The Intervening Months

Well, what a few months it's been. Just as I was getting fitter and reaching a reasonable standard, aiming for an Everesting in June/July I came off my mountain bike and smashed my back quite badly. Badly enough it seems that I injured my Psoas Major, a large muscle at the bottom of my spine (which continues down through your hip). That was enough to see me off any exercise for several weeks, along with several trips to the doctor to get some sort of electrical prod shoved into my back.

Just when I thought things may have been getting better it then turned out I'd made a slight hernia far far worse, necessitating immediate surgery. If I'd thought my back injury was painful, this was another level altogether! So in reality it's been the best part of nearly 3 months of doing nothing but sit around feeling sorry for myself and driving my wife up the wall complaining about getting fat because I wasn't able to do anything. I was right though, I've put on several kilo's that need to be shifted in a big hurry.

It's been several weeks since my surgery and I'm only now getting back into some gentle exercise. I did ride into work last Tuesday but that saw me quite sore by the time I got home, not to mention exhausted, which only made me feel more irritable about my situation. It also saw me get a scolding from my wife about the hazards of cycling (she's not a fan..).

Short Term Goals

My son, being an excellent runner, suggested I set some running goals since it's been 12 years since I last did a marathon. Running always got me lean and fit quite quickly and "back in the day" I could smash out a half marathon under 1hr 50 minutes (just over 5:20min/km pace). Buoyed by that we've decided we'll try and do the Gold Coast 50 Ultra in December together. I've told him he'll be waiting a few extra hours for me to finish, however the goal is to train and get thin, and above all, to finish.

Running is another world to cycling. It may take me 5-6hrs, but I see it as a fairly easy target provided I do the requisite training beforehand, and I don't bust my notoriously weak knees in the lead up. My knees were the reason I stopped running in the first place and took up cycling again. I figure it's an easier path to weight loss and that ever present "want" to doing an Everest. Weight weenies should start with their body first, then worry about the weight of the bike. It's less costly :-)
So from here on it'll be a combination of both running in to work and commuting by bike, with the monthly Strava Climbing Challenges thrown in to provide some extra motivation.

I have to say though, following #withallihaveblog, #worldeverestingproject and #yodaandthebike provides me more than enough motivation to want to continue with my desire to complete an Everesting. I bought a Hells500 jersey too a few months back and that also is a source of inspiration and aspiration.

Anyhoo, off to do some of the "wombat shuffle" and remove some fat from this sturdy frame of mine. #pathlete

See you on the road.

Moving Home and Holidays Abroad

Well, this is the third week of being back in Brisbane. I scored a permanent job, with more money, in a similar role. So life in that sphere is great. The best thing though is being back home with my family. Back to playing Dad and husband, without leaving for days at a time to work away in Toowoomba. I missed my family far too much and missed out on far too much as well.
 

Toowoomba was a great place to work. The people were awesome, the work was challenging and interesting, the climbs were ridiculous, scenery was fantastic, but financially it just wasn't sustainable.
 

Now that I'm back in Brisbane I can leave the car behind and commute to work each day (or most days) by bike. I had a "set route" that I used to follow, but doing the latest (December) Strava Climbing Challenge led me to a better path into the city, involving +300m on the way in and +400m on the way home. So in reality, that's 700-750m climbing in 40k's per day.
 

Commuting has been a game changer. Going from averaging under 50k a week while I was in Toowoomba to now averaging over 200k a week has been both awesome and a shock to the system! I'm hoping this will do me good when it comes to having yet another go at Everesting in the future. Miles in the legs as they say....
 

So, one more day of work then I'm off overseas for my first trip abroad. I have been to New Zealand, but that doesn't count really (in my books anyway).
 

Where am I off to I hear you "virtually" say? Well, Munich, Innsbruck, Berlin, Budapest, Prague, Vienna, Salzburg, Nurenburg etc. Spending  a few days (including Xmas and Boxing Day) in Innsbruck, Austria. First white Xmas at the age of 51. Going from 30 degrees to minus figures. How cool!! (pun intended).
 

Not sure how I'll go posting anything while we're over there but stranger things have happened at sea as they say.
 

Have a wonderful and safe Xmas with your families, enjoy the weather and the open roads (or trails), and I'll be back in 2016 for another Everesting crack.

Bikes - the original search engines (Apres Velo Clothing 2015)

My ride yesterday arv was damn awesome – had a smile on my face the whole way.

Brought the TCR up to do some speedy work this time. Such a marked difference to the Pulsium. You sit ON the TCR, whereas you sit IN the Pulsium. But the TCR felt like a rocket. I was hammering out of the town (45-50kph+) when this idiot pulled out of a driveway (of one of those small shopping centres). I slammed on the brakes and they locked up and I was just sliding towards this fool at a great rate of knots. Just missed the back of the car and yelled my lungs out him. Idiot!

After I calmed down a bit and got my stress level under control, I then went south out of town on this rough bitumen road, trying my best to avoid large and smaller trucks on the narrow road. Then turned off and went back east around this small mountain (Mt Rascale). The roads are pretty crap, lumpy and bumpy, and the surface is that kind where it seems to suck your tyres down into it. Slow and heavy going in some parts, particularly the hills. Looking out over the countryside is wonderful though, with clear vista's full of crops and cows, tractors and barbed wire fences everywhere you look. It's a real joy and is helping bring back the motivation to just explore again instead of feeling like I have to go out and hammer myself all the time.

There were kangaroos, rabbits, and even camels. So surreal….was great fun. I even scored a 54th/368 places on this segment where I was going reasonably quickly. Might have to go back there and have another (proper) go at that one....

I hit a dirt road too, and it was then I wished I’d brought the Lapierre up! But as they do in Paris-Roubaix, I rode the sideline and it wasn’t too bad. Not too much "retina rattling".

Didn't ride this morning as I got away from my parents place (a 40 minute drive out of town) too late for anything decent. Tonight I'm going to head out towards Flagstone Creek Road (see earlier rides in Toowoomba), but instead, veer off half way down and go another way, involving even more steep and longer climbs. I figure if it’s a short ride you gotta make the most of it! And up here, when it's dark, it's DARK!!! We're talking bogey-man dark, "Halloween" dark, and even "Friday the 13th" dark! Creepy....

The riding up here is different, but no less fun. Sort of helping get my motivation back, riding somewhere totally different. Much of it is exploring rather than hammering like back home. For sure, bikes are the original and best “search engines” for life.

Stay safe, and upright!

Mont Blanc Group of Mountains

Well, it's been a while since my last post. I did manage to finally get some work after completing my contract with the university last Friday (27th March). The other roles fell through due to funding and internal machinations, so despite the stress being minimised for now, it's still lurking in the background.

I did score a new short term role with the University of Southern Queensland in Toowoomba, after being telephoned by one of their faculties. They're hoping to secure me long term and possibly permanent, so fingers crossed in that regard. My new bike is dependent upon things going well!!

Speaking of riding, as this is a riding blog afterall, this coming Easter weekend I intend to do the "Mont Blanc Group of Mountains" in elevation, that is, those mountains are all over 4000 metres and this is my target goal in metres for this upcoming Saturday.

I rode out to Mt Gravatt last weekend to check out the climb and see if it was "do-able" for me and my level of fitness. The first kilometre is steep (ish), but not too bad at all, with the second kilometre being of a lesser gradient and a much easier "spin" to the top.

I'll be looking to do 36 repeats, or approx 4320m of climbing. For me this will not be easy as I've never done this before, have no idea how my mind and body will go, and won't have anyone there to support me when I'm stuffed and need some motivational speeches to keep me going. But this is all irrelevant to those amongst you who have summitted multiple times! You've been there, done that and know what to expect so I won't go over my present thoughts in that regard and bore everyone.

I'll get through this weekend, and then write up my thoughts on this interim path to Everest.

have a good week and stay upright.

Choices

Choice - what life is all about I suppose. Presently life has turned a few corners. I have a couple of offers now that, while they seems great, are taking their sweet time in turning into concrete jobs. Consequently you reach that stage where people (those with offers on the table) need some answers, i.e. “yes or “no” whilst the others are still dilly-dallying with their decisions. The question that then comes to mind is “ should I wait it out and hope for a “yes” in my favour for the more preferable role?” or “should I take what’s on offer now and see what happens afterwards?” Anyone have any ideas???

I went up to Toowoomba last week for a discussion with some of the uni staff up there. On the trip up, beautiful and green for a change, I spied some mountains with towers on their pinnacles. This needs further investigation in case there’s a good road that needs “Everesting”. Potential is everywhere at the moment! I also remembered growing up around the area and that in turn made me think of some of the big hills around our farm. Perhaps that’s in my interest to check out too.

My biking has started to get going, slowly, but at least it’s going OK. I’ve started doing the Strava Climbing Challenge for March and whilst I haven’t done any riding the last two days, I’ll nevertheless get back to it tomorrow and smash out some more metres. This is a challenge I will complete.

I read today the Strava blog about the girls down in Melbourne doing their Everesting of Mt Donna Buang together. How inspiring was that! Looking at some of the photo’s it seems like a truly beautiful ride and one I’ve now got very interested in.

It seems decisions will be made in the next day or two and that these will determine whether I'm still my present role, possible in in Melbourne (my preferred role) or in Toowoomba.

Sometimes it can be nice to have choices afterall.

Marcia, Marcia, Marcia!

The rain started proper yesterday and today, it hasn't stopped pouring at any stage. The region north of Brisbane has copped a (now) Category 5 cyclone, which is causing (as I write this) a fair amount of damage. Luckily for most, the cyclone crossed the coast in a relatively low populated area, meaning damage was kept mainly to the bushland. The cyclone, once hitting the coast is deteriorating slowly however it still poses a significant risk (flooding) to the areas around Yeppoon, Rockhampton and southwards towards Brisbane.

My city is in the middle somewhere....

This is a big impediment to me! (yep, selfish) as I had planned a decent 100k+ plus ride for the morning, out around the southern suburbs before the weekend really got under way. The idea of spending time on the trainer doesn't thrill me as it always seems to upset the gearing on my roadie, and consequently I tend to not use perhaps as much as I should.

Been reading everything and anything related to Everesting the last few days as it makes it's way back to the forefront of my mind. I really need to get in and get this done soon. Otherwise it'll bug me forever and a day until the goal is attained.

Recently a friend attempted an "Everest" in an area known for continuous, big and steep hills and subsequently failed, doing only 2 of the approx 15 loops. This was a concern as this fellow is extremely fit and mentally tough so I was surprised to see his attempt falter. Gave me pause for thought, however that just then spurred me on to do my own thing, irrespective of how others went with their attempts.

My own attempt will be done on my own, in the company of myself (poor me!). That'll be the tough part. I've found a couple hills that will be suitable. It's now a case of riding them regularly and then when I feel I'm able, go and smash out the required laps.

I need to do this soon. It's killing me mentally, going round and round in my brain. Guess it's a bit of OCD that I feel I need to do this before I turn 51 in August. Each year (for the past 10 or so) I've set some crazy goal and most times get there in the end, from mountain bike races to running marathons. This one is by far the biggest yet though!

So from the very next ride, it's full focus on getting this old body fit enough to conquer Everest. Things are gonna get weird from here on folks!

Storm-a-Geddon

What a week. Not only a cyclone up in the Cape, but also one now coming down towards Brisbane. And while it won’t be a cyclone by the time it gets here, there’s plenty of rain on the way for the next couple of days. Might be time to break out the wind trainer I think!

Queenslanders (that’s me!) are being warned to stock up on supplies as latest weather warnings show Tropical Cyclone Marcia is set to make landfall within 24 hours. Warnings issued by our Bureau of Meteorology said the cyclone was expected to strengthen as it headed toward the coast and was expected to hit as a category two system. That’s fairly breezy, but nothing compared to what I’ve been through previously when I lived up north. Still, it seems to have plenty of people here at work “edgy”.

According to our local online news Brisbanetimes.com.au, “Forecasters predict as much as 100mm of rain will fall in coastal areas from Gladstone to the New South Wales border on Thursday before the skies open up to dump 200-400mm on Friday. Up to 500mm is possible in isolated areas. Preparations began in earnest on Wednesday as the State Disaster Coordination Centre at Kedron opened and the State Disaster Coordination Group met to discuss its approach. SES volunteers at Brisbane's Newmarket depot handed out more than 6500 sandbags with similar numbers at the city's other four depots".

Thought about riding this morning but the roads were slick, and the trails muddy. So rather than wreck bikes I decided to just go for a 4k walk in the rain instead.

I’ve been thinking about a possible move to Melbourne. Everlasting Mt Donna Buang could be a realistic goal depending on how things progress. I applied for a very good role, similar to what I’m doing now at a uni down in Melbourne, and where the staff know me well. It’d be a good role to get, and a permanent one. It would mean though I’d be a Fly In Fly out husband. It’d be tough on my boy, but sometimes you’ve just got to do what you have to do to make ends meet I guess. Still, the riding down that way looks awesome and I’m finding I’m getting impatient to know the outcomes of my job applications. The Melbourne role only closed last night so I’ll be waiting impatiently for awhile yet I think!

But Everlasting is still a goal to be ticked off. I desperately want a “grey stripe” and I’m willing to endure the suffering to make it happen. Hopefully the next few weeks will determine whether it’ll happen in Queensland or in Melbourne! Either way, having a job sorted will then allow me to start training in earnest again, and dispel all the stress in my life at present.

So what's been happening in my world?

My world at present

How is everyone? I hope you’re staying right side up and enjoying life to it’s fullest.

Me? Another week goes by, another week closer to the end of my contract here. I’ve been applying for every job I can in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne, to ensure I have money coming in for my family. Its been a tough road emotionally and Everesting, important as it is to me, hasn’t been at the forefront of my mind of late. I still dream of that “Grey Striped Jersey”, but it will have to wait until some resolution to my current situation emerges. I submitted my application for my own job (very weird) this morning. The application period closes Sunday night. Personally I’ve worked to make myself indispensable over the last 3 years, so hopefully that will stand me in good stead when it comes time to decide both the interviewees, and the eventual “winner” for this position.

I have been out regularly on my Niner though. Doing the trails most mornings works to get rid of the stress I’ve been dealing with. Despite being a short ride, it’s a tough hit out and I figure at least it keeps my fitness to a reasonable standing (something like a holding pattern I guess). I don’t want to goes backwards, but I don’t have the time at present to go forward either. Hopefully that should be decided one way or another shortly.

The pro-racing season has started and I’m looking forward to the Classics starting. The Tour of Flanders, and of course Paris-Roubaix are simply amazing to watch and the way the race unfolds always makes for compelling viewing. Despite being a fan of both Spartacus and Boonen, I’d really like to see Wiggo win this one to cap off a wonderful career. Time will tell if Sky can support Wiggins and get him to the finish in a good position.

Job Stress Continues

What a few weeks it’s been. On the bright side I completed the Strava Climbing Challenge for the month of January. On the down side, I won’t be doing the February edition as I just don’t have the time at present. Good luck to those that do!

On the jobs front there has been some movement. One, my work supervisor (a great boss) did manage to find the funds to advertise my role this week, so at least there’s some hope there. Two, though my role was advertised, it will change considerably, and the job description looks pretty intimidating to be honest! An added downer is there’s been a lot of interest from both internally and externally so I’m not feeling confident at all now, despite being the only person in the university who knows this particular application inside out. Despite this though I will of course apply and see what happens. I won’t be training someone else though to do this role!

To those interested, I’m also looking to Sydney and Melbourne for roles. Got a couple in Sydney I’m going to call today and see what comes of them. One, a permanent role, the other a contract one with good daily rates.

If anyone doesn’t already know, the Hell’s 500 team are on Instagram and their regular updates provide for some fantastic photo’s and stories. Well worth checking out.

The Tour Down Under was a fabulous race this year, as was the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race. I think this one will become an event to watch yearly as the best teams in the world battle out a pretty tough course. It made for great viewing.

I’ve been doing plenty of mountain biking lately and that’s keeping me sane, and occupied. It’s amazing how good cycling is to take your mind off life’s problems. Nothing better than those endorphins kicking in at the end of a tough ride making you feel things aren’t so bad after all.

As for Everesting, the dream is still alive - but just on the backburner for now until life settles down. It'll all happen, just not sure when!

First world problems eh?!

Stay stay, and keep your wheels right side down.

Permanent Job needed

Well, what a crap two days it's been. Be prepared for a little "venting" today.

Had a talk to my new boss yesterday afternoon and she tells me that my role (as promised by my Director) would now not be advertised as an ongoing position, but as a two year contract instead. This is in direct contrast to that promised over a year ago. So I feel I have been screwed over in a big way after being far too trusting of my employer.

So even if I decided to apply for the same role I've been doing for 3 years now (and very successfully), it's only for another 2 years and then what? They're so shortsighted here it's ridiculous. It also means, since it's not permanent, that I can't get that new "stealth" Emonda that I've been set on for the last month (promised my wife I'd only buy it when I got a permanent job). 

So today I am really pissed off. At work "sulking". I even declined to go to a last team meeting with my old boss cause I didn't want to talk to her. Been "used" in a big way to get this project up and running successfully, and despite the application needing loads of support it's not going to happen. If I hadn't been around to talk the pilot sites into signing up we wouldn't have this application or be the leaders using it Australia wide. So yeah, majorly unhappy with life today.

In order to find a permanent job I might even have to find something in Sydney or Melbourne to shuttle back and forth to. There's nothing much up here in Brisbane at all,  no matter what it is. To make matters worse, I couldn't go riding today either as it's been raining constantly since about 2am this morning. Hasn't let up. 

View out my window at work looking northwards.

The family and I are off to the south coast tonight to see my in-laws and their kids (flying up from Melbourne) for the weekend. Tweed Heads is a gorgeous spot, but having two little ones couped up in a 3 bedroom unit could be a recipe for disaster. Gonna take the TCR and do some riding in the hills if I can, just to get anger/stress of finding another job out of my system. Riding to exhaustion is good for that!

So since I have only 2 months to the end of my contract (should I not get my job back), it's time I faced reality and gave this Everesting gig away for the time being to concentrate on what I'm going to do next in life. I can't juggle both job hunting, stress of life and riding at present.

Check back every now and again and I'll fill you in on what's happening and hopefully the resumption of my everesting journey.

Thanks for reading and visiting.

DNF and Dehydrated

The family andent down to the Tweed Coast (on the border between Queensland and New South Wales) for the weekend, staying with my father in law (he has ducted aircon). We ended up spending almost the entire time indoors due to the stifling heat and humidity. It was extreme.

I made the mistake of thinking I could get a long ride in on Saturday morning. Decided to head out through Murwillumbah, leaving an hour later than planned, then out into the countryside for an "easy" 140k or so. The pic below shows the path I took into the volcanic crater of the Mt Warning "Super Volcano" of prehistoric times.
 I w

I couldn't have been more wrong. The heat and humidity were extreme and I went through 5 litres of fluids, including 4 waterbottles of sports drink, 1 large chocolate milk, and 1 can of coke, and still ended up massively dehydrated. Coming out of Murwillumbah (30k from the unit) on the way back, despite my legs feeling fine I was starting to shiver and get a bit dizzy. My heart rate was way too high (according to the Garmin anyway). 

The heat was intense coming off the highway so decided to call it a day and ring for "road side assist" to come get me while I sat under a tree beside the Tweed River and waited. God it was hot! Took me all day yesterday (Sunday) to recover and get rehydrated again. Was shattered from the effort. Loved every minute looking back on it...

Garmin says too long in the red zone.

Mt Warning in the distance leaving Murwillumbah

Waiting beside the Tweed River - beautiful and cool in the shade.

Either way it was a learning experience. I've always had trouble working out my drinking/nutrition on the bike while Im racing. Lessons learned and ever onwards!

Broken bikes and lack of miles

Well, what a start to the year it’s been. I work in IT and the application I support has been experiencing nothing but issues since the new year ticked over. Consequently I’ve been working crazy hours trying to keep things afloat and keep the associated staff happy. 

My contract here finishes soon and if that wasn’t stressful enough, they’re going to advertise my role with the view of making it a permanent one. I would think I’d be the logical candidate, however nothing in a university is a “given”, and so this is a particularly stressful month. 

I got the Niner Air 9 carbon back for the local bike shop I use, all in a “near as new” condition. She needed a whole new drivetrain - chain, cassette, cranks, bottom bracket etc, plus a good service, ew cabling and anything else required. The result is an almost brand new bike, quiet and fast. It’s been a great week in that regard! 

In the meantime I’ve been using my “ old faithful”, a Giant Anthem X2. The bike is several years old, needs a new rear shock, but other that it goes, stops and handles extremely well. Plus the added squish on the rear certainly makes you lazy when it comes to getting out of the saddle over the humps and bumps. Just barge right through! 

The Anthem out on the trail

I also decided to go to the gym a few nights back with my daughter to work on my core strength, as I think this should be a major part of my training. No use having the legs if I don't have the core/back to maintain form and function I figure!

I had lined up a 150k ride tomorrow (Saturday), however my wife has other ideas now and has determined that we will spend the weekend at her dad’s place down at Tweed Heads. A gorgeous place, with pristinely great beaches (http://destinationtweed.com.au/)

While this isn’t such a bad thing it will interrupt my training and of course this led to a disagreement about priorities. So…. I’m now going to do a 100k time trial out around Sandgate/Redcliffe, or 100k’s as fast as I can maintain to sufficiently exhaust myself, and to get some decent miles under my legs. I don’t mind compromise usually, but I’m not doing anywhere near enough miles at present and my Everesting attempt will, as is usual given the limited support I get, have to be done on a “beer budget” rather than a champagne one (as we Aussies says). This means it will be likely a massively exhausting and painful exercise, done on little training, and on my own. Physically and psychologically very difficult. Nonetheless, on I go to the land of Sufferlandria. 

Have a good weekend and stay upright.

Week 4 of Training

After a big weekend of house work, not a lot of training was done. I know what I need to do however it's just not happening. I'm finding this lack of time a little stressful at present as the miles just aren't coming as they should be. It could be the time of the year and maybe I'm just expecting too much when there's so much stuff other than bike riding to be done. It's not like I don't know what has to be done and achieved!

Over the weekend I bought a new pair of Hoka One One "Stinson Lite" running shoes. If I'm going to do this Everesting then I know the more weight I can lose beforehand the easier it will be. Anything to assist the effort!

Absolutely the softest, most cushioned shoes I've ever owned. I wish I'd had these when I was running half and full marathon's way back when. They would have been a huge asset and saved my knees a hell of a lot! They've attained a cult following amongst ultra runners and trail runners alike. Weird looking but awesome nonetheless.

This week will be difficult as Xmas Day comes in three days time, and it will be a time of family and cooking, eating and travelling. I know I won't have the time to ride, so hopefully now I have an excuse to get out and at least run when I get a spare half hour or so.

Other than that this week's plan is to  utilise a short and steep street about 1 kilometre from my home (70m gain in a couple hundred metres) to do a pile of hill repeats, and to stress my legs as much as possible. Then tomorrow I'll ride in to work at a fast pace, only taking a much longer route to build up some kilometres. I know it's only early yet, and time is still on my side so I'm trying not to feel too stressed just yet (am I kidding myself here?). Still, 37 repeats of this Everesting hill is a hell of a lot and so the more time I can spend climbing and riding the better.

I'm under no illusions when it comes to this endeavour. But I an stubborn and plan to both make some money for the homeless, and also prove to those that said I can't do this wrong.

Stay tuned and keep both wheels right side up.

Week 3 update

It's been a big week. I've ridden in to work a few times and got some PR's along the way despite not going that hard. Work has been insane. I work in IT support using a specific application and for this entire month and part of next I have no colleagues here to help out, and at present I'm just swamped with work. It's a little overwhelming! And while all this is going on I get some extra bad news....

I took my Niner over to a friends place to get some advice on it's creaking bottom bracket, and lo and behold, it's been declared "dead" for now. Turns out I need a whole new drive train basically. New cogs, new cassette, new chain, and new bottom bracket. This was disappointing but I suppose I should have expected it given it never gets serviced, and is always on call no matter what the conditions. Plus around my place it's been bone dry for most of the year and so everything had dust and dirt engrained into it, particularly the dodgy bottom bracket.

This puts a serious dent in my Everesting attempt as I'll be using the Niner for the challenge. I've got a good LBS so I'll get them to quote for the repairs. It won't be pretty either way.

Tomorrow (Saturday here in Oz) I have to be down the coast for a course, then Sunday I've garnered some friends to ensure we go riding. Although despite needing a new rear shock I could take my Giant Anthem (duallie) out to the climb and do some repeats. It'll be ugly (and bouncy), but it possibly could work, even to do a few repeats. It's about the effort, not the bike after all.

The beasts (a while back) before the bad news, Anthem in the foreground, Niner out the back... maybe I do need that coffee now after all!

Week 2

It's been a poor week as far as training goes. Work has been killing me and I've been working crazy hours. Not good in the big scheme of things, and I'm going to have to turn it all around if I want to be far fitter and in a better place than where I am now.

I got out for a good ride early in the week, hitting an old favourite that I hadn't been to since July 2014, Clear Mountain. It's a beautiful place, with two 17-20% climbs on the eastern side, and 5 x 17% on the western. Either way it's extremely tough. A local cycling website says it's a "brutal climb" and I couldn't agree more, but the view from the top is superb.

After that the week "went to custard" as the Kiwi's would say, and I've accomplished sweet bugger all since. With all the work etc I've been as tired as hell.

This coming weekend, to finish off Week 2, I'm (hopefully if time and family commitments permit) going to do the Strava December Challenge,just to get some longer miles in the legs. Not sure of the route I'll take yet, depends on the weather and the conditions I guess.

Clear Mountain Resort looking north west towards Dayboro.

My ride to Clear Mountain

http://www.strava.com/activities/227592095

Like I said, the weather has been all over the place this week. We've had extreme temperatures, followed today by low temps and rain all day. Crazy. Here's a pic of the one of the weather radar images from this week.

I'll let you know how the weekend goes.

One week down

Well, the rest of my week, and the weekend was full on - just not with cycling. We've had so much on at home that it was a really frustrating few days without riding.

Week one saw me get through 198k's of cycling, so I'm pleased with that to start things off.

I did get a short rolling ride in on Sunday morning though (Saturday it rained all morning and afternoon), just to loosen up the legs and get some exercise in.

Link here: http://www.strava.com/activities/226839119

This ride, as you can see, is "lumpy", and I actually scored a pile of PR's without too much effort, preferring instead to just go out at a steady heart rate without pushing too much.

Week two starts today, and it'll have to be a night ride as the day was hot and humid, and stormy. It may be a decent run tonight, or a ride to Clear Mountain. I'll see what awaits when I get home tonight.

Ready to Start the Challenge - training

Monday, December 1st. Training begins.

The morning dawned bright and humid. I was up at 4:15am, grabbed a cup of coffee then hit the trails for a quick hitout before work. The "Standard Morning Ride", that I've been doing for years now is only short, but heavy on short steep pinch climbs, and is a mix of tarmac and dirt. I'm lucky the Niner is very light as I was feeling washed out from a night of broken sleep and so took things pretty slow. The humidity though was oppressive.

I did a few rides over the weekend, just short rides on the Niner around the mountain bike parks in my area. Yesterday I went out (road cycling) with the intention of putting in an easy 100k or so, however that didn't eventuate due to a road full of glass and crap from the storm we had a few nights back.

My plan for now, building up my base, is to do as much mountain biking and road cycling as I can for the entire month of December. I figure the mountain biking will contribute to a lot of strength, and the road riding adding in some much needed endurance.

I'l have another look at my proposed climb for this Everest after receiving a lot of advice from the Strava Cycling group. It'll most likely depend on how I'm going as March draws near. I have a full 3 months of preparation, so at this stage at least, I'm feeling confident.

My trouble is I'm not built like a "roadie", i.e. tall and slim. I'm pretty "square" as my wife would say, with wide shoulders, long torso and short legs. It'd be nice to be a skinny, tall roadie but I have to live with what I've got I'm afraid. Therefore I'll just have to suck it up and make do.

My mantra from here on is "Don't limit your challenges, challenge your limits".

Ready to get back to training

Finally back into riding! Got out of bed at 4:15am, grabbed a cup of coffee, checked Velonews (http://velonews.com) got dressed, grabbed the Niner and off I went for some dedicated trail time.

I didn’t push the pace as it’s been quite a while since I’ve ridden. I think my heart rate was pretty high really the entire way round, though I felt OK. I took the steep pinches slowly and easy, trying to keep a nice even pace. I’ll maintain this type of riding until I feel my body respond to more miles and efforts. No use trying to smash myself before I’m ready I guess! The trails offer steep pinches and a few decent climbs to get myself used to the effort of riding again. 

Lunchtime (we all have to work right?) rolled around and I decided I’d try doing a bit of running again. It was 31 degrees outside and humid. Not exactly what you’d call perfect weather for a run. Nonetheless off I went. It was much harder than I remember. I used to regularly run half marathon’s at 5:10 pace, which I could sustain for the full 21k’s. Those days seem like an eternity ago. I found myself hitting that pace, but for only 400-500m at a time before walking for a distance.

Strava Files
http://www.strava.com/activities/222949038
http://www.strava.com/activities/222847087

I came to a small park full of water and waterbirds. I decided I’d do some stair reps, and then some push-ups and sit-ups. Sort of a mini HIIT session. By the time I got back to the uni where I work I was drenched in sweat and already late for a meeting. Couldn’t care though as I’d done my first decent hit outs in weeks and despite the tiredness setting in, I felt great.

It’s a long way to the finish line of my own personal “Everest” so for the present, “time is on my side” as the Stones song goes..

Looking forward to tomorrow's ride already.

Exploring Samsonvale 16/11/2013

I went out with the intention of just cruising around the place, and having a look at some climbs etc. The roads were a little rough with patchy and unkept bitumen. On the whole though it was a great morning to be out riding and just enjoying the experience without any real destination in mind.

Samford Pony Trails - just riding for the sake of it today.

Took off about 6.30am with no destination in mind. I was supposed to do a 100k road ride but couldn't muster the motivation to do it. All seemed a bit too hard. AND my Niner was beckoning me to ride...so the dirt it was.

'

Here's to the start

Niner waiting for the word "Go!"

Hmm, a long way to jump!

This is what it's all about people!

Entering Horse Poo Forest - take care.

This creek used to be full of water...

No matter how hard I tried, the Niner flat out refused to jump.

 Heading for another creek crossing

Horsey fun.

The trail continues.

After rain this part becomes almost unrideable sludge. 

Not at present though!

Bummer - I used to cross here. Maybe not today.

 Favourite coffee stop at Samford. Awesome food and drinks.

SCUNT is in there, waiting...

Cheaters way up Scunt. Not one I've ever taken.

Goodbye to the mountains until the morning...