Struggling

I am now 12 days into my Great Cycle Challenge....er challenge and I have been really struggling for motivation to do my nominated kilometres. 1000km isn’t anything to sneeze at but by the same token, I knocked out 1600km last October, rather effortlessly, for this same great cause. (Well, maybe it wasn’t effortlessly but I can’t remember it being this hard).

Redland Bay

I am coming off the back of a vicious bout of man flu and I am trying to grab easy kilometres by riding my road bike. This might explain why I am lacking some motivation but worryingly, I just haven’t felt like riding my bike. Yesterday I faffed around most of the day until it rained (which I knew was coming) and then told myself “well, you can’t ride now”, letting myself off the hook but putting myself a further 33km behind schedule.

Today sees me needing 396km in the bag but I am languishing on 279km. 

Pardon my French but - Fuck!

What is wrong with me? I’m just not enjoying this like I normally would. I really hate saying I will do something and not following through. But following that line of thinking is making it feel like work, not pleasure.

Options when on the road.....

I am off at work again today. Up at 3am, at least it was an easy day (a mere 8 hours for a change) and I decided to just go “meh” on the Great Cycle Challenge. If I manage the kilometres good-o, but if I don’t? Well, tough titties. I will continue to ride as much as I can but if I have to use a gym bike to keep my training on track and my motivation up, so be it. If you would like to help pump up my motivation feel free to donate a little here.

 Training? 

Maybe I didn’t mention a little ride I have my eyes on in late November.......... 

Time for an uppercut!

 Cheers.

Still Alive And Kicking

I have been a bit quiet lately and thought I had better say something lest you all think I have lost interest.

I have been pottering away going on the occasional mountain bike ride, 

helping out with trail building,

 riding with the kids,

even riding the motorcycle,

 but working way too much.

I have to pay a bike and a trip to the US off, don'tcha know!

I've even done some trail running while away on overnights. Rock hopping our way along Cataract Gorge in Tasmania on one recent occasion.

The kids have even tried a bit of trail running for something different.

Yep, keeping busy and moving along. But maybe I need a focus again...?

Cheers

Tour Divide - 23 Days Out

Well, as the title suggests, I am only 23 days away from the start and a mere 15 days away from flying out to the US !

The training has been going as well as can be expected. Some weeks feel good and others have been a bit well.....blah but I guess I do need some recovery time. 

I should have been training with more routine from this time last year. It would have helped the fitness, however I think I may have become somewhat jaded with 12 months of this relentless schedule. I definitely would have been kicked out of home though. ;) 

The bike is going well and it is currently at River City Cycles where Troy is giving it a fresh drivetrain and brakes. He will also be casting his keen eye over the rest of the bike to spot any other likely issues but to be honest, it was so well built in the first place that it has been a trouble free 2000km(1250mi) so far and I don't expect he will find anything.

I managed to get out for breakfast followed by an all day ride last Saturday with Mark Meyers. This was the 20% ride as we are 20% of the Aussie contingent doing the TD. Mark is another Brisbane rider doing the TD and has the added cache' of having done the TD last year. Mark very graciously poured his TD knowledge out while I tried madly to soak it in.

So, where am I three weeks out?

• I have my bike sorted. 
• I have my gear sorted, well mostly. 
• I have my flights, transfers and accomodation sorted.
• I have my route cues.....not really sorted at all. Not good that. 

I was planning on spending the next few weeks studying the route and planning my daily strategy but work have now heaped a load of training onto me that NEEDS to be paid attention to. My job IS on the line, as it always is every 6 months. This is a bugger as what little time I have left before I start my leave now has to be spent studying work related matter, not where to find a warm burrito at 11pm in Helena, Montana.

Stress? Yes, I know what that is......

Fare Thee Well - 2014 As It Was

2014 is without doubt the fastest moving year on record!

 Well, for me it certainly was. I am sure I had less than 5 days all year that were chill days, that is, not pre allocated to work or something to do with the kids, the house, trail building or mountain biking. 

First World Problem, yes, I know.

That isn't to say that I didn't have a good time. 

The year started on the right note, with a 4am road ride to see in the new year.

I was soon on holidays with the kids and we spent some time in Canberra and the Snowy Mountains, joined by Gaz and his daughter, Elody.

After a week back at work it was time for some more time off!! Yep, I headed to New Zealand, the South Island to be exact, for a motorbicycling holiday with my little Bro and two of his mates, Wayne and Geoff. This was the culmination of almost 20 years dreaming and we finally decided we just needed to make it happen.

And happen it did! 3900km in 10 days saw us roll all of the passes from West to East and back again as we made our way South down the island. Much great Kiwi beer was consumed and tall tales told....

A rest day in Queenstown was golden.....

Chasing my little Bro, Chillertek...this was as close as I ever got.

The 10 days went all too quickly but I will remember that trip for a long time to come....er....especially as I have a lot of photos to prompt the ageing memory!

Trail building took a huge leap forward this year with a professional contractor cutting our next trail. We only had to plan the route then watch him cut it out. 

Spangled Drongo was born! We then had a huge trail care tidy up day that was well attended by about 40 riders, our best roll up so far.

In fact, we had 2 new trails built in our forest with the latest, Birdwing, going in during early December. It is very new and raw but it is our best effort by quite a ways, so far.

Work took precedence for the middle portion of the year. Well, you have to pay the piper at some stage. Much tooing and froing of the country ensued. 

This was my view for 708.4 hours this year...

The view outside was usually much more interesting.....

And with about 80 nights away from home this year, I tried to keep the fitness up by stepping out at every opportunity....

The kids did much as well. Lucy started high school and to our great relief, loved it. They both played sports. Lucy being in an undefeated Under 12 girls soccer team and Will battling through another Rugby season.

More importantly, they both did quite a bit of mountain biking. 

Lucy took some wins this year. In fact, she won the State Series with a clean sweep of all races...

Pancakes and pies fuel those little engines.

I had a couple of new mountain bikes join the stable this year. 

A new cross country race bike and a new "all rounder", my much anticipated Titanium framed Lynskey 29er to replace my old faithful Giant XTC.

My poor motorbicycle has rarely seen the light of day this year. I guess I may have had it out of the shed 6 times all year. Clearly an unacceptable outcome for such a pretty, old girl. 

I do have some plans for her that involve Chillertek, so watch this space.....

I must thank all of my regular riding buddies for allowing me to ride with them. I appreciate your company, your different outlooks on life and your humour. Thanks for some great rides throughout the year....here's to more in 2015...

Apologies to those that I haven't been able to catch on film...er memory card, you know who you are......

2014 was simply frickin' awesome! I don't see how 2015 can be better, but I know it is going to be bigger, better and hopefully........loooonger.

Cheers and thank you for tuning in this year.

Happy New Year all!