Hmmm...
I've had better races but was still pleased I stuck it out to finish despite chronic back pain after about 20k into the race. Don't know what triggered it, maybe even trying to move my weighty Kurt Kinetic trainer around at home with disregard to my delicate back, doh!. So to be able to battle on through the race meant getting off the bike every 15 or so k's to do a yoga session on the side of the track. It's not great for you're race time though. And it showed in my 5hrs51min race time. Disappointing.
All the masters of the masters category were there, Wornes, John, McColl, McCrory, Williams and me ol' (friendly) nemesis McGrath. The start was off, as expected, to a solid pace on the undulating fire road. As I kept telling myself to start a little slower, ride my own pace and finish faster for a change, I let go of the lead group a bit.
But after the slippery in places, paddock section the ol' back started to come back to haunt me.
The course was much better than last years with much more single track and less frickn bitumen. Always good for a MTB race. A gold stamp to the organisers for this years course.
Ride, pain, more pain, stretch, repeat, repeat, repeat. (excuses, excuses, excuses)
13th place in Masters - grrrrrrr...
Core exercises for me I think.
Oh well, let's move on....
Next?
Gravity 12hr?
I'm comin' to gitcha.
Friday, September 25, 2009
MTB worlds
The trip to Canberra to ride and watch the racing was as expected, F*%#@'N GREAT!!!
I just couldn't keep off the bike, so I spent pretty much all day, everyday riding. With some spectating thrown in there.
Those blokes and chicks ride fast at that level, real fast (oh really?).
To watch the two mens XC leaders still belting it out at break neck speed at the end of the race was awesome.
Just fantastic to ride Stroms and Sparrow's without it being a race and with mates for a change.
I could nearly move to the nations capital just for the riding, road and MTB (no really).
Can't be fagged writing anymore detail, just to say the trip was well worth the effort.
I just couldn't keep off the bike, so I spent pretty much all day, everyday riding. With some spectating thrown in there.
Those blokes and chicks ride fast at that level, real fast (oh really?).
To watch the two mens XC leaders still belting it out at break neck speed at the end of the race was awesome.
Just fantastic to ride Stroms and Sparrow's without it being a race and with mates for a change.
I could nearly move to the nations capital just for the riding, road and MTB (no really).
Can't be fagged writing anymore detail, just to say the trip was well worth the effort.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
The test.
It's been a couple of weeks since 'the test' and shall try to remember it as it was.
A 9am Saturday start with Dean (Torq boss), Cam (physiologist) and Jamie (set-up expert) in attendance and after an explanation of the process, a short while to set-up the test bike to my previous bike position they had me getting comfortable with an easy warm up. Easy.
Then mask on, no talking and light resistance applied.... easy.
Take blood for lactate level via pricked finger then increase resistance by 50w, 3 minutes pedaling then repeat, repeat, repeat process until my V02 levels reach their peak then start to drop off. Resistance off, light spin, recover, drink Torq recovery, test completed!
Actually not as painful as I was expecting but no stroll in the park mind you.
The detailed results were forwarded to me, and my new coach Jenni, the next week.
Jen peruses the results and constructs the cunning plan to make me ride faster for longer.
Next I was under the instruction of Jamie to assess/change my current bike/s set-up to create more power, less fatigue and more comfort. First up was my Scott road race bike then the Scapin roadie and finally the Yeti. All bikes are now significantly different to ride and from the riding I have done so far they are more comfortable and I feel somewhat stronger on them. My seat and bars were lifted from my super low euro pro (wank, wank) position and seat moved forward to allow me to power more over the top of my pedal stroke. It so far feels real good!
Now all I have to do is ride it, follow it, eat well, rest well, stay injury free and avoid the pig flu (and any other nasty bugs) and podium here I come..... hopefully.
The process was a wonderful experience and I reckon anyone with enthusiasm about their bikes and racing, at any level, would get a lot out of it.
I certainly did.
A 9am Saturday start with Dean (Torq boss), Cam (physiologist) and Jamie (set-up expert) in attendance and after an explanation of the process, a short while to set-up the test bike to my previous bike position they had me getting comfortable with an easy warm up. Easy.
Then mask on, no talking and light resistance applied.... easy.
Take blood for lactate level via pricked finger then increase resistance by 50w, 3 minutes pedaling then repeat, repeat, repeat process until my V02 levels reach their peak then start to drop off. Resistance off, light spin, recover, drink Torq recovery, test completed!
Actually not as painful as I was expecting but no stroll in the park mind you.
The detailed results were forwarded to me, and my new coach Jenni, the next week.
Jen peruses the results and constructs the cunning plan to make me ride faster for longer.
Next I was under the instruction of Jamie to assess/change my current bike/s set-up to create more power, less fatigue and more comfort. First up was my Scott road race bike then the Scapin roadie and finally the Yeti. All bikes are now significantly different to ride and from the riding I have done so far they are more comfortable and I feel somewhat stronger on them. My seat and bars were lifted from my super low euro pro (wank, wank) position and seat moved forward to allow me to power more over the top of my pedal stroke. It so far feels real good!
Now all I have to do is ride it, follow it, eat well, rest well, stay injury free and avoid the pig flu (and any other nasty bugs) and podium here I come..... hopefully.
The process was a wonderful experience and I reckon anyone with enthusiasm about their bikes and racing, at any level, would get a lot out of it.
I certainly did.
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