireland
It's absolutely impossible NOT to like Cillian. 👍
Sounds like an idea for my next challenge…
Good luck, Cillian! I’m looking forward to following how your training goes-the good days and the bad days (those are just as important-I used to tell my high school tennis players that failure is one of the best teachers).
Thanks Chris! Hopefully there won’t be too many of those days! You got any big rides planned this year?
You learn more on the bad days 🙌Cillian is going to smash it!
Great to see you back, Cillian. To me, your saddle looks too low on the trainer. FWIW I'm 59 and my FTP hovers between 350-375. You can do it... by keeping at it. Consistency is king.
Thanks for that John. Yeah a few people have said that to me in the comments. I’ll raise it a bit and see how it feels? Although I would say it feels rather ok currently… but maybe I’m wrong.
@@cilliankelly1 FWI on the GCN app I was known as Gianni Bianchi. I enjoyed our banter. 😆 RIP GCN+/app
@@johnandrews3568 Aha! Gianni Bianchi! Hello!
Hi Cillian! I'll see you at the Flanders 170km this year then! I have done the Flandrien Challenge solo last year with a 3.1w/kg ftp, never did more than 150km in group, let alone solo.... The one thing I can advise is to be very mindful of your nutrition (set timers or eat a bit after every tricky cobbled climb) and don't overdo it between climbs. Get ready for many 2-5min zone 5-6 efforts and chill at zone 2-3 in the meantime. Most of all enjoy the cobbles!
Cillian is going to have a great ride this time around. Just remember Dan’s advice about pacing yourself, especially at the beginning, and following distance at the base of the climbs. You’re going to have the ride of your lifetime, Cillian!
and Cillian, don't forget to ignore Dan's advice about what drinks to have in your bottles 😉 😂
Cilian Kelly - The Average Hero. You nailed the Etape, you have proven time and again, that with the right tools, anyone can conquer cycling's most prestigious challenges the general public can enter. The word inspiration often gets thrown around too easily some times but you are a huge inspiration, Cilian. You're going to smash Vlaanderen.
Thanks so much Matt! Really very kind of you to say. (And I’m very very lucky to have been given such lovely tools)
@@cilliankelly1 being given the best equipment money can buy is a huge help, but the best bike in the world won't pedal itself!
Go Cillian! Never ridden in Belgium or on one of the bergs myself but I'm rooting for you. Maybe I'll actually get out and ride some local cobblestone streets where I live near Seattle.
Thanks Kevin! We're sure that Cillian is going to smash it. Searching for local cobbles can be super fun 🙌 Let us know how you get on!
Loving this one.
Might want to invest in one of those cool cameras @BenjiNaessen uses for the front of the bike.
Good luck!
Don't drink the beer till after the ride.
I'm thoroughly inspired!!! Thanks!!!
What an awesome journey you get to be part of Cillian!! I have my Full Frontal 4DP tomorrow as I start to focus my training for the Leadville Mtb 100 in August. Looking forward to following you over the next couple of months!!! YOU CAN DO IT!!!
Well, how did it go?
We are both sprinters! I am guessing I have a few more years on you, maybe 15? It's a painful test but I hit my highest NM number of 860watts today. @@cilliankelly1
Leadville is one tough race, you'll smash it for sure! We took it that very challenge on a while ago 👉ruclips.net/video/zG8Nz0dyBqo/видео.html
Myself and a mate did Flanders last year and the weather was horrible. Whole day rain and alot of wind. Tip: Look at the weather and try to find out where you have headwind, find a group and try to recover in it. And go to a cobbled road couple of days before and find your perfect tire pressure and just try to ride it a couple of times and every time a bit faster, get the feeling of it.
Good luck with it
Love this advice! Sit on some wheels and shelter from the wind - the sign someone has done this before 🙌
I love using strava and check the local segments of routes i often ride. Its a great mental boost to see yourself improving over time and even if its just 1 or 2 segments where you are pushing all out to improve your time it feels like you accomplished something. Even nicer if you can get a 'top 10 of all time' on a certain segment, even if its only a 30 second stretch on the flat. And goals such as these long sportives are a great way to work towards a goal over time.
Strava is great for motivation! Getting a KOM is really nice but its also cool to just keep track of your progression and see how much you have improved
@@FlyingGravelMan Getting a KOM? Lol, that's really for the happy few. All KOM's where I live have been set by pro or elite level cyclists. No way I will ever ever set a KOM here, unless I invent my own segment.
@@irfuel you just need to be creative. I cycle in The Netherlands where it’s only flat. So all KOMs are set with a tailwind. I just wait for the perfect storm and then I just go for it on a TT bike. Feel free to check my KOM attempt on a landing track on my channel if you’re interested 😉.
During storm Ciarian i got 9 KOMs, lol
@@FlyingGravelMan yeah same :) and if you have some segments that are not frequented that much that of course helps. No alpine climbs here, just bridges, 2min max effort haha
@@keflarjeoffrey Cool 👊
I've done de Ronde twice (full length) and L'Étape du Tour three times. I'd say L'Étape is harder because of the heat and altitude. De Ronde you need to get "saddle fit" as well, used to some long time in the saddle. Be prepared for bad weather (2023 was freezing and very wet). Train for steep hills - low cadence efforts. Fit big tyres. Consider mudguards.
I'm doing both rides again this year - good luck!
Well best of luck to you too! What an achievement that will be to do both in the same year.
Both rides! That's going ot be one epic year of riding - We're jealous! Great tips too 🙌
Good luck mate!! Your smashing it🚴🏼♂️👍
Awesome this is going to be brilliant to follow.. good luck Cillian I’m sure you can smash this dude 😊 🚴🏻👍 Pete
Good luck, Cillian! I’m spending this year deciding I can do things I had previously said I can’t do. I think having this mindset going in should be helpful
You'll smash the year we're sure 🙌What's the goals?
@@gcna couple of my husbands favorite rides. A summit in the Cascade Mountains and ride around Crater Lake
Non Stop to Lake Garda, a classic for all Germans who live near the alps:
from doorstep to lake Garda, in my case ~380km/6000hm
I did it 6 years ago and on a 4000hm route and want to test my limits again
nice video,i follow and do the GCN training videos at least 3 times a week,and cycle outside everytime the weather alows,training this year to a trip at Angliru and maybe Pirineus in May.
Angliru! Fantastic! But a tough one. Hope it goes well for you.
@@cilliankelly1 thank you,lets see how it goes...
As you said it yourself Cillian: you want to make sure you can tackle the hills and even enjoy yourself along the way. So I would say prepare to a certain level that gives you the confidence of being able to reach the finish line and my most strong advice is: don't forget to enjoy every second of the ride (which you might if you're over doing it a bit...) Flanders is awesome, have fun!
Thanks so much. I think I'm getting there. A few more big long rides before the big day and I'll be flying. You sound like you've done it before?
@@cilliankelly1 Absolutely....not! But I know both cycling and Flanders well enough. And apart from that: isn't it a simple basic rule to enjoy your bike, your ride and your cycling friends every second of the journey? 😉
Way to go Cillian you got this, the mental training is big, stick with it, it takes time to improve like training your fitness, but so worth it. It appeared to me that your saddle height while on the trainer was too low?! and I couldn't get a good view of it when you were on the bike, but might be worth getting a bike fit?! Good luck, following your every move!
Thanks Ewan! Yeah a few people are saying that about my saddle in the comments. I believe Wahoo provide a kind of bike fit setup for that specific bike (which I didn’t do 😬, so I should probably do it)
Great to see Cillan take this on. My FTP is about the same as his, so very relatable. I'm taking on one of the Tro Bro Leon sportives in May. Only 105 km.
Tro Bro Leon. Fantastic! One of the most underrated races on the calendar. Best of luck with it!
@@cilliankelly1 Thanks!
"only 105km" - That's still a great ride, enjoy it 🙌
Absolutely loved this 🙂
Cant wait to see Cillian's progress. Totally relatable👍
Thanks so much. Really glad you liked it. Have you got any big rides planned for this year?
Can't stress enough how important the advice of take it easy is for We Ride Flanders. Loving in Belgium I've ridden up the Paterberg a fair few times without having to put a foot down - except the times I've ridden We Ride Flanders and the accumulated fatigue you have by then mean it immeasurably harder. But its has crowds, cheerleaders and a DJ plus the event photographer all there to witness and document you getting off and pushing.Truly and walk of shame. So Take it real easy to avoid that walk!
Oh, and like the étape don't get embarrassed by other passing you - it probably won't be as bad as when I thought I was pretty fit to do We Ride Flanders on my light carbon Gravel bike with comfy 38mm tires - only to be overtaken on the Oude Kwaremont by a guy on a Brompton!
Thanks so much for the advice. I definitely won’t have any shame when people are passing me during the first couple of hours. But I don’t think I’ll have shame in walking up a hill or two either. Eddy Merckx did it!
Oh, and for your bike... double bar tape, 34/34 gear if you can, the widest tyres you can fit. Comfort is king on this ride. You can not believe how much the cobbles slow you down and batter you, but keep pedaling and you'll get around it and love the beers on the Sunday in a bar, watching the race, in awe of the pro's!!!
Double bar tape! Nice tip. Hasn’t thought of that. What’s your favourite Belgian beer?
Try not to hold your breath when you do the intense efforts. 🙂👍
Great tip... easy to forget 👀
Go Cillian, Good luck mate. Stick to the training and you will smash it
Thanks so much Paul!
Pump up the tires....and hit 'em hard ! My bike can only 23's and I rode 10 days in Flanders last spring without a flat @ 105psi. (Favorite climbs The Muur, Molenberg, Kemmelberg). Enjoy the trip!
Molenberg is so cool. My favourite too
practice your bike handling skills so you are confident on the cobbles - get somewhere with cobbled roads if you can and practice. Being able to find a good line and stay smooth over the rough sections means you aren't "wasting" power. At least where you are you'll be able to get plenty of wet weather practice in too.
Did it in 2017. Went out Wednesday before and rode all the great climbs with fewer people and the odd pro on recon. That way you can avoid disappointment when you get stuffed up on the Koppenberg on the day.
That's a cool way to do it 👀 How did it compare to riding the climbs as part of the event?
@@gcn on the day only the Koopenberg (of course) proved unridable due to crowds. Best part was we got to do laps on the Paterberg, Koppenberg and Oude Kwaremont at leisure. All just a short spin from the Museum in town with a few mineral waters to refresh oneself in the cafe upon completion.
Great work 🎉 I really enjoy watching GCN when they show the efforts and progress of normal people.
Cillian, forever the realest, loved this video ❤ Ohh, as for advice, just keep doing you 👍
I am like Cilian in that I need a goal or event to train for. This year it is the Tour de Steamboat and possibly the Race C4 in Cardston, Alberta, Canada. Ride on Cilian. Ride on.
Thanks so much John. Best of luck with the challenges!
Best of luck on your preparation. The Flanders ride is epic. The beauty, the camaraderie, and the intensity will fuel you on the day! All the best...
Belgian cobbles are vicious, so i would reccommend a very plush bike with wide tyres and relaxed geometry. Plus the hills are also worse than you think, so a 1:1 gearing would be a good shoutt
Aw, love Cillian! Good luck.
Flanders. Try different tyre pressures and find what works for you....on cobbles!
I've literally just been on holiday to flander this week and riding here is absolutely brutal especially on my 25mm tires at 80psi so please get a suspension gravel bike or something. The Muur, Bosberg, etc are brutal
I’ll see your holiday ride & raise you the full distance RVV randonee (all 260km) on 23mm tubs.
@@paulbrown4235 I'd really rather not 😅
I also did Roubaix with that set up, which I found easier.
@@paulbrown4235 what generation are you from? What sort of bike? I'm only a guy on a 2010's carbon race bike
I first did PRX in 2008 & RVV in 2009. Since done PRX another 4 times & RVV twice more. My trusty 2003 Colnago C50. I’ve since become a bit lame in my dotage & had to use 25mm tubs.
3 bits of advice from me. I did this ride in 2023. 1. Wear two pairs of shorts. 2. Ride in the gutters wherever you can - the cobbled ones are laid differently and are easier on you. 3 . Don't feel embarrassed to walk up a berg if you have to. Prepare yourself mentally for that possibility and don't allow it to feel like a failure. The last 20k or so are a blast if you get in a group and hammer it on the flat main road run-in to the finish. You'll love it!!!
Two pairs of shorts for extra arse padding?
When I did the RVV Sportive 10 years ago the guys who had the best run up the bergs were those who shouted loud enough for the stragglers to get out the way! Up, up, up!!!😂
Or shouted “gimme a push!!!!”
Go on Cillian! Does the trainer have a “cobble” mode? Those cobbles are very steep and very … cobbly. At 14:45, though, you have never “gotten” to do intervals outdoors! I especially “love” those outdoor 1 min climb efforts outdoors on a real hill rather than a trainer. I can empty myself going up a steep little hill like I cannot on a trainer - plus which that is what you are going to have to do. Lots of 1 min efforts.
Training how to unclip on a steep incline on how to walk humbly to the top of the paterberg. (That's what I do when i try to get up it)
Good to see you, Cillian 🙂 And best of luck!
Thanks so much! 🙌🏼
Some awesome pain faces there from Cillian!
You bet we've got screen shots 👀
Cillian's looking fit, and not entirely dissimilar to Andrew Feather. Is there a family connection?! Is GCN fielding a ringer?!?! Best of luck Cillian, you're representing the MAMIL contingent (me very definitely included)
We’re actually exactly the same age and height (I think). But I weigh twice as much as he does.
Great video! Best of luck.
Thanks a lot Michael!
I’m glad I’m not the only one terrified of a yoga class!🤣
Hahahaha you are not alone! No need to a class though 👉ruclips.net/video/vjS68HwVtOY/видео.html
Hi Cillian, my one piece of advise I'd give to you is get some experience of riding cobbles. There is nothing like it. The bike feels like is exploding beneath you, you can't hold the bars properly and your power goes through the roof. If you get the chance to hit some pavé before the big day, take it to avoid an almighty shock. Good luck with the training.
The flex on that front end!?!😂😂😂😂👹👹👹
Loved seeing the bike flex under the sprint loads..
I never even noticed! I’ll have to look back
@@cilliankelly1 around the 5 minute mark in this video.
Fair play Cillian, it’s a mental day out! And nothing can prepare you for the cobbles, but big tyres and low pressure helps a lot. Also keep pedaling as freewheeling is your enemy! Dropped chain, faster is smoother. Can’t for the next episode! Allez GCN 🚴🏽
If you can fit 30mm tyres on your bike, it will make a massive difference on the cobbled climbs and maybe some nice thick bar tape. Good luck 👍
Oooo controversial - is the gravel bike the ultimate classic bike?
If nothing else, Cillian, when the good weather comes, you can enjoy your local lanes as a super-fit cyclist.
Exactly!
Good luck Cillian!
No luck needed - just lots of hard work 👀
I laughed out loud a few times at this one. Great video
Ah great to hear. So glad you enjoyed it!
That's what we like to hear! We laughed at Cillian's pain to 😆
That fitness test would be able to instruct me to do almost anything. "Do a somersault". OK!
Do the cours one week later... Remember this when your walking up the koppenberg and patersberg
We have the same goal, I‘ll also do the 179km. See you there. My advice would be gym work. With weights. And track your nutrition. This got me a big step forward and I think it‘s very useful when you run out of gears which will happen on the Paterberg most likely.
If you see Cillian, make sure you say hello
@@gcn For sure. If he needs a bit of draft, I give a lot of it.
@@chrisridesbicycles Or a push!
@@cilliankelly1 Only when the cameras are not watching ;) I hope you have selected a nice retro jersey.
You've come a long way,Cillian! Good luck on this next quest and we'll be supporting you!
Thank you! 🙌🏼
Cillian, Just plan a 20km post ride loop around Oudenaarde for a 200km total. Maybe to a cafe and back kind of deal, a zero rush kind of roll.
Plan it, ride it beforehand (the 21km. Like day/s before), so you know it's landmarks for 'already here? cool.' and 'Almost done' headspace.
It's COMPLETLY DISMISSABLE!
bu-ut when you cross the line for the 180km if you just feel knackered but not a destroyed wreck, that extra 20km is just half a casual Sunday roll... *wink wink, nudge nudge*
I always found the extra km beyond 100km is much easier than trying to get to it in the first place. It's a weird mental space. Going from 80 to 100km weighs on you, but 100 to 120 isn't similar, feels less heavy. On familiar roads or not.
[I can already hear Dr. Oliver shaking his head an going "UGH! Sample size of one. FOR SHAME!"]
Some amount of flex in that wahoo thing 😮
Love that Raleigh jersey.
Me too!
The Raleigh Ti Jersey was the BEST part of this video, tbh. Great video, otherwise, too. Just sayin'. Guess I got old since when i started with GCN and now.
Change the diet, no alcohol from now till the race (only cos I’m having a month off the booze🤣) that’ll help combat snacking on junk food too. I reckon you could lose at least 10kg ready for the race which will have huge impact. Also, mix it up, don’t just cycle, go for a run or play a game of squash for example, you’ll get a real indicator of fitness when you do something that engages your whole body not just turning the pedals. Practice the push/pull technique on the pedals, that can really help on hills. You’ll smash this CIllian, looking forward to following your journey. You’ve got this…👍🏻
Thanks so much. I actually play soccer once a week on a Monday which provides a nice break from the cycling
Pat attention to your food and drinks. Especially when it's wet and cold, you consume a lot more energy whilst the cobbles are more of strain on your muscles than you might imagine. Go look for cobbles near home. You need to get used to those long hours out there. I did most of the classics about 30 years ago, and count your blessings having those modern gears instead of the 42x24 we struggled with. Good Luck.
Was only talking about modern vs retro gear ratios with my Dad yesterday. I don’t know how anybody did anything with those old gear ratios. Madness.
Wishing you the best!
Thank you! 🙌🏼
I'm glad to know that there are people with an FTP lower than mine.
Glad to be of service!
I’ve got a request for gcn. Can you bring back Matt Stephens to host a training session. A one off comeback special.
Cillian for Prez ❤.
A cyclist we can relate to 👍
UCI President?
Looking very trim Cillian!
Take a trip to Yorkshire to practice the cobbles
Aye...on a Hovis bread bike.
How about Eroica for next year? Italy? Sunshine.... chianti... gelato.... and Cillian on a steel frame bike and woolly kit???? Please????? 😊
Rumour has it, Cillian is booking his flights already!
that expression at 8:14 is priceless!
4DP is a cruel joke 😂 Quite similar to my results. FTP 190W; MAP 235W; AC 358W; NM 887 the last time I did it. really interested to see how you get on with your training
I think I was a bit disappointed with my FTP result. It said 173… Zwift had me on 185 last I checked. Plenty of room for improvement anyway!