Twiddling Thumbs & Nipper Conundrums

Watched a cracking DVD on Friday night – Gone Girl. Worth a look if you haven’t already seen it. If you’ve read the book, probably not the same reaction, as it was the plot twists which completely hooked me.

Got up early on Saturday and did….nothing. It’s still a weird feeling now as It’s the first time in ages I have nothing on the immediate horizon to train for (Pyrenees cycle trip is still a long way off – September). So, I took the opportunity to indulge another great passion – tea & toast on the porch with the Fin Review in hand.

I love the idea of reading the Fin. Finding a little undervalued gem that no-one else has seen and turning it into an astute investment. It’s a work in progress, has been for several years now - I’m playing the long game. They’re due to come good any minute now.

In the afternoon I picked up a fridge from my grandparent’s recently sold house, saying goodbye to the place in the process. I’d spent some time there in my formative years before meeting a particularly Lovely girl (her name is Samantha). The rest is history, which you’ve all been reading about ever since.

Sunday started with a shortish 60km cycle (by recent standards anyway) down the east coast of Sydney from Watsons bay to La Perouse and back, meeting my clan back at Bronte for the final nippers of the season. When it comes to Nippers, Bodhi is a paradox. He hates waking up, protests all the way there in the car but by the end of the session cant hide his unbridled enthusiasm for the boarding & swimming. Not sure what to do. I really want him to continue with it, part selfishly as I love an excuse to go to the beach, but more importantly the water skills & safety aspect…oh and to grow into a svelte, toned and devilishly handsome lifesaver just like his dad, but with the added ability to save lives. We’ve spoken about doing it next year – he’s dead set against, we’re dead set for it. Question is, how do I let him think he’s making the decision but get my way? Dunno, but we’ve got several months to work it out. Suggestions welcome.

Later in the arvo, I put together some Ikea cabinetry – “Adult Lego” as I described it to Bodhi. Here’s me stupidly thinking it was idiot proof. As I sat for an hour trying to make sense of a missing piece of the puzzle, I scratched my head and admitted defeat.

Early onset anyone?

See ya,

Minas.

#HubbardWatch Respect

Picture this: You've ridden hard all day. 205km in fact. Your legs are cooked. A sign on a bend proclaims “ONLY 30km to go!”. While the sign emphasises the “ONLY”, ironically you’re thinking “SHIT 30km still!!!”…all uphill. Welcome to “What The Fuck” corner.

WTF Corner marks the start of the last, most brutal climb in the epic endurance event called The Three Peaks Challenge. Billed as one of the top 10 toughest one day cyclo-sportifs in the world, it unashamedly delivers more than your worst-case-scenario expectations might have prepared you for.

So, back to the corner and the start of the fabled “Back of Falls” climb – I’d set a personal target of a 10hr total ride time and made it to the base of the climb in 9.5hr pace. Kick Ass I thought, but in the trade off to give myself more of a climbing buffer, I’d depleted all my salts and felt the tell-tale niggles of impending cramps. Now cramps are just like relatives* you don’t like - you hope they never visit, but if so, pray they don’t stay too long and only offer them horrible snacks in the hope they take the hint and leave quickly. Unfortunately, the cramps came a knockin’, didn't take the hint with the sickly sweet hydralite concentrated concoction I offered up and stayed far too long for my liking – a whole hour too long as it turns out.

There’s no shame in walking wounded up a mountain pushing one of the finest carbon fibre bikes money can buy, or so I repeatedly told myself. Of little recompense was that I was not alone. The brutal first half stretch Back of Falls is a war zone. Flailing mamils strewn all over the place. Bodies doubled over in varying states of empathetic cringe inducing cramp and fatigue. Not a dry brow or smile in sight for 10km.

Anyways, an hour after arriving, the cramps eventually got the hint and left. I gingerly managed the remaining 20km in the granny gears, hoping like hell they wouldn't come back claiming to have left something behind. I rolled through the finish line of toughest thing I've ever done, 10hrs 49mins after setting off, too numbed to feel anything beyond relief.

In cycling, the term hubbard is often thrown about by fashwan wank wanks (like me) in non-deference to other cyclists sporting event paraphernalia jerseys or any other kit choice deemed “uncool”, #hubbardwatch being a handle for any hubbard spotting posted on twitagram.

After my three peaks accomplishment, I've got a new jersey, and i'm going to wear it with pride!

Minas.

*Disclaimer: I love all my relatives equally and want them ALL to come visit more often.

St Georges Basin

Hey All;

Belter of a weekend up here. A real rip snorter.

We headed down to Jervis bay on Friday night, arrived at a rental house about 11pm, Unpacked the car, fell asleep a few minutes later.

Up at 5am to get ready and out the door for my early triathlon start. In the drink by 7am, on the bike 15 mins later and hit the run course about 35 mins after that. Dragged myself up the finish shoot in 1hr 14. Thankfully it was “just” sprint distance (750m/20k/5k) as my old nemesis (manful) struck with a vengeance in the lead up. One down, two to go.

The Lovely Samantha was up next and just like FedEx, she always delivers. Throw her in a skin tight lycra onesie and it’s impossible not to be impressed. Braving the dark things in the water, she completed her swim, emerged unscathed from the murky depths and then proceeded to ride and run over the top of any pretenders in her way. Two down, one to go.

Then there was Bodhi…What can I say? I dunno who had a bigger smile – him collecting his finishers medal for his first Miniman, or us – proudest parents on the planet. That’s my boy! Although something tells me he just did it for that feeling of freedom. The wind in his air while riding/running without his helicopter parents hovering over his every move.

Several other friends were also down for the triathlon and we all let our hair down on Saturday night. Turns out the rental house was right on the waterfront in St George’s Basin and it was simply sublime. The serenity was a constant talking point “How’s the serenity?”….Great food, nearly too much to drink and a birthday cake thrown in for fun.

Sunday was just bliss – bacon & eggs on the deck perched over the water, lunch on Hyam’s beach complete with its turquoise waters and a lazy afternoon drive home.

If it gets any better, i don’t want to know about it.

Minas.

Cycling, DIY and more Cycling

Happy New Year!

We had a cracker long weekend here. Saturday’s weather was sublime – Started with a nice ride to Brooklyn and back. A new cafe just opened at the Mooney Mooney bridge inviting us in for a rare mid-ride coffee. In our group was a 59 yr old guy who put all us “youngsters” to shame. I tried (in vain) to lose him on a decent hill climb but he didn't even bat an eyelid, his measured cadence shadowing me the entire way. That’s who I want to be when I grow up!

I was safely back home (Tail between my legs) by 10 am to start on the patio painting doors and window sills. Thankfully all done by 5 pm. I’d officially like to declare the patio “Mission Accomplished” too, meaning I can hand over the project to the Business-As-Usual staff to continue maintenance going forward. Not sure the chain of command will agree though.

Sunday was horribly hot – 35 degrees in the shade. Bodhi did an early morning song and dance not wanting to go to nippers. His quivering upper lip plea technique worked well enough for me to cave in. Instead we faffed about the house till early afternoon, went for a bike ride around centennial park in the (during the Sun’s zenith) and finished with a cooling dip at Clovelly before heading home to an Indian Takeaway in front of the idiot box. Why sweat outside when you can sweat indoors with a nice vindaloo?!

The computer says I burnt 6500 calories on Monday courtesy of a 200 km ride to Wollongong and back. The Australia Day weather had turned noticeably cooler with a bit of drizzle about, but it was mostly pleasant and we didn't get too drenched. The route took us through national parkland and along the coast with a cracker tail wind all the way back. Quite chuffed (and boastful) to call a 200k ride training for a bigger ride, but that’s exactly what it is. The 3-Peaks 240 km Victorian Alps behemoth is just six weeks away and counting.

Ozzie ozzie ozzie,

Minas.