Around the Bay - the Legend ride

Mon, 16 Oct 2006 04:36:38 GMT

I signed up for this ride back in July and think that it will be the stupidest thing I have ever done in my life.

I barely able to finish 210km ride and only have good legs right at the end in one of them. It was at my peak of physical fitness, 2002.

I trained very hard this time, and did everything I could to prepare for it. I ate well and enjoyed the early morning. It was the same every year at the Bay day that I woked up at 3 in the morning to start my preparation. My morning preparation was simple: ate a meal, stretched for 30 mins in front of the television showing a man selling very sharp knifes, packed my bike and drove.

I brought along some important items:
Energy gel - that gives you the fuel that you use throughout the day. I was using it 1 hour per pack

Gatorade - 600ml per hour of riding. I also packed powder for refill.

Windproof vest - for the ferry ride.

Mobile phone with radio - for the boring 7 hours or so.

I drove to my usual parking spot (North Wharf Road, Dockland) at 4 am when there is less than a handful of them in sight. I warmed up and rode across the park to the starting spot. I was warm enough to take off my vest before the start off. I also been interview by the Ch 7 cameramen, and I was seen on TV!

The problem with starting in the normal time is that there are many who jumped the gun and started early. We were passing slow riders all the way. I said slow - it is just 4kmh slower and it could make all the difference. Some sad thing occured along the way, there was a rider lying on the shoulder of the freeway when we were riding along. An ambo was attending and one fellow rider was doing cardiac compression on him. Sad. (news article here)

I got to Geelong with a bunch of riders with no drama. I still have good legs. From then on it was a different story. The wind picked up from the outstretch of Geelong and there was a struggle on everybody's face. The group rode along the Portartlington road, and this road was an unknown for me. I think it was a good move since I prob should not have known the difficulty of the hills ahead. Glad that I trained at Mt. Dandenong 2 weeks prior though. I got through the rolling hills ok. But the riders in front was just too strong and I could not simply hold on. I have to give up. As the wind stregthen, that breaks up the riders and mostly we were alone. I managed to get one or 2 riders with similar strength and struggled to the T junction to join the 210km route again.

From then on it was smooth sailing. I did not have trouble at the end of the Queenscliff route as I normally do. I was keeping with the group as I suppose to. A long walk across the paddock, I collected my lunch box. What a disappointment when I found out that I only have an apple, a powerbar, a drink sachet and a sandwich. I was looking forward to oyester bar and sushi but anyhow . The ferry was infested with riders. I was at the Queenscliff ferry station at 10:15, and that means I have to wait 45 minutes for it. There is no way in the world that I could do under 10am for the ride and what a dissappointment that I have to mix with all this 11am rider for the 210km. Another reason for the 250km hassle. On the other end the chaos continue as the most congested ride of the day takes time to clear. I did not start the ride 10 min into it and we are picking up slow rider on the way. It was less than ideal since we have to share the road with the motorist. Lucky one group decided to pedal at 40kmh and we have a sigh of relieve when we are as close as the speed of the traffic and we can take up a whole lane. I decided to catch that group until I decided to drop back at Dromana to a 35kmh group, so as to prepare for the Mt. Marthra climb.

This year I had good legs. At the bottom of the hill, I have energy to move and I had my 23 tooth socket ready to spin up the hill. It was smooth and effortless in the low gear. The hill was not hard by any standard, but just the fact that it was placed at the 190km mark. I spinned up with ease and guess what! I showed the 210km rider how it was done. I caught 10 of them in that hill alone . Well, everything that goes up must come down and boy do the slow rider pissed me off. They have no concept of road safety and not gutsy enough to ride properly. Hold up cars was bad enough but bunching up the people behind was outright dangerous. It is either stay on the left and slow, and let the motorist and fast rider though, or just stop. I am sure it was scary for you, but hey if you are not up to it - stop riding. If I had a group doing 60kmh down the hill and blocked by the car, disaster is due to happen.

At Mordialloc, I knew I had a good ride. It was 6 hour 20 min mark, and I was into 206km. I had 40km in another 1 hour 40 min to beat the 8 hour mark. I was confident. Not that just my leg was a fresh as a training ride, but also the gusty tail wind behind me. I was cruising at 30km, up the hill in 28 and down the slope in the 40s. I was flying. I had to set a tempo, put my head down and keep the rhythm. I knew if I gave up - it will be the end. This feeling did not last in Port Melbourne when the police women told us 4km to go at a traffic turn. Although I was basically bonkered at the end, but I had a good time. I given hands off the handle bar and V signed to the camera at the finish line. Excellent.

Ride: 246km
Time: 7 hours 47 minutes.
Total time counting ferry time: 10 hours exactly.

The Legend ATB preparation.

Tue, 10 Oct 2006 11:31:28 GMT

That is what I did.

I cycle to work 3 out of 5 days. 24km return trip. One big hill (Studley Park Road).

On weekend I do half group, half solo long ride. Up to 140km 3 weeks ago. But I decided to do leg work, so Joel and I worked on the slop of Mt. Dandenong. Did something like a 23'17" from bottom to top.

Now into the ATB week. I manage 1kg drop in weight but drop the body fat from 21% to 17.4%. I gain +++ muscle and endurace that I remembered.

Time to tackle the long ride. 250km here we come.

Forecast is little moist at first but becoming fine. 11 to 21 degree. The fact that they revised for Sat forcast from low 30s to 20 degree C, meaning the cold front will cross early in the day. Fantastic.

First long ride this year - 112km

Mon, 18 Sep 2006 09:01:25 GMT

Cycling from Kew to Frankston and back. It is a nice ride and 16 degree. Hunger stuck at 80km mark - I should realise I need to top up with solid after 2 hours - bad move.

Muscle pulled up AOK. Even sprint up the hill with just less than usual force at Studley Park road.

112 in 4 hours mostly alone with lots of lights. Not bad.

Next week will rain. Damn. I was going to do Mornington.

Ride - 60km

Sat, 12 Aug 2006 10:03:39 GMT

It is a beautiful day that we (Joel and I) through the inner south and eastern suburb for 60km.

Down from Kew to Yarra Bend (hills)- via Studley park road to Punt Road. Then we travelled at Swan street of Port Melbourne. From there we reached the beach and hugged along the Beach road to South road in Brighton. Then we go west and left at East Boundary road, then left Malvern road (hills). And then we do the sleep short hills on Burke Road to home.

Another one tomorrow

TAKA 八仔ブログ: Bicycle

Around the Bay - the Legend ride

The Legend ATB preparation.

First long ride this year - 112km

Ride - 60km