Training Log Archive: peterk

Tour de Avon - CTAWA 160km or 100 mile challenge event.

Only three starters on a very cold morning at the Lakes Roadhouse. The forecast said rain and the wind had been strong all week. So it was suprise that it was a quiet still morning. However all the roads were wet from overnight rain. The car temperature guage said it was 3 degrees. So multiple layers.

At 8am we head off up the Great Eastern Highway for a few kms before turning left to Wooroloo. We head over a few hills at a slow pace (too cold to move too fast) toToodyay Road. After a few steady climbs we have a fantastic descent towards Lovers Lane. Then the inevitable climb up. State champs map area on the left and interesting gully terrain on the right. A lot of contours here. Then down over the other side to toodyay. At this point I have stayed with the other 2 riders but their pace is a bit slower than mine

We then follow the river along via the tourist drive. At this point we are thinking what a wonderful day it is, beatiful scenery, clear skies and no wind. Well 5km down the road this changes when we come out from behind a ridge straight into a S SW angled head wind. Without the protection of the hills and lots of vegetation the wind presented a challenge all the way to York. My two fellow riders started to drop off so from then on I set my own pace.

After 4+ hours of riding York was a welcome lunch spot. A fresh home made steak and bacon pie was quickly followed by a fresh apricot pastery and a capuchino. With a full stomach I then headed up the long grinding hill out of York up the Great Southern Highway. Up until now there had been very little traffic. This road however was full of Perth day trippers returning home from York. So it was a little bit of a nervous ride back.

After the main climb out of York was completed every small hill became a mountain as energy had now been sapped from the legs. A corbo shot did not seem to help much. So it was just a slog home. With the cold headwind it ended up being a hard ride. Total time of 7hrs and 20m and ride time of 6hr 30m

C • Impressive 2

What a difference the wind makes to the time and the metal attitude. Start in an Easterly direction with the wind behind and thinking what a great morning it was. Turn south and then it becomes a slog with the wind slowing the pace by 5km/h. Just after Karrinyup road it starts to drizzle - not enough to put a coat on, besides there was blue sky whre the weather was coming from. Then it opened up and I got drenched while it did not last more than 4 minutes it was enough to fill the bike shoes with water.

Nothing like putting on wet bike clothes to go out for a ride. YUk!

Seemed to be into some sort of minor head wind most of the way even though it was supposed to be a westerly. Tested my new GPS and HRM

Wet path and road - much more cautious on the corners. Saw three riders reparing tyres. Rain has moved prickles onto the path making it a game of russian roulette. Ever seen a lolly pop man on a PCP? This week there has been one south of Powis street. They park a car in the middle of the path and force bike riders into the garden. (Replacing a fence between the freeway and the PCP. There was nothing wrong with the old one!)

C • Yup 3

Squeezed in between showers. Mostly a cross wind until I turned into the Read highway into a strong westerly - as you normaly expect in winter and spring. Cannot wait for daylight during commuting hours.

A welcome day off.

Tired from the weekend activities so only the occassional push. Still a good time and feeling good at the end. Such an improvement over 12 months with better recovery times and not feeling smashed on each hill.

Strong northerly headwind as strong as Fridays - another cold front comming!

Hard work and much slower than normal. Even though I though I struggled I passed a lot of people on the way home. They must have struggled more.