Biggest ride yet and latest N+1 news
Haven’t been miffed blogging about last Saturday’s ride until now. But there it is anyway:
Went for another big ride. I guess it was a training ride for the ATB. Never ventured past Mt Eliza before (and I’d only done that twice) so it was an adventure. First below is the what I wrote about the ride on the BV forum:
+1 also about our group riding. I said to someone near Sandy that someone should film us and show it to others how to group ride properly!
My biggest ride also at 134km and I feel OK today. Only slight soreness in the quads. I was struggling with pace by myself out of Safety Beach once I was dropped.
Thanks to Stubacca for stopping and calling to see where I was.
Saw two little screaming kids on BMXs get chased by a magpie along Nepean before Mt Eliza. Most amusing Razz
Detoured through Mt Eliza loop so I can do that fast downhill S-Bend. Fun!
I started to struggle out of Mordi back to St Kilda. Thanks everyone who gave food advice before Sat otherwise I proly would not have lasted and to Keely’s food talk between Franga and Mordi.
My shoulders, upper arms and right hand (and to some extent, my legs) were getting really sore towards the end. I started getting dead (right) foot as well. I thought about dropping off and taking it easy but riding in a group made more sense.
Thought of coffee and food at the end kept me going and it was worth it.
Richard, hope you get well soon. Glad it wasn’t a break.
It was another sensational day weather wise which just made for a perfect ride. After setting off on the return leg from Safety Beach I almost had to catch my breath when I looked out to the left over the cliff and saw the view. Stunning!! Coming into Safety Beach I was concentrating and wasn’t looking. I wanted to stop and take it all in and take some photos. But I didn’t want to be dropped so kept going. Of course I ended up being dropped anyway and was I think second last into Frankston regroup point (I think some had been waiting 20min)…
Anyway, its not a race and I enjoyed myself heaps.
Max 62.3km/h (PB!)
Avg 26.6km/h
Distance 134.78km
Riding Time 5hr 04 min
Onto other news…
1. My MBC R1 has finally arrived into the country from wherever. But I don’t trust my shop will have them trucked to them and assembled this week. But hopefully by sometime next week. Kinda sick of waiting and now I really don’t think I’ll have it long enough to break in and serviced/checked in time for the ATB.
2. I’ve been trying some Crank Brothers Eggbeater SL pedals that was generously lent to me by one of the BVers. The first few tries did seem weird because there is no platform on them to speak of, but then you realise that the stiffness of the shoe is what holds you and gives you power. Clipping in and out was no different to the Smarty pedals that I’d been using, although I did feel they were really loose (I’m sure that’s only psychological because the actual clip mechanism is the same across the range). I love the clean look of them but next week I will try the Quottro SL pedals, which have a platform, but again, only a smal part of the shoe actually touches the pedal.
3. I ordered some bike bits from ProBikeKit at least two weeks ago now. I received an email on the 14th saying the order had been shipped but haven’t got the goods yet. Apparently depending on what you are getting the shipping time can be hit or miss. Some get orders within a week, some more than two…grr
I’m all cookie creamed out
I just ate half a tub (1 litre) of Connoisseur Cookie Cream Commotion in front of the telly…so homer of me!
I feel like barfing 
OMG its so random!!
A friend once told me about a website called Catch Of The Day, where they sell one product a day until sold out. Plain and simple. I guess its over-stocked items or old products. Whatever it is, the price is usually really good. They sell anything from clothing to electonic goods and other household items. Once in a while though they will do a “mystery box”. One such mystery box came up again last week. It was a “Mega Baby Box“; 10 random items, some of which are big brand names. I got it because I know two people that have just had babies and I hoped there would be something in the box that is nice. The site says its worth between $60 and $80, and all it costs is $19.95 (plus shipping). I was expecting the goods to be nicely boxed or wrapped (I don’t know why I thought that).
I picked it up from the post office and when I saw the box I thought wow, its huge!! The box was literally quite large. Of course when I lifted it I realised it was half empty. I can’t say I was disappointed but when I opened the box I noticed there was no bubble wrap or invoice or anything. Just the items thrown in and box poorly taped up. I don’t know anything about baby goods but the items look good and I’m sure the total would definitely retail for more than $19.95. So all in all not a bad score. Now I have to see what to give each person.
Ride Like The Wind & other Biking matters
Firstly, I have to plug an amazing ride which two fellow BVers are doing for the charity StarLight Foundation. In Ride Like The Wind 07, the boys Craigd and Rossco will be riding from Melbourne to Sydney in 3 days!!! 3 days!!! WTF?!?!?! Ya, they ARE nuts. But its for a good cause, so help out any way you can by following the instructions given on the site. They depart on Saturday Nov 3rd so there is plenty of time donate.
Secondly, I’ve bought a few items from ProBikeKit, and online store for cycling stuff. This is stuff for the new bike. I thought about it long and hard before making my decision to buy the bits, some of which I don’t really need. In fact, I don’t need another bike, but I’m going to bloody enjoy having one. I bought a Cateye Strada computer with cadence, a carbon pump, and two bottle cages. I was amazed that the price for water bottles ranged from a dollar something to over $110!!! We’re talking about a difference of grams in weight. So what gives. I don’t think there is such a huge difference in price for such little advantage in any other bike parts.
Lastly, I’m sad to report that the shipment of my N+1 has been delayed by a further 2 weeks until the end of September. I’m so over waiting for it. Some of the excitement has gone, but I’m sure it will come back closer to the date. In the meantime, yet another BVer is lending me different Crank Brothers pedals to try on my flat bar so I can decide which I like for the new bike. So at least I may all the bits and pieces ready for when it eventually arrives.
Two cycling achievements
The odometer on my trip computer just passed 3000km a couple of days ago which was pretty cool. I started riding regularly when I bought the Avanti Blade last Dec. 3000km may not be that much compared to other people on the BV forums because they commute further to work and proly do it 5 days a week. I normally only commute 3 days a week and is 15km return. So I’m really proud to reach 3000km considering my 7 year old MTB (which has now gone to a better place) proly didn’t even do 500km.
My other milestone is that I’ve gone on my first 100km ride. I went with the BVers to the Mt Eliza loop and back to St Kilda. I rode half the length of Albert Park lake and then down Beaconsfield Parade before the start, adding a few km’s to the ride. Otherwise the ride would have been less than 100km. Anyway, below is my post about the ride on the BV forums:
What a great ride today. Huge turnout at the old beaconsfield hotel. Took off and immediately lost the front group. Weeeee and I hung back a bit and then caught up to the group around Sandy. At that point there must have been at least 70 riders in the pack!!!
The Mordi only group got left behind as the rest of us went along at an easy pace. I think it was only second time I didn’t stop at Mordi and went straight to Franger. Hopes rise was fine (and I may well be using the triple granny gears for the last time up there)
We decided to do the Mt Eliza loop. If those rolling hills were an indication of the ATB I better get practicing. Dale, Richard and I got left behind until the turn off to Mt Eliza village. Coming down Olivers Hill I got stuck behind a car and couldn’t even get up to 60km/h
After our pit stop at Franger visitors centre I once again happily sucked wheel. The pace was actually faster on the way back even with a bit of wind. It must have been up around 35km/h. Again we didn’t stop at Mordi but soon after my legs had enough Dale, Richard and I hung back once more. Between there and the cafe my pace varied and sometimes I was by myself sometimes with others.
Brekky was pretty good at Grocery Cafe. The poached eggs were a little well done though. Caught a few rays as well on the outside tables unlike at cafe boy racer where the sun never shines (at least not at the times I’m normally there)
I’m very proud to have hung on for most of the journey and it was actually my longest ride today. Thanks for tow everyone. Look forward to another ride soon!
Distance: 102.25
Time: 3hr 37min
Max: 58.9km/h
Avg: 28.2km/h
Yesterday was great!!
How sensational was the weather yesterday? It made for a great ride with some BVers to Frankston (including Oliver’s Hill) and back to St Kilda for a coffee. It started a little cold in the morning but we soon warmed up. There was not a cloud in the sky and had a tailwind. We stayed pretty much as a group all the way to Frankston with people taking turns being in the front (except for me! haha)
On the way back though I had my moments in the front. And after Mordi there was a break away and riders split into little groups. Even with the headwind I was still powering away on those rolling hills on Beach Rd. The weather must have energised me. Absolutely perfect riding conditions. Stopped off at Cafe Racer for brekky where keen triathlete and actor Daniel McPherson was spotted (with hottie in tow).
Max: 59.8km/h
Avg: 25.4km/h
Distance: 88.28km
Time: 3hr 28min
P.S. I’m 15km away from clocking 3000km on the pedometer (since late Dec). If only my work commute was longer I’d have got it ages ago. Still, a huge achievement for me. **pats self on back**
In the afternoon I went down the street to put a deposit on my NEW ROAD BIKE!!!!!!!!!! Yay! Finally got approval from SWMBO (reluctantly). I am so excited! I feel like a little kid who’s getting his first BMX or something. The shop won’t get shipment for another week or two. The anticipation is going to kill me (in a good way). I might even have the MBC R1 for long enough to get used to it and ride it in the ATB. Maybe.
But before than I have decide on what pedals to get. I quite like Crank Brothers ones but they have heaps of choice. I’m considering either Egg Beaters or Quattros. Or I have a a uni friend who has a spare pare of Smarties (which I currently use). I also have to decide whether I’m going for the listed setup or change components, and therefore adding to the price. I’m thinking of changing the 39/52 cranks to a compact double of sorts. This will make it more versatile (and easier on me) for when I want to do heaps of hilly rides. Don’t know what the saddle is going to be like but won’t worry about that for now.
OMG!!!!
