3 Dams Challenge

i really should have signed up for this event much earlier than now but i guess ironman got in the way and i think i was also worried that it was such a huge event for cyclists i would just make a fool of myself.  not being a cyclist and all.

so after the karri valley debacle i only had one weekend to get in a decent ride before this event.  i did but it wasnt a hills ride and from memory the weather had not been great.  but on the day the weather was perfect. 

as usual i arrived early at champion lakes for the most optimal parking spot.  it was quite chilly out so i was undecided as to whether i would wear my wind breaker.  headed over to the start line and a visit to the toilet.  the only negative about bibs is the time it takes to go to the loo.  decided it would warm up so rode back over to the car and dropt the jacket off.

i loved this event and the course.  i love how you have pit stops for toilet breaks and bottle refills.  it is all very civilised.  i love how lunch is provided and they actually stop the clock while you take a break.  for this alone i will be back again next year.

the first 45k is flat so i managed to find a group at my speed and i stuck to a back wheel the whole way.  the first climb was interesting and once up that it was basically a lot of rolling hills and a big flat section along a dangerous highway and a shit surface.  that was the worst part.  mostly i was on my own but i am always fine with that.  it wasnt too hot and there was no wind to worry about.  the first dam (serpentine dam) was nice and i stopped for a few photos.  i dont know what happened to the second dam (serpentine pipe dam).  after the horror ride along the highway i was pretty glad to reach the lunch pit stop.  this is at the 104k mark so a good time to get a break.  

lunch was an egg salad sandwich and a muffin. i sat under a tree as all the tables and bike racks were full.  my legs felt okay and my back was holding up quite nicely.  i was tired but i felt i was actually going better than expected.  filled up the bottles and headed off without hanging around too long.  with only 30k to go i was feeling pretty confident.  

the last 30k are a nightmare and the most difficult of the day. it is very steep as you head down to canning dam and a nasty corner comes up on you quite quickly so i was glad to have read about it prior.  more photos for the record books and then headed for home.  the climb out is not easy. there was alot of swearing. probably on fresh legs it would be okay but this was just painful.  after that you get flat sections followed by sharp climbs and then comes the worst part.  about 10k from the finish you wind your way up the hardest but shortest climbs of the day. you keep thinking you have reached the top and then another hill appears.  alot of guys were pushing their bikes up the hill.  i stopped at a cafe parking lot and had a very short break before tackling the last section.  just about at the top and the guy next to me throws up his lunch everywhere.  full on vomit launch.  it was disgusting and i totally lost my momentum and had to walk my bike up the last 30 metres.  it was gross and i was disappointed but considering my lack of training i did okay.  it was then all mostly downhill and then a flat 5k to the finish line.  i was pretty happy to get off the bike.  it had gotten quite warm and the body was pretty bloody tired. 

 

i had a couple of really cold drinks before heading back to the car and home.  total time was 5:49 and 1500m elevation.  longest ride and time spent on a bike since new zealand.  definitley more comfortable on the madone roadie than the speed concept trekkie.  overall a pretty good effort and it gave me some confidence.  the legs  felt okay the next day  so straight back into training.

i will be back next year for this event.  i really enjoyed it and the challenge and no matter what happens there will be no pushing the bike next year. 

 

Karri Valley Fail

i dont know if i was looking forward to the actual race or if it was just that i was excited to have a few days off and to be on a road trip.  staying at the pub in pemberton had always been one of my favourite getaways so i know i was looking forward to that.  i had finished this event twice before.  in 2012 and 2013 and both times i finished in around 4.10.  the first time on my road bike in the rain and the second on my trek with tired legs.  knowing the course should be an advantage however it seems it was too long ago and i had forgotten quite a few things.

i was very under done for this but went into as a training session.  the weekend before i went far too hard on my long ride and it had taken me all week to recover.  i also struggled at swimming thursday and left early.  as it turns out i had been carrying a sinus infection for the last six weeks and it had moved into my chest so it was antibiotics for me.

got a few things done on friday morning including dropping cooper dog off at the holiday camp.  as usual he was beyond excited.  i think the break would be good for the two of us and as usual when i picked him up he was exhausted from his camp activities.

on the road by 12 and in pemberton by 4.30pm.  the place had not changed.  unloaded the car and got a few things organised before i headed downstairs to the pub and a pretty decent battered fish and chips.  love country pub food !  also love the race start time of 10am so nice sleep in until 6am.  fell asleep quite early and except for the pillow that was like a log slept like a baby.

20 minute drive to karri valley and a quick check in.  walked around a bit before taking my bike into transition.  did not see anyone i knew.  this race has quite a different feel to perth or busselton races.  it is run by stadium triathlon club and they make up a majority of the competitors.  it certainly did not feel friendly and it was more like i was at interstate race.  hard to describe or even put my finger on it.  at the swim start i was on my own.  when i did speak to people they were all very nice so maybe it was just me being weird.  

the swim is two laps in the fresh water lake.  no sharks to worry about here, only a few ducks and maybe a trout or two.  it was flat and not cold at all.  i went for two caps again and this will become a permanent thing i think.  i also used the vorgee goggles and they were awesome.  and in another first i wore my garmin.  i wish i had done this sooner.  turns out i can swim quite straight but i think the garmin needs calibrating as the distance was way off.  it felt like it was a hard slog.  i was swam over a few times by the dickhead male component you get at every race.  i thought i was doing okay as i was passing people in the different coloured swim caps who started in earlier waves.  but then again maybe they were just really super slow.  

i was pretty happy to get the first lap out of the way.  the back section seemed to take forever but once that was done then it was around the buoy before heading straight into shore.  i was tired as i got out of the water but my back felt okay.  just a little unbalanced from being vertical i think.  found my shoes and took forever to put them on before starting the 600m run uphill through to transition.  i would have been quicker sitting down as i really wasnt bending over very well.  then it took me forever again to get my wetsuit off. it was really embarrassing.  finally got on my bike and headed out where things got really interesting.

while i remembered how hilly this course is i had forgotten about the bad road surface.  probably worse than anything i have ridden on when talking about big chunky blue chip shit. very few sections could be described as smooth or fast.  going down hill on this stuff was awful.  there was also something seriously not right with my bike.  last week end i had noticed the front end felt a little weird and a small rattling sound like the bottle cage holders were loose.  well the front end felt okay but the rattle was huge.  it sounded worse than anything i have ever experienced.  it wasnt too bad when the road was smooth and i was aero but anything else and you could hear me coming from miles away.  i was riding okay but this was really distracting.

i wasnt sure what to do.  i got through the first lap.  the downhill back past the resort was awful. i didnt want to stop and then wasnt sure if i went on the damage would be worse.   it was a very strange experience.  part of the problem was the 120 psi tyre pressure. i didnt think of it until i spoke to the mechanic later and then i just felt stupid and should have known better.  anyway at the turn off out to the second section i called it quits and turned around.  i handed in my timing chip and then took the bike over to the mechanic.  long story short the front end bearings have gone AGAIN but the biggest problem is the bottom bracket has GONE AGAIN.  to be honest i could have kept riding and headed out on the run but i was not in the right head space to deal with this.  it was the excuse i needed to quit.  

i packed up my gear and headed back to the hotel and a hot shower and a beer to drown my sorrows  (first for 2021). 
i felt like a big fat loser but shit happens and it was a good wake up call.  i needed to get me shit together.  especially if i was to cross the finish line at busselton in may.  i also had the 3 dams ride coming up and i didnt want to embarrass my self there as well.