I had sore legs this morning when i got up to go for my ride, not just normal tired legs but sore legs which was a touch unusual, but anyway i soldiered out the door. The plan was 5+hours up and over the waitaks, but it wasn't to be. Just before getting to scenic drive i cracked for the first time, only 30kms into my ride, so I nailed my a brunch bar which is the only food i had...sweet I'm fuelled up. Then the whether turn to crap, major crap and i find myself at the piha turn off just in the box with what feels like hunger knock...not good!
Somehow i make it off scenic drive after not taking the bethels turn, with much guilt, in desperate need of anywhere that might sell food. Being a public holiday all thats open is 1 dairy so I pull in and park the bike, keen to make sure the locals don't tax my bike. The only thing appealing is a box of choc chip musli bars and boy did they go down well. I had half on the side of the road and pocketed the other half for later on.
Did bump into Stu not long after that, he was heading in the opposite direction but I turned around because i was in one of those moods where anthing was better than riding. After about 15minutes it was back on the bike and the glycogen levels had balanced out so it was a more enjoyable ride home. Did stop in a gordy's new shop which is very handily placed less than 1km from the wodden bridge on the bike path.
Ended up with 120 hard earned wind blown kms and went straight to bed for an hour...but im still in the box!
Tuesday, 23 October 2007
Sunday, 21 October 2007
blown away
Today went better than I expected really, the race was held in really windy conditions which took its toll on the field. First time over the finish climb we got the first real bit of crosswinds so a bunch of guys decided to they'd rather hit the deck than get lined out in the gutter. This split the field and I was sure that was it for the day then and there as I was in the back half of the field, but somehow we got back.
Didn't do a great deal in the race and got given the arse card when the heat really went on but did manage to get close to 4hours of training in so that's not too bad i guess. It is panic stations though leading into Southland I have some good old fashioned hill miles coming up to get that bit of strength needed...well going by today its quite a bit but never mind.
It was pretty cool riding round getting the support from the local club men, and women, who were marshaling and spectating. The club did an amazing job over the 4 days to put on a great, well organised and friendly racing environment.
Didn't do a great deal in the race and got given the arse card when the heat really went on but did manage to get close to 4hours of training in so that's not too bad i guess. It is panic stations though leading into Southland I have some good old fashioned hill miles coming up to get that bit of strength needed...well going by today its quite a bit but never mind.
It was pretty cool riding round getting the support from the local club men, and women, who were marshaling and spectating. The club did an amazing job over the 4 days to put on a great, well organised and friendly racing environment.
Saturday, 20 October 2007
the green light
The doc gave me the green light tonight to race our club nats tomorrow which was nice of her. I don't think she understands that not touching the bike for 7 days isn't the best lead up for a 184km road race but hey ho.
I'm really looking forward to it because its not everyday you get to race a nationals at your home club, I know the title for the senior men is very hollow but most of our club members don't know that.
hopefully all goes well, i don't have high hopes but i just don't want to wait another 10 years before counties get the nationals again, so its off to pack the bag.
I'm really looking forward to it because its not everyday you get to race a nationals at your home club, I know the title for the senior men is very hollow but most of our club members don't know that.
hopefully all goes well, i don't have high hopes but i just don't want to wait another 10 years before counties get the nationals again, so its off to pack the bag.
Wednesday, 17 October 2007
medical report
So i went back to the doctor too see if the prognosis had got any better with a nights healing under my belt, it got worse. They said no riding til Monday which kinda blew my plan of riding national tt and road race this weekend but never mind. I learnt last time i got beat up by the roads that sometimes its good to listen to people who spent 7 or whatever many years at med school, so I am out of both.
Im not too disappointed to be missing them as they weren't an objective of mine as its too early into my new season...but i am starting to get a little worried about the Tour of Southland starting first week of November. My build up will go:
-4 week end of season break
-3 weeks training
-1 week sitting on the couch
-10 days training
- then New Zealands hardest bike race Nice!
Oh well suck it and see, at least i will be fresh for it.
Im not too disappointed to be missing them as they weren't an objective of mine as its too early into my new season...but i am starting to get a little worried about the Tour of Southland starting first week of November. My build up will go:
-4 week end of season break
-3 weeks training
-1 week sitting on the couch
-10 days training
- then New Zealands hardest bike race Nice!
Oh well suck it and see, at least i will be fresh for it.
Sunday, 14 October 2007
Hamilton Open
This was going to be a real good test to see where my fitness levels were at, it was 125kms with a pretty decent field. I wasn't totally sure about whether it was too early or not but thought better to have a race under the belt going into the nationals at labour weekend.
The race was super windy with good parts of the course exposed, and it was raining at the start just to make it more interesting. Not long after the start Michael Torkler went up the road and was just sitting out there so I decided to put a little pressure on a little rise, then found myself clean across to him. So we worked hard then Gordon McCauley come across to us and we quickly had 50seconds then psssssst! front wheel puncture and it was back to the bunch for me.
The chase was going nowhere fast as guys kept on getting shelled in the winds but i was please with how i was travelling until someone touched wheels in the tailwind and 4 of us come down. I had nowhere to go and ended up going straight through Chris Macic before landing pretty hard. The impact broke my helmet in pieces and talking to some of the other guys in the group i made quite the acrobat.
Anyway bottom line is i am now wrapped up like the mummy with hardly any skin on my back or left hand side but surprisingly nothing broken. Its amazing how slow motion these crahses happen cause i remember thinking to myself that was collarbone was toast, all before hitting the ground. The Dr spent 2 hours scrubbing wounds and patching me up but will have a better idea tomorrow how I'm looking.
Was pleased with how i felt on the bike, hopefully im not down for too long.
The race was super windy with good parts of the course exposed, and it was raining at the start just to make it more interesting. Not long after the start Michael Torkler went up the road and was just sitting out there so I decided to put a little pressure on a little rise, then found myself clean across to him. So we worked hard then Gordon McCauley come across to us and we quickly had 50seconds then psssssst! front wheel puncture and it was back to the bunch for me.
The chase was going nowhere fast as guys kept on getting shelled in the winds but i was please with how i was travelling until someone touched wheels in the tailwind and 4 of us come down. I had nowhere to go and ended up going straight through Chris Macic before landing pretty hard. The impact broke my helmet in pieces and talking to some of the other guys in the group i made quite the acrobat.
Anyway bottom line is i am now wrapped up like the mummy with hardly any skin on my back or left hand side but surprisingly nothing broken. Its amazing how slow motion these crahses happen cause i remember thinking to myself that was collarbone was toast, all before hitting the ground. The Dr spent 2 hours scrubbing wounds and patching me up but will have a better idea tomorrow how I'm looking.
Was pleased with how i felt on the bike, hopefully im not down for too long.
Saturday, 13 October 2007
Back at it
Today was my first race for a long time, about 5 weeks I think since I had pinned a number on. It was a waterfront TT so 16km of early morning suffering to kick start the weekend. I hadn't ridden my TT rig since nationals in January and was still assembling late on Friday night, so the pins and lower back were in for a hiding.
The motivation levels weren't super high so I left the trainer at home and just did a quick road warm up. I busted out a 21.17 which was better than it felt, it was pretty windy out there and i switched of for a couple of km's so I thought i was in for a disaster. In the end it was 10 seconds of my best summer time so can't really complain too much.
The best part of the waterfront tt are sharing the battle stories in the carpark afterwards before migrating down the road for coffees and smack talking for the rest of the morning.
The motivation levels weren't super high so I left the trainer at home and just did a quick road warm up. I busted out a 21.17 which was better than it felt, it was pretty windy out there and i switched of for a couple of km's so I thought i was in for a disaster. In the end it was 10 seconds of my best summer time so can't really complain too much.
The best part of the waterfront tt are sharing the battle stories in the carpark afterwards before migrating down the road for coffees and smack talking for the rest of the morning.
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