6K Club 2013 Edition

[coffeeandwine]

Was good to get back on the bike this weekend. 6km Friday, 14km yesterday and 21kms today.

All on the 6in travel MTB as the wide handlebars and upright position was good for the shoulder.

Good to hear Mugglechops & my ocd approves of your progression. Will you be riding 28 kms tomorrow ?

28 or 27??

I agree with Norbs. If the initial figure of 6km was correct then 27 should be the next target kms.

[grantw]

Well I'd love to say I smashed it, but I'm happy to say I made it . A great way to spend a weekend, though there were times today when I was ready to give up but kept going thanks to the encouragement of my new best friends. Saturday was a great ride, the ACT crew (who were all attempting the 1000km ride) like to ride in a bunch, and insisted on this plus they had some very strong riders, so we were 330km down and tucked up in bed by 9.30 on Saturday. 9 riders of vast experience (and me) powering along - I learn't heaps.

Just as well as the three remaining 600km riders were less "strong" and we started at 4am this morning so we could make the cut off times for the controls we had to ride through, it was below zero for the next few hours and wallabies were hurling themselves at us in the dark and fog while we climbed. And we pretty much spent the rest of the day climbing, awful, undulating pitches where you would climb up 100m of steep 12% road only to drop down again and climb another 12% pitch, then another. Five km from the finish I got a puncture on the Hume hwy and with trucks buzzing by was fixing it. Just as I'm packing the tools back in the bag a car stops, "I've got a track pump if you need it!" says the driver - legend!

My Garmin told me that we did a total of 4375m climbing for the whole route, 3000m of that was today in the last 270km. The npcci in the sig tells the story. My knees are aching, my left achilles is screaming, my lower back is rats and the beer is going down just fine.

If you're interested, the strava plot is here, it's short a few kms as I was clearly delerious when we started this morning and forgot to switch it on!

[norbs]

Wow. That is some NPCCI. What a ride. Well done Grant.

[Mugglechops]

I agree with Norbs. If the initial figure of 6km was correct then 27 should be the next target kms.

I started work at 6am and finish at 2pm. If the missus has no plans for me then 27kms is entirely possible.

It may get harder from there unless I ride to work all week

[sblack]

Top effort Grant, I don't think anyone doing that ride would be saying they smashed it. Good pace for such a long ride.

[AndrewW]

That sounds incredibly painful grant, well done! Maybe should up your goal a bit, you red arrow looks a little outclassed...

This month marks the first time I've ridden regularly for a month, and my first time doing group rides. Duno if I can keep it up through the cold but we'll see how we go. Saturday I nearly killed myself trying to hit 100kms solo, first 50kms were fine avg 30km/h and then every 10kms after that on the way home just got harder and harder until I was in a lot of pain and very slowly grinding even the smallest inclines. Finished with an avg of 23km/h and was just thankful to make it home really. Took the shortcut so it was only 98kms instead of 100kms because honestly it felt like a failure so I figure I'd save the maiden century for when I get a bit stronger. Was in a lot of pain for the rest of the day and night, but woke up sunday feeling good so headed out for the club ride at 7am.

For some reason no one really turned up for the club ride, only 5 peps so a lot of work was to be done. Strangely my legs felt pretty good, amazing what a good night's rest does. I was still in a fair bit of pain though due to some strange stomach bug giving me cramps but hung with the group the whole ride for 80kms at 30km/h avg.

Was going to go out this morning but figured I'd take a rest day. Got a group ride on tuesday which I tried last week but apparently was waiting at the wrong spot so should have more luck tomorrow.

[grantw]

Thanks Guys ,

and Andy, pacing and eating count for a lot when you're riding for a few hours, better to start a long ride conservatively, keep eating as you ride and finish strong.

In other news, I have taken advantage of the post ride high, under the influence of pain induced endorphins, to order a new bike, Cervelo Cult here I come

[Mugglechops]

That's a very impressive ride Grant.

When I lived in Wagga I used to do close to that loop on the motorbike and was knackered by the end

[grantw]

That's a very impressive ride Grant.

When I lived in Wagga I used to do close to that loop on the motorbike and was knackered by the end

I imagine you would have been a bit quicker too.

[Mugglechops]

Just a little

[riles]

this weekend is the entoure ride for the clown doctor foundation! 2 day ride - heres the ride maps!

day 1 - http://ridewithgps.com/routes/2359700" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
day 2 - http://ridewithgps.com/routes/2359647" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

already picturing the cold beer on saturday night

[Mustang]

Any one riding the Noosa 160 /85 ?
I've entered the 160 (May be a donation)

I'm in for the 160k donation as well
They're running a KOM/QOM on the Cootharaba Rd climb this year. They have a couple of grades, open and 40+. No chance for me.

I expect you made the finish safely .
I had a comedy of errors, stepped away from the barrier with bike in hand & cleats went from under me , landed on top of the bike & bent the RD into the spokes, 5.30am & no help at hand, so I just straightened the hanger as far as I dared. Had some gears no high & no low, rode to 62km before the hanger parted company & the RD was playing 'Duelling Banjos" in the rear spokes.
Hitched a ride to Eumundi where the mechanic made me into a single speed, was too slow & had to abandon
I'll be there next year.

[singlespeedscott]

I had a comedy of errors, stepped away from the barrier with bike in hand & cleats went from under me , landed on top of the bike & bent the RD into the spokes, 5.30am & no help at hand, so I just straightened the hanger as far as I dared. Had some gears no high & no low, rode to 62km before the hanger parted company & the RD was playing 'Duelling Banjos" in the rear spokes.
Hitched a ride to Eumundi where the mechanic made me into a single speed, was too slow & had to abandon
I'll be there next year.

As long as it wasn't the Hetchins! Looking at the ride it would of been quite double on a singlespeed.

[coffeeandwine]

Nice effort Grant, that is some ride!!!

[duds2u]

Any one riding the Noosa 160 /85 ?
I've entered the 160 (May be a donation)

I'm in for the 160k donation as well
They're running a KOM/QOM on the Cootharaba Rd climb this year. They have a couple of grades, open and 40+. No chance for me.

I expect you made the finish safely .
I had a comedy of errors, stepped away from the barrier with bike in hand & cleats went from under me , landed on top of the bike & bent the RD into the spokes, 5.30am & no help at hand, so I just straightened the hanger as far as I dared. Had some gears no high & no low, rode to 62km before the hanger parted company & the RD was playing 'Duelling Banjos" in the rear spokes.
Hitched a ride to Eumundi where the mechanic made me into a single speed, was too slow & had to abandon
I'll be there next year.

Sorry to hear you had a less than enjoyable tride.
I had a ball for the first 60k and even punched out a bunch of Strave PBs. Then my back had a hissy fit and tightened up and then the rest of the body decided to fall into line with the back at the 120k mark. (Someone forgot to pack the electrolytes and I cramped up for the last 30K.) All told I was happy, sort of, with the result as I beat my last time by 40 minutes.
4hours 52mns isn't too bad for an OFIL (old fart in lycra) especially when I looked at the times of the young punks, you know, anyone less than 60.

[DaveOZ]

this weekend is the entoure ride for the clown doctor foundation! 2 day ride - heres the ride maps!

Looks like a good one Riles. Will keep an eye out for you in Bowral.

[grantw]

this weekend is the entoure ride for the clown doctor foundation! 2 day ride - heres the ride maps!

Looks like a good one Riles. Will keep an eye out for you in Bowral.

Have fun Riles, the weather looks to be improving for the weekend too!

I managed to roll out 40 recovery kilometers this morning capping off a pretty huge month for me, 1369km and 12,691m of up.

[singlespeedscott]

I managed to roll out 40 recovery kilometers this morning capping off a pretty huge month for me, 1369km and 12,691m of up.

I think it may time for you to step up to the 10000km club.

Well done.

[norbs]

I am in Sydney on Saturday riding the M7 with a few mates. If you see a bunch of fat guys going slow, say hello.

My blue and orange bike is hard to miss.

[grantw]

I think it may time for you to step up to the 10000km club.

Well done.

No way, I couldn't keep that up month in month out.

[singlespeedscott]

Your already over half way to your goal.

[Mugglechops]

My blue and orange bike is hard to miss.

So is mine now

[norbs]

I keep saying it, I am a trend setter.

[Mugglechops]

I keep saying it, I am a trend setter.

Maybe you should bring back the Mullet

[Mustang]

.[/quote] Sorry to hear you had a less than enjoyable tride.
I had a ball for the first 60k and even punched out a bunch of Strave PBs. Then my back had a hissy fit and tightened up and then the rest of the body decided to fall into line with the back at the 120k mark. (Someone forgot to pack the electrolytes and I cramped up for the last 30K.) All told I was happy, sort of, with the result as I beat my last time by 40 minutes.
4hours 52mns isn't too bad for an OFIL (old fart in lycra) especially when I looked at the times of the young punks, you know, anyone less than 60.[/quote]

Well done Duds you must have had an av around 30KPH?