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Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Guest bloggers: Tour of the Bay success!

Congrats to Rochelle who successfully completed, loved and couldn't get enough of this year's Tour of the Bay.



The day of the 50km Tour of the Bay arrived too quickly. Feeling excited and more than a little nervous I ate my porridge, donned cycling gear and filled the water bottle with Powerade.

The Hastings Sports Park was packed with cars and cyclists and that’s when the heart really started racing. I walked my bike to the start line, hoping I’d done enough training to get up the hills. My family smiled and waved from the sideline as the countdown began and I did a wobbly smile back.

Then we were off! The group quickly spread out, with everyone giving each other plenty of room. I managed to get in behind a small bunch of cyclists on Omahu Road – Dad’s ‘slip steam’ training paying off.

The Ohiti Road hill loomed and I switched to my lowest gear and worked up it. It was an amazing feeling reaching the top and not having to get off my bike. \I knew then that I could finish the race. The remaining hills and straights passed by and I concentrated on keeping my speed up and eating the odd wine gum.

I finished the race in 2 hours 17 minutes. Apart from a slight mishap with a spoke breaking (I jammed it behind some others) all went well. No falling off, no passing out – I can actually do this!

Next year, I’m aiming for under 2 hours.

Sunday, October 9, 2011

Guest Bloggers: Tour of the Bay one week to go!

This week we caught up with Rochelle who did her last big training ride before the Tour of the Bay this weekend (ekkk). We're in love with her dog Emma too!



Right, so now I’m feeling I may be able to finish this bike ride and not collapse in a jellied heap half way. Week four I actually did go for the 45km bike ride I’d planned. I put on the worn-once-before padded cycling pants and my new cycling top, not minding that I was wearing the Lycra. I cycled it in 2 hours 23 mins; 37 mins faster than the first time! Highlight: 59.8 km/hr down Apley Road, lowlight: 2 seconds after reaching top speed when a magpie dive-bombed me. I must admit, I swore a bit as I tried to keep going straight.

Feeling quite good, I decided to drive around the course route that afternoon. I took my dog Emma to give her a walk in Pakowhai Park afterwards. It was at 60km on the car odometer I was working out my pulling-out email. By 75kms I was even more annoyed at the staff who measured the course. At 80kms it all happened at once – the realisation that I’d written down the 100km route, that I was almost out of petrol, and that Emma had just thrown up all over the back seat!

It was a tense remainder 20kms. I found a petrol station just in time, proceeded to Pakowhai Park, gave Emma some water and she perked up and went for a run, then spent the afternoon washing the muddy dog and the back seat of my car. I also checked the 50km cycle route to make sure the huge climbing hill on Ohiti Road was only in the 100km one. Nope, it was in the 50km one too.

I didn’t go for a bike ride on week 5. I told myself I was saving my energy for the event the following weekend, but really I’m a tad nervous.

Rochelle :)