riding today - heaven on a stick

went out for a ride this morning and it was PERFECT. the temperature was warm and there was only a zephr of wind (and it was mostly behind me today). I did a different ride this morning - riding down to the Beach where i had some breakfast before riding home.

I rode 65km (or thereabouts - my watch doesnt appear to have recorded after breakfast for some reason but i had done 51kms to get there and i estimate it was 15ish to get home). I certainly rode much better and my heart rate was much more reasonable, although it still jumped up under pressure, and recovery was better.

1535km down

Some photos:

Shadow of man (yep that's me) - i aim to throw even less of a shadow in the next 3 months



Indianna Teahouse (a restaurant on the beach) and Cottesloe beach (site of Heath Ledger after party and after party swim by guests). I had breakfast opposite here. The water is dead calm because we have an onshore wind (easterly) blowing.





See the pylon in the water - when i was about 6-7 i was on that when the shark alarm rang. there were a bunch of us and we had to swim back one at a time (long 50 or so metres). I would have preferred a bunch swim. You can just imagine all the mums on the beach hoping little johnie (in my case jeffery) made it back

ok - maybe back to square 3, not 1

was a bit disappointed with my ride the other day, so i went out again today (similar conditions - high 30s) but did a shorter ride. I completed 32km and while my heart rate was still high (average 152 bpm) it was not off the scale. I also climbed the KP climb and managed to complete it in 6:08 which for me is close to the fastest i have done it in a while [albeit getting to it after 1 hour/25kms rather than 1 1/2 hours and 50km) and 45 secs quicker than the other day.

So my take is I am less fit, but i am not back to square 1, especially if i havent worked in the garder and i am not physically tired (especially in the lower back and hamstrings) and i am well hydrated (which i probably wasnt the other day).

I have now completed 1470 kms and i only need to find 60 ish kms over the next couple of days to do the 150 i was looking for this week.

back to square 1

well it seems my riding fitness has fallen dramatically. went for a ride today (it was bloody hot) after doing 3 hours in the garden this morning. I managed to complete 64km, but i was over my limit the whole way and I had to stop and get some more fluids.

I did the shelley loop, the normal way - anticlockwise -after riding around the south perth foreshore to the narrows. Just after i turned onto the fwy bike path a guy passed me so i chased him to get a tow. in the end i didnt really get a tow as i had to work hard just to stay on his wheel. We went up the fwy at >30km/h which in my condition was a bit quick. My heart rate average was 170bpm for the 11km I chased him.

Once we parted company I slowed down and basically slogged it out to get home (still 38kms to go). my speed average dropped to 26 km/h and i really struggled. after another 11km I had to call into a service station and buy two more drinks - i had already drunk my two - otherwise i am not sure i would of made it home.

I completed the ride by riding back down the fwy and then around to UWA (into the afternoon sea breeze) and then up through Kings Park (my climb time for the 2.2km climb was off by 30 secs which is another indication of my fatigue and fitness slipping). Finally I went through Subi, Leederville and home.

Took some photos of the local bird life by the river. Arent pelicans cute (not). The other birds, Black Swans, are part of the State's Emblem.







I have now completed 1435km of the 10000

riding has gone out of the window

over the past month my KMs have been right down. I now need to start building them up again. I need to do at least 150km this week so i will need to ride at least 3-4 times.

57km - great way to start the day

Got up when Sue went to work and went for a ride. It was "fresh" with only a light breeze blowing. As i havent done much riding over the past 3 weeks I took it easy, riding around Shelley Loop and then up into Kings Park. Overall I was pretty good, but it is amazing how quick you lose riding hardness (my heart rate was quick to jump up again when i put any pressure on).

Stopped at Cranked for a coffee on the way home (best long black i have had for a while). Seems like people have now found this place as it was packed.





1375km down. I have slipped back a little on the target (should be at 1600km). but i can catch up once i finish the backyard

57km - bloody hot and windy

went out for a ride this afternoon after getting home from french class. Left around 2.30pm and got home after stopping for a drink in leederville (Green & Cock)

managed to do 57km total with 55 of them before i stopped for a drink. I was pretty dehydrated by the time i stopped despite drinking 2 L of water while riding.

Couple of photos - lanterns in cafe and bike at cafe. HOw cool are the lights?

40km - what a glorious day

Got up late this morning. Sue headed off for breakfast with friends and I went for a ride. there was a pretty strong easterly blowing but the temperature was great. there were lots of people out on the paths. Did a relatively short ride (still trying to balance the demolition work with the riding so i dont kill myself).

Clocked up 40kms so I have now completed 1265kms. I was a bit under my 200/week last week and this week but overall i am still on track.

Followed these two riders along mounts bay road (doesnt look like they are doing ovree 30kmh does it). Look at the boats and the blue sky (another great day in paradise)

Rainy Day in Paradise - 57km

Wasnt intending to ride today because it started raining last night for the first time in 40+ days and it continued to persist down through the day. Spent a couple of hours cleaning downstairs and then thought bugger it. As the saying goes you only get wet once (and i did).

Did the shelley loop backwards and there was plenty of water laying around so we have had a good downpour.

I was pretty much out on my own (apparently only fools and anglais/australien - thats me in french so they tell me - go out in pouring rain). covered 57km but i felt good and the pace was pretty good. I am now over 1200km down.

Took a picture of the city from Canning Bridge

short, sharp 36.5km

Did pretty much the same ride as yesterday, but also went around Nedlands (Broadway)looking for Alliance Francaise where I will start French classes tomorrow.

Wednesday will be a rest day each week now.

Managed to clock up 36.5km before breakfast and reach ~1160km in my chase to the 10000.

short, sharp 32km

I am about to commence a backyard blitz project which is going to involve some pretty heavy manual labour so I only did a short sharp ride this morning (1 hour). Covered 32km and had a coffee. Did the burswood, narrows ride and then went to UWA and up into Kings Park and then to subi.

Had a coffee in Brew Ha and then rode home.

60km - more of the same

I havent ridden the bike much over the past week for a variety of (pretty lame) reasons, so i was not really expecting much when i got on it today.

I knew it was going to be hot and windy, but i really couldnt sit around anymore so off i went. A couple of hours later I am back and i managed to clock up 60km. I did the Shelley Loop and rode through South Perth which was a bit different, but overall the ride was pretty much my bog standard loop. I managed to average 27km/h which wasnt too bad given the wind and my average heart rate was also ok (140bpm).

I am now off chasing my second 1000kms and so far i have done about 80km so there is a fair way to go.