SPR/RCCC Summer Criterium Series Race #2 - B Grade :: 16th December, 2012

With some valuable lessons learnt from Race #1 of the SPR/RCCC Summer Criterium Series, I was heading into this race well armed with knowledge, but I feared that my on-bike fitness was lacking due to a week of beach running (bumming) in Byron Bay, an exercise that had resulted in some pretty nasty delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). Either way, I was still keen to brave the field and get down to Technology Park to join Leonie Burford for a good bit of B grade (A grade for her) racing.

SPR/RCCC Summer Criterium Series Race #1 - B Grade :: 9th December, 2012

While I will always have my loyalty to a fantastic coach in Brad Hall and his HCT band of cycling devotees, I have also been warmly accepted (thank you Corey) into a new cycling family in Roues Chaudes Club de Cyclage (RCCC). This has provided me not only with a ticket to ride in open events without having to pay the extra day or three day licence surcharges, but has given me the opportunity to ride with new team mates that might previously have been my rivals. While my race this morning at Technology Park saw me ride for Hall Cycle Training, I look forward to riding with my new RCCC team mates from time-to-time in the near future.

Santos Great Perth Bike Smash :: 25th November, 2012

And so it was! I expected it to be hard but this morning was ridiculously hard as far as a "participation" ride is concerned. HCT put together a team of nine and we were all a-buzz and feeling confident that the rivalry with Team Access Unlimited Racing was going to live up the expectations that had been bandied about leading into the event. Problem was that nobody told the Arbitrage and Ride Advice Cyclery teams that this was a HCT-AUR showdown. Even with the 6am start, the announcers for the morning (one Gary Suckling, et al) were lively and happily identified the tension in the air at the start line, overstocked with teams, while reminding us that "it's not a race".

To The Memory Of Mike Burton :: 20th November, 2012

I was shocked and gutted to learn just now that Mike Burton is no longer with us. Mike was one of the first people I met through racing with West Coast Masters and was one person whom I would always look forward to racing or riding with. He had a fantastic sense of humour and his work ethic on the bike was second to no other person I got to know through the club.

I first raced with Mike during the Masters 2011 road race season (my first) in C grade and I recall vividly how impressed I was by his ability to knock out riders (not literally of course) with his incredible sprint. He was a true inspiration to me and given my inexperience in bicycle racing at the time, I made a point of being able to compete in a sprint like Mike. I like to think that my ability now to do so is a direct result of the impression he left on me.

Mike and I progressed through the grades at West Coast Masters together and we had a fantastic friendly rivalry to try and out-sprint each other when it came down to it. While he was always a fierce competitor, it goes without saying that he would also be there for his comrades on course and help them through some of the more difficult phases of a race. I was often lucky enough to be on the receiving end of his assistance (even if it meant he sacrificed his own chances of placing) and at times I felt so inadequate in his presence as I struggled to keep up with him. But he would always pull me through whether it was in the pack or when we were both stuck in no-man's land.

I was upset to hear the news of Mike's passing and I wish his family and friends all the strength needed to get through this hard time. Mike will be sorely missed at the club and out on the road by many, especially myself.

I hope I can do you proud, Mike. You'll be a part of every sprint I do. So long friend.

---

You can find a Memorial web page for Mike here.

WCMCC Kewdale Criterium - A Grade :: 18th November, 2012

After the WCM Crit at Wangara last week, I had thought to myself that this week couldn't get any harder or faster. Kewdale is a slightly longer course but is dead flat so no nagging little hills to contend with and the wind was not too bad. Wrong!! Put $2,000 on the line and harder and faster was the suddenly the order of the day. With 44 riders in the A grade field it should have started to ring the warning bells that should also have resonated a lot louder when the likes of Sam Smith, Eddy Hollands and Hilton McMurdo appeared. But I was feeling pretty good considering I hadn't eaten well or had the chance to ride at all the day before to stretch the legs out.

WCMCC Wangara Criterium - A Grade :: 11th November, 2012

Short, fast and hard. Three simple words to describe this morning's WCM Criterium at Wangara. Being my first time on that course, I didn't have much of an idea of what to expect. This was also my first Criterium for the season given my decision to pull out of the Kings of Wanneroo event last Sunday due to bad weather conditions so I was hoping for a good hit out to kick start my venture into A grade Criterium racing. As soon as I arrived I knew that I was not going to be disappointed given the large number of riders lining up to register - most of them the usual A grade suspects.

Santos Great Bike Ride in Perth :: 6th November, 2012

Having benefited so much over the past couple of years from my ventures in cycling, both in a recreational and racing capacity, it is time I took some time out and put some effort in to raising some money for a good cause. The Santos Great Bike Ride in Perth on the 25th of November, 2012 is a great way for cyclists to raise some much needed funding for some fantastic and well-deserving Charities. I have signed up for the 106km ride which I will no doubt have the pleasure of being taken apart bit-by-bit by what I expect will be a strong field of riders - not that it's a race of course!!

I have set a target to raise at least $500 for the Great Bike Ride Charities and am appealing to all of my readers to consider donating to the cause via my on-line fundraiser account which can be found at:

http://www.everydayhero.com.au/charlie_gargett

It only takes a few seconds to donate and please, dig deep for a great cause. Please also spread the word and send as many people to my fundraiser page as possible.

Thank you very much for your generosity.

WCMCC Wandi Road Race Season Closer - A Grade :: 21st October, 2012

This morning's road race clashed with the State Road Race Titles in Chidlow and I had thought numbers would be down across the WCMCC grades at Wandi. I arrived pretty much at my usual time to allow a warm up prior to the race and overheard some murmurs that A grade may be combined into the B grade race and when I picked up bib #5 it looked like my thoughts and those rumours might be right. As I finalised my prep, what seemed like the entire field of A grade regulars rolled in like a band of outlaws into a sleepy Texas town. So it was all set for an A grade show down.

ATTA "The Gents" 2-Up Time Trial :: 14th October, 2012

It's unusual for me to take so long to write up a race report and I'd usually not bother if I can't manage to get it done the night after the event, but there is no way I could let this one go. The guys from ATTA once again held "the Gents" 2-up Time Trial down at Mundijong and this year, I was invited to ride with John Sonego. I was really honoured to have been asked given his experience with time trials and his dossier of impressive results. Even though this event clashed with the Spring Classic held by Peel Districts Cycle Club and West Coast Masters, there was no way I was going to pass up the opportunity to ride "the Gents" with John.

WCMCC Mark Keyser 2 Day Tour :: 30th Sept & 1st Oct, 2012

The Mark Keyser 2 Day Tour was the one event I have had in my calendar since it was published earlier this year on the West Coast Masters web site. It has to be the stand out event of the Master's road racing calendar and pushes riders to their absolute limit to be completely spent by the end of the criterium on day two. The two days are comprised of an individual time trial (ITT), two road races and a criterium to finish the event off. General Classification (GC) was determined by the rider who would accrue the least amount of points across the four stages.

WCMCC Dog Hill Massed Start Road Race :: 23rd September, 2012

Today's race at Dog Hill was a trial race held by West Coast Masters where riders entered one of two divisions for a massed start event around the circuit. It was also the first race in which I would have the chance to ride with a team of my training partners from Hall Cycle Training. I had raced with AP before and was fully aware of his strength at this level while Craig Pennel and Chris Singleton were Road Race virgins with West Coast Masters but were keen to come down for a trial ride and to increase our team numbers to four.

WCMCC Wandi Road Race - A Grade :: 9th September, 2012

It's in the post title and I think most people already knew that today would be my first venture into the A grade ranks of Master's racing. Courtesy of a little hiccup back in April, this day came a little later than I had been hoping but it finally arrived and while I didn't seem to feel it, the nerves must have been having an affect because the preparation for the race was a complete and utter disaster, but I came out unscathed, intact and very happy with my effort.

WCMCC Neerabup Road Race - B Grade :: 26th Aug, 2012

I've previously enjoyed racing up at Neerabup (even if it is a bit of a way out in the back-burbs) and I was looking forward to renewing my acquaintance with the course. Problem was, the four weeks of solid training that I had been through leading up to today was beginning to catch up with me and I woke this morning feeling a little heavy in the legs. I am so looking forward to rest week but was keen to get through this last trial (and the coming Tuesday morning group training, of course) with as much grit and determination as I put into the training sessions that Brad had on the program this past couple of weeks.

Pickering Brook Remains The Bane of My Cycling Life :: 12th Aug, 2012

I officially retain my attitude that Pickering Brook holds a certain level of disdain toward me! It's a course that has always troubled me and today was no different. Throw in some bad weather, too much work on the bike yesterday morning and a band of teenagers in the B grade ranks and it adds up to a day of pain and suffering on a course that knows how to dish it out. But none of that stopped me from enjoying the morning's racing and I will steel my resolve to continue working on improving my efforts amongst the open B grade ranks.

Pinjarra Classic - C Grade :: 5th August, 2012

I can finally report that I have now completed my first open graded road race, the Peel Districts CC Pinjarra Classic! My first open graded road race was supposed to happen after completing the UCI World Cycling Tour Qualifier in March but my accident in early April had put the brakes on that until this morning. However, I was not heading into this race the same way I had entered my previous races. This time around I was entering the C grade event working as a domestique in an effort to help another rider to the line. The plan was to try and lead Simon V. through this race in an effort to get him a result - and if all worked out well, perhaps for me too.

Classic Jens Voigt :: 23rd July, 2012

“Did you see that!? Me, I passed two riders on a descent, I must be a legend! That’s gotta be a first time ever!” - Jens Voigt on his decent of the Port de Bales, Tour de France - Stage 17, 19th July, 2012.

I think Jens underestimates himself. He elevated himself to "legend" status many years ago and I think there would be few who would deny him that status. World cycling will suffer its biggest loss when Jens Voigt retires from the sport (professionally).

Read Jensie's full description of his efforts during the stage here.

WCMCC Herne Hill Road Race - B Grade :: 22nd July, 2012

Close to four months out of racing and I woke up this morning with a belly full of nerves leading into my first race back with WCMCC at Herne Hill. What the h--l? I haven't suffered from nerves like this before! After much heckling Dennis via email through the week threatening him with a rebirth in C grade (it was never going to be) and some solid training over the past 4 weeks, I knew I had regained enough strength in the cycling engine to return to B grade and continue my charge toward the A grade ranks. There was always the possibility of a win, and I never dismissed that, but with little race practice this year and a peleton full of unknowns, I was keen to finish as high as I could inside the top 10.

Return of the Mack :: 25th June, 2012

Just in time for the upcoming Tour de France, I officially made my return to training this morning and I couldn't be happier - not that I'm riding le Tour but we all love to be able to get out there and ride just as hard while it's on. It's been a roller coaster ride over the last three months since the accident, the low point of the initial injuries, the highs of what appeared to be an early return only to be frustrated by a relapse in the left knee with cronic inflammation of the pre-patellar bursa remedied by a cortisone steroid injection and a slow but sure build up to normal riding again. The knee is now responding beautifully to harder efforts and I can now ride pain-free for the first time in over 2 months. My mind is firmly set on a come-back to racing!

Torturer le Cycliste :: 3rd June, 2012

A tough weekend to end a tough couple of weeks and I don't mean that as a result of pain and suffering on the bike. I would certainly have preferred to have been out there slamming myself against hills or racing against riders that are better then me, as being off the bike is insufferable and is, by far, more painful than anything one could have thrown at them while out on the road. As some of you reading this may already know, my return to training has been torturously terminated after a relapse in the left knee which has proven to be quite troublesome in a very inconsistent manner.

Weekend Kudos :: 9th May, 2012

Weekend Kudos is my way of recognising those who have put in significant efforts over the weekend in their respective race disciplines. It's not so much about the placings or results, it is more for the effort that has been put in. As a rider, I appreciate the encouragement I receive when I put in the effort to do my best so it is only fitting that I repay the favours.

UCI World Cycling Tour Championships Final :: 9th May, 2012

Exactly one year to the day since I decided to give racing a go (the Wednesday before the 15th of May, 2011), I received today an email containing an official invitation to participate as part of the Australian Team at the UCI World Cycling Tour Championships Final in Pietermaritzburg.

Now the decision on whether or not to go needs to be made but given the price tags around getting there, it would be difficult to do without some kind of sponsorship for the travel packages. If anyone reading this blog knows of any organisation who would be interested in supporting an athlete to such an event, of course I'd be more than happy to hear from them.

Weekend Rides :: 5th and 6th May, 2012

Saturday morning was the first weekend of the month, so this meant hills! I was so keen to get out there and see how I would go as this would be the real indicator as to how much form I had regained and how much I still needed to get back. I was happy to know that the significant climbs would be Welshpool Rd and Mundaring Weir Rd and I was more than ready to take these two on. After the previous week's group 1 effort, it would be interesting to see how I would go against the same group in the hills.

Rehabilitation Summary :: 30th April - 4th May, 2012

For those that got outside in the early mornings last week - kudos to you all for braving the less than ordinary conditions. I've been loving the beautiful weather here in Perth over summer so much that making the switch to winter has not been one I want to do but of course it does mean Road Race season! I'm really looking forward to my first race of the season but a little more patience is required to ensure I get everything back in shape before rising to the challenge. The weather this past week has certainly helped and I expect that I'm one of the minority when it came to getting out there amongst the conditions.

Weekend Rides :: 29th April, 2012

I fronted up to the Saturday morning shop ride not entirely sure which group I should be going with so I allowed myself time to see who else would show up and which groups they would be riding in. Given how well the knees had responded to Thursday morning's ride and the rest day on Friday, I was keen to give the legs a bit more of a work out so Group 1 was not out of the question and when AP arrived we kind of convinced each other to ride Group 1 without going out for a smash fest.

Rehabilitation Update :: 27th April, 2012

It's now been three and a half weeks since the crash and while it feels like it's been taking an eon to get over the injuries I count myself very lucky to even be back on the bike at all let alone to have gotten back to a point where I can apply a decent amount of strength and power in such a short amount of time. At this point of the rehabilitation, I am able to maintain a steady pace and HR however the left knee still doesn't like the hills and I experience discomfort on even the slightest of hills - but even this is improving.

Back On The Bike At Last :: 21st April, 2012

Two and a half weeks since the accident and I finally managed to get back into the saddle. I'm sure the Venge missed being taken out for a run and I don't think she was too impressed with the manner in which she was returned to duty. However, I'm sure she is happy to at least still be in one piece and unblemished. As for me, I still have a lot of work to do as the ride this morning put the sting into both knees so I still expect to suffer for another one or two weeks before I can begin to rebuild the form I will have lost.

Rehabilitation Update :: 19th April, 2012

I arrived home from London this morning after a 24 hour long haul flight via Singapore. The altitude and cabin pressure during the flight flared up the swelling in the knees again but this time more in the right knee than the left so that is a little odd. My week in London was hectic to say the least however I was able to rise early in the mornings to get a lap around Hyde Park or Battersea Park and the knees responded well to these activities until disembarking the plane in Singapore to realise that a good part of that work had been undone.

Never Fly With Knee Trauma :: 11th April, 2012

As the post topic suggests, never, ever, ever fly with damaged knees. The pain is insufferable. Normally I can tolerate pain in the legs (especially on the bike) but knee trauma does not bode well at 30,000 feet. I've just arrived at Hong Kong International and I couldn't get off the plane quick enough - actually I would have liked to have been able to get off the plane quicker but I had to hobble off so not the fastest disembarking of an aircraft I've ever performed.

The worst part is I now have to endure the long haul flight from here to London, Heathrow! Thankfully I have another couple of hours before boarding the plane so I'm hoping to walk around the terminal as much as I can to help reduce the swelling again. It seems the swelling in the knees does not agree with the reduced air pressure in the aircraft cabin and the resulting pain was not pleasant.

As an experiment for anyone taking a flight in the near future (I actually did this today), take a bottle of water on the plane, drink it and screw the lid back on while at 30,000 feet and then watch what happens to the empty bottle when you descend. Then consider that the same thing is happening to the body and you should be able to tell why I recommend never flying with knee trauma. So much for maintaining reasonable cabin pressure!

I think the only thing that kept me sane throughout the flight were a couple of cycling magazines I picked up at Perth International - if you can't ride bikes to keep your wits you can at least read about them.

Hopefully I will survive the next leg and try and recover in time over the four days I have in London so that I am able to endure it all over again. Oh, and if you ever have a long enough stop over in Hong Kong, I recommend the Spaghetti House at the other end of level 7 (assuming you're not a stickler for local cuisine).

Rehabilitation Update :: 10th April, 2012

Rehabilitation is coming along well enough with a noticeable improvement in the left knee this morning. It had taken a while to notice anything getting better with this troublesome knee so it was nice to wake this morning (after a very restless night) with an almost immediate feeling of improvement in my ability to bend the knee and to put it to work getting on my feet. Today was also my last chance to get some level of comfort in the knee before flying out to London on Wednesday morning - a trip that my knees are probably not going to enjoy.

Easter Kudos :: 10th April, 2012

Easter (Weekend) Kudos is my way of recognising those who have put in significant efforts over the weekend in their respective race disciplines. It's not so much about the placings or results, it is more for the effort that has been put in. As a rider, I appreciate the encouragement I receive when I put in the effort to do my best so it is only fitting that I repay the favours.

Rehabilitation Update :: 7th April, 2012

I must begin this post by once again extending my thanks to all those who have offered their support and extended best wishes for a speedy recovery since my accident on Tuesday morning. It's not been an easy week to say the least and I have been attempting to do what I can to minimise my time off the bike. I hope to be able to track my rehabilitation through my blog so, as with my recovery from over-reaching, it might serve as a means of reference should a similar recovery be required by me or anyone else.

Many Thanks :: 3rd April, 2012

Many, many thanks to everyone who checked in and/or sent messages of concern regarding my cycling accident this morning. As you can tell from that fact that I am able to write this post so soon, I am all in one piece (apart from some bark left on the road) with a pair of very sore knees, a banged up cheek bone and a few bruises, cuts and scratches.

The only thing that is broken is my poor Giant TCR bike. I am yet to see the aftermath other than a photo that Chris Singleton sent to AP but it looks like a shattered top tube and apparently the forks and front wheel (both taking the full force of the impact) were all but demolished. It's a real shame because that bike was an incredible asset and was responsible for getting me to where I am form-wise. I will miss not riding it anymore.

While it was an experience I would have preferred not to have gone through, I will not let it deter me and I will be back to training as soon as the knees will possibly let me. I trust that we can all let the incident act as a good reminder to ensure that we all remain as safe as possible on the roads and as my father always told me when growing up, "expect the unexpected".

Finally, thanks to everyone who was there at the scene and were quick to do everthing they could to ensure I was properly looked after. A big thanks also to AP for contacting Kathy and letting her know and for riding over to CGH and instructing the nurses how best to treat cycling accident wounds. I honestly thought you were joking about the scrubbing brushes!!! Oh, and thanks to the CGH emergency ward staff for treating yet another cyclist with great care and attentiveness and for putting AP to work.

Weekend Kudos :: 1st April, 2012

Weekend Kudos is my way of recognising those who have put in significant efforts over the weekend in their respective race disciplines. It's not so much about the placings or results, it is more for the effort that has been put in. As a rider, I appreciate the encouragement I receive when I put in the effort to do my best so it is only fitting that I repay the favours.

Garland Group 1 Saturday Ride :: 31st March, 2012

No racing on Sunday means smashfest on Saturday! Dennis had delivered a new route that took the groups out along Great Eastern Hwy, through Bedford up to Morley Drive, out to West Coast Hwy, down through Claremont and back to the bike shop. Probably easier just to look for yourself here. It wasn't overly hilly but then it wasn't completely flat either but it would allow for the opportunity to ride it at significant pace. Group 1 wasn't big on numbers so we combined with Group 2, 3 and 4 to get started but this wasn't set to last.

Training Summary :: 26th - 30th March, 2012

The UCI World Cycling Tour is behind me now and I am certainly happy with the post-race results analysis of my effort. There were a number of positives that I took out of that race that were enough to lift my spririts again after confirming that the top 25% of the 70 riders would see the first 18 receive an automatic invitation to participate in the final in South Africa - missed it by one place! So it was back to training and it was a mixed week with a some significant efforts interleaved with some rest and recovery.

Weekend Kudos :: 25th March, 2012

Weekend Kudos is my way of recognising those who have put in significant efforts over the weekend in their respective race disciplines. It's not so much about the placings or results, it is more for the effort that has been put in. As a rider, I appreciate the encouragement I receive when I put in the effort to do my best so it is only fitting that I repay the favours.

UCI World Cycling Tour Qualifier :: 25th March, 2012

I must be mad!! Less than 22 months riding a bike, 10 months racing experience, 5 months of training (huge thanks, Brad), never raced anything over 2 hours before and never raced on a course anywhere near as punishing as the Kings Park UCI World Cycling Tour circuit. But it's done and dusted and I'm super happy with how I performed given the quality of the field, the distance and my overall category result.

Garland Group 2 Saturday Ride :: 24th March, 2012

This morning provided that last change to stretch out the legs and test the bike before Sunday's race. Brad had planned for me to complete only two or three hard efforts (not longer than 1 minute) during an RE-E1 ride so I decided to go with Dennis in the Garland Group 2 ride. I had picked up the new Hall Cycle Training kit on Thursday and was keen to see how it fit and loved the compression that it offered over the usual strips I had been wearing. I will still be wearing the usual Garland Cycleworks strip on Sunday but might have a chat with Nick about the next kit he orders given how comfortable Brad's strip is.

Training Summary :: 19th - 23rd March, 2012

Sticking to Brad's training program this week was crucial to ensure the best possible lead up to the UCI World Cycling Tour Qualifier on Sunday. The start list for my age bracket is incredible and stands at 75 at the time of publishing this post (Friday). It was also the week that I got to settle into riding the new S-Works Venge DA which was just as important as keeping to the training plan. If I am not ready for this race now, I never will be but I'm feeling good and I believe that if I give my absolute all, I have a strong chance of making the top 25% of finishers. Oh, and a little bit of luck wouldn't go astray!

New Bike Is Ready To Roll :: 21st March, 2012

I'm ever so pleased. The new bike has been collected and is ready go after a meticulous build process that has it working absolutely divinely! The Venge is one hell of a sleek piece of work. A quick test ride up South Perth foreshore to the Narrows and back proved that there is an unbridled lust for speed in there somewhere.

The return from the Narrows was into the wind and it simply sliced through it like it wasn't even there. It's not just sleek, but silent too. A couple of half-efforts out of the saddle and as the rider, I could barely hear it on the tarmac which was unexpected given the Roval SL45 carbon wheelset.

Will take the bike out for its first full ride in the morning with a roll around the river to Fremantle and back via Como before going back to the shop for final fitting and adjustment to a slightly more aggressive riding position. Oh, did I mention how comfortable the ride is? Amazing! Those Specialized BG Romin Evo Expert saddles really ride well.

See you all out there.

WCMCC Kewdale Criterium - B Grade :: 18th March, 2012

Analysing your own performances and determining your strengths in cycling can often be an exercise that can pay dividends and this type of review was way overdue - especially considering the impending end of the local criterium season. My recovery was complete with some strong training this week and I was keen to back it up with a win with the West Coast Masters as it would be my last chance before the close of the criterium season. I was prepared to risk a change of tactic if it meant I could secure this season's elusive B grade win.

Saturday Morning Extra :: 17th March, 2012

St. Patricks Day or not, long and hard kilometres were the order of the day for the Saturday morning ride this week. I wanted to test myself by completing at least 108kms being the distance of the UWCT Road Race on the 25th of March. I had to be sure that I could complete it by enduring hard climbs and strong sprints over similar distance. Brad had hill climbs set for me anyway so I figured I should make the most of it and emulate a bit of everything that the UWCT Road Race would throw at me. What a morning!!!

The New Bike Has Arrived :: 16th March, 2012

It has finally arrived!!! I received an SMS message from Nick Garland this afternoon confirming that the new Venge had arrived at the shop and that the staff were beginning the build process and should be ready for initial testing on Monday (19th March).

I cannot wait to get myself into the saddle of this bike and put it through its paces. I'm sure you will be hearing more of my ventures on the Venge on this blog.

Training Summary :: 12th - 16th March

With the previous recovery week over it was time to get back into some harder training and this week certainly delivered some trying sessions. Kathy was in Bali between the 8th and 13th March so I started the week with some rides starting much later than usual. It was a little awkward tying in training with work and household duties but I managed to find time to squeeze everything in. It was not long before the form started to really return and I could feel I was getting back to where I was prior to over-reaching.

Weekend Kudos :: 12th March, 2012

Weekend Kudos is my way of recognising those who have put in significant efforts over the weekend in their respective race disciplines. It's not so much about the placings or results, it is more for the effort that has been put in. As a rider, I appreciate the encouragement I receive when I put in the effort to do my best so it is only fitting that I repay the favours.

WCMCC Age Division Criterium Championships :: 11th March, 2012

Somehow everyone at West Coast Masters between the age of 40 and 44 happens to be in A grade!! I was set to start along side 18 other riders with the majority being of the regular A grade field - 11 of them including Doug Stewart, Pedro Turibaka, Dave Rawlings, Tony Mott and a number of other noticeably strong riders. This would be the ultimate test to see how I would fair against such a strong field and how well the recovery has progressed.

Training Summary :: 5th - 9th March, 2012

Rest week! Amateur athletes might often jest with the thought of resting and recovering and continue to push themselves to their limits for too long. It's a lesson I have learned the hard way and if you have been following my blog and are training as much as I have then take it from my first hand experience that rest and recovery is just as (if not more) critical than exercise itself. Be off the bike or out of the gym because you can, not because you are forced to. Over-reaching is not fun and the rest and recovery element of your training schedule should be strictly adhered to.

Weekend Kudos :: 4th March, 2012

Weekend Kudos is my way of recognising those who have put in significant efforts over the weekend in their respective race disciplines. It's not so much about the placings or results, it is more for the effort that has been put in. This week's Kudos is given to a number of riders who have managed to push their limits to achieve some cracking results.

WCMCC Kewdale Criterium - B Grade :: 4th March, 2012

Over-reaching really is an unpleasant experience. It's not painful but to not be able to push your body to its limits is insufferable. I was feeling reasonably strong after the test up Welshpool Rd yesterday but I couldn't be sure that I was still in the form I had been in recently and whether or not the legs could produce the power needed to complete the race ahead of the bunch.

Garland Group 1 Saturday Ride :: 3rd March, 2012

Having over-reached while completing this week's training, I wanted to ensure I continued Friday's recovery with only a ride to the top of Welshpool Rd before returning home again. Time restrictions were also a factor that would probably only allow me to ride for about 1.5 hours. The easterly wind was well and truly still with us so the ride out to the hills was still be enough to make us work a little bit before the climb. It was going to be a good test to see how the rest day worked out.

Training Summary :: 27th Feb - 2nd March, 2012

Entering my third week of solid training for the month's program and I was beginning to feel the rigours of the base training build up of the last 4 months. It's been incredibly tough training but the benefits and progress I have made make it all worth it. Brad had put together the perfect base training programs for me over the past months which (at times) have pushed me beyond my limits and improved my cycling well ahead of my expectations. I was prepared to give it my all this week now that I have become accustomed to the pain that cycling can inflict and look forward to resting up next week but I was not prepared for the outcome I encountered...

Solo Sunday Morning Hills & PR Therapy :: 26th February, 2012

Yep, 'twas Sunday again and it was time to jump back on the bike for some hills and PR therapy! Using AP's monumental effort in the hills yesterday as inspiration to get out there and grap a couple of PRs here and there it was a natural decision to start with Welshpool Rd again and get that big gear, low cadence hill climbing working again.

Garland Group 1 Saturday Ride :: 25th February, 2012

[Red Light Ride]

I always look forward to fronting up for a Group 1 ride with the Garland Crew as the pace is usually high enough to keep the HR up and work you reasonably hard - and of course there is the social aspect! Today's ride, however, was marred by the dreaded red traffic light. It seems we could barely catch a break and caught nearly every red light along the way and this kept the average pace down a bit.

Training Summary :: 20th - 24th February, 2012

With Brad holding a training camp down south, this week's efforts were mostly on my own - no group sessions. AP was also on the camp so there was no combined efforts urging each other on up in the hills or Kings Park. But what a week it was. Some ups and downs to say the least but not just because of the hills...

SPR Sunday Morning Hills Therapy

The guys down at Garland Cycleworks did a great job of rectifying the snapped cable inside the shifter and getting the gears working crisply again. It's just like riding with a new groupset on the bike. It's almost impossible to find the words to describe the feeling of being outside on the bike again! I picked up the bike mid-morning on Saturday so it goes without saying that the hills were my Sunday target for the time I missed up there since Wednesday night.

Training Summary :: 13th - 17th February, 2012

With the thrill of Sunday's win still pumping, it was time to knuckle down and get back to some serious training. This week represented the first week of my fourth month with Brad and I can't believe how far I have come since I started with him. If any of my readers are interested in engaging a cycling coach, Brad's ability to get the best out of you should certainly put him at the top of your list. This week was an absolute cracker and incredibly painful as one would expect.

Post Race Ride :: 12th February, 2012

After such a high pace at this morning's Open Criterium event, I was happy to decline an invitation to join some of the Garland Crew for a quick couple of laps up in Kings Park. It was not until I arrived home that I received a phone call from Kathy asking me to come down and meet her and the kids down at South Beach while they waited to pick up my folks who were spending a couple of hours on the Leeuwin. I was reluctantly convinced to ride down and meet them so I was back on the bike and on my way.

SPR/RCCC Summer Series Criterium #3 - Open C Grade

What a day for cycling! Starting the morning with an incredibly fast paced Open C Grade Criterium at Technology Park, my first race with Team Garland offering fantastic support. Followed this with an additional ride out to South Beach (Fremantle) and back via the Victoria Park leg of the Perth Criteriums - you couldn't ask for a better day on the bike.

Announcing a Team from The Garland Crew

After much discussion and apparent anticipation, myself and a few others have put a team together from the Garland Crew. Our first race will be Sunday, 12th February, 2012 at the last of the SPR/RCCC Summer Criterium Series. We have elected to enter 5 riders into C grade as our initial try out and from there I would like to see the team expand and perhaps enter into B and C grades as well as the possibility of teaming up in Masters racing.

Garland Group 1 Saturday Ride :: 11th February, 2012

With the last of the SPR/RCCC Summer Series Criteriums on tomorrow morning, I was set to ride perhaps a Group 2 or 3 pace but on arrival at the bike shop, John Sonego convinced me that Group 1 would be fine if we just sit in and take the odd turn at the front. I should have known that would never happen with the two of us in the group...

Training Summary :: 6th - 10th February, 2012

After three weeks of solid training concluding with the KHT Classic Criterium last Sunday (5th Feb), this week was a well earned recovery week leading into Sunday's Open Summer Series Criterium at Technology Park. Tuesday would see the most significant effort with a group training session up in Kings Park.

WCMCC Kewdale Criterium - B Grade

I only found out on Saturday night that this morning's event was upgraded to the Keady Humble Tognini Classic with KHT offering additional prize money and a prime lap for each grade. Certainly a very welcome gesture that was appreciated by all who attended the Kewdale Criterium. But, of course, with additional promotion and prize money comes additional numbers in the fields. All grades had impressive starting lists and riders steeled themselves for a tough morning's racing, especially considering the nagging southerly wind.

Training Summary :: 30th Jan - 3rd February, 2012

This week was set to represent the last week of hard training before a recovery week next week so with over 1,965 quality kilometres completed for the month of January and a solid 110km the previous Sunday, a recovery day was probably a great way to get the week started - well at least a recovery ride.

New Bike On The Way!!

After what seemed like an eternity getting myself sorted out, the new bike has finally been ordered. The S-Works Venge DA will certainly look grand in the stable and even better on the road where it counts. Full details on the bike can be found here (for now).

Rockingham Return via WCMCC Crits :: 29th January, 2012

Decided earlier in the week that racing was not the go given the workload of the week so opted for a good, longer ride and yesterday's invitation to join some of the guys and girls from The Garland Crew for a roll down to Mandurah and back was the order of the day. Didn't make Mandurah itself but still recorded 110kms at an easy pace which was perfect. The ride down along the Kwinana Freeway PSP was not exactly exciting but still enjoyed being out on the bike.

Garland Group 1 Saturday Ride :: 28th January, 2012

What a way to finish a week's training (although there may be a ride on tomorrow), a fast ride around the usual Fremantle / Shelley Loop completed in 01:45:25, giving a 36.9 km/h average pace. Well, at least that is what my split time shows so I am happy to go with it and I have included screenshots to demonstrate the ride figures.

Training Summary :: 23rd - 27th January, 2012

A week of racing opportunities this week but decided on just the Early Bird Time Trial on Tuesday morning and the Australia Day Criteriums at Technology Park on Thursday morning. Sunday did offer the option to do the second Summer Series Criterium at Technology Park or the Jim Thompson Memorial Criterium at Rockingham with WCMCC but I decided early in the week to just do the events during the week.

2012 Australia Day Criteriums - C Grade

The 2012 Australia Day Criteriums was my first venture into the open racing ranks and it was with a little trepidation that I made my way down to Technology Park for the morning's event. I'd been told a couple of times that the gradings for the open events is a step up from the equivalent Masters gradings so with that in mind and on Brad's recommendation to test my ability first, I signed into the C grade event.

ATTA Early Bird TT #7

Being the last event in the Early Bird series, today was the last chance to ride inside that elusive 29 minute mark for the ATTA Kings Park Lovekin Sausage course. Looking at the weather forecast last night was not giving me much hope as 30km/h easterly winds were being predicted that would make the job a very tough one. However, there was no sign of that sort of wind up there this morning which was a boost to the confidence and at only 21°C, heat was certainly not going to be a problem.

Squeezed in Sunday Hills Ride

I decided I couldn't possibly have two days off the bike in a row so managed to squeeze in a Sunday morning effort out to the hills before the final stage of the Tour Down Under. Still managed to enjoy an ascent up Welshpool Rd at just over 20 km/h for a second best time. I did manage a PR on the first rise to the service station with a 17 km/h average - which just happened to be equal to that of AP. Had I known that I would probably have given it all I could to complete the climb faster than him.

Training Summary :: 16th - 20th January, 2012

After Sunday's effort I wasn't sure how I would hold up to the first week of Brad's new training program but I have managed to complete what has been asked for without collapsing in a heap on the side of the road somewhere. It has certainly hurt like hell with intense suffering but the feeling of achievement has made it all worth it.

WCMCC Kewdale Graded Scratch Criterium - B Grade

(15th January, 2012)

My first race of 2012 after missing last week due to a shoulder and neck strain. A hot one to help us all settle in to the new racing year and we had the pleasure and privilege of being out-smarted by Emma Pooley this morning. B grade was 45 minutes + 2 laps with a nagging head wind up the back of the course.