Three weeks in already. No cycling last week thanks to having to do some business travel to the UK. Heaps of bike commuters in London thanks to the congestion charge. Mind you I think you either have to be born there or just HAF to like riding in the pissing rain with the mercury showing 2 degrees.
So back home and head back in this time zone. Got my the spokes retensioned and hub serviced on the rear wheel - seemed to have developed a bit of a pinging noise as the spokes had slackened over the last 8 months. Lets hope it behaves and doesnt crap out.
The legs could feel their outing on yesterdays 5.45am NRR - according to the program I need to be getting into the working group a bit. Well maybe in a while as the legs were saying not just yet thank you very much.
Out to the ABOC dinner last night where Monique Hanley gave us a run down on the Race Across Amercia from the perspective of a diabetic cycling team. Very interesting how they organised themselves. I do wonder about the sanity of the solo riders who think riding 3,500 miles aiming to spend 22 hours per day in the saddle is sport.
In other news after the last three crits at SKCC being a bit of a mess thanks to lower grades continually catching the higher ones they have now moved to a B&D, A&C format. Lets hope that solves it and cuts down on the worryingly high number of crashes that occur each week.
January 23, 2008
January 11, 2008
Hot, windy and generally not nice to be outside
We are "enjoying" a nice pair of 40deg plus days at the moment. So not conducive to doing much in the outdoors department. Decided to do the NRR again yesterday - felt a lot harder than Tuesday - probably on account of being on the back and therefore in a cycle of hard accelerations and rapid slowdowns all the way.
I was comparing the pace of recent NRRs to those over winter and the average speeds have picked up by 3-5kph. It doesnt sound a lot but when 50kph is not enough to close out a gap it is.
Going to St Andrew tomorrow morning. I think its currently my favourite ride - mostly because the terrain has a few hills and the roads are typical of what you get in a road race. Glenvale crit this Sunday and then a week off to do some business travel.
I was comparing the pace of recent NRRs to those over winter and the average speeds have picked up by 3-5kph. It doesnt sound a lot but when 50kph is not enough to close out a gap it is.
Going to St Andrew tomorrow morning. I think its currently my favourite ride - mostly because the terrain has a few hills and the roads are typical of what you get in a road race. Glenvale crit this Sunday and then a week off to do some business travel.
January 9, 2008
1/52 of 2008 gone already!
A week into the new year and three weeks into the schedule. Looking at my stats I managed to rack up 1,060kms in December. Not bad considering the festive interuptions.
This last week was ok other than a serious visit from the puncture fairy. One on the way home from the NRR, one at Kew Crit circuit and the last one six laps into the SKCC criterium on Sunday.
I'd checked the tyre properly before putting the new tube in and even changed the tyre before the Sunday crit. So as they say stuff just happens.
Been a mixed week so far thanks to sleep disruption so focus is on getting a good week of km's in before I jet off for a business trip next week (where no cycling will get done).
Got the max cadence up to 176rpm and can crack the mid 160's consistently. Hill sprints going ok but E3 sessions are a pain - its actually hard to generate the required intensity outside a race/fast bunch ride situation.
Seems to be working as the HR on the fast part of the NRR has dropped back a few bpm.
This last week was ok other than a serious visit from the puncture fairy. One on the way home from the NRR, one at Kew Crit circuit and the last one six laps into the SKCC criterium on Sunday.
I'd checked the tyre properly before putting the new tube in and even changed the tyre before the Sunday crit. So as they say stuff just happens.
Been a mixed week so far thanks to sleep disruption so focus is on getting a good week of km's in before I jet off for a business trip next week (where no cycling will get done).
Got the max cadence up to 176rpm and can crack the mid 160's consistently. Hill sprints going ok but E3 sessions are a pain - its actually hard to generate the required intensity outside a race/fast bunch ride situation.
Seems to be working as the HR on the fast part of the NRR has dropped back a few bpm.
January 3, 2008
Six13 reborn as SystemSix
I noticed that my clearcoat Six13 developed the joint corrosion that afflicts this particular variant. Mostly it was around the cable bosses but was starting to show up on all the joints. Cosmetic only but not helpful to the price when it came time to sell the bike.
I took it into the LBS I bought it at for review and after inspecting it they were happy to do a replacement. They did point out that now that the Six13 is no longer top of the Cannondale range the replacement frame would not be quite the same. That was a good enough excuse to "upgrade" to a System Six. So after waiting on some new bars to replace the FSA Wing Pro that has been annoying me all year it was done in a day.
On the top right is how she was as a Six13 (with the as yet unused carbon tubulars)
Below is the reborn blue SystemSix. Its almost like having a brand new bike. Took it for a spin on the 5.45 NRR this morning and as promised it was a fair bit stiffer than the Six13 but still relatively smooth.
January 1, 2008
Christmas Week!
Training and Christmas holidays are not a good mix. That said I did rack up 280kms for the week thanks to the visit to the relatives in Gippsland, a couple of drill sessions and a big effort out to Kinglake with one of the guys from the BV forum.
We went resonably solidly at it and I could feel the legs and arms/shoulders (from all the climbing)the next day.
Back on track mostly this week with a 70k E1 to shake out Kinglake. Day off for New Years day and at it tomorrow.
Bikes in the shop for frame replacement tomorrow but more on that later. Meanwhile I will stay inside in the aircon while the 40deg C weather continues.
We went resonably solidly at it and I could feel the legs and arms/shoulders (from all the climbing)the next day.
Back on track mostly this week with a 70k E1 to shake out Kinglake. Day off for New Years day and at it tomorrow.
Bikes in the shop for frame replacement tomorrow but more on that later. Meanwhile I will stay inside in the aircon while the 40deg C weather continues.
December 28, 2007
Christmas week vs the bicycle
Tis the season for kids, eating, relatives and many other things not sympathetic to cycling. Didnt get out on Christmas morning as it was more important to enjoy present opening with the three year old.
That said I am on track to crank out nearly 300kms this week but will only do half the drill sessions. Being on holidays presented the opportunity to cycle down to a family get together with the other halfs crew. A pleasant 110km ride (avg 29kph)down to Gippsland via the bottom end of the Dandenongs.
I hadn't mentioned I was riding down so they were rather shocked at the idea someone would pedal that far.
Did High Cadence and E3 intervals this morning - backing up for a repeat tomorrow then off to Kinglake with a couple of other guys Sunday morning for another long one.
That said I am on track to crank out nearly 300kms this week but will only do half the drill sessions. Being on holidays presented the opportunity to cycle down to a family get together with the other halfs crew. A pleasant 110km ride (avg 29kph)down to Gippsland via the bottom end of the Dandenongs.
I hadn't mentioned I was riding down so they were rather shocked at the idea someone would pedal that far.
Did High Cadence and E3 intervals this morning - backing up for a repeat tomorrow then off to Kinglake with a couple of other guys Sunday morning for another long one.
December 23, 2007
Revolution and Training Week One
Great night out at Revolution with a couple of mates of mine on Wednesday night. The event was very well supported and was the largest crowd I have seen at a cycling event in quite some time. Very fit looking crowd too. Some great racing but to my mind the match sprint events were the most exciting - great combination of skill and raw power.
Anyway I managed to complete most of this weeks training in amongst the torrential downpours. Call it global warming or just wierd but we have had 66mm of rain in December roughly (according to the Greensborough gauge) and 42mm of that fell on 21st and 22nd December.
Fortunately this only trashed training on Saturday. I managed to get my sessions done bar one set of hill sprints and high cadence. Still finding my way with the drills. Second effort at high cadence (HCLR) was much better and I hit 156rpm without bouncing.
The 5 min E3 intervals were interesting. The first set on reflection I think I brought my HR up a little too quick as it got too hard to keep the HR in the E3 range. Second set I stretched out the build up and found it easier to sustain it in E3. Now need to find that balance between max effort and going to hard early and falling off. Was extremely humid which probably didnt help too much.
Hill sprints are supposed to get a bit of a burn going in the legs. Well it didnt really so I need to take a look at this in next weeks outing. Came home soaked from two outings so the bike got two cleans this week.
Did Glenvale D grade crit as planned - but not sure I had a race plan per se. Quite a few starters for the 23rd of December (about 35 roughly). Saw a guy from the SKCC D grade crits - who really should be booted to C. Not sure whether I was in the right frame of mind for racing either - had no clear goal in mind before the start (ie train some specifics like bridging or race for a placing).
Stayed near the front but failed to get on the break of three that eventually won it. They went past me and off the front about seven laps in. I didnt have the leg speed to bridge the gap - should have been able to in theory since I know I can crank out 50kph for a sustained effort.
Anyway it was pretty much the bike race then and there. No organisation and only a couple of lame efforts by individuals (with a few wheelsuckers in tow of course) to reel them. Both of these failed (not that the wheelsuckers helped out of course) and got stuck in no mans land. Eventually swept them up and I stayed on the front towing the pack around at about 40kph for the rest of the race.
The leading three got organised (including Mr SKCC) and were atleast half a lap in front just before the 3 laps. Could not get anyone interested in working - other than a 30 sec turn on the downhill part of the course by one guy.
Anyway there was a bit of rain starting so I had a hissy fit and bailed out with four laps to go. It seemed quite pointless to tow the also rans around for a sprint finish out of the places and I had done a reasonable E3 session.
I really need to decide before a race exactly why I am there and what I am aiming to do in it. Without doing that it seems pretty stupid turning up. Also need to think through why I can sit on the front on 38-40kph for ages but dont have the extra kick to bridge a gap. GRRRR.
Anyway there is always next week to look forward to.
Anyway I managed to complete most of this weeks training in amongst the torrential downpours. Call it global warming or just wierd but we have had 66mm of rain in December roughly (according to the Greensborough gauge) and 42mm of that fell on 21st and 22nd December.
Fortunately this only trashed training on Saturday. I managed to get my sessions done bar one set of hill sprints and high cadence. Still finding my way with the drills. Second effort at high cadence (HCLR) was much better and I hit 156rpm without bouncing.
The 5 min E3 intervals were interesting. The first set on reflection I think I brought my HR up a little too quick as it got too hard to keep the HR in the E3 range. Second set I stretched out the build up and found it easier to sustain it in E3. Now need to find that balance between max effort and going to hard early and falling off. Was extremely humid which probably didnt help too much.
Hill sprints are supposed to get a bit of a burn going in the legs. Well it didnt really so I need to take a look at this in next weeks outing. Came home soaked from two outings so the bike got two cleans this week.
Did Glenvale D grade crit as planned - but not sure I had a race plan per se. Quite a few starters for the 23rd of December (about 35 roughly). Saw a guy from the SKCC D grade crits - who really should be booted to C. Not sure whether I was in the right frame of mind for racing either - had no clear goal in mind before the start (ie train some specifics like bridging or race for a placing).
Stayed near the front but failed to get on the break of three that eventually won it. They went past me and off the front about seven laps in. I didnt have the leg speed to bridge the gap - should have been able to in theory since I know I can crank out 50kph for a sustained effort.
Anyway it was pretty much the bike race then and there. No organisation and only a couple of lame efforts by individuals (with a few wheelsuckers in tow of course) to reel them. Both of these failed (not that the wheelsuckers helped out of course) and got stuck in no mans land. Eventually swept them up and I stayed on the front towing the pack around at about 40kph for the rest of the race.
The leading three got organised (including Mr SKCC) and were atleast half a lap in front just before the 3 laps. Could not get anyone interested in working - other than a 30 sec turn on the downhill part of the course by one guy.
Anyway there was a bit of rain starting so I had a hissy fit and bailed out with four laps to go. It seemed quite pointless to tow the also rans around for a sprint finish out of the places and I had done a reasonable E3 session.
I really need to decide before a race exactly why I am there and what I am aiming to do in it. Without doing that it seems pretty stupid turning up. Also need to think through why I can sit on the front on 38-40kph for ages but dont have the extra kick to bridge a gap. GRRRR.
Anyway there is always next week to look forward to.
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