Training Log Archive: Yak

Travel to Canberra with normal bike taking hassles.
Left Raglan to visit a friend in Hamilton - this took an extra 30 mins as the silly Navman didn't recognize the expressway and thus I was on it for kilometres heading towards Auckland with nowhere to turn. Used my phone to navigate back. Hamilton is a big city these days.

Then started to Auckland with the recommended amount of time but multiple road works made this 15 mins slower and then had to wait at Rent-A-Dent for the final 3 km trip to airport. Checked in with less than an hour to go and went straight onto plane.

Landed in Melbourne with 50 mins to make my connecting flight to Canberra (going there for weekend conference, so couldn't be bothered going to and fro Adelaide). E passport got me thru customs in no-time but then had a 30 min+ wait for bike. Off to quarantine line to have bike checked for dirt but to my amazement when I pleaded I had a rush they let me thru without checking. Navigated to Virgin desk (code share with ANZ) with bike upright, so visibility ahead was non-existent and rechecked in bags - walked straight on plane that was waiting for me.

Bike did appear in Canberra but last hassle was that my niece had inadvertently pushed the memory button on the keyless car's boot and it would only open 6 inches. We had to resort to reading the 3,000 page manual for the answer.

Another cloudy cool day in Raglan.
Did a scenic drive to lovely Bridal Veil Falls.

Then rode the beand new mtb park here ...ddue to be opened Saturday. Bit underwhelming being only 5km in length but they only had a small hilly pine forest to use and 3 sacred sites to avoid. Well made. Then rode on the rd out to some of the famous surf beaches ...Shark & Manu bays and return.
Then washed bike by hand and packed it..

Final ride around Waka at Rotorua before driving 2.5hrs to Raglan on the coast. Stopped off at a 19 acte blueberry farm for blueberry pancakes for lunch.

At Raglan it was really windy and cold so just went for a long walk ...about 8kms. Very alternative type place and quite uppitty at same time. My walk took in 3 bridges, big area school, black sand beach and going across a grass airstrip.

Was a little lazy getting going today as weather had turned bad. Had an excellent 45 min massage, then a museum visit that included a big section on cycling incl the Lake Taupo ride.
Had a look at the riverside bungy jump set-up that i hadnt seen on the race though we rode 10 metres from it. Windy so noone jumping. But quite a few kayakers.

Finally went out to Cougar mtb park to take a pic of the Bloody .Big Dipper ....a hellush descent with planks in it. Got to it just as.my ph battery died. Though quite close to carpark i had to ride the whole track lap as it was one diectional ....then got camera and set out again. Then did a couple more nice tracks. Was nice. Green scragg track haf lots of wooden man made structurez to practice on.

Then drove to Rotorua to stay with Eric and family for one last night.

Did the Huka Steamer mtb event at Taupo as part of the 40th Lake Taupo cycle challenge. Most people love the 160km road lap..7000 riders....have had 11000 in it.

Organisation was outstanding. No queuss at rego or toilets.
Electronic timing and they start mtb riders in waves of 50. About 700 mtb ridrrs. Big bridge over main rd for us with roadies riding undrrneath.

Not too congested at all. I did the first 20km.at 17kph but then we got on the mtb park which was hillier and more techie
I had a fall off a 6" boardwalk but luckily fell onto gd shoulder
Track was actually fast and i rode very well Passing many towards end. Had some scary moments with Big Dippers & finalluģý

Did part of Moko trails frpm Opotiki.
The Dunes trail 11km along the coast then some dirt rd towards Toatoa farmstay and return.
Then drove to Taupo and registrred for Huka Steamer 62km mtb event.
Staying with orienteers Judy & Dave Browning sa is Marquita. About 5 mins ride downhill to race start.

5km out to Motu Falls and return on dirt.
Then to Matawai on bitumen for lunch at Harddrive cafe and return. Got stuck behind 2 lots of moving cattle on rd.
Then drove back to Opotiki via the W.... Gorge ...long way.

Went to a PechaKucha night at library. 10 speakers show 20 photos each and speak for just 20 seconds on each ...great variety of speakers. Adv racing, maori child welfare, family and fun, different wines, art, teaching english in spain, canadian on exchange here...

Bushwalk from Motu Falls into Whinray reserve.

Long hilly ride ...no flat at all.
Motu up on old rd complete with logging tracks to Pakihi mtb trail...down 11kms to major slip which i had known about.
I walked gingerly across it but had decided not to risk taking bike as - track closed sign i had ridden thru; fall would prob mean death; solo ...
This meant i couldnt do loop but so be it.
Back up the 11kms and then more up and finally a descent into Motu.

Up at 5.45am and drove from Rotorua to Whakatane to catch boat to White Island ...Nz's only volcanic island. 1.5 hrs each way on boat and also 1.5 hrs on.island.
Then long drive to Motu where im staying in Motu community house with 9 beds ...by myself. $25 per night for a whole house and resident pig and wekas.

Walk around White Island wearing helmet and gas mask.

Slow lap of Whaka park taking in Green & Blue lakes and Redwoods. Mixture single tk and dirt rds.

Time includes a paltry warm-up ride of 5 kins.
Third in long champs despite many brain fades.
Lovely area ...exclusive use of Cougar mt bike park...60kms from Rotorua near T...

Ride to and from NZ Sprint Champs and then 25 mins for course. Lost 2 mins with bad direction out of control.
Fantastic area ...buildings and farmland with openland..
3rd with Jacqi 1at.

Mtbo midle distance. 59 mins on course and rest warm up. Jacqui Sinclair 1sr. Me a close 3rd.

Big ride up Moerangi peak (794m) and down Splitz End and other iconic tracks.
Put my 1st aid skill and bandage to use on a young girl with suspected broken leg.

Climb to start on saddle from Redwoods.
Then 3 mini sprint courses using SI Air with much single tk with 3 controls and a remote finish each. Brain and legs both tired.
Taught my host Eric how to do O.

Climb to start on saddle from Redwoods.
Then 3 mini sprint courses using SI Air with much single tk with 3 controls and a remote finish each. Brain and legs both tired.
Taught my host Eric how to do O.

Drove to Rotorua today ...had to master another keyless car, a Navman gps that sent me on backroads, another climate control dial that i still fail to understand, and a strange radio.
Staying with Eric Westra whom i met on TA bike adventure earlier this year. His house is 7 muns ride from Whaka forest. It rained most of day but Eric forced me out about 6pm ...straight into hard rain. Rain
Stopped for awhile but then started heavily for last 15 mins
Rode the nice single tks though some were rooty and werv

Had a stress full trip home from Canberra.
Booked a station wagon taxi at 1pm with "Canberra Elite" for 4.30pm for 6pm flight telling them of my bike box. Takes 15mins to airport normally.
At 4.30 no sign of taxi so I ring the taxi business - oh we will despatch a sedan now. No, that wont work ..."it should" they replied.
5pm the sedan arrives and the guy tries hard to fit it in - doesn't.
He rings taxi company who initially hang up on him.
Then they promise a station wagon.

It arrives at 5.20pm. Guy said I was lucky as he was nearby.
Get to airport counter (after having to spend $2 on trolley to go 100 metres) at 5.38pm " We closed 8 mins ago" .... I do my nicest beg and he says he will ring the supervisor ....yes, ok. 2 people arrive and take bike.
I run to gate and am last to board. Plane isn't full and leaves 5 mins early!
My bike even appears in Adelaide and my friend picks me up as arranged.
Now have 24 hrs at home before next flight...

Highland Fling, Bundanoon.
I was very nervous about my ability to do the distance and rightly so.
respiratory prob from the start ...a little better in last 2 hours!
Aimed to plod it not race so walked quite a few hills I would normally ride.

Start - Wingello 24km. Mostly firetracks plus several bumpy paddocks and a long mown section complete with cow dung and hoof holes and uphill. Also had a big water crossing which was up to my bum - we had to do this on return trip too. Got stones in my shoes.
Some decent food at food station.

Wingello - Wingello loop 58km with a food station in the middle.
I got held up by a train leaving town. Most of the first half of this loop was single tk. Initially there were some nice flowy contour sections but then we got onto endless old tracks that went down and then up, repeat....
Food station was 3km further on than advertised and was blowing away in the 40-50kph winds, as was on a hilltop.

I waited here about 10 mins for a young chap doing his first 100km whom I didn't mind helping. Lady there said there was 1 big downhill and 1 big uphill and the remainder of the 23km was "easy." 4 gigantic firetrack descents and climbs later I was not impressed, esp as we were into the wind. About 3kms of the last 5km was with the wind - beaut. I caught up a bigger guy whose shorts had slipped and he was showing much of his "crack." Had felt shitty and energy less from 40-70km and then better.

Got back to food station at Wingello and they had run out!! As I was far from the last this was shitty. I felt like some watermelon or fruit but had to continue on my energy gel / snakes diet with 1 muesli bar that was for emergency.

Wingello - Bundanoon 32 kms. some faster bits initially then 3 more creek crossings. I had been told the last 15km was very hard and uphill.
We went back into the private land and while I waited for Q. I took my phone out from backpack, turned it on and took some pics of the lovely white gum forest and later the creek crossing. Q had done the 50km last time so knew it ... we had agreed to keep in touch until the last 10km and then "race." Wombat wander was lovely and I saw a wombat to complement the lyrebird earlier. "Brokeback mt" was a shitty climb up a farmland hill which I mostly walked. Then "Sherwood Forest" was 3 kms of rock hopping (not my forte) under big granite slabs - this had a gigantic mirror in the trees that frightened me until I realised it was me I was seeing.
Didn't stop for a photo as Q right on my tail. Luckily from 6kms to go it was less techie and I was able to draw away. The last 3 kms was thru a horse establishment, a vineyard and then farmland before a final 400m climb to the finish.

I haven't been that long on a bike since March ... and not even any decent rides in last month. Got cramp at 62km and 107km briefly but one legged for a bit and then soft pedalled to keep it at bay. L shoulder got very tired with the amount of pushing and thighs didn't like that either. I will be stiff tomorrow.

Highland Fling has been flung. Lesson learnt - no more long races without being half fit and mostly healthy, as it was a bit of a drudge. Would have to be really fit and motivated to do the 110km again. Not likely.

Took some time this morning to finish my oa report...
Drove to Bundanoon in nieces super duper keyless new car which i dont know what all the buttons do.
Meant to do a decent ride but just cruised around town and met up with friends. Saw Shannon jones 2nd & Belinda Allison 4th finish half marathon run and had tea with them and Ian & Neil Prosser.
Bit peeved to find my 100km event is 110km..
Just hope to finish but it will take a long time as ultra hilly and hardest bit is last 10km. Still feel like i have 50% or less airway availability.
"Camping" in my niece's car at start at pony club grounds with hundreds of others. This event sure does a lot for the town.

Lovely day in Canberra though 23 degrees felt hot.
Afternoon ride from Harrison around Centennial Trail to north and return.
10kms bikepaths to bush past Mulligans, then 20km mostly single tk incl some walking uphills to Hall. Then tailwind for 10km to Gungharlin and then back via bikepaths, road ..

Bloody tired so did computer work most of the day.
Doc rang re latest blood test - white blood cells are low.
What I had surmised anyway.

What a day.
I had overcommitted myself again.
Encouraged Springhead school to visit Lobethal Lutheran for a new map.
So I went to Springhead early and put out controls there, then 20 controls at Lobethal Lutheran. Then 3 sessions there with older kids plus LL kids at same time. Drove back to Springhead (near Mt Torrens) to do 2 last sessions there with younger kids.

Drove back home via dropping lockable controls back at TT shed aiming to catch 7pm flight to Canberra. Found it was delayed to 8.20. Got there early and delayed until after 9. Got to Canberra at 11.30+ and by then my lift had gone to bed, so taxi and luckily a disabled one was hanging around.

And Donald Trump is now the US President elect!

Finally got out - what a joy to be on my roadie.
Still breathing probs and coughing.
Afternoon ride up Norton Summit (rd still has landslip issues) then on up to Woods hill rd and across to top of Greenhill rd. Back down Woods Hill and home via Marble Hill & Montacute.
Slow but legs ok.

Thought I'd best mow before going away, as new neighbours had done the front section recently.

State mtb champs at Fox.
got talked into doing it the day before as there was no-one in my age class..
Only 2 laps but with 1 fire-road climb which I partially walked. First part was in gnarly pine forest which I hate ...managed to ride several off camber descents which was great.
Just pedalled slowly for most - won $75 + all entrants got a $10 voucher for Anderson Hill winery. Their pizzas are $15 and great, so sat around there afterwards chatting to friends.
temperature etc again afterwards.
laps were 33 + 34 mins plus warm-up.

Ride at Fox Creek after doing O at Springhead.
Almost had a disaster with some reception kids who deviated off course (from just going around 1 building) down a cliff, as they saw a control (not theirs) at bottom.
Aimed to do the race track for Sundays xc champs - got lost twice even though it was already marked out. It starts down the rutty, rooty section that I have trouble with ...old section. Not nice. Deviated later down the new track ...Ant Logic ...lovely one way downhill that finishes almost at Grandpa's campground. Then a shitty fire track climb back up.
Feeling 50%

Picked up 29er from Int cycles and then rode along River Torrens to the sea, then to Henley Beach and along the sandy non-track to Tennyson dunes, then return back to St Peters. About 30% healthy.
Lovely day for a change - 20 degrees.
Had to laugh, at several places a pelican was waiting patiently about 2 metres behind a fisherman.

Just had to get out of the house.
Went to Balhannah but deliberately too late to meet group.
Rode out on Matapinga and then around Woodside and took road towards Harrogate. Didn't do last steep section down but still had several climbs of 11%. Then back towards Charlston and back to Bal.
Breathing was very difficult. Chest still clogged.
Then went to gp Mel Cup party at Woodside farm - got 3rd in sweep.

Pity that even the Melbourne Cup has been privatised / outsourced with only 1 horse (of 24) being Australian. Kerrin McEvoy (SA rider) won - he is married to Cathy Payne (1 of Michelle Payne's 7 siblings).