Penultimate week to Tour
Its really been about organising the final few things this week. Bike has had its final tune and clean, tyres are buffed in from around 120kms to take the shine off, Brake pads scuffed to take the shine off and the ‘comfy’ saddle from my MTB fitted 🙂 (now more like Huon Pine than Mahogany)
Spent alot of time running around with the kids as I wont be with them for almost 2 weeks. They have done their swimming training soccer and even the final round of the Samford Summer series Triathlon. The boys need some training time in the run and the swim, but surprisingly (not?) both smashed the bike leg!
Still waiting my foul weather gear to arrive that I ordered (yes left it too late) hoping it arrives before I leave otherwise my wife will (hopefully) be Express posting it to the next town hotel we hit after it arrives. Pity because the weather does NOT look great for the first few days – From Sydney to Canberra the outlook is showers which, while disappointing is part of what needs to be endured and part of Tour life. Now to decide whether I really should be changing wheels on the bike though, back to an all aluminium wheel to better withstand wet weather
We had a great precursor dinner for riders, support and family at Jodi Harris’ family home Saturday night, compared preparation stories, expectations and a general chinwag and great dinner cooked by Warren. A fabulous TdC cheesecake was supplied by Kathryn ( Paul’s lovely wife) complete with TdC logo which was subsequently (and satisfyingly) demolished by all!
My riding had backed off completely this week, a little more than intended, as time is so hard to come by to get on the bike. I did 4 rides and whilst short in duration I made up for it in intensity and achieved those goals I referenced in the previous blog post. Performance still seems on track, but one can only really decide if they have prepared correctly once a few days into the Tour and see how they are feeling on the bike.
Now just looking forward to rolling those first few kms on Friday and letting it all sink in about the reasons and goals we have laid out before us on Tour, catchup in person with the people we have all been socialising with over email, FB and phone convo’s.
I fly out Wed afternoon and have been lucky enough to have Kevin Russell offer up a place to lay my hat for a couple of nights – such is the TdC spirit, there are many billeted out to comrades whom reside in Sydney. If the weather holds out a short spin up the Northern beaches after the bike is assembled would be great. Dinner Thursday night and orientation to what lies ahead all to come……..
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