Last 2 days and a wrap.

Wow – its over.

As i sit here almost exactly 48 hours after we rolled into Sydney Park, life has resumed its normal routine, nice coffee, home cooked food and family – its good to be home.

Like everything the pain of any journey is soon forgotten and the good memories remain.  Already only 2 days later, its hard to recall much detail of the last 2 days.  I guess i’m lucky, so many of us are lucky, we can do these things and put ourselves under some stress, but when its over we pack up and head home.  I guess that's the take away from Tour de Kids and why we go back and do it again and ask our friends and family to put up with us and use it as a reason to raise some money along the way.

Days 6 and 7 took us from Canberra to Bowral and then on to Sydney Park.  Mostly highways and mostly pretty dull.  A few guys joined us in Canberra for a 2 day ride and a few more in Bowral, so they increased the peloton size.  Cruising along Lake George at over 50 kph was certainly fun, but downhill runs on the dual carriageway with headwinds buffeting you and B doubles flying past 2 metres away doing at least 110 kph was less so.

The last evening’s dinner at Briars was fun and a good way to end.  We managed to raise, from donations within the room an additional $30,000!

Rolling into Sydney was, as i think the end of many journey’s is, anti climactic.  The rain we hit on the edge of town only served to further dampen the event – arrival being a Friday also meant that lots of families werent able to be there.

The GG was good to her word and put a short story and some images up on her web site

http://www.gg.gov.au/governorgeneral/gallery.php?action=view&id=949

Final Stats

Total Distance: 1240 km

Total Vertical Distance: just under 13km

Total Year 10 TDK Funds Raised:  $400,000.

A few thank you’s

To Simone, Lucy, Julia and Annabel thank you for putting up with me and then not having me there to help.

To the sponsors, thank you – without you its just a ride.

The committee and in particular this tour Andrew (Gibbo) Gibbons did an outstanding job and really make it all possible!

And last but by no means least the support crew – a few familiar faces and 3 or 4 new ones.  Justine and Emma from Starlight, Mike, Heidi and Steve and V, Kyle, Emma and Simone all work hard in support vehicles all day then when we finish their real work begins.  A tough gig and much appreciated.

A steady day some self awareness and a Governor General

Adaminaby to Canberra – 180km – 1500m vertical – 11 hours in lycra…

Very hard to get started this morning.  Took all of 30km before i felt vaguely human and capable of continuing.

But it led to an interesting realisation.  As my legs refused to move (again) and breakfast sat very heavy I thought what if i just cant go on, when would my body just say no.  And then i noticed a few guys were doing it even tougher than i was, going a bit slower up the morning’s hills.  Somehow that helped me keep going, spurred me on.

So why was that? Is it Schodefrueder (sp?) am i taking pleasure  in the misfortune of others?  I’d like to think not, but perhaps i was??  I certainly had time to ponder it and bounce the idea with some other riders,  as we rolled on to Cooma and coffee, and i rationalised it that it wasnt, but rather something more subtle.  I think in fact it was that if i know they are hurting, then who the hell am i to complain.

Coffee in Cooma was great and saw a mate and sponsor, Blair, to boot.  Roll onto to Canberra was uneventful and then we went to one of our major sponsor’s Harvey Norman, to present John Maclean with a cheque for young Hannah’ special needs change table.

On to Yarralumla and met her Excellency (yes in Lycra) and even got to have a chat to her (and a photo i hope to publish when i get it).  She remembered my Mum and Dad and recalled my Mum with great fondness i think for a moment there there was perhaps a in both our eyes – so that was kinda nice.  She had a remarkable memory, and reckons she may have even nursed me – but i reckon just maybe she made that bit up.

At the Crown Plaza now (also a major sponsor) and am pooped, so that is all

h

Days 3 and 4

Hills, wind, a flat and then lots more hills

As i type this its the end of day 4 – my real tour de kids day, but more on Day 4 later.

Day 3 – Bright to Corryong.  183km, 1700 m vertical – 8 hours

So first things first i held back on the double nix on day 3, saved them for day 4 – i knew you’d want to know…

2 big hills and pretty flat in between, I went with the early group again (more on that below) and whilst it was a long hard day, i was reasonably comfortable, although no where near the front at the top of either hill – the last 40km (after the 2nd hill) seemed to take a long time and lots of little ups and downs.  To be honest, as I sit here after day 4, i cant actually recall much more of yesterday.

However during the long flat run from the end of the first hill into lunch (in the RSL where the CWA ladies made us sandwiches) I managed to hit a rock and get a flat about half way and a quick tyre change was immediately followed by the highlight of the day – a 60kph run back up to the bunch drafting ehind the van.

The day ended on what at the time seemed to be a low point – the boys decided i needed to go with the later (faster) bunch for the big hills of Day 4  - that had me worried.

Day 4 – Corryong to Adaminaby. 140km, 3,450m vertical – 8 hours

Despite protestations i was indeed forced to ride with the back group – referred to by some as the Racing Pilots.  Hmmmm, well i was no wing man, probably more of an aircraft carrier.  I got dropped on each and every hill of the day, and some poor bugger would have to drop back and ride up with me and the constant drone of the truck sitting 10m behind me – i did find a few occasions to go back to the truck for “support” – it did seem to happen on the really steep bit too!

Seriously big long hills today and by lunch (and 2500m up) I decided i needed a bigger cog on the back and swapped with Tim for a 27 (i had in fact tried to shuffle rear clusters the night before, but fount the 25 i am running was jammed tight onto the soft aluminium freewheel).  After lunch was more down than up, but we still did about 1000m vertical (we passed a sign that said 1500m elevation – went down a great descent, only to climb back up to 1480m, and then 1390m)

I am pretty sure its my biggest vertical climbing day ever.

In the end, well in fact pretty early really, today was my tour de kids day – that’s the day i ‘get’ why i do this, i usually end up pretty close to tears and think about quitting – and when you get to that point you really do think about the fact that is is transitory but the kids get it forever, so you try and open a can of tuffen up and stick woth it.  Almost cracked a few times and had to stop and just take a moment each time, and perhaps leave the sunnies on just a smidge longer than i needed.

It turns out that the early starters that i would have liked to have gone with took a wrong turn early in the day and did more vertically (400m) and 20km longer on the ground, and those who completed it did 10 hours out there – go figure.

Into Canberra tomorrow – sausage sizzle at Harvey Norman (a major sponsor) and then we ride our bikes into GG’s house at Yaralumla and have a chat in Lycra – should be fun!!

Wise Decisions, Yellow Jersey and a little tender

So…. following last night’s ruminations, in the end I went with the early group (the softer option) and am very happy with the decision.  Half the bunch went at 7:00 (and the faster guys at 7:30), and they caught us at the top of the climb (so they did in 1.5 hours what we did in 2).  Kym is a rider who is about my standard and decided to go with the later group – lets just say he was looking a lot the worse for wear as we pulled in for lunch!

I mentioned the hotel in Mansfield was a bit ordinary, and breakfast, consisting of 2 bits of bread in a lunch bag and a mini box of special K meant it maintained that high standard.  It was 60k to the far side of the big hill for the day and a lovely little cafe in the middle of nowhere was assaulted by the arrival of 40 cyclists (the dear old owner rang her son in law in a panic to get some help!), and it was bacon and egg rolls all round.

The hill did have a big descent off the top and with a bit of dirt on one corner, one rider came down.  But on the faster part of the descent the big men came out to play (less kind people call me a Clydesdale) but it is the one place where all that extra baggage I carry means i just go faster.  Baxby and I rolled past one of the whippet’s of the bunch (who was pedalling like mad) as if he was standing still.  Lots of smiles from the Clydesdales as we pulled up for coffee.

80 k to lunch was steady and the group started to get the hang of each other, so we made good time.  Lunch was one of those great country bakeries in a village outside Wodonga called Myrtleford – even snuck in another coffee - Nice.  A cheeky 30k ride into Bright and that was 173k just like that.  Someone somewhere must think i rode OK today, as i got the yellow jersey at the awards ceremony tonight, so will wear it with pride tomorrow.

Have to say the appetite has started to kick in, as i think it has for us all.  Half the smorgasbord was gone before they’d brought the other half out.

Sadly my GPS completely gave up the ghost today, so i don't have the ride stats.

Legs are tired but doing fine, upper back is a little stiff, but its some tenderness downstairs that is perhaps most notable.  Might mean i resort to 2 pairs of padded bike nix tomorrow – bet you cant wait to find out whether i go with one or two pairs!

h

Day 1, 2010 Tour de Kids

I am sitting in Mansfield in a pretty dodgy hotel, 191km in my legs (I know what you are thinking, they only promised 180k – i was equally disappointed!).  Vertically we travelled just under 2km (again well over the advertised rate)

Opening day had pretty much everything, rain, sun (tan lines off to a very good start) wind, one guy got a serious speed wobble and his son (also riding) swallowed a bee (didnt help that we is allergic to bee stings, so he spent a few hours in a hospital but back with us now) and a few guys burst a heartilage but are backing up to try again tomorrow.  I was happy enough, it hurt, but i am in pretty good shape, so ready for another 170k odd tomorrow – first 40 or so up hill – eeek. 

A slow start to the day getting out of Melbourne, and then a steady 9k climb to morning tea at 60km (almost 3 hours), in Kinglake (where the bushfires were last year).  Pretty eerie riding up through the lunar landscape but life is slowly coming back into the forest and the villages.  Certainly dusted off the cobwebs, but this is a long game and day one should never hurt too much.

Day 4 is shaping up as the biggy, a couple of very serious climbs, so the plan is to try and protect myself for that.  To that end about a third of the boys are heading out early tomorrow, so that they dont slow up the day up the first hill.  So I have a choice and a dilemma, be the laggard in the main bunch and hold them up, or be quite comfortable in the lead group (well at least based on today’s form).

Short answer is I just dont know, but am leaning towards protecting myself and going early.

Richard if you are still reading your comments are ringing in my ears – its a long way… if you make it.  I am determined to make it, so perhaps caution is needed!

Will let you know tomorrow.

h

Tour de Kids 2010 – Here we go (again)

Biting off more than i can chew

http://www.everydayhero.com.au/hamish_fraser_10

Well its too late now.  The training is done and its too late to cram. I feel a bit like I've bitten off a little more than i can chew, but am chewing like mad.

I have been overwhelmed by people’s generosity and easily made my $3,000 target, but still hope to top $5,000 (it was only lowered to 3 because of the GFC).  Thank you to those who’ve sponsored it me, your generosity is quite humbling.

But sponsors or not, please follow this blog (there should be a button on the right somewhere) and I'll try and share some stories and maybe add a little light to your day (as i whinge about mine).

Have i done enough training? Well its trite to say that time will tell, but i think so.  I’m not sure i am as fit as last time, but was very comfortable on my weekend rides, so that has to be a good sign.

Bikes get packed this Thursday morning, and we fly to Melbourne on Friday afternoon.  A couple of house payments on black on Friday night at Crown and then we roll out Saturday morning, returning to Sydney on Friday next week.

Here is the website http://www.tourdekids.org.au/Pages/default.aspx.  And as i sit and type this on Monday night, the first 3 days do look awfully long 180km, 172km and then 176km and i can see that the first thing we do on day 3 is go over a hill we did last Tour call Tawonga Gap – from memory, only about a 4km climb. 

I wont go over the rest of the course now (i’ll be going over it all in due course – boom tish) and you and you can hear about it then perhaps.

I’ll try and send updates from the road and send emails and facebook updates with embedded links.

Bye for now…