Monday, December 31, 2012

Rapha Festive 500 - Day 7


Day 7.1 - 31st Dec. Back to work @ the Velodrome.

Nearly there, only 40 km to go so I lay in bed for an hr then do the usual commute to work. It's only 5 km so I stop at the Velodrome on the way. I have to break the same road twice rule here.   It's a velodrome.  I went past the same place 95 times and even managed to get into the top 20 on the Strava Blackburn Velo flying 200

I left the velodrome and finish the ride to work and reach 501 km on my way into the car park.

http://app.strava.com/activities/34822811
501 Rapha km in the bag.

Here is where it get good.  I download my rides to Strava and I now have 601 km on the clock.  That false start on Christmas eve is included. Yeah!

Day 7.2 - 31st Dec. The Blood Bank.
All that's left to do is ride home. It's New Years Eve and the Blood Bank awaits.  
105 donations "In the bag".


610 Rapha km in the bag.

The Rapha Festive 500 Summary


500/600 km in one week, that's hard.  Long distance, little recovery time and not much sleep.
Bring on the 2013 Audax Australia Fleche Opperman One Day Trial.  500km in 24 hr. I know it's tough, i have done it before but at least I know i'm only going to be sore and tired once. 


Sunday, December 30, 2012

Rapha Festive 500 - Day 6


LGM  "We come in peace"
Day 6 - 30th Dec. I love dirt.

"Road riding boring, lets go exploring"
Lysterfield Lake Park.  How many 100's of times have I ridden those trails?  I still love them.
This little chap was out there to point me in the right direction.

http://app.strava.com/activities/34682879
460 Rapha km in the bag.

Saturday, December 29, 2012

Rapha Festive 500 - Day 5

The view from Christmas Hills looking down over Yarra Glen
Day 5.1 - 29th Dec. Some more hills.

The legs are starting to feel it now, long rides, little recovery, and a lack of good sleep.

I created a route on map my ride and said that's tomorrow's ride. It looked OK at the time but later?
I seriously under estimated the hills and overestimated my condition.

Starting in Eltham I rode out through Research and on to Christmas Hills, Yarra Glen & Healesville. there were no particularly big hills but there was a lot of short steep stuff that is just as bad.

The trip home was a little flatter at the start but that was to change when I rode into Wanga Park & Warrandyte. It was worse.
   
http://app.strava.com/activities/34682861
404 Rapha km in the bag.

Day 5.2 - 29th Dec. Family Matters.

It's school holidays and the family have been sitting around doing nothing other the computer games.  Time for a little ride on the bike track.
  
http://app.strava.com/activities/34685527
415 Rapha km in the bag.



Friday, December 28, 2012

Rapha Festive 500 - Day 4

Looking out over the valley from Silvan

Day 4 - 28th Dec. A bit of rain and some hills.

4 am. Bugger it's raining, how can I do 100 km in the rain. That's not going to be good for the health so I go back to sleep for a while.

An early start at work lets me finish early and head out for an afternoon ride in the hills. I start with the usual weekly ride up the 1 in 20 (Mt Dandenong) but I add a few extra km on.  The Emerald supper loop, Emerald, Monbulk Sylvan, and Mt Evelyn.  

I still make it home for dinner.  You would think we would be over roast Turkey by now but the supermarket has them at half price.

310 Rapha km in the bag.

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Rapha Festive 500 - Day 3


Day 3 - 27th Dec. A day at the beach.

Flinders St Station in the wee hours of the morning
You guessed it, another early start. I think I might go to the beach today so I head towards the city.  The roads are so quiet, the rest of Melbourne hasn't figured out it's a work day.  

Flinders St Station, Port Melbourne and I'm at the beach. Take a left hand turn and keep riding, Frankston is only 42 km away. 

I'm not having much luck with the wind,  the last 20 km back up Springvale Rd is a killer.
  
8.45 am, I'm back a work and ready to start.  It's a shame I can't keep my eyes open.   

http://app.strava.com/activities/34682883 
217 Rapha km in the bag.

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Rapha Festive 500 - Day 2


Day 2 - 26th Dec. Boxing Day. Tooleybuc.

Almost the middle of nowhere

Another early start, 5.am I cross the Murray river into NSW and head towards Balranald.

The sun rising over the plains is amazing but there is hardly a tree in sight.  55 km of tail wind was great but it presented me with a 45 km ride back to Swan Hill into the wind.

Christmas is over so it's back to Melbourne and........ work.

117 Rapha km in the bag.

The bridge over the Murray river at Tooleybuc

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Rapha Festive 500 - Day 1


Day 1 - 25th Dec. Christmas Day.

Bugger just got and email from Strava, the Rapha Festive 500 starts today.  So yesterday's 100 km was just a warm up.
A great day with the family but no riding.  I guess I ate to much but I have always said I do an excessive amount of cycling to support me extremely bad eating habits.



Rapha km in the bag.

Monday, December 24, 2012

Rapha Festive 500 - Day 0


Day 0 - 24th Dec. The false start. Swan Hill

As usual I'm up early and it's off to find the group to ride with.  Swan Hill on the Murray river.
It's 6 am and there is a bunch of riders outside the bike shop and off we go.  I had been warned the day before they are fast and yes they were.
I did the 30 km loop with the boys then skipped the coffee (That's bad) and set off down the road towards Nyah. 35 km into the wind.  It hurt but the trip back was well worth it. 

100 Rapha km in the bag.


Friday, December 21, 2012

Rapha Festive 500


OK, Today I clocked up 9000 km for the year with 100 km of elevation gain but there is still two weeks until the end of the year. what next..............

Rapha Festive 500

Ride 500 km between Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve
12/24/2012 — 12/31/2012
Give your legs the greatest gift this holiday season by riding 500 km with Rapha.

Once more Rapha challenge riders around the world to avoid the festive flab and clock those kilometres. Ride 500km between Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve posting evidence of your endeavours along the way. Use photos, videos, prose, poetry, drawings, or any other creative application you see fit, through these Rapha channels using hashtag #festive500 where applicable:








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  • Everyone who successfully completes the 500km within the Challenge period (12/24 - 12/31) will receive a commemorative Festive 500 woven roundel for their efforts.



    I added a few extra rules just for me.
    I still had to go to work if it was a work day.
    I had to ride as many of the bikes as possible.
    Don't ride the same road twice in the same direction. (Except at the start and finish)

        Oh! this is going to hurt.

    Monday, December 17, 2012

    Hmmmmmm! What next. Road Racing?


    Well. First attempt at a road criterium. Southern Masters - E Grade @ Casey Fields.

    A bit of wind and a lot of rain means a small field. A delayed start and all grades start together for a mystery race. Hmmmmmm! What next.

    We have been told not to try and beat the regulars on your first race. But the regular E grade are no where in sight so all the first/second timers stay with the bunch of D graders.

    The rain is pouring down and after 1hr there is the bell. Get set, Go the sprint is on. I thought I had it. Then a shadow comes from behind, Mark Pountley . First place on the line.

    Garmin Connect




    Sunday, December 9, 2012

    Oxfam Trailwalker by Bicycle


     Just For something different Why not ride the Melbourne Oxfam Trailwalker trail.

    Dave Kate and I set off from Jells park at 7.am on another epic journey.  Lots of hills, some more hills  and big flat bit then some more hills.
    6 hr  on the bike.
    2 hr off the bike.
    5 minutes carrying the bike.
    A hard slog but well worth it.

    I have never walked the trail in it's current form and was stunned by the size of the hill the walkers have to endure in the last 2 km of the trail. Painful!

    http://connect.garmin.com/activity/250380872