A pictureless post to provide a short update on last Sunday’s wet training effort. I had thought it not worthy to originally post, but since changed my mind given my intent to effectively diarise my major training efforts as I build towards March. Please note that I have not painfully wordsmithed the following, so apologies for sticklers for grammar, complete sentences and logical flow etc.
Belair-Wickhams-Willunga-Greenhill-Lofty
I rolled out late to meet Snappy, who that morning messaged me to say he would join me ahead of the climb up Belair and Wickhams Hill beyond Clarendon. The forecasted weather was for showers, and it wasn’t long before we got wet; increasingly so the deeper and higher into the ranges. The visibility and slipperiness of the roads, accompanied by the wind (~30km/hr), called for some extreme caution at times –particularly on the descents and when being overtaken by vehicles.
Having only previously descended Belair and Wickhams Hill before, to climb them and to be navigated for the first time by Snappy, who was not unfamiliar with those Hills (living further South than I) was useful – particularly so, given I had already lost faith in my pre-plotted GPS route on my Garmin which was telling me I was 14km off-course, WTF!
Whilst fair climbs, neither Belair nor Wickham’s Hill were particularly difficult.
Conservatively descended Penny’s Hill Road – lost the chain (bit scary) on the descent – and rode into Willunga (town) with Snap for refueling. Said farewell to Snappy (who was to roll home through McLaren Vale) and ascended Willunga Hill to resume the rest of my ride solo. Between the top of Willunga and Echunga the wind was very tough, and from Mount Barker (ie the final 50km), the rain and fog had increased to incredibly vile!
I notably received a message from Snap when in Mount Barker to say he took a fall on his return home (thankfully nothing major), so was very mindful that a broken collar bone (or worse) due to a fall in the conditions, isn't ideal preparation for March.
Each training ride I mentally digest and analyze, and from this ride there were two main learning’s that I took away with me. Firstly, the weather conditions provided an opportunity to ride in conditions that could replicate that which I might find in Falls Creek come March, and secondly, I found myself complacent in regards to consumption. I calculated and brought with me enough sustenance for the ride and I would have consumed only half of what I brought. This consequentially had an impact I believe in the final twenty kilometers to Lofty, and also my recovery early into the week. I felt more shagged from this ride than from the 230km MOTU enduro two weeks earlier.
Bike issues
This ride I had considerable issues with my front derailleur. I lost the chain three times in total, and the chain behaved as if it was crossed when it was not in fact. The issue has to a large degree now corrected itself a little, but I have made arranged for my bike to receive to be fully serviced and rebuilt after New Years. Thanks to BMCR in this regard!
Ride Statistics
· Distance: 161.26 km
· Elevation Gain: 2,936 m
· Time: 6 hrs 4min 31 sec
· Avg Speed: 26.5 km/h
· Calories burnt: 4,018 C
Major training rides in the fortnight ahead
Tomorrow, Christmas Sunday, ahead of Christmas lunch I will be riding a fast ~130km through the Gawler Ranges and up Menglars – a climb which because of its inclusion in the TDU seems (in my opinion) to have obtained some exaggerated majesty, but nevertheless a nice short climb with a decent view from top. This is a generally flatter route, and not of any concern, though this ride will be of particular interest too as I’ll be riding with my older brother for the first time in twelve months. The competiveness and trashtalk has been saved over the winter and spring, and whilst I anticipate he’ll have a slight edge on the flat and have the advantage in that we’re riding around his usual stomping ground, on the climbs I’ll have his quarter.
Thereafter, bar short punchier climbs around home (if I can get the chance) and the time spent on the trainer, I’ve scheduled consecutive multiple >120km efforts later in the week as I increase and train specifically towards Team MOTUs week of the TDU when we’ll be riding and having to pull up each day.
* * *
Until next time
ZZ
Thereafter, the return though Angaston, Nurioopta, Lyndoch etc was fast into a strong headwind. My brother, as forecasted, had the edge on this leg and pulled a gap on the flat getting back to Gawler of about twenty seconds. I don’t like the wind, and I was having difficulty managing quads, which from Lyndoch which were teetering on beginning to cramp!! Didn’t force myself to pull the gap back as I knew cramped muscles means muscle damage.
PS Christmas Morning: 129.82km, 1316m elevatn gain, 29.9 km/hr
Having confirmed for my Boys, that Santa had indeed been and consumed that which was left to him, I headed off for my ride through One Tree Hill and the Barossa Valley; past the open pastures and vineyards with my brother, who I met when I got to Gawler. My brother is himself a very competent (summer) cyclist.
It was quite notable that heading towards One Tree Hill on one side of the road was open pasture as far as the eye could see, and on the other side vineyards as far as the eye could see – I consciously thought I was “patrolling the border” between the farmers & the wine producers…
A conversational comfortable stretch between Gawler and Bethany ahead of the climb to Menglars, up which I had his measure getting to the summit first by a couple hundred metres. Curiously I watched his style ascending Menglars and noted his preference for staying in as higher a gear as possible with a lower cadence, whereas I prefer the lower gear and maintaining a cadence of 90 even on the steep climbs.
Thereafter, the return though Angaston, Nurioopta, Lyndoch etc was fast into a strong headwind. My brother, as forecasted, had the edge on this leg and pulled a gap on the flat getting back to Gawler of about twenty seconds. I don’t like the wind, and I was having difficulty managing quads, which from Lyndoch which were teetering on beginning to cramp!! Didn’t force myself to pull the gap back as I knew cramped muscles means muscle damage.Said farewell to my brother upon arriving in Gawler as I headed towards the "Stuart O'Grady Bikeway" and the final 20km of my ride. Poor sign posting meant I got lost TWICE trying to find the f&*kn path – thereby messing with my average, and then the path itself was again full headwind and littered with grass, prickles and sticks - was very lucky not to puncture. Memo to self, "must send Stuey a short note suggesting improvement".
Consumption on my part was again significantly lazy/complacent – in my head I was thinking “pffftttt… this is only 130km and I’ll only be on the bike for four hours”. I consumed fuel sufficient to get me to the end, but insufficient for putting full power into the wind towards the end. I must consciously change this mindset. I also tried some new Gels (Peak Fuel) which my sister had acquired for me for Christmas. They didn't stomach particularly well, were in tubes, and their viscosity was likewise like toothpaste. I need to manage them and will defer their use to my recreational rides – when on more intense training rides I can see myself avoiding/deferring their use (to my detriment). From the perspective of energy provided, they were very good and their taste palatable.
Given my muscles wanting to cramp in the warmer humid weather, my thoughts are to also additionally add Berocca to my bidons; will research more in this regard.
In short a decent ride, and different ride to that which I've been doing of late, and bar the anticipated tiredness into the Christmas evening there was nothing physically to be concerned about.
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