Friday, November 28, 2008

Nothing happening at Tuggeranong Pines





This week the dirt crit was held at Tuggeranong Pines. It has never been a favorite of mine. Occasionally they have a cool circuit that goes down parts of the downhill course out there. But apart from that they are usually nothing to write home about.

It was pouring when I left home, and the rain followed us all the way. There was a small but semi-keen group of racers that rocked up. And though it looked like it was going to rain and was raining all around, it was nothing more than 'more dark than usual and unusually humid'.

I had absolutley nothing this week and my heart rate was way too high. The most fantastic thing was the Cooper fan club. Dylan and the whole entire Cooper clan came out and were supporting Rob. It was fantastic, all the kids were screaming 'go Kylie go'. It made a very average race much more enjoyable.

I had a great start but nothing much more happenned after that. There was a really cool section of downhill with a little jump at the end which was fun as. We ended up just talking a lot of crap - especially after the race. It was particularly to hear stories of racing overseas from Drapac Porsche rider Stuart Shaw.

That's it people - it never rained a drop during racing, but the bikes on the roof rack got a free wash on the way home. Figure that one. The actual drive through the traffic took longer than the racing. BTW I won a fully stacked female class!:)

Thursday, November 20, 2008

A win at stromlo dirt crit...


It had rained Wednesday night and then on and off during the day yesterday so I wondered whether the track at Stromlo would be muddy for the dirt crit. It turned out to be dry and hard packed with just one little puddle on the back of the 4x track. James had brought the mud tires just in case. It's funny.. I think as long as James brings the mud tires it won't rain at another race… well that's what I'm hoping for anyway.

This week I actually spent a lot more time warming up before the dirt crit instead of standing around talking with the usual suspects…which I love to do and is one of the most enjoyable parts of racing. I always like racing B grade. Bec and I were the only girls in B Grade which was really good because I wanted to try a new approach to the start. I wanted to try to not go above and beyond my max in the first lap!!! Yesterday I felt really strong and had good power in the legs - I wish that you could pick the days & races when you felt like that. Bec and I had a rumble on the last lap but I was able to keep her out on the last climb up to the 4x track and take the win in Womens grade. We ended up almost stalling at that point at the 4x track because we were laughing at each other. I love racing Bec because it's always for sheep stations, and because we push each other we'll only both get stronger, but when we come to the end of the race we just talk rubbish and have a bit of a laugh.

Well … I can't wait for the weekend…bring it on!!

Monday, November 10, 2008

How to road race once a year... the Tour De Femme!


After the howling gale of Saturday, Sunday turned out to be a beautiful day for the TDF. It was warm enough for someone who hates to ride outside under double digits and there was hardly any wind.

As a warm up I rode from Dickson to the start of the race down near the Hyatt which took about 10 minutes (: and then did a warm up around the Yarralumla part of the course.

I was really pleased to be seeded this year so I didn't have to worry about lining up in the general group and being stuck somewhere in the 600+ entrants. As usual there was a great atmosphere to the TDF which doubles as a race and a participation event.

I was on the second row after the tandems so was able to get a good start and get out onto Northbourne Avenue ok. On the turn onto the Parkway there was the usual bottleneck of riders which I always forget is a part of road riding. I felt ok early on and worked hard at staying near the front and trying to stay out of trouble. The pack was massive & bigger than usual I thought and seemed to be in this eternal washing machine where the lines were never working clearly.

On the turn off the parkway to Lady Denman Drive there was a baracade across the road to stop the traffic going down but also didn't leave much room for the peleton and caused a bit of commotion. I made sure I hit the down ramp fast and got in front turning through the lights as last year there were some intersting turning styles executed by the bunch.

That left me leading the peleton which wasn't part of the plan... (: About a kilometre later two girls went clear of the field and basically kept the same distance the whole way to the finish to eventually claim 1st and 2nd. The peleton pretty much stayed together as a big bunch to the finish as well. There were two crashes - one just after the Parkway onto the Cotter turn off and then one onto Adelaide Avenue which finished off the dreams of Chloe Hosking of taking her trifecta of TDF titles. There was much talk this year of some of the interesting riding executed by some racers who were strong enough to be in the bunch but may not have had the same level of skills... at times I was surprised there were not more crashes.

I must thank Mary-Anne Simpson (who really deserves a Whippet puppy for this) from the Bike Shed who does a fabulous job and all the volunteers for a great event. The Henderson family sent three of their team in - Leanne, Rach and Bec with Benny and John providing support and bicycles.

I am really stoked with the race because I achieved my objective of staying with the bunch until the finish. I ended up coming 25 and I am so happy with that as I don't have any experience (clue!!) with road racing. But it was a total blast and I am happy with the progression of fitness and endurance that I am making.

All in all it was another exciting adventure into road racing. I dusted my bike off and took the bike off the trainer to do my one and only road race for the year - I am truly a road princess!! lol I've been told that I should race the road crits on Wednesday but we will see how that goes.

I rode a 100km to finish off the day and to get in some more training for the next National Mtb race.

Saturday, November 8, 2008

Photos ... Adelaide











I love Adelaide

Adelaide was a blast - I just love going there!! I love being in adelaide, it's so cycling friendly and you can ride whatever you want. There's inner city jumps, endless road rides you can go on, and Eagle on the Hill is a great location for racing. Add to that they run a really good race every year. I hope that it continues to be on the calendar because they are one of the stand-outs in the past two years! Everything is just organised so well... and the trophies are to die for ... I hope they keep the 'Eagles' (trophy) because I aiming for one even if it takes me till I'm 30 to get one... he he!!

It was great to catch up with the usual suspects at the first MTB national race of the series. I always enjoy talking crap with everyone (: The canberra tribe were out in force; James (of course), the Hendos (John, Bec & Benny) and all their tribe (Trekky and Joel), Louie (Shaun Lewis), Charlton Durie, The Bakers, Andy Blair, Bianca, Nikki Fisher etc.

The XC track was the same as last years and luckily it didn't rain. I really enjoy the course at Eagle on the Hill. Lot's of single track but not much fireroad which makes for interesting positioning and overtaking (and drinking). I did suffer a little from the heat on the final two laps as I haven't quite got the whole waterbottle drinking thing down pat yet... mmm! I also had a massive crash at Stromlo on the sunday before leaving for Adelaide - I like to ensure that I am always in the best condition for big races...lol... so I ensured that I had a huge crash just in time for the race. It was one of my bigger ones... and I've had a few to compare (:

I ended up coming 10th in Elite and 5th in short track. I really enjoyed the short track - again, super fun little course. It was really humid as it had tried to rain and at the top of the pinchy little hill in the short-track it felt really oppressive. The Torq girls were in fine form and controlled the race effectively. Becky the biscuit was fourth - she (and the other hendos) is the most fun to talk crap with when I am away racing. She spent the weekend paying me out about my new race gear... being orange and black she told me that I wanted to be a "wannabe mongoose". Speaking of little furry animals - I had a pet mongoose when I lived in India (believe it or not). They're runty, fast, furry and have really, really sharp teeth - what does that say about Team Mongoose (:

After the short track I rode back with the BMC pleasure boys (Joel Donney and Charlton Durie) and Benny H. Joel was super fresh and rode like a crazed mtb-er down the dirt road through the on-coming cars and spectators watching the DH. Benny & I rode a little more moderately. Benny because he had had an awesome weekend so he had probably expended everything he had - 2nd in the Elite XC and 4th in Short track (by a whisker) - me because I didn't want to be the hood ornament on someones car!! We got sidetracked along the way and found a random trail and by the time we got to the main road at the top of the hill, miraculously a van whose driver and tribe will remain anonymous motorpaced Ben, Joel and Charlton down the hill and down the freeway to town.

So much more to write about Adelaide and why I love it... I will add some photos and hope to add some more soon. I have to go because I am racing the Tour de Femme tomorrow. zzzzzzzzzzzz x Kylie