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Update: April 8 2010. Well, that’s a relief. My shocking performance (so says the GP and endocrinologist) can be attributed to a case of hyperthyroidism. This was caused by excess iodine, from normal Bonsoy consumption. Thanks for that Bonsoy. Read more about follow up on that particular chestnut here.
Diagnosed mid December 2009, straight in for a thyroid scan, NO racing ALL summer, and come April, I am still about 30% from my peak fitness. Pov.
Intro
Well, I am sad that is over (no, really I am).
I started racing about 6 months ago, and have been going ok in my local club combine events; a few wins here and there, a couple of seconds (I’ve never even won an individual trophy before so I was happy to snaffle a couple), and have snatched a close win in C grade. Perhaps that gave me some false confidence.
This year I decided to do the Tour of Bright – a 2-day, 3-stage race in the Victorian Alps, comprising a 110km stage with a couple of climbs, a 15km individual time trial (YUK) and a 60km ascent up Mt Hotham, one of my favourite climbs.
I’d been riding and feeling really good up until 8 weeks ago, when I got a virus and lost about 5kg from my 65kg frame in 4 days. Ouch.
About 2 weeks ago I did an elite training camp with my local cycling club – 3 days of around 300km climbing in the mountains. I really noticed the weight loss, with a huge decrease in endurance and power in the hills.
I usually can stick with decent riders in the hills, but this weekend saw me smashed apart. Very disappointing, but inspiring to do better!
I tripped back up to Bright a fortnight ago, and did Bright to Mt Beauty and back in pouring rain, then Mt Hotham in torrential rain as further preparation, but I clearly did not take this seriously enough – not even a season of racing, a 3 week hill smashfest in France, training camp and endless commuting kilometers helped.
This all led me to have very low expectations for the Tour of Bright. I guess I thought I might be able to knock out a top 10, not realising that the level of riding steps up about 2 notches from club level. My results did not disappoint – read on for the wrap up – written from a battler’s perspective! 
Stage 1
Stage 1 didn’t look too bad to me to be honest. A nice warm up to Rosewhite, where we then faced a 4km ascent of a not-too-steep Rosewhite gap.
Wes and I had rolled around town for a warm-up and only just got to the start with about 15 seconds to spare.
Things were easy-as as we rolled out of town – a little bit surge-y in places, but all good.
Reflecting back on this I didn’t have enough water, but had enough fruitcake.
We turned at Ovens and headed up to Rosewhite. A breakaway had formed and stayed away for about 20km but we caught them through the rolling approach to the climb proper.
A guy went off the front to bridge which was foolish in my opinion; he ought to have waited till we caught the escapees.
Anyway, we set what I thought was a solid pace up Rosewhite. I felt pretty weak a few times and really wanted to drop back, but my friend Mark was sitting behind me and said I looked rock solid so at least I can hide it well!
About 1km from the top I moved to the outside, and felt really good. I was considering bolting away to try for KOM points but disaster struck as there was a sudden increase in pace at the front.
I had an onset of asthma and all of a sudden was going backwards fast. I wheezed my way to the top and smashed it down as my heart settled as the Ventolin kicked in.
Unfortunately I deleted the data from my heart rate monitor (HRM) so can’t check out what I went to, but it was pretty uncomfortable.
I stopped for a “natural break” with 4 others, as I am yet to develop the deft touch that allows one to relieve onself as one continues to roll along.
The pack didn’t look like it was moving quickly, but we struggled to get back on for about 5km, after the turn off toward Mt Beauty.
I’d lowered my seat by about an inch in the last 3 weeks, and it’s really exposed my hamstrings as being weak (compared to quads and calves) – I started to feel it when we smashed up a small rise and asthma set in again.
It was here I knew I was going to get wrecked on Tawonga.
We got to the turn off and I knew deep down that I was stuffed. I rounded the turn and put the bike into a 34×27 right away just to spin up. The pack and many others just started flying away. I was a bit shattered but gritted my teeth for the next 25 odd kilometres.
I really struggle with climbs that have an initial steep pitch. I battle for a few km, and then find tempo and work into it. Heaps of guys were passing me at the start but the gaps lessened and started to decrease as I reeled a few in, then started passing masters and a couple of B graders.
I really wanted to hold on to the main bunch over the top because I can descend very well, but alas it was not to be.
I crested the top and flicked gears for the descent. I got down very quickly and passed half a dozen guys but the main field was long gone.
I just took it easy-ish into the finish as we had an ITT that afternoon which I knew would be horrible, especially in the wind.
I ended up 8 minutes back.
Mike and I rolled back in for a few hours of stretching, eating, stretching and eating. My post ride fix consisted of 600mL of chocolate milk, protein, chocolate, banana, Snakes and other stuff.
Good news was our buddy Pete – who I think just parties and rides and doesn’t take it seriously – knocked out a second in B grade. He did the tour on his 53×39 + 11-23 gearing. Nuts. Oh to be 19 years old, tall, lean and limitless heart rate.
Stage 2
Straight up, I hate time trials. I suck at them, especially in the wind.
This was amplified by being surrounded by guys with $10k TT bikes and crazy helmets. Hmmmm.
Anyway, I rolled up onto the platform, with timer etc – FUN!
My aim here was minimise the damage – which clearly I didn’t do, coming in at the tail end of the field. 92nd out of 104 is some sort of woeful. I got passed by about 3 guys on TT bikes and looking like they had practised for this. All of this reinforced how lazy and arrogant I’d been about this.
You can see my data below. I was pretty happy with the cadence across the ride, pretty even. My main aim here was to spin at 100RPM and keep my heart low. I think I got close, which shows how much more power and efficiency I need to develop.
Elevation versus cadence.
Speed versus elevation.
Elevation versus heart rate.
We had a massage booked for an hour each, but I flicked half of mine to CyclingTips.
We had fish and chips from Roc Salt. Seriously the best fish and chips I’ve had. Grilled Blue Eye, and hand cut chips with Wasabi mayo.
Podium Pete and I had a frothy at the Bright Brewery as we waited for his second place, then Mike and I had a second dinner of pasta at the Bright Pub (if you want seriously good Sri Lankan curry, try the Bright Brewery…off the charts).
Stage 3
Well, we woke in not too bad shape for two 30+ year olds. Bit of a stretch, Nutrigrain with chocolate milk, Magnesium tablets, protein powder, Glutamine etc etc and we were ready to roll.
As I mentioned before, I really like Hotham. I always seem to be able to knock consistent 90 minute ascents out (I need to get that to 80 minutes). So I was really looking forward to this stage, aiming for a top 30.
We rolled out of town and the pace was pretty quick.
The legs felt ok, even when we surged, and the only drama was a near off, when a surge down a hill culminated in sudden braking, requiring brake lockup to avoid a wheel clash with the guy in front. Some very shakey riding by some in the group.
The tempo picked up into Harrietville for the sprint, with our mate Clarky adding a second to his third from earlier. Unfortunately Clarky blew up at the base and turned around to Bright (bringing us some Cokes for later! Thanks Clarky, you’re a legend).
There’s a nasty little kicker right out of Harrietville and I’d worked into the front 20 feeling very good, but my legs starting beakering right away, meaning I had to back off. Which was cool, as there was a long, long way to the top.
I quickly settled down and started spinning and chewing guys up.
I spotted one of the B graders (Greg) from our club and lined him up – I wanted revenge as he’d beaten me up Mt Buller in the High Country Classic at the start of the year (I knocked out a 4th that day). As soon as I drew next to him, he said “Well, I can’t have that” then took off, but I chased him down pretty soon after.
I caught another guy and settled into a nice rythm which seemed to put him in trouble but he stuck on to my wheel, which was cool.
Reaching The Meg, a few guys I’d paced up dropped me off, and I was starting to struggle but I settled down again and surged up the road out of the saddle to catch on to a nice train of about 8 guys.
We caught my mate Mike B (racing in Masters 1/2/3 after an administrative balls up by CSV) just before the false flat, and as he had about 5 minutes on me in GC time so I was pretty happy as I knew I’d nullify that.
I had about 8 guys on my tail as I rolled through the false flat, with Mike and another C grader helping out, and a couple of kids gasping and holding on.
This proved to be my undoing at the entry gate, which precedes a nasty kick up, as they all dropped me. Thanks guys!
I battled up toward CRB hill then started pulling in more guys and then just tried to endure as much pain as I could to go as fast as I could.
I noticed Greg was chasing me down up the final ascent but there was only a kilometer left, which did not go fast enough.
I’ve done Hotham about half a dozen times and it’s never been this hard. Every muscle was crying for relief, but I just had to channel Jens Voigt and tell my body to shut up and harden up. The mind is indeed very tough.
I eventually got to the top, found Wes (who knocked out a very respectable top 30 overall), waited for Mike and Clarky, and then saddled up for a long ride home.
Elevation, Speed, the course.
Elevation, Heart Rate.
Elevation, Cadence.
Conclusion
My training for the 2010 ToB started with the 2009 ToB. I’ve already looked into someone to help me get stronger (hat-tip: James F), and I’m going to actually get serious about training.
Fun times though, and what life is all about. Doing stuff you’ve never done, and going deep into the Danger Zone, like Maverick. Then getting angry and getting better.
Update: April 8 2010. Well, that’s a relief. My shocking performance (so says the GP and endocrinologist) can be attributed to a case of hyperthyroidism. This was caused by excess iodine, from normal Bonsoy consumption. Thanks for that Bonsoy. Read more about follow up on that particular chestnut here.
Diagnosed mid December 2009, straight in for a thyroid scan, NO racing ALL summer, and come April, I am still about 30% from my peak fitness. Pov.
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