84millsy wrote:

Ahad wrote:

84millsy wrote:
You doing Le Race Ahad? I've been bullied into it by some friends but have little to no hill training under my belt over the last 2-3 months so it should suck balls.

Which group you planning on riding with? If you are with the sub 3 hrs you may spot me falling off the back on Dyers

Doing the first section (town to Little River) and back tonight (after 5) if anyone is out and about.

You done it before? Yeah I'll be in the sub 3hr group. Although missed out by 11s last year achieving it which really sucked. Felt like a fraud! Yeah its full on up to the Takahe, and then these guys up front start to ramp up the pace! I always fall off the back up Dyers anyway...

If you're feeling really f@#ked at Little River, just remember that the race starts at Hilltop ok!

Thats right, had a really good ride today with my 10yr old daughter after tea. Just did a nice 4km up the road and back. But shit she was going for it at the start and hit 28.5kph on her mtb with semi slicks! I know probably all Dads think this, but honestly I reckon she could be a really good cyclist later on, if she wants to be

First timer. Should be interesting...
Did the second section the other weekend when the tsunami was supposed to wipe us all out, and thats when I got bullied into it.

Went out to little river and back today. Was only going at about 60% so felt good. It is amazing how many bugs hang out in groups on the edge of the road when the sun goes down though. Also interesting how many bugs will no longer be going home to the missus and kids tonight. They call me the widow maker.

Trying to up your protein intake whilst riding huh?

I had a pleasant ride after work (now that I have some work) this afternoon.
It’s a perfect night for it – sunny, warm and light winds
Rode up Palimino, through Ranui (I don’t know where the park is where the beating happened & don’t want to), up Crows (1 gear higher for most of the way), along Amreins, turned around and reversed it, then down Kay, up Christian, Coulter etc and home.
A good dose of hills and minimal cars in my 35kms loop.

84millsy wrote:
First timer. Should be interesting...


Went out to little river and back today. Was only going at about 60% so felt good. It is amazing how many bugs hang out in groups on the edge of the road when the sun goes down though.

Sweet! You'll probably be in the 2nd or 3rd group like me to the top of Dyers (considering your recent hillclimbing form) which is good, as I could do with a wind break on the flat out to Cooptown

Man the bugs got so bad after those 30degree days we had awhile ago, I had to turn back on one of my training rides. Wasn't doing so well breathing just out of my nose. Had to keep wearing my sunnies in the dark so I wouldn't be blinded

Just did a loop up the Bastard to Evans along the Summit Rd to Lyttelton and home after dinner. Legs started dying near the top of the big B as still jaded from Sundays ride. So realised no point pushing it too much. But then my right gear cable snapped just after Lyttelton so had to do some forced big gear hill work the rest of the way home. Lucky it happened tonight and not half way up Hilltop though!
Legs definately weren't happy but my lower back was the part of me really burning up the last few hills so obviously a bit of a weakness there... Was completely smashed when I got home though. Haven't felt that exhausted after a midweek ride in ages...

Hey Ahad, what sort of time does that group do up dyers in Le Race........you time it last yr?

Did the figure 8 yeaterday arvo, concentrated on keeping speed up and good rhythm, put the computer on avg speed and managed to finish with 28.5km / hr.

leprechaun wrote:Hey Ahad, what sort of time does that group do up dyers in Le Race........you time it last yr?

Top guys go up around 14:30 or so. So need to get up to the SOT well under 7min to stay with them (I could only manage 7min flat so too slow and got shelled). I did 15:32 with a bunch of 8 or so, and a spectator up the top of SOK yelled "40seconds behind" last yr.
But theres a big group that usually gets up in 16 to 16:30mins or so which means you save more energy on the flat. After working hard till Little River with a small bunch I bonked badly heading towards Akaroa last yr, and quite a few of the guys quite a bit behind at the SOK passed me towards the end.

So its not just about doing a PB to the SOK 'cause if you can't back up your Dyers pass climb later on, you'll get found out

Sounds like a plan for me, was thinking of placing myself in the biggest group around that time. Would rather keep it steady until hilltop and go from there as you say, no point in doing the shit house fade early on in the piece

Ride was a repeat of yesterday(same average speed and time too) apart from a solid woman with a solid dog (Great Dane, Rotweiller?) on a chain in the middle of Vineyard that I had to brake for / avoid / yell at as I careened down the hill.

I did the same ride as the last two days.
All good apart from the wind and it rained (wow, I hardly knew what the stuff was ) from half way home.
I had fitted my rear mudguard on so my back passage remained unstained

It was my first race of our club season today (racing started last week but I marshalled for them).
It was three laps of the Mauku circuit – complete with rain (we’re in Auckland…it doesn’t rain… ), strong winds and road works (one guy in our bunch detoured off the side into the gravel without falling off and about 4 punctured on it).
We had a nice big bunch of 40 + to hide in and most (even the youngin’s ) were riding sensibly.
Patamahoe hill was the challenge for me – first and third laps were fine but the second lap had me puffing
Most of the bunch stayed together to the end. The sprint for the line was loooong from the corner and I ended up just trying to hold my speed as others passed me
I’ve got to do some sprint training…(it probably won’t happen ).
50kms.

Usual bunch ride this morning – but in the rain (mostly)
I mostly led up through Massey to our re group point but I knew I had sore legs etc from yesterday and I ended up sitting behind people I normally lead up Albany Hill.
We went down/up/down Ridge road, through Riverhead and into the Woodhill Forest Road.
At that stage I said good bye to them as I knew I’d be struggling to keep up and I rode home via Waitakere Road, Taupaki, McEntee, Ranui etc.
71kms

Out the Warmup boys this am - TaiTapu - Sumner and back to town. Good fun to go cruising with a great bunch of guys (and Marie). Great day to be on the bike today - yesterday first thing it was around 4C in Chch. Today by mid-morning it was in the high 20s. What is that all about

Well it wasn't today but yesterday I did Lower Hutt -> Akas -> Paekak -> Grays Rd -> Porirua -> JVille -> Lower Hutt. 120k's which broke me

Good to finally get back on my bike. Last ride was Tuesday so really in need of a good hitout with Le Race in less than a week. Bloody hot though when I went out in the avo! Went hard out to the bottom of Gebbies (Bays side) but didn't feel too flash up Gebbies and the Bastard as had filled up on Chocolate, chips, and shitty softdrink and biscuits before I left. So a bit slower than I wanted up the Big B but got up to the top from the bottom of Gebb's in 21:30.

Got to Evans in good time then on to Gov's. My new 120mm stem is great especially off the seat as more room for my knees, and my handlebar feel like its where it should be. With the 110 felt I was a bit far over the handlebars. Got to the top in 13:20 which I was pretty pleased with, being a bit fatigued at thatpoint. Had a good run down the Bastard, and didn't f@#k up any corners

76.8km Av 28.6kph

Just a short loop through Mamaku on the roadie this morning.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/26912135
But then I also got leave from the family to go for a spin in Whaka. Sweet ... I am such a lucky guy!
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/26912135