Its not a big climb by world standards, although it is by Auckland standards. The elevation gain is approx 700 meters with the gradient starting at 1-2% and gradually increasing to 8-9%. It was also cold; only 1-2 degrees celsius.
Thursday, June 9, 2016
Mt Taranaki
Mt Taranaki has also been on my bucket list for several years. After two days on the Forgotten World Highway we spent Sunday night in New Plymouth. I got up early on Monday morning (it was a long holiday weekend) and drove 50km south to Stratford to climb the access road to the ski field.
Its not a big climb by world standards, although it is by Auckland standards. The elevation gain is approx 700 meters with the gradient starting at 1-2% and gradually increasing to 8-9%. It was also cold; only 1-2 degrees celsius.
Its not a big climb by world standards, although it is by Auckland standards. The elevation gain is approx 700 meters with the gradient starting at 1-2% and gradually increasing to 8-9%. It was also cold; only 1-2 degrees celsius.
Wednesday, June 8, 2016
Forgotten World Highway: Day 2
Day 2 of the FWH was a 60km ride from Wangamomona to Stratford. Although we awoke to fog, it completely disappeared and turned to a stunning day once we crested the first pass.
Our hotel at the end of day-1 was not ideal for post-ride recovery. Not only did our room not have wifi or a TV, but the bathrooms and showers were shared! You can see a few photos below of the hotel and Whangamomona followed by the westward ride to Stratford.
Our hotel at the end of day-1 was not ideal for post-ride recovery. Not only did our room not have wifi or a TV, but the bathrooms and showers were shared! You can see a few photos below of the hotel and Whangamomona followed by the westward ride to Stratford.
Tuesday, June 7, 2016
Forgotten World Highway: Day 1
FWH has been on my bucket list for 4 years. I first read about FWH in Cycling Tips in 2012. Finally, I had the chance to ride it this past Queen's Birthday Weekend with Camila.
We chose to break the ride into two days. Day 1 was a 90km ride from Taumaranui to Wangamomona. Day 2 was an easier 60km ride to Stratford at the foot of Mt Taranaki. Traveling west gave us the benefit of a slight tail wind, and a night in New Plymouth.
We chose to break the ride into two days. Day 1 was a 90km ride from Taumaranui to Wangamomona. Day 2 was an easier 60km ride to Stratford at the foot of Mt Taranaki. Traveling west gave us the benefit of a slight tail wind, and a night in New Plymouth.
Saturday, January 23, 2016
Saturday, January 16, 2016
Friday, January 8, 2016
Medellin!
Camila and I were back in Medellin for the last 3 weeks. It was great to be back. I did a few rides but unfortunately I don't have the form for big rides like I did back in 2011. The riding was awesome nevertheless.
Sunday, May 31, 2015
Hit & Run
UPDATE (25 November 2015): Sam Ralph of Taupaki, Auckland was charged, convicted and sentenced to 9 months home detention for 1) Assault with a blunt instrument (vehicle), and 2) Failure to stop and ascertain injury (hit and run). He also spent 2 months in police custody awaiting trial on domestic violence charges. Good riddance to him.
Details of sentencing are below.
************
Its been well over 6 months since I last blogged. I had a decent summer of training (although I didn't race), and I was just settling into an autumn training schedule when I was hit by a car 2 weeks ago.
7.45am on Sunday May 17, 2015. I was riding with 5 others from Rangitoto Rockets on a quiet country road in Taupaki. We were riding at 35-40kph on a 2-lane road that is flat and straight. Suddenly I heard a car's brakes lock-up immediately behind us. Thats very strange, I thought; there is no oncoming traffic. Within a couple of seconds the driver accelerated and pulled up next to me with about 50cm between us and the passenger window down. (The six of us were riding two abreast and I was at the front-right position). The driver shouted out "Get off the fuckin' road" at me. Within a split second he accelerated again but very suddenly swerved to the left. Although it all happened within a second or two, it very much felt like everything was moving in slow motion at the time. His ute and worktray were coming my way and I quickly realised that I had nowhere to go.
Details of sentencing are below.
************
Its been well over 6 months since I last blogged. I had a decent summer of training (although I didn't race), and I was just settling into an autumn training schedule when I was hit by a car 2 weeks ago.
7.45am on Sunday May 17, 2015. I was riding with 5 others from Rangitoto Rockets on a quiet country road in Taupaki. We were riding at 35-40kph on a 2-lane road that is flat and straight. Suddenly I heard a car's brakes lock-up immediately behind us. Thats very strange, I thought; there is no oncoming traffic. Within a couple of seconds the driver accelerated and pulled up next to me with about 50cm between us and the passenger window down. (The six of us were riding two abreast and I was at the front-right position). The driver shouted out "Get off the fuckin' road" at me. Within a split second he accelerated again but very suddenly swerved to the left. Although it all happened within a second or two, it very much felt like everything was moving in slow motion at the time. His ute and worktray were coming my way and I quickly realised that I had nowhere to go.
Sunday, November 9, 2014
Starting from Zero
I started training for my 2014-15 racing season this week. Unfortunately, I have not been able to train properly for the last 3-4 months due to a combination of work (launched a peer-to-peer lending platform - Harmoney.com - in August), man-flu, bad weather in September, and minor surgery in October.
I was back into training last weekend once the doctor gave me the green light. But I really was starting from zero (power curve in black).
I was back into training last weekend once the doctor gave me the green light. But I really was starting from zero (power curve in black).
Sunday, June 15, 2014
2013-2014 Performance Review
A quick look-back at my power data and peak performance over
the 2013-2014 season:
The following is my power curve since early September. As we
all know I cannot sprint; my peak is just over 1,000 watts. Power drops off
sharply but flattens considerably after 2 minutes. The data demonstrates that
over longer duration efforts (3+ minutes), I have good strength and endurance.
Monday, June 2, 2014
Sunday, May 25, 2014
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
2013-2014 Season Review
Its now early May and my 2013-2014 season has drawn to a close. Although I had a great summer of riding, I wasn't able to race as much as I wanted to.
My racing season was split into two time periods: 3 races in November of 2013, and then a series of club races and the Auckland champs in March and April of 2014.
The first two races in November didn't quite go as planned. K1's start split the group as we merged with another field who started earlier than us. And the following week, I got severe cramps early in Bike the Bridge. The month ended with a strong result (12th overall) at the Northland Club Champs.
My racing season was split into two time periods: 3 races in November of 2013, and then a series of club races and the Auckland champs in March and April of 2014.
The first two races in November didn't quite go as planned. K1's start split the group as we merged with another field who started earlier than us. And the following week, I got severe cramps early in Bike the Bridge. The month ended with a strong result (12th overall) at the Northland Club Champs.
Saturday, April 12, 2014
Race Report: Auckland Club Champs
I finished 3rd in my age group at today's Auckland Club Champs. The field was small but select. The course was tough with power climbs and several long and sharp step-climbs.
Saturday, March 15, 2014
Training Camp: Italy 2010
Monday, February 3, 2014
Friday, January 31, 2014
Saturday, January 11, 2014
What Two Weeks of Rest Will Do
My chronic training load (blue line) decreased from 113 to 81 (it started at 0 in early September). My training stress balance (green line) moved from -42 to +60.
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
Mid-season Performance Review
Camila and I are in Bali, Indonesia for 10 days over the New Years break. I thought I would look at my performance improvement so far this season.
I bought my power meter in early September so I now have almost 4 months of training data, including 3 races in November. You can see in the chart above that my max output was 1,011 watts. The wattage drops off quickly until approximately 3 minutes but declines at a very slow rate thereafter.
I bought my power meter in early September so I now have almost 4 months of training data, including 3 races in November. You can see in the chart above that my max output was 1,011 watts. The wattage drops off quickly until approximately 3 minutes but declines at a very slow rate thereafter.
Friday, December 27, 2013
Sunday, November 17, 2013
Race Report: Fred Ogle Classic 2013
I had a great race this morning at the Fred Ogle Classic near Whangarei, finishing 12th overall. The course was 110km just west of Whangarei and covered some of the Tour of Northland stage-1 course. The race doubled as the Northland Club Champs and it drew a serious field, including semi-pros just back from the Tour of Southland.
After last week's implosion at MS Bike the Bridge, I wasn't sure how I would feel today. I did 4 rides this week - all pretty easy, just to make sure I was recovered.
After last week's implosion at MS Bike the Bridge, I wasn't sure how I would feel today. I did 4 rides this week - all pretty easy, just to make sure I was recovered.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)