Tour of the Bay

The 2010 Tour of the Bay was a ride of differing weather with beautiful Hawkes Bay sunshine in Hastings and dampness in the hills. Seems to be a nice course. I would like to come back and maybe get more views over the top next time?

I started reasonably strongly but could soon feel a few of the wines in my stomach after a mere 25km. I had been staying with a few of the guys from the Onslow Tarbabies whom had introduced me to a different form of “carbo-loading” than I was used to the night before. This was very normal to these seasoned veterans, but as for me The Hawkes Bay wines were tasty but, whilst not being a tea-totaller I am a seldom drinker and usually I stick the brews which may have been kinder to my belly. Meanwhile, this was normal for these seasoned campaigners.  

Ride Data:
Distance:	108.72km	9292 Calories
Time:	3h53m24s	27.9 km/h (66.7km/h MAX)
Elevation:	Ascent: 857m	Descent: 850m
Cadence:	Avg: 90 rpm	Max: 115 rpm
Ride Data:	Garmin Connect / RideWithGPS
Location:	Hastings, NZ	17 October 2010

After the climb up Clarksons Hill and my usual uphill loss of the bunch I rode alone for a short time before riding small paceline for four heading heading toward Tikiokino. I thought we were travelling well but we were soon chased down by a large bunch that caught us after about 50km. This bunch circulated well until it fragmented a bit over a long undulating section where I dropped off the back at about 75km. After a quick descent, I slogged my way into the wind back to the finish.



This year I have twice ridden days over 300km, but today I was happy to make the finish at a mere 110km.

OTB ITT: “Surf to Summit” (Makara Beach to Johnsonville)

With a beautiful day to open the first Saturday of spring Frank kindly organised a time-trial from Makara Beach to Johnsonville.

 

Ride Data:
Distance:	14.12km	861 Calories
Time:	35m 25s	23.9 km/h (46.6km/h MAX)
Elevation:	Ascent: 274m	Descent: 59m
Cadence:	Avg: 91 rpm	Max: 111 rpm
Heart rate:	Avg: 86% est. max	Max: 95% est. max
Ride Data:	Garmin Connect / RideWithGPS
Location:	Wellington, NZ	4 September 2010

 

Not being a strong climber and with a net ascent over the route I was a tad apprehensive about the distinct possibility of riding badly but registered for the ride anyway. 

 

While not a time to set the world on fire, with the benefit of competition I rode up to Johnsonville in 35m27s, a remarkable 8 minutes faster than my previously recorded training times over the same route.

 

We began our time-trials in reverse, seeded order which had me 7th out of 21 riders. Not sure whether complaints of net ascent aided my seeding or not. I started strongly into the wind and after a few kilometres began passing those that had started ahead of me. At 10km (of 14km) I was up to third on the road (if I counted correctly) but any possible thoughts of being of first being to the line soon evaporated as a succession riders whizzed straight pass me between the 11th and 12th kilometres.

 

Had a great afternoon and am looking forward to finding more improvement. Thanks again for organising the ride Frank :).

 

No doubt we’ll have more ITT’s over the same route. Have a target to beat to find the PB now. Now, if I only I can get riding up those hills a bit quicker…

 

Onslow Tarbabies Team Trial

My first team trial didn't get off to the best of starts when I, well failed to find the start. In the spirit of:

"I read on the internet it must be true"

I am going to blame Google Maps for this geographical embarassment. I previously had no care as to where Burnham Wharf was and apparently Google could say the same! I was a little confused in failing to find any of the fine Onslow Tarbabies as I looked around the various wharfs/jettys/studios around Shelley Bay. Which incidentally is nowhere near Burnham Wharf, nor the little flag where Google maps alleges Burnham Wharf is located. 

 

I was about to ride around the bays on my lonesome when Jo and Liz came riding past screaming out my name saying “your on our team”. From a standing start I set off in their pursuit as we worked to get our three team member paceline working appropriately. Jo took the role as team captain and gave out the instructions:

Keep rotating short rotations and YOU take longer at the front.

I presumed that "YOU" meant me. In the early stages I found it tricky keeping the pace right with instructions from behind me "too fast". We eventually got our pacing in sync by the time we reached the airport tunnel. We were around the Lyall Bay roundabout and returned through the airport tunnel before we saw the next team in pursuit. Could we hold them off all the way back to wherever that Burnham Wharf place is???

Ride Data:
Distance:	27.88km*	821 Calories
Time:	32m 25s	32.6 km/h 39.5 km/h MAX
Heart-rate:	Avg: 94% of MAX	Max: 98% of MAX
Cadence:	Avg: 96 rpm	Max: 111 rpm
Ride Data:	Garmin Connect / RideWithGPS
Location:	Wellington, NZ	21 August 2010
* This is shorter than the real distance because I missed the start due to geographical embarassment

In penance for missing the start, I spent a solid amount of time leading our team back. Jo was having to work hard to get back on as she lost ground looking over her shoulder for the other two teams chasing us down. They were in sight with a few kilometres to go. I did my best to help keep us ahead, but for the last kilometre or so with a new tune could be heard behind me: Faster, faster. I lifted my cadence as best I could. I had lead out for some way and was starting to feel my legs. Didn’t have too much left for a sprint at the line. Competiveness pulled me through and we made the finish without being chased down, making us the winners on handicap. The handicapping was very accurate with all three teams finishing within a minute of each other. I had a lot fun in this ride. Both riding as a team and levelling the field through well set handicaps made for a great ride.

 

Will be great if we can get a few more teams rolling next time?

 

Onslow Tarbabies Individual Time Trial (ITT)

 

Like the recent OTB Criterium, Mossy again worked his magic and ably assisted by Digger organised a time-trial for our members. Even for those, like me who aren’t quite fast enough to “race” but like to pretend all the same. :).

 

Whilst great claims can be made about rain-proof courses it is the middle of winter in Wellington right now and I must admit that I had my doubts about the allegedly non-rain affected course.

Event takes place even if wet. The course is not exposed and not affected by rain.

Ride Data:
Distance:	17.6km	821 Calories
Time:	32m 25s	32.6 km/h 39.5 km/h MAX
Heart-rate:	Avg: 94% of MAX	Max: 98% of MAX
Cadence:	Avg: 96 rpm	Max: 111 rpm
Ride Data:	Garmin Connect / RideWithGPS
Location:	Wellington, NZ	17 July 2010

… If only Mossy could organise the weather as well as the races?

 

This was the first tine I had ever ridden in a time-trial and at 18km it was contrast of extremes both in the weather, as well a the riding from my last event, the Grand Tour: Highland Double Century under the Californian sun.

 

The course was three laps of a 6km circuit. The first-half was more-or-less flat with a southerly tail-wind, whilst the second-half lap had a few minor bumps to accompany the return head-wind.

 

My laps got progressively slower, with recorded lap times of 10m29s; 10m51s and 11m05s.

 

Lap three began with Scott charging past me as if I was at home sitting on a stationery trainer. Perhaps he had thought it was a handicap race? Whether it was time-trial or handicap he certainly left us all in his wake (both figuratively and physically) on this amphibious day.  I could feel my legs as the final lap progressed, and the rain in my eyes after removing my completely fogged sunglasses certainly didn’t during this, my final and slowest lap. Unfortunately toward the end of this lap John F, and John H both passed me to convincingly destroy me against the clock having started 2 and 3 minutes behind me respectively.

 

Heart-rate Zones:
Zone 1:	0 min
Zone 2:	0 min
Zone 3:	0 min
Zone 4:	1 min
Zone 5:	30 min

Riding the short time-trial was at a vastly higher level of intensity than I usually ride with in the long endurance rides I typically participate in. Hopefully this will help me increase my capacity to ride harder during the pending spring endurance rides. Aside from the first few pedal strokes, I was riding with both high cadence, and heart-rate with the ticker running in “Zone 5” the entire time – great workout!

 

I recorded a time of 32m25s today for an average speed of 32.5km/hr. ‘twas atrocious weather, but as always I would have liked to have been a little quicker. To achieve that I'm going to have to add a lot more intensity to my training. Hopefully we’ll have another ITT soon so I have an opportunity to seek improvement.

 

 

Date	17th July 2010
Weather	Steady rain, light southerly, Temp approx 10deg C
Route	Liverton Road, Upper Hutt
Name	Start	Lap 1	Lap 2	Finish	Net Time
Kara	15:13	15.23.28	15:34.33	15:45.37	32:37
Jackie	15:14	15:24.32	15:35.34	15:46.33	32:33
Craig	15:15	15:25.29	15:36.20	15:47.25	32:25
Mike	15:16	15:26.35	15:37.13	15:47.52	31:52
Chris	15:20	15:30.08	15:40.34	15:51.02	31:02
John H.	15:17	15:26.45	15:36.48	15:46.45	29:45
John F.	15:18	15:27.34	15:37.30	15:47.23	29:23
Tim	15:21	15:29.51	15:39.13	15:48.24	27:24
Scott	15:19	15:27.48	15:36.46	15:45.47	26:47

Onslow Tarbabies Criterium – May 2010

My local recreational riding group organised a short criterium race for our members in a traffic free, yet to be developed industrial area near Trentham. The stated objective of organising this race was:

to foster better riding skills, better fitness, a chance to try something you'd otherwise be afraid of, but most of all to "flex your muscles" and participate in some friendly rivalry on a quiet road rather than down SH2.

Ride Data:
Distance:	14.14	800 Calories
Time:	23m16s	36.5 km/h
Ride Data:	Garmin Connect Player
Location:	Trentham, NZ	1 May 2010

For me, just riding without fear those steel cyclist crushing objects known as cars was a huge bonus!

 

This was my first ride in a criterium style race. I entered the “C” grade race which was set at the same level a those that I typically ride with on Sundays. My work colleague Phil, had been trying to get me to enter the “B” grade race with him. I suspect that this was because he was looking for the satisfaction of beating me head-to-head. With a damp day and limited numbers of participants the “C” & “D” grades were combined as were the “A” & “B”’s.

 

I had been given advance tips that criterium events can be very tactical and often if you get caught on the front for too long you can use too much energy and get destroyed in the final sprint. With this mind during the race I made sure I wasn’t leading for more than one lap at a time and made sure I was position to follow anyone who thought about making a decisive break. These tactics seemed universal in the “C” grade race with with any gaps the opened quickly sealed to ensure there were no breakaways established. On the couple of laps when I was leading I tried to increase the pace a little to get a feel for where the wind was, which could be critical on the final lap and to see how the riders around me were handling the pace. Ultimately no gaps opened and we increased our average speed and we built to higher speeds each lap around the course.

 

I was sitting comfortably in 2nd place when the bell went indicating two laps to go and then heading into the final lap assumed the lead. I initially tried a surge as I assumed the lead but the rest of the pack surged with me. I figured with the inside running in the remaining corners, meaning everyone else had to get around me  the biggest risk would be to go for a sprint too early and get run down. I thought the action would most likely occur into the wind on the straight prior to the final corner. I was wrong and Mark found an acceleration with half a lap to go that none of us could match. I possibly dropped as low as 4th as I made maximum use of my ticker into the wind and then down the final straight to take 2nd place with a comfortable margin back to 3rd and nowhere near running down fast finishing Mark. 

 

I was breathing pretty hard crossing line with my heart pounding. That 221-Age thing maximum heartrate thing is after all just an estimate :D.

 

The combined “A” and “B” grade race followed a different style altogether. Throughout their race there were various attacks trying to establish breakaways but while breakaways were established, they never actually stuck. By the final lap all the riders were together again with Phil managing a narrow victory in the sprint finish. Thankfully back at work he has contained himself enough to not have reminded us of his result more than 100 times (yet?).

 

Sunday Ride: Khandallah, Round the Bays (Mt Crawford), Makara

Ride Data:
Distance:	71.45km	3617 Calories
Time:	3:07:58	22.8km/h
Elevation:	Ascent: 581m*	Descent: 590m*
	* I'm think the Garmin read low today?
Ride Data:	Garmin Connect Player	MapMyRide
Location:	Wellington, NZ	5 July 2009

‘twas a bleak morning but thankfully the moisture was more on the road rather than falling from the sky as we were out riding today. It was once again one of the days that I could have so easily spent the day on the sofa. Certainly on days like this, participating in a local riding group certainly helps the motivation to get out and ride.

 

We, the Onslow Tarbabies took in a few of Wellington’s gently rolling hills today with Mt Crawford, Brooklyn, Raroa Rd/Kelburn, Makara all ascended, followed by the steady climb up the Takarau Gorge and Ohariu Valley to Johnsonville.

 

We split into three bunches for the days riding – fast, slow and development squad. I placed myself in the slow bunch and we soon on our way. From Khandallah to the summit of Mt Crawford we were about five minutes than a fortnight ago, and I found myself toward the back of the group on the ascents this time. I have much fitness to gain if I am going to get anywhere near by personal best of 4:58:36 for this years Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge. Thankfully, still plenty of time to put in the training, or pretend to :).

 

The ride was going pretty smoothly, although with dampness around my cadence sensor was on the blink again. Does anyone else have this problem with their Garmin cadence sensor’s in the wet?. That was until Greg picked up a puncture as we were approaching Owhiro Bay. Scott and I played domestique and dropped back to support our team mate. Once we had got back to support him we played the foreman’s role with folded arms watching over him. So quickly, it changed to the self-supporting randonneuring form of cycling :). With the support of the two foreman, Greg soon had his spare tube in place and inflated as the development squad passed us.

 

We caught about half of the development squad on our way up Happy Valley to Brooklyn, and the rest at the pre-arranged re-group point, just before turning into Owhiro Road and the climb up to Kelburn. At the top of Kelburn I succumbed to peer pressure and extended our ride through Karori and Makara with five others. For some reason the ascent up Makara seemed harder than normal today. By the time we reached the steady climb up to Johnsonville I was falling off the pace :(, and also found my bike getting a little nosier from the dampness washing the remaining lube from the chain. Thanks for waiting for my non-performing hide at the top Marty & Ange :).

Sunday Ride: Round the Bays (Mt Crawford), Wilton, Khandallah

Ride Data:
Distance:	51.79km	2475 Calories
Time:	2:21:17	22km/h
Elevation:	Ascent: 758m	Descent: 752m
Ride Data:	Garmin Connect Player	MapMyRide
Location:	Wellington, NZ	21 June 2009

This morning, I broke with my solo training traditions and for the first time, went for a group ride with the Onslow Tarbabies. The Onslow Tarbabies are a road-cycling group based in Wellington which focus on fitness and riding technique rather than super-competitive racing.

I signed up to their Yahoo group which then started sending me e-mails about their rides. On Friday morning, I received the details of the weekend's ride.

Hi People
I am down to lead the ride Sunday. Plan is around the Bays option Makara. Route plan is set out below for your information. Forecast look ok'ish possibility of some minor rain.
...
If you are new to the Tarbabies please stick with a Red and green jersey and learn the Tarbabies ethos, please.
...
See you Sunday (if its not pouring with rain).

cheers
Gary


City & the Bays, OPTION Makara
... followed by detailed route description ...

Thats easy enough. Just turn up. Oh, and make sure my alarm is set for the earlier than usual start. I woke in a brief moment of panic as I checked my tyre that had tyre for cuts after being punctured in the dark the previous night. And, still plenty of air in the tube - yay :). Raced through the supermarket for a couple of snacks on the way, before heading back to the starting location in Khandallah. I listened to the obligatory safety briefing and raised my hand when asked if anyone was along for the first time. The group leader (Gary) introduced hiimself and the group was split into fast, medium and slow bunches. As my first time I naturally opted for the slow bunch. There was also a first-timers rule that we do not have to lead the bunches until they see how the group works. I presume this is to make sure that the emphasis is on keeping the bunch together and having fun, rather than pushing the bunch or shooting out in a breakaway. This of course suited me fine as we set off into a stiff ~45km/h southerly and I would get to hide in the bunch for the entire ride. Excellent :).

The pace in this group was generally what I would probably describe as a good recovery or intro pace, depending whether you are new to road cycling or not. I understand that often they have Fast, Medium, Slow and Development bunches - with the latter catering for people new to cycling or, training for their first ride around Lake Taupo. What I really noticed how much effort I put in when hill climbing in a group compared to when riding solo. I think when riding by yourself you may not realise how gentle you can be on yourself in such situations. On the way up Mt Crawford, the first significant climb of the ride I saw my heart rate shoot for the sky.

I was pleased to have a chance to catch my breath at the top of Mt Crawford while the whole bunch completed the climb. One down, two ~150m climbs to come. A steep descent into Worser Bay, around to Seatoun and through the Pass of Branda. As we went through Branda we were greeting by a wall of wind from the southerly directly off Cook Strait. But, it was a marvelous view down to the snow capped mountains of the Kaikoura Ranges in the South Island. Tempting to get my tramping boots and head for the hills!

On our way toward to Lyall Bay we lost two members of our bunch, seeking repairs to one bike after its front wheel briefly jammed in a drain gate. This resulted in a broken spoke and thankfully no crashes. Only a bruised wallets, not bodies.

In the camaraderie of riding in a bunch, rather than solo it seemed to take no time to get around to Owhiro Bay and the steady climb up to Brooklyn, a quick descent down Owhiro Road before the slightly more demanding climb up Raroa Road. Pretty soon we found our way to the Monteith's Pub in Khandallah for coffee. Well, not all of us. I resisted my coffee addiction and with a hot chocolate. 9 days since coffee and counting!

Had a great time riding in the group. See you all again soon :).