You got it exactly. My prep for RAMROD is to do equivalent climbs but on shorter routes. There are 2 major climbs each prep route which total 65%-75% of goal event gain and distance. We have long climbs out here. The last climb on each I give all I've got left, not that I go moderate on any of them. I do 3 prep rides like that on consecutive weekends right before my taper. On the big climbs, I know what my effort should be and just keep it steady w/o respect to gradient, bottom to top, using about the same cadence all the way. Midweek I mostly do steady moderate, trying to allow my CTL to rise about 3 points/week. I'm 4 years older and every year makes a bigger difference. Our oldest finisher is usually ~80. You still have time for more fun.
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