Training Log Archive: Vaala

Out from Lake Clearwater with M. Started off pretty cold and really windy. Took the turnoff to Mystery Lake but didn't get all that far since it had just turned into one very large swamp and we were over pushing/carrying bikes by that point. Wasn't very fun to be honest so was quite happy we weren't joining the others on their overnight mission. Was even more glad when, on the homeward straight, we were riding straight into a very strong, very cold headwind...and then the horizontal sleety snow began...so once we made it back to the car camping really didn't seem appealing any more so we came home for hot showers! We shall be back when it's nice and warm and has plenty of time to dry out.

On the tandem with M out to Tai Tapu and up and over Gebbies, round to Lyttleton for vegan pie and hot chocolate then back home via Dyers. Pretty windy but nice and warm. I love the tandem (although looking forward to recovering from our latest purchase so we can buy a vastly better one!). I feel tired now.

Nice little ride with M on the tandem out to Halswell and then round some random subdivisons. Pretty breezy.

Nice little run from end of Bowenvale up the valley and then over to the Bellbird and all that then back and around the top of the valley before heading down the zig zag. Had to climb a bank to avoid some angry cows and their very young calves who'd taken over the entire track on the way into the valley so decided I'd avoid them all together on the way down but that did make it all a bit longer than I really wanted. Oh well, it was a beautiful day out there and I was mostly feeling pretty good. Wrist felt better being in the bandage for a long run.

I kind of intended to go out at some point today but when you are working at home you really do get sucked into the programming void and you can't get out of it!!!

With Michael on the tandem riding out to the time trial and a bit of a warm up beforehand.

Our first go at the time trial along Old Tai Tapu Rd. There were some pretty serious people out there (couldn't believe how many people were wearing those funny helmets and the people warming up on wind trainers). Anyway, we started off fast (I had to tell Michael to slow down!) and managed a pretty good pace on the way out (mostly at 40km/hr) but after the slightly scary turnaround it was a bit slower on the way back although it felt like we were still riding just as hard (38km/hr?). Feeling concerned about how fast our first time was since that makes it harder to try and beat next week!

Back home again which was a nice warmdown. It had pretty much stopped raining by this point which was also nice.

Nice little run around in Bowenvale Valley. Feeling pretty good today so was very tempted to go onto the tops but I was good and decided to take it easy. Did get stalked by magpies though...