Wow, 2 days in a row.
THe course is almost over. Tomorrow is the second last day of the course but I have a 0630 start.
BUt having said that I have an early start I am still going to ride in. It is time to get the legs ticking over and what a better way than first thing in the morning while it is nice and fresh. Plus all the hills make it a nice workout, short but nice. It will certainly help get the legs ready for a hrad week next week and the intensive smashing they will get for the rest of the month to get ready for the Avanti CLassic and the Brisane Metropolitan Championships. Qiuetly I think our team has a good chance of a place in one of the 3 races. Fingers crossed. All I hope is that I can deliver someone to the line at speed or at least fresh enough to get through the chaos.
Sorry that this is only a short one but not else has happened today so I wont bore you with jibberish rubbish and just make stuff up.
Till tomorrow.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Whats been going on since last time I was here
Once again I have been delayed from posting on here, but thats work. Anyway what have I been doing?
After having a nice strong week on the bike and really feeling all the base work I had done paying off even after a 4 week break from the bike and no racing for nearly 8 weeks, I headed back out bush to finish off the training I have been instructing on. This week was all about old fashioned dig a hole and that is your home for however long you are told style of fighting. These days we call it conventional operations. It is similar to Korea and Vietnam era warfighhting.
During the week we celebrated ANZAC Day (25th April) which was a nice day, mind you not much time off. The day started with a 0415 wake up and then coffee served by the instructors at 0445. At 0500 the dawn service started with all the course staff and some of the top performing students being involved with some readings and phrases. By 0530 the service was over and the bacon and egg rolls were devoured by all.
Once the ANZAC DAy service was all over, it was back into it. It started off with qualifying the trainees with anti-armour rockets and then when that was over it was back to the trusty hole in the ground and on with the fight.
So how much sleep did the trainees and staff get. For the first 72 hrs it averaged out to about 3 hrs /night. Not a lot, but it is designed to take the trainees right out of their comfort zone and push them beyond what they think they can do and then more.
Anyway, that week is now over and I back in barracks and finishing the course on friday. Today I had my first hiyt out on the bike in jut over a week, and it felt good, legs wee a bit sore before I started but they certainly feel a bit better now. Had a sprint against one of the teams sprinters and without any bike time ( and him having plenty) and it was even. SO with some sprints under my belt and some bike time I will hit it out again and see if I can secure the teams Crit sprinter position.
Speaking of the Team. We now have our kit ad teh ANZAC Day races were our first race as a team and all in all it was a successful race. We had a rider in the winning break all day and the team put in a good showing. As for a result I think it was 6th or 7th on the line. Not bad for our first race together. Shame I missed it but there will be more.
Any way time to go but I will be back.
After having a nice strong week on the bike and really feeling all the base work I had done paying off even after a 4 week break from the bike and no racing for nearly 8 weeks, I headed back out bush to finish off the training I have been instructing on. This week was all about old fashioned dig a hole and that is your home for however long you are told style of fighting. These days we call it conventional operations. It is similar to Korea and Vietnam era warfighhting.
During the week we celebrated ANZAC Day (25th April) which was a nice day, mind you not much time off. The day started with a 0415 wake up and then coffee served by the instructors at 0445. At 0500 the dawn service started with all the course staff and some of the top performing students being involved with some readings and phrases. By 0530 the service was over and the bacon and egg rolls were devoured by all.
Once the ANZAC DAy service was all over, it was back into it. It started off with qualifying the trainees with anti-armour rockets and then when that was over it was back to the trusty hole in the ground and on with the fight.
So how much sleep did the trainees and staff get. For the first 72 hrs it averaged out to about 3 hrs /night. Not a lot, but it is designed to take the trainees right out of their comfort zone and push them beyond what they think they can do and then more.
Anyway, that week is now over and I back in barracks and finishing the course on friday. Today I had my first hiyt out on the bike in jut over a week, and it felt good, legs wee a bit sore before I started but they certainly feel a bit better now. Had a sprint against one of the teams sprinters and without any bike time ( and him having plenty) and it was even. SO with some sprints under my belt and some bike time I will hit it out again and see if I can secure the teams Crit sprinter position.
Speaking of the Team. We now have our kit ad teh ANZAC Day races were our first race as a team and all in all it was a successful race. We had a rider in the winning break all day and the team put in a good showing. As for a result I think it was 6th or 7th on the line. Not bad for our first race together. Shame I missed it but there will be more.
Any way time to go but I will be back.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Frustrations and bike riding
Well my week of riding is almost over, and although very good it has been frustrating at the same time. It has been good because I have been able to get out on the bike and keep some of base training in check and not let the legs go too stale. The frustration comes in because it has only been a week and now I am going away again. Now this trip away is only a week long and will be relatively physical, but not in a cardio or bike fitness sense. There will be plenty of opportunity to maintain leg strength and endurance stuff. But this week hasn't been helped by the fact that I have had this annoying cough and stuffed up nose. So I am hoping that I can shake it this next week ready to hit the bike hard when I get back.
Now what will I be doing when I get back. I will be doing long rides and interval sessions daily and in some cases both in the one day. Speed sessions with the HYPE Energy crew and some leadout sprint training. At some time there will be a team launch, most likely at the Chalk Hotel(http://www.chalkhotel.com.au) which should be good. It will be a chance for Sponsors, riders, families and friends to get together and meet and have a relaxing start to the 2008 season.
One thing that HYPE ENergy Cycle Race team needs is a Shop Sponsor, somewhere we can go to look after our bikes and if possible provide race bikes to the team so that we have the best equipment on race day.
Anyone out there own a shop and want a team?
Anyway better go I have promised to cook dinner tonight for my long suffering wife, and I can't dissapoint her. The kids are being good and nice and quiet and I think Emma is going to go have a coffee with a girl friend whose Hubby is over seas on operational service for the ADF. SO she is lacking adult conversation, not that he provides much that is adult. He is more sex crazed teenager than sensible adult. Just jokes he is good to her and their kids.
SO till I return from bush, just after ANZAC Day, enjoy life and ride a bike.
Now what will I be doing when I get back. I will be doing long rides and interval sessions daily and in some cases both in the one day. Speed sessions with the HYPE Energy crew and some leadout sprint training. At some time there will be a team launch, most likely at the Chalk Hotel(http://www.chalkhotel.com.au) which should be good. It will be a chance for Sponsors, riders, families and friends to get together and meet and have a relaxing start to the 2008 season.
One thing that HYPE ENergy Cycle Race team needs is a Shop Sponsor, somewhere we can go to look after our bikes and if possible provide race bikes to the team so that we have the best equipment on race day.
Anyone out there own a shop and want a team?
Anyway better go I have promised to cook dinner tonight for my long suffering wife, and I can't dissapoint her. The kids are being good and nice and quiet and I think Emma is going to go have a coffee with a girl friend whose Hubby is over seas on operational service for the ADF. SO she is lacking adult conversation, not that he provides much that is adult. He is more sex crazed teenager than sensible adult. Just jokes he is good to her and their kids.
SO till I return from bush, just after ANZAC Day, enjoy life and ride a bike.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
The Bravo Sensazione continue
To quote nearly every Italian Pro who has won a race, "I had good sensations today and thats what let me win".
I met up with Chris, one of my HYPE Team mates, and knocked out a quick 133km. We met at Sth Bank and then headed out to Mt Mee via Samford Village and then return. Had a steady headwind all the way out and then obviously the climb up Mt Mee. Mt Mee is a 6km 8%(average) climb, north of Brisbane. It is a very popular training ride in Brisbane. I haven't done this ride since mid last year and was surprised as to how I a ctually went today. Now I am not noted for my climbing ability, I am more of a sprinter than a climber. Now chris is a climber who can sprint, or is that a sprinter that can climb, I am not sure. But, all I can say is that once we hit the climb today chris just pulled away from me. I did however catch him half way up the climb. He got a flat tyre, and as soon as that was fixed we took off again and he pulled away again. He managed to about 2 minutes, or 3/4 of a banana, on me by the top of the climb. Then we made a rapid descent down where I led him all the way down using every bit of the road.
The trip back was long and the wind had picked up a bit from the outward bound trip so it made it seem harder than it really was. On the final run into town through Ferny hilss we started to pull some TT turns at pace and rolled along comfortably at 45 km/h. It is going to be good to get the whole team together for some rides and swap turns at pace again.
THe legs feel a bit heavey after todays ride but thats about it and with a night in my SKINS I should be well prepared for another ride in the morning. The famed Brisbane River Loop, with Chris and Adam, another HYPE Team mate.
Till then.
CIAO
I met up with Chris, one of my HYPE Team mates, and knocked out a quick 133km. We met at Sth Bank and then headed out to Mt Mee via Samford Village and then return. Had a steady headwind all the way out and then obviously the climb up Mt Mee. Mt Mee is a 6km 8%(average) climb, north of Brisbane. It is a very popular training ride in Brisbane. I haven't done this ride since mid last year and was surprised as to how I a ctually went today. Now I am not noted for my climbing ability, I am more of a sprinter than a climber. Now chris is a climber who can sprint, or is that a sprinter that can climb, I am not sure. But, all I can say is that once we hit the climb today chris just pulled away from me. I did however catch him half way up the climb. He got a flat tyre, and as soon as that was fixed we took off again and he pulled away again. He managed to about 2 minutes, or 3/4 of a banana, on me by the top of the climb. Then we made a rapid descent down where I led him all the way down using every bit of the road.
The trip back was long and the wind had picked up a bit from the outward bound trip so it made it seem harder than it really was. On the final run into town through Ferny hilss we started to pull some TT turns at pace and rolled along comfortably at 45 km/h. It is going to be good to get the whole team together for some rides and swap turns at pace again.
THe legs feel a bit heavey after todays ride but thats about it and with a night in my SKINS I should be well prepared for another ride in the morning. The famed Brisbane River Loop, with Chris and Adam, another HYPE Team mate.
Till then.
CIAO
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Training coming back in
Well I have now had 4 good days on the bike and each day feels better than the last. My only fear at the moment is the fact that I know I wont be on the bike next week and will have to start all over again. I know that my current work tempo is affecting my bike racing but there si not much I can do about that. After next week the bike trainig and racing will begin to pick up as my temmpo will reduce for a while and I can massage my work requirements a bit more in my favour.
So what will happen after next week?
The course I am instructing on wil be all finished and I will be back to my normal day to day work. Having a good mate as my immediate commander, even though we are both the same rank, allows me the flexibility to do some more training. Plus more superiors have said I can have a bit more trainng time now that I am in a team. Must remember to invite them to the Team launch.
Any way so how do I feel generally, on the bike I am feeling stronger and once a few more races under the belt and some race fitness I will be good. Off the bike, is a different story. While out bush last time I nearly lost my voice , then got a virus and since have had this annoying cough. Now I have a cold which is getting worse each day. Training over the top of it isn't helping but at the moment has to be done. The cough I have, is a bit chesty and starting to really piss me off.
Now this sickness is probably due to being abit run down and fatigued because of work, but there is no chance of resting at the moment.
Once my training kicks off I will keep you all updated as to all my daily obs-Resting HR, Wt, kms, and how I feel in general.
Anyway enough for today. Please leave a comment. Let me know if there is anything you wanat to talk about
So what will happen after next week?
The course I am instructing on wil be all finished and I will be back to my normal day to day work. Having a good mate as my immediate commander, even though we are both the same rank, allows me the flexibility to do some more training. Plus more superiors have said I can have a bit more trainng time now that I am in a team. Must remember to invite them to the Team launch.
Any way so how do I feel generally, on the bike I am feeling stronger and once a few more races under the belt and some race fitness I will be good. Off the bike, is a different story. While out bush last time I nearly lost my voice , then got a virus and since have had this annoying cough. Now I have a cold which is getting worse each day. Training over the top of it isn't helping but at the moment has to be done. The cough I have, is a bit chesty and starting to really piss me off.
Now this sickness is probably due to being abit run down and fatigued because of work, but there is no chance of resting at the moment.
Once my training kicks off I will keep you all updated as to all my daily obs-Resting HR, Wt, kms, and how I feel in general.
Anyway enough for today. Please leave a comment. Let me know if there is anything you wanat to talk about
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Good sensations/ Bravo Sensazione
Well after a nice sleep in with my lovely wife Emma, the first in quite a while due to work committments, I went out and had a solid hit out on the bike. After putting in a good warmup in the small ring, I jumped intot he big ring and put in some solid tempo efforts. Each effort was 10-15min long using the 53/15 and a95-100 rpm cadence. 4 of those through out the ride both into the wind and with the wind. The route I rode today was the standard Zupps route through the Northside and Bay suburbs. THe end result for the ride today was 80km at 32.8km/h average speed. Considering 3 months ago I was doing the same ride solo with an average of 34+km/h to come back after 4 weeks of no bike with an average of 32.8 is very encouraging. The temps today were quite warm and all in all I had soem really encouraging sensations on the bike. It appears the strength is almost there and some early form is within reach.
Once this course finishes I have about 3 weeks to get race fit and hit some form, not neccessarily top form. The first main event ofr me with HYPE Energy is the Avanti Classic, an Open event with lots of hills big hills. Then a week later is the Brisbane Metro Championships, which are my main focus for the team, as a win in either the Crit or the road race will be good for the team and the sponsors.
After the Metros I am away again with work down in NSW for 4 weeks. But this trip ahs plenty off opportunity for some real high level racing with some potential for some good results for the sponsors. With Gunnedah-Tamworth, Rosemount Estate Explorer, as 2 of the main races plus some local club stuff. But the weekend of the 5-6 July is my priority for this year with the ADF Cycling Championships. This year they are being held in Sydney in the middle of winter, yeah its going to be cold. By the way I dont think I have shown you all the new HYPE Energy Team jersey. So here it is.
Anyway this week on the bike is going to be great and a hope the Bravo Sensazione continues.
Once this course finishes I have about 3 weeks to get race fit and hit some form, not neccessarily top form. The first main event ofr me with HYPE Energy is the Avanti Classic, an Open event with lots of hills big hills. Then a week later is the Brisbane Metro Championships, which are my main focus for the team, as a win in either the Crit or the road race will be good for the team and the sponsors.
After the Metros I am away again with work down in NSW for 4 weeks. But this trip ahs plenty off opportunity for some real high level racing with some potential for some good results for the sponsors. With Gunnedah-Tamworth, Rosemount Estate Explorer, as 2 of the main races plus some local club stuff. But the weekend of the 5-6 July is my priority for this year with the ADF Cycling Championships. This year they are being held in Sydney in the middle of winter, yeah its going to be cold. By the way I dont think I have shown you all the new HYPE Energy Team jersey. So here it is.
Anyway this week on the bike is going to be great and a hope the Bravo Sensazione continues.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
The small pleasures in life
Oh my god, I cant believe it has been over a month since I last put a post on here. Really it doesn't surprise me s I have been so busy with work that I haven't had the opportunity nor the time.
But I will give you a quick run down of what I have been up to over the last 4 weeks.
First off I had a week out bush, doing Army stuff. Teaching new trainees the basics of Infantry soldiering. A fairly intense training week with minimal sleep and plenty going on at all hours of the day. The week finished off with a formal assessment of the skills they had been taught and practiced. If they failed this assessment, (no they don't die) they are sent back a couple of weeks in training to do it all again, possibly in a different location. Luckily for these guys no one failed, mind you some should have and it wouldn't have hurt them to redo the training package. But that's life I suppose.
After a quiet Saturday off, which involved repacking all my kit ready to head off again, I had a nice bottle of French wine with my beautiful wife. Oh and my Mum turned up from Victoria to see me and the kids. Sunday morning rolled on, and in particular 0430 arrived, and i was up again and waking my wife to drive me into work. I was going away again, this time or 3 weeks.
This 3 week training period was to be split into 2 packages. The first was a confirmation of the previous weeks training however stepped up a notch and using real live bullets(the type that kill if pointed in the wrong direction) and another formal assessment. This time we had some that didn't make the grade and much to the relieve of the staff and some of the trainees. That lasted all of 1 week before changing the focus of the training.
The next 2 weeks involved Urban and Security Operations, which is the way we are currently focused as a Defence Force.
So what did the trainees do. The learnt how to move tactically in an urban/built up environment be it a small village or a large city, how to fight in the same types of environments, how to search and clear buildings both single room/floor structures and multi room/floor building, how to secure buildings. Clear and secure are 2 totally different things. How to manage the flow of vehicular and pedestrian traffic and search vehicles. They also learned how to deal with riotous local populations as well as those who are pro coalition types. So all in all a very mentally and physically draining training period. Although physically draining, it had no positive influence on my bike fitness. I can assault a multi storey building and walk in full combat gear for as far as you would like but do you think I could ride my bike this morning without nearly dying every time some effort went into the ride. My fitness levels were certainly not helped by the fact that I got sick while away. I caught a virus off the trainees, lost my voice for a week and finished off the week with a chesty cough which I still have.
So now I am finally home and have 1 week at home before going away again for 1 week. So what have I done since getting home on Wednesday night. Went to work on Thursday and had a day at the grenade range teaching the trainees the intricacies behind using and throwing grenades, its not as simple as you might think. Then on Friday we had some trouble finding a sitter for the kids for the day so I was fortunate enough to be allowed to have the day off to look after Eilish and Rohan for the day. Now what a fantastic day it was. Went to the bank and caught up with a mate who is about to return to the Middle East for the rest of his Tour and then the kids and I went and saw High School Musical on Ice. What a fantastic show. The kids absolutely had a ball. They sang all the songs and cheered and whistled all the way through the show.
SO today is now Saturday and after returning from my ride, I have had a haircut, helped my darling wife with some of the house work(now that she has a job the house work is on the weekends) and have taken the kids for a bike ride around the block as well.
So why the heading for this post?
Sometimes when one is away for long periods of time you lose the pleasures that you take for granted. The kiss from your partner at the start and end of the day, a shoulder to cry on when things are a bit tough, having a muck around with your kids after a long day at work, sleeping in your own bed instead of having to sleep on the hard ground or in the dirt and mud, home cooking when all you have is Army combat rations, a shower, porcelain toilet.
For most people, these are things that are taken for granted but to our soldiers overseas serving our nation these are some of the most important things in the world and are longed for everyday.
So I urge everyone out there to give your partner a hug and thank them for all they have done and on ANZAC Day(25 April) spare a thought for the Soldiers, Sailors and Air Force crews who are half way around the world doing a job that the rest of you wont do and go unappreciated day in day out.
But I will give you a quick run down of what I have been up to over the last 4 weeks.
First off I had a week out bush, doing Army stuff. Teaching new trainees the basics of Infantry soldiering. A fairly intense training week with minimal sleep and plenty going on at all hours of the day. The week finished off with a formal assessment of the skills they had been taught and practiced. If they failed this assessment, (no they don't die) they are sent back a couple of weeks in training to do it all again, possibly in a different location. Luckily for these guys no one failed, mind you some should have and it wouldn't have hurt them to redo the training package. But that's life I suppose.
After a quiet Saturday off, which involved repacking all my kit ready to head off again, I had a nice bottle of French wine with my beautiful wife. Oh and my Mum turned up from Victoria to see me and the kids. Sunday morning rolled on, and in particular 0430 arrived, and i was up again and waking my wife to drive me into work. I was going away again, this time or 3 weeks.
This 3 week training period was to be split into 2 packages. The first was a confirmation of the previous weeks training however stepped up a notch and using real live bullets(the type that kill if pointed in the wrong direction) and another formal assessment. This time we had some that didn't make the grade and much to the relieve of the staff and some of the trainees. That lasted all of 1 week before changing the focus of the training.
The next 2 weeks involved Urban and Security Operations, which is the way we are currently focused as a Defence Force.
So what did the trainees do. The learnt how to move tactically in an urban/built up environment be it a small village or a large city, how to fight in the same types of environments, how to search and clear buildings both single room/floor structures and multi room/floor building, how to secure buildings. Clear and secure are 2 totally different things. How to manage the flow of vehicular and pedestrian traffic and search vehicles. They also learned how to deal with riotous local populations as well as those who are pro coalition types. So all in all a very mentally and physically draining training period. Although physically draining, it had no positive influence on my bike fitness. I can assault a multi storey building and walk in full combat gear for as far as you would like but do you think I could ride my bike this morning without nearly dying every time some effort went into the ride. My fitness levels were certainly not helped by the fact that I got sick while away. I caught a virus off the trainees, lost my voice for a week and finished off the week with a chesty cough which I still have.
So now I am finally home and have 1 week at home before going away again for 1 week. So what have I done since getting home on Wednesday night. Went to work on Thursday and had a day at the grenade range teaching the trainees the intricacies behind using and throwing grenades, its not as simple as you might think. Then on Friday we had some trouble finding a sitter for the kids for the day so I was fortunate enough to be allowed to have the day off to look after Eilish and Rohan for the day. Now what a fantastic day it was. Went to the bank and caught up with a mate who is about to return to the Middle East for the rest of his Tour and then the kids and I went and saw High School Musical on Ice. What a fantastic show. The kids absolutely had a ball. They sang all the songs and cheered and whistled all the way through the show.
SO today is now Saturday and after returning from my ride, I have had a haircut, helped my darling wife with some of the house work(now that she has a job the house work is on the weekends) and have taken the kids for a bike ride around the block as well.
So why the heading for this post?
Sometimes when one is away for long periods of time you lose the pleasures that you take for granted. The kiss from your partner at the start and end of the day, a shoulder to cry on when things are a bit tough, having a muck around with your kids after a long day at work, sleeping in your own bed instead of having to sleep on the hard ground or in the dirt and mud, home cooking when all you have is Army combat rations, a shower, porcelain toilet.
For most people, these are things that are taken for granted but to our soldiers overseas serving our nation these are some of the most important things in the world and are longed for everyday.
So I urge everyone out there to give your partner a hug and thank them for all they have done and on ANZAC Day(25 April) spare a thought for the Soldiers, Sailors and Air Force crews who are half way around the world doing a job that the rest of you wont do and go unappreciated day in day out.
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