Brisbane Training Camp

Had three days in Brisbane for work so thought I would make the most if it and get some good rides in:

Wed: 45 km, climbed the long side (2.5 km climb) of Mt Coot-tha twice. Not sure what gear I used to ride up Coot-tha in years ago, but I'm pretty sure it wasn't 39 x 21!

Thu AM: 65 km, met up with Michael Davis and three of his Rappida Vecchi team mates for a ride around the Mt Cotton circuit. This was a very hard and hilly ride and I only lasted 35 km with them. I wasn't the first one dropped though! These boys train hard!

Thu PM: 45 km, did two full loops of Mt Coot-tha (climbing the long side again). Funnily enough I climbed a lot better than I did yesterday.

Fri: 45km, did a river loop with my old friend from the Rockhampton cycling days, Jason Reed. Finished off with coffee and brekky at La Dolce Vita Cafe on park Road. 

Nice three days in all...

Race Report: Canelands Classic Handicap

Went to Childers for this race over the weekend. The 74 km course had to be changed to a slightly shorter (but harder) one at the last minute, due to the 140 mm of rain that fell over night. There were 42 starters and the front markers had 36 minutes head start from the scratch bunch. I was in the third last group to leave, 11 minutes in front of the scratchies. Scott Davis (who has just finished a long career as a pro with Team Astana) was in my group. Scott is an old mate so it was great to catch up with him. He's still as strong as an ox. Our group worked very well and we never looked like being caught by the two groups behind us. We caught everybody except four front markers who stayed away. I ended up in a big group of about 25 and finished 3rd in that group up a very hard uphill finish for 7th overall. This was by far the best I have felt in a race so far and am very pleased with how things went.

Race Report: Metropolitan Championships...and the humbling step back

Today, was my last race in Masters A (for now). I have already put an application in to go back to Masters B. I just can't get over the steep hills with the A grade guys. Flat = fine. Undulating = fine. Steep = out the back door like a shit-covered brick. I got popped out today on the second lap and never looked like getting back on. I know a lot of people felt I was biting off more than I could chew by going straight to A grade and I think they were right. Sure it's great to be exposed to the harder racing, but getting DNF next to my name on a regular basis isn't helping anyone.

I actually rode in today with Andrew Patten, who is the Australian Masters champion in a few events on the track (err, he had a mechanical, not a lung failure like me). We were talking about me just starting again and he looks at me holding his fingers an inch or two apart and says 'you know Masters A is only this much slower than Elite A?' I'm sure he was just trying to make me feel a bit better (seemed a very nice guy), but he's got a point. It's time to step back and build up again. 

Fortunately, Pensar Hawk have a Masters B team I should be able to slot straight into.

I have to leave my new team kit in the wardrobe...for now

I have the Metropolitans tomorrow and the Canelands Handicap in Bundaberg next Sunday. Because the 'sponsorship form wasn't lodged with the Cycling Queensland office two weeks prior to the events', I have to wear my plain kit and leave my awesome new one at home.

Pissed me off!

It seems so stupid for the association to be so draconian, when in the end, who is it going to hurt if I wear the new team kit?

So plain black shorts and a plain white jersey it is.

You know what though Cycling Queensland? I've got Pensar Hawk team issue socks! You can't stop me wearing them. How you like them apples!?!