So i did tell last week of the biggest ride I've ever completed. I rode 134km for charity and I remember thinking "that was fun but it'll be a long time before i do that again". I'm even sure I told many others that same statement. But that only lasted a week.
On Saturday and Sunday I got invited to do the Murray to Moyne (M2M) with the Bendigo Feel Good road cycling team. For those who don't know they M2M is a relay bike ride going from Echuca through to Port Fairy (520km's) over 2 days. So when your not on the bike your traveling on the bus which follows you. I'm 100% certain they only invited me for 2 reasons.
1. I'm Robbie Oakenfull's older sister 2. They needed to make up numbers.
It was the best weekend I have had where I ended up riding just over 270km's over the 2 days. It was the hardest riding I have ever done.
The ride for my was all about learning and learning was really all I did, whether I was on the bus or on the Road.
The biggest lesson I learnt was head wind sucks and lucky for me my first 2 stages on the bike were both head winds. Position is everything with head winds, it is what will conserve your energy the most and never drop the wheel in front of you (learnt that one the hard way).
For me, I had never ridden in bunches before other then on track. everything is different on track then on road, from taking turns to the jargon spoken even the way you are meant to sit on your bike. These were all taught to me by different riders on my team.
While off the bus i was learning about nutrition and asking a million and one different questions.
So with Nutrition: Drinking is a must, ALWAYS, CONSTANTLY. Glucogen for energy and Endura to draw fluid into the cell both placed in the drink bottle as well as drinking water while on the bus. Tonic water is also a miracle worker for treatment and prevention of cramping.
CONSTANTLY EAT. Nothing heavier then a sandwich. "dog biscuits" were my favourite which leanne made (not actual dog biscuits). I found nuts a good and easy food to eat as well as bananas and watermelon. While I rode I ate those baby food in the squeezy packets, they were AMAZING and fast energy.
Just after riding: Stretching is a must, legs and shoulders mainly to keep muscles from cramping up or become stiff and sore. If you can a massage to regulate blood flow and remove metabolic waste such as lactic acid. Keep warm. Eat, Drink.
Riding jargon: "car back" "car up". "up the road" down the road". "passing". hand signals are handy to know.
Riding tips: Choose your gear so your dancing on the pedals so not pushing and not spinning. there is a happy medium which helps with long distance riding (best advice I've been given). Night riding although seems scary really isn't any different to day riding but a lot more fun.
Long winded explanation of what happened but considering none reads my blog and I am never planning on writing a book or becoming an English teacher, I see it as more a personal note on my achievements and a basic guide to what i am learning as I have come into this sport with knowing nothing and wish to push myself to my full potential.
Cycling is ever so slowly not being just a hobby or something I do, but is becoming who I am. I say this not to say I'm becoming a bike but that on the bike I am constantly being surprised by my capabilities of what i can do, what i can't do. Someone once told me "the tougher the ride the tougher the character".
As much as I could write bout cycling forever and especially this weekend I'd better do my actual homework. . .
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