If you're into the non-competitive rides and want to have a tonne of fun and adventure, the Brisbane to Noosa Ride is coming up on Sunday 14th June. There are two distances - 160k and 100k.
Its a little way off but it gives you plenty of time to get some training in. For more info go to http://www.usmevents.com.au/century/enews_180209.html?enews
Thanx for the heads up Ekka.
Friday, February 20, 2009
The Messy Ride
Does the title give it away? I've seen some untidy bunch rides, but I think last nites ride was right up there as being one of the worst. Sorry guys for the honesty. I don't think I was the only one having the same thoughts.
On the first lap, Graham did well to hold himself and the bike upright after taking a drink and running off the edge of the bitumen. Thought you were a gonna. Wazza B was VERY vocal during the first lap... there were a lot of words starting with F and ending with "more pressure on the pedals".
Reports are that Sumo also made a call to the Circus Ring Master to advise on the 2nd lap antics. For once I was glad to be sprint training. And Scottie, can you please speak English... I'm having serious interpretation issues.
On the first lap, Graham did well to hold himself and the bike upright after taking a drink and running off the edge of the bitumen. Thought you were a gonna. Wazza B was VERY vocal during the first lap... there were a lot of words starting with F and ending with "more pressure on the pedals".
Reports are that Sumo also made a call to the Circus Ring Master to advise on the 2nd lap antics. For once I was glad to be sprint training. And Scottie, can you please speak English... I'm having serious interpretation issues.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
The Lance Factor
As there hasn't been much riding happening for me lately, I've been doing a bit of surfing - net style. Most people either love him or hate him, but which ever it is, I'm sure we must all agree that the guy has some pull.
To see what I mean, check out his two websites - http://www.livestrong.org/ and http://www.livestrong.com/
Farm Boy - glad to see you gave back Lance's custom TT bike. It was really a kind of silly thing to steal and the story goes that the thieves had know idea what they had actually stolen when they took Lance's TT bike. Obviously.
1274 - number of days Lance was in retirement.
27.5 - number of people (million) who have died from Cancer during Lance's retirement.
And for the record - I love Lance.
To see what I mean, check out his two websites - http://www.livestrong.org/ and http://www.livestrong.com/
Farm Boy - glad to see you gave back Lance's custom TT bike. It was really a kind of silly thing to steal and the story goes that the thieves had know idea what they had actually stolen when they took Lance's TT bike. Obviously.
1274 - number of days Lance was in retirement.
27.5 - number of people (million) who have died from Cancer during Lance's retirement.
And for the record - I love Lance.
Wedding Bells Are Ringing
Congratulations to Mick England and Imogene Pugh who are getting married this weekend at Agnes Waters.
Hope the weather stays kind for your big day and best of luck to you both from the M1 bunch.
Ride on.
Hope the weather stays kind for your big day and best of luck to you both from the M1 bunch.
Ride on.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Tuesday Ride - 17th February
For the second week in a row, the M1 riders left their homes in the dry but returned home as drowned rats. At least the Observer will be making a few newspaper sales as riders continue to stuff their shoes with paper.
Whiffo is yet to bring his new love on a bunch ride. It made for great bantering. Grazza couldn't help himself and threw himself into the gutter even before the ride started. At least the bunch rolled out in good spirits.
The good spirits didn't last long as by the time we hit Hanson Road we were soaked. Spycat did well to hold the bike and herself up when turning off the dump road - stay off those white lines mate!! Needless to say, the average pace was 38 something for the paceline. Probably because we couldn't see two feet in front of us.
Thomas decided to head home after Hanson Road to get changed before driving to work. How soft can you be Thomas??????
Whiffo is yet to bring his new love on a bunch ride. It made for great bantering. Grazza couldn't help himself and threw himself into the gutter even before the ride started. At least the bunch rolled out in good spirits.
The good spirits didn't last long as by the time we hit Hanson Road we were soaked. Spycat did well to hold the bike and herself up when turning off the dump road - stay off those white lines mate!! Needless to say, the average pace was 38 something for the paceline. Probably because we couldn't see two feet in front of us.
Thomas decided to head home after Hanson Road to get changed before driving to work. How soft can you be Thomas??????
Monday, February 16, 2009
Mt Coot-tha Challenge
This years Mt Coot-tha challenge is fast approaching. It's a 70k ride with a 2.3k timed section up Mt Coot-tha. Last year Farm Boy, Wazza B & Sumo took on the climb and had a great time.
Sumo did so well he was in the lead before the climb, but if I remember correctly, had a bout of the spews half way up and walked for a bit. Hope you have prepared better this year Sumo.
Sunday 22nd March is the event date. More details can be found at www.bq.org.au
Sumo did so well he was in the lead before the climb, but if I remember correctly, had a bout of the spews half way up and walked for a bit. Hope you have prepared better this year Sumo.
Sunday 22nd March is the event date. More details can be found at www.bq.org.au
Princess Eyes
Ok. I've dried my eyes, adjusted the sails and tightened the loose spokes.
In the words of one of my business Partners - Dry your eyes Princess and harden up.
In the words of one of my business Partners - Dry your eyes Princess and harden up.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Rider Profile - Dave "Bloomers"
1. What bike do you ride (road)?
G T Series five with new Shimano wheels (Haven't done a spoke yet)
2. What would be your dream bike?
Somthing that is lighter then what I have know ,it's had enough know with the extra weight . TREK of course 5.1
3. What's your day job?
Process Tech B.S.L
4. What's your favourite ride?
One I dont brake spokes or have flats. Block and wed night before touch footy.
5. Most memorable biking experience?
Having four flats in one day should of stayed home that day!!and racing just for laughs.
6. Least memorable biking experience?
Watching other people go down in front of you .
7. Bike rider you admire the most?
New starters that turn up day in day out and inprove to make it to the hitters.
G T Series five with new Shimano wheels (Haven't done a spoke yet)
2. What would be your dream bike?
Somthing that is lighter then what I have know ,it's had enough know with the extra weight . TREK of course 5.1
3. What's your day job?
Process Tech B.S.L
4. What's your favourite ride?
One I dont brake spokes or have flats. Block and wed night before touch footy.
5. Most memorable biking experience?
Having four flats in one day should of stayed home that day!!and racing just for laughs.
6. Least memorable biking experience?
Watching other people go down in front of you .
7. Bike rider you admire the most?
New starters that turn up day in day out and inprove to make it to the hitters.
Oakey Criterium & Kremese
There's always one word to describe the first race of the year. Ouch. This year was no different except the Ouch was earlier in the season than usual. Normally we don't start racing opens until late March early April.
All Gladstone riders - Matty, IJ and myself were racing in the same division for both days. Combined Elite B, Masters A and Women Elite A and we had over 60 in our field which made for excellant racing.
The crit on Saturday was at a blistering pace from the get go. It was a fast course with one hairy corner coming into the home straight. This corner claimed scalps in every division. Ours was no different. For me, the execution came earlier than I expected. Real early. Thunder held in the field until 15 minutes to go. Perhaps he would have stayed to the end if he hadn't gone for the Prime with Chris' Millen when there were no points up for grabs. Boys will be boys. IJ hung in until the end and avoided the crash on the last corner.
The M1 car was pretty quiet on the trip back to Toowoomba Saturday afternoon. There was a lot of soul searching happening.
The Kremese started early Sunday morning and was an extension of the course we had raced on Saturday. 8 laps of a 6.4k circuit with 8 climbs and some fast cornering. Having licked our wounds from the day before, we jumped on the start line ready for battle. And we got it. I managed to hang on until the half way mark. Given that its so early in the season - I was happy with this. A speedo check at my time of being spat out the back was an average of 38.7k/hr. Yep, no wonder I was hurting. After this, the race split into two big bunches. IJ in the lead bunch with Thunder in the second. It stayed this way until the end. IJ claimed 5th place and rode a great race. Matty came in with the second bunch and was glad to have saved some ego after the Crit.
Will M1 riders return to Oakey next year? Absolutely.
All Gladstone riders - Matty, IJ and myself were racing in the same division for both days. Combined Elite B, Masters A and Women Elite A and we had over 60 in our field which made for excellant racing.
The crit on Saturday was at a blistering pace from the get go. It was a fast course with one hairy corner coming into the home straight. This corner claimed scalps in every division. Ours was no different. For me, the execution came earlier than I expected. Real early. Thunder held in the field until 15 minutes to go. Perhaps he would have stayed to the end if he hadn't gone for the Prime with Chris' Millen when there were no points up for grabs. Boys will be boys. IJ hung in until the end and avoided the crash on the last corner.
The M1 car was pretty quiet on the trip back to Toowoomba Saturday afternoon. There was a lot of soul searching happening.
The Kremese started early Sunday morning and was an extension of the course we had raced on Saturday. 8 laps of a 6.4k circuit with 8 climbs and some fast cornering. Having licked our wounds from the day before, we jumped on the start line ready for battle. And we got it. I managed to hang on until the half way mark. Given that its so early in the season - I was happy with this. A speedo check at my time of being spat out the back was an average of 38.7k/hr. Yep, no wonder I was hurting. After this, the race split into two big bunches. IJ in the lead bunch with Thunder in the second. It stayed this way until the end. IJ claimed 5th place and rode a great race. Matty came in with the second bunch and was glad to have saved some ego after the Crit.
Will M1 riders return to Oakey next year? Absolutely.
Friday, February 6, 2009
The Pony Club Ride
The ride was eventful before it even started. Besides the back of the shop being over-run by teenage boys on downhill bikes, Chappo arrived with bark missing, chain off and short a waterbottle. He had swerved to avoid an opening car door and ended up on the bitumen.
To add insult to injury, the bunch was an embarrasment. There were only 3 cleanly shaved sets of legs in the entire bunch and 2 of them belonged to the only girls riding! For a moment I thought I had gone to the wrong shop. Welcome to the bunch Jazz.
The bunch did catch a fleating glance at Carmel as we turned onto Chapple St. Don't know where you guys ended up, but I hope you had a good ride. Ekka was in for a fight and pulled on the King with a spray of words along Kirkwood. Scottie was spraying words aswell, but no one could understand a thing he was saying. Shrug.
Farm Boy - get some new knicks. And boys, Hellloooooooo giggle giggle giggle giggle. OH PLEASE.
To add insult to injury, the bunch was an embarrasment. There were only 3 cleanly shaved sets of legs in the entire bunch and 2 of them belonged to the only girls riding! For a moment I thought I had gone to the wrong shop. Welcome to the bunch Jazz.
The bunch did catch a fleating glance at Carmel as we turned onto Chapple St. Don't know where you guys ended up, but I hope you had a good ride. Ekka was in for a fight and pulled on the King with a spray of words along Kirkwood. Scottie was spraying words aswell, but no one could understand a thing he was saying. Shrug.
Farm Boy - get some new knicks. And boys, Hellloooooooo giggle giggle giggle giggle. OH PLEASE.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Product Of The Week
This ones for everyone. Feeling peckish on a ride??? Just about ready to bonk??? Then you need the new Carbo Shots that have just landed in the M1 Shop.
The energy bars come in Choc Almond Ammo, Choc Mint Missle and Sticky Date Explosion. If you're a gel girl or guy then you have the choice of Lemon Lime and Wild Bean. Be wary, the Wild Bean one contains 80mg of caffeine - and that's A LOT.
They're something new and I'm keen for a trial run. Will let you know after the weekend how they go. On a closing note though, I'm not sure who came up with the name "Sticky Date Explosion".......
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Wednesday Morning Spy Report
Dispite the miserable weather around the place, it appears that M1 riders have not been deterred.
My spies have emailed me this morning already and informed me that Jaime aka Thomas was spotted in full M1 kit along Kirkwood road apparently heading to work. Alison was also seen on Kirkwood Road putting in some "hard yards".
And Jake you would be right, if you spotted the others, that means you are busted for ekky aswell. It appears that Kirkwood Road really is the land of the ekky trainers. Keep it up.
My spies have emailed me this morning already and informed me that Jaime aka Thomas was spotted in full M1 kit along Kirkwood road apparently heading to work. Alison was also seen on Kirkwood Road putting in some "hard yards".
And Jake you would be right, if you spotted the others, that means you are busted for ekky aswell. It appears that Kirkwood Road really is the land of the ekky trainers. Keep it up.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
The Perfect Paceline
After last weeks raging debate about the speed of Tuesday's Paceline, there was a bit of anticipation in the air as to how today's paceline would turn out. From the King himself - it was the perfect paceline.
I guess it started when we got a green light rolling onto Hanson Road. It was a good start, which continued for the entire 10ks. Well done to Old School Warren, Jake, Grazza and SpyCat who were still there on Hanson Road and pulling turns when they could. Steve K also put in a great effort in the paceline and worked hard - the fitness is definately coming back mate.
Sumo, made his debut return to the bunch rides having returned from Japan. Apparantly, Sumo did ride around the block on Saturday, but forgot that the ride leaves at 4:45am, so it was Sumo Solo. You snooze, you loose.
I guess it started when we got a green light rolling onto Hanson Road. It was a good start, which continued for the entire 10ks. Well done to Old School Warren, Jake, Grazza and SpyCat who were still there on Hanson Road and pulling turns when they could. Steve K also put in a great effort in the paceline and worked hard - the fitness is definately coming back mate.
Sumo, made his debut return to the bunch rides having returned from Japan. Apparantly, Sumo did ride around the block on Saturday, but forgot that the ride leaves at 4:45am, so it was Sumo Solo. You snooze, you loose.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Rider Profile - Eric Dousi
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1. What bike do you ride?
Specialized E5 S-Works & Colnago CLX.
2. What would be your dream bike?
Pinarello Prince.
3. What's your day job?
Reliability Engineer.
4. What's your favourite ride?
Mt Nebo & Mt Glorious.
5. Most memorable biking experience?
MS 150 Houston to Austin.
6. Least memorable biking experience?
Tour Down Under Be Active Ride - had to retire in the heat.
7. Bike rider you admire the most?
Cadel Evans - still loves his mountain biking.
Draft 2009 Racing Calendar
A draft calendar for racing in Rockhampton for the 2009 year has been released and is available at http://www.rockhamptoncyclingclub.com/media/RCC%202009%20ROAD%20CALENDAR.pdf
There are a few interesting additions to this years program including a 4 man team trial. Personally, I'm ignoring the MAN aspect of the time trial and will be organising a 4 WOMAN team for the event. Let me know girls if you are in.
There are also a few different locations and longer distances included so far which will add a bit of spice. I'm sure there will be adjusments to the calendar before it is finalised.
There are a few interesting additions to this years program including a 4 man team trial. Personally, I'm ignoring the MAN aspect of the time trial and will be organising a 4 WOMAN team for the event. Let me know girls if you are in.
There are also a few different locations and longer distances included so far which will add a bit of spice. I'm sure there will be adjusments to the calendar before it is finalised.
Quote For The Week
To get the new week off to a good start, I've found this quote from Bobby Julich's article "Battle of the Bulge".
"Eat, train, be happy and do the best you can with what you have."
Food for thought for all of us.
"Eat, train, be happy and do the best you can with what you have."
Food for thought for all of us.