McDonalds Classic Weekend, 6-7 June
Saturday: 84km HCP Oura Rd- Wanabadgerry-Junee Loop
Sunday: Criterium -40 minutes + 3 laps around the Wagga Wagga CBD
The drive in to the start of the HCP was through thick fog with very limited visibility at times, but as it turned out that was the least of my concerns!
As we went over the start of the rollers, I discovered that my gears were just not wanting to work with me. As I tried to find a gear to get over the roll, I slipped further and further away from the front of our group. I then found myself rolling along alone thinking it was going to be a very long day... I jumped in with the next bunch, but the same thing happened on the next roller- 10 gears on my cassette and nothing decent to race on! Shortly after that I called it a day and turned back for the start line. I hate DNF-ing, but this really was the most sensible option. On the brightside, I would be fresh for the crit tomorrow!
The crit was around the Wagga CBD and thankfully by the time we rolled out the standing water from the overnight rain had dried and the threat of rain passed (for the time being). I rate the course around Wagga, lots of left hand corners and on the whole pretty fast. My plan was to stay safe (always top priority when racing with D-grade men), maybe try for an intermediate sprint, but mainly be there at the end (I was still getting my racing legs back, afterall).
Some parts of the plan worked- I dodged the crash and got to the end of the race, finishing with the bunch. Unfortunately, I found myself giving the boys a bit too much space in the corners and undoing all the good work I had done moving up the bunch. The reality was that the more I could feel my wrist during the race, the more hesitant I was, though I did get over that as the race went on... Lots of lessons learnt, and that was that!
The Suzuki Uno boys did well, taking C grade (Bayden Burke) and 1-2 in B-grade (Sam Genge, John Forrest).
Jun 8, 2009
Jun 1, 2009
ITT comes before GCC... just for a little while
Goulburn Women and Juniors' Tour
30-31 May.
Cold, windy and wet at times.
The count was three weeks back on the road post-op and it had been quite a few kms put in as well (playing catch-up came to mind at times!). The weather was ominous right from the start of the weekend. And I had a lot to prove to myself.
The format was Saturday: Prologue (6km) and Road Race 45km, Sunday: ITT (10km) and Road Race 47km.
Prologue
This was an out and back course which was relatively flat. Although, in the howling head wind on the way back the rise before the finish became a "massive climb" :) On the whole I was pretty happy with the outcome, but certainly driven for more- 2nd by 1 sec.
RR- 45km
Due to the disparity of women racing, it was decided that the road race would be run as a handicap. The handicaps were based on the prologue times and resulted in 3 lots of 4 women, separated by 3 minutes (I think that was the gap). This turned out to be a disaster!! Alex, Judith, Myf and myself all worked hard on the way out to the turn, but as we passed the others on their return it was becoming clear that we were not going to get up. Shortly after the turn Alex had a mechanical and encouraged us to keep going. A little bit further along on one of the rollers Judith and Myf attacked and I found that I just had nothing to go with them! A whole lot of ergo and TT sessions don't really help to sprint up hills. After heading towards the finish on my own for a while, Alex appeared on my back wheel. The two of us kept chasing- we could see Jude and Myf pretty much the entire time! Unfortunately, even knowing that over the rise was the finsish line (we were on the same bit of road as the prologue), I was too far in the box to hold Alex's wheel to the line. Somewhat disappointing really, but that is what lack of race time does!
Sunday: ITT (10km). Start of the day GC place: 2nd (know idea how they worked things after the RR come HCP!!)
The course for this stage was the other end of the road we had been using yesterday (ie where the turn around was for the road stage). The course was largely rolling with an uphill kick for the finish, headwind on the way out and tailwind home.
Thinking back on it, I actually really enjoyed this stage. My favourite moment was looking down at the SRM to see I was speeding in a 60 kph zone!! I didn't think I had done that well relative to the other girls, but the final times told me otherwise:
1. BARWICK, Rebecca 16:45
2. MAY, Judith 16:51
3. CARLE, Alex 16:54
4. GALLOWAY, Myfanwy 17:00
Suddenly I found myself going in to the stage with a mere 8 second lead on GC! Exciting , but completely new territory- racing with a target on my back!!
Road Race- 47km.
In hindsight, along with my lack of recent racing, about 10km into the race I suddenly found that I had spent way too many biccies in the TT! That, and Alex and Myf had hatched a plan ;) and Jude was just racing way too well. So in the end I had a nice, second, TT for the day. For a while I had Jessamy Hosking with me, but after the turn around I was on my own.
Despite spending most of the last stage on my own, I was pretty happy with how things went, when considered in the context of everything that had been going on. (Although I would have liked to have not been 6 minutes down at the end of the tour :( )
The purpose of the weekend was to find out where I was at for my preparations for upcoming time trials, and from that perspective, it was successful! :D
Final Results:
(Photos to follow...)
30-31 May.
Cold, windy and wet at times.
The count was three weeks back on the road post-op and it had been quite a few kms put in as well (playing catch-up came to mind at times!). The weather was ominous right from the start of the weekend. And I had a lot to prove to myself.
The format was Saturday: Prologue (6km) and Road Race 45km, Sunday: ITT (10km) and Road Race 47km.
Prologue
This was an out and back course which was relatively flat. Although, in the howling head wind on the way back the rise before the finish became a "massive climb" :) On the whole I was pretty happy with the outcome, but certainly driven for more- 2nd by 1 sec.
| 1. 8:59 CARLE, | Alex |
| 2. 9:00 BARWICK, | Rebecca |
| 3. 9:05 MAY, | Judith |
| 4. 9:14 GALLOWAY, | Myfanwy |
RR- 45km
Due to the disparity of women racing, it was decided that the road race would be run as a handicap. The handicaps were based on the prologue times and resulted in 3 lots of 4 women, separated by 3 minutes (I think that was the gap). This turned out to be a disaster!! Alex, Judith, Myf and myself all worked hard on the way out to the turn, but as we passed the others on their return it was becoming clear that we were not going to get up. Shortly after the turn Alex had a mechanical and encouraged us to keep going. A little bit further along on one of the rollers Judith and Myf attacked and I found that I just had nothing to go with them! A whole lot of ergo and TT sessions don't really help to sprint up hills. After heading towards the finish on my own for a while, Alex appeared on my back wheel. The two of us kept chasing- we could see Jude and Myf pretty much the entire time! Unfortunately, even knowing that over the rise was the finsish line (we were on the same bit of road as the prologue), I was too far in the box to hold Alex's wheel to the line. Somewhat disappointing really, but that is what lack of race time does!
Sunday: ITT (10km). Start of the day GC place: 2nd (know idea how they worked things after the RR come HCP!!)
The course for this stage was the other end of the road we had been using yesterday (ie where the turn around was for the road stage). The course was largely rolling with an uphill kick for the finish, headwind on the way out and tailwind home.
Thinking back on it, I actually really enjoyed this stage. My favourite moment was looking down at the SRM to see I was speeding in a 60 kph zone!! I didn't think I had done that well relative to the other girls, but the final times told me otherwise:
1. BARWICK, Rebecca 16:45
2. MAY, Judith 16:51
3. CARLE, Alex 16:54
4. GALLOWAY, Myfanwy 17:00
Suddenly I found myself going in to the stage with a mere 8 second lead on GC! Exciting , but completely new territory- racing with a target on my back!!
Road Race- 47km.
In hindsight, along with my lack of recent racing, about 10km into the race I suddenly found that I had spent way too many biccies in the TT! That, and Alex and Myf had hatched a plan ;) and Jude was just racing way too well. So in the end I had a nice, second, TT for the day. For a while I had Jessamy Hosking with me, but after the turn around I was on my own.
Despite spending most of the last stage on my own, I was pretty happy with how things went, when considered in the context of everything that had been going on. (Although I would have liked to have not been 6 minutes down at the end of the tour :( )
The purpose of the weekend was to find out where I was at for my preparations for upcoming time trials, and from that perspective, it was successful! :D
Final Results:
| Place | Race | No | |
| 1 | 1 | GALLOWAY, | Myfanwy |
| 2 | 2 | MAY, | Judith |
| 3 | 4 | CRAWFORD, | Michelle |
| 4 | 195 | MEISL-DENIS, | Grace |
| 5 | 10 | SHEATHER, | Lee |
| 6 | 12 | CARLE, | Alex |
| 7 | 5 | HAMMER, | Ingrid |
| 8 | 3 | BARWICK, | Rebecca |
| 9 | 6 | HOSKING, | Jessamy |
| 10 | 9 | POWELL, | Sue |
| 11 | 8 | ESSAM, | Vanessa |
| 12 | 7 | HO, | Jessica |
(Photos to follow...)
May 17, 2009
Thinking of you
To my family, friends and work colleagues who are going through various tough times, I am thinking of you.
My hope for you all is that things get easier to bear soon.
In the meantime, I send you this hug and a reminder that if there is anything you need, you know where I am.
My hope for you all is that things get easier to bear soon.
In the meantime, I send you this hug and a reminder that if there is anything you need, you know where I am.
To everyone else, please stay safe and look after each other.
If you are interested I will have the rest of the blog up to date soon.
May 10, 2009
Hot Tip
When confined to the ergo/windtrainer/rollers, break the monoteny and take it on a road trip!!
During this recovery period we went for a trip to Melbourne for various reasons and the logical thing to do was to pack my bike and trainer :).
My parents have recently taken over the post office and shop in Longwood, a little village about 140 km from Melbourne, the perfect place for us to spend the night on the way to Melbourne. It was also a great place to get my first training session for the weekend done- a different backyard!!
First session for the weekend. Mum the postmaster
The second session for the weekend was a recovery session. Whilst our room at the Parkview was very nice, there wasn't really room for my bike and trainer. A quick inspection of the facilities revealed there was a small cardio gym and along with 2 spas- one hot and one cold! After 30 minutes on the gym bike, it was into the spas for some contrast recovery. That was good!
Three training sessions, three (technically) different locations. Almost a substitute for being able to actually ride!
In for the second hot tip for this post. If you are travelling along the Hume Hwy, stop in at Longwood Post Office and General Store for a coffee and a bite to eat. (Yes, a shameless family plug!!) About 140 km north of Melbourne, the town is about 5 km off the highway, but well worth it. The coffee is good and from all accounts, so are the roast chicken and gravy rolls, and the hamburgers are very popular! Be sure to tell them I sent you :)
Front of the shop/post office.
During this recovery period we went for a trip to Melbourne for various reasons and the logical thing to do was to pack my bike and trainer :).
My parents have recently taken over the post office and shop in Longwood, a little village about 140 km from Melbourne, the perfect place for us to spend the night on the way to Melbourne. It was also a great place to get my first training session for the weekend done- a different backyard!!
First session for the weekend. Mum the postmaster
The second session for the weekend was a recovery session. Whilst our room at the Parkview was very nice, there wasn't really room for my bike and trainer. A quick inspection of the facilities revealed there was a small cardio gym and along with 2 spas- one hot and one cold! After 30 minutes on the gym bike, it was into the spas for some contrast recovery. That was good!
Nathan and Karen's wedding
(one of the reasons for the road trip)
After the fun of the weekend, it was back to Longwood for another training session and some lunch with my parents. This time a slightly different spot in their backyard, just to keep it interesting and to enjoy the sunshine!!(one of the reasons for the road trip)
Three training sessions, three (technically) different locations. Almost a substitute for being able to actually ride!
In for the second hot tip for this post. If you are travelling along the Hume Hwy, stop in at Longwood Post Office and General Store for a coffee and a bite to eat. (Yes, a shameless family plug!!) About 140 km north of Melbourne, the town is about 5 km off the highway, but well worth it. The coffee is good and from all accounts, so are the roast chicken and gravy rolls, and the hamburgers are very popular! Be sure to tell them I sent you :)
Front of the shop/post office.
May 1, 2009
So that is what it looked like
Two weeks short of 12 months post-op and the plate that was put in to hold my wrist together has been removed. Initially I was told that it was possible to leave it in indefinitely. However, in recent time the flexibility in my wrist has deteriorated, especially when it comes to climbing hills on my bike! After a brief discussion with Dr Jude, it was decided that the best thing to do was take it out. That operation took place on the 30th April, and thankfully was a lot less frustrating than the original trip to hospital (see post here).
Having only ever seen the plate and screws on the X-ray, and being morbidly obsessed with medical things, I requested for the hardware to be returned to me. Now there is a photo below, so if you are not into these types of things, please DON'T LOOK!! (I will not take responsibility for you being upset!) Needless to say, I thought it was cool!
Now it is back to the ergo for a few weeks while I wait for the wound to close up and the holey bones to recover.
Having only ever seen the plate and screws on the X-ray, and being morbidly obsessed with medical things, I requested for the hardware to be returned to me. Now there is a photo below, so if you are not into these types of things, please DON'T LOOK!! (I will not take responsibility for you being upset!) Needless to say, I thought it was cool!
Now it is back to the ergo for a few weeks while I wait for the wound to close up and the holey bones to recover.
Apr 23, 2009
Recoverying my mojo
I think that it fell down the back of the couch!
After a bit too long feeling like I have been going backwards on the bike, being sick and being somewhat over committed to other things in my life, we (Pothole and I) have come up with a plan.
I am now over the flu completely and after a number of blood tests have a better knowledge of my body and why I was feeling tired a lot of the time. (For the record it was not an iron deficiency and nor is it anything overly serious, but worth being aware of.) Despite the thermometer heading south, I am so eager to get out on my bike and train! There will be a bit of disruption to the planned block of training, but I am confident of riding the wave of motivation through the enforced time on the ergo that is coming up.
It may be the bigger picture, or maybe I am sick, but I am really looking forward to a good solid block of training!
After a bit too long feeling like I have been going backwards on the bike, being sick and being somewhat over committed to other things in my life, we (Pothole and I) have come up with a plan.
I am now over the flu completely and after a number of blood tests have a better knowledge of my body and why I was feeling tired a lot of the time. (For the record it was not an iron deficiency and nor is it anything overly serious, but worth being aware of.) Despite the thermometer heading south, I am so eager to get out on my bike and train! There will be a bit of disruption to the planned block of training, but I am confident of riding the wave of motivation through the enforced time on the ergo that is coming up.
It may be the bigger picture, or maybe I am sick, but I am really looking forward to a good solid block of training!
Apr 21, 2009
"Trying is the first step towards failure" (Homer Simpson)
Stages 3 & 4 of the Tour de Riverina
Coolamon & Rutherglen HCPs.
I think I might have learnt my lesson, sometimes it is better to take a break and let some of the not so important things go by so that you can truly appreciate (and perform) at the important things.
The Coolamon stage was the weekend after the Stockinbingal race and whilst I had been sick with the flu I was convinced that I would be all right when I got to the start line. Unfortunately I didn't get to the start line. I seemed alright in the car, though I did have a bit of a cough- similar to the one that I had hampered me most of summer, but figured that I had ridden through that so surely I would be fine for the race. Wrong. I went out for a warm up, including some motor pacing behind a tractor, and once I started coughing on the bike I couldn't stop. I coughed and coughed, thought my lunch was going to come up, coughed some more. Being incapable of making a decision not to race on my own- I am not into looking soft!- I discussed the situation with Reggie. Being the wise Mr Mum that he is, no racing for me, probably not a bad idea since I had a wedding to tend to the following Friday! All was not lost, I jumped into the Commissaire's car for the Scratch bunch and had the best view of a bike race I have ever had (apart from the ones that I am at the front of ;) ). After learning a whole lot more about bike racing thanks to this different perspective, picking Jess Mac up off the road after she came down in a little crash going up the only rise of the course and getting Adam Phelan going again up said hill, I got to see the girls I train with all finish well and award Suz the prize for first female over the line.
The Rutherglen stage of the tour was the Sunday after we got back from our honeymoon, which meant I had been off the bike for about 4 weeks (not counting the ride on Friday afternoon and the bunch on Saturday morning). I really had nothing to lose and was, I thought, mentally prepared for what was going to be a tough race. However, I was physically well under prepared! I got through about 1/2 the first lap of the 2 lap course before I called it a day. The reality of the situation being that I just wasn't physically up to these races.
The trip to Rutherglen wasn't in vain. It was delightful to catch up with Lyn and John. And as fate would have it I had other errands to do in Albury.
Coolamon & Rutherglen HCPs.
I think I might have learnt my lesson, sometimes it is better to take a break and let some of the not so important things go by so that you can truly appreciate (and perform) at the important things.
The Coolamon stage was the weekend after the Stockinbingal race and whilst I had been sick with the flu I was convinced that I would be all right when I got to the start line. Unfortunately I didn't get to the start line. I seemed alright in the car, though I did have a bit of a cough- similar to the one that I had hampered me most of summer, but figured that I had ridden through that so surely I would be fine for the race. Wrong. I went out for a warm up, including some motor pacing behind a tractor, and once I started coughing on the bike I couldn't stop. I coughed and coughed, thought my lunch was going to come up, coughed some more. Being incapable of making a decision not to race on my own- I am not into looking soft!- I discussed the situation with Reggie. Being the wise Mr Mum that he is, no racing for me, probably not a bad idea since I had a wedding to tend to the following Friday! All was not lost, I jumped into the Commissaire's car for the Scratch bunch and had the best view of a bike race I have ever had (apart from the ones that I am at the front of ;) ). After learning a whole lot more about bike racing thanks to this different perspective, picking Jess Mac up off the road after she came down in a little crash going up the only rise of the course and getting Adam Phelan going again up said hill, I got to see the girls I train with all finish well and award Suz the prize for first female over the line.
The Rutherglen stage of the tour was the Sunday after we got back from our honeymoon, which meant I had been off the bike for about 4 weeks (not counting the ride on Friday afternoon and the bunch on Saturday morning). I really had nothing to lose and was, I thought, mentally prepared for what was going to be a tough race. However, I was physically well under prepared! I got through about 1/2 the first lap of the 2 lap course before I called it a day. The reality of the situation being that I just wasn't physically up to these races.
The trip to Rutherglen wasn't in vain. It was delightful to catch up with Lyn and John. And as fate would have it I had other errands to do in Albury.
Apr 20, 2009
Never Underestimate a Cup of Tea and a Good Lay Down
Photo from http://adozeneggs.com
I went into this series of handicap races as the reigning female champion and was hoping to put up a good fight to try and retain the pink ribbon, but 2009 wasn't the year for it.
I have already posted about the first stage (see here) and I had hoped on an improved performance at the second stage at Stockinbingal. And under the circumstances I can't be disappointed with 8th over the line on the day.
I had scaled back a couple of training sessions earlier in the week as the threat of flu loomed, you know the feeling when it is there but not quite ready to hit you? Race day came, I wasn't great for the drive across- bad enough to need some cold and flu drugs, but not bad enough to think racing was a bad idea! In what has become a pre-Stock tradition, we park in Cootamundra and rode the 20 km to Stockinbingal. It is only a 40 km race after all! It was during this warm up ride I was started to think racing wasn't such a bad idea, though we decided that was a result of the medication kicking in and I'd be alright once I got to the start line. That was kind of true!
The race was pretty uneventful from my perspective, at least the first 39 km- my bunch rolled along at a reasonable pace to the turn around, although I realised when we turned that we had lost an awful lot of people by this stage and in fact we were down to 5. The 5 of us worked really well on the way back, valiantly trying to stay away from the bunch behind, and we almost did it. We were caught with about 4 km to go, thankfully it was only the bunch that started behind us, and some of the ones who had started with us. This gave me a good opportunity to take a breather and work out where the best place would be for the sprint- I was determined to better my 4th place from last year. A couple of the Riverina clubs were getting their trains worked out so I kept an eye on them.
About 1km out it almost all went wrong! I suddenly found myself sandwiched between two guys- one trying to swing of his train and the other, I think, lining up for the sprint! There were a few very anxious moments as I waited to feel the scraping of skin on bitumen and thuds of carbon and wheels colliding... but somehow that never eventuated, maybe it that was thanks to time on the boards. Anyway, I picked my way around the bunch to the other side of the road where I had clear space for a run at the line, I wasn't giving up hope on that 4th place or better yet! Unfortunately I started to fade just before the line and actually was rolled on the line by Jacqui who had followed my wheel for the last 3 km without me even knowing she was there!! Cheeky cheeky!
So all things considered not a bad effort, but it would pay off! I ended up too sick to go to work on the following Monday, nor was I able to train for most of the week, maybe I should have had that lay down...
Planes, Trains and Automobiles
Actually there were planes, automobiles, helicopters, ferries and jet boats, but not a bike to be had :)
The obvious follow on to the last 2 posts is our honeymoon, but that is not really what this blog is about! I'll share a little anyway!
Matt and I had a delightful 12 days on the south island of New Zealand. And whilst I didn't ride a bike at all, I wasn't sitting still either. We spent 4 days walking the Queen Charlotte Track, which runs 71km from the northern end of Marlborough Sound back inland through pristine and regenerating rainforest and former farming areas with views out over various sounds. In a break from tradition, we didn't take the tent, and instead made use of the pre-arranged resort style accommodation- it was our honeymoon afterall ;)
The very hard to take view along the Queen Charlotte Track
Following that there was the standard tourist must does for the south island- helicopter flight over Franz Josef Glacier and around Mt Cook, jet boating in Queenstown (we had planned to go bunging jumping, but it was all booked out at the time we were able to go), and lots of kms on the hire car and more walking as we took in the spectacular scenery.
After what was now 4 weeks of the bike, I was definitely looking forward to getting home and getting back to it! And you better believe that I went for a ride the afternoon we got home- a little birthday present to myself :)
The obvious follow on to the last 2 posts is our honeymoon, but that is not really what this blog is about! I'll share a little anyway!
Matt and I had a delightful 12 days on the south island of New Zealand. And whilst I didn't ride a bike at all, I wasn't sitting still either. We spent 4 days walking the Queen Charlotte Track, which runs 71km from the northern end of Marlborough Sound back inland through pristine and regenerating rainforest and former farming areas with views out over various sounds. In a break from tradition, we didn't take the tent, and instead made use of the pre-arranged resort style accommodation- it was our honeymoon afterall ;)
The very hard to take view along the Queen Charlotte Track
After what was now 4 weeks of the bike, I was definitely looking forward to getting home and getting back to it! And you better believe that I went for a ride the afternoon we got home- a little birthday present to myself :)
Apr 18, 2009
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