Long time no blog

Well after such a long time away from blogging I almost forgot my login details. So what has kept me away from Bebo and letting the world know what I have been up to?

Well i have been kept very busy with work. I have been away on courses all up and down the Eastern seaboard of Australia. I spent a number of weeks in Singleton , NSW. Then after a short time, like less than 2 weeks, I went away again for a number of weeks to Puckapunyal, an Army base near Seymour Victoria. Then once I returned from Seymour I had a week or 2 at home then took off with family for 10 dyas in Fiji. 10 day of sitting by the pool and on the beach, cocktails snorkelling the reef and just total relaxation. But no Bike. Got back from Fiji and have been flat out at work getting ready to instruct on a promotion course for some of the junior soldiers. Should be interesting as it is a course I haven't instructed on as yet.

SO how has the bike riding been?
Well as those who have wondered where I had gone, you would know that my last taregted event was the ADF National Championships. Well that was a disaster. 5 days out from the raod race i injured(strained) my lower back and could barely drive a car let alone get on the bike and race an undulating course for 70km, and then back up with a 60 min Criterium and 45 km ITT. So I ended up withdrawing. Since then I have ha a few races but haven't been able to string too any together in a row. Therefore no results either except a couple of minor places while in Singelton.

Lately though I have been hitting the Velodrome with the track bike and have seen some improvement in both disciplines. My flying 200m time, at last attempt was 12.87secs which I am happy with at this early stage of the track season. As for my Crit racing, I am getting sttronger and faster. My last race(2nd in a row) was the Abruzzo Cup. The race had a field of 90 riders and I managed to finish in the top 20 and still had a go off the front and tried to get away at least 3 times. Everytime I go off the front now the boys from the Virgin Blue team chase me down.
My nxt race is the Queensland State Criterium Titles on 26 Oct. Wish me luck!!

So what are the plans for the rest of the year. Well work is busy. The course I am instructing on will take me up to Dec 5, but then I go on holidays. 02 January is the start of the Bay Cycling Classic in Melboure and I am going to go down and give them a go. Some very tough racing against some very strong riders and teams. Be nice if I could have some team mates there to help but thats the way the cookie crumbles. There might be some riders I know from the Virgin Blue team there maybe we could look after each other. Who knows what will happen. There is some time to go before I get down there.

How is HYPE Energy Cycling Team going? Well after a series of sicknesses and work committments we are slowly coming back together and getting back on the race track. We are now looking into expanding the team and seeking additional sponsorship. WIth a few unsuccessful sponsorship bids. SO if anyone knows someone who might be interested in investing equipment in a cycling team and using them for additional advertising and product testing let me know.

till next time ciao