Mike suggested I write something on training in Winter but that is hardly fair to all the southerners (i.e. those south of the Queensland border) as I live and train in Noosa (Queensland) where overnight temperatures are rarely below 10 C and daytime temperatures rarely below 20C . I really don’t think I have the counsel to write on training in Winter but that said, temperature gradients are all relative and is is equally dark here at 0500 as in those Southern states. This winter I have had to sport knee warmers on two occasions and I recall at least 3 rides where the PW Classic Weather App on my phone registered between 7C and 9C. I did once leave is a fleece winter riding jacket and beanie. On all 3 of the frozing mornings I was out of the house by 0520 and in the forest by 0610, warmed up with a smile on my face just riding my bike.
Winter training in Noosa
My nurses and many members of the general public think I am a little crazy but I couldn’t imagine what I might do before work if I didn’t get up and ride….How else would my day start? Just breakfast and off to work.. how dull!
I sometimes think that if I wasn’t racing and I didn’t have a training plan would I still just get up and ride?… The answer is yes, even in the frozing and the dark as I ride to train, I ride to hang with friends, I ride to stay fit and I ride to escape the encumbrance that comes with being a Director in a progressive Veterinary clinic in Noosa. The one place that no one can contact me is on my bike and I intend to keep it that way. Damn technology and those invisible waves that permit my iphone to receive email and phone calls 24-7, even when I am not at work I am at work…
Having a training plan does add a modicum of method to this early morning madness but it is not always that easy to find motivation. A race plan definitely helps as does a supportive team as we all know how hard a race can be if you are underdone with training. All of the above did not stop a ‘moment‘ I had a few months back when I considered retiring from racing, a moment of self doubt and WTF are you doing this for anyway?, an mini 40 year crisis of sorts. Instead I bought a power metre and enlisted the expertise of Anthony Shippard and his @peppercoaching crew to prepare me for a string of races in the second half of the year. Life is to short to pay heed to such ‘moments‘ and it is amazing what a bit of focus and accountability can do for your motivation. There is no cheating the bond between my Magellan Cyclo and my power crank, very important training information that is now so easily emailed to higher powers. Once again I damn technology for making me accountable. I am now two weeks from my first race since being introduced to power training so it will be interesting to see what unfolds at the Paluma Push (July 21st, Townsville).
Paluma Push 2013 course map
The Paluma Push is in its 12th year, a 75km (with a 42km option) point to point adventure mountain bike ride starting in Paluma Village and winding through World Heritage rain forest to Paluma Dam, down into big timber and open cattle country, finishing at the historic tin mining settlement of Hidden Valley. This year the event is sold out with 550 riders competing and a further 200 people attending as either spectators or support crew. In its 11 years the event has raised over $48,000 for the local Rural Firebrigades of Paluma and Waterfall Ck Rural Fire Brigade.
This is my inaugural Push and first race since acquiring the infamous power metre so fingers crossed all will go to plan. I am pretty damn excited to be heading north and riding what are reputed to be awesome trails in a slightly warmer environment than Noosa, but then several Townsville locals have told me Paluma can be frozing in winter, it is all relative!.