Hanging Mountain

From Tuross Heads to Hanging Mountain and back is one ride that will test your hill climbing endurance. When I first did this ride back about 12 years ago, I can remember looking down at my Speedo thinking if only I could get my speed up above 8km/h it would be so much better, the climb seemed to last forever.
This time I was heading up there for my 3rd time, and I was really looking forward to it. I left my parents house at 5:20am, it was a perfect morning, with little traffic on the road. I pushed up the Princess highway and turned towards the fire trail onto Western Boundary road. The whole ride is on fire trail and is a pretty smooth run all the way. This trail to Little sugarloaf road was uphill and very undulating., and heads straight for Deua National Park and I was very surprised to get there on an hour of riding. Along little sugarloaf is where most of the climbing begins, this is where it just seems to never end. Being stronger this time it did seem to be easier from what I remembered and looking towards my destination during my climb encouraged a good pace.
Before I knew it I was there well under the 3 hour mark I was hoping for. Looking at the view of where I had just come from is always rewarding on this ride. As you can see (by the bottom picture) there is a clear view to Mt Dromedary. Heading back was very quick, putting some power down and keeping my speed up made the up hill sections very easy work. I completed the 75k’s in 4.5 hours which was about 1 hour quicker than any other time I have ridden it. I did feel pretty tired though and I knew I had pushed it pretty hard. A great ride and a lot of fun. Next time I am down there I will have to try Mt Dromedary.

Merry Christmas

What could be better than a bike for Christmas? maybe a Malvern star?. Nope sorry it is not mine, but it will be Clayton's daugther, Emily's in just 2 sleeps. You know the drill you have to hide it till the day, I could not resist on the photo.
But I hope you all have a great one, play it safe, and hopefully have a nice little holiday. I'll be working, but there will be a nice little relax down the coast to look forward to.
Enjoy.

The bakers bunch (on the dark side)

After some great riding during the week, trying to work to my program, Jase asked me to join him on a roadie bunch ride. This was no ordinary bunch ride, even though it is a pretty flat ride, it was a bunch ride that did scare me a little. It was known to be a very fast lap around Canberra, and to make it the whole way you have to be a really, really good rider.
We left Lanyon early to get into Phillip at 6:30am to set off with the big boys. The group set off at a cracking pace, heading up Adelaide Ave at 55kph was great fun. Once we hit Northbourne we ran into a little trouble with the red lights and Jase's chain coming off we were well off the back with no chance of getting back on. So we kept at it, and tacked onto a few other riders that had been dropped to make a nice little group of 4-5.
We continued out through Dunlop, Ngunnawal, Gungahlin, all these places I had never ridden before. With this in mind I could not be dropped or I'd be lost. I kept at it to Watson, when Jase and I decided to head back onto Northbourne. We tryed our best not to let the pace drop, on our way back down Northbourne, Adelaide Ave, through Phillip, Tugg lake and back home.
I was really working at my limits, my legs were hurting all the way, but there was no way I was going to give in. I had to sit at the back of the pack and try to hang on and I only just managed to do that.
I had a great time, and can honestly say I have never worked so hard on a bike. I averaged 77% of max H/R for 3.5 hours it is no wonder my legs were lactic. Thanks Jase for the ride, I really was in a world of hurt, and it was one of the best training sessions I have done.
This will be 1 session that I might have to try to fit into my program.

Giant XTC3 2006

Here is my hardy hard tail. This picture was taken during Shane’s bucks weekend which was very close to an Easter solo 24 by memory, so I had to take my bike. Great weekend I am still laughing about the lawn bowls, I'll keep that story for the boys.
It has been a great bike, I have thrown some pretty harsh rides at it over a few years and it has just taken everything in typical hardtail fashion. There is nothing special about it, but it is good to have to re-learn those basic skills. Before I had my road bike I used it allot as a commuter, and it has seen many k’s. It will be my recovery bike for spinning the legs till the Worlds, so it will see some use around Tuggeranong hill.

Merida 904

This is my work horse, it gets me there almost every day. It is a great bike that I had brought off my mate Scotty a few years ago I paid less for it than my bike computer ;). This roadie does the hard yards and I have put so many k’s on this thing to and from work it is one trusty old bike. I think I have only washed it a couple of times, and I know all you roadies are shocked and disgraced, but it’s my commuter ;).
With 105 components that have worked flawlessly, carbon forks and an alloy frame that give’s my bum a bit of a hard time, it is perfect for training for 24’s on.

Data Geek

Well after a few weeks of calibrating using and generally playing with my new ibike ipro I thought it was good enough to let you know what it is like.

The ibike ipro is basically a bike computer that logs all your data. But it also calculates your power output. This is done by working out all the resistive forces and working backwards to work out the power requirement to overcome those forces and ride at that given speed. My ibike logs gradients, elevation, wind speed, speed, cadence, heart rate, power, distance and time have I missed anything? ;)
To begin with I had quite a few delays in getting it due to the new gen 3 model coming out, only for it to arrive with no USB connector. But now that I have everything and it is finally calibrated accurately (I think) it is a great tool. Calibrations were a little hit and miss to begin with, I was trying to do it in windy conditions, and I could not download anything to the computer and was a bit of a headache. But now I have it worked it out, pick a calm day do lots of repetitive coast downs, pick one that looks about average (after you downloaded them to the computer), load in the values and away you go. Generally I think it is pretty accurate, but it is hard to tell when you have nothing to compare it with.
It is funny though, I am no geek, I usually leave my mobile phone at home, hardly use it let alone all the features. But I must admit this is an item that I use all its features. I like the data and it is great to see how hard I worked or where I just had nothing and see the reasons why.
I am using WKO+ software, and I am amazed with the amount of graphs, and details this program automatically comes up with to analyse the data. It keeps a record of all the rides for future reference. All my data can be sent off to my coach so he knows exactly where I am at.
This is no doubt a great training tool that I can use almost every day. I did think it was a bit of a toy to begin with, but so far it has proved to be a valuable training tool.
Well my big block puts out over 1300watts (As I say with a big grunt).

It's all starting

Well after the long wait for my power meter, it has arrived including all the bits. So now after some specific testing I have sent the details off to my Coach (FTP) and I'm ready for my program for the next 12 weeks of base training.
This is pretty exciting for me, I have never put my riding into someone else's hands. The way I will be riding it might be my life, as there will be lots of hours in the saddle, and changes to our routine. I know if I want to do well this is the way to go but it is scary stuff for Kendra and I.
I feel ready I have put in some good training over the last few weeks to build off, so I feel semi fit. Mixed emotions, I can't wait but I'm scared at the same time. It will be a long hard journey to the Worlds, it seems crazy to do all this for just 1 race, but that is 24 hour racing we are a crazy breed ;). Time to feel the hurt and push through the tiredness and fatigue.

Bullen Range

What a ride, on the way to work this morning my legs were totally wasted from this ride, so a real good training workout. We set out at 7am meeting Jase and Adam at point hut. Heading off we knew we were in for some climbing setting a good pace up to the fire road which winds its way up onto the range. These were great new fire roads with plenty of traction for the steep climbs.
Along the top of the range we had some great views east to Canberra and west to the Brindies, Tidbinbilla and my work the Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex.
I had travelled along this route before to and from work but the turn off towards the Cottor was venturing into unknown territory.
We turned to head off my known track into a massive uphill grind. We started Jase leading the way, it was relentless usually I can just keep my slow pace going but this time my H./R was up legs were getting heavy and had to give in half way up. Jase absolutely smashed it up there and kept going while Adam and I pushed.
Back along the ridge we were doing the rollercoaster thing again up and down with some very nasty downs if you were not ready for them. This section was great fun lots of little jumps to get some air, then winding all the way down to the Cottor caves. I had completely forgot about this place till I saw it, I had not been there since I was very young.
From here we headed back onto the road to the Cottor, and then the Climb out up to civilisation. Adam was putting in some big ones up this long climb, Jase was up for it but I was slowly dropping back. Adam was giving me some hurt but managed to keep within a few hundred meters.
We had managed to get to Stromlo, now the pass over Cooleman ridge with a good solid pace; I was hanging off the back keeping up. Then came to footpath bash to say goodbye to Adam at Lake Tuggeranong and then back home via the Pine Island to Point hut single track.
A great morning out that pushed me through the limits. I really needed that usually I go out for a ride set an easy pace. So thanks for the hurt guys.

Here is Jase’s version: http://www.wickedrides.com.au/bullen/?screenWidth=1024
Thanks Jase for the picture’s, looks like I will have to buy a new Camera.