i went out again today - i didnt feel the freshest (we had visitors for dinner last night) but i put on my "unmatched" knicks, jersey and wind breaker and headed out.
the conditions were the same as yesterday (we had a pretty serious storm go through this morning) but it was much more windy. I didnt quite ride the same route as yesterday (i went into the city and up the freeway before completing the shelley loop and the coming back to the narrows and then along the south perth foreshore to Burswood, Northbridge and home)
Overall i did 54km, but it took me 2:18 which was 15 mins longer than yesterday. Much of it was a bit of a slog into the wind, but i just kept plugging away.
even though it was not as pleasant as yesterday it was "good" to be out and about. I love the river and I never get tired of riding around the loop as the river is never the same. Today, in places it was shimmering silver when the sun caught it correctly, in others it was inky black (when the clouds were overhead) or in others a kind of tea colour (i guess from all the run off we have had due to the rains over the past month). while there were few people out and about there were plenty of birds of all descriptions (but no dolphins today).
there was only 1 cyclist going my way today and he past me early and i decided i couldnt be bothered trying to hang on so he probably scored reasonably well using the metrics below.
2753km down
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
I can relate to this
The following was sent to me by a friend (thank you Oliver)
Expensive Bike: If the person you’re passing has a bike that costs more than 50% more than your bike, give yourself an extra point. If the bike costs more than double your bike’s cost, give yourself two points. Regardless, be certain to comment on what a nice bike the person you’re passing has. There’s nothing quite so satisfying as a backhanded compliment.
Misidentified Bike: If you’ve pushed yourself as never before to catch a cyclist on the road, thinking how awesomely fast you’re going to appear as you blow by, only to discover that the person you’re passing is on a mountain bike or a hybrid with frame material that can best be described as "rebar," subtract a point from your score.
Silly Bike: If you pass a recumbent, add ten points to your score, as long as you are going 10kph faster – at a bare minimum – than he. Be sure to snort in derision as you go by.
Legs
It’s very nearly creepy how carefully cyclists study one another’s legs. I of course except myself, because I never do this. That said, your passing score relies heavily on the attributes of your opponents legs.
Hair: If the person you pass has shaved legs, give yourself two extra points. If he has shaved legs and you do not, give yourself four extra points, because he’s going to eat his heart out when he sees that he just got passed by what appears to be a Fred.
Rookie Mark: If your victim has a chainring mark on his right calf, subtract a point from your score. If he has a chainring mark on his left calf, add two points to your score, but only if you can find out how he managed that trick.
Tattoos: If the person you pass has a bike-related tattoo on one or more of his calves, add ten points to your score. You have just defeated someone who identifies so closely with cycling that he is advertising it, permanently. Say “Nice tattoo,” as you go by. You may also want to add, “What is it, exactly?”
Clothing
This one’s tricky. The truth is, many riders will wear a jersey in support of their favorite rider or team, and that doesn’t mean anything. Thus, to assess how many points to give yourself for what the cyclist you’re passing is wearing, you must look at the full package:
Full Kit – By this, I mean everything: helmet, shorts, jersey, socks, gloves. If he’s outfitted like a full-on pro, give yourself seven points. If it turns out that he is a full-on pro, give yourself ten points, unless you stop him and ask for his autograph. In which case you must reset your score back to zero and give up biking forever, because you are shameless.
Club Kit – If he’s wearing just the jersey or just the shorts, no point adjustment is made. If wearing both, you should give yourself two points. If the club kit is ridiculously ugly, give yourself three points. This is a judgment call, but I think I can trust you on this. Unless you’re one of those people who design really ugly club kits. If you’ve designed a jersey that is regarded as ugly even by your club, you must start every ride for the rest of your life with a score of -10. You brought it on yourself, man.
What they say
There’s a fair chance that the guy you pass will say something as you go by. This tells you something about how deep the wound has gone – or, in other words, how complete your victory is.
Greeting: A simple “hello” or “How’s it going?” means nothing. Your score does not change.
Congratulations: A “Hey, nice climbing” or “Keep it up” means that they – unfortunately – bear you no ill-will. Subtract a point from your score.
Excuses: This is the holy grail of passing someone – they are so deeply humiliated by your passing that they want a chance to explain themselves, usually by saying something about being at the tail end of an all-day ride or being told by their coach they must keep their heartrate under 80. When this happens, smile knowingly as you go by, then double your score because I guarantee the person you just passed will be able to think of nothing else for the next 72 hours.
Other Factors
There are a few other miscellaneous factors that affect your passing score. Be certain to make a careful note of each of them.
Gender Misidentification: If you think you’re passing a man and it turns out to be a woman, subtract two points. If you think you’re passing a woman and it turns out to be a man, add three points. Why the inequality? It is not for you to question.
Knee In Gut: If the other guy’s knees squash into his gut on each upstroke, you get no points for passing him. Unless your knees squash into your gut, too, in which case you get an extra three points.
Re-Pass: If, after passing the other guy, he makes a superhuman effort and passes you again, give yourself an extra two points. This may seem counterintuitive, but this kind of re-passing is your victim’s way of admitting that you have cut him, and cut him deep.
No-Pass: If it turns out that the other guy really was just spinning along and is now happy to ride at your pace and chat, and seems capable of riding at your pace and chatting even though you are at your absolute upper limit, and continues doing so until you explode and collapse in a quivering mass on the road, set your score back to -25, for you have just been totally pwned.
Final Results
After each ride, be certain to tally your score and then evaluate yourself on the following scale:
50+ points: You are the stage winner. Puff out your chest. Add this score to your race resume, for it is a magnificent accomplishment.
20 – 49 points: Not a bad ride, but you may want to exaggerate your score when comparing with your friends. Since there’s no way for them to disprove your score, you should feel confident in your “exaggeration.” Hey, you think your friends aren’t “augmenting” their scores, too?
Fewer than 20 points: You may want to consider changing your training route, so as to encounter different riders. After all, it isn’t how you play the game, it’s whether you win or lose.
Elden Nelson
Expensive Bike: If the person you’re passing has a bike that costs more than 50% more than your bike, give yourself an extra point. If the bike costs more than double your bike’s cost, give yourself two points. Regardless, be certain to comment on what a nice bike the person you’re passing has. There’s nothing quite so satisfying as a backhanded compliment.
Misidentified Bike: If you’ve pushed yourself as never before to catch a cyclist on the road, thinking how awesomely fast you’re going to appear as you blow by, only to discover that the person you’re passing is on a mountain bike or a hybrid with frame material that can best be described as "rebar," subtract a point from your score.
Silly Bike: If you pass a recumbent, add ten points to your score, as long as you are going 10kph faster – at a bare minimum – than he. Be sure to snort in derision as you go by.
Legs
It’s very nearly creepy how carefully cyclists study one another’s legs. I of course except myself, because I never do this. That said, your passing score relies heavily on the attributes of your opponents legs.
Hair: If the person you pass has shaved legs, give yourself two extra points. If he has shaved legs and you do not, give yourself four extra points, because he’s going to eat his heart out when he sees that he just got passed by what appears to be a Fred.
Rookie Mark: If your victim has a chainring mark on his right calf, subtract a point from your score. If he has a chainring mark on his left calf, add two points to your score, but only if you can find out how he managed that trick.
Tattoos: If the person you pass has a bike-related tattoo on one or more of his calves, add ten points to your score. You have just defeated someone who identifies so closely with cycling that he is advertising it, permanently. Say “Nice tattoo,” as you go by. You may also want to add, “What is it, exactly?”
Clothing
This one’s tricky. The truth is, many riders will wear a jersey in support of their favorite rider or team, and that doesn’t mean anything. Thus, to assess how many points to give yourself for what the cyclist you’re passing is wearing, you must look at the full package:
Full Kit – By this, I mean everything: helmet, shorts, jersey, socks, gloves. If he’s outfitted like a full-on pro, give yourself seven points. If it turns out that he is a full-on pro, give yourself ten points, unless you stop him and ask for his autograph. In which case you must reset your score back to zero and give up biking forever, because you are shameless.
Club Kit – If he’s wearing just the jersey or just the shorts, no point adjustment is made. If wearing both, you should give yourself two points. If the club kit is ridiculously ugly, give yourself three points. This is a judgment call, but I think I can trust you on this. Unless you’re one of those people who design really ugly club kits. If you’ve designed a jersey that is regarded as ugly even by your club, you must start every ride for the rest of your life with a score of -10. You brought it on yourself, man.
What they say
There’s a fair chance that the guy you pass will say something as you go by. This tells you something about how deep the wound has gone – or, in other words, how complete your victory is.
Greeting: A simple “hello” or “How’s it going?” means nothing. Your score does not change.
Congratulations: A “Hey, nice climbing” or “Keep it up” means that they – unfortunately – bear you no ill-will. Subtract a point from your score.
Excuses: This is the holy grail of passing someone – they are so deeply humiliated by your passing that they want a chance to explain themselves, usually by saying something about being at the tail end of an all-day ride or being told by their coach they must keep their heartrate under 80. When this happens, smile knowingly as you go by, then double your score because I guarantee the person you just passed will be able to think of nothing else for the next 72 hours.
Other Factors
There are a few other miscellaneous factors that affect your passing score. Be certain to make a careful note of each of them.
Gender Misidentification: If you think you’re passing a man and it turns out to be a woman, subtract two points. If you think you’re passing a woman and it turns out to be a man, add three points. Why the inequality? It is not for you to question.
Knee In Gut: If the other guy’s knees squash into his gut on each upstroke, you get no points for passing him. Unless your knees squash into your gut, too, in which case you get an extra three points.
Re-Pass: If, after passing the other guy, he makes a superhuman effort and passes you again, give yourself an extra two points. This may seem counterintuitive, but this kind of re-passing is your victim’s way of admitting that you have cut him, and cut him deep.
No-Pass: If it turns out that the other guy really was just spinning along and is now happy to ride at your pace and chat, and seems capable of riding at your pace and chatting even though you are at your absolute upper limit, and continues doing so until you explode and collapse in a quivering mass on the road, set your score back to -25, for you have just been totally pwned.
Final Results
After each ride, be certain to tally your score and then evaluate yourself on the following scale:
50+ points: You are the stage winner. Puff out your chest. Add this score to your race resume, for it is a magnificent accomplishment.
20 – 49 points: Not a bad ride, but you may want to exaggerate your score when comparing with your friends. Since there’s no way for them to disprove your score, you should feel confident in your “exaggeration.” Hey, you think your friends aren’t “augmenting” their scores, too?
Fewer than 20 points: You may want to consider changing your training route, so as to encounter different riders. After all, it isn’t how you play the game, it’s whether you win or lose.
Elden Nelson
Monday, April 28, 2008
10 days since last ride
I havent ridden for 10 days, but i got home early today after dropping Sue off at work and didnt think i could find any reasonable excuses not to go (including the clouds and the threat of rain) so i went.
I did the Shelley Loop (backwards) and rode down the freeway and then around the South Perth foreshore back to Burswood, through Northbridge and home. The ride, 55km, took just over two hours (2:03) and surprisingly I rode on average as quick as i have for a long time. I cant explain it really. While my heart rate average was up a little, overall i rode really well even though there was a bit of a head wind in places.
Winter is just around the corner and we have had one of the wettest April's on record. Photos today are of storm clouds on the horizon - east from the Shelley bridge back up the river. I had ridden around the road (left side of photo) next to the river (this is the Shelley Loop) to get to the bridge.
I have now covered 2699km but i am well off target.
I did the Shelley Loop (backwards) and rode down the freeway and then around the South Perth foreshore back to Burswood, through Northbridge and home. The ride, 55km, took just over two hours (2:03) and surprisingly I rode on average as quick as i have for a long time. I cant explain it really. While my heart rate average was up a little, overall i rode really well even though there was a bit of a head wind in places.
Winter is just around the corner and we have had one of the wettest April's on record. Photos today are of storm clouds on the horizon - east from the Shelley bridge back up the river. I had ridden around the road (left side of photo) next to the river (this is the Shelley Loop) to get to the bridge.
I have now covered 2699km but i am well off target.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
seems like there are some regular visitors
I started this blog mainly to keep track of my efforts to complete 10000km in one year. However, it seems to have caught the attention of a handful of people who check in regularly - Hi.
to date there has been no comments left here, but please feel free. If you would like more/different info (and other photos etc) let me know.
If you ever come to Perth and need a bike or a riding buddy drop me a line - i may be able to assist. I have a spare bike in the garage and I know people around town who may be able to help so ask away.
If you want to stay in the background that's fine too. hope you still get some joy out of visiting and seeing how i am going.
to date there has been no comments left here, but please feel free. If you would like more/different info (and other photos etc) let me know.
If you ever come to Perth and need a bike or a riding buddy drop me a line - i may be able to assist. I have a spare bike in the garage and I know people around town who may be able to help so ask away.
If you want to stay in the background that's fine too. hope you still get some joy out of visiting and seeing how i am going.
Rain Rain - Winter is Coming
I had planned to go for a ride this morning but we had a fairly major storm through the night with thunder, lightning and nearly an inch of rain. Our power went out so Sue slept through the alarm and so did i. It was still raining when we got up so i passed on the riding.
After i dropped Sue at work I came home and pottered around. It rained until lunch time and then it "cleared up". It was still cloudy but there was no rain so i decided my excuse had gone away and i got on my bike.
Rode 55km around the river and the Shelley Loop. The dolphins were out and about and while the paths were a bit wet I avoided the rain and the wind was really quite light. because the sky was so dark with thunder clouds the river was a dark inky colour which is a bit unusual, but it looked really good and quite a change from normal.
The rain had washed all the trees down and done the same for the paths so there was little if any glass on them which was a blessing.
I have now done 2642km of the 10000. I have set up a bike on a wind trainer in the garage so i will have no excuses for those days when i cant get out on the roads.
After i dropped Sue at work I came home and pottered around. It rained until lunch time and then it "cleared up". It was still cloudy but there was no rain so i decided my excuse had gone away and i got on my bike.
Rode 55km around the river and the Shelley Loop. The dolphins were out and about and while the paths were a bit wet I avoided the rain and the wind was really quite light. because the sky was so dark with thunder clouds the river was a dark inky colour which is a bit unusual, but it looked really good and quite a change from normal.
The rain had washed all the trees down and done the same for the paths so there was little if any glass on them which was a blessing.
I have now done 2642km of the 10000. I have set up a bike on a wind trainer in the garage so i will have no excuses for those days when i cant get out on the roads.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
group ride - river loop
went out this morning for a "group ride" with Hooman (owns the coffee shop in Woodside building), his friend Pete and Siobhan. We met at the Narrows Bridge and did a river loop, stopping for coffee at the Left Bank in East Fremantle.
The firts half of the ride is really a bit up and down and i got my arse kicked, struggling to hang on but it was friendly so they waited for me. I definitely go down hill better than i go up (it is an inertia thing combined with a big fat A...).
I got a slow puncture just as we got to the left bank (f..... glass) but i had a spare and i changed it while we waited for coffee.
After coffee we rode around east fremantle around Attadale and Mt Pleasant on the foreshore and then we split at the Canning Bridge. Siobhan and i rode down the fwy together and then into leederville.
Overall I did 71km on a perfect day for a ride. great company, fantastic weather and even a puncture could spoil my day.
2587km down
The firts half of the ride is really a bit up and down and i got my arse kicked, struggling to hang on but it was friendly so they waited for me. I definitely go down hill better than i go up (it is an inertia thing combined with a big fat A...).
I got a slow puncture just as we got to the left bank (f..... glass) but i had a spare and i changed it while we waited for coffee.
After coffee we rode around east fremantle around Attadale and Mt Pleasant on the foreshore and then we split at the Canning Bridge. Siobhan and i rode down the fwy together and then into leederville.
Overall I did 71km on a perfect day for a ride. great company, fantastic weather and even a puncture could spoil my day.
2587km down
Thursday, April 10, 2008
a tale of two rides
Had to go out to my mum's today to lift a TV and to look at an area of the garden which needs paving. She lives at the Vines,about 39 km away to the east.
The weather in Perth is starting to change ahead of winter and it rained overnight and when i set off it was cloudy and blustery and the temperature was about 24 degrees.
on the way there the wind was generally across and behind me and it took me 1:20 to get there which was pretty good (average speed - 28.6kmh). On the way back i rode into the wind pretty much all of the way and it took me 1:40 to get home (average speed - 23.1 kmh).
I have now completed 2516km of the 10000 so i am a quarter of the way to the goal.
The weather in Perth is starting to change ahead of winter and it rained overnight and when i set off it was cloudy and blustery and the temperature was about 24 degrees.
on the way there the wind was generally across and behind me and it took me 1:20 to get there which was pretty good (average speed - 28.6kmh). On the way back i rode into the wind pretty much all of the way and it took me 1:40 to get home (average speed - 23.1 kmh).
I have now completed 2516km of the 10000 so i am a quarter of the way to the goal.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
53.5km - great day to be on your bike
Sue came home this morning from South Africa after spending most of yesterday travelling. I picked her up from the airport and we had some breakfast, but she hadnt slept on the plane (9 1/2 hour flight overnight) so she was pretty tired.
After a quick breakfast we came home and she went to bed so i decided to go for a ride. the temperature is in the mid 20s and there was a slight breeze blowing but basically it was a perfect day for a ride. I was out on my own again but i felt pretty good on the bike and i managed to clock up 53.5km around the river and shelley loop.
I have now knocked off ~2438km so I am nearing the quarter mark for my 10000km target which all things considered is pretty good I think.
After a quick breakfast we came home and she went to bed so i decided to go for a ride. the temperature is in the mid 20s and there was a slight breeze blowing but basically it was a perfect day for a ride. I was out on my own again but i felt pretty good on the bike and i managed to clock up 53.5km around the river and shelley loop.
I have now knocked off ~2438km so I am nearing the quarter mark for my 10000km target which all things considered is pretty good I think.
Monday, April 7, 2008
40km - shorter and a bit sharper
went out this morning for a ride. wasnt intending to do too much but wanted to roll my legs over again after yesterday.
Wasnt sure which route i was going to take and i made a spur of the moment decision to go into Subi heading towards Kings Park, because i was trying to avoid riding into the wind. In the end it didnt matter because it just seemed to be in my face most of the ride, but it was not too strong overall which was a good thing.
Ended up not riding into KP, but went down Thomas Road to UWA and then around the nedlands foreshore area to Bethedsa. This route is a bit up and down with a couple of steeper climbs. I then came back on the same loop to UWA, went down Mts Bay Road to the Narrows (hoping for a tailing breeze which didnt happen) and then turned around (hoping for the same - but again it seemed to be against me) and rode back past UWA and then up into Subi.
The ride was mixed pace wise. In some sections i was travelling well and averaged in the high 30s, but then at other times it was a slog and i was riding in the mid 20s. When i look at my polar monitor results it is clear i need to change something to get to the next level (riding in the low 30s as an average speed). Clearly i need more KMs, and i need to do them faster. I would also benefit from losing 5-10 of the Kgs i carry. Perhaps i need to get back into the bunches and "hurt" myself a bit for a few weeks.
Having said all of that, the blessing is that i am fit and able to get out and do this kind of exercise. Perth is a great place to ride and I really have no complaints, just a higher expectation of myself.
2382 down
Wasnt sure which route i was going to take and i made a spur of the moment decision to go into Subi heading towards Kings Park, because i was trying to avoid riding into the wind. In the end it didnt matter because it just seemed to be in my face most of the ride, but it was not too strong overall which was a good thing.
Ended up not riding into KP, but went down Thomas Road to UWA and then around the nedlands foreshore area to Bethedsa. This route is a bit up and down with a couple of steeper climbs. I then came back on the same loop to UWA, went down Mts Bay Road to the Narrows (hoping for a tailing breeze which didnt happen) and then turned around (hoping for the same - but again it seemed to be against me) and rode back past UWA and then up into Subi.
The ride was mixed pace wise. In some sections i was travelling well and averaged in the high 30s, but then at other times it was a slog and i was riding in the mid 20s. When i look at my polar monitor results it is clear i need to change something to get to the next level (riding in the low 30s as an average speed). Clearly i need more KMs, and i need to do them faster. I would also benefit from losing 5-10 of the Kgs i carry. Perhaps i need to get back into the bunches and "hurt" myself a bit for a few weeks.
Having said all of that, the blessing is that i am fit and able to get out and do this kind of exercise. Perth is a great place to ride and I really have no complaints, just a higher expectation of myself.
2382 down
Sunday, April 6, 2008
62km river loop
I felt like a real slug today and I rode like one too. Went to a birthday party yesterday afternoon and drank way too much red wine. The night was really nice and i ended up sleeping on the boat, which was ok but i woke up quite a few times.
Got up and drove home (about an hour's drivc) and thought i needed to go and work some of the food and wine off.
Did the burswood, narrows, fwy to shelley and return loop.
2342km down or thereabouts
Got up and drove home (about an hour's drivc) and thought i needed to go and work some of the food and wine off.
Did the burswood, narrows, fwy to shelley and return loop.
2342km down or thereabouts
Thursday, April 3, 2008
64km and even more bloody windy
did a completely different ride today for the first time in a long time. I went to the Beach via Hale Road and West Coast Hwy and then around the river via Fremantle, Melville and back to the Canning Bridge before coming down the FWY then to UWA. I then did KP hill and down into Subiaco. Had some brunch at Brew Ha and then rode home (~5.5km of total)
Got a small tow for 2-3km down the freeway but the rest of the time i rode on my own.
The highlight of the day, other than being out on the bike near the beaches and the river was chasing a rider down Mounts Bay Road from the Narrows to UWA at about 40km/h only to be rewarded by the beautiful bottom and legs of a young female rider who was going to UWA. She said she was only a commuter, obviously a fit capable rider though because she worked really hard not to be caught or overtaken (i didnt - the view was better where i was riding). We had a brief chat while we waited for the lights to change and then we went our separate ways. Shame i could have followed her all day.
Did i say it was bloody windy - it was howling again from the East/SE and I actually hate riding into the wind.
Approximately 2280km down
Got a small tow for 2-3km down the freeway but the rest of the time i rode on my own.
The highlight of the day, other than being out on the bike near the beaches and the river was chasing a rider down Mounts Bay Road from the Narrows to UWA at about 40km/h only to be rewarded by the beautiful bottom and legs of a young female rider who was going to UWA. She said she was only a commuter, obviously a fit capable rider though because she worked really hard not to be caught or overtaken (i didnt - the view was better where i was riding). We had a brief chat while we waited for the lights to change and then we went our separate ways. Shame i could have followed her all day.
Did i say it was bloody windy - it was howling again from the East/SE and I actually hate riding into the wind.
Approximately 2280km down
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
63km - bloody windy
Could ride much the backend of last week as my dad had a stroke and it messed things up a bit (him included obviously) but I went for a ride this morning. it was on the cool side and bloody windy. did the shelley loop backwards down the freeway, then to UWA and Subi. there were a few riders around, but none were going my way. Had a coffee at brewha and then came home.
I am falling off the pace a bit on my 10000km challenge, having now completed 2217km or thereabouts against about 2800km as a target (we are in week 14 of the year can you believe that) and my fitness has dropped back a bit again. Not too concerned about that because i am still bashing along on my own at a good pace and I just enjoy being out and about. the river is alway fantastic as is the other scenery on the paths around town.
I am falling off the pace a bit on my 10000km challenge, having now completed 2217km or thereabouts against about 2800km as a target (we are in week 14 of the year can you believe that) and my fitness has dropped back a bit again. Not too concerned about that because i am still bashing along on my own at a good pace and I just enjoy being out and about. the river is alway fantastic as is the other scenery on the paths around town.
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