Comeback Race 2

Ah, the blogs starting to flow thick and fast now! I must be getting a life back!

After a very calm and serene morning, I headed out to Heffron for a couple of races on Saturday. As I left home at 2pm, the wind just started to pick up, and by race time was pretty full-on - it is almost as if the wind wakes up when the clock strikes 2pm! But you wouldn't expect anything different for a Heffron Race Day, would you?
So what has happened in the last week. Well, along with almost zero sleep, a stomach bug that has me 3kg lighter in 4 days, and a very stressful week at work, and some personal issues, I set the bike up with the trusty Zipp Speed Weaponry fast wheels, and I'd say I was due to fly on the weekend. Either that or crash.

Race 1 - C Grade Club Championship Crit - 12km
Race Report
Location: Heffron Park - Club Championships
Grade: C Grade
Race Distance: 12.2km (6 laps)
Conditions: Windy, NE, tailwind down the main finishing straight, but block headwind on the back of the course, pretty strong, again. Temperature about 25C. Sunny.

Unfortunately, due to a washout earlier in the year, a shortened Crit was held before normal Saturday racing. I was a little concerned about the shortened format, with a lack of racing expecting a fast and hard race. From the outset, I was on the front and thought, "Lets blow this race apart". Mid-race (okay only 3 laps, but the pace was on) I was feeling really comfortable. Coming up to the bell, I had the field stretched and ready to produce that rarely seen, but often talked about, Smarty Surprise Attack, when, pffft - rear puncture at 45km/hr! Race over. Bugger!
Calm at the start

Race 2 - Saturday Race - 28km
Race Report
Location: Heffron Park - Club Racing (Cat 4)
Grade: C Grade
Race Distance: 28.5km (14 laps)
My Average Speed: 35.3km/hr (48:30 mins)
Placing: 12th in Bunch Finish
Conditions: Windy, NE, tailwind down the main finishing straight, but block headwind on the back of the course, pretty strong, again. Temperature about 25C. Sunny.

So after replacing a $16 tube with a nice little glass slash, I thought I'd give the afternoon race a go as well. Why not.
So the race started as any other. I dropped my chain and went straight out the back end of the peleton. This wasn't meant to be my day. Even felt like doing the bike discus at one time. Luckily, the pace wasn't too fast and I got back on before the end of the first lap. I settled onto the back of the bunch and felt quite comfortable. The pace wasn't overly fast and I could counter any changes in pace - maybe the first race warmed me up properly. Unfortunately, the 30 strong bunch was really tough to work through towards the front, and a bit hairy at times too. I managed several times to get into the front 8 riders, only to lose ground when the front riders sat up into the wind. I just decided that today I would finish with the bunch, no heroics of last week and see how I fared.
So, quite quickly 8, then 10 laps passed, then the bell-lap. Still hanging on, feeling quite strong, I forced my way through the field at the netball courts only to be pocketed. Backing off and going around lost me a lot of ground, but I sprinted the full length of the straight catching many in front of me to finish 12th. I'll take that, this time.
Typical sitting in.

And again...

This comeback is going to be up and down me thinks.

Sculptures by the Sea

On Sunday, I had arranged to go and see Sculptures by the Sea.

The weather didn't seem too bad when we met at 12:30pm, and, with Golf Umbrella in hand as insurance, we decided to brave the elements to put a little culture in our lives!

Between Clovelly and Tamarama the weather looked like it may hold off, with only a little light rain falling. Unfortunately, it did get harder and put a bit of a dampener (pun intended) on proceedings as we got to the Bondi end of the exhibition.

We headed back to Bronte for a coffee and chat for a while before heading home. Could have been a great afternoon, but for the weather. Couldn't believe the day before and after were almost perfect. C'est le vie!

Below is one of the photos from the exhibition. If I get a bit of time and the weather is okay, I hope to go back and get a few more photos of some of the other sculptures I really liked.

Comeback Race

Race Report
Location: Heffron Park - Club Racing (Cat 4)
Grade: C Grade
Race Distance: 28.5km (14 laps)
My Average Speed: 34.6km/hr (49:30 mins)
Placing: OTA
Conditions: Windy, NE, tailwind down the main finishing straight, but block headwind on the back of the course, pretty strong. Temperature about 25C. Sunny.

After far too long off the bike, and racing being non-existent since April, I thought I'd throw caution to the wind and have a race straight away. In previous years, I've trained hard to get fit before heading back, but have suffered anyway in my first race. May as well get the "Sufferfest" over and done with.

So the race started as any other. I settled into the bunch and felt quite comfortable. The pace wasn't overly fast and into the headwind along the back of the course was okay for me.
On lap 8 there was a kick in pace that strung the bunch of 28 starters out in a single line. Down the finish straight doing 45km/hr in single file, there was an abrupt drop in pace that had me go from mid-field, straight through the bunch to the front. Bugger!
Ah, what the heck. Drop the shoulders and plowed on getting a maximum gap of about 15 metres on the peleton, but it closed down quick enough into the headwind. But no-one came through. One-and-a-half laps later, I was till on the front, but now slowing a little, there was an attack from the bunch, and unfortunately, the lack of racing meant I just couldn't accelerate fast enough to stay with them. Out the ar$3, dropped after 10 laps.
Still managing to keep going, I finished race distance, about half a lap behind the winners.
This comeback could take longer than I first thought.

November Already

Well, it has been a really long time since my last entry, but unfortunately not much to tell. A couple of things spring to mind:

1. Bike Layoff
Since my last post, I had a lengthened layoff from the bike - work enforced. I actually had from mid April until late September without stringing more than 2 rides a fortnight together. So much for my year of racing. Well, I'm back on the bike again now, and knocked over about 800km since the resumption. Still a long way to go, but we'll get there!

2. Mates Coming & Going
Hamster
Well, the Hamster was in town last month for a fleeting 2 week visit. He managed to get 2 rides in with the boys - hopefully he will update his blog with the details shortly, and I'll post a link. The first week we headed down to Far Kurnell (don't say it too quickly) for an 80km round trip. Ham suffered, but managed to keep it mostly together. The next week we had a social ride with a Pacific Highway run and a Bobbin Head climb for a coffee at Turramurra. Both enjoyable rides, and a great catch up. We also managed a few social outings, where many a beverage was consumed - even by me!
BTi
Next BTi informed us of a 3 month transfer to Las Vegas for work. He left in late October and will return mid January next year. I think the idea is to make this a permanent position, so we could lose another of the boys overseas shortly. Lets hope not, because France 2010 beckons.
Guys, miss you heaps.

3. Track Cycling
Well, after the excitement of track cycling mentioned in my last blog entry (yeah, I know it was in May), I went out and bought myself a second-hand track bike. Nice bike, and for you folk (and you know who you are!) you will notice the bike is NOT white. Came with carbon cranks and a 50x15 and 50x16 setup on the flip-flop hub.

I had my first training session last week, and had a ball. Still a lot to learn, but looking forward to tomorrow night to give it another run. All I really need to do to this bike is get some alternative gear setups so I don't blow-up being over-geared or end up spinning-out being under-geared. Maybe a 48 chainring and a 14 cog will do the trick. Time will tell.

4. 2009 Gong Ride
Well its that time of the year again, and the Gong Ride has come and gone. About 20 riders from work participated, so a pretty good turn-out, but we are looking to build on that next year.
I left home at 5:30am, and we (myself and some guys from work) were delayed a bit at the start so we didn't get away until just after 6:30. The weather was fantastic. We had a tailwind all the way down, which is always good, and kept the temperature down enough to be pleasant. I was really happy with how I rode. 2 hours 50 minutes for the 84km journey, and considering the start was really slow with so many riders, I still rode almost as fast as last year. Its made me more determined to increase my training and get into racing again before Xmas.
Oh, nearly forgot: when I was riding along the new bridge section at Coalcliff, I glanced to my left over the ocean - which looked very inviting. To my amazement, and those around me, there were 2 humpbacks breaching and tail slapping just out to sea. Unfortunately, too far out for a photo, but it was spectacular. Awesome!





We had a fantastic barbeque at the finish and it really capped off the ride well. Everyone seemed really happy with it. I'm glad the extra effort getting this organised paid off.


I had to give a lift back to a couple of guys, so we didn't leave down there until after 2:30pm and I got home just before 5 - mental note Dave, this is still a better option as you would agree. As I said, a long day, but one I have really enjoyed.
Till next time, ciao.