Training Log Archive: Yak

Swim in Payneham pool with lane to myself despite 30 degree temp (and Burnside pool being closed).
Shoulder bit weak doing freestyle over 50m, so mixed it up a bit, doing some kick only and some with pull buoy and some breastroke.
Time a bit of a guess, as I forgot to look and waited occasionally at ends.
Also did 10 min running wthout arms in water.

Worked from 7.30 - 12.30 with RideA Bike Right this morning and got heaps of kids riding for the first time.

Big couch potato session tonight with Jack Bobridge hour cycle attempt on at present, then Asian cup soccer, and women's tennis Aust final.
Tomorrow is Cadel's last race but I will probably miss the direct feed as aim to be riding myself.

intended rest day ...but felt ultra tired all day ..

Early morning ride from Renmark with the "Hippie" group - so called as they send photos of their rides to the full time workers and are thus called hippies as a consequence. From Renmark - paringa and then on a side road that goes east over the Vic border and the bitumen ends at an almond farm some 30 kms out. Very windy on way out and slightly better on way back, incl a side wind. 7 of us, with 3 of us stronger, so I was at the front for most, as riding with 2 at the front.

Had a huge scare almost at the turn around point when there was this large noise, like a semi being behind us.
Looked back ....nothing ...louder.....looked up ...shit ... a light plane was about 5 metres above us, and descending. We screeched to a halt and the plane landed on a dirt road (airstrip?) just over the fence ...
Guys hadn't ever seen a plane there before and it is their normal Thursday route. Nice bunch of guys, including a teacher from Adelaide who has just taken over the Riverland Canoeing business based at Murtho.

Stopped in at Banrock Station on way home and had time for half a lap of the lagoon (about 6km), including the boardwalk - was nice. Saw a monitor lizard. Then stopped in at Wakerie, and did a short walk along the Hart Lagoon.

Early ride with a couple of locals.
Barmera...around lake and onto Overland Corner Hotel then back along Goyder highway and otherside of lake to Cobdobla ...then a lap of Loveday and back via Gilmour rd to Barmera
Lots of lovely quiet roads. Quite windy still.

Evening swim in Barmera Lake resort pool.
Mixture of breast and free with about 15 mins straight of the latter. Much better fèel of shoulder than last time.
Caught up with Cherie Walkington who is Berri based with whom I had known as a fellow coach of Pacific School Games.

Evening ride from Barmera to Monash to see the crit race and mèet some local riders
Very windy - took back roads thru vineyards and orchards ... pretty. Took it easy as still feeling ultra tired

Rode with Stu from Shepherds hill a shitty way to craigburn and rode some trails there. Back via Coromandel valley and blackwood then travks below Eve rd. Felt energyless for most and imbibing holy water from a church dodnt help! Riding 26 er felt strange. Shoulder hurt a bit. My visitors left today - was fun having them.

Solo ride instead of crowds at tdu in city. Waterfaĺly gully up Chambers to cleland and then mt lofty. Down to crafers, bullock tk to mt osmond, down Pioneer Womens track to waterfall gully. Lovely lòoking over the city and there is still a tinge of green from the rain 2 weeks ago. Enjoyable.

Had an early morning medical appointment so drove to Clarendon to start riding to Willunga from there. Heaps of groups on the road with few knowing where they were going. Via Chapel Hill Rd to McClaren Vale and main road to Willunga - this was festooned with tents, huge marquees and thousands of people. Had a vegie baguette in Willunga and watched them dogleg thru the town once and then road up to top ... though at a slow pace because of thousands of other riders and hundreds of walkers.

Had a great spot on the hill at the 600m mark and saw the decisive move by Richie Porte. Cadel got 4th on the stage and dropped to 3rd overall - no fairy tale finish unfortunately. Able to follow the race on the tour app on my new Samsung ...despite the fact that telstra couldn't cope with all the quantity of calls in the area.

Rode home with Michelle, david & Steve via range rd, wickhams hill etc
Almost every time I ride down Wickhams I see some-one crashed ...usually at the nasty corner. This time was no exception with 1 guy from a tour group looking badly injured, but on a straight section, so obviously touched a wheel... Ambulance passed us on way up.

C • Fairytale 2

Ride along Torrens to the beach and onto Glenelg into a strong southerly, accompanying Northey boys, so slowish.
Average was 20kph to the sea and then slower.
Saw TDU start and then I went on by myself to Brighton ( to see sculptures) Kingston Park, back to Glenelg and then back home via Turtur bikeway. On old bike.

Ride to and from TDU finish at Paracombe in 31 degree heat after bike ed teaching all morning. As on mt bike (so I could ride back with Northey clan who had gone up earlier) I went illegally thru Anstey Hill rec park. Was bloody hot on way up. I rode with Jim Russell (who had dropped in as I was about to leave) to the start of the climb, before I diverted into the bush.

Nice atmosphere up there and large amount of shady trees.
I watched from near the king of the mt and Cadel seemed to give Rohan Dennis the nod to go right where I was.

Casual ride along Torrens to Lochiel Park(and back) in evening where foot o was happening to catch up with a couple of people.

Ride to Stirling finish of TDU with Michelle Couche.
Home to Norton Summit = 6 km in 22 mins

Up NS to Greenhill rd top and down into Summertown, Uraidla, Balhannah - Hahndorf - Mylor - Aldgate valley Rd to Aldgate - Stirling.
= 2.56 hrs for 54 kms 1104 m climb av 17.9
NS - Scenic hotel = 29.35 mins ....16.30 to 2nd corner

went to John Allison's house and left bikes there for safety and put on thongs. Down to roundabout at Milan tce for watching first 2 laps.
Elsie & Tim and John Toomey and Jen were there, as I had told them it was best spot to see (and it was) Hurried exit and found a spot 100m from the finish to see Cadel come in well at 5th - Jack Bobridge still in ochre.

From Stirling, UP Ayers rd to Crafers (with cars and cyclists thick) - Piccadily - then took "short cut" R up Smokes rd that brought us out at end of Summertown. - To top of Greenhill, Woods Lane - Ashton - Norton Summit and down.
30 kms in 1 hr 20 - av + 22.2 kph
Fairly tired afterwards and thighs sore, as decent climb.
It was amazing the amount of riders going every which way in the hills and all the cafes were full of cyclists in every town. We stopped and helped 2 Sydney groups who had gone off their designated course.

To and fro the TDU stage finish at Wadmore Park. Jack Bobridge won after being in a 4 person breakaway that just survived.
Arranged a play date with Elsie's 2 boys and Heather Smith's 3 girls as there were water slides etc at thhe park.

Took Elsie on a mtb ride in the parklands before the women's TDU criterium in Victoria Park. Did the BMX track and the forest of doom.
Chatted to Adam Hansen (Lotto team) , who Elsie and Tim knew well and who had stayed with our MTBO team for a night in Czech some years ago.
His girlfriend Isabelle was riding as a solo in the women's event and did quite well.

Amble along Torrens with Elsie, Tim Northey & 2 boys - to Vic Square bike expo. They went onto Henley beach (and return) whilst I rode the roads back fast to await my water-tank delivery.

Am still awaiting - after its non appearance in the 2 hour delivery window I rang up and found that they reckon they have been trying to contact me for days ...no message on either phone. Was initially supposed to be delivered last week, so how come they didn't query the water outlet placement then??? I was shitty. Hopefully by 10am tomorrow.

Ride like Crazy public event with TDU
After little sleep and having to be there at 6am I wasn't feeling very good.
Missed finding MichelleC so agreed to ride with Louise George.

Started at Unley - up Cross Rd - up old freeway to Crafers - Uraidla - Balhannah - ?town -Nairne - Woodside - Lobethal - Cudlee Creek - Gorge rd - Burnside down Greenhill rd back to Unley

Louise waited a minute or so for me at Crafers - ride up was tough but I didn't bust myself ...(about 33 mins) I had to play catch up after descents as I took them carefully (esp with people flying past). From Balhannah I led for 95% of the rest and was going at 90% max for most of it. Didn't latch on to any packs ...was mostly passing people after my slow initial part. Max speed = 63kph. Av = 23 kph.
Stopped at the feed stations, as had paid for it and nice to chat to others.
As usual it was extremely well organised by the SA Police, many marshalls and motor bike guys on the busy areas. At finish got a free meal, massage and nice staged finish photo, and lots of shelter gazebos to sit under.
Weather was perfect at 25 degrees and only slight wind.
Tired now but pretty happy with effort and result.

Supposedly an "easy - moderate" ride led by Michelle Soar.
Up Norton Summit - Basket Range - Mt Lofty - Stirling - Heathfield - Longwood - Mylor.
2 hrs to here for 35 km av 17.9 then garmin died. Total distance correct, from MS.
along River rd to Hahndorf - Verdun - up Mt Barker rd past Bridgewater, then a really ugly climb up Old Mt Barker Rd to roundabout above Crafers - Summertown - top of Greenhill Rd - Basket Range - Marble hill, down Montacute ....

I worked very hard up Norton Summit tailing Michelle for main part of climb to a post operation PB. Very pleasing as I was feeling very tired today.
7.45 to first corner ...29.30 to Scenic pub ....so below 30 mins
then just grinded away for the rest using small gears but legs still got tired
only 1 piece of toast for brecki and 1 banana so undernourished.
Saw 4 TDU teams out training - Uni of SA were checking out the finish at Wadmore Park.

mowing and tidying up backyard

evening ride up Torrens and in Black hill & wadmore park

Epic ride. 16-27 degrees and cloudy.
Home - up Norton Summit (30.30 mins for ascent, so slightly faster),
Met Michelle Soar & David Couche there then across to Lobethal the hilly way via Ashton, Basket Range, Forest Range etc.
Would have gone home via Gorge but rd still closed, so back we went the same way until Ashton.
Legs felt a bit average initially but on the last long climb to Ashton I rode hard and did it in 10 mins 20, which is a climb that I would do just under 10 some years ago ...so a good result. Back via Marble Hill and Montacute.
Got passed on a smallish descent by the Trek TDU team and their support car!
Very tired afterwards, as much climb. Av only 18.5.

Rained in.
Watched Bendigo's Peta Mullins (mtb rider) win National women's road race in Ballarat on a hilly circuit.
Promised flood did not eventuate outside BUT inside.
Was doing my first hot water wash in years when much water went thru my laundry courtesy of a cracked clamp - now have to dry everything out and find a hose place on Monday.
Went and saw Water Diviner (much set in SA) - was excellent.

Had bike ed at Enfield in the morning, then it started raining and got cold.
Meant to be having a once in 40 year rainfall and flood this weekend - talk about contrasts in weather. Now the reservoir water is likely to be contaminated with ash swept in from the burnt bushland ...

Evening ride along the fast flowing Torrens after strong morning rains and correct judgement that the next thunderstorm on the radar would miss Adelaide. Lovely smell of gum trees again. Diverted off to do a Uni track loop and did some dirt tracks beside the path. Nice temp. Av 18kph, max 34. Some pushing bike up steps.

Morning ride on daccordi bike up Norton Summit and on to Marble Hill and down Montacute. Started at 8am in 35 degrees and finished in 38.5 degrees. Felt ok but ascent was slower than several weeks (33.30) ago - probably spinning too much. Had problem getting hands on brakes properly on descent.

Evening walk after first thunderstorm came thru - lovely smell of gum trees and birds were all out foraging and chirping. Rain has largely put out bushfire in the hills, which is great.
Roads wont be opened up again, as need to cart away dangerous trees. TDU race stages thru there in 2 weeks should be possible I'd reckon.

Took dressing off my R arm today (melanoma cut out) and it looks like a shark bite - 3 inches long...hope it heals better than it now looks.

My bike riding streak is temporaily halted ..again...
Had a largish, but thin melanoma removed today from upper R arm ...now have 2 sore arms! Not allowed to swim either for 2 days which is a bugger in 35 degree heat today and 40+ tomorrow.
Also collected my new red Hyundai i30 but felt like a traitor driving my 15 year old yellow submarine for the last time.
Between thinking of house tidying I'm now involved in getting Blazeaid up and running here for after the fires.

Caught up with Vanessa; watered garden; had massage; wondered where to start on my list of jobs to be done....

very little sleep last night due to heat - ended up wetting my shirt to sleep in. Meant to ride with some SA friends early on but they decided to head home early due to the Adelaide Hills fires.
Amazing the no of Bendigo people out road riding solo or in pairs at 7am this morning and then I came across about 15 in the Spring Gully area where I rode. Forecast in the 40's. Detailed single tk and more rocky than I remembered, so going was slow. With rising temperature I decided to head back via a 4WD track, as I was on a track that I knew not where it was going ...

Drive back was awful - so hot and windy that several times I had to stop and wait out the worst of the gales. Passed by 3 fires - the one in Little Desert looked to be taking off well. Then at Horsham a thunderstorm hit with hailstones. I was very tired and half nodded off a few times - must not be so time poor next time travelling. Lots of smoke from the Tantaloona fire bear Bordertown. Then coming into Adelaide there was the bright red glow of a stunning sunset to the west of the freeway and a pink glow on the other side from the large fire front. Covers 100 square kms.

Dose property on bottom end of Mt Gawler would have been at risk (unknown at this stage) and Lyons will be tomorrow. Hugh loss of O areas already and Fox Creek mtb park is unlikely to survive.
Interestingly my location is OUTSIDE the safe area of suburbanity put out by CFS - probably because of proximity to bushy water reserve a bit to east.

Rode from Alexandra up to top of hill and down to Caitlin - 14km each way and also put on an extension to Molesworth, where i investigated the rec park which doubles as a caravan park.
Lovely location next to Goulbourn river, like last night at Acheron.
Chatted to a couple with a mini homebuilt wooden caravan, complete with chandalier and flat screen tv.
Their car is his Dad,s restored 1936 Dodge truck. From Boronia.
- he a former motocross champ and she did dressage.
30 degrees when i start at 9am and 36 when i finished.
Climb up from Alex is 3-4 km and curvy on a nice white granite surface. FRom Caithlin it is a straight 9km climb on blue metal. Probably about 3.5% max grade.

Swim in bendigo in 40 degree heat.

Evening walk from breakaway caravan park, 7 kms from Alexandria, on a fast flowing riv, due to water release. saw platypus x 3.

At last got in the water! Mostly bretroke actual swimming and some pool running. In caravan park pool.

Second half of Great vic bike trail - had done first part 2 years ago.
Yack to Tallarook. The latter was he map name of the first decent foot o map that I saw - an Aus champs in 1977 or so.
Another hard day - more downhill than up, with exception of 17km to 200 metre long cheviot tunnel.
However very strong headwinds for first half, which meant that i had to bust a gut somewhat to ensure i got to Tallarook in time for my 5pm shutle pick-up.
30 - 35 degres and no water availability for last half.
Not as good as first half from memory
Merton races on today and Alec picnic races on Sunday 4th.
Finished about 25 mins early in the end. Mark Spencer, shuttle guy was very informative of the area and suggested the nice caravan park, which fits my neds well-
Cooled down a bit tonight but I.m fearful it will be very hot tomorrow night, wherev i am.

C • Happy New Year! 2