Why indeed.

One of the joys of having ridden for 15 years, is acumulating a staggering amount of 'worthless' parts.

But when you go digging through boxes, you never know what you will find.

Project Hipster 2 was born....

No just to straighten my clincher disc wheel and it will be complete. In fact, when I first moved to Brisbane, didn't know a soul, I rolled around with the fixed.org lads on my beast below.

The sound of a disc wheel is amazing, and back then, 4 years ago, the fixed scene in Brisbane was still in its infancy....

Some say I am a MTBer, some say I am a roadie......the stark reality is I am just a rider.

Training.

Some mates will help. Some friends will try and help. Some friends mean well, but don't help.

Time to thank OLI, who on the start line on Saturday 'helped' fix my bike computer.

Its now in French. But as least it now works.....
Most days my bike and shoes are ready before I am, an incentive to get out there and build the lactic in my legs. Hard training makes racing easy.....or so a saying goes.

Tim and I seem to work the same hours, and it makes sense to ride together. Each others weakness, is the others strength. Along the flats Tim will drive the pace, in the rolling hills I will keep the pace high.

Today, it was sprint training, and Tim certainly knows how to put his head down and go. BUT, as I have watched Mark Cavendish win two sprints on TV, I now think I know how to sprint.....he showed me some tricks however that save milliseconds, and those milliseconds add tens of meters in a fast line.

In the end, any white line, top of hill or some invisble line at some point in the distance became our playground.....

Lots of hard kms in the legs of late, when I don't have bulk hours to train, I think hard kms are more than enough to make up for it. Time will tell.......

Shoot

Photos have come through.....some are good, and just make me look like a lanky bloke who is pretending he can ride.
Attacking your mates is always a good way to make friends.

Learning to superman....need to get those legs horizontal.

The take-offs from pedalling to having your legs behind you isn't the most comfortable thing, stuff it up....and well, the pain. ouch.

5 seconds later, my legs were as straight as they would ever be......but as its always the way, there is no proof.

Working on it.

Reflections.

I want to go back.....and I know H-Ball does as well.

Excess

Excessive is riding your TT bike to coffee....
Difficult is trying to mono your TT bike on the long hills up towards your house.

But I am getting there, also working on a new move on the road bike, a superman.....first tried at the photo shoot on Saturday.

Needs work.

Photos to come.

Tradition

What is it with cafes and cyclists..........and caffine
Tim, Tom and James........

Jimmy, with Steve looking crazy and Doug with his back to the camera.

The head of a hardman....

Bonding

Handicap yesterday was good. Members of the Merida Team filled the scratch group, and we conceded 15 mins to the front markers which was going to be hard to reel back in 55 kms. The lads rose the challenge, and halfway we caught chopping block, and from that I attacked the group to go onwards. Team-mate TIM came with me, and it was above 50km/hr for a long time.....and close to 70km/hr on the back section with a slight tailwind.

We caught the massive bunch ahead, with around 8 kms to go. With the remaining scratch/chopping block still pushing hard to catch us, TIM and I went straight to the front to keep on going. Everyone was jumping on our wheels, with fresh legs, and we knew it was time to 1-2 them to get clear. Tim went, I went, Tim went, I went and then Tim went and he was away. I just followed wheels.

Up in front of Tim we saw another bunch, so we THOUGHT Tim just got fastest time...so I just rolled along. Sadly, the bunch in front was the CAT 2 riders, and not in out race. I should have sprinted for a 1-2 podium....lesson learnt. Always attack...
I am using KEYWIN pedals, and so far, I like the wide platform and free float. Combined with the new team-issue Shimano Shoes, its a good combination.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JIMMY............and it was a huge feast at Mexican last night. I also enjoyed the food, with ample amber fluid being poured down my neck. A great way to re-hydrate.

And that just lead to the smackfest which was our Sunday Ride. The rolling hills became my playground, and the form is starting to show itself in my legs. Combined with Tims strength on the flat, we make good domestiques for the team.

We all hurt today, and, also took in some sun.

I cannot believe this is winter.

Smiles all round..........almost.

Shoot...

This morning the full merida team had a photo shoot on Mt Cootha. It was cold, windy and we all tried to pretend it was hot and sunny for the camera. The individual shots were, good, as the full team heckled from behind and you tried not to smile.

Chris and I, pretty much made sure everyone was 'bagged' equally.
Coffee. I really wonder if I didn't ride, would I drink so much coffee.

WE all had quick looks at the shots, and there are indeed some good ones. I tried my best to do the superman coming down the hill. Basically trying to lay flat on the saddle, with your legs pointed flat towards the back. The first one was sketchy, but I came good towards the end. AND YES, doing that does squash your......

Even though we had a professional photographer, I am confident that my photo of Chris below, is destined for the full page spread in RIDE Magazine....

Well, time to put the tubulars on and head north for the HPRW Handicap...

Fridays...

Friday was going to be a great day, a treat, to just sit around and talk the morning away. Well a couple coffees later, and a huge fed in Stones Corner came and went......
The new U-Turn Fitness kit looks good...

But that fake coffee, thats really a hot chocolate isn't.....

Warning

When Jaman wants a drink....well, the night gets funny.

Training the day after, is never fun....

Decide.

I am having one of those weeks, where no matter how hard you try, the current is flowing the other way. Training wise, I am struggling. I am doing the kms, but the legs just don't want to go round. Rest, recover, train hard, train harder????

All I know, is I am doing some hard kms, and the legs know it. The BONT shoes are still a uncertain product. I can be rolling along and they feel great, then in a km or so they are killing my feet. Its cyclitic.

Big decisions in the month of July. Do I continue to get up early to train, which means going to bed early so I can sleep. Or do I try and train in the afternoons after work, and then stay up for watching the tour......might just flip a coin.

Oh, this morning sucked. Not just because the paceline session at 6am, made my legs go from well done to charcoal, but for something that happened once I got to work.

Like all of you that commute, we have to battle the morning shower. I arrived at work, got all my clothes organised and made the cold walk down to the showers. It was half way through enjoying the hot water, that I realised that the empty hook that should have had my towel on it, was in-fact still an empty hook.

I poked my head out to see if there was any 'spare' towel around, and there was nothing. The shower block is like a prison cell, not even a hand dryer, hand towel or toilet paper around.

So you stand there, and look at the clothes on the floor to decide which best item will assist you to dry yourself off.

Do you go with your knicks/jersey?

Not really, they stink and are already wet.

Do you go your business shirt/slacks?

Again, not really an option, as its pretty hard to have a serious meeting without pants on, or just bare chested.

Then you look at your underware and socks?

Well, the Socks won't soak up much......

Up-keep.

Riding.

By the time I got home yesterday, I had a nice 178kms in my legs. Even more impressive is I did it while working a solid 8 hour day at work.

I was up at 4ish to meet the guys at 5am for a two and a half hour hit-out through the hills. Then drink some coffee, eat some breakfast and commute to work. Finish work and commute home to get into some new 'fresh' kit, then off to meet Pete for the Wed night Noodle ride up along the highways. Ate some dinner, then rode home. It was a pretty easy way to get some bulk kms in. The best bit however, was enjoying a beer with dinner. And the worst bit, the team pace line session this morning.

And, just because I can, I am trying out some Keywin pedals....with a nice Ti axle in them. Super light, and other than the axle, fully rebuildable. I have used TIME pedals since getting a road bike, but an opportunity presented itself thanks to Graham...and that was enough to get me curious.
I wonder if this could have anything to do with the Gravity Zero brakes, 100 gram saddle and these pedals all going back on my race bike. And with a loner set of lightweights, may just secure me the 'lightest bike in the Merida' team...

Well, with a solid 9 days training in the legs, its time to kick up my heels and enjoy 3 days without having to wear Lycra. Rest and Recovery and then back into a pretty damm big week starting on Monday.


Over n Out,

Rhino

Smack-a-polluza

Wednesday's new name is Smack-a-polluza.

Today the boys headed out to Ford Road, an undulating 8km section of hell. The ride out was quick, and once we turned left it was hurt-faces all round.

Typically, our team is one of constant chatter, be it discussing bikes, parts, races, weekends or BLOGS. Its when we all stop talking that you know that attacks, pain and suffering is going to come from everyone.

Ford Road went quickly, with Ryan happy to settle in and watch the chaos from the back. Tim made some rookie mistakes on the road, mis-judging the climbs double kicks. Meanwhile, Chris and I played out in front. Each hell-bent on 'winning'. Winning is a loose word, as when the road has no finish line, when does one put up there arms in celebration.

Without the Ay-Ups on my head, today could have been very messy. A wallaby jumped right across us going down a hill this morning, and if it wasn't for my lights catching the kamikaze hopping machine, all four of us would have hit the deck.

When its dark, I prefer to mount my lights on my head, especially when I have to ride through traffic. I point my lights straight onto cars bonnets, so they know I am around. Good lights, on bikes, saves lives....

Lastly, were my Dura-Ace Mavic Open Pro wheels the bargin of the year at $300 in the weekend shopper?

I think yes.

Being Unlucky.

Being unlucky is driving to work with your bike in the car, and having everything ready to ride home and get some extra kms......but packing two pairs of knicks instead of the standard jersey and knicks.

Unlucky.

Guess its on the rollers tonight.

The Chase

Sunday was a great course, and looked fast and flowing. Chris was keen to get into the top5, and I was keen to help him get there.

A great up the road was staying, and the V-Aust doing a great job controlling the pace it was always going to be a suicide move to chase it down.

Chris put up his hand, looked at me and said 'front'.....to which I responded with a lap and a half of fury, reducing the lead from 55 seconds down to 20. I was left our to die on the long flat heading to the climb, and when hit the climb tried to keep the pace going.

We got to within a couple hundred meters of Darren, but he was never caught.

Those are the breaks, in my ideal world, another guy would have jumped on the front for a km or two, giving me enough recovery to do another massive turn at the front.

No matter, I raced and can slowly see my legs working again.

Tour de Tough

I raced like a yo-yo today. Just didn't feel comfortable at all on the bike, but that's an entire different post. With James in the early break, we didn't have to do much but chase breaks. Chris got into the second break, and I staying with Matt to look after him. After he gave me the OK to go, I bridged across to Chris up the road. Momentum dropped as the V-Aust guy with us was having a bad day, so Chris and I had a two-man TT happening. WE have 3 guys crossed to us, and screws lifted on a climb that sent me backwards to a chase group. I rolled a lap with them, and during this time MattM danced up the road and I was left by myself.

Half a lap later and opportunity arose, and I worked in a group to bridge to Matt, and away we went. Not a bad race, but just bad legs. Strong, soft, strong, soft.....like a yo-yo.
The TT was weird, and bad at the same time. New bike and new position didn't help, but when I crossed the line and started chatting to mates, I knew in an instant that I didn't go anywhere near as hard as I should have. No matter, as I am not the GC rider in the team, I only had to finish so help the boys tomorrow.

MattM looking all smooth in his new custom Oakleys. In his break he was looking over his shoulder, until he saw me smile at him. One we both got together, we one-two the group to lay the hurt on....all except that one guy that laid hurt on us....unlucky.

Chris. Strong Ride today. In the break I know he was doing the bulk of the work, but even then it was stringing me out.....my only single consolation, is that tight-wet-slippery roads.....I seem to zoom around a little faster, with my rear wheels slightly sliding out and a giggle on my face.

J-Hep was our GC man of the hour today, and got in the first break of the day, and it stayed away. The youngest on our team, and potential to burn. So hopefully when he is all 'fully-euro-pro' he remembers me and throws a bidon at me during a road stage...

Recent talk of team bike weights had me thinking......how light is light. Could I go close to 6 kilos with some borrowed parts.....this 100 gram saddle above should help.

A good friend of mine suspects his wife is up to something, in other news read this BLOG, as it looks like a good one.

The Balance

How many times do you get asked how?

I am amazed at the people that think that I either work casual or part time, but sadly not. Like most other 30-somethings, I work a good 50-60 hour week, and for anyone that spends time with me for a brief time off the bike will know that my mobile phone is an extension of my body.

I have ambitions to train every morning, but that isn't always possible, as the world is on different time zones and teleconferences don't favour Australia. The answer lies in my Ay-Up lights. While riding up and down Mt Gravatt last night, I came to a stark conclusion that if it wasn't for my little bright burning lights, that I doubt I would be 'trying' to race at the level I do.

Light technology has always amazed me, and I would guess that my first night ride was close to 10 years ago. I had a water-bottle looking battery and these dull yellow lights, and off to the single track I went. That first night ride changed everything, no longer was I fighting the battle to train when the sun was up, but now I could ride when suited me.

Not much has changed in the past years, my training hours are never constant. Some days its up at 4am, and other days I don't get on the bike till 7pm at night. Turning the pedals is still fun, and racing continues to get me the thrill I need.

There just needs to be a couple more hours in the day, and a extension to the weekend.....

Flying Update.

I have been in a plane so much this year, that I have perfected the ability to sleep in ANY economy seat, and can even sleep through that awkward time that someone needs to jump over you to get to the aisle.....
Downtime is good time, and a recent trip back to Victoria was the recovery I needed. A nice B&B in the middle of nowhere, with a fireplace and a couple of bottles of red wine.....

Which for the mind was great, but damm did my legs get a shock to the system when I joined the Merida boys for the Wednesday morning smack fest.........I hung on (just) and did a great job of avoiding a turn, not that Chris or Matt seemed to mind at all.

Tour of Scenic Rim this weekend, and I FINALLY get to use that Merida Warp TT bike that has been gathering dust in the garage....

Pacelines.

With a massive sleep, and a huge feed it was time to back up from yesterday with a team pace line session at Muzz this morning. Both Merida Teams and the 99bikes team showed up, for what was, a session in dealing with pain.

Sure you could hide and miss a turn, but it would not be worth the mocking you would receive. Tim and I, as usual, dealt with the session with smiles and laughs.
In typical fashion, Chris went on destruction mode. That is a process where you destroy everyone around you, including yourself. I think it was payback from yesterday.

Team Tactics being discussed.

Ryan, Manager of 99bikes in Chermside, also joined us. And we ALL stopped for coffee, he continued on to open up the shop. We fare welled him in our usual style, encouraging him to work hard.

Dougie rolled hard this morning, joining us to prepare for Junior Nationals. Almost took a well deserved sprint win, but his restricted gearing doesn't seem fun.

Ah, sunlight.

I agree bloke, its time for food......just a 5 lap paceline session with sprints every lap to go.

And then we all rocked up to Brothers Espresso in Bulimba, which is a first for me, somewhere close to roll home to. Coffees came quick, and the meals seemed good value. However, for some, glassware could be improved.

There is no hiding the shame.....

Time Trial Session tomorrow....