Cold, wet and windy Kinglake ride

Despite getting lost 3 times on the way to the Kinglake ride , I managed to get to the start on time. As I started to get ready I just hoped I had enough clothes for the conditions. It was supposed to be around 15C but at the start of the ride it was still only 6C with a light drizzle falling. I had on long thermal pants, long sleeve base layer under the “official” ride jersey. I also threw on some arm warmers and opted for the long fingered gloves. I figured  that once I started riding I would be warm enough but the chance of more rain had be a bit worried!.Unfortunately the ride started late so after standing around at the starting line for 30 mins my joints were getting stiffer and stiffer. Finally the starter’s hooter sounded and we began to shuffle forward. I soon got into a leisurely pace as we headed down a busy hwy out of town before heading into the rolling hills towards Kinglake.

Just as I began to warm up It started to rain steadily, I had to take off my sun glasses ( not that they were protecting me from the sun anyway) because I couldn’t see anything. The pace slowed down and the riders tended to bunch up and spread too wide for my liking. I felt uncomfortable sitting behind some of the groups weaving around in the wet conditions so I went around them and found a clear patch of road where I felt safer riding in the rain. At about the 40 km mark the rain eased, I was soaked through and feeling the cold, my nose was stinging. I pulled over for a quick stretch before i got to the hill climb, I refuled with a banana and a piece of fruit cake from my back pocket. Then it was on the road again in the rain to tackle the 7 km long hill, which was by far the longest I have ever attempted. To my surprise I was climbing comfortably and in a steady rhythm, I was passing far more riders than were passing me. I stayed in the large chain ring on the front and felt surprisingly strong. (I put it all down to the torturous spin classes these past couple of weeks.) As we neared the summit we were in a mist of cloud and drizzle,I looked around at the fire scared trees which served as stark reminder of the black Saturday fires that devastated the Kinglake area 2 years prior.

At the top of the hill we hit an intersection, the 70km ride option went left the 120km ride went right, with the cold rain  still falling the majority of the 120km riders seemed to be going left and heading back to the start/finish. I was here for the challenge and I figured that I couldn’t get any wetter so I turned right and kept going. Well I was wrong, the rain fell even heavier and the change of direction brought a change in wind on the exposed part of the course. It began to hail. Pea sized hail pelted my helmet and stung my face and ran down my back, on a steep ascent warning signs advising to go slow on the winding road down from the top of the hill. I didn’t need to be told twice, with my numb fingers gripping the brake levers I nursed the bike down from the hill onto the flats.

Once on the plateau the rain eased and the wind was now at our backs, with a straight even stretch of road and the feeling returning to my fingers, I upped the pace a bit more. There were less riders now so I was able to keep a safe distance from the riders in front there was no sense in drafting in these conditions. We were all enjoying the tailwind and a brief respite from the rain.

At the 88km mark I pulled over at the rest stop, the hail started again, a quick bite to eat and a top-up of the water bottles and I was off again. Coming out of the rest stop the course changed direction, the 45kmph+ wind coming at us from the left as we took on a short climb, it was a challenge to keep upright as the gusting wind conspired to push us over . My legs were getting heavy  and the cold was taking its toll on my joints, I began to regret stopping at the last rest stop.

20km to go and one last steep hill to climb, I reached for a power-gel (I not so keen on them  but all the cyclist are doing them now days!) and squeezed it into my mouth. I’m sure the effect was mostly placebo but I did seem to get a boost and made it to the top of the hill ( in the small chain ring this time!), there was even 15 minutes of sunshine before the heaviest of the hail storm hit. The hail was bouncing of my helmet and pinging against the frame of the bike, I just tried to hang on and kept going. He hail only lasted for a few minutes and was replaced by light rain. The rain finally stopped for the last  5km or so I just cruised on into town and across the finish line, all I could think off was a hot shower and sitting in front of an open fire place. I finished the ride in under 4hrs and 30 mins. I was very pleased with myself! I got home and my support crew had welcomed me home with warm hugs,  a roaring fire , a cosy  blanket and some hot soup, and that made it all worthwhile!

Check out my ride stats by clicking here 

Spin classes

I have been a bit slack with the updates of late but I have kept up the riding.  I signed up to do spin classes at a gym near my work. I thought the 45 minutes of riding a bike would be a nice supplement to my training on the days that I couldn't commute in. However after My first class I found that Spin or RPM they call it is bloody hard work!!! It is high intensity interval training with simulated hills based on resistance. The two young ladies that run the classes are super fit and look like they are ready to tackle the Tour De France. They bounce around to the frantic  music shouting out encouragement as the  doof doof beat becomes hypnotic.  Just when I think that I have the beat and can match my cadence the tempo changes " add another gear " the instructor yells as the class rises as one off their saddles and begins to climb. While I'm doing my best to keep up the pace,  the imaginary me is left languishing at the bottom of the imaginary mountain while the rest of the class is chasing the imaginary peleton over the peak of the hill. Even the imaginary down hill is no time for respite as we go into the "aero position" for an imaginary sprint to the finish line. (the longest 2 minutes ever!) After 45 minutes I'm drenched in sweat and there is a puddle of perspiration on the floor My legs feel like jelly but I think I'll do it again, but hopefully I can catch an imaginary tail wind on the imaginary mountain stage of that very real spin class!

Returning from Hong Kong

I spent the past week or so in Hong Kong on a business trip for work so there was not much riding going on! I spent a lot of time eating some awesome food ! my Hong Kong colleagues took me out for lunch for Dim Sum every day in all sorts of restaurants from  the 2 Michelin star Ming Court at the Langham Hotel  to a tiny back room in a dingy eatery in Sham Shui Po. As usual I ate way more than I should have and so my healthy eating habits went out the window for the week. I did manage 4 sessions on the hotels only exercise bike. With the local weather being 35c and 90% humidity the air-conditioning was on full blast and it was still a struggle, but with the thought of the next feast filling my head I soldiered on. Now it’s back in Melbourne and back on the bike this morning, I rode the 27k route to work this morning and got the cobwebs out , I hope to make the most of the unseasonably warm (19c) weather this week and get a few rides in. I’m conscious that the clock is ticking and the 120km ride in September and the 250km in October is fast approaching,  so I had better get cracking and rack up some serious Kms!

View from Langham Hotel looking towards the Peak (I-Phone)

Tour De France

I only managed one ride this week, travelling for work, lousey weather and staying up too late to watch the Tour de France has taken it's toll! I have managed to do a few rides on the trainer. Speaking of the tour tonight Cadel Evans is going for Yellow in the Time Trial. it's been a huge tour for him and he is well placed . GO CADEL!!!!

Kinglake 120km Ride

To see how I am going before the 250km "around the bay in a day ride" ATB,  I have decided to test myself out over half the distance just 5 weeks prior. The Kinglake ride is a 120km loop just north of Melbourne in the Kinglake area with rolling hills and at least one long climb, (so I hope to be fitter and lighter by then).  I'll be riding by myself, (unless there is anyone out there that want to join me!) Check out the ride by clicking on this link Kinglake 120km ride.

Psycho Possum

On the way home from work late last evening a near miss on Yarra Boulevard nearly spoiled my night. I was going down a slight decent at about  40 km/hr, there was no one in front of me and no one behind me. I could have been the only person on the road for miles around for all I knew. When a psycho possum choose the exact same moment I was passing by to attempt a kamikaze run across the road! In a reflex action I stood up out of the seat as if to jump and swerve at the same time. I’m sure it didn’t,  but it seemed like the possum ran between the front and back wheel!  In a split second I came back down hard on the seat and did my impression of the nutcracker! With tears welling up in my eyes I rode on, hoping that my falsetto voice would return by the time I got home! fortunately it did, and if I come across that possum with a death wish again it may just get what it is asking for!     

Chasing the fog

Each day I commute to work I keep a close eye on the weather. These past few mornings have been cold but dry with no wind, it’s been a joy riding in those conditions. Last night around 4:30pm I looked out of the window to see a huge bank of fog come rolling in from the south. It was a surreal sight with the sun going down and the fog rolling in.

Weird afternoon fog rolling in across Melbourne CBD (i-Phone)

What this meant was the temperature had dropped a long with the visibility. It made for an interesting ride home as I seemed to be chasing the fog eastward for most of the ride. Fortunately I have lots of reflective gear, three rear lights and good front lights, but it is still a little eerie riding through the fog along the bike paths. I got up this morning and found my front wheel had gone flat overnight, I must have picked up a slow puncture on the trip home. I was thankful that I didn’t have to deal with it last night!