The love/hate relationship continues…

NSW Pursuit Titles

I think I said last year that I wasn’t going to pursue this event further, but, I changed my mind! Although the focus has changed and we have taken some of the pressure off by not having this as my main event.

After a last minute moto-session on BundaDome the car was packed and we headed up the highway on Saturday afternoon. The start list was a little ominous with Kate Bates, Ashlee Akudinoff, Lis Georgouras and Megan Dunn all listed. My goal for the weekend was firstly to ride a PB and hopefully qualify for the final.

For the heat I was up against Ash, that was daunting at all, no, I had just watched her in the TP at the World Cup, can’t be that fast surely!! So along with a PB, I wanted to avoid getting caught!! Alas I wasn’t good enough for the second aim, but I did hold out until the final km! But I did PB and qualified for the final.

I was up against Megan in the final. Hmm, tough day with world medalists everywhere! Again, my aim was simple, to go faster than my qualifier. In the end Megan was over the line about 4 seconds faster than me, and I did go faster than my qualifier. And whilst I couldn’t quite get to my schedule time, it was a PB, so no complaints.

Results:
Gold: Ash Ankudinoff
Silver: Kate Bates
Bronze: Megan Dunn

It has taken a long time for me to make any major improvements in this event, and this season has started well, so I am happy. (Yeah, I know it is not a super-fantastic time, but you get out there and do one and tell me how you go :p)

UCI Track World Cup

Hisense Arena, Melbourne

For a change of pace, I headed to Melbourne to watch some bike racing! Yes, I know, I get to see bike racing all the time, but it is not often I get to relax and appreciate it. Nor is it often that I get to see some of my mates and some of the fastest people in the world racing at the same time!

The atmosphere in Hisense was awesome and the racing was fantastic. The Australians were dominant over the three days and it was with immense pride and excitement that I enjoyed their performances. As an added bonus I went home with a completely re-newed motivation and love for my bike and training!

(You can read all about the World Cup here.)

VCC Time Trial Series Race #1

It used to be that over summer the VCC would run a time trial every second Monday. The course was 12km, out and back from the entrance to SFP on Uriarra Rd. Last season I would generally do these on a fixed gear and after a pretty big session at the track. They were good training and a good gauge of progress. This season, we have a new format and it is perfect for Nationals preparation. The series is now monthly, it still on Uriarra Rd, but it just shy of 21km (it is advertised as 19km, but I think that is to trick people to come race!!), and the clincher is that it includes two of the three sisters in an out and back format.

I wasn’t sure how well I would perform over this course, but I was going to have a good go at it! Unlike days earlier in the week, there was no wind to speak of, such a nice change for Canberra at this time of the year. It was fairly warm, but not yet hot, all in all pretty good conditions for a TT.

On the whole I am pretty happy with 99% of this race. I managed to find some good rhythm and speed for most of the race, although I did find myself a touch over-geared towards the top of the 3^rd sister just before the KOM mark. I also let myself get distracted by the car that decided he didn’t want to wait for me to go past the T-intersection, but then forgot to accelerate when he turned onto the road! So whilst I did have some awesome speed (approaching 70km/hr coming down the 2^nd sister) I had to wash a whole lot off to avoid running into the back of said car on the uphill before the turn. As a result of all of this I missed the turn cone by about 2m- total beginner error there!

In the end, I was second to Alex (Carle) by 3 seconds, in a time of 34:45, which I was pretty satisfied with. It is a nice bench mark. Now, to go faster next time!

The Golden Wheel

Wagga Wagga CC Golden Wheel Track Carnival
7th & 8th November
Hot Hot Hot

About this time last year I told you about the Wagga Golden Wheel Carnival. It is one of my favourite track races. It is a well organised carnival, it is a great atmosphere, usually the entries are good and there is always a whole lot of prizemoney (always a bonus!). This year was almost true to form, although numbers were down a bit which was disappointing. But, it was still a whole lot of fun nonetheless!

Early in the week it was touch and go whether I was going to be right to race, having had a throat infection, which the doctor later told me was viral tracheitis (just a fancy word for throat infection). Nothing to be done but rest :( After spending several days off the bike (and off work) I was feeling 100% come Friday. Then Saturday morning I woke up covered in a rash- including my eyelids- and itching like you wouldn't believe! Unsure what this was, it was off the Dr again to make sure it a)wasn't contagious and b)wasn't serious. All clear for both of those, it was just hives! Having never had hives before I have no idea what caused them, so if you have any idea, I would love to know (it was not my shampoo, glass of wine or washing powder!).

So, dramas out of the way it was off to Wagga.
Turned out I ended up with a big program with a total of 12 races across the two half days!
And I am pleased to say there were podiums all round!
This was my most successful trip to the Golden Wheel ever!
Whilst I wasn't even close to the podium for the blue ribband event,
I did make the final and put up a fight before
Paul Fellows got to me and got to the line first!

Women's wheelrace podium:
myself, Rebecca Dunn & Emily Williams

Other notable results from the weekend were 2nd in the Women's Wheelrace (Saturday), 1st scratch race (Saturday), 2nd scratch race (Sunday- I was well marked by then!!) and 5th in the Rules Club Wheelrace (Sunday). It was one of those rare occasions as a bike rider that I actually won enough to cover the cost of entry, accommodation and travel!

Rules Club Wheelrace Podium (5th)

Thanks to my mum and Matt's parents for coming to watch, it is always nice to have personal spectators!

Thanks to Wagga CC for an awesome event- see you again next year!

Well done to all the ladies who participated in the Tour de Femme, I was pleased to hear it was crash free! Congrats to Kirsty Broun, Jessie Maclean and Chloe Hosking on being on top of the podium!

You can see more photos from Wagga here

What a feeling...

I submitted my PhD thesis on Friday!
Now the waiting for comments begins.

Flowers from my parents; the completed document; pen from ANU for submitting!