A Note from Mum.

Right, here's the deal. Its TOO late. Don't think you can train for it now, its all over. Its 3 days away. On Saturday we will be driving approximately 5 hours from Melbourne to Mt Beauty with the anticipation of starting and finishing the Alpine Classics on Sunday 23rd of January 2011.... now this is EPIC.

I've changed my mind over and over again; I was in tears when I spoke to my mum about it. I've been tired for weeks (4 of them), I don't function well on 6 hours sleep let alone sleep that's interrupted by noise every two hours (or a muffin cat).

Mum is really supportive, she's actually amazing and she said I don't have to do it if I don't want to. She said I can go to relax to get away from her and not cycle and that it was totally up to me. She also said that I should ignore the peer pressure from the others that it wouldn't do me any good, she also reminded me that I've had two major crashes in one year and there was probably a third around the corner (thanks mum...).

She also said, "do you want me to write a note," and then she added, "just tell them to f--- off if there annoying you."

She keeps it real.

Last night I finally got some sleep, I woke up fresh and I felt good... I got my required 8 hours, I don't know how parents do it. I'm looking after my mum at the moment by cooking dinner and picking her up from work and driving her to work because she can't, and I think taxi's are a waste of money.

The last four weeks have been trying my patience (not that I have any), I didn't get my place at RMIT University for Journalism on Monday which bought everything crashing down by Tuesday. I am now happy with my place at the Australian Catholic University and will stay enrolled there and start on the 21st of February.

Points for the next 3 days -

• Stay hydrated - your muscles will thank you.
• Scared? Print out the profiles of the ride and stick them to a spare wall at your desk.

• Don't read the crap on the designated facebook group and avoid all communication with members of the team.. discuss anything but the Alpine Classics.
• In case of boredom sell Zipp 404's Clinchers to partially fund trip to the Baltimore in 2012.
• Decide on which kit to wear - I suggest your favorite kit, no I don't look as good in it as Tiffany Cromwell does and I don't plan on looking that good in it.
• Do NOT forget your cap - as seen here once again thanks to Susan for making such a PRO product for such a PRO Team.
• Don't talk strategy - there's only one strategy and that's FINISH

• Do read this post on Cycling Tips - it'll make you laugh.
• Russell should read this post.

In the meanwhile....

Mt Donna Buang; I dream of her often.

I think Mt Donna Buang was the first mountain I'd climb, it was either that or the 1:20, I'm not sure... but you know the storey behind it. We discussed it in the previous post.

Madgan and I where there on Sunday, we hadn't left early which was fine, I understand that other people have commitments, that sometimes I'm lucky to be able to just do what I want. 

You go to a mountain to climb and its what we did, I'd never ridden it with a Garmin before, so to know the first 6km - 7km was full of climbing that involved 8% to 15% gave me a shock.

First time back to Mt Donna Buang in 1 year and 16 days, the climb had never hurt so much, the heat was horrid and my calves where cramping and my feet where hot... new shoes, new saddle; makes an interesting mix for the first day back up a mountain.

The first time I climbed Mt Donna Buang the time was 2hours and 1minute, it sticks in my head because Gunlock beat me by a minute... no more and no less.

Mt Donna Buang for the uninitiated is 16km and an average of 6.2%.

Madgan climbed well, he was worried, he's gonna kick it at the Alpine Classics... it'll be good training for the cycle leg of all those Tri's he does... right?

I must count him as one of the best I've ever climbed with, Madgan and Pical take the cake, they are gentleman and my friends. We are so lucky to have them on this team, I'm so lucky to have the both of them...

Just in case you thought I was lying... there's no proof, I was there and so was Madgan, my calves still hurt and the summit is burnt into my eyes, I know where it is ,I know where I crashed... I know that Mountain and I will get my 1 hours 15 minute time back this year.

I'll train all winter. Thanks Assos.

French, Swiss... who cares! Aussie! Aussie! Aussie!

Cpical is by far one of my favorite people to go riding with and we've had a lot of cool rides together, mostly to Kinglake and then there was that inaugural trip to Mt Donna Buang.

I think the trip to Mt Donna Buang was one of the first trips we ever did with Cpical, we met him because of www.bicycles.net.au and we've pretty much been friends ever since. Wait. We first met Cpical at a forum ride that I had organised, he was waiting for his bike to arrive from Europe and was riding an old steel frame (and he was still better).

The trip to Mt Donnna Buang was interesting, me, Elmo, Gunlock and Pical... I think that was it, 3 bikes on the rack and one in the boot, Pical spent a lot of time borrowing one of Elmo's Specialized bikes.

That's Pical there on the right, web cam... very cool, way to go with the techno bro.

Poor Gunlock, lets just call him Gun, he rides an Oppy, and we really took the piss out of him, it isn't unusual for us to take the piss out of people. Sure, it may feel hurtful but do keep in mind that when we also take the piss out of ourselves as though it where an Olympic Sport... and yes, we are the best.

Pical doesn't seem to care how fast he rides or where he rides, the important thing for him is that he rides his bike. On almost all of our adventures he's always come back down the hill to pick the last of us (me) up and climb with the last person to the top at that persons speed.

He's also a silent achiever, I've seen Andrew try and beat PIcal many times on our Kinglake rides... its a recipe for failure, I'm considering putting cement in Pical's water bottles... he's the strong silent type and he will be joining us next weekend at the Alpine Classics aka oh-my-god-Pical-is-the-only-one-who-trained-and-the-rest-of-us-will-suck-not-that-that-any-different-to-usual.

Anyway whilst Pical is in Australia, I have declared that he is Australian!

Aussie! Aussie! Aussie!