im feeling wrecked. i raced. i didnt win. i wasnt feeling good this week so no surprises there really. it hurt, alot. I'm going to try to see a physio and think about doing the right thing for my body for a while. that and building up some km's and consistency.

Here's a pic. you could say it was a little muddy.

Today was on my local trails. Next weekend, to Melrose. A special place in my heart, a special place for mountain bikers. a special place in the world.

3's a charm

Well it turns out that I do in fact have the curse of talking shit on the internet. No, I did not ride my bike to melbourne last year.

But I have turned a leaf over in my life. I've stopped posting shit on the internet that never happens, and started actually doing some cool stuff again. Like riding my bike, like not working 24-7-365. Ive even got out of town a couple times.

Lets see if I can't post some pictures of stuff thats had actually happened, stuff I did, instead of stuff I just talked about.

Doing my 'fat man' impersonation, on the Flinders by Bike route, somewhere near Wilpena, SA.

I've actually been doing alright on the bicycle. I've been feeling good. Fast even. In the last year, I've bought some bikes, sold some bikes, built some trail and I am falling back in love with singletrack dirt.

These here fine men are partly to blame for that. Good lads, who ride bikes and have given me motivation, company, freindly competition and a kick in the ass to get back out and ride my mountain bike. The above pic is our sweet setup at the Dirty Weekend 24hr this year. Best race I have ever ridden.

My new girlfriend. Check out the wheels on that baby. Massive.- enough being a lame humored chauvanist (who cant spell)

This piece of metal is probably the most average bike I've bought in years. But I love it. Its a mountain bike. Its tough, its cheap enough that I can ride it hard (did I mention its a mountain bike). And its a reasonable place to start to build a nice bike. Theres already been some upgrades from the old bike, plans for a decent wheelset in the nearish future. But thats not really the point. Its fun, comfortable and I'm really enjoying the big wheels.

I still dont understand it, but I feel good in the air. I've not had that before..

Shit, this is nearly a readable blog now, Its got pictures. Its got stuff thats happened thats almost perhaps vaguely interesting (in a lameass bloggy sort of way). All Ive got to remember, is to stop posting about what I'm going to do, and get out there and do shit.

then perhaps I might be able to do this blog thing.

well here goes a third time...

Not sure if this is the curse or not, but I'm going to put it out there on this blog a third time.. I'm planning some vaguely interesting shit on my bike again... The last 2 times I posted this, it didn't happen, no 24hr race, no overnight mission at new year's. So this will be the test for me. Do I f' things up by posting on the interwebs before I do shit, or will it be third time lucky.. We'll see soon enough.

Here it is anyway. I'm going to ride 1000kms to sMelbourne to catch up with some friends and otherwise force me into some sort of reasonable cycling fitness. Riding with very little, no camping, just me and a change of clothes. Instead I'm planning 150-190kms a day, with F all training leading up, so it wont be easier, just more expensive and quicker.

Well, maybe I'll check in before I go, hopefully have some fancy telemafone that does photos and internets before i go, so can update the facespace and blogspere whilst on the road.

That is assuming I go anywhere. Me and my excuses.

Plans change

Long time since January. No 24hr race for me this year.

In fact I didn't even go and watch. In the end two main things stopped me racing. The first, and poorest excuse is that I wasn't tough enough, didn't do enough of the right training, etc. But also, I had an old injury resurface which would have made finishing almost impossible, and risked time off work.

Still life goes on. I don't know if I'll keep writing this blog. Bike riding is still great, but Ive also got a fair bit of stuff to sort out in my life before I think about another 24hr race.

TDU fever

So to report back from last post. Still no photos, I'm struggling with the technologies here..
I have been on the bike more, but no overnight mission at new years, 40degree heat put and end to that, instead the beach was the destination of choice.

I bought myself a Christmas present- a Cannondale CX bike. Nothing all that special unfortunately, I have a mortgage a casual wage. But it and some warmer weather has inspired me to get back on the bike riding to work most days. The commute is a 30km round trip, pretty flat and usually fairly windy. Part road, mostly bike path. I'm lucky to get away from the cars.

I am riding in the Challenge Tour ride as part of the Tour Down Under. 135km including a couple of Adelaides more renowned climbs, Gorge Road and Checkers Hill. The second of which, I've not ridden, only driven over in the car. Should be a nice challenge, but I'm concerned about sharing my first attempt with a million others of quite varied abilities, I can imagine the carnage.

I weighed myself the other day, which doesn't happen much as I've never owned scales in my life. The damage was 82kg, well above the 72 that I was at a couple years ago when I last raced a 24hr. Its a little worrying, as its a hilly course, so carrying the extra kgs each lap will be a big killer over the 24hrs. So my new focus, now that I'm back riding seriously is to concentrate on diet, and not drinking so much beer. I don't think I'll get back to 72kg, as I was eating extremely lean back then, in fact totally vegan, and really low fat at that. That's not where I'm at right now, and perhaps not the most optimal for performance anyway.

So that was Chistmas.

Not the usual for me, but quite pleasant, I didn't drink to much, I didn't eat to much and spent some time with family, and some quiet time on the beach watching the sunset.

Have been out for some easier flat road rides. Easing myself back onto the bike. Not recording dist's etc yet. just taking it easy.

Planning a bigger overnight ride at New years. On the MTB and camping overnight. I think its a nice way to welcome the new year. Will try to get some photo's happening. i think ive worked out the issues there..

Feel echh.

So just as soon as I post that I'm planning to get fit. I instead get sick. So nothing to report here, I did get out for a couple rides early in the week, but fairly easy starting out with some km's on the road bike.

Now my life is resting, drinking water, and sleeping.