Never Underestimate a Cup of Tea and a Good Lay Down

Reflecting on the 2009 Tour de Riverina
Stage 2- Stockinbingal 40km HCP

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 :)

Some more photos for the impatient...

Cyclists must take care in the Sculpture Garden

(sign in the Sculpture Garden at the National Gallery of Australia).

That sign definitely tells the truth!!

On the Friday the 3rd April I went down to the Sculpture Garden at the NGA, when I left I was married :)

Thanks to everyone who contributed to making this such an awesome day for both Matt and myself.

Photos by Bec Thorpe of Funky Photo
(at this stage they are only preview size so you can't have them any bigger- sorry!)

A picture says a thousand words...

Congratulations to the girls of the Onya Bike Belco & Civic A Grade Crit team for taking out the CCC 2008/09 grade championship!

L to R: Grace Meisel-Dennis, Bron Ryan, Bec Henderson, myself.
(photo courtesy of Greg Long)

M.I.A.?

Sorry if you have been dropping by and there has been nothing new added for a while. I have been a little bit busy and very neglectful.

Post nationals I had a little bit of time off the bike. Timing was perfect as I started a new job, one that pays money, the day after I arrived back from Adelaide. It also gave me a chance to reflect on what went wrong at Nationals this year and think about what needs to be done to improve for next year. I had hoped for a much better showing in Adelaide than what resulted, but in hindsight, 2 courses of antibiotics in the weeks leading up to a week of solid racing probably wasn't ideal preparation, and in reality I wasn't anywhere near the level of fitness that I would have liked or needed. Now, after a couple of months of ill-health, I think we are finally getting to the bottom of a number of things, with one more blood test to be performed. Right, moving on.

I have a new job as a toxicologist with the Department of Health. So far that has been going very well. The people I work with are all scientists, most with an PhD/academic background, so I fit right in! And, they are happy to be flexible s0 I can ride my bike! In the meantime I have been pushing myself pretty hard to get my PhD thesis finished... only one chapter left to write.

On top of that, just because I don't have enough to do, our wedding is now less than a month away! Obviously I have been busy finalising plans for that. For a change of scenery I might post some photos when I get back from our honeymoon, but you will have to wait until the end of April for that!!

Oh, and as expected, there has been some bike riding! There was the combined club championship criterium a couple of weeks ago. The first time this was attempted there was a nasty crash and the race was abandoned on the bell lap- hopefully the injured girls are all recovering well. The second time around, I finished third overall and claimed the Vikings Crit Champion title. Not the most exciting race and unfortunately the field was somewhat depleted due to a number of riders being in NZ.

The Tour de Riverina Series has also got underway. The first stage was at Coolamon over 64km. The first race of the series is always tough to get the handicaps right and this race was no exception! Being the reigning "leading female" I had been taken back a bunch from the girls I normally ride with, and I think we were actually the biggest bunch for the day with 23 riders (2 females). Most likely the combination of the size of the bunch, the start of the series and the mix of personalities, our bunch didn't really gel and blew itself apart at various points. Unfortunately I got caught out when the first splinter came off and was left chasing and trying to hang in with other bunches as they came through. In the end it was the bunch 3 minutes ahead of mine, with the bulk of the other girls racing, that got up for the win. Alex took 5th, Susie 7th and Grace 9th. So I am handing over my pink number to Alex, but I will be working hard to get it back at Stockinbingal in a couple of weeks!!

In between there has been a bit of time in the hills, and for those who know me well know how much I would have been loving that!! And some other fairly intense sessions!

Sorry for the epic post, but now you know where I have been! I have some other things to share, a review of a JetBlack Fluid Windtrainer that I promised Mick, and a bit about my new toy, but that will have to wait!

Thanks for reading, come back soon :)

What a brutal event!! (Alex Bird)

2009 Australian Track Nationals,

Adelaide SuperDrome, Feb 3-8

Final day of competition

Omnium: 500m TT, Flying 200m, 2km IP, Scratch and Points

This isn't regarded as the iron man event of track cycling lightly! All the races that we had already competed in, plus some all in one day! Not only was it a massive day for the athletes- 6 of the 9 ACT team were competing- it was going to be busy for Gerry the mechanic and newly acquired assistant, Matt!

To put it bluntly I was pretty unhappy with the overall outcome for today's race. I made an enormous amount of mistakes (more than usual) and I didn't really allow myself to race well. But, there were some good things. I also have to remember, this was only the second time I had every ridden a competitive 500m TT and a flying 200m! So, to be brief here is a breakdown of my perspective of each of the events.

500m TT: I over-estimated the gear that I should have been on, went out hard and kind of limped over the line. That was a pretty bad start to the event.

Flying 200m: Being surrounded by sprinters for the week I made the most of their expertise. This was probably the event I performed best in! Whilst not the fastest, it wasn't the slowest, it was a PB for me and technically I almost scored full marks! Thanks Gerry, Danny & Birdman for your help!

Finishing off the Flying 200m (photo from Trish Ellis)

Scratch Race: This race started well, with everyone bunched up and aggressive. About 4 laps from the end one of the other girls decided that she wanted to move lower on the track, squeezing the girl who was above me down. Initially I was on the duck boards as we were approaching the bottom bend, then all of a sudden I was riding on the cement in-field!! Somehow I managed to hold my bike up and get back on the boards around the apex of the bottom bend! Now, that was an adventure! Unfortunately by the time I was back on the boards I was off the back of the bunch and had a hard time making up spots, but I wasn't the last one over the line.

2km IP: Lap times were nice and consistent, but overall I would have liked this to have been quicker. Given the level of fatigue I was feeling I can't be too unhappy.

Points Race: The key point of this race was that I finished and I stayed upright! I was so tired by the time we rolled out for this I wasn't sure I would make it to the end. But, I did finish and I have to be satisfied with that.

Final result for the day: 10^th. Not my best performance, but certainly many things to take away.

And that was the end of Track Nationals for 2009. Thanks for reading! :)

You get that. It's bike racing!

2009 Australian Track Nationals,
Adelaide SuperDrome, Feb 3-8

Elite Women's Scratch Race

In hindsight, I enjoyed 95% of this race. I was happy with my position in the bunch and was certainly holding my own- a big boost to my confidence after the races earlier in the week. Jessie and I had a loose race plan going in which was largely going to depend on what the other states had in mind. It was clear pretty early on that it was going to come down to a bunch sprint as the bunch was reacting to everything and not letting anyone get away. That was my plan out the window. With about 4 laps to go the hammer went down to wind it up for final sprint, unfortunately as this happened was swinging off the front and got caught out up the bank. Despite trying desperately to recover some position in the bunch, that was me done, over the line in 15th- somewhat disappointingly given how I'd been feeling throughout the race. Bad timing, and probably I should ave been a bit smarter about that, but the best way to learn is through experience. Jess was in a good spot and made it over the line in 6th.

The other events of the session saw Caitlin 5th in the U19 Keirin and Tom 9th in the elite Men's scratch race.

Post session ice bath. Yes it was cold in there! (Edward, Jess and myself)

Day 4 Slideshow

2009 Australian Track Nationals,
Adelaide SuperDrome, Feb 3-8

3/5 Sprint Teams DQ'd... Oh, no, we take that back, you're all in!

2009 Australian Track Nationals,
Adelaide SuperDrome, Feb 3-8

Day4: Elite Men's Team Sprint and Points Race

What do you get when you add 2 sprinters and an enduro together?
Silver in the team sprint!! :)

In the starter's hands for the qualifier

It certainly wasn't the prettiest bike race you would have ever seen but the effort Tom Palmer put in to hold Danny's wheel was extraordinary, as was Danny's effort to lay off Birdman to ensure that Tom wasn't left behind! The boys qualified second fastest in a time of 46.437 sec, but then the drama started...

First lap- "Wait up Birdman"; Second lap- "Get on Danny's wheel Tom!"; Third lap- "Go Ninga, Go!!"


There was an announcement that they had been disqualified for an illegal change, along with the SA and NSW teams!! "WHAT?" was the collective cry from the mothers and remainder of the team in the stand. After some frantic searching for photographic and video evidence of their changes, it was determined that in fact there changes were legal and the officials had just been a little over officious!

Oh the drama!!

So, it was the gold/silver ride for our composite team, up against the pure sprinters from Victoria- Joel Leonard, Jason Niblett & Ben Sanders. Then, more drama... off the line and the red flag goes up... one of the Vics had pulled their wheel. Get back in the gates and do it again...

Good clean start and it was on. The ACT boys dug deep and managed to stick reasonably close together to look like a team! Birdman got us off to a flier, and a good change to Danny who came through with Tom stuck to his wheel, and then it was up to Palmer to finish. With all his experience as a kilo rider he was able to bring it home in style. Unfortunately the Vics were a well oiled team and being pure sprinters, took out the gold in 44.948 sec with ACT in second in 46.005.

Shortly after his impressive foray into elite men's team sprint, the Ginger Ninja backed up for the 160 lap points race! To our amazement he not only finished the race, but was aggressive and took a solo lap on the field! In the end he finished 7th and was a very spent unit! Awesome effort Tom!

Tom backing up for the Points Race