Gold, Gold, Gold! - 31/3/11

You know how Hyundis are to BMWs? And Huffys to Parlees?

You know how the Commonwealth Games are to the Olympics? And the National Road Champs to the Worlds? Lang Lang to the Warny? Doncaster Netball Club to the Melbourne Vixens?

Well yes... it was the Victorian Emergency Services Games mountain bike race - but it was still GOLD!


I went there today with a goal of winning in my age group (40-49). I came away having won by a significant margin overall. Very happy! And the field weren't hacks. It included a former Australian 24 solo champ, the inimitible David (foc) Foster and many other scary lookin' riders.

I've learnt enough about MTB racing to know that how you start can determine the events of your whole race. The 500 metre uphill start was enough to sort out some of the field, however the following 200 metre section of downhill was still a fight for first into the single track.

I hit the descent hard, using all of my 100 kilos to gain speed, then dived into the single track first of the pack, determined to back myself as the fastest up the first 1.5k of technical single track.

When I got to the top there wasn't another rider in sight and I didn't see anyone for the remainder of the race. I rode the first lap like I was chasing Neil around Hans's on a Wednesday night and then, confident I had a good lead, I backed off for the next lap and a quarter knowing my legs were going to be screaming after yesterday.

Finishing off the last lap hard, I was rapt to cross the line knowing I'd gained a significant margin on second and won the whole race as well as my age-group. Goal achieved!

Looking forward to seeing the results and will post when received. Sorry Vlad, next time I'll remember to do the zipper up for Cycle Works.

Tim Arch and me after the race.
(Tim competed on his single speed 29er)

Dave Fossie and me after the race.

The trails of Angelsea and Eumarella Scout Camp are fantastic. This race had a good bit of everything in it (except another five hours of riding!). Definitely worth another visit just for the fun.

Preparing for the Games?.. maybe not - 30/3/11

After my efforts of Saturday I don't think I would have been capable of riding on Sunday or Monday so I didn't. Even by Tuesday morning I was questioning my ability to get around The Hurtbox in any respectable fashion.

It worked well from my perspective though. I sat on the back with Dom for the whole ride and cruised through to St. Kilda without too many issues. A nice roll.

Four guys went for a ride around the GP track whilst it was still closed to traffic and joined us for merriment later (left).

I used my prize money ("prize money... woo hoo!) to shout coffee and toast to those remaining in thanks for their support on Saturday. Afterall, the plan was hatched in this very coffee shop! (Sorry GP guys, I can get your coffee next week)

A 33k commute home on the SS road bike finished me off for Tuesday.

100k - SS - road.

This morning I headed down to North Road with Bob the Builder and Big Horn. We took the longer Two Bays train from Mordy and headed down the highway with a bunch of 20+. I used to do this ride often with usually about 8-10 riders. I was a bit surprised by the size of the group and it made for some pretty competitive riding through the hilly loop around Canadian Bay Road and Two Bays Road.

A very fast return, mostly with Andy Naylor and I rolling turns on the front (Frankston to Mordy... mostly Andy!!) then a few more contributors back to town had me pretty much finished off for the day and not feeling very prepared for racing tomorrow.

A good hard 120k before arriving at my desk for 9am. Not a bad hit-out.

I was very happy to receive some accolades from Dave Sturt (Steggles) this morning after Saturdays result. I have a lot of respect for the guy as a bike rider and a racer so to receive positive comments from him feels good.

The Emergency Services MTB race will keep me busy tomorrow and I hope for a good result. That's if my legs are even still there after this morning. Far out!

Warburton Road Race - 26/3/11

A silly assumption and a rookie error on my part stole a potential win from me today, but the overall satisfaction I have following today's race is the best.

In fact, the 113km race at Warburton is by far my most satisfying road racing result ever.

With a profile like this....

... there was no way I was going to be successful on the climbs against little, light fast climbers so I knew I had to come up with some other cunning plan.

The 6am-er planning during the week was extensive. After our discussions coming out of the hurt box on Tuesday, the emails flowed thick and fast. Approximately 157 emails contained everything from wit to shit but luckily included some serious discussion about how we would handle this race.

The first part of the plan was for me to roll off the front of the race very early - stay away as long as I could - allow the other 6am-ers in the bunch to roll without working whilst other riders chased me down... easy.

Since we're not really allowed to ride as teams, I'd better not go into too much detail!

I'd encouraged Aaron Christiansen to come along for a race earlier in the week and ran into him on the start line. After a bit of a chat I said, "Hey - I'm going to ride off the front of this race really early. You should come with me. Up to you. I'll need some help."

So by the 5k mark I was off. Within 2k I couldn't see the group and was happy to see that they'd let the big fella go, confident they'd catch me on the hills. By the 10k mark Aaron had bridged to join me so I was happy to know that I'd have some help for as long as we could hold it.

At the bottom of the first climb (19k) I said, "Let's just get to the top of this without getting caught."

At the bottom of the second climb (33k), after letting out a bit of a hoot, I said, " Let's just get to the top of this without getting caught."

Same at the bottom of the third (50k) and fourth (65k) but it was getting a bit of a joke by then and we were both starting to seriously think we had some chance. At the top of the second loop I looked back to see the bunch chasing hard about two k behind... strung out, riding fast. That worried me initially but I never saw them again after that.

We put as much time into the bunch as possible on the descents and dug deep on the climbs to minimise the losses. The flat and undulating were hurt-box turns of only two. I've never ridden so consistently hard in a road race in my life before but it was worth every bit of pain.

That final 12 percent pinch followed by the gradual climbing to the finish line really put me in the blender and when Aaron hit me with 200 or so to go, I didn't respond in time and rolled across the finish line to take second.

Aaron and I rolled up the road 200m and turned back to the finish. It would have been within a minute that the chasing group came flying across the line in a sprint with Duke at the healm to take third.

Bloody fantastic result for the 6am-ers, showing that we have the strength to race at this level with confidence to dominate the races and take the places.

Now speaking from experience, an early attack with 108ks in a two man break has got to be the best way to ride a bike race. Incredibly satisfying result.

Interestingly, I dropped my chain three times, twice having to get off to fix it. Coming down the last climb we were held up by a D grade rider who was holding up a couple of cars then our lead car - grouse! A couple more such incidents would have had the bunch up are buts just before the finish line rather than just after it.

A good plan - a bit of luck - a bit of determination - a bit of effort... all ads up to a good result.

Three laps of the loop at the end.

Fatties - 23/3/11

Half way through Fatties tonight I checked an SMS to see Brave had won the Kew crit with Foggy coming in at 4th. Great effort at the World Famous Bouly from the 6am-ers tonight. It was no doubt a race with contribution from everyone. Nice work.

As for me, I just got home (9.20pm) from over four hours on the mountain bike tonight with a good three hours of it mostly solid pace. Fantastic ride with the Fatties group with about eight riders tonight and am now very very tired.

I'm intending to be up to meet Shawie and Bob for North Road in the morning... but I'll probably be glad to check the radar and see it's pouring!

Hurt Box - 22/3/11

Once again I found it easy to get out of bed at 5:10am this morning. Seems ridiculous doesn't it? But the thought of rolling down the road with my mates within half the hour and heading off for an hour of pain is just too exciting. And yes... I am 44!

A great turn out for this ride which is proving to be as popular as anything for the 6am-ers.

And for good reason. It's hard, adrenalin inducing and good for everyone (or most I should say). Love it.

The race planning discussions over coffee were vibrant and the plan for Saturday was further developed through approximately 123 emails throughout the day.

Let the games begin!



70k road - 40k hard - 200 metres flat out!

Bit of mountain, bit of road - 20/03/2011

It happens to all of us at one point or another...

You could swear there's something wrong with your bike. You're on your first climb of the day and it's that bloody hard there must me something going on.

"My brakes are rubbing, my cranks are loose, my gears aren't working..."

You stop at the top; spin the wheels, wrench on the cranks, check the head-set. All okay! Well what the hell is it then?!?

Yep, biology and psychology. That's usually the answer - or it was for one 6am-er this morning. As I watched him examining his bike for some rational explanation.  I suggested he just make up his excuses so we could all get going again rather than stuff around with something that simply didn't exist.

As much as I admit this affliction has haunted me at times, it wasn't biology or psychology that attacked me yesterday out at Smiths Gully.

Half-way up a fantastic new loop, my heftiness got the better of my carbon seatpost and this was the result.

Woops! A quick wack of the bottom bit down into the frame and we were off again, albeit me sitting ten centimetres lower than normal. I looked like a true 4Xer.

Back to this morning... and it wasn't surprising that some found it hard in the 'nongs today. With 6am-ers away racing Buller and others doing a Baw Baw recon, there was a small group of five left for the normal Sunday ride. Smithy, El Mantses, Mad Mike, Foggy and I are all reasonably fit at the moment so there was no holding back.

Just after our first climb up the south side of the Thousand
Steps (Janiesleigh, Glassford, Olivette, Hughes) to One Tree Hill

We stole a few little gems from Horny's Giro ride including this joining section out the back of Monbulk which was about 1.5k of dirt (left).


Up to Monbulk via David Hill Road and then The Wall. I couldn't resist hiding behind the van again to take this matching shot of Foggy going up past the black stump.

See here for matching Horny shot, however I must admit Brad looked a bit better than Brenton did at this stage... and the wait seemed far less.



Smiths Gully

This all followed a big evening on the mountain bike last night with Mick and Tim Arch. We discovered a whole new world of single track out near Sugarloaf and had a good hard session. I did have that little problem (above) half-way through it all but we had a great three hours in beautiful weather and county-side.

Mick on the Rob Roy loop

Tim was a Smiths Gully first-timer and appreciated the thrill of it all. We're so lucky to have this kind of riding so close to us.

Charlotte at the top of Rob Roy

Tonight I'm as tired as ever and definitely need a rest day tomorrow in order to have some legs for the Hurt Box on Tuesday.

A little birdy tells me they had a great day out at Baw Baw today. What a weekend of weather for cycling. Soak it up whilst we can get it I guess!

Commute home on the SS Road - 18/3/11

I love Fridays. Sleep in til 7. Breakfast with the kids. Off to school early for band practice. Nice relaxing morning and a wander into work compared to most days.

When I got to the end today though, I really didn't feel like getting on the bike to ride home. Weariness nearly got the better of me.


But I jumped on for 40k of big gear madness on the SS road bike. I finished off with five 1k hill repeats to put myself completely in the blender.

I feel pretty strong at the moment but can't help feeling I need to do more interval stuff. I made sure I felt the pain with these ones and I imagine they'll do me good.

Might just go and have a little snooze now!

- 40k SS Road - solid
- Just a smidgen under 100kg and really trying to get it lower. I just like lollies too much.

Fatties - sleep - North Road - 18/3/11

Was nice to get back to Fatties last night and then back it up with North Road this morning. As much as 8 hours between hard rides hurts, I can already feel it doing me good.

Ouch... nice DOMS.

4 hours pretty solid mountain biking last night. Nearly stayed with Neil through Hans's (nearly but not quite!.. better than I've done before.)

70 of hard this morning on the SS in the North Road bunch.

Hurt Box and consulting the oracle - 15/03/11

Ok I admit it... I got a little bit too excited going up Rickett's today simply coz I could see Horny was in significant pain. I saw his face was contorted and I could hear his heart beat sitting just under 200 so I hit the gas. Really... who could blame me?

I'm sorry boys.

I have personally consulted my oracle Yetti for objective opinion and forgiveness if required.

I did back off and allow the group to come back together over the top, but not before being castigated by Brenton for doing something I've had a couple of goes at him for in recent months.

"Don't attack through this ride!", "Pull ya head in whipper snapper!", "Get back in your place young fella!" - are just some of the phrases I've aimed at him lately throughout The Hurt Box. So he didn't hesitate to give it to me for hurting him so. Poor little man.

It was another great day at the 6am-er Hurt Box with a good solid turn-out, some hard riding and great company. Except for El (aka El Mantes, Bob) of course. The poor fella ended up getting a cab home after blowing out somewhere around Black Rock and not yelling loud enough.

Probably a bit amiss of us not to notice his flat but geez Bob, we're 6am-ers! We will always come to your aid when you need it. No need for a cab when you have a mobile phone and we're just up the road.

Good riding, good coffee, good toast, good company. Thanks fellas.

For me it was a big day Saturday, a big day Monday and then a big day today with another 40k home. Just a wee bit twired and needing a bit of a rest.

Full day of recovery tomorrow in order to ready myself for the Fatties bunch tomorrow evening. Miss them. Can't wait.

100+ k - single speed road bike

One of those really great days - 14/03/11

80ks with the 6am-ers, Moomba parade with the family and a sunny river ride with the kids.

What more could you ask for!?!

Our now regular viewing grand stand at the Melbourne Town Hall for the Moomba Parade.

Lunch at Fed Square (Why is it that when boys turn 11 they go into that
"I'm only ever going to scowl for a photo" stage?)

Happy with this dragon.

We tried for all the way home from the city but made it to Studley Park Boat House. Not a bad effort after a Triathlon yesterday. Good work Jack and Lucy.

Jack doin' it easy - Horny doin' it hard

Jack today (story below)

Brenton yesterday

I took great pains (and delight) to get this covert shot of Horny yesterday morning in order to show exactly how knackered he was.

Steve Martin and I hid behind this van for what seemed like an hour or so before Mick and Horny appeared....(ok - maybe 10 minutes).

And I shouldn't really be so cruel because the shot below shows exactly how tired he was. You don't just go away and not ride for 7 weeks and then expect to come back firing on all cylinders (although Brenton did!).

Climbing The Wall - 6th climb of the day at about 90k mark

He had been discussing this day and route on-line incessantly for weeks and was determined to get through it. This despite my efforts to stop him when he was clearly smashed after the Selby-Menzies Creek climb where he was showing some initial signs of wear-and-tear.

But Brenton's given a lot of thought to his Giro ride and he did very well to get through it all in the end. These two shots are earlier along the Selby-Aura Road, an absolutely beautiful roll which we should ensure the whole 6am-er group get to sometime in the near future.

Gorgeous road

We made it in the end and enjoyed some good times at the Black Kettle. I'm sure Brenton will be back riding at full strength within a very few weeks. He was very hard on himself yesterday and the way he felt will define his focus over the near future.

Fabio, Lumpy and Taylo enjoyed a different route yesterday morning having joined us for the first few ks. I loved catching up with Steve as we had plenty of time to talk whilst waiting for Horny and Mick!

I hear the Sunday ride went well today with a return appearance from Smithy. He'll also be as determined as ever, so it won't be long before we're all being pushed up those climbs big-time.

Depending on how you look at it, yesterday's ride contained the following climbs in this order:

• South end of mtn on side roads (Janiesleigh, Glassford, Olivette, Hughes) to Tremont
  
• Serpentine Road
• Wellington Road to Aura Vale/Cardinia
• Selby-Menzies Creek-Kallista
• David Hill Road to Monbuk
• The Wall

I couldn't ride on my normal Sunday morning today because we were off as a family this morning to St. Kilda for the Weetbix Tryathlon (sic) for Jack. He couldn't get to sleep until mid-night last nigt due to his anticipation and was first up this morning at 5:30am.



Jack did this last year but at the much shorter distance as a 10 year old. I felt he matured significantly this year participating in the longer distance for 11-15 year olds (200m/6k/1k). I was so proud of him and he looked really strong through each discipline. As you can see above, he cruised through the ride (of course, my boy!).





So Weetbix defines itself as the 'Breakfast of Champions'. Jack, you deserved your medal and your breakfast after your fantastic efforts of today.

Brenton, you got smashed by a 44 year old. You can wait a few weeks for your Weetbix.

Road commute

In through an extended suburban loop this morning - 35ks.

Out through a longer semi-rural loop tonight - 55ks.

Geared road bike - solid ride - no special efforts.

Introvert

This little fella nearly copped me at about 40k downhill on hard-pack tonight. Lucky I spotted him just in time.

When I went back to snap him and get him off the trail he kind of went back into his shell!

Could have been a bit messy and I would never have forgiven myself.

4 laps of Hans's tonight on the SS MTB.

Just under 2hrs solid.

Hurt, hurt and hurt some more

I bounced out of bed for The Hurt Box this morning. The forecast was good!

40kph winds + north-easterly = hard on the front + easy on the back (in both directions) = a bit of fun for everyone!

And it really was good. Solid, smooth and fast turns all the way with everyone still together at the end. Including Pistol Pete who still had a smile on his face at Kerford Road.

It's just a ripper ride with ripper company. What more can I say?

I felt I needed just a bit more today though, so I rode a solid 35kph home via my road single speed kind-of flattish route (coz it's really hard to ride up hill!).

Just over 100k on the SS road bike. A good solid day.

Back on the MTB

Tonight was my first ride back on the mountain bike since my disastrous Odysey. To be honest, I really haven't felt like going there til now and have been soaking up my time on the new Lynskey.

But I got the bike back from the shop on the weekend and was in the mood to give it a go. New derailer, new forks (only 35ks ridden on them) and a nice clean bike.

It went very well and although the Yarra Trails are a relative mess after the flooding, they're still fantastic fun.

2.5hrs solid on the geared dually. Hoot of a commute!

I nearly kicked Jack in the face tonight as I cramped in the hammy, woops! An indication of a pretty hard couple of days.

Time with the Reads - mine and Tim's

After a smashing ride this morning it was great to get out to Warrandyte and Kangaroo Ground this arvo for some family time.

I can't say I was that delighted when I saw the queue at the Warrandyte Bakery, but we eventually had pretty full tummies.







We followed up with a visit to Tim's new place at the Bend of Islands near Kangaroo Ground. Tim has already made a massive difference to the property and by the time they're finished, it will be a piece of paradise.




We finished with a trip to the Kangaroo Ground observation tower and an ice-cream at the local store.

What a grouse day!

'nongs

There's no better way to describe today's ride than a Classic 6am-er day in the 'nongs.

Every ride is good but as I've said before, sometimes I just get home thinking, "That was just fantastic!" In-fact usually I'd throw a naughty word in there somewhere but mum and Aunty Jan read this so I have to be good.

This is the first of two re-groupings at the top of Sky High this morning. Mostly still smiling.


On our second visit to Sky High someone was heard to inquire "What now?", to which Brave felt the need to respond, "I think we should EAT FOOD."

Fair enough you might say? At that stage I reckon we'd done at least 1500m of climbing and not at a very relaxed pace.

As for 21 Tooth's comment as we looped down to pick him up 300 metres from the second Sky High summit - "Did you want us to go to the top or turn around here?" I simply leave you with this...

Mick... You're a 6am-er. What do you reckon we want you to do?
(It won't be long and he'll be first up anyway)

In between Sky High visits I got to check out the descending characteristics of the Lynskey. My first real chance. It's a lovely bike to ride and I'd say going downhill is a strength. It's forgiving (like a BMW GS1150) and just screams at you to crank it over further in the twisty bits. At one stage I had Bender and El Mantese listening to my heart beat and my breathing as I tweaked the breaks to stay away from them in a sharp left-hander. Once again, brilliant.

Ok. I'll shut up about the Lynskey now.

This is a shot of the group getting back together at the bottom of the descent to Montrose. A couple of us took the opportunity to have a nature break as others observed the local div-van wander past and stop.

I later advised that if they pull us up to chat about it just ask them what the offenders were wearing.

It was a rare day where pure 6am-ers were in attendanence. Not a clean-skin in sight and everyone in blue and yellow. Identity may have been a slight issue, however if required I'm sure those at fault would have fessed.

Reasonable coffee and excellent fellowship at the Black Kettle invigorated a smash down the 1:20 followed by some nice solid turns most of the way back.

As Duke was later heard to Tweet... Fantastic ride in the nong's. That's what the #6amers is about, good solid riding, sweat on the brow, no teammates left behind & a coffee :)


Route:

• Burwood Hwy - Mad Mile (Upper FTG) to Belgrave - Kallista - Perrins - Olinda - Mt. Dandenong - Sky High.
• Down the Tourist Road to Montrose - York Road - Inverness (Slaughterhouse) - Up the Tourist Road - Falls Road - Ridge Road - Sky High.
• 1:20 - Mountain Highway - Burwood Highway to home.

Climbs - one big one or:

1. Mad Mile (Upper FTG to Puffing Billy round-a-bout)
2. Belgrave to Kallista round-a-bout
3. Perrins Creek
4. Olinda Crescent - Tourist Road - Ridge Road to Sky High

- then one big one or:

1. Slaughterhouse (Inverness Road)
2. Tourist Road - Falls Road - Ridge Road to Sky High

Plenty of pain in the hurt box

The camaraderie of Tuesday morning is the main reason for my attendance at The Hurt Box.

The riding is good, but the thing that gets me out of bed at 5.15am on Tuesdays is the thought that I'll be cruising down Warrigal Road within half an hour, chatting away with my mates.

Thirteen of us turned up to ride this morning.

We had the jeepers scared out of us by a truck with a big horn on Boundary Road, a pillow to bunny hop on Nepean Highway (go figure??) and a brick wall to slam into as we turned into the wind on Beach Road.

The quality riding in our bunch is a bonus and this particular ride always provides some value to everyone.


Road - Single Speed - 70k solid