One way commute from work to home this arvo. Extended the route as much as I could and linked every trail I could think of that remotely headed east. Ran into the Fatties boys on the Burke Street footbridge and regretted not being able to join them.
Lucy's first session in swimming squad and dinner for Jack at Pompeos to celebrate his fist successful music (Sax) exam. Such clever children!
2hrs MTB SS
Down to 99kg and getting excited about it - even Ricketts Point "climb" is easier!
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Hoot and Hurt
I took the new Giant Anthem out yesterday for it's first spin. Really good! Getting back on the dually made me realise how sweet it is to have a rear shock and how relieving for the back.
The 2x10 took some getting used to. I read something recently describing 2x10 as a 'single ring with an escape'. That was fairly apt. I really really liked it and I do see myself spending most of my time in the big ring, especially when racing. It's an amazingly efficient system and you can ride every cog on the back on either ring on the front. The shifting between big and little ring is a quick snap. Amazingly fast with the new four ramps on the big chain ring. I think I'm going to really enjoy it. The only thing that worries me is the steep climbing in a race such as the Odyssey. I know how much I use my granny there and still walk so it's going to be interesting.
4+ solid hours of MTB yesterday... and loved it.
Today was the hurt box with a great group of 6am-ers. We moved along pretty well this morning too and this week I managed to significantly contribute (unlike last week when I felt like shit).
70k of road bike - most of it hard.
The 2x10 took some getting used to. I read something recently describing 2x10 as a 'single ring with an escape'. That was fairly apt. I really really liked it and I do see myself spending most of my time in the big ring, especially when racing. It's an amazingly efficient system and you can ride every cog on the back on either ring on the front. The shifting between big and little ring is a quick snap. Amazingly fast with the new four ramps on the big chain ring. I think I'm going to really enjoy it. The only thing that worries me is the steep climbing in a race such as the Odyssey. I know how much I use my granny there and still walk so it's going to be interesting.
4+ solid hours of MTB yesterday... and loved it.
Today was the hurt box with a great group of 6am-ers. We moved along pretty well this morning too and this week I managed to significantly contribute (unlike last week when I felt like shit).
70k of road bike - most of it hard.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
FCUK the blender
No place for this today!Today was one of those days where I got home from the ride thinking, "That was just bloody fantastic!"
110 ks belted out with the 6am-ers in glorious conditions across magnificant country-side. What a ripper of a day.
Henty Road (Mist and sunshine... splendid!)
Yarra Glen - Kangaroo Ground Road
Fifteen of us headed out despite the racing options this weekend. Out through Warrandyte, Pigeon Bank Road then Henty Road. Down to Clintons Road, St. Andrews and up to King Lake.It was good to see some guys today who we haven't seen for a while. Smithy joined us before turning for home at Smith's Gully and we were priveleged to be joined by these two wackers (below). Both felt they had to make excuses for not going so well, yet both were sitting in the front group on every climb! Go figure?
Pete and Simon
Smith's for a coffee then hammer-time down to Warrandyte.No time for the blender here. Fantastic!
Today was one of those days the 6am-ers exist for. Good solid riding, lots of climbing and heaps and heaps of fun.
Friday, October 22, 2010
Hoot of a commute
I went for an extended Hoot of a Commute on the way home tonight. I took some photos to show the 6am-ers some of what to expect on our mountain bike ride next weekend.
When I hit the dirt this evening I realised I was pretty much in the zone... a bit of a MTB thing! I was nailing some stuff I'd normally struggle a bit more with, so I decided it was a good time to put the hammer down and get some high intensity work happening. I drove it big time and as much as I think I work pretty hard on a bike frequently, I 
must have pushed it coz I'm now completely smashed. My legs are still screaming and they've done nothing for about three hours.
Should have done me some good though.
MTB SS - 2hrs
Return to North Road
- A hurt box where I couldn't hang on properly Tuesday - 100 road
- Commuting on the road bike Wednesday with some hard efforts - 60 road
- Return to North Road after long absence yesterday and loved it - 70 road
It's starting to look a little better than that soft weekend but still struggling for time.
The weight is looking a bit better too and even on Ricketts I noticed the difference!
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
The truth revealed
The other real reason why Readie pulled out of the Melbourne to Warnambool Classic -
I'm a massive Kate Ceberano fan from way back so the choice for entertainment for the big do last Friday night was easy. Kate, Kate and more Kate from my point-of-view, however it did require some fast talking.
Amongst many other things, my running sheet for the night read -
Oh... OK! ------------- My fellow event organisers were looking after me nicely.
It finished up a fantastic night and everything - thank God - went to plan as we'd hoped.
As I carried all our gear out to the car and cleared the thick snow-like hail from the windscreen at 1.30 on Warny race morning, I couldn't help but think that I had made the correct decision to withdraw from the event. Only a few hours until the boys began their 8 hours of torture.
So there's next year. I'll make sure there are no clashes in 2011.
I'm a massive Kate Ceberano fan from way back so the choice for entertainment for the big do last Friday night was easy. Kate, Kate and more Kate from my point-of-view, however it did require some fast talking.
Amongst many other things, my running sheet for the night read -
"1950 - Attend Kate Ceberano's dressing room and ensure her needs are met."
Oh... OK! ------------- My fellow event organisers were looking after me nicely.
It finished up a fantastic night and everything - thank God - went to plan as we'd hoped.
As I carried all our gear out to the car and cleared the thick snow-like hail from the windscreen at 1.30 on Warny race morning, I couldn't help but think that I had made the correct decision to withdraw from the event. Only a few hours until the boys began their 8 hours of torture.
So there's next year. I'll make sure there are no clashes in 2011.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
A soft weekend
I must admit I was just a little soft this morning. I had made numerous phone-calls yesterday talking Foggy into coming out with me this morning. The 6am-ers who were not heading to the "Not-the-Around-the-Bay-in-a-Day" ride were heading up the hills. "Join us", I said, "It'll be fun. ElMantes says the hills will be clear."
Between mid-night and 1am I was wide awake listening to my 10 year old son coughing crap into a bucket continuously for an hour. An hour after that I was bumped out of my bed and banished to a single bed of about 5"6' in length (I'm 6"2'). At least Jack was warm and comfortable and getting a nice cuddle from mum... in my bed! And he still seemed to cough all night, along with Kate in the bedroom just next to me. So that's my excuse anyway!
5.20am the alarm went off. 5 seconds later I turned it off, rolled over and snuggled up to Jack's doona.
So Foggy went and I didn't. They headed to the hills and it rained all morning. Ha - I wish I knew a good way to giggle in writing...
Between mid-night and 1am I was wide awake listening to my 10 year old son coughing crap into a bucket continuously for an hour. An hour after that I was bumped out of my bed and banished to a single bed of about 5"6' in length (I'm 6"2'). At least Jack was warm and comfortable and getting a nice cuddle from mum... in my bed! And he still seemed to cough all night, along with Kate in the bedroom just next to me. So that's my excuse anyway!
5.20am the alarm went off. 5 seconds later I turned it off, rolled over and snuggled up to Jack's doona.
So Foggy went and I didn't. They headed to the hills and it rained all morning. Ha - I wish I knew a good way to giggle in writing...
I'm only this wicked coz he's family!!
Some rest the last few days has been a good thing considering the amount I've had on apart from cycling. Having withdrawn from the Warny and then not ridden all weekend, I'm going to hit it hard this week. And the Dirt Works 100 only a few weeks away means lots of trails. Can't wait.
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