Super-duper-quick update

As usual I haven't updated my blog for a while. So here is a ultra quick update on the highlights of the past few weeks...

Amy's Ride
120kms plus the ride from the motel to and from = 130km for the day. Did it easy as. No doubt made easier by Kenny suffering from cramps and such, so we were slowed down somewhat.

Highlight was getting to chat to Cadel Evens as we rode up to the start of the ride. I saw him turning right in front of us so once we got to turn left I took off after him (he was pootling up a hill). I rolled up next to him and told him that watching him in the tour last year inspired me to get off my arse, buy a bike and lose 20kgs. He seemed genuinely happy to hear that and asked if I was going to keep at it. I said I sure was and that I was addicted. He said it was the same for him, becoming obsessed, and with that we went our separate ways. I could have followed him but I didn't want to hassle the guy. I just wanted to thank him for his part in changing my life and hope that my joy rubbed off on him in even the most tiny way.

My dad also did the ride (tho the shorter 65km route) and he did it fine. I rode with him till the turn off point and I think the amount of riders and their pace was surprising to him but I think he's hooked. I'll have to get him down to Melbourne one day for a Beach Rd ride one Saturday.

New Bike
After Amy's Ride, while I was organizing the motel payment, Dave took my bike for a spin around the car park and he said it was rotten (or something to that effect). This somewhat shook me up enough to go out and seriously look at road bikes.

That following week after testing a few and looking at what was out there for what money, BSC in Fitzroy had a awesome 2007 Felt F4 that they were clearing for $2900 and they would give me $600 trade-in on my Kona Dr Dew. Add in their great finance plan and before I knew it I was now the proud owner of a new bling road bike. Its awesome! It added at least 3kph to my riding everywhere and its far more comfortable to ride for distances.

I call it- "Black Magic" (yes I know.. corny as heck!). :)

Maling Room Ride (MRR)
After my first attempt of the MRR last year on the flat bar, PolkaDotLisa and I have been making the Maling Room Ride a regular part of our training every week. I find the hills a struggle to stay with the pack but I'm slowly getting there. PDL is easily the Queen of the Mountain (QOM) up Col de Belmore (Belmore Road has a 500mt long hill and its a race to see who can get up it first) but so far she hasn't quite been able to beat the really good male climbers to take King of the Mountain (KOM).

Racing
Yep thats right- I have started racing (Crits). Criterium racing is multi lap races around a street course usually around a block. The St Kilda club runs crit races each Sunday morning in Port Melb on a closed off course and they have a E-Grade for beginners. So far I have had a 4th (out of 30), 3rd (out of 15) and 4th (out of 20) and I've picked up heaps each time. Its nerve wracking and really hard work but I'm loving every minute of it.

Shaving my legs
Yes, I succumbed to the cycling fashion and shaved my legs. I looked around at all the other guys legs I ride with and the shaved legs do look better with the lycra and given that I am racing now, if I "do" come off, a lack of hair will help with recovery. So I did it last Saturday night. Six razors and 30 minutes later and they are like someone else's legs when I look down. Very strange! LOL

Stats
I cracked the 4000km mark with my combined cycling! My god that sounds like so much for my first 7 months of riding. But I am now reguarly doing 250kms a week so I expect to do 1000kms a month from now on. Who would have thunked it!?!

I have also now dropped 25kg in 7 months. To get to my first aim of under 100kg by July 3rd (my birthday), I will need to loose 0.95kg a week till then so it's going to be a close call. Either way, its great (although all my clothes are falling off me- very annoying).

I'm sure there is heaps more that has happened in the past month or so but those are the highlights for now. When I get around to it I will post some photos.

Super-duper-quick update