Training Log Archive: Yak

Felt the need for a less hilly ride.
Home to city - Port Rd - West lakes canoe club (Bower rd) - Glenelg - then thru back streets to Daw Pk (picked up pink tape at Jenny and George's and had a chat to the latter) - back streets to Dulwich and home.
Predicted 41 degree day after a 30 plus night but felt ok at 11am (37 degrees) and wind not really a factor.

Extended myself the length of Port rd catching 2 guys and staying with them after each set of lights. Nouveau type riders with hairy legs and one had striped undies under his knicks!!

C • If you could see the stripe... 1

A long ride despite the 39 temp!!
AHills mob were going out from Balhannah at 8am for 100km and I had hoped to meet them at Cudlee ck. However I didnt get to bed until 3am and then left home at 8.10am which was about 10 mins too late to catch them.
I felt horrible in first 10 kms or so, esp as there was a headwind.
Persisted and did an interesting ride that had more hills than the AH planned ride. Up Gorge - Cudlee Ck - Chain of Ponds - Kesrbrook. (90mins) Then just out of K I went R on Hill Rd (yes a steep pinch) that turned into Norsworthy Rd and this exited me just N of Forreston.
Then went L and then R onto Turners Hill rd (3 climbs) and across to Lucky Hit. Doing this rd into Birdwood in reverse from tuesday was much more enjoyable as the hills rolled downwards. Then Birdwood - Gum - Cudlee Ck - Gorge and then rode a few kms extra around Athelstone to bring up the 4 hrs. 35 degrees when i finished but not too bad.
Bought punnet of $1 strawberries on Gorge on way home for lunch.

Meanwhile almost all of Qld is under flood ... and much of Northern ireland has no running water because of freezing conditions ...

AHills ride from Balhannah.
Hardest roadie ride Ive done for awhile.
Mostly because all these A and B grade riders turned up (being on holiday) and upped the pace significantly.

I jumped on the front initially and was 2nd wheel for a lot too to Charleston averaging almost 40kph INTO a headwind. We went E up Springhead rd and some rolling hills from Charleston before heading back to Mt Torrens and I lost the lead bunch on the hills. Legs had zero "zip" for hills and I was experiencing inner hamstring cramping on L leg too. Never get this usually but was feeling twinges in bed last night. Bunch waited at Mt T and I jumped into the peleton again as we went on to Birdwood and then straight across on Cromer, and then Lucky Hit and Martin Hill rds.
Got dropped again near top of Martin Hill and time trialled (catching 1 guy) thru Forreston and into Gumeracha.

Then back with the peleton again down to Cudlee Ck and turned L on road to Lobethal. Again they dropped me on Lobethal Hill and I rode the rest about 100m behind a guy. Lobethal - Lenswood (more hills) - Swamp rd - Greenhill rd - Balhannah. Left leg still sore to touch. Other than that felt ok. Perhaps it was the mt biking yesterday that stirred things up.
Will take some magphos as insurance.

Mt bike ride on "Barbie" (whom I hate and cant lift over fences easily).
With Stu and Martin.
Stonyfell - Waterfall Gully - Chambers Gully - Cleland - Mt Lofty (via bumpy track E of main rd)- Crafers - side tracks there - eagle park (playing on single tks and new pump tk) - Eagle on hill - Bullock rd - PWTrail - Stonyfell.
i was hopeless on rough bits per usual but creamed both guys by over a minute on the bitumen out of Cleland!! Even I was impressed. I hadnt been in Eagle for 4 months and found that they have made several tks even harder - not happy! Below Sunset they have put a very tight and off camber corner complete with boulder drop-offs (so dhill course can be made better!!) and then tightened up several other corners on way down too. On the + side they have made an easier climb up to the pump tk just below the original grunty climb.

Climb out to car park took right on 6 mins with 2 foot downs, so that was an equal PB. PWT was awesome as usual - brilliant views and the bottom section has been widened. Lovely creek ride up 2nd? to Martins house.

This ride took ages longer than I stated as we ran into almost every other mt biker out and about and Stu, being a sociable fella, chatted too much.
Saw Tucker mob, Merlin, Jase and Aurelia, Nick Bowman and bro .....

Roadie ride at Goolwa in afternoon in howling wind. Rode around every rd on Hindmarsh Is marina as quiet well paved rds and some protection from the wind. The Captain Sturt rd along lake and explored all rds near Narnu farm, then E on Randell rd (to its end) and return to Goolwa. Riding at 45 degrees over the H Is bridge due to wind.

Not a lot but at least something. Crayfish for lunch - yum.
Boxing Day test match debacle - Aust all out for record low 98 and then Poms 0 for 158 or so!! Ponting and Clark again fail. That will win them the Ashes!

Woke up to rain so shorter ride than planned.
I should know better than to come to Goolwa without a rain jacket, even if 32 degrees is forecast!!
Goolwa to Victor along biketrack and return.
About 80 surfers in at Middleton and the surf was quite brown.
A lovely ride.
Then drove Dad to Blackwood and return for Chrissy lunch at Beth and Waynes.

walk around Goolwa

Ride up the Gorge to Gumeracha and return.
Meant to tie in with vets group but they were evidently behind me.

Very windy - headwind out so I did a slow 8.45 for K Cr climb.
Returned via Gum - Chain of Ponds hill (as last week) and did a PB of 5.10!
Only had 1 car obstruct me on a corner so had a pretty clear run.

Below K Ck dam I hooked onto 2 fast guys who dropped me at every corner but I sprinted to recatch them each time. Then I took the lead up the Athelstone hill when they slowed and rode away!

Out took about 85 and back 67 mins!!

walk to shops.

meant to do as long mtbike ride - wore knicks for about 3 hrs but never got out!!

AHills ride. quite a number out on the promise of a flattish ride. Us 'long' riders found quite a few hills!
Balhannah then west UP to Deviation Rd then lenswood, fox creek, cudlee ck (hot chocolate stop), gumeracha, birdwood, cut across to middle of Gum-lobethal rd, Lobethal, Woodside.
Coolish conditions - felt good.

Skinny latte bunch training at Vic park, including 8 "sprints @ 90%."

Heard that Kate Radford (ex MHS), now resident in Alice Springs, is expecting her first baby in May!

My very first real mt bike ride since the 24 hr in october!!
Meant to go with the group in the morning but it looked wet and Im sick of paying for fixing the bike so reneged. Went out at 5pm from Mitcham - Brownhill ck, Pony ridge (27 corners) Belair, Queen Jubilee tk up and then rode around on various single tks trying to find some skill. Down to long gully, up Melville to top (9min) and then playing down the bottom.
Up to Belair and foind a new exit (for me) behind the Belair railway station (The National Park sign) - down to Lynton trails and back in declining light.

Windy, dark day - I saw not another soul in all of Belair!

55km Buffalo group ride Glenelg to Outer Harbor and return in very windy conditions.
Started raining hard about 5 kms in and I yelled that I was stopping to shelter and was suprised that the all male group all joined me.
Put on my minimalistic rainjacket and our group of 12 continued on and it stopped raining soon after and I stayed hot 'til Outer Harbor.
i felt better on the return into the wind but the guys were a bit sluggish. Also had a guy crash trying to avoid a slight bump, but luckily when we were reassembling, so no others involved. Had to call his wife to come get him as hit head hard.
Then rode up to WAITE and back, including some kms around Edwardstown outside velodrome.

Meant to go with vets group up the Gorge at 9am but didnt make it.
Got out just after 10am and went up to Cudlee Creek and then Gumeracha.
An average ascent up the KCk dam at 8.30mins into a headwind and not pushing..
Returned via Chain of Ponds hill and did 5.50mins for that putting in a fair bit - gd time. Stopped for food gathering on way home (punnet of strawberries from just below KCk dam into back pocket for $1) and then newspaper and roll from shop in Athelstone.
Lovely temperature. There were heaps of small cycle groups returning when i was going out - is no-one working?

Meant to get out but chasing around with laptop having problems!!!

AHills ride - Balhannah to Woodside via lenswood research station and Vickers rd then past Army place (and 10 min wait for roadworks!!). L to Bruckanga (stiff hills) to Nairne, Mt Barker and cafe stop. Exited UP 3 hills to Echunga and then to Mylor, Hanhndorf and Balhannah.
I did 72kmp down into Bruckanga!

Only 2 of us ended up doing the whole long course, as it took us a long time to get to Mt Barker. And then enduro Jack put me to shame by saying he was continuing on via Williamstown to make it 200km! (he is about 30 years younger).

I felt suprisingly good on the hills, seing I got to bed at 1.30am.
However my legs were a bit stuffed afterwards and i was probably a bit dehydrated by the 32 degree heat.

Lawn!!

Road cycling in suburbs and mostly at Vic Park doing Skinny Latte session. peleton riding, skills, 3 sprints.

Rode to velodrome for conference and did several kms on track too

Fast pace up Torrens to 3rd bridge and return bouncing ball.

am Commute to my final "teaching" day of the year.

I spent 5k today on textbooks, after convincing the boss that SOSE really did need them for the start of the year!! (Usually we arent allowed to spend in term 4, as awaiting the budget...)
Somehow our school managed to send the kids home at 11am (most other schools its 2pm) but we had to stay and get merry until 2pm.
I felt good in that this time next year I will be retiring, at least from Salisbury East!! I'm counting the days already.

pm. After long lunch.
I rode out to Edinburgh air force base and up Edinburgh road and then Heaslip to get to the S end of the Northern expressway bikepath. Bad way, as I was almost semi roadkill on 3 / 4 occasions as little / no shoulder. Hard to find an access from this end.

Then rode towards gawler with a tailwind, but alas the bikepath abruptly stopped and became a dirt rd before ejecting me several kms from Gawler. Turned around and struggled to do 20kph into the wind.
On my way back I was hugely suprised to find that the dead end side roads, which had been blocked with 10 feet high fences, now had small gates in them suitable for cyclists!!! I had suggested these to the road traffic folk several months back, as none of the busy roads leading to the expressway bikepath have shoulders / bikepaths. No use having a facility if no-one wishes to risk life and death to get to it, I said!! I'm impressed that they cut their fresh fences.

I love riding on traffic free paths, as its better for fitness and you can relax.
I was listening to the radio on this occasion.

Returned via Salisbury, Mawson Lakes bike path before losing my way a bit in Walkley's Heights. felt quite good physically though it was a flat ride.
R Knee niggled a bit at the end.

Have a 2 day cycling conference this weekend....

Walk around eastern loop on Torrens bouncing a tennis ball.

Caught up at school and then made the mistake of logging on to computer when i got home and found things that needed to be done.
Back is still very sore - wish I could find a mattress that my back likes!
Also need to decide what race to train for next, to get a bit of motivation up.

C • Thermarest? 2

went for a walk in Morialta to see how the waterfalls were flowing. All 3 flowing well but it was very impressive how high the water level had been 24 hrs earlier, as evidenced by the still sodden rocks. Took a little used route to base of 2nd falls and came out with multiple bleeding blackberry pricks due to the track not being trimmed at all.
Came back DOWN from lookout (took 13 mins) which wasnt gd for knees.

On a sad note, 23 seals from the S Island colony we visited in NZ were clubbed to death a day or two ago!!

I also played 2 hours of tabletennis with kids today. Beat them all easily, some with my left hand.

A mundane ride thru the suburbs to Port Adelaide and return.
Opted out of AHills ride as rain threatened and more so in the hills and i had to drop off O controls etc in the morning.
Then found that my back and neck were sore when riding.

Got to Port Adelaide before the sky got real dark and then as the promised storm hit there I turned and bolted for home. I had the radio (to listen to the cricket which finished early on in my ride) and it was annoying how badly the bureau got their timings wrong. People were calling and saying that Salisbury was being hailed upon and then the bureau would have a storm warning for the area in 15 mins time and this seemed to happen constantly.

However their warning to tie down all loose objects and to stay inside as 120kph winds were expected did resonate with me, so i pedalled faster.
I just had time to nip in for a blood test and got rained upon in the last 200 metres or so... close. Had a wonderful few hours of thunder and lightning and some hail, with 43 mls of rain.

Back to school, so to speak.
Yr 8 & 9 day out at Thorndon Park and i put out 3 courses and kids could opt to do or not. Suprisingly, esp given the 32 degree temp that 60 kids gave it a go and about a dozen did all 3 courses. Also the locked controls didnt get vandalised at all by some of our not so keen kids - they chaed the wildlife instead!! So an hour or so putting out and collecting controls.

Later a 30 min walk from home to the shops.

First swim of the season (and summer) at Payneham.
Bargain as i still have tickets from last year.
Decided on a swim because a) my back was sore and b) it was going to rain hard. 25 metres into the swim I realised that i had injuries not conducive to painfree swimming.
1) L shoulder ligament still very sore from Mawson marathon big crash in June. 2) Broken finger on R hand couldnt be used as a scoop.

ok Ill confess I broke finger falling out of bed on my last night in Christchurch, NZ!!
Possibly due to an aftershock?? (From their big 7+ quake in September)However my friends only woke up after a later one (actual quake of some significance) when the whole house shook quite a bit, with books falling off shelf. Finger not so much a problem with disc brakes on bike as I only use 1/2 fingers not the 4th.

I struggled on in the swim hoping that my shoulder wouldnt fall out.
Soon the approaching storm hit and then there were only 2 of us total with 5 lanes to share and a squad in the other 3. Got cold so was better to keep swimming and then it hailed for about 10 mins, so I couldnt get out in that. Ended up doing more than intended first up, so hope shoulder is ok tomorrow.

Please note that euthanasia is probably justified if I get reduced to just running in the water and riding a stationary bike. (I spent the time noting what body parts dont work and the growing list of activities that are no longer on my agenda.)

Around the "BIG" lake riding thru big puddles and lifting bike over several trees before day 2 of OA Conference.

After OA Conference on Ann Scown's old mt bike with slicks on.
Rode away from approaching storm - did some mt biking on better tracks thru Bruce Ridge then out to bike paths to watson and onto Harrison. Stopped for 10 mins at my niece's and said hello but got moving as rain was getting closer.

As I started around Gungahlin lake on way to Forde it stormed dowm torrentially. Bike path had much debris on it. Black Mt had disappeared in fog and on my retuen i found myself it McKellar. Was very sodden despite having my rain jacket. Luckily clothes dried in drier back at Burgmann and the paper insertion trick (several times) dried my shoes.

Walk from Burgmann College in the dark thru ANU to city in searsh of food. Good waterfall in the creek.

Ride to Henley Beach and return via Snap print to pick up maps.
Fast on way home to be on time for a tradie who hasnt shown up!!!

To SSSSA @Thebarton mostly via River Torrens.

Checking control sites at Thorndon Park - they have added abig shelter and a house!!