Into the wind.... by the rules.

Since 'real' TT helmets are banned for use on open roads, the next best AS/NZS 2063 approved thing are skate helmets. Yep, Andy White wasn't just being hardcore in his skate lid, he has been onto a good thing for a long time! I thought that a distributer would have sorted out standards approval for a tear-drop helmet by now.. but noooooo.

For $39 I now have the best fitting helmet I've owned. I've stuck some neato Specialized stickers to throw off anyone wondering why I'd be wearing a skate lid. "Oh Specialized make those!? Cool"... well no they don't... If they did you betchya the price would be three times as much. I've modified the 'SixSixOne' logo on the side to read "SixSixSix". Because I'm evil, and Satan reads my blog.

So to balance up the world economy with the helmet purchased locally, I stuck in an order to ProBikeKit this week. Tyres, chains, bar tape, tubes, standard stuff that is cheaper to import. I've also kept up my DuraAce fetish and ordered some DA brake calipers. I've banged on about LBS Shimano prices before.. and I'll do it again. $187 for the brakes from PBK. $369 locally. Is Shimano Australia shafting local retailers with high wholesale prices? If this was the case I wonder if LBS' are putting the pressure back on to Shimano because they are losing sales to PBK and the like? However... bikes ain't my industry, I'm only a consumer.

Lots of racing coming up. Northern Combine TT, ATTA TTs, a NC handicap race, then a scratch race at Gisborne South where JayWoo and I should be getting sharp leading up Mt William in early November. I'll use that as a form tester to see if I enter the Doherty Tour the following weekend and the Tour of Bright after that. Fingers crossed I'll get to do them all. I'm still shaking a flu at the moment.. argh!

Coburg CC 'Open' Champs 22-09-2007

Coburg and Hawthorn both held their road champs at Lancefield on Saturday. As I was volunteering for the HCC road champs, I asked, and was given the nod by Coburg to join in their "open" race starting at 10am. JayWoo and I rocked up with the same bikes and in our "Team" kit, which was spotted by Tom McDonough who quickly warned me there was to be no collusion between me and JayWoo. Fair enough.. This was my first road race back after a my winter break (break being the collar bone, and the holiday) so I wasn't too stressed about the outcome, just as long as I had a good hit out.

Not much of a showing from Coburg six riders all up. JayWoo, Adrian Hansen (a top trackie who's been in Belgium racing), Tom McDonough, Luke McDonough, another vet C grader, and me. We rolled off the start and held a very sedate pace for the first few kms riding two abreast. JayWoo and I ended up on the front so I slipped behind his wheel so we at least looked like it was a race! JayWoo turned up the pace and we started rolling turns. Race on. From the get go it was obvious that Tom, Luke, and the Vet guy were not interested in being in the wind - at all. It was left to JayWoo, Hansen, and myself to roll turns. After a few kms I decided that when I was on the front, the rest of the field were simply getting a free ride in their own champs... so I made my way to the back and sat on. JayWoo and Hansen rolling turns and Tom in 3rd wheel always leaving the gap for them to fall back into 2nd wheel.

Left turn towards Newham the road angles up. Hansen was on the front, me on the back. I swing wide on the corner and accelerate onto Hansen's wheel to make sure he didn't get away. Luke McDonough was popped off the back not to be seen again. Riding into a head wind I was back rolling turns with the other two. Almost time for the hills! Over the first hill I waited for the attack at the crest. Nobody went. Up the next hill I sat on the front and tapped out a nice tempo at the start and kept on the gas. About 300m before the top I was maxing out, so I guessed everyone else was hurting too. I rotated to the back and attacked up the inside. I thought there was a chance I'd be let lose as I was HCC. Nup. Hansen was on my wheel, JayWoo was there too... and now we're hitting 70km/h on the downhill. I monster along the flat with the help of a side wind, flicking the left elbow for someone to pop past. Wosh, Hansen shoots onto the front with JayWoo in tow. I turn to see Tom dangling off the back and the Vet C racer long gone. Hansen and JayWoo keep the power on. At this point I've got the pack down to exactly who I thought would be fighting out the top 3. Perfect! I make sure Tom is far enough away before I get on the front and add any further assistance.

We roll turns for the next 10kms, cranking out some nice speed. Not at any stage of the race did I even look sideways at JayWoo to discuss tactics. We both new Hansen would have us in the sprint, so it would be a battle of the climbers for second! :) 15-20kms into our tea party of three, Tom rolls up next to us. WTF?! He's yelling/spitting something to me about "their" race and that I'm not to play any part in the last 5kms! I have a good laugh and ask if he got a tow back to us from the follow car. "NO" was the answer. Hansen turns around with a smile, "Yeeeah sure you didnt Tommy!". We all have a laugh at him and he calms down. I told them from Newham onwards I'd sit on the back (10kms to go) and it was all their race. Tom asks me to go back to the follow car and ask them if they'd sorted out the finish line. I drop back and have a chat to the driver.

*insert discussion about the finish etc...* then...
Me: "By the way, did you pull Tom back into the race?".
Driver: "What did he tell you?".
Me: "Yeah, he said he got a lift back on.".
Driver: "Heh, yeah, he got a little help".
Me: "fair enough.. *chuckle*" :)

I sprint back onto them and get a lift home on fourth wheel. The pace was off until we hit the bottom of the last rise. JayWoo attacks from the front. Hansen 2nd wheel, Tom holding on for his life. I sat around 5m behind watching proceedings. JayWoo was hitting this one hard and I was expecting Tom to pop. (I'd bet $20 Tom would have then asked me to tow him back up to them if that did happen!). It didn't. The three crested and I was still watching from 4th wheel. 70Km/h downhill JayWoo gives it another spurt from the front. He and Hansen open a gap on Tom by a few lengths for a few 100m, but it didn't last.

1km to go and Tom attacks up the inside. We all jump his wheel and are happy to see him finally on the front for once! Tom fades a little and drops to third wheel, waving me away to stay out of the sprint. I'm still hanging 5m back and playing no part. Hansen winds up in 53/12 and JayWoo is on him. ooooo!! Will 'Woo pull a rabbit out of the hat?!? Tom launches from 3rd wheel about 200m to go. Hansen responds and takes the win from Tom. JayWoo 3rd with soggy legs after all his work on the front and two attacks in the last 5kms.

I roll up next to Tom and make sure he isn't still out to kill me. "Tom, 2nd!, can't get any better than that when we're racing Hansen!". He's stoked that he'd out sprinted JayWoo, all is well. Hansen introduces himself to me as we're cooling down and we have a chin wag. I was stoked that a rider of his calibre acknowledged me/my riding.

I had a great day racing. I was happy to be strong enough on the bike at this point in my training to play a major role in the race (even though it was neutralised by the follow car!) :evil laugh:

A reminder...

To replace your cables often... even if they feel good. Here is my rear derailleur cable which was planning to convert my roadie to a single speed when I least expected it!

Brake cables are next as they are a little crustified and are not as smooth as I'd like them when I'm cm's away from other wheels at high speeds.

Aplogies to Jaywoo.... next time I'll post this reminder a few weeks before you snap cables out on the road! :)

Lama Pie*

How good is pastry... !? Best ever! This is tonight's artful creation. Not much to report. Another week of training and getting things sorted before heading back to work on Oct 1st. Dot points again (I'm in a hurry!).

- Back to work in two weeks. I'm looking forward to it!

- The Puma factory outlet and DFO are best visited during the week. I've got some nice new clothes! Mostly in retro-brown.

- The PowerTap is HERE! I've been using it for a week and its everything I expected. I've had two main hit-outs on it and the data gathered is far beyond what I've been pulling out of the Polar for the last few years. The Polar has its place, but as a wise coach once said in regard to the PT "it has no peer". I'm still yet to do some formal testing to get my 'numbers'.. but I did manage to push out an average of 361 watts up the 1:20 today... not bad considering the wind/Giant bike/ and my current form. I've got lots of room to improve over the next few months, so I can't wait to see how far I can push those numbers.

- The Car Show segment is up on YouTube. Dodgy quality, but you'll get the idea. Someone posted about it on the aus.bicycle forum... its amazing how many bike-hugger-car-haters piped up and had a shot at the show, the host, and anything else. "Bike hippies" I'll call them. They'll spend more time telling the world about how they are happier, healthier, and less of a burden on the health system than car drivers than they will actually riding bikes. Each to their own I guess, but I can't stand being grouped into the 'elitist cyclist' mob when I love driving my car (fast), and I was bumped up the waiting queue at Epworth when I was in more pain than others when I arrived with a broken collar bone caused by.. cycling! 30kms a week commuting on a Huffy wont save the world people! :)

- I have a love of fine tools and well engineered equipment. My Dura-Ace crankset falls into this category. Tool of the week goes to my 15mm PowerBuilt Reversable 2-way gear spanner! The Kitten showed me the way to spanner goodness (Repco Auto place had em, Bunnings didn't!)

- I'm posting less and less on forums these days. There is just too many brain cycles required to keep up and fight on. I'll flick through the topics, read anything interesting, and triple-think adding my 2c. I was originally typing responses then just hitting cancel, now I've progressed to not bothering. The whole Whirlpool situation is interesting. I'm very interested to see how it pans out for them.

- A classic song. Heard in the car, I had to crank it! How hot is that B52's chick?! (just don't wiki her age and current pics!)

*Pie does not include llama, it did have sheep though.. which could pass as a llama without a long neck.

More sunny days, more sunny k's

Return leg to Harrietville after riding both sides of Tawonga Gap. I hear I was on the Car Show today. Anyone cap it?

King Lake Thursday

The 50km/h tail wind home from Whittlesea was nice!