Been a while between blog updates but we have been too busy training and competing and there are only so many hours in the day. Facebook has taken over some what from this blog and double posting the same information just uses up more time. Expect less frequent updates here. This update is a sort of catch all from the last update and what’s going on in the next few weeks.

Sharon and I both had successful rides in the 2015 Amy’s Gran Fondo ride from Lorne along the great ocean road and a loop back over the Otways back to Lorne again (previous post here). We even ran into Tassie girl Gorgie Baker and her team on the Great ocean road on Saturday after she won the crit and had a few photo’s with them.  I missed a UCI qualifying time by under 5 minutes but I was happy with my ride of 3:30 for the 110km. I had a pretty soft ride up the main Skenes Creek climb and lost a couple of minutes there, then I got stuck in a huge group of probably 150 riders I couldn’t get out of. I finished off the last 10KM with an all out effort as the group dwindled on the last climb though. I was not intending to go to the UCI road races so nothing lost.

Sharon had a very social day with the Crankers riding group though they were plagued by punctures for one of the riders slowing the group up but she felt much better after all the training she did this year and pulled up much better after. Her training lead up was interrupted by the cut hand, infected sinus and the flu but it all came together in the end. The 10KM descent after the finish line back into Lorne was just as exciting as Sharon said it was last year.

Sharon has decided to push the limits again this Sunday and do the Cycology 4 hour mountain bike event. Similar to the 6HR I did last year just a different venue (Trevallyn) and shorter time. I think there is going to be one tired girl come Sunday night but she is determined to finish it.

If that wasn’t enough we have entered as a mixed team in the following weekends Freycinet Challenge muti-sport event. We have entered the single day Sunday event with the aim to just finish and get a taste of the multi-sport event. Freycinet was not really on the radar but now I am paddling it just sort of fell around the right time even though my open water paddling is pretty crap having paddled in the ocean only 3 times so far. Going to be a challenge that leg if the conditions are anything but flat calm. I am spending as much time in the open water as I can before then.

Two weekends ago I did 2 paddling courses with Ben Maynard from Next Level Kayaking. One in the morning at Trevallyn Dam and my first ever open water paddle at Greens Beach in the afternoon. Plenty of swims but my confidence grew as the day went on. Ben gave me plenty of advice and a frank assessment of where I am at. I think I knew what he was going to say anyway. I’m up for the challenge but if conditions are beyond me I’ll probably skip that leg. I will start off with a 13km paddle followed by Sharon on the 35km road bike leg, then myself on the 20km mountain bike leg and to finish it off a nice 15km run for myself up to the top of the Wineglass Saddle and back to finish me off!

Sunday just gone we headed to Hawley and I paddled with a mate while Sharon went for a ride around the area exploring. Small place Tassie, it turns out that my mates wife played hockey with Sharon many moons ago and was a year above her in High School at Riverside. They had a long conversation about it all while Bill and I looked on in disbelief then hit the water for some open water practice. Great place to paddle Hawley and only a slightly longer drive from our place than Greens Beach is.

Plenty coming up with Cycology 4HR, Freycinet Challenge, Hellfire Cup, Launceston to St Helens ride, Launceston to Hobart ride and all manner of minor paddling and riding events. We will be worn out by Christmas!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umxHY5npuiE