Australia day wknd riding.

hope you like the pics... there all out of order but oh well thats charlie with mr pink:) i turned the free australia day bucket hat into a cycling cap it got plenty of laughs.

The wknd started with a trip out to ourimbah on the sunday, i was riding my santa cruz blur lt which is forsale will have pics up when its fixed i get to that later..

so i we did a cruzy lap 1st up then i put the hammer down to see the difference between the epic and a santa cruz, the cruz is a lil heavier but it climbed like a mule yes it made it but slowly,,it descended like ummmm like a mudslide smooth fast and stuck to everything lol were the epic can be a bit like the big roll of cheese they throw down the hill ok prob not that bad...if i was a bike shop owner i wouldnt sell an epic to rider with not much experience but if ya love the bike moving about a bit then they are fun to throw about and they just fling ya up a climb.

one lap done 10.4km 30.33m avg 20.4kph

lap two came with half a crash chain popped off but still held same time and avg lap3 was a bit sloppy but i was still on the same pace maybe a lil slower and then i caught charlie on her 2nd lap so i just rode with her and then i noticed my front tyre going down the result of sloppy cornering and just cruzed back to the finish had fun but oh i cant wait for my 09epic:)

Australia day ride started at 7am in erina all 23 of us took on the 1st climb to the top of a ver muggy mossy infested kincumber mountain with a big range of fitness level the tail end get to the top at the same time as the fit guys wana get going, but this anual ride is a very socialable one and no one is in a hurry. some of the trails were knew to ppl so it was great to extra large smile or bright eyes of fear on the descents. over to the trails at macs the second big climb really hurts a few ppl so they take the short option to big berther, we all fly down the luge which takes you to the bottom of heart brake hill it has about 20 water bars up a steep climb turn left at the top 200m of rolling before to reach the bottom of big bertha i have a crack at in middle chain ring completly rooted when i reach the top. single speed riding has made a diference. into the the turkey track and onto the cliff ride all very tight techy single track we cross the road into the strome track hmmmm why is there play in my cranks... oh crap the bottom bracket has just died.

miles from home... one of the riders lives 200m away n her husband was away with the kids sweet ill jump on his bike.. a scott something seat hight was already perfect length was all sweet change sum pedals off we go.. hmmmm very narrow did i say narrow bars hmm no back break oh this will be interesting.. on the descent down to the rip bridge was the 1st challenge trying not to over heat the brakes sorta went ok i joked about being the padding for anyone who couldnt stopped before the guard rail at the bottom cause i had a good chance of slamming it hard... and one guy went over the hangers on the descent i think the gumleaves on the cement did him in.

on the other side of woy woy i rode with the girls to the top of this massive climb that takes u to staples look out.. the faster riders took a trip to the pie shop... the girls continued on so i turned n headed back down the hill to meet the others this hard scott bike shook me down here real rocky all the way n on the front brake:P got to the bottom to suggestions i had a mental prob wanting to do the climb again... we meet up with all the crew at staples look out.. and ride the road to kariong for the last section of dirt.. nearly didnt make it down there alive.. onto the cycle paths to gosford thru lots of banked traffic due to road closure and some time trail racing over the last 2km to smash it to the end...

i good day out on a strange bike.. better than no riding at all..

a week of spin classes and hopefully more xc racing prep come th wknd.

cheero chops:)

C'MON LEGS...

the term usually used in a spin class to get ppls legs moving it had to be used on myself this morning.
after a hot wednesday the beach was closer than going home to get on my single speed. to lie on the sand and watch the storm rolling in from sydney was brilliant so i whimped out on my ride which brings punishment.
On the bike this morning to ride to my 615am spin class jumped on my spin bike smashed out rpm 39 the out the door to ride the road(no food yet) the tummy was hungary had the option to ride 8km to work for breakfast had to punish the body 1st. so around brisbane water we go i decide to take the footpath as the sydney comuters are on the road at this time still sleeping at the wheel..
i struggle to get the speedo over 30 the body was having a go.. wat happened to the pasta n barramundi for dinner last night, well chops to go were u wana go this year your gona have to put of with more hurt than this so shut up n ride.
16km down to woy woy i look the other way wen i see a coffee sign i so need one but dont have th time doubt i even have anything in my wallet.. keep pedaling...
The thought of the final 8kms sinks in its all hills about 4 of them im gona have to find sum food so i pull in to a servo i just have enough coin for a nut bar mmmmmm.. i start munching it down i just get it all in before the first pinch once over the top i reach 4 the water barely anything left now it was only half full when i started it never got a refill after class.
The nut bar made a slight dif it did make me feel a little better it didnt give me any extra leg power but i made it to my destination/ my weetabix:)

1hr7min 33km

chops;)

D day complete

yesterday was a full year since i was hit and put in hospital so to make sure i finished wat i had started i did the same route from work to the gym into a nasty head wind on the SS thinking back to wat they day felt like i another great day on a bike living life. i turn left into earnst st in erina after i good solid climb.
a quarter the way down the hill(just a roll past a school to the traffic lights) is a pole laiden with flowers were a guy died 10days after my accident he was laying in the gutter after a big night out and was run over the next morning its a lil reminder how much worse life could be.
i make it to the lights with a lil glimpse at were i layed bloodied and broken.
busted out a 45min spin class i wasnt teaching was nice so i spent the time being annoyed at my setup and technique when class was over straight back on the bike for the 7km home ansd i made it up charles kay top speed 10km/hr wat a grind.
quick shower and charlie drove us down to her uncle auntie place in chatswood for dinner driving back up to the coast at about 930pm charlie reminds how a year ago at this time we were eating gourmet pizza in the emergancy room my gut churns of wat followed that night, but its were me and charlie were brought together she was my angel then and has never left my side since.

ive been off the moutain bike 4 ages im so hungary to ride and to win i want it so bad no pain will slow me down.

TO LIVE LIFE YOU MUST LAUGH AT DEATH

chops;)

a solo social ride

After all day in a hot tin shed with most of it talking myself out of riding the 45km i had planned i thought id punish my thoughts n shut up and ride. i had a tail wind for the first 12km which i needed just to boost the legs riding through woy woy is very flat until ya hook onto woy woy road, 2days earlier i was talking with rizzo about he struggled to climb it on his new rode bike and with my 39-14 gear ratio i wasnt sure if it was possible specially for how energetic i was feeling there was turning back now. grind n grind i did barely riding over 10km/hr once of the 1st and the steepest section i had lactic burn in my triceps from pulling it up the hill. the hill became more reasonable now but nearing the top a few mtb riders popped out of the bush which i knew so i pulled up for chat which went for to long then back on the bike i had brian wanna chase me up the hill(im sure u will hear more of brian hes a massage therapist at the gym) so he had my legs burning n puffing hard to the top a few kms to kariong hill which your at the top of now so rolled down there and at the bottom i seen crawford mr pink number1 who came 4th in the 100mile in november he was on his way home after 12hrs as a vet on his single speed so we chattered n cruised along the water front complaining how crap the ride was n the view all very sicastic...he headed off home and i went back on pace to chase the sun home.
soon as i walked in the door i tucked into water magnesuim tablets and 2 endura optimizer shakes with pasta and veggies mmmmm was so good, i fell asleep and was dead to the world till the alarm sounded at 530 up and off to the gym to smash out RPM. now im scoffing down about 6weetbix and a muesli bar... better get to work eh..

save riding everyone


chops:)

Single Speed Session on Sunday

The alarm sounded at 630 am 3omins later i roll out of bed the aim of the day was to fit the most into a sunday jumped into my car n drove down to my shed passing 6 ppl already out training i was keen to make up for lost time, i really wanted to put a big climb in my ride today but had to meet charlie in avoca breakfast at 930.
by 730 im on my bike heading clockwise around brisbane waters from kincumber, so i cut ou theclimb to kilcare and ride the rolling hills to woy woy pretty happy with the legs trying to get up and keep at 40km/hr on the flats just was not happening and that pissed me off i round up woy woy and head back towards gosford into a slight head wind whipping up off the still water, i see more and more riders and runners but all going the opposite direction. had me thinking am i going the wrong way so i tried to convince myself this was the harder way and it was doing a great benefit.
reaching west gosford i check the time guilty of wimping out on the big climb early i turn left and ride kariong hill i didnt really attack it bust i still rode it in 9mins out of breath i limp around at the lights and roll back down into the sun towards gosford which i do not enjoy i have even less faith in drivers in these conditions. still not achieving 40km.hr for very long on the flats i turn right onto avoca drive 5hills and im done i keep pushing the pace over the last climb i notice ive done about 47km thinking i should feel like i wana do another 50km but my head makes all the reasons in the world not to with my bottle empty and no food in me or on me the second 50will have to wait i give it all i got down to avoca clock over the 50km mark and rode to the surf club finishing the ride at the beach put a huge grin on my face life is swell.
had breakfast eggs benedict and banana bread with a mocha 3 of my fav things in life:)
went to the movies and watch seven pounds.. rode back to my shed loaded up the epic off to home grab the santa cruz now to the bike shop. my epic sold with in 24hrs on ebay im so gona miss that machine the santa cruz needs the back brake bled so its rideable for australia day ride.
went back to the gym that arvo smashed my arms and chest did some leg press work and some hamstring work as well. its tues now and i can still feel my hamstrings.
already ticked off one spin class this morning i have another at 630pm:)


one gear one dream

keeping pedaling

chops:)

SPINING ON THE SPOT.

With my epic freshly tuned and polished and right behined me its begging me for some fast single track, im gona miss this baby when i post her on ebay today(hoping it sells) and with my santa cruz blur up for grabs to the only riding ive been doing is spin classes. i did the kariong challenge on new years day,, its a 3km hill climb in 8mins i made it in 8min 40sec im pretty sure ive never ridden my heart rate that high for that long ever but with only one gear i had to pretty much stand up the whole way..
the gym is pretty full on and is only going to get busier. this week so far was a spin and boxing class on monday 2 spin classes on tues one on wednesday one on thurs and one this arvo, but with a new fitness first open on the 29th of jan ill be teaching even more.
monday 630pm boxing
tues 615am spin 630pm spin
wed 530spin 645boxing
thurs615am spin 530spin hoping to ride the local xc track after this session
fri 530spin
sat 830spin back on the xc track after this one to...

some of my spin classes are rpm were i get my heart rate into 90% 3 times and the other ones are freestyle spin were i pick the music and the terrain we ride.. massive climbs in and out of the saddle heart in high 80% most of the time and with a 10second burst id be rippen 90+ each class is about 45mins on the bike so im trying to really get into super hard. i get totally carried away wen the room is full(40bikes) which will result in a massive high but you plummet back to earth very quickly with a smashed body.

so much of my daily thoughts are filled with this years racing stoked to hear about canberras 100km race its gona be tough competition with all the locals just hope it doesnt clash with my local club racing which i know it will because they dont put much thought into there racing calendar and i really want to attempt a 24hr solo which mite be on the same day as a mates wedding which i truly hope not, because im pretty sure there will be unlimited spots available to qualify for worlds.. i know i can get thru it, but maybe next year might be better i could be more of a threat by then...
love to keep blogging got lots of furniture to restore to help pay for this year.. catch ya soon.

chops:)

single speed adventure (27.12.08)

BURRINJUCK DAM CLASSIC

THE morning after boxing day the alarm sounds at 5am only 4hrs after my drunk head hits the pillow i huge and unpredictated night of drinking mmmm jack daniels:) charlie does a great effort of cooking us some beaut oats for breakfast while i regret the night before n grunt my way around my parents house looking 4 light switches and preparing the bikes n packing the back pack for the next 120km of travel.. best mate jason is at the door 545am stubbies n singlet he tells of last night drinking stories till 3am i smile knowing the next strong rider in our group will be doing tough today as well.. oats go down helmets on feet clipped in must meet the rest of thre crew on the south side of town real soon a quick stop at the servo dammit no nut bars snakes and some coconut logs later we are off.. the 10strong peleton form on the outskirts of YOUNG.

Charlie on her mtb and the rest of us on road bikes my SS was prob the youngest im sure most of them were built in the 80s a very casual affair compared to any major city cycling group but it was so much better then a bunch squeezed into lycra well i was sporting nics and a pink jersy but some one had to:)

with lots of cheers a few more nervous than others we were off on the very quite country roads to harden via kingsvale lots of chatting but with favourable winds and a cloudy morning it was all smile the previous day was 36degrees so not much was said about the weather just hope was installed in our minds for a kind day.. some self seeding was going on in the peleton it was the 1st time for some riders and even bigger 1st for them to take on 120km me and jas were surging up at the front never giving each other the slightest edge on being the 1st to the top of any ant hill, was shaping up to be a great day battling wit each other as the alchol seeped from our pores.

we storm into harden all still smiling and pull up for a quick refreshment then over to the park for lots of fruit and anzac biscuits refill all the bottle and solder on.

our next stop was rocky ponds.. i found some stones but no ponds but had a great battle with jas for king of the mountain points.. to close to call i say.. with the burn of lactic we pull over for the bunch to regather.. off to binalong some nice climbs on the way here craving coffee i sprint thru town to find only a corner store is open this is were the bike in front of that old shed pic was taken.. our pit stop was about 45min lots of eating and it was only 930am and we found a copy of the latest mtb mag to check out my photo PAGE 19:).

On our way to the quarry for a dip i had a head on with a bee and got stung on my neck a lil paw paw cream was all i had from the quarry we rode to bookham along a quite bumpy road but it was very quite so it was great to spread out and chat as we cruised along. crossing the hume highway was very tricky with the amount of traffic but cofffee was waiting on the other side and fresh rainwater this would be our last chance to get any water. the wind was really whipping up and storm clouds were building very fast things werent looking good for it to stay dry..

a quick ride down the freeway to the turn off bob hoffman turned up with tim tams sweet as i scoffed down 2 and took off didnt get a chance to have sum water so chasing jason to the hill in the distnce was a struggle crazy side wind was making our legs explode but it was all down hill from here.. the rode turned into a tunnel of gum trees was to busy bein gob smacked by there rugged twisted beauty to take a pic, the road to the dam was once the railway line to help build the dam so it is the same gradent all the way down i couldnt really crank it out on the SS there was a few blind corners, so i waited for charlie so we could cruise to the bottom together a fantastic ride very rewarding. the company made it for a great day and the amount of yummy spag bol that was consumed that night was massive. i great ride to finish 08.

chops:)