Training Ride 1: Getting back into things

[Gremlin]

I've been telling myself I need to get back into riding. As usual with winter, the weather is crappy so not exactly appealing, and there's always some sort of work to do, so you let the riding slide. Problem is, I enjoy the long rides (600-800km, or more), so there is an element of riding fitness. Stop that sort of riding, and your fitness drops away. I don't drive, but around town riding for work or odd tasks doesn't compensate.

The weekend of 22 August rolls around, and I start realising I'm 2 months out from the 2010 Grand Challenge. I really need to start riding, and getting the various body parts (plus brain) used to those kinds of distances again. I'm also looking towards the 2011 TT2000 in the South Island (2nd TT for me, missed the first), where I'm aiming to complete the basic route and all flyers, in excess of 3000km over the weekend.

This requires riding, and lots of it. Fitness is needed in the usual areas, aka, the ones that get sore. Arse, arms, chest, back, knees (and so the list goes on). Of course, the prescription for fixing the pain isn't all together a bad one... Ride... keep riding. Ride the beautiful roads of NZ and keep riding. Don't want to get bored, so make sure you ride a wide variety... well... if you insist.

The girlfriend is gently nudged that besides the copious amounts of work I usually do, I'm now taking a day a weekend to put the riding in. Good on her, she's ok with it (or do they just say "fine" ) She knows I love the long distance endurance riding, and its not like popping out for 200km now and then.

Typically, I don't get around to doing any riding that weekend... but I did work, even Sunday evening, into the early hours of Monday morning. I make the usual promise that I really must begin the build up the next weekend.

Next weekend rolls around, and I'm working Saturday morning, few little things and niggles to sort. Boss has decided he might want to come out as well, but ends up cancelling. Just myself then, with my wandering comrade otherwise occupied.

Today's route: http://maps.google.co.nz/maps?f=d&so...99&ie=UTF8&z=9

Something to start off, 550-600km, get me back into the seat, gel with the bike again. Left at 1230, later than expected, but could change route if necessary, after all, its never the destination, but the route that counts. Out through the usual back blocks of Whitford, Hunua, onto the old SH2 briefly before heading down the back roads again through Mangatangi, then south onto SH25 for the boring straights to Kopu just to grab fuel. Not even a cop, surprising, they usually love the straights. By Kopu I was feeling more myself, getting back into the groove.

Up the west coast to Coromandel, and I was now really in my groove. Remembering how well the bike handled, how sure footed etc, even the weather was playing ball. Didn't bother stopping and headed over the top and done through Whitianga, thoroughly enjoying the roads. Through the bypass, up the hills of Tairua (awesome as always) and thought I was having such a good time, I wasn't going to cut myself short, and headed south to Whangamata. There I stopped for a pie and drink as all the usual places were starting to get really sore. Couple of texts, but no work beckoning, excellent. Waihi (they have re-sealed some of Whangamata to Waihi with hot mix, and wow, is it excellent. Some of the best road surface I have ever ridden) and Paeroa came and went, then I tried something new, and took random roads to get to Ngaruawahia, as I decided I didn't need to get home straight away, and might as well do SH22, as I hadn't done it in ages.

Shortcut through Waingaro road, I had now hit a weather front and was annoyed the weather didn't agree with my choice. On the way to SH22 I was reminded why its nicknamed the goat track. A section of road, edge to edge and several metres long was resealed and completely slick, exiting a corner. Took it gently and the bike still slithered over it, blimey. Before I reached Dunmore I also came across a cow on the left hand side, in the grass. Good thing it didn't bolt, motorcycles and cows never blend well, but I passed before I had completely noticed it. SH22 was full of patches, unmarked roadworks and slippery bits, so its usual self and I left 22 and headed to Mercer as I needed gas. It was already dark and I was still using my tinted visor, with no clear, and since there were no interesting roads, I tootled up SH1 home. Got home around 1920. All in all, a good ride, felt sore afterwards, so I know the ride exercised the bits that needed a bit of pain.

[gijoe1313]

Ah I see you have begun your training in earnest, was getting a bit concerned that you were cutting it fine as usual!

The most amazing thing about this trip, was nothing out of the ordinary happened! That just makes me wonder what mayhem lies in store for later! :eek2:

Keep riding!