A.R.S.E.

So for those wanting to play at home.. live timing from the Dirty Weekend will be here:
http://eventstrategies.racetecresults.c ... 90&RId=172

Looks like V and I are the only ones in the Mixed Duo 24Hr ... Helloooo podium!

Nice bit of Strava art.
https://www.strava.com/activities/970076678

Good use of pausing to draw the straight lines at the front.

I had a bit of a hit out last night after work. I've been feeling pretty motivated recently and just riding better in general, so i thought i should test myself out on Norton Summit. This would also serve to give me some data from my power meter to look over.. because science.

I think i started off a bit relaxed and never really got that time back. 2nd best time up Norton Summit. So i came away happy, and yet disappointed. Maybe trying to beat a PB the day after a CX race wasn't the best idea

But I got data! so i can use that for next time.

https://www.strava.com/activities/976421899

CLP wrote:I had a bit of a hit out last night after work. I've been feeling pretty motivated recently and just riding better in general, so i thought i should test myself out on Norton Summit. This would also serve to give me some data from my power meter to look over.. because science.

I think i started off a bit relaxed and never really got that time back. 2nd best time up Norton Summit. So i came away happy, and yet disappointed. Maybe trying to beat a PB the day after a CX race wasn't the best idea

But I got data! so i can use that for next time.

https://www.strava.com/activities/976421899

I did a comparo of both our fastest times up Norton yesterday. Pretty interesting.

https://www.strava.com/segments/1013950 ... c0NTA2OTQ=

You got me in the last 400m

Woot! pretty stoked by my ride after work tonight. One target that I've had, probably since i started cycling with any real passion, was to do a sub 10 minute ride up Waterfall Gully Road. It's a pretty unassuming climb (3.7km at an average of 3% gradient) but one that had escaped me. I'd come within seconds on a couple of occasions recently, so I knew I could get there. Despite some fairly heavy feeling legs I managed to get under the 10 minute barrier by 11 seconds.

https://www.strava.com/activities/979456174

norbs wrote:
I did a comparo of both our fastest times up Norton yesterday. Pretty interesting.

https://www.strava.com/segments/1013950 ... c0NTA2OTQ=

You got me in the last 400m

just the way it ought to be
Looking at that comparison, I could probably do with moderating my effort a little early on to save myself for the latter sections. losing a 10+ second advantage, then a 5 second advantage seems to suggest i'm going way too hard, then needing to recover. Rinse and repeat.

Just had a bit of a spin on the trainer. First Zwift ride in aaaages. They've done a bunch of work on the interface which is really neat.

Anyway.. a big part of this ride, apart from rolling the legs over was to get a bit of power comparison data. Mainly a comparison of Vectors and the Kickr Snap, but i also threw in my PowerCal as well Heartrate is plotted from the two data sources to semi-validate that I had the timing aligned.

As expected, PowerCal didn't do fabulously, though possibly better than i thought.
Generally the Kickr Snap reported slightly higher power on the flat/easy sections than the Vectors, but came no where near the peak power reported by the vectors.
I possibly could have tried a mid-ride re-calibration, but i figured this was more about testing these things in the manner that i tend to ride on the trainer.

here's a few plots to look over from late in the ride; 1 lap around the volcano.

Did you do the spin down using an IOS device?

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norbs wrote:Did you do the spin down using an IOS device?

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my only IOS device is an old iPod, and I'm not entirely sure where that is .. so no :P

CLP wrote:

norbs wrote:Did you do the spin down using an IOS device?

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my only IOS device is an old iPod, and I'm not entirely sure where that is .. so no :P

There is you issue. Android Wahoo app is stuffed. It is one of the reasons I got the Neo. No calibrating needed.

norbs wrote:

CLP wrote:

norbs wrote:Did you do the spin down using an IOS device?

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my only IOS device is an old iPod, and I'm not entirely sure where that is .. so no :P

There is you issue. Android Wahoo app is stuffed. It is one of the reasons I got the Neo. No calibrating needed.

For the amount i use it, I can't see getting a Neo (or an iOS device!) is worth it.. Would be interesting to see how my Tacx Bushido goes, and whether it has the same issues..

CLP wrote: For the amount i use it, I can't see getting a Neo (or an iOS device!) is worth it.. Would be interesting to see how my Tacx Bushido goes, and whether it has the same issues..

Fair enough too. Now that you have a power meter, it doesnt matter that much. As long as you can calibrate that before a Zwift session.

With some rain on it way this week I thought I should get a solid loop done at Cobblers last night. I hadn't done a solid loop there since the GESA race back in March which is odd for me but with Ansteys hill now open and a good mate getting up to speed on the MTB I have been changing up my riding habits a bit.

Legs felt a bit tired from the run I did at lunch but dam it felt good to get a good single track loop down.
https://www.strava.com/activities/987338698

Backed up last night ride with my first ever 3k lunch run today, usually I only do 2k's running at lunch. Getting a little easier to do a few kms without wheels but fuck me its hard yakka compared to riding.

KNAPPO wrote: Backed up last night ride with my first ever 3k lunch run today, usually I only do 2k's running at lunch. Getting a little easier to do a few kms without wheels but fuck me its hard yakka compared to riding.

with all this combining running and cycling, you'll be set for cyclocross FYI: Next one is 28th May ..

V and I got out on the weekend to Fox Creek to show some friends around. We basically did a casual loop around the Dirty Weekend Course stopping regularly to point out obstacles or give advice.. Seemed funny to me that I was the one giving out advice on mountain biking Suspect that we might end up teaming with them next year

day on the trails ended with Pizza and beer .. of course

somehow I still managed to grab a PR.. though I'm not really sure how given the general pace of the day. Surprise PR! I seem to be doing that a lot lately, especially commuting. Some of these PRs might be down to taking less travelled routes to and from work, but I suspect (hope?) that some of it might be due to some recent weight loss yay me ..

https://www.strava.com/activities/985264741

Rode my hardtail for the first time in almost a year last night, im servicing the wheel bearings on the big bike as they were massively neglected to the point that the fronts are cactus.

Fuck me I forgot how well a rigid arse end pedals! I must ride that bike more often this winter, its a blast and just cruises along. My mate on the full squishy was struggling to keep up even with a wheel size advantage.

Its not a ride but im pretty pleased at this effort!
www.strava.com/activities/1024666759

I guess all the hard work is starting to pay off.
PR for my quickest 400m, 1/2 mile, 1k, 1 mile, 2 miles and 2nd quickest segment time around the wetlands.

www.relive.cc/view/1024666759

Love this place.

Been riding the ol beast fully locked out, makes climbing and cruising along easier but when you forget to unlock the fork going down a rocky as fuck downhill it makes you really pay attention to line choices!!!

Couple of pretty cool rides. Nothing out of the ordinary or anything as far as location or performance, but just time where you're rolling along thinking "this is awesome"

After the previous weekend of TTs and MTB racing, I had spent most of the week on my single speed for my commutes taking it pretty easy. Come friday I figured i'll ride the roadie for a end of week roll up a hill. Cruising up Norton summit, pretty much dead quiet, city lights in the distance. Very Awesome. Probably ought to do this more often. A little surprisingly, I managed a half reasonable time up there, despite not really planning for any attacks on my PB. I'm hopefully planning a crack at a time again in the near future. I think i'm due

https://www.strava.com/activities/1027944967

Saturday morning was a planned ride with Miss V up Gorge Road. Maybe a little clichéd, but we were doing a road ride to a cafe for coffee and cake Perfect weather, cruisy pace.. pretty awesome.
The ride had some serious parts to it though. Firstly, after V's shoulder injury we wanted to test where she was fitness-wise leading up to the Gran Fondo. Seems like things are looking pretty good Secondly, I needed to test my ability to install the Vector pedals etc on the Pinarello the night before a ride. Thankfully no dramas getting them installed and setup prior to the ride. Seems everything is looking okay for our preparation

https://www.strava.com/activities/1028994355

So following on from one of the best rides, I had one of the worst commutes this morning.

After few months of putting up with a repaired/patched rear tyre (giving a distinct thud on every revolution) I realised that I have a near new tyre laying about. Sweet! Swapped that over last night.

So I was rolling into work this morning marvelling at the smooth and silky ride. Beautiful. Rode through a road works section that I go through nearly every morning (Hackney Rd for the Adelaide people) and suddenly I have no air in my front tyre. Annoying. Shit happens though. I roll off the road, find the hole in the tube, apply a patch. Easy Peasy, time to go.

I start rolling away when I notice something is just not right. Tube is poking out the side of my tyre. FFS. yet another tyre sliced. I limp away in the general direction of a bike store in the hope of getting a replacement only to realise that the shop I was heading towards was close for holidays this week! Argh!

Hopefully my planned ride up Norton Summit tonight goes a bit better.

I feel ya pain Carl.....I have had the worst year ever for tyres and tubes!

How bad is the gash, is it something a chip packet patch or $5 note can solve to keep you rolling?

I think it goes from the base of the tread to the rim.

Miss V saved the day. She had a late start this morning, so dropped into 99bikes and picked up a fresh GP4000s II for me. Expensive commute.

Thats a pretty good gash...

I think I made amends for my shitty start to the day

After installing a new tyre and tube I went on my planned ride up Norton Summit after work. News to report from the ride is that after 4 1/2 years i finally beat my Norton Summit PR! Fuck yeah!

https://www.strava.com/activities/1035949963

Fucking booooooooo.


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norbs wrote:Fucking booooooooo.


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I knew you'd appreciate the news
On the upside, had the power meter installed on the bike for this run