How can we sleep when our thighs are burning?
A tale from today: the Thighburner
All smiles on the Moggill Ferry, only 20km to go!
Stats that matter:
The group: Andrew, Les, Rob W, Mark, Ernie, Sally, Susie, Bruce L, Steven
Flats = 1
Crashes = 2
Thighs cramping = not really sure, but I heard a few groans around me on the last couple of hills
Pies consumed at Fernvale Bakery = once again, don’t really have a tally, but I’m pretty sure that after we left the bakery staff just closed up for the day and went home with smiles on their faces.
Stops for Rob W to take a leak = 18290347
Stops for the girls to use the facilities = none other than scheduled stops
Lance Armstrong: And good morning to you al …
Twitter / Lance Armstrong: And good morning to you al ….
G’day Lance. How did you sleep last night? Oh, that good.
Cartoon advocacy
Stuart McMillen’s take on bike vs bus, a cartoon starring himself.
Includes partial nudity (bath scene).
Great work. Might have to sign him up for Queensland Cyclist.
Ryder H takes on Jonathon Vaughters
Garmin-Slipstream pro Ryder Hesjedal trains on the island of Maui, in Hawaii.
There’s a road which goes from sea level to 10,000 ft, a mountain called Haleakala. The road is 57km or so.
Ryder attempts to break the record for this climb, which, by an interesting quirk, is held by his team director at Garmin, former US pro Jonathon Vaughters.
Ryder Hesjedal :: Haleakala Attempt from Media One Multimedia on Vimeo.
I saw this on Velogogo. I like the way pro teams like Garmin are giving fans a bit of an inside peak into how riders prepare for racing. It’s all part of marketing the team these days. You gotta do Twitter / YouTube (or Vimeo, which is like YouTube but classy) / Facebook, the whole lot.
Back to school
Roadie Rob’s Bicycle School, that is.
Whether it’s to win the World Cup, get to the top of the hill first, or just ride a trail with confidence we can get you on track.
via Services and Testimonials - Roadie Rob’s Bicycle School.
Emma and I fronted up for some mtb skills training with the guru, Roadie Rob.
As I expected, there was loads of stuff that I was doing wrong on the mtb … starting with my version of the “attack position”. I need to be looser and lower on the bike.
It’s also about practice, and practicing the right things. I already knew the theory of “look up the trail”, but its another thing altogether to have Rob demonstrate it, and then critique your application of the principle.
So I need to set aside some riding time for simple skills practice. Jumping sticks and riding in circles. And the good thing is, I can do this about 150 metres from my front door.
Getting better on the mtb is one of my goals for 2009. To improve my performance in the endurance events, getting more efficient and smoother on the bike will really help.
A really good morning. And serious fun!
Update:
Here’s me trying out the new attack position, on Stonehenge this morning (pic by Outdoorgaz):
Smooth.
But with all these new skills, I still stacked it, coming up Possum Box. Tried to “open up” the entry to a corner, and caught a tree with my handlebar.
Mark Cavendish gears up
A new lean Mark Cavendish stepped into the dazzling Majorcan sunshine this weekend, negotiated his way through the mob of photographers that chronicle his every move and carefully adjusted his customised Oakley sunglasses before scanning the road ahead. Figuratively and metaphorically. He is ready for 2009. Bring it on.
via Mark Cavendish gears up for Tour de France - Telegraph.
Quite enjoyed this piece about the superstar young gun sprinter. He has the same “problem” that Australian pros have … the general public has less than no clue about bike racing.
Loved this quote:
“I’ve been back at home on the Isle of Man for most of the winter and, in fairness they get behind me there, but a lady came up to me in Tesco the other day and said ‘bad luck in the Tour de France.’” “Bad luck! I won four bloody stages in eight days. On the Tour de France against every single last one of the world’s greatest cyclists who were all riding flat out. Bad luck. I had to smile.”
Cycling and compassion
Choosing Compassion for Everyday Biking by Kristen Steele
via Cycling on the High Road | Momentum - The Magazine For Self Propelled People!.
Excellent article about how swallowing your pride and anger when you’re wronged by another vehicle is always the better way to go. I must admit that I find this difficult to do.
Here’s a taste:
Seeing the humanity in others is an essential part of cultivating compassion. Jay Ferm, a Madison WI cyclist, says that when he’s faced with a driver behaving badly he “imagines that perhaps they are rushing a kid to the doctor, or are late for a job interview.” He admits that at times he gets angry and, when he catches himself, remembers that he was once “an unconscious road user.”
This article quotes the Dalai Lama, and the Buddhist practice of mindfulness. I would claim empathy and compassion as Christ-like virtues as well.
Major religions of the world unite: cycling is the one true path to enlightenment!