Sunday, September 27, 2009

Off to Vegas

No unfortunately I didn't get to go with the boss to Interbike, Las Vegas.

I had to settle with riding to Rotovegas.

I rode over the Kaimai's for the first time which took me 1hr 25 to cover the 29km from home & climb 490m to the summit. Once again the weather didn't know what it was doing & I had rain & sun on the way up. Then the descent it was raining. On to the flat rolling country roads it stopped.

Now the left turn onto State Highway 5 was like the unknown. I travelled this road from Auckland to Rotorua all the time but haven't for atleast the last 8 years, so had forgotten what it was like. It was basically up!!! The first 22km saw me climb 450m with nothing more than a 5% gradient. At the summit it once again threw it down, & with nowhere to hide I just kept riding to Rotorua.

The sun was shining on the airport side of the lake when I got to Rotorua, but by the time I had made my way round it was raining.

The road back to Tauranga from here is predominently downhill as we head back to sea level. Had a great ride along here & heading up towards the Mount I eventually had to head for shelter as the roads began to flood.

Only a short time later was back on the bike & heading over the Harbour bridge for home.

DROWNED !!!!!

Another great ride !!

This weeks long ride was to include hills so check out below to see where I got myself to




Will write a bit more later.

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Whakatane here I come

Thought I had better sit down & let you all know what's been happening.

Last weeks mid-week training went really well. I got another couple of rides in on Wednesday totalling 93.50kms, did a 7km run & 2.8km swim. Then on Friday I loaded the companies trailer with tents & bikes etc & headed on down to Taupo. We had staff & riders staying in a couple of houses down there & the one we stayed in was huge sleeping 13 in total & space for more. Saturday dawned grey & overcast for the race but it was quite nice, not hot & no dust.

Once again my time was taken up making sure everyone was happy, doing all 3 prizegivings & generally making sure as the sponsors we all had a great day. For the record our Elite team won, the open & 90's revival team's were both 3rd. Phil a husband of 1 of the ladies at work won the 12hr solo & a Jude from Porirua cycles ( Big Jamis supporters ) won the womens 12hr solo. All in all a great day & couldn't wait to hit the sack around midnight.

Now the plan was to ride part way home but with the boss not coming down & me having to tow the trailer I didn't do a 75km ride.

Instead I did do 45km after work on Monday.

So the next week has rolled around & once again I mangaed 92km between my 2 rides on Wednesday, then knocked off 205kms on Saturday. Had a great ride from home to Whakatane & back. Beautiful morning at 6.30am with a slight westerly blowing , once I turned for home light showers started & a soueasterly ( Tailwind ), then by the time I hit Te Puke it was raining quite hard. Was glad to get off the saddle after 6hr 45mins. Feel like I could have kept riding, but this was only a flat ride. See what I fell like next week after 180km with hills.

The plan is over the Kaimai's, then down through Rotorua & back home via Te Puke.

You all have a great week.

I will !!!

Monday, September 7, 2009

Another good week

This has been another successful week of training.

I once again managed a couple of short runs, totalling 9.55kms ( whahoo )& got in the pool for a total of 5.7kms. Both of these two discipline are taking alittle of the backseat at the moment but still just trying to be consistent.

Now the cycling on the other hand has been coming along great. On Saturday's ride I managed my longest time in the saddle of 6hrs. I have ridden 5hr 43mins before on the way to Taupo 2007. I also managed two good rides on Wednesday. So in total I rode 265.5kms with a total time of 10hr 13mins. Saturdays ride was quite a challenge as I was doing a hilly ride which involved not only the hills but a very strong headwind. It also was quite cold & even by 1pm I don't really think I was much warmer. Yes the sun was out but not warm.

This week is an easy week which is good timing as I head off to Taupo for my works sponsored MTB race. The boss may not be going to join us again this year so I 'll get to run around like a lost sheep. She'll be right !!

Hopefully the plan is for me to ride my easy 75km ride from Taupo then get picked up on the way. Just an easy few kms down Broadlands Rd.

Wednesday's rides will hopefully be a little longer this week as the daylight hours get longer. The rest of the week will fairly easy & hopefully the weather gods will be nice.