Legs for hire

DBR attempted tour, Stage 2

After a good meal post ITT

and a decision that I would try and get to the end of the tour, I offered to help the Suzuki girls. I had nothing at all to lose and if I had something to do I was more likely to focus on the race.

I was duly factored in to the race plan and given my instructions. Easy enough- watch for breaks and cover the front. The first 10km of the race was some of the sketchiest time I have spent in a bunch. I am sure the gusting head winds were not helping our cause. I was also quite bored. Normally when I get bored in the bunch I will try and go off the front. That wasn't part of the instruction so I stayed where I was (boo!).

Things started to split up was we headed down the 2nd sister and even more as we went into Uriarra Crossing. I misjudged where I was in the bunch and ended up much further back than I would have liked. After working very hard out of the crossing and half way along the false flat I was back in the bunch.

Straight to the front I went where Bron was doing an excellent job patrolling. There was an attack from VIS and another rider to cover and then I was left on the front. Not a bad place to be at that point. That is largely where I stayed until everyone started to line things up for the descent back into Uriarra. I drifted to towards the back to take the descent at my own pace (long story).

Allison was just in front of me as we came across the bridge and the poor thing had thrown her chain off. Not knowing what the problem was I swiftly jumped off, offering wheels or whatever was needed. We got the chain back on just as the spares car got to us. A push up the hill to get us going, started well for me, but about half way up my legs just wouldn't shut up and I had to let Allison go on her own.

For me that was my race done. I kept up a reasonable tempo but couldn't bridge back to the bunch. I spotted a rider up the road and set about catching them. That was Skye-Lee, a fellow trackie, she had punctured and was just cruising back to SFP. So we had a nice ride back in with a taily to help us a long!

Allison finished 4th on the stage and was still in the lead at that point so I was happy! Job done!

I didn't start the last day due to an elevated heart rate and a slight sore throat. Rules are rules, and that was my ride done. I watched some phenomenal riding in the women's race, well done to Grace Sulzberger for absolutely dominating the event. Congratulations to all the girls who got through the weekend.

Racing as training

DBR Tour, or should that be an attempted tour.

When the new world coaching order began, this tour was set as a target to see what I was capable of. At last year's addition I was third on the ITT, Amy Cure topped the podium and Jo Hogan was 2nd. I knew what I was capable on the ITT course.

Unfortunately for the month leading up to the tour I wasn't able to train properly. (See the post below about that). I was acutely aware that I was going to be seriously underdone for the tour.

I had contemplated withdrawing, but you know, sometimes you just can't help yourself. With oral surgery set for the following Thursday I set some strict conditions on myself- in particular any sign that I was getting run down or potentially getting sick, I was out. It wouldn't matter if that meant only doing the ITT, I have to be well on Thursday.

The forecast for the weekend was pretty horrendous. Friday morning looked like this outside my backdoor! Fortunately the sun came out and the wind stayed down (relatively) for the women and the disc wheels could go on!

Given the prep that I'd had, I really can't be unhappy with the time trial I rode. I gave it absolutely everything I had, which all anyone can ask for. I saw some good improvements on the flat and descending sections, but there is a lot of work to do on the climbs. At the end of the day I was a little over a minute down on local champ Allison Rice who took the win, and 15th on the stage.

Not a bad result, but I am trying to stop myself asking, what if I had been fully fit and ready, what would have/could have happened then?

postscript

The last post didn't have any pictures. I don't like posts without pictures!

This might be a little bit cryptic for some, but that is what you have google for!!

Any of the girls I went to school with should recognise Fred Savage and make the connection!!

With a little help from my friends

It has been a bit of a tough couple of weeks around here. The DBR Canberra Women's Tour was set as an achievable goal under the new world (coaching) order, but somehow that message didn't get through to my wisdom teeth .
Tooth pain is awful at the best of times, but when it is coupled with an infection it is really unpleasant. It was to the point where I had to go home early from work. This also meant that I wasn't training at full capacity. In case you missed it, I am a microbiologist by training, I know what happens when bacteria goes feral and that was not something I was prepared to risk. To make it worse, my dentist was at a conference for the week.

I managed to race the club champ ITT on the Saturday after it had sort of settled down. That was the hardest TT I have EVER raced. It was windy, cold and the course was brutal, and of course the bacteria were still partying in my mouth (just a bit quieter).

The acute stage of the infection had passed by the time I got to the see the dentist, but it was still hanging around. That meant a course of antibiotics. It was an antibiotic I had taken before, but I seemed to have an increased sensitivity to it this time around, further hindering my training.

With my training load down about 40%, maybe more, I wasn't able to defend my ACT ITT championship title. Although I can't be too unhappy with the performance on the day, it still cuts deep. It was tight at the pointy end of the field and there were some positive signs, all things considered.

I am currently scrambling to get some form into me before the DBR Tour kicks off on Friday. And it is with the help of my friends that I have been able to scrape the bottom of the mojo barrel, pick myself up and get on with it! Thank you

To name and shame... Matt (husband, soigny, mechanic, also known as the Engineer); MiffyG (check her out here), Coach Lyn, Hazel from work, World Champ Sue P, old favourites Glenn and Pothole, and anyone else who would listen to my moaning!

Last but not least, and I should have photographed it when I saw it because it has changed now, the Ride Happy site that was subliminally telling me: "Ride Happy- Bec" . Just what I needed to move my sorry self- thanks Lisa! (If you haven't checked out the new Ride Happy site, get over there now, far more entertaining than me!!)

Here's to a fun stage race this weekend and the break that is going to follow!!