Turn that frown upside down

Well what a fantastic weekend. The depression of not being on the bike for five days was pedalled away by the glory of riding my dream machine. Saturday morning she got a sprucing up, a super bike wash followed by lubing and care. While outside cleaning I watched a group of the Upper Hutt boys head to the summit of the Akas. I love where I live, I can see all the hundreds of people heading up the first hill of the 20k stretch to the top. Some going nuts like their about to win KOM and some wheezing with a cadence of 40rpm about to fall off.
Following that I headed out to the PNP race in Whitemans Valley, I rode with C grade guys, pretty glad to the pace was hot, 25km was a pretty lame distance for me though, I felt bad about it so next weekend I will do B grade.
Sunday morning I forced Nick out of bed at 7.30am for a good long ride. We meet with a couple of the other Upper Hutt blokes and headed up Akatarawa Road. the Wellington Vets TT was on, finished atop of Akas so was quite good to watch this while riding. It was a circus at the top with all the finishers, and 20 4x4 all letting the air out of their tyres to have a party in the bush. We headed down the other side with Laura, a new strong rider from Christchurch now living in Wellington. Clearly I need to practice my descending, I was so slow down the other side that Nick came back thinking I had crashed, but nope, I was happily dawdling along down the road wondering how up everyone was. Had a nice northely on the otherside to push us home and up the Paekakiriki Hill. I am really beginning to like that hill. Such a good challenge. As the others left for home Nick and I headed up Moonshine, my legs were screaming at me by this point. They were not happy. I painfully made my way to the top with Nick patiently ahead and felt incredibly good after my 100k for the day. I just need to keep the distance in the legs, remind them that it keeps coming and that hills are my friend. Looking forward to some more  reasonable weather and free time to turn those pedals around, mean time the bikes in the shop getting some more TLC from the great team at the BIKE HUTT. Oooo and a teeny bunny rabbit jumped out at me on SH1. There's something weird happening with me and animals when on my bike. I'm preparing for you magpies, you wont get the better of me this year, you'll see.   

The suns out but i'm not!

Its that time of year when exams roll around and I can't prioritise like i'm so used to doing. Need to train, but there's no time to train because need to study for exams, the grade doesn't matter so maybe I should go on my bike, nah its cold and raining, a good excuse to stay inside and study. This is the little geek and cyclist Heather's sitting on either shoulder yelling at me and everyday this happens so that after 5 days I have stayed inside everyday studying and never getting on my bike. Meanwhile I look outside and the winds died down and the suns out to play and i'm sitting here once again inside.

Anyone think its ok to have the weekdays off the bike, kill it on the road in the weekend and then after tuesday (when this dam exam is done) that I can go back to training and still be ready by New Years for the tour, or am I kidding myself?

Anyone got any motivation tips, post below or on my facebook.

Oh and for any Wellington road riders, there's a late addition to the PNP calender, tomorrow racing from Gorrie road in Whitemens valley A,B,C and D grade 1.30pm. Ill be on the bike tomorrow for sure and try not get dropped by B grade. I'm being brave and going up a grade. Wish me luck.

100% Smashed 100% awesome ride

I finally got out and did a long ride. My last long ride was around 60km and I needed more time on the seat. I was meant to meet the Wellington group at 8am but wouldn't make it time so waited at percy's reserve for the bunch to come past. About 50 people came wooshing past on their dream machines and I tacked on the back. Majority of them turn off up Haywards while 6 or 7 of us carried onto the Akas. It was warming up and the sun came out but as we reached the top of the akas there was heavy cloud and it was raining. We waited at the top for everyone to catch up and who came up the hill, all the Upper Hutt riders. Was bloody great to see familiar faces. A guy also stopped at the top who was training for 8laps of Taupo. He had done 400k the day before and was doing 200k that morning. CRAZY. We descended the other side of akas and to my great horror my back break was off. I went down ridiculously slow in the wet. The wellington and Upper Hutt re-joined at waikanae and we had an awesome northerly to push us down SH1. Man did they put the pace on. My legs felt like they were going to fall off. And again I tried to bridge a gap and only just couldn't make it. So I retired to bunch two which wasn't to bad when we hit the Paekakariki hill. The front bunch smashed themselves on the flat and the first piece of the hill which meant me and two others managed to catch a few of them on the ascent. After that it was just pure pain. Threw a red bull down my throat and I was back on track. 5 hours riding. 120km later and I was home. Really glad I got out for that. Feel fantastic. Tomorrow maybe not so much. Heres todays elevation graph. the descent from first climb isnt actually that steep. I just forgot to hit the start button again.

SH2, akas, SH1, paekakriki, haywards, home

Beavers on Bikes

On Saturday Team Beaver raced the PNP Hope Gibbons Team Time Trial in Kahutara. The team consisted of four women Rebecca O'Donnell, Gabriella Peach, Elaine Brent and myself. The only womens team entered.
The race was 40km long out in the wide open spaces of Wairarapa. Unfortunately Rebecca got a puncture causing a slow leak about 6km in which dropped the team down to 3 riders. 20km later I pulled out. It wasn't the effort and pace it was the wind. I was so scared. I don't know about everyone else but i've never been in such a strong cross wind before and I was crapping my pants. As I said last time, last time I raced in Kahutara I broke my collar bone and so there was something playing in my head saying get out of there. I've never ridden my bike on a 45 degree angle before on a straight piece of road. Elaine and Gabby kept going. Tough beavers they are and finished the race strong, well done. I really enjoyed riding a team event and hope that theres more to come.

 

Back in motion

Two weeks spread to three after I got another dose of inflammed tonsils and all that other gross stuff. But finally I managed 3 rides Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Monday I kind of eased back into it, a hit up Blue Mountains and around the valley with Nick and fellow VIC bike club member Tom who was smashing through some intervals. A clear sign that I was unfit when my HR reached 195 up the hill, yikes.
Tuesday the sun came out and I was keen to get my tan on. I did a super SH2 flat ride out to Wellington and back and could tell my fitness had gone to crap because after 60k I was beat and it was a slow slog home in a head wind and again with a pretty high average HR, I should probably ask someone some questions about the HR. Wednesday I waited for 6pm to approach as Wednesday Worlds started at the BIKE HUTT. Biggest turn out for the first of year in the 3 years its been running. We must of had around 30 riders. It was a faster tempo to the top of the valley than I was comfortable with but on the turn around when things got cooking my adrenaline rushed and I was not prepared to be dropped by any of the men. The fast pace through the valley back to Wallecville was fantastic, I always have so much fun doing it. I love Wednesdays. We had some photos taken on wednesday so they will be up here asap.
Looking forward to the Hope Gibbons 4up TTT in Kahutara tomorrow for Team Beaver. Last time I raced there was my first club race... I crashed, eeek. Just need to find my beaver socks now.  
Out

Weasels in the wind

After 2 weeks off the bike due to a combination of tonsillitis and bad weather I headed out today in the mornings miserable weather. My feeling the whole ride was mirrored by the weather. Headed into the glorious valley from the Te-Marua entrance and came out the other end at Blue Mountains, it was a very slow and very sluggish 40k ride in the wind which couldn't make up its mind for which way it should blow. The highlight of the ride was the weasel that ran across the road in front of me. Can't say I've ever seen a weasel before, especially in the light of day running across in front of traffic (yes I am traffic), don't think I've ever seen road kill weasel before either. Here's Mr. Weasel, this isn't actually him but it looked just like him, my one was a bit skinner and not standing around to pose for photos.

Teliho.

Me and Dad

Well I wish the weather was my excuse for not being on the bike but unfortunately it isn't, have a pretty bad cold. I have decided it was riding in the rains fault with me staying in my wet clothes afterwards for far too long.

Day two Waikeremoana tramp

So instead of some story about my health or todays lack of ride I would rather share with you some photos of me and my Dad. Dad is in Malaysia right now working his butt off to secure a project, something I hope to be doing in the future. Dad has four daughters and no sons and Dad being a very outdoors sort of person he quickly put a lot of emphasis about being outside, I share the passion and so Dad and I have had a lot of adventures together. Dad over the last couple of years has grown increasingly interested in my cycling and has a real passion for it, he always lend an ear about the ride/race and provides a lot of encouragement .
Cheers Dad.

Dad and me on oriental parade cleaning up the ocean SCUBA style 

Dad and I are both quite keen on tramping the great walks of New Zealand. Can't wait to do one down south with him that I have not yet done. Thinking along the lines of the St James, a family favourite which I was too young for the last time the family walked it. The other photo here is me and dad after the clean up we did off oriental parade. Dad got his SCUBA license in the Philippines and so I got mine here in NZ when he got back. I can't say theres much to see in the Wellington waters. It was great contributing to the NZ clean up week by tidying the bottom of the ocean.

A wee while ago at rail trail summit

Dad and I (14 yrs old) doing the Big Coast together, back then 100km over two days was really really far

And of course there supporting me in my very first road cycle event

Recovery in the rain

Covered in mud from head to toe

This seems more like an update of the daily weather, its ridiculous how much it changes. So after a day at Uni, Conty, Nick and I headed out in the rain to turn the pedals. I think they had other things in mind because the were keen to pound the pavement and work their legs hard. I on the other hand was out to recover from yesterdays hills. Its still cold out there and even more so with the rain and late in the afternoon. Managed to get incredibly muddy today, I swear its because i'm closer to the wheels, I even managed to sport a mud beard, hot!! There's rain expected for the rest of the week but i'm hoping for some fine weather early tomorrow morning to give the bike a nice clean and lube so I can head out for a quick ride before the rain sets in, and so I can get some last minute study in before the test that afternoon.

Today was also the completion of my "getting back into it" goal I set on the garmin connect site. I managed 101% of the goal. I allowed myself a full week to get 200k outta the legs and managed that with 3 days off, perhaps i'll up it next goal or even change the goal to do a certain volume of ascending for the week.
It all gets a lot harder from here on in as the pressure builds up at uni and the miles and effort on the bike increase. Wish me luck :)  

Hot, raining and fantastic

After a great night with friends I got out early this morning and headed straight into the Akatarawa Valley, since I live at the very entrance of it there is little warm up. Wearing very little clothing for this time of year it was quite warm, very humid. Caught up with Phil from the Wednesday Worlds as I slowly worked my way up the climb. Plenty of cyclists out, I must have counted 50-60 riders in the Akas alone, you can tell Lake Taupo challenge is approaching with the increasing number of riders on the road. Once I reached the summit I headed down into Waikanae and then worked my way back up the hill to find that at the top it was pouring down with rain. Still quite warm it wasn't a problem descending in the rain. A good 60k ride with plenty of ascending, descending and singing along to my ipod. Heres an elevation map for those that ride the Akatarawa Valley often.

The perfect relationship

Sunshine and bicycles, the perfect relationship. Its been two fantastic warm days with mostly sun and little wind. Hit the road around 8am Tuesday morning for a 60k blat on the pedals and came home pretty tired. Getting back into it after some time off is hard. Ive had the privilege to try out the Garmin Edge cycle computer and thought i'd share with you the elevation graph of blue mountains.

Today me and nick went out for a more of a fitness ride simply because the weather was fantastic and we needed some sun on the skin. The whitemans valley wasn't as great as we had expected but back in Upper Hutt it was nice and warm and the arm warmers could be pulled down, a nice change. Noticeably plenty of glass on the road but have managed to avoid a puncture in a while (touch wood). Well got the joys of riding a bike done for the day, time to head off to uni.

Tour de Femme is on

Over the university holidays I sold a whole bunch of stuff I didn't use/need anymore on trade me to raise funds to get to the Tour de Femme held in Nelson. Last year it cost me over $1200 when a keen business suddenly decided to not be so keen anymore and pulled out. So i'm starting early this year on raising funds. I managed to make over $300 from my trademe excursion and today I booked a ferry trip and some accommodation which means only one thing, the Tour de Femme is on. Now on the look out for more trademe awesomeness or a keen Upper Hutt business willing to back me and to get their name out their amongst all Upper Hutt cyclists.    

Spring

Nick and Conty

Spring is upon us and we were greeted to the new season by some sunshine with a cool breeze. Great day for me to hit the road with Nick and Conty for a recreational ride through the valley this afternoon. A good little spin, not warm enough to work on the tan lines but enjoyed the sun on my back. Finished off with a visit to the Silverstream Subway for some coffee and subs.

rain turns to shine

Heres a few shots of the weekend courtesy of Steve Chapman, see the rest of the photos here

Heres how crazy wet it was when we started out and about 5 minutes after I left, having been completely soaked to the last stitch in my socks, the sun appeared.

Me starting out on my lonesome with a 1 minute handicap, still raining

My man Nick at the top of Mt Crawford waiting in the SUN, yes sun, for me to finish.

Just having the last pull to take the win at the top.

Cheers for the photos and the series PNP

Series Win

Yesterday I won, but only just, the last race of the Capital Cycles Balfour Pennington series. After a 1 minute handicap it took me around 11km to catch the break group and once I was there I sat in, after we reached the base of Mt Crawford me and Gabby from PNP broke from the other riders and battled it out up the hill. Close to the top I felt pretty crap and had little strength, gabby took over the lead and looked strong, the hill top finish was in sights so I cranked a few more gears and pounded the pedals to be first over the line.

Thanks to PNP for hosting and running the event and Capital Cycles for the series sponsorship, the new cup is impressive. As well as a great trophy from PNP, capital cycles gave me a new ss jersey, and it was even in my size :) cheers guys.

Hope to see some photos of the finish soon. Results of the series can be found on the PNP website

Heading out to Wellington this morning for the last race in the capital cycles balfour Pennington series hosted by PNP. Need a win or a really good placing today to take out the series in the womans grade. Wish me luck.

A bad run and a near miss

So recently I have been having a pretty bad run with crashes on my bike. My very first club cycle race was out in the Wairarapa 2009, very unexperienced I was, had done 100k the day before and thought that would fine with a race the next day, it wasn't. A group of 8 or so of us had just been dropped from the main bunch and our response was to fall off our bikes, well me and one other. I ended up with a broken shoulder and in the hospital, the beginning of my bad run.


The second was pretty much a year later to the day, a nasty fall in a fun race, don't ask me what happened because I have no idea, one word, concussion. The photo on the right is after I had been cleaned up a little bit. About 30 stitches to the face and some nice road rash to boot.

Once I got the bike fixed and was back into the training after a solid month off (wasn't long enough) I was hit by a car. The general "I didn't see you" case, I was hit from the back so didn't even see it coming. I managed to escape with minor bruising and some gashes in the elbow. Heres me hanging out in the hospital making it look way worse then it actually is.


I know we all have near misses, with cars 'nearly' hitting us, our adrenaline goes sky high and we pound the pedals as if it will change something. Today I also had a near miss. At a round about with a little old man in a little old car. I shook all the way home, tried getting rid of the feeling by riding as hard as I could but it didn't work. The past falls have thrown my nerves off balance for sure and training on the main roads and near cars is starting to become a thing of the past for me.

If only I was bigger and had more presence on the road, but please at every intersection anticipate a cyclist coming your way and have a bit of patience, we are going faster than you think.   

Blog Time

So I thought it was about time I joined the blog scene, mainly for motivational purposes and to relieve all the facebook friends of the bike riding banter. I love sharing stories of being hit by cars and the abuse being thrown at me from car windows so follow my blog and check out the daily stories as I ride into the summer cycling scene that New Zealand has to offer.