Into it

Well next week I am back into a program and looking forward to it. I have had a good break from the bike and the last couple of weeks I have been easing myself back in, even with a head cold.

I have been, like I always seem to do between training blocks, I really get set up for the next one.
So I have taken the opportunity to re calibrate my ibike, which was making me look a lot better than I really was. So hopefully a ride with Jase will confirm its accuracy, if not I will be able to make it all match pretty closely. For the first time I should have an almost accurate power meter. The ibike does work really well and it continues to improve and the latest firmware update is encouraging. Just a cal this time and I can tell it is pretty close to accurate, but the only way to confirm that it is a good calibration is to give it a run with a meter that is accurate. The ibke is always consistent and reliable, just hard to get right in the way that “is that really a 380W 20min FTP test” nah can’t be.
I went out and did a 20min FTP test on Thursday night and these things hurt. I usually go out a little hard then settle down after 4-5 minutes and hold a solid level at 165 bpm. This time I struggled after 10min and dropped 10%, but I am still happy with the result I averaged 171 bpm, even after nearly a month off the bike.
My new trek which is a fantastic bike and love riding it, has a problem with it’s free hub, so hopefully a warranty fix will happen. But I have some new XTR wheels on there way, which I found at a great price (I guess the 2010 stuff will be out soon) so it should be back on the tracks very soon. My Anthem developed a leak in the forks during the plane trip home so I am planning a service for them very soon. So mountain biking is out this weekend unless that little postal slip from yesterday is actually my wheels.

I have entered into the Scott, as a 2 man team. For some stupid reason John Howell was interested, so I booked him in before he could change his mind. I think it will be a pretty relaxed ride around Stromlo this year.

The Angry Doc has crept up on me once again, and it should be a good one. I plan to just have fun out there and enjoy the great tracks. I hope they get some rain down that way soon, otherwise get the dust masks ready ;).

The Worlds is almost here, can’t wait it watch the best do there thing, hopefully pick up on some little tricks. Last year we did the marshalling thing, for the downhill and watched the 4x. This year we will head out for the XC, no doubt it is going to be big. I’ll have to get onto eBay and try to get myself a cow bell. Last year I think there was a competition going for who had the most annoying and loud cheer of encouragement. I gave that prize to a girl who continually just screamed as loud as she could “get off the brakes, go harder, get off the brakes, don’t be a girl” it was pretty repetitive, even when she was losing her voice she was still screaming. So get out there, if the riders don’t keep you entertained the crowd will ;), it is all good stuff.

Kendra is getting back out there preparing for the Scott; she has a few events to work towards. She has also entered into the Fitz’s challenge which is 110k’s, and entering us into the Polaris. After being off the bike of a while she is gaining confidence with every ride, and really getting into it again. She is even trying to talk me into doing a double RPM class at Club Lime tomorrow, please don’t rain please no rain and it’s a bunch ride, rain and she’s got me cornered ;).

Solving issues

Every race you learn that extra bit of info, and it usually takes a few weeks for it to really set in and work out why. My bot bot issue I think came from my road bike which I ride 70% of the time or not really spending enough time on my MTB saddle. I guess what I have come to conclude is that road bike and mountain bike saddles are different and come in contact with different area's. So after a little road ride the other day by bot that had contact with the seat was not the area that was sore. Being a narrower seat and different shape to MTB saddles meant that I was spending most of my riding time where my point of contact would be different to a race condition. OK I have done lots of 24 hour racing but I brought this bike early this year and the Worlds course was very rough so I really did not expect this to happen.

So time to put a MTB saddle on the roadie, and hopefully eventually buy so new saddles so that they are all the same. Not only that I plan to buy new knicks for every race one's that I know are good and that I train in (Thanks Karen for this tip). Plus get some better cream that has been recommended by someone who has had issues in the past (Thanks Mr P identity discolsed).

Everything else was going perfect, I did have some small cramps which I think I had a little dehydration from the 36 degrees but they were only little and came good quickly.

Anyway I have updated my race report with some cool pic, for the kids I did not add one of my bot, and no for those of you that asked I did not take one either. Here is the link:

http://crankin-kwells.blogspot.com/2009/07/update-on.html

Alaska it is just....... well look for yourself

So last week we were cruising it and enjoying every moment. I got to say it was a perfect to take time out after everything we had done. We really apart from the 3 port days sat back enjoyed the views from many bars, cafe's, and even an ice creamery. It was like a 5 star resort, and had our towels made into a different animals every day, it was pretty cool.

Port days were great, we did a native tour, a lumberjack show, dog mushing, Canoe adventure tour, and the Skagway railway. These days were busy but lots of fun.

Alaska is really amazing and as you can tell by the pictures all the mountains were carved by ice making the all fiords. Cruising Tracey's arm really have me running around the ship with my camera for 2 hours taking picture's it was an amazing place.

Pictures don't really justify it, and would encourage anyone to go and see. It really had it all.

Now we are in LA, and had dinner at Martha'a house which was fantastic. Martha has retired but use to work for the JPL/NASA. We meet up with most of the people I have contact with here through work including there family's and had a great time. Mike Winders and his family who used to work at Goldstone (similair site to Canberra's) made his way down from Reno and it was great to see them. When I went to Goldstone every lunch we would go out mountain bike riding on site, and it is a US military site (which is desert) empty tank shells were everywhere and it was very different, but that is another story. Disneyland tomorrow should be pretty cool. Flying home Friday at midnight, hopefully we will be able to get some sleep then.

Postcard

Well I am thinking postcards are a thing of the past, so instead I thought I would post one up for everyone to see with my own pictures. Yeah it is not too personal but at least it includes everyone that is interested.

Coyote at Jasper

Lake Louise

Got to love these little guys Squirrels they were everywhere with lots of personality.

Grizzily bear at Golden how cool is he.

We are having a great time, and are currently in Whistler and it is very hot. There were bush fires here the other day, and alot of the main walking tracks are closed and everywhere is pretty smokey. So we have just taken it easy and looking forward to our cruise starting tomorrow. No bike riding here still not quite ready to ride almost there ;).

Lake Louise was soo nice, we did all the walking tracks they had to offer with some great views, glaciers, tea houses, lakes well worth all the climbing up the hills.

I don't know how much communication we will have on the cruise but if you don't here from us we most likely just have none, and enjoying ourselves.

Talk soon Kev and Kendra.