Almost, Dr...

A quick update on this post.
Today I got word that the examiners had approved my thesis WOOOHOOOO! :D

Some minor changes are needed, but I reckon I can have them done by the 31 May in order to make it to July graduation!

Thank you to everyone who has supported me in achieving this.

How many false starts are you allowed?

A couple of club races, a couple of results that I am less than impressed with. :(

One of them was because of a low level virus that was wearing me down, and that sucked, especially when on race day I was actually feeling pretty good. Others were my own doing. Sometimes the analytical scientist in me won't let the cyclist in me just do its job.
These are perfect reminders that cycling is about so much more than just the legs...

We all know the phrase "Shut up legs", I think mine will have to be "Shut up brain".

(I have no idea what this DVD is about, I just wanted the image. Maybe it would be useful!!)

The wheels on the bike go round and round...

The last few weeks have been all about clocking up the kilometres. Most of these have been solo, "secret training" kilometres. Consequently, many things have been observed.

• Goulburn, home of the Big Merino, is not far enough away and the kilometres need to be rounded up. :|
  

• Yass is a perfect distance away. However, it is all uphill on the way home, starting with the hill in the way out. :)

• People who do not know how to ride in a bunch should NOT suck my wheel! Further more, I HATE WHEELSUCKING SUPER COMMUTERS!! :v
  

• I have a very good relationship with my mp3 player, but some tunes are better for the road than others. :) From the current playlist:

• Anthrax- good
• Presets- good
• Peaches- good
• Mr Bungle- not so good (I love all things Mike Paton, but Mr Bungle is a little too erratic for good pedalling tempo, although for this purpose it is better than Fantomas).
  

• I dislike people tossing their rubbish out the window of their car. We are all familiar with the "bogan droppings" (broken glass bottles in the bike lane), but is it necessary to toss a cigarette butt out the window, particularly when I am there? And, did you know that it was clean up Australia when you committed aforementioned crime? :@

• The number of people with complete disregard for red lights, both bikes and cars, is unbelievable! Just STOP! xo
  

• The guys and girls at OnyaBike Belco are fantastically awesome. I am incredibly grateful for all their support! :D

• At the end of the day I love riding my bike! :D

Just like the textbook says

Club Crit Champs, 17.2.2010

When things go as planned and the objective achieved, it makes for a very satisfying ride.

It was club champs night out at Stromlo Forest Park. Being back into the full swing of training for 2 days, I was hoping to get to the end of the race, with a distant thought of defending my Vikings Crit Champ title from 2009.

The race was scheduled to be about 23 minutes plus 2 laps, although that was shortened due to the brown snake taking up residence on the 2nd last corner (credit to Brian and his broom for keeping it off the track while racing happened). The pace was reasonably high, but still comfortable. Bron (Ryan) was attacking regularly but the other girls weren't letting anything get away despite my trying to stop them. At one point, I attacked and Bron came with and we thought that we might have got away with it, but no. sigh.

It was apparent to me that it wasn't worth me trying to go up the road, so I found myself a nice safe spot to be in the bunch and pretended to be a sprinter trying to avoid the front. With about 2 minutes of time remaining, the plan was hatched. Bron would attack once more, and knowing that the bunch wasn't going to let that happen and she would be back with us, she would lead me out.

Two laps to go, away went Bron, and for just a little while, it looked like she might have got a way with it. But the others decided that wasn't right and went and got her. Coming through for the bell, I had myself nicely attached to Bron's wheel and away we went. I can't really tell you what was going on behind me, but from where I was sitting it, the only person who could have stuffed up a podium finish was me!

Being the awesome time trialer that she is, Bron did a fantastic job winding me up to speed. At one point I was actually worried that I wouldn't be able to hold the wheel after my recent time off, but there was nothing to worry about there (thankfully!). I stepped off Bron's wheel as we came out of the last corner, just like the textbook would say, and lit it up from there.

As for what happened next...

That is gold, if you can't tell.

Thanks Bron, you're a star!

NB...

The following three posts should be read from the bottom up... Shake, Rattle and Roll... and then they will make sense :)

Just realising the date :)

But only the original, I don't want to know about any of this remake stuff!!

Roll

I hate being injured. I am very impatient and at the moment, and especially since I can't, I really really want to ride my bicycle at the moment! Here is a brief run down of things...

Monday
Thought I was OK to ride to work. About 6km into the 16km ride, I realised this was a bad idea. Everything hurt, my ribs and my knee especially. I left my bike at work and caught the bus home at the end of the day.

Tuesday
As a result of the pain I was in, I went to the Dr to get things checked. No ligament damage to my knee, most likely it is soft tissue and will take a little while to settle. That is a very impreesive bruise covering the knee though! As for the ribs, there was a suspected fracture so it was off for Xrays. And, the worst part, no bike! At least until the end of the week- BOO!!

I managed to get Xrays that afternoon as well, now to wait.

Wednesday
I hate it when I have to catch the bus to work! Xray results, all clear- woohoo- but it hurt to do that!

Thursday & Friday- feeling better.

Saturday- Managed 30 minutes on the wind trainer.

Sunday- 45 minutes on the wind trainer. Better than yesterday.

Monday- Rode to and from work. Almost better! Still some pain when I am out of the saddle and pushing a bigger gear, but it wasn't unbearable. On the way home it was better still

Tuesday- Cut a lap around the lake. Better again!

I seem to have bounced very well! Man, am I lucky!! There are still a few easy days to get through before we can really ramp things up, but that is much better than the possible 6 weeks that might have resulted had there been a fracture.

On the up side, this has all been managed with the guidance of my new coach, Brian (Simpson)- thanks!

Bring on the weekend!! (and 100% functioning limbs!)

Rattle

In the process of developing some bike love after an interesting couple of weeks, I went off to do a CORC advanced mountain bike course for ladies. Ahh, to the darkside I went!

By way of background, in the last 12 months, I have ridden my mountain bike about 4 times, including two dirt crits in the last two weeks. Thus, I was perfectly prepared for this course!!

Anyway, off I went. I got through the first few things, no dramas and was having a whole lot of fun. Then our instructor extrodinaire, Mick, decided it was time that we tackled something a bit more challenging. About 2/3 of the way down the world champs 4X track at Stromlo Forest Park, there is a pile of rocks packed with dirt, about 2 metres high. (All measurements are purely subjective and I am not making any claim to accuracy!!). After a couple of poor attempts to go over this, I finally nailed it. Not satisified with ticking this off the list, I went back for seconds...

I had a good run to the top and I was ready to go down the other side. The trick with this pile of rocks, is that there is one good line down. On this attempt, I didn't find this line! My front wheel got stuck! Instinctively I grabbed a fistful of front brake! Before I knew over the handlebars I went and heading head first towards the rocks and dirt below! Maybe a fall of about 3 feet, maybe more, maybe less.

Growing up riding horses I instinctively protected my head and didn't stick my hands out, thus saving my wrists and my face from getting cut up. However, this move left my ribs and lateral knee clearly exposed to the rocks. Bruised, winded and missing a bit of bark, I lay on the ground for a little while before heading off for morning tea!

I rode through the rest of the day, perhaps foolishly, but I was having fun and where necessary I sat things out.

CORC put on a fansastic day and everyone got a lot out of it. Thanks everyone!

As for me, my ribs and my knee hurts! No sneezing, coughing, laughing, squating or kneeling!

Shake

My time as an NTID athlete has come to an end. I won't go into all the details, let's just say it is time for me to evolve separately. Unlike other products of NTID, like Bridie O'Donnell, I wouldn't say that I graduated with high distinction, but I would like to think that I have come through with at least a credit average.

The opportunity that was presented to me through the NTID program was fantastic and I will be forever grateful for the experience. Sincere thanks to: Tammie Ebert, senior co-ordinator of NTID, Josh Sear, Tammie's assistant, and the Australian Sports Commission for their generous support and encouragement throughout the last couple of years. Concurrent with this support, I would also like to acknowledge the support of the ACT Academy Support, specifically Glenn Doney and the Strength and Conditioning coaches, Dean and Dave, you guys have been invaluable.

And last, but by no means not least, Pothole, who has been my coach for the last couple of years, it has been an awesome journey, with some amazing triumphs and development. We both agree, it is time for fresh eyes and a new approach. Thanks mate!

Now, it is time to look to the future. There are a few too many what ifs for me to just walk away from this, and probably a little bit too much passion as well! I am looking forward to what lies ahead and seeing what I can achieve next.

PS: Thanks to those close to me who have listened, advised and supported me during this time- you all know who you are :)

Have you got a spare $10?

I reckon you probably do. If you bought your lunch today instead of packing something and bringing it in from home, you have a spare $10*.

A friend of mine, and fellow cyclist, is raising money for leukaemia. Those of you in Australia have probably heard of the World's Greatest Shave. See here for more details. Sarah, who currently has a rather nice head of hair, will be shaving it all off in memory of her friend Lisa who lost her battle with leukaemia.

Sarah (right) with lots of hair.
(Photographed here with India Faehndrich at India's wedding)

Here is Sarah's blurb about this important cause:

Please sponsor me! I am taking part in the Leukaemia Foundation's World's Greatest Shave 2010 because I hope that my involvement will help people who are suffering leukaemia at this moment and give them and their families the support they may need to help pull them through their long and tough treatment. A friend and I had a goal to raise $10,000 for the foundation this March, however she recently lost her battle with the disease. She had many goals. This one, I believe I can achieve in her memory. The funds we raise will help the Leukaemia Foundation to provide practical care and support to patients and families living with leukaemias, lymphomas, myeloma and related blood disorders. I think it is really important that we understand how significantly the families can be impacted by tragedy and that ultimately cancer heavily effects all involved. Therefore, we must do all we can to help find a cure and in the mean time, support those fighting.

Still not convinced... swing by the Facebook group: In memory of Lisa

Now, just get out your credit card and go donate here**

Thanks for your cash and thanks for reading, it means a lot to Sarah and anyone who has been affected by leukaemia and associated crap-house blood diseases.

*My peasant uni friends, you may reduce this amount to $3.70 (the amount for a pie and sauce from the ANU bakery).
**Australian residents, $2 and over is tax deductible.

Buninyong- home of the AORCC and...

a polite way to say b#%@$*d.

National TT Championships
6 January 2010

The course used to determine the Australian TT Champ is brutal. The start climbs for ~2.5km, not too steep, but just dragging, dragging, dragging, then it undulates predominantly downhill, then it undulates predominantly uphill, with some extra leg zap before the final very very fast 5km downhill run to the finish. It is 28km, it is exposed and the wind likes to blow, and the roads are rough and dead in many places. But, when the adrenaline is pumping and you have gone over those things in your head for the weeks before hand, race day brings out something special.

With the climb at the start I had been told that this course really wouldn't suit me and not to be too ambitious with my goals for the race. I hadn't raced the course before, but had ridden over it on a previous NTID training camp and I had spent a bit more time on it after the Victorian track titles, so I knew what I was in for. I even lost ~8kg before the race to be more attractive to the course! And, I convinced myself that me and the Buninyong course were compatible.

I would love to be able to tell you that this was my best race of the year, but it wasn't quite. Whilst I am satisfied that I did the best I could do on the day, there are things that can be improved (there always are!). It wasn't a day that I got on the bike and everything was perfect- for the most part I felt good, but I have felt better. It is hard to explain, but I think, dear reader, that if you are in any way competitive you will know what I am trying to say!

(photo from WomensCycling.net)

In the end I finished 10th in the elite women, a result that I am not unhappy with. Looking at the times just above me, if I hadn't had a nufty moment on the left-hander at the railway station it is possible that I might have placed a little further up. Maybe.

I was never expecting to be right at the pointy end, that spot is reserved for Amber Halliday (gold), Bridie O'Donnell (silver), Carly Light (bronze).

But I was pleased to be the first person to cross the line for the day (yes, I caught all the people in front of me), and I was also pretty stoked to stay leader for considerable length of time :)

I have some unfinished business in Buninyong and I reckon that this course and I might be compatible after all :)

Special thanks to the ACTAS support crew- Glenn Doney (head coach), Joel Stewart (mechanic), Susie Boer (mechanic), Sarah (masseuse) & Joel Ryan (chauffeur to the course), and my coach, Pothole.

Congratulations to Alex Carle for taking bronze in the U23 category (and beating me by 28 seconds).

Thanks also to my support vehicle- Al Matthews and Ben Hill- I'm glad I didn't need you guys but I appreciate that you were behind me, and thanks for all your vocal support from the car!