Sunday Not-So-Funday

As you've probably picked up from the title, this post is about the ride I did on Sunday.  Yes, it's now Tuesday, and no I haven't done anything since then (although there is a really good intention to go for a ride before work tomorrow) but enough about that.

So after my ride on Saturday I wanted to try and get up to 100km for the weekend as I think I mentioned in my previous post.  Unfortunately, I didn't quite make it, falling about 20km short of that goal.

For a bit of a change I thought I'd try riding along the bikeway which runs beside the F3 (well at least that's what I think it's called).  I may have also slept in and not got on the bike until after 9am, which is pretty late in the cycling world.  And as soon as I start riding, I notice there's a lot of clouds.

Grey clouds.  Looming about, threatening to release the cargo of rain all over my freshly serviced bike, and myself.  But I decided to push on, call the weather's bluff as it were.  Well that was the theory.

I headed towards the freeway following the most simple route I could find, then once on the bikeway turned left to head towards Macquarie Park.  Riding along the bikeway was like riding in a literal concrete jungle for the most part, until Lane Cove where the freeway ended and where the scenery became a little more tolerable.  Apparently this comes at the cost of hills which, on the way away from home seemed to be all downhill - meaning the way home was going to be interesting...

After about 8km, the weather made it's bluff face more menacing, and after a single climb at Ryde I turned tail and went home.  Of course, riding up the hills I had gone down was not as painful as I had anticipated, and the weather had nothing up its sleeve.  Pretty disappointed on my lack of willpower, which is something that I will have to work on over the next couple of months.  And no photo as I wanted to get home before any dampening of spirits and clothes.

Super Saturdays!

Well this has been a long time coming... sadly the training plan didn't take off with as much gusto as I had hoped with various factors getting in the way.  Mainly work, but also a holiday to Bali for a week or so which was an amazing chance to relax before coming back to the real world.  Anyhow, today I got back on the bike for the second time - and boy was it fun.

This time it was much closer to home - and all the much harder for it.  Given I'm pretty new to Sydney I don't know all that many bike paths, so decided to start with something pretty simple - the only "serious" ride I know down here.  And so, this morning I dressed up in my new BMC gear, new sunnies, and new Garmin GPS slash bike computer slash heart rate monitor slash coffee machine (installed Friday night - because that's what I do on my Friday nights...), pointed my nose in the right direction and started off.

To get to Centennial Park from where I live, a trip across the harbour bridge is in order, followed by a much less interesting, lot slower journey through the city.  After a little bit of getting lost and going down roads where apparently cyclists aren't allowed (although the sign is only visible half way down the road, go figure) I made it to the park.  For those who haven't been before, Centennial Park is beautiful, and large.  There's a loop nearly 4km around the majority of the park - this road is full of cyclists of all shapes and colours.  There's plenty of runners making their rounds, and even a few people on roller skates - straight out of the 70's!

After riding for about 50kms I stopped off for coffee at one of the cafe's in the park, before turning around and heading home for a grand total of 65km.

One thing that I really noticed - just how unfit I am at the moment.  With 160kms to ride there's still a lot of work to do before I'll be able to comfortably make that distance.  Tomorrow I'm planning on going for another ride - target distance is 40km so fingers crossed I make it.

To help track progress, I'm using my Garmin in conjunction with a website called Strava.  If you are a cyclist or a runner, and like knowing just what you're putting yourself through I'd suggest jumping on and having a look.  For an example of the stat-tastic Strava, check out the below!

Bike Kit - Any Recommendations?

Isn't it nice to spend a bit of money on some new kit?  On Saturday I spent a good portion of the early afternoon checking out stores online and splurged a little and got a new set of bib knicks and a jersey for $95 - which is what I thought was a pretty good deal...until B showed me this week's Aldi catalogue which has $19 knicks and $15 jerseys.  According to him, Aldi's gear is actually pretty good quality and that's what he usually rides in.

I am also looking at getting another bike, to leave in Melbourne so I can ride whilst I'm down there.  So quite a bit of time was spent also looking at new and used bikes in what would generally be considered the "Budget" category.  Which has expanded quite significantly since the last time I was in the market for some new wheels.  Brands like Reid have made entry level cycling must more available to the masses - picking up a low spec bike back in my day would set you back nearly a grand - nowadays you can get something similar for about $300.  Good times.

For those riders who are following, where do you get your gear from?  Do you shop online or go into your local store?  What's the best bargain you've found?

I'm hoping to get on the trainer tomorrow morning before work and do a bit of a ride, as I haven't done anything since Saturday and consistency is key.  But for now, time to rest!

And They're Off!

I started writing this last night, but appear to have been a little tired! Probably a combination of not getting much sleep, plus the longest ride I've done in probably two years.

Yes, I went for my ride yesterday morning and it was glorious!  Woke up at 4.30, left B & M's place on B's steed a little before 5 and made my way into the city along the Kedron Brook Bikeway until Kelvin Grove Road (an old haunt of mine, having lived around Herston and Windsor for a couple of years in my Brisbane days).  The sun was fully in the sky by the time I got to my mate R's house...and I may have been a little late as I budgeted my time on getting to the city, not through the city and across to Mowbray Park-ish.  This racked up my first 20km for the day.

The plan was to meet another couple of mates there, B1 and B2 and do the river loop.  However B1 had been kept up all night by his young child and bailed (SOFT B1!  Just kidding) and B2 was going to meet us at the Goodwill bridge as he was running a little late. So R and I threw our legs over and powered back to the Goodwill and met up with B2, who was wearing the same jersey as R - an "I <3 BNE" affair.

It was a fantastic day for a ride, not too windy (until right near the end) and the river loop is dominated by cyclists, meaning any cars going along these secluded roads are plainly aware of the fact they're sharing with us, and are pretty nice about it.

Highlights from the ride include:

• Turning "BNE" on R and B2's jersey into "BnE" - or Bacon and Eggs
• Me getting carried away going downhill and missing a turn or two.
• Catching up with two good friends whilst seeing the sights of Brisbane 
• Seeing so many fellow lycra-clad folks out and about.
• Finding this new addition to Southbank's water line:

I'm not sure what it is for, but all I can think of is "Disco dancing!"

After the ride we had the requisite coffee and catchup at Southbank before heading our separate ways for the day.  Total ride distance 64km.  I racked up another six km getting back to B & M's place for a grand total of 70km, but I'm not counting that as it was a separate ride after a pretty big break.

Now time to plan the next ride!

In the beginning...

So, here's the thing.

I used to be an avid cyclist.  I was passionate about the sport - lived and breathed the bike.  There's always been the intention to get back into riding, but things have generally got in the way.  Now, however, I have thrown myself in the deep end and committed to riding 160km in January with a crew from work as part of the JDRF Ride to Cure Diabetes.  See the "About this Blog" section for more information and links on this.

This blog will be a record of my training, my trials and challenges, both on the bike and off the bike in raising the required funds, or balancing my work and personal lives to get the fitness I need to complete this ride with friends.  Starting tomorrow actually!

I'm currently sitting in the living room of two great friends in Brisbane, M & B, and B is letting me borrow his bike to go for a ride tomorrow with some other mates.  Just to add a bit of extra challenge to the whole thing, I'm riding into the city to meet up with three other mates for a morning ride.  Hopefully followed with a coffee or two somewhere in the sunshine.  Definitely a little nervous as I haven't really had a chance to do much riding over the past few months, but I'm always up for a challenge!  Although I'll be taking my Go Card so I can jump on a train home.  Realism has to come into this thing at some point.

Well that's all for tonight - if you've made it this far I hope you keep following my journey as I work towards being able to ride 160km!!