Well not a great deal has changed since my last update. I am still struggling to get out on the bike for nothing more than a severe lack of motivation. I have committed to completing the 2nd Annual Adelaide Dirty Dozen Ride on the 7th of September which i am eagerly anticipating. After missing this last year thinking that i wasnt up to it it really ate at me hearing everyones tales etc of the day. I almost didnt do it this year and volunteered to drive a support car to assist the 100+ riders taking part but after careful consideration i decided to give it a go! For those of you that dont know the DD is as follows.
Wednesday, 28 August 2013
Thursday, 1 August 2013
My motivation has been washed away with the winter rains and the swooping of magpies
Im sure that this is a battle that most cyclists find at this time of year, lack of motivation. The cold temperatures, the rain and the lack of sunshine make it harder and harder to get out and ride, let alone train for any events. Maybe it is just a hangover from watching the TDF =)
Having just had a look at my strava account i haven't ridden on the road for 4 and a bit weeks. Granted i have been doing a new training program with Cyclo-Core which has been great. Splitting time on the trainer with specific programs and time off the bike working on functional strength has helped, but its not the same.
With a couple of races penciled in and some Adelaide Cyclists events that i have targeted i am beginning to question if i will be able to get to them. I am at the point of riding my bike because i feel i "have to" not because i "want to". Although a solitary sport for the most part i have enjoyed riding with a number of groups since starting my cycling journey however not being able to be a regular starter has seen me on the outer which makes things difficult as well. Balancing family, work, wifes study, gym and riding is becoming harder and harder, ny impossible.
As cyclists well know, this is not a cheap hobby. Being that the family and i are heading off to the USA in 8 weeks (eeeeeek) means that any non essential expenses have been banned by the Minister for Finance (aka my darling wife) until our return. Unfortunately this comes at a time when bike things are required so it is actually safer to be inside! or that could potentially be an excuse. Oh well winter is almost finished...but....then spring comes and that means.........
yep! magpie swooping! I think i actually hate this more than riding in the wet! Trouble with my house it is located in an estate with one road in and out and on that lovely road perched in a nice tree, on the corner, on a 4% rise, is a maggie that loves to say "hi" each time i ride past! although not overly aggressive (usually only has 1-3 decent cracks) it is a major PITA.
But it is not all doom and gloom. I have been afforded the opportunity to run in the city-bay with my best mate which will be fantastic so have set some "lifestyle goals" for the rest of August which are
No chocolate (after tonight)
Drop weight to 79kgs (currently 82 another reason to hate winter)
Stick to my cyclo-core program
Do 1 group ride per week, somewhere
Hopefully with some specific, short term targets, will see me get back on track.
I really hoping to be able to do some cycling while in the USA and San Francisco seems to be the place to do it at this point. Lombard street is one that i really want to tackle. Do yourself a favor and google it!
On a different note my Father in Law has just made an amazing purchase! a brand new Cervelo aero road bike. Fully kitted out in SRAM Red and Zipp wheels the thing is a BEAST! he has really gotten into his riding in the last 12 months and regularly rides with a local group, The Cobwebs, which he thoroughly enjoys. Recovering from a fractured pelvis and a tear in his shoulder it is great to see the continual improvement with every ride he goes out on. His excitement was great to see and a new toy was well deserved, but given a moment i will be off on it! haha
All in all i have some work to do in the next 4-6 weeks to make sure i am primed come summer otherwise it is another wasted summer/autumn season. Want to be ready for some crit racing and of course the Tour Down Under!
Lots of work to do
Having just had a look at my strava account i haven't ridden on the road for 4 and a bit weeks. Granted i have been doing a new training program with Cyclo-Core which has been great. Splitting time on the trainer with specific programs and time off the bike working on functional strength has helped, but its not the same.
With a couple of races penciled in and some Adelaide Cyclists events that i have targeted i am beginning to question if i will be able to get to them. I am at the point of riding my bike because i feel i "have to" not because i "want to". Although a solitary sport for the most part i have enjoyed riding with a number of groups since starting my cycling journey however not being able to be a regular starter has seen me on the outer which makes things difficult as well. Balancing family, work, wifes study, gym and riding is becoming harder and harder, ny impossible.
As cyclists well know, this is not a cheap hobby. Being that the family and i are heading off to the USA in 8 weeks (eeeeeek) means that any non essential expenses have been banned by the Minister for Finance (aka my darling wife) until our return. Unfortunately this comes at a time when bike things are required so it is actually safer to be inside! or that could potentially be an excuse. Oh well winter is almost finished...but....then spring comes and that means.........
yep! magpie swooping! I think i actually hate this more than riding in the wet! Trouble with my house it is located in an estate with one road in and out and on that lovely road perched in a nice tree, on the corner, on a 4% rise, is a maggie that loves to say "hi" each time i ride past! although not overly aggressive (usually only has 1-3 decent cracks) it is a major PITA.
But it is not all doom and gloom. I have been afforded the opportunity to run in the city-bay with my best mate which will be fantastic so have set some "lifestyle goals" for the rest of August which are
No chocolate (after tonight)
Drop weight to 79kgs (currently 82 another reason to hate winter)
Stick to my cyclo-core program
Do 1 group ride per week, somewhere
Hopefully with some specific, short term targets, will see me get back on track.
I really hoping to be able to do some cycling while in the USA and San Francisco seems to be the place to do it at this point. Lombard street is one that i really want to tackle. Do yourself a favor and google it!
On a different note my Father in Law has just made an amazing purchase! a brand new Cervelo aero road bike. Fully kitted out in SRAM Red and Zipp wheels the thing is a BEAST! he has really gotten into his riding in the last 12 months and regularly rides with a local group, The Cobwebs, which he thoroughly enjoys. Recovering from a fractured pelvis and a tear in his shoulder it is great to see the continual improvement with every ride he goes out on. His excitement was great to see and a new toy was well deserved, but given a moment i will be off on it! haha
All in all i have some work to do in the next 4-6 weeks to make sure i am primed come summer otherwise it is another wasted summer/autumn season. Want to be ready for some crit racing and of course the Tour Down Under!
Lots of work to do
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