Ouch

Rode for just over 2 hours today on Kew and Richmond Boulevard.  I'm surprised I managed to last that long.  My back hurts, I couldn't breathe deeply or turn my head very well. 

I'd like to race tomorrow but I just don't think I'll be safe.

Stay on the trail stupid

Well, quite an eventful morning on the mtb today.  If any of my family are reading this I am A-Ok and I will be on a bike again tomorrow.

I was riding the Yarra trails with JP and CV around Fairfield, it was such a nice morning.  JP and CV took off to ride at their own pace and we agreed they'd catch me on the way back.  They are fast, they got to the end and turned around before I was much more than half way through the section.  I was having a good morning, not totally enjoying the bar mounted light as I couldn't see around the corners but I was feeling safe and riding pretty well.

When the boys caught me CV rode first so I could see with his light as well as mine (my light is really bright, it was just the corners that were not so great) and JP was coaching me from behind.

We came to a bit of an incline that I've ridden up a few times before but about half way up I realised I was in the wrong gear and weighted wrong and the front wheel started lifting.  I shifted my weight but the wheel hit a rock and I bounced off it rather than over it as I wasn't going fast enough.

To my left it was straight up and to my right a very steep drop off with the river a long way below. 

In slow motion I felt my weight shift the wrong way and my bike tilt to the right.  I put my foot out but there was no ground so fell.  I hit the ground a fair way below the trail and then rolled a number of times (felt like 6) before I came to a stop just before the edge into the river.  I heard JP say 'oh no.  ow, ow, ow, ow, ow' as I rolled.

I called out to JP and CV that I was ok and then sat up.  Hey?  Where's my bike?  Oh no, in the river, floating away from me.  Luckily the lights were still working, so I could see where it was.  CV came down to the water and some kayakers pushed it towards him where the both of us could lift it out and up the cliff.

I know I'm lucky that I didn't hurt myself at all. 

I got right back on the bike and rode for another hour.  Adrenaline was major.  Now that it's worn off, I'm bruised and scratched.

Thanks to JP for taking the photos.

The trail.  See the slightly flat rock where there's the split in the log?  That's all it took.

I left the trail where this photo was taken and came to a stop where I'm standing.  The edge of the grass is the drop off to the river.  Close!

Thanks CV for coming to my bike's rescue before it floated away forever. That's him fishing it out down there.

Safe at the top.  Bit of a drop between the trail and where the ground is hey?  The rock is up behind where CV is.

Safe at breakfast.

Running was never this exciting.



Sandown

Gotta love a commissaire who says he'll hook me up.  I'm loving racing at Sandown, such a friendly crew and I'm learning heaps.

I did heaps better today.  Hung in for 4 3/4 laps and when I did pop, I worked to catch up to another 2 people and rode around with them for the rest of the race.

So much easier to ride together rather than alone.

Lotsa riding

First time ride coordinator for the Wed women's ride to Black Rock return from Racer.  I kept the pace up and focussed on keeping the bunch safe.  It took alot of concentration but I got everybody back safely and a few people said it was a good ride.

After work I drove up to Hans Loop to meet Gavin.  We did one loop together and then rode some fire road trails to loosen my legs up. I got around alot more than usual, and at least when my legs were shaking it was because of effort not fear.

Was great to hang out with Gavin, I don't know anybody who has such a genuine joy for life as him.  He's always happy and so much fun to be around.

Knowledge

I rode with the beginner women at St Kilda this morning.  It was a sketchy, surgy (is that a word?) ride and it didn't feel safe to be on the wheel of most of the people there.

Liz does a fantastic job of keeping people safe and out of trouble, she was working hard today.  I found myself paired next to a chick who was doing some strange things, I asked her if she was ok and she said it was her first time in a bunch and she had no idea what was going on. 

I gave her some of the advice that people have given me and I was surprised to find that I know more than I think I do. 

I'm hosting the Wed ride tomorrow morning so today was a good recce for that.

Crits and Rollers

SKCC crit this morning and my only goal was to give everything I have in an effort to string the bunch out and see if I could get a breakaway.

I did give everything, I didn't get the break and I spent the rest of the race deep in the hurtbox.  Ended up in 7th place after clawing back a couple of places.

I went to Bikefest and ran into the Brunswick crew who encouraged me to give the roller racing a go.  It was super awesome fun!

I've had a few

I sent this text to Neil this morning. " I could not get myself out of bed when the alarm went off at 4.30.  Missed my ride.  Now I have regret." 

Today's not Thursday

Just to mix things up JBSECT trained at the Boulevard this morning.  To put it mildly, I felt like pus.

My life feels a bit out of my control at present and I unfortunately, have not been sleeping and then eating to stay awake and eating my stress.  Sigh.

Back on the horse as best I can today.

I didn't do any extras, just rode both boulevards and headed into town.

Jeff's back

AM

I bought a new hi vis running top this week.  I really wanted to go for a run and try it out so when the forecast was for drizzle I thought it was a perfect opportunity.

I met Fi and Dee at the Tan and we ran down to the beach, I did ok but when we turned on Beaconsfield Parade into a headwind I pulled the pin.  I met the other two back at Queens Rd after they went round the loop and we went back to the Tan.  I ran for just over half an hour and I've pulled up sore.  My heel is so bruised I can't weight bear on it and my hammies are nice and twangy.

I did enjoy the run but I don't enjoy the hobbling and it does validate my decision in progress to move to a different sport.

Jeff held his first park session today and it was great to see a few of the old crew.  I wish more of the Thursday night gang could have made it because I miss them.

rope shenanigans
up and down, 30 secs on 20 secs rest x 10
side to side same time x 10

sled drag 2km round the park 20kg shared with Helen and Vic

Med ball work
slams x 50
squat push throw 20 x 2
reverse oh throw 20 x 2

Good fun!

Sandown

It has been a c-c-c-crazy week this week.  I haven't been sleeping at all well so have ditched riding every morning.

I was tired out but made an effort to get to Sandown tonight for the Southern Vets crits.  I raced again in F grade and though I got dropped I rode strongly for the whole 50 mins.

It felt better than last week.  I'll be back again. 

C Grade SKCC crit

I almost talked myself out of racing today and I'm so glad I didn't.  I stayed in bed too long to ride down to White St so I was very uncool and drove there.  The wind was gusting up to 100km an hour by the time I left according to BOM so I'm glad I took the easy way out.

I entered C Grade for the first time today and lined up with 12 other women. 

The first 15mins were slow, super social pace.   There was chatting and laughing going on behind me.  After a while I got a little sick of it and the calls of 'are you racing or chatting' from the sidelines were getting on my nerves.  I hit the front along the back straight into the wind and ramped up the pace along the finish line.  I tried to get one other girl who'd been on the front to come with me but she was happy to sit on my wheel.

The pace picked up from there and it was on.  The bunch was choppy and there was alot of undercutting and drifting through the corners.  There was one tangle and scream but I was up the front so didn't get caught up in it.  Luckily the girls that got chopped didn't hit the tarmac.

The pace was really hot, with lots of attacks going off the front.  I did my share off the front and used up way too much energy.

With 2 laps to go, the girl in front of me dropped the wheel and I had to swing out wide and work hard to catch the lead group.  Just as I got to them they got the bell lap and they took off, I didn't have anything more so they rode off on me.  I rode the last lap solo and got caught by one rider on the last corner I stuck with her and then just got pipped by one more fast finisher for 5th. 

I was happy with that.  It was hard work. 

tired

I was so hyped up last night that I couldn't get to sleep, then when I did I woke up every hour.

Decided to make today a rest day.

Tomorrow looks like I won't fit in a ride.  Oh well.  I'll make the most of Sunday.

Sandown

Yeeee HAAAAAA!!!

I have massive endorphins rushing around my body right now.  LOVE that feeling!

I rode my first crit with Southern Vets at Sandown tonight.  A whole peloton of wiley silver foxes.  One of them was kind enough to take me under his wing and coached me around the course.

I lasted just over 45 mins before I got dropped.  Around a corner, of course.  Gives me a good base to work from.

Can't wait for next time.

Fi and the velodrome

I had a new adventure this morning.

Rode to the Hawthorn Velodrome to join Fi and Dee for some speed work.  It was fun, but triathletes take things a little too seriously.  At least there wasn't any cars.

I had fun chasing Fi around the track.  I'd like to do more track work and would like to ride a real track bike on steep banks and see what happens.