A quick Catch up

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.

Over 3000m vertical in approximately 100km over a 'Bakers Dozen' of hills close to Adelaide.  Are you up for the challenge?

Starting and finishing at Red Berry Espresso, Le Strange St, Glenside, hills will be in order of:

Mt Osmond (Hayward Dve) - 2.3km @ 9.7%

Gill Tce - 0.6km @ 14.7%

Heatherbank Tce - 0.6km @ 10.3%

Kensington Rd - 1.3km @ 11.5%

Coach Rd - 2.4km @ 9.8%

Knox Tce - 1.4km @ 9.4%

Ridgeland Dve - 1.2km @ 10.7%

Burdetts Rd - 1.7km @ 7%

Nicols Rd (up and back) - 0.7km @ 11.7% & 0.5km @ 12.9%

Knotts Hill / Pound Rd - 2.7km @8%

Fernhurst Rd (Cherryville) - 2.1km @10.8%

Corkscrew Rd - 2.5km @8.9%

Coach House Dve / Woodlands Way - 2.7km @10.1%

With many 'bonus' lumps and bumps in between.  According to Ride With GPS (which admittedly does read a little high) - 3595m vertical all up.

For more information visit http://www.adelaidecyclists.com/events/2013-adelaide-dirty-dozen

Yes it does sound like hell! Last weekend i did a reconnaissance ride of about 50kms and 6 of the hills with some friends who are also riding the event. Having not completed a solid road ride for going on 6 weeks i didnt expect much which is lucky because i was buggered! Adelaide holds some absolute perfect hills and riding routes all with in the suburban areas. This ride was not about seeing if i was up to the ride it was more about catching up with some friends and trying to get my "oomph" back to get out on the bike. The weather played its part and turned on a spectacular morning and near perfect conditions for riding.  Some (ok most, fine ALL) of the hills kicked my ass but the support and encouragement from the group was awesome. 

 Seriously stupid move trying to follow AVO up Kensi road. The man is not human

 The picture doesnt do this road justice, This was already about 8-9% and it was only the bottom!

 Re-Group at the top of Kensi. This should be interesting on the DD day trying to fit 100+ riders at the top

Yep, know how you feel Samantha!

Do i think that i will finish the whole ride on the 7th? Probably not. I am going to give it a good crack but the ride on the weekend has shown just how far my fitness level has dropped from my peak when i was riding/racing consistently. I have put on a bit of "winter warmth" of about 3 kgs so need to drop that quick smart! It is more from emotional and lazy eating as my gym work has been relatively steady so i just need to control my diet a little more and should be heading back in the right direction. 

So what else...i have signed up to do the City to Bay "Fun" run with my best mate which will be awesome! 12km run from the CBD to Glenelg. 
Apart from that and a few other social rides i dont have heaps on my radar as i think my wife is hoping that i will wrap myself in cotton wool as it is under 40days until out holiday to the USA =-)

It is really all about preparing for the DD ride then quick recovery and prep for the city to bay the week after, weight loss and some more weight loss! should be a fun month! 

till next time, Keep the rubber side down!