Just food for thought.
Since we Nzers have pretty well proven ourselves in the area of developing ingenious inventions, why is it that so little is being done to discover methods for using the coal we are sending overseas at a high rate of knots!?
What about cars running on clean coal? Better than sacrificing pastureland for vegetable fuel.
Today was a mixed bag. I biked 120km, made up of a 60 km bit (including 680m climb) and two flat 30km bits. The first 30km begining 10min after finishing an abreviated tues morning road ride (60km), whilst heading to work and the second 30km after dark (after work). Work was out in West Melton on the flat. Shattered on the way home, I stopped to get food at a dairy - pepsi "MAX" and picnic bar went down to the pit of my stomach very quickly. Also picked up some crappy cheese slices for tomorrows sadwitches.
Blood from the tip of my nose was chipped off outside the dairy - or so i thought - a bloke shopping in there gave me a second stare, which could have been due to the dazzle of my flashing helmet mounted lights (still on) or the extra blood crust I quickly rid myself of as i skulked about at the back end of the dairy mulling over what essential goods would please a stomach in search of substance.
I'd got a bit run down it would seem. Blood noses seem to be a measure of this. The torrent of blood spontaneously started flowing from where I was perched - the top of the roof (6m up) I'd been Z-nailing down at about sunset. Making up for lost work hours from the morning ride.
Biking to work was at least so much more satisfying than getting in the car and wasting my legs away. (this being an attempt to maintain some fitness since doing no riding since early feb - Coast 2 Coast race).
Beter hit the sack, as I don't intend to drive tomorrow either. 60km minimum.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Lazy Sunday
Well, after driving up to Hanmer on friday night it was finally chill- out time for the weekend.
I had been trying my best not to let the dreaded shut-eye get the better of me on the drive up. Thank goodness the distance of the drive was not too bad and I actually found some dancing style music on the radio to keep the blood ticking over at a quicker than REM sleep rate. Strangly with hard rock music, the constant thrashing just seems about as useful as a lullabye on "Easy listening light FM".
The morning broke sometime after my alarm had met my fist.
Having a go at the annual Mt Isobel Challenge (an event I'd noticed existed since late last decade but never actually entered - too slack) was the order of the day and so some swift toast (10-12 pieces) was gobbled and a smart visit to the registration gave me a look in on how big the field was going to be and how drissly and cold the day was. So on with the Budgie smuggling man contradicting lycra tights and the cycle top. The light fleece meant to keep me warm till start gun, stayed on till after the 1000m climb and 300m descent when I got on the Mtb - Jacks Pass. Bad move taking that off. I was coming 4th overall. Really enjoyed the snow layer at the top of the mountain. Standing glissades in your running shoes rule. Bolting down the slope in a state of controllable uncontrolled motion.
After a few km of near zero degree windchill on a fatless guts, through a wet skin clinging cycle top, I was not feeling 100% strong. One muesli bar had been consumed - luckily..on the run descent - and that would be it for a 2:16 duration going pretty hard. Either an extra layer (merino skin) or a drink bladder on the back with sugars and electrolights would have assisted my energy levels; both would have been ideal. So Groan Hill was great fun. Thankfully my bike is not heavy (hardtails are all good) and I was able to keep distance on more determined riders by running with my bike. The Mud was chronic...but hey we all had to deal with it. At least there were only three tracks on the rd ahead of me. Upon reaching Jollies Pass I mentioned to a speedily climbing racer
"have you got any spare eyeballs? This is going to be fun."
He said:
"Yeah its horrible" (I later saw him at the finish with the dirt on his face focussed around his eye sockets...his setup must be a mare in the wet.)
I promptly dropped him on the descent of about 600m and since there was plenty of hill to come he caught me later whilst I was having issues with my front D not dropping to granny. Chain suck was a blight on my drivetrain too. Need to clean and lube chain. Two other lads caught and passed me (had been 3rd individual... two of these three, were individuals too). So in the end 5th was an alright result and gave me something to learn from for next time as well as a new set of gaitors for mountaineering.
Lazed about with friends till I had to depart for a dinner in town at a Greek resturant. Again, the sleepmonters were out to take me down, so I stopped in Culverden to throw a caffeine (cup of coffee equivalent) shot of V down me - Orrible shite. Those energy drinks are for emergencies only! I followed it up with a berry icecream for good measure. Oh yeah, and why bother with the V that is sugar free? So you can feel good about buying an icecream?
The party and food began and so did the shenanegans. Dancing and dressing up alike. I managed to bust out a pretty good limbo performance and won a shot of ouzo..delicious greek spirit.
Now its sunday and I'm yet to do a single thing (other than eat of course). 2pm. Discusting.
I had been trying my best not to let the dreaded shut-eye get the better of me on the drive up. Thank goodness the distance of the drive was not too bad and I actually found some dancing style music on the radio to keep the blood ticking over at a quicker than REM sleep rate. Strangly with hard rock music, the constant thrashing just seems about as useful as a lullabye on "Easy listening light FM".
The morning broke sometime after my alarm had met my fist.
Having a go at the annual Mt Isobel Challenge (an event I'd noticed existed since late last decade but never actually entered - too slack) was the order of the day and so some swift toast (10-12 pieces) was gobbled and a smart visit to the registration gave me a look in on how big the field was going to be and how drissly and cold the day was. So on with the Budgie smuggling man contradicting lycra tights and the cycle top. The light fleece meant to keep me warm till start gun, stayed on till after the 1000m climb and 300m descent when I got on the Mtb - Jacks Pass. Bad move taking that off. I was coming 4th overall. Really enjoyed the snow layer at the top of the mountain. Standing glissades in your running shoes rule. Bolting down the slope in a state of controllable uncontrolled motion.
After a few km of near zero degree windchill on a fatless guts, through a wet skin clinging cycle top, I was not feeling 100% strong. One muesli bar had been consumed - luckily..on the run descent - and that would be it for a 2:16 duration going pretty hard. Either an extra layer (merino skin) or a drink bladder on the back with sugars and electrolights would have assisted my energy levels; both would have been ideal. So Groan Hill was great fun. Thankfully my bike is not heavy (hardtails are all good) and I was able to keep distance on more determined riders by running with my bike. The Mud was chronic...but hey we all had to deal with it. At least there were only three tracks on the rd ahead of me. Upon reaching Jollies Pass I mentioned to a speedily climbing racer
"have you got any spare eyeballs? This is going to be fun."
He said:
"Yeah its horrible" (I later saw him at the finish with the dirt on his face focussed around his eye sockets...his setup must be a mare in the wet.)
I promptly dropped him on the descent of about 600m and since there was plenty of hill to come he caught me later whilst I was having issues with my front D not dropping to granny. Chain suck was a blight on my drivetrain too. Need to clean and lube chain. Two other lads caught and passed me (had been 3rd individual... two of these three, were individuals too). So in the end 5th was an alright result and gave me something to learn from for next time as well as a new set of gaitors for mountaineering.
Lazed about with friends till I had to depart for a dinner in town at a Greek resturant. Again, the sleepmonters were out to take me down, so I stopped in Culverden to throw a caffeine (cup of coffee equivalent) shot of V down me - Orrible shite. Those energy drinks are for emergencies only! I followed it up with a berry icecream for good measure. Oh yeah, and why bother with the V that is sugar free? So you can feel good about buying an icecream?
The party and food began and so did the shenanegans. Dancing and dressing up alike. I managed to bust out a pretty good limbo performance and won a shot of ouzo..delicious greek spirit.
Now its sunday and I'm yet to do a single thing (other than eat of course). 2pm. Discusting.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
