Cycling with our boys - 20/04/2011

The Box Hill boys in Bright

I had been very keen on the Bright mountain bike night ride tonight. I get very excited when I'm up here on a Wednesday night but the solid rain since lunchtime put an end to the idea.

Despite that, we got a fantastic ride in with the boys today. Steve, Lochie, Jack and I headed out to the Red Stag restaurant at the deer farm near Eurobin where we met the rest of our families. It was a very pleasant 15k ride and both boys made it with ease. Champions in the making!...



A couple of quite steep pinches near the end had them both in the hurt box but Jack and Lochie pushed hard in their smallest gears with plenty of hooting and hollering from the dads! They made it to the top with smiles on their faces and plenty of energy to get around the farm.

Three stags

The rain hit shortly after this so smashing out some high threshold stuff with the Bright boys was soon off the cards.

It was a great day for our boys though and some great exposure for Cycleworks in the north east!



This is Steve saying, "Cycleworks... number one!".






This is him walking up a hill trying to look like he's doing a mono. Shhhhhhhh.......

Night riding in Bright - 18-04-2011

What a great sight to see when you return from a lone 3.5hr mountain bike ride! Thanks Kate... although I only got one piece.

Katie was very proud to have purchased this whole block of chocolate with her busking money earned in the main street of Bright. Her clarinet is coming along just fine so the coinage was flying into the case.

The last hour and a half of my ride tonight required lights. There's something very surreal about flying around the single track of Bright on your own in the dark. Turn the light off, which I did a couple of times just for fun, and you're in absolute pitch black. Something about being one with nature? Possums, wombats and other nocturnals (Wayne Wilson could have even been about!), night sounds, heavy breathing (mine) and Giants.

All in a good bush night ride.

Having recently seen the movie 127 hours, I was very pedantic about letting everyone know where I was going.

Karen and the kids knew when to start looking but I've discovered that Facebook might be the next best thing to an EPURB! Whether or not any of my "friends" would have done anything about it or not I don't know but it was worth a try!



I discovered Ritchie Road was more of a highway at the moment - rather than the 4WD track I knew as a kid - and the prep for the forest clearing had me dodging steam-rollers and graders along the way.


I was in a brief quandry at this 4-way -



- but I sucked it up and took the Magazine at an average of 18% over 1.5k or so.

Finishing of with some of the best single track in the state had me buzzing by the time I got home.

Richie Road - Tower Hill - Magazine Track - Walkers Lane - Valley View - Pine Tank track - Bakers Gully with the top loop - Huggins Lookout - Rambo bits and 6hr bits - what a ride!!

3hr MTB - geared.

I followed it up with a nice cruisy road ride today out to Harrietville with Steve Ritcho. A lovely way to be easing back into it.

65k road - geared.

Endurance - 11/04/11

It’s always been something I’ve relied on as one of my strengths.

It’s the basis of my nickname and the thing that draws me to the events I enjoy (enjoy?) – 6 hour mountain bike races, Alpine Classics, Otway Odyssey’s and such.

But my endurance failed me this weekend. It troubles me to admit that I failed to stay awake to see the last 50k of the Paris to Roubaix. I will learn from my mistakes, but the move I made to lie horizontally on the couch at about 11pm was my downfall.

The error may not have avoided the final outcome (big Zs) but it’s always best to avoid the likelihood of failure by making the most efficient decisions throughout the pursuit of your goals.

I did however, manage to make a few efficient decisions this weekend. Starting with the subject of my last post – a day off on Friday to load the car and get the family up to Bright nice and smoothly. I was keen to do well in the Bright 6hr Enduro on Saturday.

And that I did, in the end...

For me it was second in the masters and sixth overall. I was very happy to have achieved this result with 11 laps of the 10.2k circuit in six and a half hours. More so, knowing that only 8 out of 70 solo riders managed 11 laps. Rod Stormonth, a workmate, pulled out a third in the masters and it was a pleasure to shake his hand on the podium – that’s considering I was standing above the '2', if I was on the '3' and he was on the '2' I wouldn’t have been so delighted! (Nuh, kidding ... course I would Stormy)

I admit I needed Dave and Mick to hold me up after the race. I didn’t have a lot left in the legs after that 11^th lap!

It was great to catch up with some of my Bright mates, including the bogans!....

I was glad not to have seen the above sign on the trail but I know this gun team went well despite their team name and kit!

Brendon and Aiden pulled off a second in the male pairs for Team Cyclepath.

Brendon looking fresher than me at the finish!

Full results can be seen here.

After smashing down a whole large pizza (each) at the Alpine Hotel after the race, Mick and I jumped in the car and headed back to Melbourne so that I could get ready for the Marysville to Melbourne on Sunday. Home at 10.30pm, into bed and 11pm – alarm off at 4am. Fun!

Mark, Steve and I had to be at the start line in Marysville by 5.45am yesterday morning for Mark’s run start at 6.15am. The atmosphere in Marysville was fantastic, despite the soaking rain overnight, and the runners got off on time in relatively fine conditions (apart from underfoot).

The race format was as follows:

• 20k run on trails and gravel roads – Marysville to Dom Dom Saddle - Mark

• 50k ride – Dom Dom Saddle through Healsville to King Lake – Steve

• 40k ride – King Lake to Eltham – Richard

• 15k run – Eltham to Bourke Road North, Kew - Fin

• 16k paddle – Kew to Dights Falls in Abbotsford – Marty

• 19k paddle – Dights Falls to Lorimer Street, Southbank – Simon

It was a magnificent race, extremely well organised by Rapid Ascent (who always do the Odyssey well). Our team is very proud to have pulled off fourth position in the Corporate Teams of Six category and Steve and I super-chuffed to have both pulled out the fastest rides in both cycling legs overall (in the money!).

You can see the full results here.

So then off I went to catch a train and bus back up to Porepunkah to catch up with my family who I hadn’t really seen properly for about 48 hours.

I sat down at 10.30pm to watch the Paris to Roubaix.

I lay down on the couch at about 11pm.

I ran out of Diesel.

I slept.

Someone won in Roubaix.

Locked and loaded - 8/4/11

• All packed up and ready to go.
• Porepunkah and paradise tonight.
• 6hrs of good fun agony tomorrow in the Bright Enduro. Just looking at the map gets me excited. Sad - I know!

• Then the Marysville to Melbourne (M2M) on Sunday.
• Then maybe some sleep!
  

Not a hoot of a commute - 4/4/11

I rode the Hoot of a Commute route home from work today on the geared mountain bike having left it there after the race last week.

Too tired - feel sick - phone calls all the way home - trash kays - shouldn't have bothered.

Must fire up for the Hurt Box in the morning.

1.5hrs MTB - easy.

The pleasures of King Lake - 3/4/11

Just a very slightly sad moment yesterday when I had to give all my carbon back. These frames have given me great pleasure so it was with some regret that I returned them to Bikepro. Andy should have his shiny new model ready for me to collect in the near future.

I had the opportunity to remind myself of the properties of carbon as I rode the 15k or so on Duke's bike from Smiths to Warrantdyte. It prompted recent memories of the super-rigid material and full feed-back from the road.

With my now extensive experience on ti (tongue in cheek) I can say that as far as feel on the road, ti is to carbon what carbon is to alloy. Horny wondered at my description of my bike feeling like a lounge chair. It's fair dinkum that comfortable!

There must be something good about it coz The Duke has been on the web all day researching prices for a Lynskey frame!

And in case you're wondering, I did mention this to Karen today...


A group of twelve 6am-ers headed out to King Lake today for a wonderful day on the bike. The rain held off on a day where we welcomed Dev back for the entire ride and had Rocket and Cam in company for most of the route out.


The Smiths Gully General Store and Bakery welcomed us with their normal open arms and we enjoyed carbs and caffeine after smashing out a pretty big effort up the main climb.

What I particularly loved about today was the very long and powerful 6am-er train which stayed together for the majority of the climb and surprised many relatively fit clean-skin riders as they were over-run by a strong uniformed group.

Grouse! Our coffee and chat was well deserved.


120k road - pretty solid-hard.

Last day-light-saving commute.. sob, sob - 1/4/11

Today was my last chance for an extended commute home in daylight. No more daylight saving after this weekend and heading into the depths of winter. Very sad.

So a cruise to spin the legs after yesterday - out through Lower Plenty, Eltham, Research, Warrandyte and home. A nice cruisy 55ks on the Lynskey on a lovely sunny evening.

Cool.

Bugger it!.........Darkness

Results - 1/4/11

82 competitors in total. Mass start - not in age groups.

I can't upload the spreadsheet with results so a quick summary of the top five overall is here:

• Richard Read 1:07:33 - First overall. First in age-group 40-49
  
• Jack Garnett 1:08:50 - Second overall. First in age-group 30-39
  
• Nat Wilson 1:10:45 - Second in 30-39
  
• Brad Fisher 1:09:17 - Second in 40-49
  
• David McDonald 1:11:34 - Third in 30-39
  
• Sean Kinna 1:11:36 - Third in 40-49
  

And my mates or those I now know:

• Tim Arch 1:11:45 - Third 18-29
• Greg Hosking 1:12:21 - Fourth 40-49
  
• Dave Foster 1:12:27 - Fifth 40-49
  

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.