Thursday, 29 November 2007
Redecorating
Hot Training
It’s hot. Summer is a few days away and sharing her love already. The last couple of days doing pre and post work sessions on the trainer, I don’t think I’ve sweated as much, ever. Last night I wrung out my nicks. Even this morning at 5 am, when it’s meant to be cool, I was drenched. Or it could just be me. As it was, I got to 20 km this morning and stopped. I’d had enough. I was very hot, tired, weary and plain fed up. I don’t remember being so intolerant to heat, particularly early morning warmth. Perhaps it was just lack of sleep. Normally cutting a short a morning session wouldn’t worry me, as I just make up the kms that evening, but tonight we are going to the Spicks n Specks road show at the Comedy Theatre. Another late night, another short night of sleep, another crabby training day tomorrow.
Tuesday, 27 November 2007
Australian Champion
The hour between 5.30 -6.30 was one of the fastest hours of my life, lap by lap, watching the stopwatch, comparing lap times and to Hourof Power Woman’s body language, wondering what the hell was going through her head for those 60 minutes. All I can say was that it was very emotional sharing the final hour of Liz’s journey with her, and I was choked up with a tear in my eye for the bell lap: Coach DJ laughed when I said I think I am going to cry as she crossed the finish line.
Liz, your legend status just scored some more gold stars. Congratulations on an awesome ride. I'm very proud of you, and your ride.
Monday, 26 November 2007
Hour Day
Today is Hour Day – HourofPower Woman’s attempt at the Hour record. I’ve purposefully not made any blog entries over the last couple weeks on HoPW’s efforts, as she has enough stress and pressure to deal with, without added weight from me.
Weekend Training
Reading Mike Goldie’s blog this morning was heartening. This last week of training has been difficult – not only trying to wrestle time to do it from the vagaries of life (ie work, family commitments etc) but also physically more difficult to deal with. I spent more time on the trainer this week also, thanks to rain and a reticence to ride solo on roads at dawn O’clock, with HourofPower woman in her final week of preparation for the Big Day.
Wednesday, 21 November 2007
All Class
Tuesday, 20 November 2007
Secret Riding Spots



Finally I’ve downloaded my photos! Weekend before last, Mr Legs and I headed back “home” to Boolarra. The weather was very warm, the pastures thick and lush from the recent rains (ie floods in
After the Grand Ridge loop, rather than heading back towards Churchill on the highway, we took a detour along the
Monday, 19 November 2007
Weirdest blog hit
Still trying to get my brain around that one...
Crap Cycle Lanes of Croydon
http://crapcyclelanesofcroydon.blogspot.com/
The Old Chook Strikes Again
Pip's season is just getting better and better, and she continues to prove age isn't a prohibitor to excellent performance at Opens. Rock on Pip!
Weekend riding..
What a change from one weekend to the next. I’ve been meaning to blog about the weekend before last’s riding, in sunny downtown Boolarra (complete with pics). However, I’ve been too busy to download the images from my phone, and refuse to blog without the photos. Hence the lack of riding reports. Weekend before last provided some gorgeous riding, both in scenery and weather. This weekend just gone was not so pleasant.
Wednesday, 14 November 2007
The Bleeding Obvious
There are reasons blueberries, tuna, carrots, basil, grains etc are good for you. They work inside our bodies the way pills can't, the way reconstituted foods (eg protein bars!!) can't. You don't have to be Einstein to work that one out. I just love academic research at times... illuminating.
Friday, 9 November 2007
Toshiba Pro Track Team - rant #3
After reading the teams list for the upcoming Sydney World Cup this morning, I am really pleased to say that my rants earlier this week were off the mark, and the addition of the Toshiba pro team has allowed the National team to access excellent talent that may have otherwise not been able to be accommodated. The teams set up means that more Australians are able to compete on the boards, rather than competing for a spot on the team. Now, that IS good for cycling.
Thursday, 8 November 2007
Tasty

3pm munchies hit, and I had to go out of the office, so I took a detour and bought a small stash of munchie-crushers. The shop on campus has a range of "health-food" options, which include protein bars, including mini bars that are wrapped like afterdinner mints, taste like after dinnermints! At last a protein bar (9.5grams of protein per 25gram bar) that tastes bloody good! Australian made, Australian owned. Highly recommended, with the fixmawheel crank of approval.
Wednesday, 7 November 2007
Dawn O'clock Midweek Ride
I am 3 days back into training, and either someone is playing tricks on me or the hills have radically changed in my time off the bike – they HURT!!! Riding out this morning with HourofPowerWoman, my body turned into the anti-Little Red Engine up some of the lumps along the way. My glutes and hammies were crying out: “I don’t think I can, do you really want me to that?? I don’t think I can, don’t think I can”. Of course, they could and they did, despite the many protestations, which were overridden by my bitchbrain saying “shut up and drive you b@st@rds!!”
Tuesday, 6 November 2007
New Australian Track Pro Team - instalment #2 Rant
Too often of late I've been hearing "It's good for cycling." In my mind "good for cycling " MUST equal "good for cyclists". If a new way of doing things doesn't, in actuality, provide more opportunities for more (racing/competitive) cyclists to compete (more often) then I ask: is it really good for cycling? In what way is it good for cycling? An argument exists about raising the profile of cycling as a Good Thing tm. If it raises the profile of cycling, will it, for example, reduce the amount of abuse and danger cyclists experience on the road? What are the benefits of simply raising the profile of cycling? What does an increase in the number of people who pay to watch cycle races as entertainment (along the lines of dog, horse and car racing) mean for cycling and cyclists? Will it increase the opportunities for competitive cyclists to race, will it increase respect for cyclists on the road, or simply make a business enterprise profitable for some?
So when you read or hear "It's good for cycling" think critically/analytically about what that might mean, for you as a competitive cyclist, for up and coming elite/international cyclists, for cyclists in general.
Women's Track Skills Program - that's a wrap
CSV'S Luke Mason wrapped it up in this review, doing a far better job than I can manage this morning (it's a public holiday in Melbourne but some of us are at work..). Unfortunately, in amongst all the thank yous, one person keeps being left off the list, and that is Luke. Without Luke, the program would have been more difficult to get up and running, as he booked the venue, the coaches, managed enrolment of participants, organised equipment as needed, organised the goody bags, food, room hire, coaches' gifts, participation and appreciation certificates. There were many small things that Luke saw to, which made the 7 week program run very smoothly. The office staff at CSV are often at the front of the battle lines and usually take more hits than bouquets. So Luke, sending you a bouquet! Thank you.
Monday, 5 November 2007
New Australian Pro Track Team
5 November 2007
Media Release
Toshiba and Cycling Australia - The Perfect Team
The gold medal hopes of Australian track cycling have been boosted by the announcement today that Toshiba (Australia) Information Systems Division (ISD) is now an official sponsor of Cycling Australia.
The partnership will involve the formation of Team Toshiba, an Australian professional track cycling team, and sponsorship of the 'The Cyclones' - the National Team. Toshiba's sponsorship provides an exciting opportunity for more of Australia's talented track stars to compete in world class events.
Team Toshiba will debut at the Sydney round of the 2007-08 UCI World Cup Classics commencing 30 November 2007. The Sydney World Cup will bring together more than 400 riders from 48 nations to contest 17 events. ‘The Cyclones’, as well as contesting the World Cup Classics, will also compete at the World Championships in March 2008 in Manchester, England.
“The pure intensity of Toshiba’s full product range aligns perfectly with the speed, skill and excitement of the cycling sport,” said Mark Whittard, General Manager, Toshiba Information Systems Division. “As a company, we feel an enormous sense of pride to be able to assist Australian cyclists further their careers and attempt to secure gold around the globe.”
Cycling is a worldwide phenomenon enjoying enormous popularity, as four out of ten Australians own a bicycle. The Toshiba sponsorship allows Australian cyclists to have an increased presence on the international cycling circuit.
“Toshiba’s support will provide extra pedalling power for our athletes and give more of our talented cyclists an opportunity to shine,” said Graham Fredericks, Chief Executive Officer of Cycling Australia. “As an organisation we feel Australia’s chances heading towards the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing are heightened dramatically with Toshiba’s support.”
Team Toshiba will boast a stellar line up of Australian talent including dual Olympic gold medallist, Ryan Bayley and reigning Olympic and World Champion, Anna Meares, who says she is delighted to be given the opportunity to race with the team.
“It’s fabulous that Toshiba is backing the track program and I know the support they give us will be crucial in our bid for gold,” said Meares. “Team Toshiba has an outstanding roster of experienced performers and some promising young talent and I expect we’ll post some great results during the season.”
The complete team roster is: Ryan Bayley, Jack Bobridge, Peter Dawson, Zakkari Dempster, Daniel Ellis, Mark Jamieson, Shane Kelly, Anna Meares, Cameron Meyer and Scott Sunderland.
Following the sponsorship of the Soccer World Cup in 2006 and Rugby World Cup in early 2007, Toshiba continues its commitment to outstanding Australian sportspeople by supporting Cycling Australia. As part of the exclusive sponsorship, Toshiba will have advertising and signage rights for both Team Toshiba and ‘The Cyclones’ as well as access to the nation’s top cyclists.
Please visit www.cycling.org.au for more information.
*********************************************************So basically, it means that some (most??) of the national team riders are now also in the professional team, rather than 2 separate teams existing. I think it's called double dipping, but if it means more opportunities for track racing (am wondering how that might work with 2 teams created from one group of [the same] riders), then that must surely be a Good ThingTM.?
Bike tweaks and training plans
So ends my cycling/training hiatus. Now we start all over again, building on what we began earlier this year. This week has easy ~50km rides this week, with some big volume kms in store for me in the coming weeks, as promised yesterday by Coach. Well, that was on the cards: a good pursuiter has a very high aerobic capacity and high anaerobic threshold. There is only one way to achieve those: lots of km and intervals (ok! that’s two). My strength endurance and speed endurance also need lots of work, so you can bet that there will be monster hill repeats, SE efforts on the ergo and cadence work in the not too distant future.
Friday, 2 November 2007
Thursday, 1 November 2007
Metro Masters Champs NSW

Food for thought for the Southerners?
It seems likely that the MoToR series run at Dunc Grey as a lead up to the Worlds will continue. Is there a demand (read: numbers) for regular masters track racing in Melbourne? And if so, where and when would it be held? DISC is booked solidly for some months, so a metro outdoor venue would be likely. Interested anyone?