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.