Emerging from hibernation

It's been six months since I've posted anything here, mainly because I've hardly been on my bike. I've come to the conclusion that I am a fair weather cyclist. I just can't seem to get motivated to ride in winter. In light of this lack of motivation, I decided to set my trainer up in the shed at the start of the winter, complete with a video setup to watch stuff while I rode. I thought I might at least be able to maintain some level of fitness throughout the winter.

I even made up a nifty little handle bar mount for my video camera and went out in April and filmed the Mt Lofty climb and a few others so I could play them while I trained, recreating the inclines etc. on my trainer (the good old Cateye Cyclosimulator - love that word). It was a nice idea but unfortunately I've only ended up getting out on the trainer a few times this winter, mainly because it's been too cold in the shed! What a wuss.....

So my winter cycling activity has been a handful of commutes to work and few short rides around the place. The net result of this apathy is basically several months with bugger all exercise and a very out of shape Graeme. I've even started to wonder if I was losing interest in cycling but I needn't have been concerned because it's started to warm up over the last month and I'm back into it. I've done around 350km in the last month and started easing myself back into the hills.

One of the highlights was a nice a ride to Victor Harbour to visit Barrie and Ruth. It was my first ride down that way since the windy Hindmarsh Island ride last April and my first ride on the Mt Compass to Victor road. I thought it was quite reasonable for cycling - most of the road has reasonable verge to ride on. The only bit I'd avoid is the bypass/ring road thing to Encounter Bay - it was pretty tight and a little hairy in places with 100km/h traffic. Next time I'll go through Victor where the road is safer. I also did Old Wilunga Hill for the first time this season and found it pretty tough. I had to stop for a breather half way up, but it was good to put a bit of work into my legs.

A couple of shots from the Bluff at Victor

I also did my first run up to Mt Lofty for the season last Friday after work. It got off to bad start - I was almost skittled on Pirie St by woman who was clearly oblivious to the bike lane, let alone my presence in it. I stopped beside her and politely asked if she realised how close she was to running me over and respectfully suggested that looks next time. She seemed startled and and little worried about my gesticulating appearance at her window, but maybe it means she'll might look next time (but maybe I'm just an optimist). Pirie Street is shit to ride on and I'll avoid in the future.

Anyway, I cut though the bike path around South Tce/Hutt St, then realised that I was on the wrong path. This necessitated a U-turn involving going onto what seemed to be firm dirt but was actually quicksand. Needless to say, my front wheel buried itself and I went over. With no real damage done, I dusted myself off, stuck my chain back on and hoped the ride was going to improve. Thankfully it did. Once again, it was one of those perfectly still, warm late afternoon rides to Lofty. I got up there feeling okay and was five minutes slower than my fastest time from the Tollgate to the Summit which I'm quite happy with. However, the downhill was just a perfect run. The descent from the bollards at Crafers to the Tollgate took 11:12 minutes (at an average of 45.4km/h) which is my best effort on that run by about 40 seconds. I was pretty excited about that and, needless to say, it was great fun.

Just past Eagle on the Hill

Sunset at MtLofty

The other hill I've attempted is a bit closer to home - Morphett Road at Seacombe Heights, from Seacombe Road to the top of the hill. It's only a kilometre or so but it averages nearly 10% with a 100 metre or so bit at the end that's closer to 20%. I couldn't make it up the last bit and stopped for a breather before continuing. The problem was starting up again on the slope. It was just too steep and I didn't have the power in my legs to get going and clip in okay. I contemplated the situation for a minute and decide to roll down the hill a little bit do a u-turn back up the hill. The manoeuvre worked and made it to the top - just. I'll have to try it again when my legs done a bit more work. Here's a couple of pics:

The big hill at the end

The view from the top

I've registered for the Tour Down Under challenge ride in January (hopefully doing the 126km ride), so that's a fairly big goal to work towards with my fitness. Brother-in-law Troy has taken up cycling and intends to do the challenge ride too, so I'll be heading down to McLaren Vale over the next month or so and we'll start tackling some of those great climbs down there. Amy's Ride is also coming up next weekend and I'll do the 25km with the kids, as we've done for the last two years. I'm thinking I might continue on without the kids after that and tackle Old Willunga Hill and the loop back around to McLaren Vale, which should make it around 70km or so. 

I've also been doing some pre-season shopping - new tyres, knicks/jersey/socks, yet another saddle, amongst other things. The search for the perfect saddle continues. I got this latest one on Gumtree - its a 'Scor' which is BMC's home brand. Its more immediately comfortable than the Selle Italia C2 that I've been using but I need to take it out on a few more long rides in the hills to see what by posterior thinks of it after 80km +. Onwards and upwards....