Lessons Learned

Post Mt.William Classic summary:

1. NEVER go to a point-to-point race without a support driver to pick you up at point B...

2. ALWAYS double check that your rear wheel is tightened up properly. Then check it again. And a third time to be sure...

3. IGNORE everyone you know before the start and concentrate on getting your own s#it together...

4. NEVER listen to your coach when he tells you something is "easy"... that translates into a hill so steep that grown men and women climb off their bikes and walk the last 1km...

5. Having a self-inflicted mechanical, losing your water bottle and chasing a bunch solo for 45kms before succumbing to cramp is not fun. Take it from me...

6. A fourteen hour day door to door for 60km of riding is not necessarily an efficient use of time...

FUN, ANYONE?

'nuff said.

Crikey! A win!

Sometimes good things come when you least expect them. Last night at Kew criteriums I had a win in the B grade race (results weren't updated on the Hawthorn website at the time I published this). I was working out a plan with Fraser (a mate) for me to attack with 2 laps to go and for him to sit in on a sprinter's wheel and contest the sprint if I got caught. Well the best laid plans....with 3 1/2 laps remaining I accelerated away from the bunch at the base of the climb (the Kew circuit has a 300 metre hill each lap with the finish line at the top), caught and dropped a rider who was already off the front and reached the top of the hill with a gap of 100 or so metres. Seeing this, I put my head down and prepared to suffer! This was going to hurt! I wasn't expecting to hold off the bunch, I thought the move was too early. However with 2 laps to go I was maintaining the gap and with 1 lap to go it was still 75 metres. I was in a world of pain! I thought with that gap there was still a chance for the win so buried myself in the second to last straight and made the last corner with a 40 - 50 metre lead. It was going to be close! I knocked down a couple of gears for the first part of the climb, thinking if I could reach 100m to go in the lead I might be able to pull out a bit of a sprint. Sure enough, I was able to drag myself out of the saddle for one last almighty effort...the sprinters were coming FAST! But not fast enough! I lunged towards the line as the gap diminished, and must have won by less than a bike length. That was so CLOSE! But soooooo satisfying! So it's up to A grade next week, that should keep a lid on any delusions of grandeur.....

I like to ride my bicycle...

Training is hard core right now, my coach Simon has me under the pump! I am training for the Tour of Bright at the start of December, a two day tour including the Mt Buffalo ascent....ooooh fun :-) Some recent results included a win in a club race at Warragul (link to Racing, 2006 Race Reports, 21/10/06) and a fourth this week in a criterium at Kew (all B grade races). Next Saturday I am off to Ararat for the Mt William classic in the Grampians which has a couple of decent climbs (5km @ 5.7% and 12km @ 7.2%), so it will be good training for Bright. My first "open" race since I was 17! Full steam ahead with only four weeks to go to Bright...

Meanwhile, the above is a pic of me from the St Kilda CC website.....I am the SKCC poster boy!