A year in the life of a wannabe racer- Part 2!

[ldrcycles]

[shareyoutube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMfrLFirGWc[/shareyoutube]

So, i'm getting married tomorrow...

But more to the point, i went for a ride this morning! . 25odd k of JRA, chasing down bunches. Didn't feel all that great but worked up a good sweat and got in some ripper sprints. My suitcase is all packed for the honeymoon in tasmania, SPD SL pedals and shoes, spare tube and levers, minipump and the Bryton. Come at me Mt Wellington!







(assuming i actually manage to find a bike to hire while i'm in hobart, dead end so far)

[singlespeedscott]

Enjoy your day.

Just a little tip. Forget the cycling on the honeymoon. It's about you and her not the bike.

[ldrcycles]

Now that feels better! With the wedding FINALLY done and dusted, beloved and I are both much happier people than we have been in some time. All the stress and worry that had built up just disappeared like the flick of a switch.

The day went absolutely perfectly (not least as I was able to go for a VERY CAREFUL ride in the morning to settle my nerves) and as much as it's a cliché, it really was the happiest day of my life. The honeymoon was great too, we walked through Cataract Gorge, went to a seahorse farm, saw Cradle Mountain, went to the unbelievably wild South West and drove down to the town of Snug, purely for the purpose of getting a photo with a sign that said Snug .

And I did get to ride Wellington! Thanks to forum member LG, who leant me a nice Eddy Merckx (and a spray jacket...).

The morning started off clear and sunny, then got a bit overcast by the time I picked up the bike and set off. Most of the way up I was in light mist/drizzle to rain at times, but went along nicely. By 3k to the top the fog was so thick I could barely see 50 metres, and then the weather closed in about 1.5-2k from the finish. By the final stretch I could see 10 metres at most and the wind was so strong the rain was going straight up! Not to mention it was only about 8-9 degrees .

In the time it took me to run into the shelter and put on arm warmers, the weather got even worse, and after being nearly knocked off the bike by the wind, then attempting to run down the mountain to get to the less exposed lower slopes (not going to happen ) I went back to the shelter and had to wait, shivering, for over an hour and a half for a taxi to pick me up.

All in all, a fantastic ride! Only 20 for 1,189m of climbing . There's nothing like that happening here on the coast , can't wait to get back down there sometime. And best of all, even though the weather meant I was gone for 4 or 5 hours instead of the expected 2, my new wife was delighted I had gone for the ride, I couldn't have picked a better woman . After all, letting me go for one ride seems a reasonable trade for acting as a personal coach/psychiatrist for the months leading up to the wedding .

So now we are back home and things have settled down, it's back into riding.
First ride back was the Noosa Century short course, starting and finishing at Coolum. 93k in 3hrs 2, a fair way off my best of 2hrs 30 or 40something but not bad for solo, in the rain, with a head wind to finish, and atrocious form. It's very apparent that the half hour rides snatched here and there over the last couple of months kept me good enough to do wellington, but the legs have lost a lot of ability for a longer ride.

The next day was a commute, intended to be very easy to recover, but I woke up late . Ticked along ok though.

A few more 100-120k rides on the horizon, then I have mapped out some 'interesting' (aka suicidal) hillier routes once my legs are back on duty.
My Bryton has kicked the bucket, it won't switch on or talk to the computer, so it's back at the shop for a while.

[singlespeedscott]

My Bryton has kicked the bucket, it won't switch on or talk to the computer, so it's back at the shop for a while.

Just use your phones Strava app. Lachie. It's easier.

[ldrcycles]

Ah but i'm on pre paid with pretty much no data. That and the number of rides I've seen going in straight lines over winding roads, out to sea, or into orbit and back have me a bit wary of using a phone.

[singlespeedscott]

I have had no such issues. The only straight lines have been when I turned the Strava app off during a break, forgot to restart when heading off again than restarted later on in the ride. I have also found it uses 5/8 of buggar all data. The phone is just an easier option. It comes with me everywhere anyway and as soon as the rides done it downloads straight to Strava.

[foo on patrol]

I use Strava and have seen no such things either.

Foo

[ldrcycles]

My brother and one of the locals have had problems like that. I'll have a crack with Stef's phone (she's on a plan and has a heap of data). Hopefully I get my Bryton back/replaced soon.

Another crack at the Noosa Century short course this morning, 7 minutes faster than on Monday though I still feel a long way off my best. The legs seem to remember what they're supposed to do, and they're coming back pretty well. Most of the ride was fairly uneventful (apart from going WAY too hard from Coolum to Noosa chasing other riders ) until the airport at Marcoola. I came up on a bloke on a blue and black Giant, wearing a XXXX Gold jersey and ticking along in the small ring. I passed him easily enough and sat on 38 for a while before I noticed a 2nd shadow. So naturally I stepped it up a bit, and held 39-42kmh for the next 3 k, which hurt like hell after 90k.

I blew up barely 100m from my turn off, and as he came around we looked at each other and both burst out laughing . Great way to finish a ride.

[ldrcycles]

Mobile phones .

Headed out this morning to snatch a quick few k in the little time I had available and took Stef's phone with me as I wanted to record a time for a ridiculously steep climb below Mt Ninderry. I rode 50m past the end of the segment, just to make sure, but when I uploaded it the phone reckoned I was 50m short AARRHH!!

VERY annoying, not least because even in the 39-28 it was incredibly hard going, not all that keen on doing it again .

But the good news is, I got the Bryton back this arvo! All fixed, so i'm off at 4 tomorrow morning for 100 miles or thereabouts, having a crack at a climb I explored in the car yesterday .

EDIT: and while I was at the shop I also got my hands on some bars that should be more comfortable/usable than the horrible 44cm 'anatomic' ones I had on the Oppy (as they were all I had at the time). Wrapped them up with some new tape and i'll give them a good workout tomorrow.

[singlespeedscott]

while I was at the shop I also got my hands on some bars that should be more comfortable/usable than the horrible 44cm 'anatomic' ones I had on the Oppy (as they were all I had at the time).

I have no idea how anyone finds anatomic bars comfy.

The hook at the levers is usually to small to fit your hand, same also applies to the drops. I like to sit there when cruising into a headwind. I can't possible ride anatomical there as they just don't have enough room for my palms.

[ldrcycles]

I have no idea how anyone finds anatomic bars comfy.

I don't know why they still make the things, I haven't come across anyone yet who likes them.

As the title suggests, this morning it is windy and raining AGAIN here on the 'sunshine' coast . On the plus side, the new bars are very good, it's rather odd that the new, smaller carbon bars are 10g heavier, not as stiff and transmit more buzz than the old aluminium ones . Weird, but the shape is so much better that on the whole i'm a long way ahead.

My planned ride of Coolum to Caloundra, up Mt Mellum to Maleny then through Conondale and Kenilworth, up Obi Obi and back to the coast didn't quite happen. Heading down the coast into a strong headwind and rain well before dawn had the speed right down, so instead of carrying on down to Caloundra I tried to escape the wind by going over Buderim to Eudlo. Not the flattest route but at least the wind wasn't so bad.

After going along Tunnel Ridge Rd between Mooloolah and Landsborough (which looked like rolling terrain on Street View, but actually had solid stretches north of 25%) it was time for the queen climb of the morning, Bald Knob via Mt Mellum. 10.8km in all with long stretches over 20%, the 39-28 was just barely enough, especially with my disappointingly poor legs.

By this stage time was running short, so I got Herself to pick me up at Glenview. 86k for 1,400m is still reasonable. The rain will have to stop eventually .

[singlespeedscott]

Nice ride mate. I'll have to deduct kudos on Strava for the pickup by the missus though.

[ldrcycles]

Nice ride mate. I'll have to deduct kudos on Strava for the pickup by the missus though.

. And I was wearing a spray jacket too, there goes any HTFU points .

Damn keen to see the back of this weather, it's really getting in the way.

[singlespeedscott]

Certainly getting a bit tiresome. Dare I say it, bring back the drought.

[ldrcycles]

This morning I woke up and checked the BOM radar, surprise surprise, rain everywhere. So I chickened out of cycling to work.

During the day though I decided that enough was enough, if I was going to let some coloured blobs decide what I would do, I will never achieve what I want to, so from now on regardless of what the weather is doing, if I'm supposed to ride, i'm riding.

To that end, I set off at 5:30 this afternoon to do the Noosa Century short course again, in spite of rain and wind. After 17k I got a puncture (the first since I changed to Maxxis Refuse, about 3500k ago!) from a chunk of glass twice the size of my wife's engagement ring. Popped the new tube in and set off again, but before I reached Yandina it was clear I was bonking. I had eaten before leaving as per usual, but forgot that lunch had been very limited, so I was already down a bit, and I forgot to take a gel.

The last few k were pretty hard, but I got another 86k done, so a decent result.

And I really need to find the charger for my Magicshine light, the 120lumen thing I have atm is not enough in the country, I almost ran over a tawny frogmouth coming down Eumundi Range .

[ldrcycles]

Another crack at the Noosa Century short course, this time starting in Noosa after finishing work. Very happy with that decision as it meant going down the Eumundi Range with some daylight still available.

More wind and rain , but I felt a lot better, no doubt helped by having a proper feed first. Get the basics right and the basics will get you right.

Cracked along nicely, and even managed to set a few PRs, thanks in no small part to Obi-Wan Foo sitting on my shoulder whispering "Paaace Yourseeeelff" .

Finished pretty strong, although my everything was hurting quite a bit . 91k in 2:45, very happy with that.

[ldrcycles]

A great day on the bike, another short course down, this time with a detour through Noosa Heads to Hastings St.

Felt pretty strong on the flats but my climbing was pretty poor, i'll need to get myself along to Gyndier with the Dawes to sort that out .

Broke 3 pbs that I only set on Friday .

Pic between Yandina and Bli Bli, looking towards Mt Ninderry.




The big surprise for today (other than seeing the sun for the first time in god knows) was feeling REALLY good going down Eumundi Range Rd, it was the most relaxed I have been on a downhill in a LONG time, I think i'm finally starting to work through 'the fear' that I got from my 2 big crashes. Eumundi Range is pretty rough, so not an easy downhill, so i'm very relieved to be getting into a mindset to be able to let the bike get a full head of steam. Contemplating getting some 25mm tyres before the Century to make things a little smoother though.

All up 95k in 2:55 (which was then followed up by a little of this)



(yep cycling isn't the only pastime where I prefer old steel over modern stuff ).


Just realised this week was a total of 391k, now we're talking!!

[ldrcycles]

Today I felt like a longer ride, so pointed the Oppy south and rode from Coolum to Kilcoy and back.

For once on a longer ride I actually had some nice weather (which means I now have EPIC tan lines! ) and I fitted aerobars to see how they would go on a long distance ride. They were AMAZING. Just pick a big gear, lie down on the bike and motor along. On the return leg between Wamuran and Caboolture I averaged 39kmh after 170km!

For the whole 259k I clocked a moving average of 32kmh . By the time I was nearing the end I was pretty knackered, to the point where, coming over the Maroochy River Bridge I saw something on my handlebars and panicked thinking "what the hell is that!?" before realising it was the aerobars I had been riding on for SEVEN AND A HALF HOURS . Bit tired I think!

The ride had plenty of those 'moments' that make a great ride, a beautiful sunset over Lake Currimundi, the country around Kilcoy looking fantastic after the rain and riding through the Glass House Mountains wondering exactly how blotto Cook must have been on his rum ration to stand on his glorified tinny and say "Hark, yonder mountain looketh like a glass house!"

Coming into Kilcoy an oncoming truck tooted hello to me, and after giving him a wave and big smile, I was still thinking how nice it was of him to say hello when the very dirty B Double cattle truck passed me .

Stoked with the ride, and on that note it's time I announced a plan I've been sitting on for a while... viewtopic.php?f=12&t=63452

As I say on that thread "If your dreams don't scare you, you're not dreaming big enough".

[singlespeedscott]

Epic ride Lachie. You will sleep soundly tonight.

[duds2u]

Lochie,
You are nuts!!!
But I like the way you dream. You never know until you try.
Cheers
Mal

[ldrcycles]

2 days, 2 different experiences.

Yesterday was a 10k recovery ride on my wife's hybrid, and it was great. Just floating along at not many kmh on a bike path on a cool evening, the bike working perfectly despite having sat unused for months. It's when riding a practical bike at a steady pace that it really hits me what an extraordinary and wonderful machine they are, everything on it utterly perfect for it's task, no more complicated than is absolutely necessary. Bliss.

Today on the other hand...

After knocking off, I set off for Gyndier on the Dawes, but after only 540 metres I had a flat. On a BRAND NEW tyre!! But I can put that down to the tube having been used in the 28mm tyres that were on it before, and I have come to the conclusion that the 18-25 tubes were stretching a bit too much, so maybe that's what did it.

After a ridiculously long walk back to the car (seriously how can anyone get about by walking, it takes FOREVER!) I found I had left my spare tube at home. Great.
Luckily one of the bike shops was still open, so I grabbed some tubes, then went to Gyndier.

The riding itself went exceptionally well, after a short warmup I hit the climb HARD and rocketed up, not just quickly but at a consistent pace too. I definitely would have been at least near my PB, if not some way ahead of it. After another few solid climbs I packed up and headed for home feeling very very good.

And then I uploaded the Bryton file to Strava and found to my utter, utter delight that it hadn't registered my position properly, so I wasn't able to have a time for any of the uphill runs. SERENITY NOW!

[ldrcycles]

A fantastic ride last night, 83k on the 2013 Noosa Century short course for the first time. While the new route is about 10k shorter, it is a lot harder, with some tough climbs n place of the flat run to Cooroy. I ticked along very nicely though and managed the distance in under 2 and a half hours .

The highlight was riding through Marcoola past some police doing speed checks, one set the gun on me and yelled out "Good on ya mate, 38k!" as i went past .

[ldrcycles]

Not directly related to being a wannabe racer, but finally got the pics from the wedding and wanted to share.


Getting engaged at last year's Noosa L'Eroica.





And married

[foo on patrol]

Nice pic Idry!

Foo

[QuangVuong]

I have no idea how anyone finds anatomic bars comfy.

I don't know why they still make the things, I haven't come across anyone yet who likes them.

Now you have. I use 2 Sakae Modulo Anatomic bars, and an IDM carbon anatomic. Only other type of bar Ive used would be classic round(keep smashind wrists whilst in the drops though). Never used any of the others, so dunno how comfy they'd be.