43km today

Managed to clock up 43km today - 5 on way to work and balance getting home. I am a little bit fatigued tonight (and dehydrated). It was warm and there was an easterly wind blowing. I worked hard but i was on my limit most of the time.

I have now definitely passed the 1000km mark this month (1022km as of today) and I dont anticipate getting any more kms in this week as I will be busy leaving work.

As from Monday there will be few excuses so hopefully I can up the riding.

My weight was 96kgs this morning so watch out for the February totals.

back on yer bike

I got back on the bike today. Rode short way to work (18km) but it was quick because everyone seemed to want to ride in front of me, fast. So the average speed was pretty high. On the way home i did the Shelley Loop and the start of it up the freeway was into the south westerly. I worked hard to catch someone and then passed him and pulled him along for the last 1/3rd. I then rode on my own around Shelley and back to the freeway before working hard into the wind to UWA and climbing up into Kings Park.

Overall i did a pretty solid ride (49km) and rode 67km for the day. So as of today I have all but cracked the first 1000kms. Good job.

Weight this morning was 97.5kg which given the weekend was not bad. While i had a few drinks i tried to be good and I must have done ok in the eating department as well. So January has proved to be a good start to meeting my goals.

I finish work on Friday so i intend to up the physical workload, both riding and working around the house. Therefore, the February report should be as good if not better. Here's hoping.

30km in Mandurah (bloody windy)

Not much riding done over the past few days due to Australia Day long weekend holiday. Took my bike to Mandurah and managed one shortish ride - 30km - which was better than nothing. Half of the ride was into a howling south westerly and uphill, but it was fun when i turned around and followed the same path back.

Total hours and KMs per week have fallen since i went back to work from nearly 300km and 8-10 hours to <200 and about 5-6 hours, but that will change again in 4 days time when i leave work.

I have now done 930km on the way to 10000 and I have just about met the January target.

54km - hot and bloody windy

went for a ride late this afternoon. had to wait at home for the airconditioning mechanic to come and fix it. left at 5 and it was over 30 and there was a strong sw breeze.

went into town and up freeway (dead into the wind) and then around the shelley loop and back to the city. there were a few riders going up the freeway and i ended up pulling a group up it. some idiot who did not help in the wind decided to jump off the front and try to sprint away, but i hauled him in a chatted him about it (very poor form).

covered 54km, so i have now covered 900ish km towards my target

66.5km and bloody hot

rode to and from work today. this morning i went straight there (got up late - mondayitis) covering 18km. My legs felt like lead.

this afternoon I rode the longer way home - legs felt better - but it was bloody hot and my heart rate was way up. Covered 48km at a pretty reasonable pace with a strong easterly blowing.

32km - blow the cobwebs out

missed the early morning riding - too much red wine. I really do need to stop. Went for a relatively light ride, just to blow the cobwebs out after having a rest day yesterday (bike in shop).

Managed to do 32km from home around to UWA then up through KP and down into Subi then home via Leederville.

Guess it is another 32 km closer to the 10000 target.

62km - to and from

Up early - airconditioner not working and temps are in high 30s - so i was on the road at 5.30. It was warm (mid 20s) and there was a moderate easterly blowing. It was mainly helping today. Was cruising along when a couple of riders passed me (thank you) and the speed increased to the low 40kmh for a while, till one of the other guys died in the ass so to speak. we all rode together quietly for a while before i had to branch out on my own again.

back to cruising before someone else wanted to ride in front - yippee. Speed goes up to high 30s (i am getting better at this stuff) and i sit quietly in the tow and flog down the freeway. Unfortunately, it didnt last long enough as i had to strike out on my own again.

Covered 50km before getting to work (and was at my desk easily by 8).

On the way home i had to drop my bike off to try to get it "fixed". only rode 12 km but it was bloody hot (40 c). I wasnt unhappy to get off.

No rides tomorrow - bike in shop - so maybe i will get a "sleep in".

84km - two separate rides

rode to and from work today - 41km to get there, 43 to get home.

Worked hard on the way to work and provided the tow for someone else today.

On the way home it was a bit hot (low 30s) and I had an easterly breeze in my face for most of the ride. tried to get a tow from someone, but he blew me off after a couple of kms, but not before we reached speeds of 47kmh. I did a pretty good job hanging on for as long as i did i thought.

Took a couple of photos from my soon to be ex-office (as you will note the river view and Kings Park scener) were fantastic as usual.



The second photo is on the wall of my desk - i use it to give myself a metaphorical slap whenever i am feeling sorry for myself. Look closely at the photo - the little girl (qian hongyan)has no legs as a result of an accident when she was young, she got around on a basketball until quite recently when she was "given" some artificial limbs. Whenever i think i am doing it tough i take a minute to reflect on her life and just how tough it must actually be

55km - bit windy

Sue went to Fiona's bridal party so I dropped her off and went for a ride. Did the river loop from Burswood to Narrows, Canning, Shelley, back to Canning, then Narrows and Burswood. Overall i did 55km in 2:00, so i was averaging 27.5km and my heart rate average was 140bpm. This was not bad given that i was riding into a fairly stiff sea breeze for much of the ride.

No photos today but picture this (sunny day, high 20s/low 30s) - jet skis flying around near the Narrows, yachts sailing leisurely, people having BBQs, people walking pets and the odd water skier. All this and only me and about 10 other riders - perhaps other people dislike the wind as well.

60km closer to 10000

Slept in this morning so I did not get into any bunches, but after pottering around this morning I managed to get out around 4pm. Temperature was great - mid 20s = but at this time of the day you can be guaranteed to get the SW wind, and I did.

I managed to choose a route which allowed me to avoid tackling it head on for most of the way which was good and I cruised around the river effectively going from UWA to Shelley and then back down Manning Road to Canning and back to the Narrows and then around the river to Burswood and then home.

I had clocked up another 60km by the time i got home so I am now over 500 km towards my goal.

61km - great day for a ride

Today was the last day of my holidays. I go back to work on Monday for 2 weeks, then i finish my job.

After I dropped Sue at work i went for a ride. Did a couple of hours, then had some breakfast at Brew Ha in Subiaco and then rode home.



From a riders perspective Brew Ha was very quiet today as I did not get here until 10.30. It is not unusual for it to have 30-50 riders here with bikes parked everywhere, especially early (anytime between 7.00-8.30) on weekdays and on Saturday mornings when the bunch rides rock up.

Overall I did 61km and I went around the river to Bethesda Hospital, over to the beach at Cottesloe down the coast to the roundabout and back up the coast. I then went back to Bethesda and around Dalkeith/Nedlands and then into Kings Park before making my way to Subi.

Bike is still not quite right. It has a "squeak" and the gears are still playing up. But if they are my only worries I am still in good shape.

56km - things are getting easier

took Sue to work this morning and then went for a ride. Cruised around the Shelley Loop (backwards), went down the Freeway to the Narrows and then to UWA and into Kings Park. Climbed the hill and then went to Subi (Brew Ha) for some breakfast.

The ride was fairly cruisy although there was a bit of wind around. Passed a couple of bunches going in the other direction, but on my side of the road it was pretty much just me.

Stopped in Kings Park and took a photo of the Narrows Bridge - it has the roof of the Old Swan Brewery in the foreground and the City in the background.

No rides 8/1 & 9/1

For varying reasons i did not ride yesterday and i probably wont get one in today either. Yesterday i can claim as a recovery day (legs were pretty tight from the hills ride), but today it is just household chores and some red wine last night which will get in the way.

Had intended to ride this morning, and the alarm went off, but the red wine dulled my enthusiasm so i slept in instead.

If there is a saving grace, my weight was down to 96kg this morning, the lowest it has been for quite a while

66.5km Uphill to Kalamunda via Zig Zag

Sue went back to work today so I dropped her off and went for a ride. Thought i would try myself out in the hills, before i think about joining group rides which go up them.

Thought it was going to be "leisurely", but there was a bloody howling easterly blowing into me on the way up making things doubly difficult. Went from the burswood (a casino near perth) via the bike path along the railway to bassendean and then on the roads through Guildford then to the bottom of the Zig Zag (an old railway route up the side of the hill). Didnt climb too bad really, in my opinion, for first effort in nearly 12 months. Averaged 15kmh, while climbing for 10km and ascending 250+m.

Took some photos of the zig zag and of the view to perth from the top



Just to give you a sense there is a car in the top left corner of the photo above - it is about halfway up the zig zag. the same car is closer up in the photo below.



the photo of the city is probably 15-20km in a straight line from this point (this $350 camera is taking some pretty good shots)



Had coffee in Dome in Kalamunda and read paper for 1/2 hour and then turned around and rode back along same route. It took me 1:36 to get to top and only 1 hour to get back (advantages of coming downhill with the wind).

Took a couple of photos of Burswood but i will only post the one which has a helicopter in it as it was taking off for a joy ride from in front of hotel/casino (cool photo hey)

40km into the wind

went out for a light ride and spent 1/2 the ride, riding into a howling south westerly breeze. My fitness has definitely improved as i managed a reasonable pace quite comfortably from a heart rate perspective.

Did a usual river loop from Burswood to UWA where i turned around and had the wind at my back. Speed went from mid 20s to 40 kmh instantaneously and heart rate went do (go figure).

there were lots of people out and about around the river and on the river (yachting) as it was reasonably warm.

I did not see anything worth photographing so i didnt (although i have probably become quite immune to much of the scenery etc)

85km and time in a bunch

went out early this morning and did the freo river loop. rode on my own into a moderate southerly headwind, but was going ok (still struggle up some of the "hills"). Eventually got picked up by a bunch on Melville Pde (turned out it was Bike Force Freo mob). I hopped on the back and stayed in the bunch until we got to UWA. Along the way we did Mt Henry and Shelley Loops, before heading down Manning Road and cutting across to Canning Hwy. Pace was pretty quick (mid 30s) until they hit Riverside Drive (40s) and then Mounts Bay (various >35) into the breeze.

At UWA the mob went left and i carried on into Subi and then went out Cambridge Street to the Boulevarde, down to the coast and then up the coast to Wild Fig Restaurant. the total trip took just on 3 hours.

Overall i felt really good and i was still going along quite nicely on my own going up the coast rode. Fitness has definitely improved, strength is getting better every ride and all i need to do now is lose some weight so the hills are no longer a problem.

Met the girls for breakfast - had a great eggs benedict. Put the bike on the back of the car and came home.

255km down.

83km and I am stuffed

Up early again today as it is going to be 40 degrees and we have power issues which mean aircon is not supposed to be used. on the bike by 5:30am and managed to ride 83km in total (77km continuous then coffee and 5km). It was quite warm high 20s/low 30s, but there was little if any breeze. Completed a big loop around the river, then went over to Cottesloe Beach before heading back to Kings Park to tackle the hill. Pretty much rode on my own except for a 5km stretch where i rode with another rider (side by side so no cheating).

Went to Subi for a coffee at Brew Ha and then rode back into KP to have breakfast with Sue and Georgia.

Couple of photos of the river - flat as a tack because of the lack of wind.

Nedlands Yacht Club (near UWA)



City through the trees from same location



For the record I was 97.5kg yesterday so i need to get to 87.5kg to reach my weight goal.

170km down

Bunch/Group Rides in Perth (and elsewhere)

Anyone coming to Perth who wants to catch a bunch ride should check out the following link which provides a list. It is always good to check if the rides are still on

http://www.wa.cycling.org.au/rides.html

Almost all of the rides finish at one or other of the great coffee shops around town

After 1 Feb I would be happy to arrange to ride with people so send me an email if you want

Up early and on the road

woke up real early (4:50am) and Sue was snoring so I got up and went for a ride. weather was pretty good - warm with a moderate easterly blowing. It is supposed to be hot today and thundery.

Rode 52km around Shelley. took a photo of the city in the dark from South Perth



Also took a couple from Kings Park





Finally i took one of the Woodside office. My soon to be "ex- office" is about 3 floors from the top on the near corner so i can see the river and the park.



Frankly i prefer the view looking in, rather than the view looking out

Into the New Year - 10000km to go

I didnt manage to ride on 31/12 and i thought i might not get a ride in on 1 January after the new years party and the new years day party, but we got home about 6pm and i forced myself to go. Felt like shit!! the legs were sluggish (too much champagne) but it was good to get it done. Managed to ride 32km. I am sure i put on 1-2kgs over the past couple of days. Hopefully it is fluid and i shed it just as quick

my objective for 2008 is to ride 10000km (or 200km on average per week). I also intend to lose about 10kg or more. so here goes - 32 down