got strength?

I don't know if this is common, but I have a confession to make.
I have done no strength work in the few of years. None.  It is not so much that I hate the gym, I hate what happens AFTER the gym.  My previous experience really put me off after struggling through months of insane soreness and inability to ride on dead legs. I have struggled to find balance where I could get in the gym and still ride my bike.

For every year that passes I know it is getting more important to get back in the gym.  Now falling into the masters realm of riding, strength conditioning is becoming mandatory.  I know this. Reading articles like this one (read it here) convinced me it is time to suck it up, and crack on.

The question became not if, but with who and where. If I am going to do this, I am going to do it properly.
I have a guy, Andrew, I have been using for massage for a couple of years.  He is also a guru in all things strength and conditioning.  He knows where I break, and after months of telling me what gym thing would fix or help that or this - I decided that I am going to trust him and let's see.  Highly specific strength training not just to my sport, but actually to me.  I think that is a good mix.  He's set up a space here, and I am looking forward to hurting myself for the next little while.

With walls like this one, how could it be bad!!!
Pass the protein.

time out for a summer holiday...

Not much bike stuff doing lately as I took some time out with my two favourite people for a holiday to Tasmania.

We spent our first few days in Hobart staying in the historic Salamanca area in a converted sandstone docks warehouse.  Hobart is a lovely city that is overlooked by an awesome peak - Mt Wellington.  We managed an afternoon of walking around the summit realising that this was truely a freezing part of the world - despite being high summer!  From there we dropped down, completed the walk to Sphnix Rock and then retired to the local Pinot's and Seafood.  It is a hard life.

The summit of Mount Wellington.  Freezing.  It was snowing where I am standing, 4 days later!

After Hobart, we made our way to a magnificent and pristine part of the world - Coles Bay and Freycinet National Park. 

View from Coles Bay town across to Freycinet National Park and range called The Hazards

We stayed in a little beach house right on the water, and spent our days in the mountains you can see above, hiking through the park.  Formed from pink Granite, a mix of mica, feldspar and quartz, the Hazards make for an awesome walking wonderland.



I was unsure how she'd go, but Annabel did a great job and walked The Hazards to Wineglass Bay, and also the other side to Hazards Beach.  Both graded as 'difficult' walks.  Nice one!

Happy to have reached a lolly break!

Wineglass bay, on the opposite side of the Hazards to Coles Bay.  Walkers or Boaties only!

We also managed short walks into Sleepy Bay and Cape Tourville.

Sleepy Bay complete with Rainbow.  Amazing kelp forests in cold, cold water!

 We saw a few of the locals while we were in town.....

Up close with the locals.

Too close!!  I hate Emus and this one is sticking it's head over my shoulder to rip the bag of food out of my hand.

Local Kookaburra looking for skinks!

Local skink hiding from Kookaburras.

For Westwood - nice leptospermum.

All in all a great trip. 
We've returned ready for the new year and I for one am ready to rip into it.  Stand by....
Now, where's my bike!

whats your flavour?

On the new years menu, Koiled was up to many and varied things.
They all had something in common.  See if you can spot it!

First up, I had to deliver a coot-tha TT so Coach Cupcake can check my progress.  These things always hurt, but this was something special, after I had put away 3+ hours of single track the day before. 



Time was satisfactory and the view, once I could see again was lovely!



On to today, our main bunch rolled from Eatons Hill to Dayboro.  What was sold to me as a shortish out and back turned into the inevitable racing for 60's and TT up Mt Mee which added up to slightly more than I was planning but with the impending bike free holiday coming up, I was happy enough to roll the kms.



Trickle joined us in the bunch, looking fine in his Koiled kit and rolling his Elmo.  He is riding strong!

After yesterdays effort of a Coot-tha TT I started the ride in the locker.  Naturally there was only one treatment I know of for being in the locker.  ATTACK.



It was shortlived and we settled down for approximately 6 minutes. Then, after offerring Scotty some advice about pedalling if you are on the front of the peleton travelling downhill, he showed us his current form and from there the locker drew a crowd.  Yes, it got crowded in there. Shannon kindly offered to take my place when he opted for MtMee in the big ring.

I can be seen here offerring moral support and checking on his well being. 

Nick was notably absent.  Something about wanting an easier session than the Mt Mee smashfest.....
He can be seen here relaxing as the UQ sports physicians seek to find out what it is about Koiled that makes us full animal.

It's how we roll.