Bank Week Part II

Folks,
Seems my bike mate who did the weekend rides with me has penned an ode (?) to the two outtings we did. The first was an open invitation ride with a bunch of about 60 that we joined and of course the second was the run to Noosa. With permission, I've reproduced the words as sent to me below (not sure why the all caps). The man has talent. Oh, if anyone wishes a translation on some points, feel free to ask, as there are plenty of local references.

MARC AND LINCOLNS EXCELLENT ADVENTURE

A FULL WEEKEND UP THE COAST, TWO RIDES WERE A MUST,
MARC AND I WERE CONFIDENT, THE COAST BOYS WE’D BUST,

THE BUNCH LEFT MOOLOOLABA, TO TRAVEL NICKLIN WAY,
AT KAWANA WE JOINED, TIME TO ENTER THE FRAY,

IT WAS CRUISE CONTROL CITY, TILL WE ALMOST HIT TOWN,
THEN THE BIG BOYS TOOK OFF, AND THE HAMMER WENT DOWN,

THE BUNCH WAS NOW SPLIT, AND WORDS THEY DID SLUR,
MOFFAT AND KINGS BEACH, WERE NOWT BUT A BLUR,

THE BLACK NORCO WAS CHARGING, MARC WAS RIGHT IN THE ZONE,
BUT HE MISSED THE CYTEK SLIDE PAST, A MISTAKE ALL HIS OWN,

HE NEVER REALISED HIS ERROR, OR THE BURDEN HE MUST BEAR,
ONE WONDERS THE OUTCOME, IF THE RIDLEY HAD BEEN THERE,

THEY SMASHED INTO THE HEADWIND, ALONG GOLDEN BEACH ROAD,
I WAS WORKING KINDA HARD, BUT IT’S ALWAYS FUN TO BE TOWED,

RACKED THE SMOKING STEEDS AT THE CAFÉ, TO THE DOOR THEY DID STRIDE,
PUSHING AND PULLING THE DOOR FAILED, COZ THE SIGN SAID, ‘PLEASE SLIDE’,

HIS OLD MATES INSIDE ROARED, THEIR MIRTH WAS JUST ENDLESS,
JUST PROVES THE OLD ADAGE, IN THE PELOTON YOU'RE FRIENDLESS,

SUNDAY MORNING WAS CRISP FOR THE COOLUM-NOOSA RUN,
ROLLING ALONG THE PERFECT ROADS, IN THE BRIGHT RISING SUN,

NOOSAVILLE WAS REACHED, JUST ‘SPIN’ BACK TO COOLUM SAID HE,
BUT THE RISES SEEMED FLAT AND WE AVERAGED THIRTY-THREE,

ON THE HILL OUTA NOOSA, WE DANCED OUR WAY UP,
I WAS SHOT BY THE END, NEEDING EPO BY THE CUP,

TWO LATTES AT COOLUM, AND DISCUSSING THE HIGHS,
THINKING OF THOSE OUT AT DAYBORO, SCOFFING THE PIES,

‘TWAS A FUN COUPLE OF RIDES, CANT WAIT TO GET BACK,
SUNDAYS THE DAY THE BIKE BECKONS,,,,,TIME AGAIN TO ATTACK !!

Bank Week

Ok, so its been a little while since I posted an update on stuff.

I’ve been busy. No, not with running. And NO, not with swimming.

That’s next, I promise.

Of course its been with the bike. I love my bike, and she loves me. Well, most of the time. Neither of us like hills at the moment. But that’s coming along.

I’ve been concentrating on the riding lately and putting some k’s in the bank. Lots of them actually. I decided that it was time to step up the intensity and distance as I had reached a plateau of sorts and while I could now stand on the pedals, I was still at the same fitness level. Time to take some safety tabs off, to use a mate’s terminology (Bold et al, 2007). Not all, but some. So the weekend before the last I did a total of 260km over four days, then two days rest and then another 190 in three days. And did I feel it. But its done the trick, as the weekend just gone I managed 150km in two days and was able to keep an average over 31kph on both. And I’m happy with that. There is also definitely more strength in the weaker leg too. So my theory now is more is best.

I intend to do some speed work too in the coming weeks and some more hill climbing, having started that yesterday with the ride from Marcoola to Noosa Heads. I have done this ride in the past but that was years ago and it seems my memory may have suffered nerve damage too, as the series of undulations between Perigian to Sunshine Beach hurt more than I recalled. In total there are 13 bumps that, while not too long, are somewhat sharp and after a while started to take a toll. But the ride is a great place to be as the roads are smooth and the scenery is top shelf. Sadly, no pics as I was focused on keeping the average kph above 30.

So stay tuned. I will pull on the running shoes and get out there. I did jog for a short way on Sunday in a park, chasing children and it felt ever-so-slightly better with less limp, so I was encouraged. As long as the recovery is continuing, I can cope with it being at a snail’s pace.

Dutton Park Hill - My Bitch Now

Time to 'tick off' another milestone.

Seems the athlete-side of my life, which is about half at last count, is now defined by small feats that were once routine. These are not insignificant however.

For example (you just knew there was an example coming, didn't you) there is a hill that is on Brisbane's most-used cycle loop, commonly referred to as the 'Dutton Park Hill' (DPH). It gets called many other things to be honest, but that's its most proper title. Now, this hill is quite short but plenty steep. For those of you who are cyclists, I'm not sure of the % grade but its more sharp than most around town. But as I do this climb a few times each week, its a good measurable (government word, sorry) of how I'm travelling nerve-healing-wise.

Which brings us back to the 'tick off'. This morning, DPH became my bitch again. Once apon a time, I would use this hill to punish the unworthy on the ride by standing and powering up in, oh say, 39/19 gearing. But since the injury, this is not possible on several levels. Mainly the ability to stand on the pedals is the issue, but as you would no doubt have read in previous posts, the situation is a-changing. This morning, it changed a bit more. You guessed it, I powered up it standing all the way. Granted it wasn't in 39/19, more like 39/25 but that's not the point. So while it still doesn't feel like much is happening healing-wise its these measurables that I'm focusing on.

Oh, the stats for the ride were 45km @ 31.5kph average. Sorry no heartrate data. I'm still not grabbing the chest strap as habit yet, but I'm working on it. And for some bike-porn, here's a pic of my bike. I didn't ride it this morning as the facilities at work for bike security aren't great, and this baby is expensive to replace.

I've had this bike for about 18months now and just adore it. Story behind getting it is that an aussie rider was contracted to ride with Robbie McEwen's team, but at the last minute they pulled the deal. He'd already received his team bike, so a friend contacted me and asked if I wanted it at a cheap price. Duh... is what I said. More bike pics to follow of my TT bike. Just because I can.

Ciao.