14th Bike Race Report

Did anyone realise that Friday last was Friday the 13th - ohooo.

Flab Bust

I did an 80km cycled race on Saturday. I basically dragged my corpse out of bed and threw it into the pool. Didn't help. Now it was just a bedraggled, dripping body - so I shovelled some coffee down the hatch (not exactly) and then tore off to the north of the city. The nice thing about Bloem is you can get to the outskirts - no matter where you are - in no more than 7 minutes. Five minutes later we were off. My heart got off to a cracking start - 173 - that's about 105%. Stayed with the leading lads till 8km, then fell out of the runner up bunch at about 16/17km. The third bunch took a while to form, but included a tandem, and we had a nice time leading off the edge on the downhills.

Distance: 80km (my Polar said 78km)
Time: 2:23 (quite humbling that I have timetrialed 90km in a half Ironman in a faster time - 2:21)
Heart Rate: 161 average/90% (173 max)

I didn't use lighter wheels as I am still in a strengthening, building up phase. Am kinda looking forward to putting my Zipps into action, but want my legs to suffer a bit, and then be surprised by their power when I transition the new lightweight wheels.

The heat was enormous. By 8am it was already hot. I felt my face throbbing with heat, and dripping with fluids.
On the final stretch (about 5km) 4 guys led off the biggish group we were in, and then I crossed the divide, quite an expensive chase. I had to dig very deep to stay with them, and felt on the very last rise that my leg muscles on either side of my knees (quads) were starting to quiver and go lame.

I decided not to consume my third GU as they are R15 apiece, and so by the time I was done, I was shaking from the effort, from lack of salt, from exposure to the sun and from being absolutely empty. Very salt sweat was oozing into my eyes so that I couldn't even see. Eeeech.
I felt good to have cycled fairly hard, fairly solidly after not being on the bike for almost 2 weeks straight, and not too much conditioning before that. Need to get consistent now. It'll get easier because there is a race every weekend, and I just need to do one or two cycles between each weekend. Need more of this hardcore stuff to shake off the flab.

My Argus entry is 'in process'. I'm on a waiting list and on www.bicycling.co.za they are offering a few special deals. So I'll have a look at that tomorrow.
Oh, interesting development. I had a conversation after today's triathlon with Kate Roberts, South Africa's best female triathlete, and we might do a few rides together in the week.
Justus also told me earlier this evening that Mica wants someone to ride with.
Going out with Jean on Thursday - 120-170km. Try for 150km.