The beauty...

Sunday saw a ride with 3 mates from Mansfield, Mick F, Bruce H and Jock B, from Noojee to the Mt Baw Baw summit return. No takers (suckers) from Melbourne came along for the ascent of the steeeep one. Either slack, soft, scared or busy.
It's gotta be one of the best places to ride in Victoria, Australia or even the world (not that I have any OS riding experience other than being a bike courier in London).
Riding a steady pace out to the gate (start of the infamous climb) and then a hard, but not maximum, effort to the top 37mins35secs for the 6+ k climb.
If I'm in any form leading into the Baw Baw Classic in April, I will look forward to smashing it on my beautiful Reynolds KOMs with Veloflex tubulars, in the race. Riding on them will take some time off. You bet.

Baw Baw

Looking forward to having another crack at Baw Baw on Sunday with a few mates. Riding from Noojee and maybe 2x up the climb... (maybe I said).
Baw Baw Classic? Hmmm, we'll just see a bit closer to April. I've gotta get some use of those beautiful Reynolds KOMs sitting in the corner. Up, up,up, we go...

Tour Down Undies - wrap up

Adelaide was a ball again. Bigger crowds this year, I'm gunna have a different strategy for watching the racing next year, the finishes are just too hard, to see too little. Great to see the current world champ have'n a bit of a dip on the penultimate day and his 3rd place in Sterling, in a bunch sprint n all. He the man, I'm a fan. Pro all the way I say. Other great moments were T.Lowe in the break of 3 on the last stage in Adelaide, and the Gorilla flexing his muscle to win 3 stages. Equally as good as the racing was the few rides I had with a great mate from Mansfield, Jock Brega. He's experienced, consistent and doesn't mind belting along the flats or hitting a few hills. We pretty much rant and rave about bike shit all week. and love it.
Pickle (Coco) had fun too and managed to stay entertained without too much bike overload. The rest of the family stayed at home. I'll drag or take them all along next year. It was great watching the last stage with my soon to be father in-law, who is living in Adelaide and as it turns out, resides tracksde. So we watched the race under the shade of a large tree, at the top of the climb, with a large screen showing the race opposite, GOLD!
No masters racing this year, didn't renew my licence in time (and maybe that I'm just not feeling quick enough just yet after my break).

FHDC are back!

Belting around some tight and techy single track for 30 mins on a Tuesday night is back and last Tuesdays was a warm one. Great fun as usual but when you're riding on ya rivet, 30 mins even seems long. 2nd place went to the newly crowned Aussie XC masters champ Justin Wornes (gets a Aussie champ jersey n all!) where he beat Eva by 20secs. Like Eva needs another champs jersey anyway. Congrats to Justin, nice bloke (and fast too!)

1st Matt L
2nd Justin W
3rd me!

Tour Down Undies - here we go!

Hitting the road this weekend for a week o bike stuff in Adelaide. I went last year, loved it, and vowed to return. Morning rides in the Adelaide hills, pro tour race viewing in the arvo and camp ground relaxing in the evening. Ahhh yes...
Despite all the shit Adelaide cops, I reckon the place is great for a bike freaks holiday.
No racing in any support races for me this year, just go with the flow. My travelling buddy, daughter Coco will be along for the journey again, can't wait!!!
I reckon it's gunna be a cracker with a few more of the bigger names in cycling coming out as well as our own big name Aussie stars. Can one A.Davis back it up? Game on!

Aussie Road Champs

All the best to Team Nacional riders, Torq Australia riders and Carson Tully and at Buninyong this weekend.
Rip it up against the pro's, lads!

The new decade and life begins...

What an eventful couple of months it's been for the 'harmony house' (a term we use to remind the kids of the parents desired demeanour in our home, ambitious maybe, but we try) and the most significant event being the birth of our son Domenico Maxwell. At 5 weeks old there is a definite pattern emerging in his character... he's a boob man. (oh ha ha). May his journey be an exciting and healthy one. May he enjoy all that dirt single track and smooth tarmac has to offer whilst pedalling a bicycle. May he experience the zen of the salt water barrel. May his spine shiver when listening to a guitar riff and/or drum beat. Hang on, hang on, they're sounding like my experiences, hmmm. Anyway, whatever floats his boat, his old man will do his best to offer guidance and support and hopefully share the experience with him.

B.o.B. (back on bike).
With the Otway Odyssey drawing nearer I really need to spend some time on the bike to build on some lapsed form if I am to avoid an embarassing and painful experience. So since starting with an early morning trip to the Yangs with brother Deano Bravo on Jan 2nd, I have strung a couple of rides together. Amy's ride last Sunday was fun as always (despite a 'shoulda known better' hunger flat) Where I found myself sitting on the wheel of one R. McEwen for about 20k or so. Ya don't do that every day, well I don't so I was well chuffed as well as making stature comparisons with the fast one.

Off to the Yangers again tomorrow morning for an early one at 6.30am, 3 hours probably, before the heat and a trip down for some waves afterwards.
Ahh the life. I was suppoosed to be working this week???

Rainbow colours on the mid week fatties ride?

Yes that's right, believe it or not, Nicole Cooke, 2008 Olympic and World road champ, on a mountain bike, belting along the Yarra trails with the local motley crue.
Ya don't get that every day... and yes she hooks along on the fat tyres very tidily indeed.
Wow.
And apparently yawl get to see her form at the Kona this weekend too.

Dirt crits

A healthy and formidable turn out last night for the half hour of fat tyre power.
20 or so riders funnelled into the tight single track. Ben was on fire. Great to see a couple of chix.
And an honourable mention to dirt crit virgin Jim who jumped in on the Shogun,
without hesitation, and has vowed to be back for more.

1st Ben R
2nd Russ C
3rd Shaun H

7th for me

Next in 2 weeks

Gravity 12hour - raced and WON!!!

Yep, that's right, the 'Emergency Merkin' team of Tim and I slogged it out in the heat to eventually win by 8mins in the male pairs category and possibly more impressively, 5th place overall against the more widely resourced teams of 3 and 4 riders (and much younger ones also).
A couple of laps pre-race roll around the 10.8k (by my GPS measurement) circuit revealed the same familiar course but sporting the effects of a bushfire some 8 months before. Burnt out bridges, black ash in the dust, more exposed to the sun through lack of foliage and quite a bit of loose gravel on the usual well packed surface. 'Sketchy', I thought, and it was but the track soon packed down.
I got a bad start in the run with the majority of riders in front of me, so I just sat in until I could overtake. Tim took over and showed that we were here to race! by belting out a quick first lap. We tagged each other for the next 12 hours with barely a "nice work", time gaps and "GO!!!" spoken between us for the period. About half way through the day I followed our category leader, the strong Brad Davies, for a lap and eventually we overtook his team and slowly extended the gap.
Tim rode like a pro, the best I've seen him and my times were pretty consistent all day.
We were glad to see the sun disappear for a couple of cooler laps at the end of the day.
Both shelled by the end, but elated at pulling the win.
I couldn't have done it without Torq products to fuel me all day, no cramps, no flat spots and no bonking.

Great race on a great course as usual.
Well done to all of the 600 or so competitors.
Well done to The Spin Room boys on winning their category.
Thanks Tim.

Mountain biking, as much as it takes out of me and hurts at times, I just fucking love it!!! (der...)

Gravity 12 hour - this weekend

After whipping around in the erratic B grade, Kew Blvd, crit last night, there will be no more hard efforts before the Gravity kicks off this Saturday at 9am.
Tim and I are set to take it on as a pair (of idiots), which will no doubt take it's toll by the races end, some time after 9pm that evening.
The weather is expected to be, well... perfect!

Consistant, quick laps that are faster than last years consistant quick laps, is the aim.

A great event on a course I could ride with my eyes closed after having done the last 6 or so years.

Good luck to all, stay upright ay!

Sunday will see a trip over to Bright to ride to Mt Hotham return.
Recovery? I think not.
There's time to recover next week...

Functional Threshold Power test - complete

Why did I feel more nervous about doing this test than racing?
*#^! knows?
It was warm, it was on the trainer, I hadn't done one before, no one else home, was I gunna pass out on a max effort? Why worry? It's just a 'simple test' isn't it?
After following the protocol to the letter/number for warm up, it was BANG! power down!
5mins - yeah, ok
10mins - what only half way?
15mins - ouch, hang in there, whoa feeling a bit...dizzy
20mins - power off, thank ^$*! for that!

That's why I was a bit nervous, scared even, as I won't give up until the task is complete. (maybe that's the problem)
Testardo (stubborn).

Anyways 1st one over, I'll know what I'm in for next time at least.
Does that help? Hmmm...

FTP result? A little better after a month of coaching. I'll wait for Jen's feedback though.

Thanks Jen. I'll get there (damn it!)

The great thing is... I just feeel good on the bike and enjoying it at the moment, MTB and road.

Crits on Sunday, St Kilda or Glenvale.

Gravity 12hour the following w/end, bring it on!

Recovery week

Taking it easy this week with a self administered (max. effort) fitness test at some stage.
Arrrgh...

Triggers out and Gripshift in

Good riddance to the 3x9 Sram triggers I have been using for the past 3 months and welcome back to the trusty 2x9 set-up with Gripshift.
Don't get me started.
Thanks James @ Spoke(n) for the switch back.

Surfcoast 6Hr - wash up

The brothers Kellett teamed up for the first time ever, to ride a pretty consistent race to finish 4th in male pairs and 8th overall. The Anglesea scout camp course and the conditions were excellent. We were beaten by the Apollo and Felt teams who won the the event overall but considering the lack of training that brother Dean does, he rode an awesome one, albeit on a course he's familiar with. Top work Deano! I had a great race too and am feeling good on the bike at the moment. I think Jen's coaching is certainly doing the trick and looking forward to taking some good form into the Gravity in a couple of weeks.

Result: 4th (male pairs)

Over and out now for a recovery spin and giggle around Torquers.