As you can guess from my title I completed 400kms on the bike in just seven days. Actually the truth is six days. I didn’t ride last Sunday nor have I ridden today. In fact for the whole of February I have not ridden on a Sunday. This will need to change next month I need to get back into the hills.
Monday
New ride created and Peter no where to be seen. He normally does not show on a Monday. We had five people turn up for this ride. Shaw and I lead out into the wind south on Labouchere Rd. Johnathan almost wanted to take The Esplanade too early but a wise man next to him told him to continue straight up Canning Hwy.
North Lake Rd and up the hill we went to lift the heart rate on a Monday morning. Left into South Street and I spent most of this stretch sucking Jonathans wheel. I didn’t have it in me to get in front and with his pace I was happy to fight too hang on. Only one other came up to lend him a hand with the workload. Jordan and Shaw must have been sucking wheels behind me as I never saw them along here.
Left into Bannister Rd heading for Shelly. Jordan and I got stuck in the middle of the intersection crossing High Rd waiting for an ambulance to pass through. Neither of us wanted to get hit as they drove into the sun.
As expect the boys lifted the pace along Shelly. I was holding on for a good period of time even though it hurt like hell. A quick look back for Shaw and he was far in the distance. That was all the excuse I needed to drop of and fall back. Shaw caught up and we meet the others waiting for us at the top of Bull Creek Road. Now on The Esplanade and a tail wind behind us was a nice cruise back to Raffles. Ride took us a little longer than normal and was slightly longer. Felt good was a good start to the week.
Tuesday
Expecting the normal Tuesday sedate paced ride. We had a big turn out that morning. From the get go the pace was on and I was in pain from the beginning. Found myself at the back and fighting just to stay there. An order shouted by Toby to get back on the wheel was successful but then a short push up the hill then followed. The group was a pack of raging bulls all the way through Dalkeith. I could not believe I was the only one suffering with this pace. The workout was worth it. A new PR on Strava Swan Brewery to Christ Church 9.8 kms 15mins 24 seconds average speed 38.4 kph. Not far off Ryan Fynn best effort of 13:09. This had set the pace for the rest of the ride and by the time we got to Burke Drive half way along I gave up I had nothing left I was done. Sat up and cruised back to the Raffles and arrived just in time to meet all the others who had not taken the short cut.
Thursday
A day off the bike and it was time for the Thursday ride. The normal suspects were present. Including Blair who only seems to do one ride a week and he lead out the rest of us with Shaw who seems too be in good form on his new bike at the moment. Same stretch from Swan Brewery to Christ Church today was completed in 15:37 at an average of 37.8 kph. So not a lot slower but it was Thursday. Someone initiated a roll through on Marine Parade which seemed to leave you back on the front just when you thought you got off. This got the heart rate up a bit and on Port Beach Road I started falling off the back again while Blair sucked my wheel. He was doing well considering he had not been on the bike for a week. Lights were red at the left hander onto Tydeman Rd. Gave us a chance to re-join the group.
By the time we got to Burke drive I had recovered some what but not enough. 4min 50 this time as opposed to my best of 3:46. We picked up Ronny on Melville Beach Rd who had dropped off the fast group but done well to hang on for so long. We also passed Carlos going the other way home already. By the time we reached Raffles 1:05:18 had past. 1min 18sec of my best effort.
Friday
Another new route for SPR. Friday Early Bird. Looking around at who was showing up I was like. Oh No why did I get out of bed. Carlos, Johnathan, Toby, Jordan and Doug all the fast group boys. I was going to get smashed. But a larger turnout than Monday. Today saw us head up Labouchere similar to Monday with Toby and Johnathan on the front. My turn came as we turned onto Canning Hwy.
Somewhere along The Esplanade I pulled off and handed over the lead. Pace was ok and we passed a number of other riders that morning. Once we got to Shelly the roll through started and it was murder. As soon as you got off the fast lane you were back on it. Legs were yelling at me to give up but was not going to happen I would never re-catch these guys if I gave up. I thought the end of the road would never come. Finally I head Doug say his done and so then so was I. Was ok was just near the end anyways.
Cruising through Willington I got talking to Toby for a bit. While we were on Banister Road we past Tip Top and all you could smell were Hot Cross buns. Toby had noticed the pleasant smell too.
Nichlosn Rd and Albany were roads we were a little concerned of with traffic but we must have had a lucky break. No issues with cars on either stretch. However Peter said he will probably alter the route. Along Manning Road I was again on the front with Jonathan. Again he was upping the pace and I could no sustain it for very long and pulled off. Let some other sucker slog it out with him. Our pace dropped off at we commuted along Kent St back towards South Perth. Got home at 0710 so quicker ride than others but it was slightly shorter than normal for me too.
Saturday
Last two rides for the week and this would seal my 400kms. A good turnout for the Saturday Early Bird ride. Nothing special about this ride. I was feeling exhausted but legs not in pain. Third day in a row getting up at 0410 was taking its toll. The morning was very humid. I heard 95% humidity being thrown around. Just standing waiting to start sweating like a pig. Was disgusting. The entire ride was just so hot. Had to keep the fluids up.
However as with the rest of the rides this week we didn’t slack off much. Swan Brewery to Christ Church 15:48 and an average of 37.4 kph. Mosman Hill was not much fun today and I was not at all awesome. 1:26 only avg 15kph. After the water tower and heading towards the beach was looking out towards the water trying too spot all the boats for the Rottnest Channel Swim. Bit far up so could only see container ships. All pretty normal up until Burke Drive. Keeping fluids up because it was still stinking hot. Was no roll through on Burke drive just one long line of riders. Recorded a time of 3:46 and had a new PB with an average speed of 44.2 kph.
Once we finished the route also recorded a new PB for the ride of 1:04:27. Hot weather must have helped.
During the commute to the 7am ride stopped at Gull for a Powerade. Carlos was already inside doing the same. Getting my wallet out of my pocket was disgusting. My Jersey was soaked with sweat and my wallet was disgusting. It was YUCK!!
While waiting for the start of the Main 1 ride I had to go top up water bottles again as I had already gone through half a one waiting around. The humidity had improved but was still hot. Not a lot to write about on this ride apart from I was tired and could not wait for the ride to be over. The ride out to Holmes Road was sedate and we cruised in the low 30’s.
No great effort on the climb for me but others on the ride seem to find their legs for it today. I do like the descent on the other side and the half descent on Kalamunda Road. We cruised as one large pack down Kalamunda Rd sitting above 40kph and putting in no effort. Enjoyed it a lot. Sometimes you work for this speed other times mother nature does the work for you.
Navigated our way along to Guildford road and set an average speed of 45kph between Bassendean and Ashfield. After King William street we had a few sets of lights we needed to stop for. This dropped our average for the rest of Guildford Road to 35kph. Overall the ride took us 1 hour 33 minutes. I was sure I had now clocked my 400kms. After a quick bottle refill again I headed for an easy ride home.
Once getting home and getting out of my disgusting wet sweaty kit and having a shower I loaded Saturdays ride to Garmin Connect, Strava etc. Looking for the grand total of over 400kms. I was wrong. At that point I had only 399.13kms recorded. I thought stuff it close enough and posted my efforts. Seems from the few comments and tweets I received I had to finish it off. So I put the wet helmet back on (YUK) chucked my shoes on and wheeled the bike out the door. An easy ride up the street and back is all I needed. As I was going up the road watching the meters tick over I saw 500m and figured end of the road then it is in the bag. I got to the 1km mark and was like great done finished. dropped the gears down and rolled back down to my door. Job done.
However having now done 400kms I know 500kms in a week is doable it just means do a ride every morning for a week. I can see sometime in the future this will probably happen. With all the SPR rides every morning now it is not hard to get these high kms it just takes the super effort to get on the bike. Once on the bike in the morning the rest is easy. It is the getting up part that is the hardest and backing it up day after day.