This will be three posts in one. Thursday night I had my bike fitting done at Glen Parker Cycles South by Stuart Passmore. Unsurprisingly I was told that my bike was too big for me. Not what i wanted to hear but knew it was coming. What does this mean? Bye bye bike and hello new bike. So if you are after a road bike contact me with an offer. Peter Mah is helping me build a new one.
It is stressful enough so that is all I want to say on that topic for now but getting a bike fit done us well worth it. Does seem to help set you up on your bike for the best possible ride.
Saturday I went on the main ride. Was not wet but because it had rained over night in turned people off and main one and two were merged.
Was a good ride though we rode in and out of the fog. Speed was up over 40kph on Benara road. Shaw and I got spilt from the pack stopping for a red light on coode st. We then waited for a rider who got dropped and helped him back to the bell tower. Shaw told me to smash it on the hill thru east Perth but he took pleasure in smiling as her cruised by near the top.
Sunday saw me getting up extra early to go pick my parents up in kalamunda and take them to the airport. I thought to myself as I drove up Kalamunda rode enjoy the climb in the car because in a few hours this is gonna hurt a lot more on the bike.
Arriving at the start around 6:45was a few people around and rocking up.even Mark S showed up today. I had no plan to get on the front before the climb up Welshpool but on the final 2kms before the climb I was on the front. Never mind at the base of the climb I was swallowed and spat out by the rest of the pelaton to start my picking off of any stragglers. As I caught Shaw and passed him he said “great way to demoralized me” I looked and him with a great big smile laughing on the inside.
He didn’t catch me back up. After reaching the top I consumed my red bull and a muesli bar. Short ride to Mundaring weir road where the chickens (SHAW + BLAIR) went left while the men and weak (me being the week) went right. Didn’t take long to loose sit of the pack but i don’t care my aim Is to finish and over time I will get better. Got to the regroup point and Peter asked if I was the last. My response which got a laugh “yes the sweeper is here”.
Eating my first power bar it was then the descent down to the Dam. Was so cool on the descent. The fog came out of no where and the car behind dropped back so I knew it was safe to use the whole lane. Descending over 50kph I needed the lane. I knew the fun would end soon and it did. Was a long lonely climb up to the next regroup but Just a few kms before the regroup in Mundaring I saw the rear light from another of the group and I finally had a rabbit to chase.I knew I wouldn’t catch them but it was the motivation I needed to push myself and get the pace back up to 29~30kph. At the regroup ate half another power bar.I found these power bars do help me get though these rides and is much better than waiting for a muffin at coffee.
Last climb of the day was Kalamunda road. Like I said hurt more on the bike than it did in the car a few hours earlier. I was in cruise mode now and just plugged away until I got to the top. Once at coffee skipped the muffin didn’t really want it.
Ride home I clocked 72kph down Welshpool. Much faster than last week. Split from the group on the way home to drop into my brother place. By the time I got home had ridden for almost 4:30 hours and covers 116kms.