01
Apr
2014

Day 5 – Tour de Cure Corryong – Wangaratta

Good evening as I write this from my hotel room feeling very sore and sorry! 🙂

Some cracks are appearing in some of the riders wellbeing, we have a couple with a gastro bug, one with saddle sores and multiple muscle and ligament issues being managed by the masseuse.  Lots of knee issues – lots of taped up legs………This is one tough event!

My saddle and I are no longer on speaking terms, in fact I was not convinced I had a saddle on the bike today – more like a sharp stick

 

Todays hop was a 185km and 2200m ascent ride, no sooooo bad until you factor a rising time of 4:30am coupled with a bed time of 11:30pm after a late dinner last night and blogs and preparation were completed.

The morning began with a dark roll to the local school under bike lights where we met the Sunrise crew and some locals to mingle with.  The kids received a short presentation and we had a breaky spread which was epic as usual.  This morning I went carbs instead of protein as I’m feeling a bit flat and protein is really not a good fuel.  Bircham muesli and toast with honey straight off the comb again.

A late getaway at 6:50am saw the start of the first segment of the ride – it was around 8degs C and agentle slope for the first 30kms or so which was great to just spin the legs easy for a while first thing in the morning to warm up.  Then came the big climb of the day – a 6km at 4-5%, which normally is no big deal, but with 4 days straight and finishing yesterday’s ride at over 3000m vert was no small feat.  As usual there was a group of us all climbing together and having a bit of a dice back and forth, with a nice little sprint finish.

Roll-on the descents and we ended up in Tallangatta and presented the Be Fit Be Healthy and Be Happy story to two schools. Next up was an undulating ride to Yackindandah where we again spoke to the children at that school.  I had a great little conversation with a 6yr old girl who had just learned to knit.  She is going to knit me a jumper and send it to me…….but I wont hold my breath.  The conversations are always engaging with kids, she began by stating that she has an outside laundry at home, because that’s what they did in the olden days and they had an olden day house.  Even the paint is scratching off – such are the thoughts in their minds.

A late roll out of Yackindandah due to the second peleton leap-frogging ours and leaving before us which pushed back our departure time further.  The last hop was 60kms approx. and for some reason I really suffered, more than usual on a ride this long.  Mr heart rate really struggled to top 120BPM even on the climbs which had me quite concerned.  I also began to have a few dizzy spells on the climbs.  A short stop in the next town, I topped up with a Coke and this helped quite a bit with the light headedness, but there was no way my heart wanted to beat fast enough for me to sustain any real power.  I had a chat with the two medics and they agreed with my assessment I am simply fatigued with too little sleep and there is not much that can be done but rest as best as possible.  (no EPO allowed apparently)

I sat on the back of the peleton for the remainder of the ride – which is probably not the best place as you have to meet the surge demands of the yo-yo effect of a group speeding up and slowing down.  Cory Morris was a real support for me on the way back and we spoke shit for the most part (found out he has an inner bogan)

We still had a Corporate visit to perform in Wangaratta and I wanted to make good on my commitment to meet the Optus Franchisee instead of heading straight to the accommodation.  I did this and was greeted by wally and his staff with open arms which was great – should have some pics to come.

I also had the task of co-hosting tonights dinner and presenting the Cancer council with a $5000 cheque, so there was no time, for recovery massage of pool time, quick shower and down to the hotel and presented as best as I could wing it.  I would have liked to have done much better than I did.

 

So tomorrow is one of Tour de Cure’s most epic days – 202km and a massive 3000m climbing !!!

 

Time for bed!

 

NOW!

 

Daily stats – 185km, 2150m ascent, TSS 256

 

135295_10152711232673976_1210331923_o 1654951_10152711233598976_1219444064_o 10014916_10152711233948976_153140394_o



Leave a message for me:

If you want you can even spread the word and post it on facebook.