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...