On the cusp of last years 24 WSC I was in some of the best shape ever. My weight and shape was sitting steady, body fat percentages were low (slowly dropping) and cardio-vascular fitness was increasing. It is months later now and after a major change in routine and training it was time to check were I was. Firstly thanks to the guys and girls I have been training with, from X-training, weights and circuit, to cardio and stretching, I was able to maintain a neat balance.
The body has changed, firstly it was evident at weigh-in with a muscle mass gain estimated at 5kg and total mass up two BMI points! With the mass gain was a slight body-fat gain, hey, I didn’t skimp at meals. Additionally basic girths were up and most importantly for my cycling a thigh circumference of almost an further 5cm.
Now all I have to do is apply it on the bike.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Friday, February 18, 2011
How to spend a couple of hours
With a little time on my hands over the festive period I managed to read a couple of books. So between work and training throw an eye over these.
French Revolutions by Tim Moore
Newspaper writer and self-confessed slacker, Moore is drawn to and reflect on what is the Tour De France. Purchasing a road-bike and fitting it with panniers Moore sets out to ride the TDF course, all 3630km touring style. Highly descriptive, with hilarious observations of pro-cycling, cycling culture and self discovery French Revolutions is a great read.
Newspaper writer and self-confessed slacker, Moore is drawn to and reflect on what is the Tour De France. Purchasing a road-bike and fitting it with panniers Moore sets out to ride the TDF course, all 3630km touring style. Highly descriptive, with hilarious observations of pro-cycling, cycling culture and self discovery French Revolutions is a great read.
Bank Robbery for Beginners by Anthony Prince
Both Prince and his mate were from Byron Bay, on a working holiday in the Rocky Mountains, USA. Ill fated decisions lead both these boys directly to a serious turn of events. Portrayed as "Dumb and Dumber" by the US media you follow the raw, incredible and life changing experience through some of America's most aggressive prisons. With an easy reading style Bank Robbery for Beginners is a must read.
Both Prince and his mate were from Byron Bay, on a working holiday in the Rocky Mountains, USA. Ill fated decisions lead both these boys directly to a serious turn of events. Portrayed as "Dumb and Dumber" by the US media you follow the raw, incredible and life changing experience through some of America's most aggressive prisons. With an easy reading style Bank Robbery for Beginners is a must read.
Both books are highly entertaining, I found them perfect for my recovery and down time.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Rocky Trail 6 + 6 at Del Rio
Team Enduro Pulse riders made the call some months ago to enter the 6 + 6 category (thats racing on Saturday from 12pm - 6pm and Sunday 6am - 12pm) and it took only moments into the race for Craig Baylis to thank his pre event lazy stars. Feeling the heat early and it was only on the second lap, that’s about 40 minutes in, he had to rest three times up the main climb! Craig knew right then that it was going to be a long day.
"Every lap I resisted the urge to just stop in the pool, or the bar for that matter, and play reporter for the day instead of grinding myself into the ground". Craig kept on heading back out for another lap and the pedals turning even what could be a stupidly slow pace. "It certainly didn’t feel like I was racing anyone, rather I was just trying to outlast the next guy on the climbs".
Throughout the afternoon Team Enduro Pulse watched the mercury steadily rise and top out at an extraordinary 47 degrees on the climb. The heat caught many off guard and the exposed climb away from transition left the sun beating down on rider’s backs.
There were reports of several riders coming down with heat stroke and it wasn’t until seeing firsthand riders being attended too that the consequences of the heat really became apparent. Team Enduro Pulse rider Jamie Bailey was one rider to succumb to the heat after 3 hours of setting the pace in the 6+6 category and building up to a 6 minute lead. Unfortunately for Jamie he was unable to continue riding in the event testament to the extreme conditions.
If riders thought the setting sun would ease the temperature then they had another thing coming. It was the hottest Sydney night on record and the exposed rock shelf shadowing the road on the climb radiated the retained heat back through the dark. The riders just couldn’t get a break!
Craig still maintaining laps throughout the 6+6 race he managed to keep it together and made up a place on Sunday morning with faster lap times seeing him finish in third.
Check out the photos from the Sydney 24 Hour at www.enduropulse.com.au or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/enduropulse
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Sunday, February 6, 2011
LunarC 2011
What are you doing last friday night? Did you care for any Mountainbiking? Then you should have been in S/E Queensland for the LunarC 8hr MTB Enduro. Starting at Midnight Friday and finishing at 8am on Saturday morning the LunarC pushes your boundries and works against your body clock. It is a tough ask to ride such an adventure in what looked to be some mildly damp conditions. Friend and rival Sean Bekkers took on the challenge and with many thanks to his crew didn't stop during the race, placing 2nd in the Solo Male category. Great start to the year Sean. Check out more events like this at Enduro Pulse, and Sean's Mountainbiking Blog for his take on the event.
Friday, February 4, 2011
Rocky Trail/ JetBlack 24hr - 6 + 6
Jason English is set to return, hopeful of finer weather and on a new set of wheels. No doubt he will be a green flash on his 2011 Merida Ninety Six Team & O.nine. The successive 24hr World Solo Champion has carried good form and solid preparation into the new year. There will be many joining Jason on a solo journey but 24hrs solo isnt for everyone.
As in previous years there will be the teams categories for the 24, Hawksbury local Michael Smith is one such rider to opt for racing in a team, "Teams are heaps easier to manage than a solo race". Michael is highly experienced in team endurance racing and the results show, his team made the podium at last years Scott 24hr. "[The JetBlack 24] should be a walk in the park compared to the races I have been doing lately", he said after training through the warm weather Sydney has recently experienced.
The other category expected to be popular is the 6 + 6, where the participants can ride for 6hrs then get a "normal" nights sleep to polish off the last 6hrs in the morning. One such rider entered into this category is my Enduro Pulse team mate Jamie Bailey, his memories of riding solo at the JetBlack24hr are fond and had this to say about racing this weekend, "I'm doing the 6+6 not the big kids race". Which pretty much sums it up, expect plenty of fun throughout the weekend and good luck to the solo riders.
More information can be found on the event through Enduro Pulse and Rocky Trail.