Bendigo Summer Series Race 1

With local racing so close to home every Tuesday evening fortnightly, why wouldn't you race?  The 'Welcome' race was held at Spring Gully on a freezing evening 3 weeks ago.  I was glad to start riding hard just to warm up.  I haven't made my body hurt for a while, so it was quite a shock on the first of 2 laps.  The second lap I got into the swing a bit more and pushed a bit harder on the climbs rather than riding up them at a comfortable pace.  

Had a great time and met Jo from Bendigo Cycles again and we had great laughs.

The first actual race was held a week ago.  3 laps with a handicap.  First 2 laps I was in agony with a food allergy reaction, but it wasn't only my tummy that was sore - my legs and my lungs were killing me.  Oh I am so unfit.  But I had a great time, it felt good to push my body to hurt, though I ran out of push on the last lap and just rode the climbs.  

I had a great time again, even though I ended up with an exercise induced bark and a growling chest for the next 24 hours.  This is what happens when you let yourself get unfit.  Grump grump it's going to be a long way back....

Textbook cornering - photo thanks to Open Shutter Photography

 

A Weekend in Nowra

I wouldn't choose to drive 8.5 hours each way over a weekend, but a wedding in Nowra, the opportunity to catch up with good RFS mates, and the opportunity to take the roady and enjoy some different riding made the trip all worth it.

Mick and Jamie entertained me on and off during the drive - they were driving from Coffs Harbour to Nowra at the same time I was driving from Bendigo to Nowra.  'Fire' jokes started early on with regular references to flight following, incident response, SARS (Search & Rescue), and the list went on.  And on....

The dogs were regretfully dropped at the kennels, and the drive was uneventful (thankfully), but long.  Mick and Jamie were experiencing 37 degree temperatures and windy, and I was 14 degrees and raining - I think I got the better drive.  They had cars breaking down on the side of the Pacific Hwy from overheating, I had cars crashing on the Hume Hwy in the rain.  We eventually got to Nowra, where my motel room door had been kicked in the night before.  A quick change of rooms and I was settled.  Lots of laughs and catching up went on, and it was just like old times working in the RFS Coffs Harbour Fire Control Centre.  

A lovely Sunday morning brekky with the 2 slightly hungover boys, before my ride.  I had planned a route that had a bit of undulating, but mostly flat.  I must have taken a wrong turn, cause I ended up climbing consistently on 10% climbs, interspersed with climbs that went to 15%.  I eventually got to a saddle in the landscape where my option was up or down.  I chose up.  And it went up, and up.  15% climb; 18% climb; I stopped acknowledging that I'm not fit enough, but then as I through my leg over the bike again I looked up the hill and decided to give it a go.  This process happened one more time before I committed to riding until I could find a good spot where I could get a photo to show how far I had climbed.  Finally after one final pinch I was a a switchback that gave me the perfect view.  Photo taken I then descended back to the motel for what ended up a 1hr 45min ride, with a bucket load of climbing.  

No idea where I was, but I was definitely 'up' after starting at sea level

Got back in time for some food, a shower and then the wedding.  It was lovely to be there for Paul and Tracy's wedding, and we wish them the very happiest of future together.  Of course more laughs were had until the end of the evening, and the end of a great weekend away.

Another uneventful drive home to pick up the babies.  Once home, we all relaxed and cuddled up.  I had been concerned for Buzz with his heart condition and hoped that the stress of being in the kennels wouldn't take too much of a toll on him.  24 hours later, though still very tired, he's happy to be home and sticking very close to me.  Beep is much the same, though she'd prefer to stay on the couch that stick close (cheeky girl never changes).  

The gang back together again - Jamie & Mick

Bendigo 6 Hour

After my disastrous attempt at Jubber Land 2 weeks ago, I was hoping for a better day on the bike at the Bendigo 6 Hour.  Not great preparation for the day due to work demands (sitting for 12 hours on Wednesday, then standing for 6 hours on Friday) and dog demands, but that's life.  

I started the event with the plan to ride somewhere between 4 - 6 hours, depending on what my legs had.  I started not too bad, but soon realised that I should have ridden my bike before the event after having my front fork serviced.  I think Aido must have thought I was looking like a bit of a heifer on Facebook, cause the fork was pretty well ramped up for someone 10 - 20 kg heavier, which meant I had very little front suspension on such a rugged course.  It kind of took away some of the fun of the Sedgwick course that I love so much.  Also, now that I have my full travel back rather than the reduced travel pre-service, I think I might need to go another 5 degrees negative on a new stem - the front seemed very upright compared to my sweet race bike that I'd been riding for 2 weeks.

  

The day was truly gorgeous - sunny Sedgwick was at its best for the first 3 hours, but clearly my body thought it was a little too warm to be trying to eat and ride, and 2 hours into the event my body was rejecting any food I put in.  Fluids were fine, but anything food-like tried to bounce straight back out again.  This is a familiar endurance race response that my body has exhibited since 2006, but after not racing for pretty much 4 years it appears I have softened, because I just couldn't deal with dry-reaching with every mouthful of food for any longer than 2 hours.  

What's with the ugly photo faces these days???

Stomach problems aside I was lapping pretty well but fatiguing all over as the day progressed.  Sedgwick is a pretty demanding event on the whole body, and eventually my hamstrings were killing me on each climb and I realised I wasn't enjoying the event too much anymore.  So I happily pulled the pin at 4 hours and had a great time.  

I managed to get home, shower and return to the event with the dogs for the presentations.  Buzz thought he'd join me on the podium, and Beep was trying desperately to get her body up there too.  

Also, it was so good to see Roz Bradley out there lapping on her singlespeed for the 3 hour - a tough climbing course for a tough chick.  And also congratulations to Carrie Edney for placing 3rd in the solo women's 3 hour.

Rocky Rider Chicks - Carrie Edney, Justine Leahy & Roz Bradley

Solo Women's 6 Hour Podium (plus 2!)

One of the last climbs on my last lap - the face says it all.....OUCH!!

Other riders made this corner look so hard - me?....I'm enjoying a laugh with the photographer!

Liv/Giant Girls Ride and Jubber Land 3 Hour

I don't think I've been to Castlemaine to ride since moving to Bendigo 12 months ago, but I made up for that this weekend by riding there twice!  

Jane's Liv/Giant Girls Ride is always something to look forward to and treasure.  Always good rides, lovely 'ladies' (I use that term loosely) and lots of laughs.  As it was, the laughs were on me on Saturday.  

I had a busy Saturday morning coaching netball (last game of the season) then rushed to Castlemaine to meet up with the girls on their way back from Vaughan Springs.  Not far after I'd met up with the girls I was following Jane through a fast section when I big stick flung up from her rear wheel that hit me in the arm.  After a few laughs I then realised that it had pulled the hydraulic cable from my lockout leaver, leaving me with locked out front suspension for the remainder of the ride.  The first rough decent had me complaining that having no suspension exacerbated my bingo wings, tuck-shop arms, fedebedahs (I think Mick calls them that cause that's the noise they make when they flap around), and of course Jane had her quick laughs to add to the mix.  All laughs aside, damn, considering I was racing that bike on Sunday.  But on the upside, it's a good thing that I have 2 Scalpels.  

Sunday didn't exactly go to plan.  However the social side of the race was as it always has been - fun, supportive people, some I have known for many years, some more recent friends.  And I was on my race Scalpel, so I was really looking forward to a beautiful ride.  

The first lap was great fun and had the heart and legs going hard.  I knew the second lap wouldn't be as fast, but I was enjoying the company.  I had a verbal altercation with a roadie who was strong on the easy climbs but struggled on the technical climbs and descents, but this didn't fluster me, but I will say that when someone says 'Rider....RIDER' that means that if you are walking a technical section you GET OUT OF THE WAY and let them ride it!!  That guy learnt Mountain Bike Etiquette 101 very quickly....just because he can't ride something doesn't mean everyone else behind him has to walk it too.  

The 'A' line beat me for the first time ever.  It's been 9 months since I last rode there, and as I found out it's changed a bit.  I made it through the hard rocky descent but was focusing too much on it and forget to look ahead for the sharp left-hander immediately after it.  I managed to steady myself and tried to rectify it but stepped off and slid down the hill on my front.  A dirty jersey, grazed chin and a chest full of dirt is a dead giveaway that I face planted.  Nothing hurt and a quick recovery and I was back on my way.  And many thanks to Andy for having my bike upright for me by the time I had run back up the hill to get it.  

I was struggling halfway through the second lap.  I stopped to help out a female friend on a couple of the technical descents, which she mastered with a couple of attempts.  Once sorted she rode off in front very pleased with her achievements, and I really hope she managed to ride them in subsequent laps.  Jake and the photographer gave me a huge double thumbs up for some nice air I pulled off a rock drop - always a bit of a motivator.  

By the third lap my bike was making a clunking sound whenever I launched off something.  I was a bit worried about this noise, and was thankful that I pulled the pin early on the race when I found that I had sheared one of the rear shock bolts off.  

I was struggling very much, but I rode briefly with the very lovely Amanda Herd - always supportive and friendly, and good for a laugh.  I was fatiguing to the point where I was starting to make silly mistakes, and baffled as to why I was so exhausted.  Surely I've got more in me than 2.5 hours.  I pulled the pin after 3 laps having had lots of fun, but also having had lots of time to think about why I was struggling so much.  I know work has been stupidly busy with 4 - 5 weeks of trips all over the state, but had that really taken that much out of me?  Or was it these interruptions that have meant that little riding/training has been done during this time.  Or has the unusually wet Bendigo Winter been the bit contributor?  Or my poor nutrition during the week and days leading up to the event?  Or simply a combination of all of the above?  Though I thoroughly enjoyed the day, it has been a realisation of many things - some I can actively do something about, some I can't.  But I do know that the days are getting longer, the temperatures are getting warmer - who'd have thought that we would be racing in nicks and a jersey in August in Castlemaine! - and I always have 2 beautiful babies to return home to after a good or not so good ride.  

Thanks to Bruce for running a great event, and to Jake and crew for all your hard work and the hours spent preparing the track.

The puppies gave me a good laugh after my race.  i gave them 2 new stuffed toys to entertain them while I had a relaxing bath.  5 minutes in Buzzy had destroyed his toy and was eyeing off Beep's.  However she wasn't giving hers up in a hurry.  The progressive photos below tell the story very well.  

Buzzy excited with his new toy

Buzz having destroyed his own toy is now eyeing off Beep on the couch with her intact toy

Buzz doing his best to hijack Beep's toy, but she wasn't giving in easily and even pulled the nose back

The Winter Sun Has Finally Shone

Finally some sun has shone in Bendigo and the dogs and I decided to make the most of it.  I enjoyed an easy mountain bike ride and came across a few other riders who were enjoying the warmth of sunshine.  One of the guys I followed smelt like bubble gum, but when I told him this I think he thought I was a fruit loop, until I made a tricky maneuver passed him and his mates on the water race.  But they were kind a friendly and I went on and enjoyed my ride.

I did actually do something really silly, but it took me a while to figure it out.  I was riding a rocky fast single track and was thinking 'I really need to get this front fork serviced', but not completely blaming the fork, I also admitted that my skills must really be lacking at the moment because I was landing really hard when launching over rocks and tree roots.  It wasn't until I got home and lent on my handle bars that I realised that my front fork was locked out!!  I then recalled that I locked it out 2 weeks ago on a long road section, and had been riding it locked out for the past 3 mtb rides!!  No wonder I was feeling that the rear shock also needed servicing, cause it was feeling saggy and low compared to the front.  Well, it's a good thing I can ride a bike pretty good, cause sometimes there's not much going on in my brain!

And for some relaxing, I spent hours reading my book in the sun with the dogs.  However I was quickly relegated to sharing the dog bed with one dog, when both Buzz and Beep decided they preferred the chair than the dog bed.  The things we do as parents.....

Where do I sit????

Buzzy sharing his happiness with me - kisses are treasured treats from my boy,
but he wasn't holding back yesterday!

Police & Emergency Services Games 3 Hour

Though this is just one of those events that don't really phase me, it was conveniently timed in my return to racing, and a duration that was doable but still challenging.  

I vaguely remembered the course at Officer to be technical with lots of hard climbs.  I also remembered that I think it was Officer that I had a huge crash at 10 years ago.  I was also much fitter and lighter 10 years ago.  

I knew that my inability to climb strongly would be my weakness, therefore I consciously hammered the technical descents and sections to make up valuable seconds each lap.  I was loving throwing my Scalpel round the course, over rocks and tree roots, and letting the bike flow and float over the rough sections.  As I got to know the course I was able to nail sections better each time.  The climbs didn't get any harder or easier than the first lap, until about the 2 hour mark where I accidentally took the lead.  Once in front I was driven to not lose the lead.  So I pushed harder on the climbs; I descended as hard as I could to clock up those seconds gained on each rugged section.  

One amusing point occurred during the 2 hour mark.  In my attempt to gain seconds on the descents, I was hammering a fast flowy section that had a fast 90 degree right hander, and then continued on a fast descent.  A male rider was propped on his bike on the outside of the corner, obviously having over-shot the corner and decided to have a rest.  He had watched me descend fast, floating the bike over rocks and ruts and cornering at speed, and had the gall to make the comment as I rode past him on the corner 'Don't hurt yourself.'  DON'T HURT YOURSELF!!!  Who did he think he was talking to???....someone who couldn't corner like himself?  I did have a laugh over that one.  For the rest of the lap.

I have to say that I had a fantastic race.  Results weren't a goal, but I had many other factors to do that I could measure success against.  

1. I had a great warm-up riding the technical first half of the course, identifying that the tech sections were going to be my only ally in this event
2. I talked myself through the entire race, complimenting myself on each achievement
3. I climbed strong the entire race, even when I had absolutely nothing left in my legs and had to walk the 2 steep climbs in the last 2 laps
4. I used my strengths to my advantage and didn't let my weaknesses bring me down
5. I had an absolute ball, including laughing with some of the marshalls every lap, and woo-hooing on the awesome sections of fast technical track

What did I learn?  To buy bananas the day before the race before the shops shut.  I was a little under-done in the nutrition area and I'm pretty sure my legs could have done with a bit more than Endura gels.  

My Comeback To Racing - Wombat 50

I decided that the Wombat 50km was going to be my first race where I would actually race - race in the sense that I would give everything I had on the day.  Life now is so unpredictable that it is difficult to have those days of planned training that you stick to, good preparation the week before, and the only thing you have to think about the day before is your race.  I have accepted that this is no longer the way of my life and, at times, simply making the most of being at a race is the best I can do.  The Wombat 50 was one of these times.  

The day before the race I was exhausted.  By 6pm my legs were aching and I wanted to go to sleep.  By 8pm I was driving Gav to the race and going to sleep in the car and not race.  
Driving to the event at 5am meant dodging a lot of kangaroos along Sedgwick Rd.  I don't think Gav had a complete grasp on what I meant when I said 'You're on kangaroo watch' until 5 minutes from home I nearly sent Gav through the windscreen to miss a 'roo jumping across the road in front of me.  From then on he was a great co-pilot.  

Somehow I managed to wake up once the sun rose as Gav was waiting for his race start.  By my start time I was in my kit and at the start.  First goal ticked off - getting to the start line.  At the start line I met my regular fellow-casual-approach-starter, Bevo.  Bevo is just awesome, and she made me feel good about getting to the start line without even knowing what she'd done.

The first 20km was awesome.  I was flowing beautifully through the singletrack with Tegan and chatting away - I was able to keep the bike moving smoothly through the slippery track while floating over tree roots nicely.  I felt good on the bike, although my legs were expectedly tired even during the warm-up.  

The next 10 - 15km was horrible.  I went into a slippery bit of singletrack without thinking about what I was doing, with a 'gu' in my mouth, and I 'd lost my flow.  I was stuffing up stuff that I had previously been nailing, I was getting angry with myself, and I was tired.  Lost my head for a while, but when I realised this I consciously tried to put it back on and not let it take hold any longer.  At this point there were huge fire trail rutted mud puddles 20cm deep in water and mud, and my call was to walk around these if they couldn't be ridden around.  Some of the guys riding past commented that I was riding 'girly' but my comment back was 'I don't want a $300 bill out the other side of this race'.  I love my bike too much to put it through that when the stakes are low.  It was also at this point that I wondered of myself, 'How did I used to race 24 hour solo races competitively?'

By the 35km mark I knew I only had 10km to go, so I stuck to my plan and pushed harder on the climbs.  My descending flow came back a bit which egged my on.  I past a female rider fixing a flat, and though I had no idea if she was in the same category, I used this as a motivator to not let her catch me.  

With 5km to go I gave it everything.  I was making loud noises of pain on the climbs and talking myself through the descents.  I finished with a look of pain on my face, and an emotional feeling that I had fulfilled my goal.  I had nothing left in my legs and I had completed my first comeback race.  I finished, cooled down, made my way to some grass in the sun, and lay there for 15 minutes before I could move.

Upcoming Events

Well I've taken the plunge and entered a couple of events.  The Wombat 50km and the Police & Emergency Services Games 3 Hour.  I have no expectations in either of these results wise....my results are based on pushing myself to finish each event with nothing left in the tank, and to have a great time doing it.  

My brother Gav is coming down to race the Wombat 100 so I thought instead of just 'riding' the 100km, I'd try and have some legs and actually race the 50km, within means of what is possible at a busy time of year.  

Gav and I have a week of mountain biking planned post-race, then I'm entered to race the following weekend at P&ES Games at Officer.  Again it should be about the same duration as the Wombat, so let's hope my legs aren't too tired from the week of riding and that I have something left in them for the race.  It's exciting and motivating having some racing goals, even if they are minor ones.  

I'm loving being on the bike, and after the hectic and demanding days at work I push myself to get on the bike, even for 30 mins, which blows away the worries of work and allows me 'my time' and 'down time'.  A few tunes to sing along to that always distract me from my heavy thoughts and take me to memories from long along linked to particular songs, or songs that make me drive that hill climb, or liken my life to the lovely words and melodic tunes.  I love my bikes and I love my life.

Golden Triangle Epic 50km Race

Roz and I agreed that we would 'ride' the 50km option of the Golden Triangle Epic race.  Being in our backyard we would have been pretty silly to not enter, though neither of us were in any form to actually race the event.  As it turned out, Shelley McColl ended up another great chick to ride with.

In line with our fun approach to the event, it was only fitting that we don the 'flanny jersey' (or Lumberjane as Sugoi call it) ready for laughs and fun comments.  And in true form hairdresser Roz came through with matching colour for our hair!  We were certainly catching everyone's eye, if not in the normal manner that you gain notoriety at a race.

We rode at trail ride pace and had the most awesome day.  We talked for 4 hours pretty much non-stop, which I'm pretty sure is a record for Roz and myself.  But what a great day....laughs, catching up with Shelley, a bit of dribble towards the end, and even a song yelled out loud to get us through the last 5km.  Mind you that last 5km we actually started to drop other riders, so I'm not sure if it was our increased flow and momentum with singing and laughing about it, or if they couldn't stand our singing.  Either way we ended up in great spirits.

Thanks heaps Roz and Shelley - I look forward to doing it next year again.

Roz and myself at the end of 50km - still lots of smiles

Long time no update

 In brief, it's been busy.  The piccies somewhat sum up 2014 so far.  

• 3 tours away with fire going to a different location and doing a different role each time; trying to keep my job under control whilst being away
• Doing a few rides with Roz in between being away
• Finally getting my hardcopy Postgraduate Diploma in Bushfire Management, which Dave from work absconded with and renamed calling me a 'smart arse' (as can be seen in photo)
• Feeling guilty about putting the dogs in kennels for the extended periods of being away
• Trying to locate and kill a brown snake in my backyard that the dogs had bailed up at my back door (thanks to neighbour Jeff for the heads-up phone call)
• Watching my friends at the Women's XCO Round 3 of the National Series at Echuca

My grafitti'd Postgraduate Diploma

An interesting phenomenon - reduced grasses/weeds beneath trees meant lower intensity burning of the foliage

Em Parkes racing hard

Got to spend some time with Em after the race

Dear friend Tory Thomas racing to 3rd position - you inspire me every day, Tory.

Beep not perturbed after interaction with snake - Buzz exhausted

Birthday, Dogs, Riding, Christmas, Dogs, Riding

It's a great time of year for everything - so much to do and so many daylight hours to do it all.  A piccy of the dogs at Christmas after Buzz opened their presents.  Buzz was finally allowed to grab the pressies from under the tree and open them, after a week of nudging them with his muzzle and being told to refrain from opening them.  Buzz happily shredded the wrapping, then moved onto the next pressie, while Beep ran off with the toy to play with it.

I've also had some great rides with Roz.  This mtb ride was in honour of our new purchase....the flanny jersey!!!  Great laughs, especially when we got some laughs and comments from passers by at the coffee shop.  Just wait til we hit up a teams event in these babies!!  Our competition will be laughing too hard to even have a chance!