What a load of fun. A week before the race I had no idea what I wanted to do, 8 seemed a bit too much, 4 I was keen for but really lacked some motivation to be honest, and I have been lacking that a bit since Worlds. But I had a call from Anne who was keen for a pair, and it was just the kick I needed, team Radical was go.
I must admit we were a little relaxed arriving thinking it is all good I got my bottle's, food what else do I need. Quick chat to Kylie head over to Andrew and Robyn who had an awesome setup and we were lucky enough to be invited in. Little did we know how much we would need that shade later on. Next time it will be my turn to bring it, as long a Bailey still comes, got to love having a dog around :).
I was up first and I was a keen for a good start. I had not done a pairs for a long time but I was keen to get some speed into the legs, knowing I'd get a break. So I headed off with Gaz and I trading a few places it was pretty fun not feeling like I needed to be conservative. It was a fun track and really happy it was not a repeat of the Worlds tracks, but really surprised as I expected the tracks to be a little more worse for wear. After putting out a good first test lap I was happy to come in and hand over to Anne.
This repeated several time's and it was heating up, I kept the intensity there and on my 4th I felt some twinges of cramps but kept them at bay. Into the finish and Anne tells me to go again, and it is all good and I ease it off a little and I knew it could be a long lap if cramps set in. They did on and off, with the muscules rolling in my calves I got the rest of my fluids in but rode it through. But after coming in I knew I'd only 1 more lap to go and it would be all over....maybe.
So the last lap and I was cruising, not wanting a repeat of cramps I was happy to roll it out as we did not have much chance of catching 1st and 2nd was practically cemented. It was pretty quite on the track but still enjoying the flow. After Willo's link I decided to put a little more effort in as I knew cramps would not stop me now. Back to the 4x track over some humps and pssssssssst. Awesome with this being the last lap it did not matter with a roll down to the finish, to let Anne finish it off.
I was pretty surprised the cafe latex did not fully seal the hole, it was not small though, made a real mess of the bike with a skin layer mix with dirt ;).
All in all pretty happy with the effort with 3 laps all being within 3 seconds :). Plus a huge thanks to Anne for helping in my decision and getting me the motivation into the race. Andrew, Robyn and Bailey for letting us share your shade and company (Bailey did make me pay in the form of sharing my TORQ bars), and everyone else who provided the good times and fun.
On the test I had a Garmin 800, loved it and still playing and working it all out. Yep my first Garmin, so it is taking a while, if only I can get it to talk to my powertap......Review to come.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Friday, November 5, 2010
The roller coaster
Lately my riding has been a little like this. Last week feeling good after a good couple of sessions I headed to the crits. I opened up my matchbox and they were all burnt. I had nothing someone put the rev limier on and I was not riding like I should have, I completed B grade and I was like a diesel truck....fully loaded. I also did a few extra laps with the other grades but I could tell it was not right so pulled the pin on them. I have no idea why but everyone has bad days. Saturday I went for a little ride just a little tester to see what I would have for the Fitz’s.......I rolled the dice and got a 1, legs were not responding.
Sunday the Fitz’s 165k challenge, I woke up with raining weather, checked BOM, and although there was a heavy band I knew it would not last and thought I should roll the dice again and see what my legs can do. Well I got to Stromlo and watched a Commodore nearly get bogged, I did the rego, got ready and waited. The weather felt like it just turned itself off, and we were on the start line, with a quick brief and go.
I jumped to the front of the pack to hopefully avoid the wheel spray and roll down to the cotter. On the other side was the first challenge, to stay with the group up the first climb, wahoo my legs responded, and the group dropped to about 10. Each climb was a test each one getting harder but surviving....till got close to my work, and simple little climb and I was dropped legs were feeling limited but I could maintain a solid pace which held. I kept plugging away mot losing any ground I got to the short Birragi climb. I was close and felt like I could jump on the train, and just as I got close they stopped....rain jackets were coming off. Yay, I was back this time cruising behind the front 2 riders. I knew all I had to do was 1 more effort to stay with them till Fitz’s, and that was just out of Tharwa. This train was not stopping at the Tharwa check point straight through and onto the climb. I held my top end pace which was slowly dropping, I was dropping back through the group about ¾ of the way up the last rider went past but I held his wheel to the top...just. I was happy, it does not seem like much of an accomplishment to most but I was happy a little goal in my head was achieved.
We got to Fitz’s hill and I was off the back doing my own ride. It seems my diesel was now plugging away up at a similar pace as a few of the others that had blew off there steam. At the top some riders go for a little recovery but I’m happy to carry through and take the advantage. This was pretty much how it went for the rest of the ride, I plugged away overtaking riders at checkpoints and sometime's being overtaken on the roads etween. I was starting to enjoy it, things were looking good. The head wind was strong and nobody seemed to be working in groups. Plugging away now 30k’s to go I started to come alive again the end is near, so I slowly ramped it up. The pushing up Mt McDonald seemed really good still a little headwind but really hoping it would soon turn to a tail when I hit the sister’s. I throw the dice and hit the sisters as hard as I could, the tail wind was there, and it felt great to come home strong, the sisters had never felt so easy. So back to Stromlo feeling a little smashed like I had finished a short XC race with the tired leg feeling of a solo 24 hour, I was done and I left it all out on the road.
So after this effort I took it easy, I knew it would have taken its toll. Also with some bad planning on my part it seemed difficult to get the rides into work or home like I wanted. But Wednesday I got the ride home and it was great I had some fire in the legs, and rode home with some workmates, with Clayton pushing and testing my limits, and Tim keeping us very honest making it hard to get the recovery in. So all was good.
Thursday crit day, well this one was going to be different, I headed home from work due to a support later that night. The weather was miserable, my plan was to get some sleep wake up at 4:30 and get ready and go. I woke up with about 1.5 hours sleep and felt like a zombie, motivation was low to get organised and drive. So the easy option it is I did not want to roll that dice, plus the thought of muddy conditions again was a real turn off.
So the past week I feel like I have been on the coaster with some great up’s and some down’s not knowing what is coming. Don’t really know why but hopefully this afternoon after a little nap those matches will be restored to the full packet to light it up. Sometime's really we feel like this for a reason, just half the time we don't know that reason.
Sunday the Fitz’s 165k challenge, I woke up with raining weather, checked BOM, and although there was a heavy band I knew it would not last and thought I should roll the dice again and see what my legs can do. Well I got to Stromlo and watched a Commodore nearly get bogged, I did the rego, got ready and waited. The weather felt like it just turned itself off, and we were on the start line, with a quick brief and go.
I jumped to the front of the pack to hopefully avoid the wheel spray and roll down to the cotter. On the other side was the first challenge, to stay with the group up the first climb, wahoo my legs responded, and the group dropped to about 10. Each climb was a test each one getting harder but surviving....till got close to my work, and simple little climb and I was dropped legs were feeling limited but I could maintain a solid pace which held. I kept plugging away mot losing any ground I got to the short Birragi climb. I was close and felt like I could jump on the train, and just as I got close they stopped....rain jackets were coming off. Yay, I was back this time cruising behind the front 2 riders. I knew all I had to do was 1 more effort to stay with them till Fitz’s, and that was just out of Tharwa. This train was not stopping at the Tharwa check point straight through and onto the climb. I held my top end pace which was slowly dropping, I was dropping back through the group about ¾ of the way up the last rider went past but I held his wheel to the top...just. I was happy, it does not seem like much of an accomplishment to most but I was happy a little goal in my head was achieved.
We got to Fitz’s hill and I was off the back doing my own ride. It seems my diesel was now plugging away up at a similar pace as a few of the others that had blew off there steam. At the top some riders go for a little recovery but I’m happy to carry through and take the advantage. This was pretty much how it went for the rest of the ride, I plugged away overtaking riders at checkpoints and sometime's being overtaken on the roads etween. I was starting to enjoy it, things were looking good. The head wind was strong and nobody seemed to be working in groups. Plugging away now 30k’s to go I started to come alive again the end is near, so I slowly ramped it up. The pushing up Mt McDonald seemed really good still a little headwind but really hoping it would soon turn to a tail when I hit the sister’s. I throw the dice and hit the sisters as hard as I could, the tail wind was there, and it felt great to come home strong, the sisters had never felt so easy. So back to Stromlo feeling a little smashed like I had finished a short XC race with the tired leg feeling of a solo 24 hour, I was done and I left it all out on the road.
So after this effort I took it easy, I knew it would have taken its toll. Also with some bad planning on my part it seemed difficult to get the rides into work or home like I wanted. But Wednesday I got the ride home and it was great I had some fire in the legs, and rode home with some workmates, with Clayton pushing and testing my limits, and Tim keeping us very honest making it hard to get the recovery in. So all was good.
Thursday crit day, well this one was going to be different, I headed home from work due to a support later that night. The weather was miserable, my plan was to get some sleep wake up at 4:30 and get ready and go. I woke up with about 1.5 hours sleep and felt like a zombie, motivation was low to get organised and drive. So the easy option it is I did not want to roll that dice, plus the thought of muddy conditions again was a real turn off.
So the past week I feel like I have been on the coaster with some great up’s and some down’s not knowing what is coming. Don’t really know why but hopefully this afternoon after a little nap those matches will be restored to the full packet to light it up. Sometime's really we feel like this for a reason, just half the time we don't know that reason.
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