Motoring at Mt Cotton

Sunday proved to be another successful day for the QSM girls.  The Mt Cotton race, organised by the Wynnum-Redlands Club, is a once-a-year chance to race on the car driver training circuit, and is often a great day.  Unlike last year, it was a dry overcast day, without any crashes.  Jemma again proved to be the one rider to beat in the Women's B&C race. 

After a massive 150km ride and 2 races on Saturday, she backed up in fine form on Sunday.  She and three other girls broke away from the bunch about half way through the race.  Jemma probably did a bit too much work on the front of the break, and finished second overall.

Our Women's A race was combined with the Elite B men, and this made for a fast-paced 70 minutes with around 40 riders on the track. 

Jane W, fresh from her win at the Wellington to Auckland Tour in NZ last month, outclassed strong local A grade rider Amy Schramm to take the overall honors. 

And although I had some good form, muscle cramps unfortunately got in my way on the bell lap, and I finished in third place. 

Claire (while still injured and waiting for her new bike) was there in spirit too, armed with her trusty camera!  On the whole, another splendid day for QSM/Upper Limb/Velo/DWBH.

Summer Series Criteriums 2012

After rain again all week, the sun came out for the first round of the 2012 Crestmead Criteriums; an annual event held by CQ and the Logan Cycling Club.  This year, more entrants than ever before will race over 3 consecutive weekends. 

It was really pleasing to see about 20 women in each of the women's A and B&C combined divisions.  Our team for 2012 (= QSM racing/Upper Limb/Velo/DWBH) was well represented by Claire (I'm-going-to-attack-any-chance-I-get) Trembath and myself in A, and Jemma (I-have-never-raced-with-this-many-girls-before) Brown in B.

In the A grade race, the new Pensar/Hawk team controlled most of the race, although many other strong riders did their best in opposition to this. 

Kirsty Broun lead out a well-timed break about 2/3rds of the way through the race, to help Katrin Garfoot and Amy Schramm stay away for 1st and 2nd.

In the B grade race, Jemma's enthusiasm and improving fitness allowed her to win both the Prime and the final overall bunch sprint.  This weekend will see her defend the jersey!

Bikes!

When I used to scuba dive a lot, I loved photos of fish and other undersea life.  Now that the main hobby is cycling, I love photos of bikes!...

Check out this web site if you have some time...
http://www.fixedgeargallery.com/

In the meantime, I have respectfully "stolen" some photos for you...

And I will end this post with a bit of humor (not my photo either), but a reminder to be safe out there on the roads...

New Bike... Thanks Velo, Thanks TREK

Not much to say (... I am almost speechless!) except that I am completely delighted with the new 'pony'...

Trek Madone Project One custom frame...

definitely worth the 3 month wait to get it here to Australia. (Ordered it in November, due in late Feb, and then it arrived early!). 
Thanks so much to Brant and Sasha for helping me with the choice (nicest bike sales people on the planet, and I am not biased just because I get to work with you!) and to Bevan for building it up for me (best bike mechanic ever, even if you are from NZ!).  Thanks also to Kerry from Trek Bicycles Australia.

Just beautiful.  Can you tell I am in love with bikes!

2010 Amy Gillett "Share The Road" Tour

So now that I have my health back consistently, it is time to do something worthwhile.

I will be part of this 6 day, 832km ride, aiming to raise a total of $350000 for the foundation.
http://www.sharetheroadtour.com.au/

It is a really worthy cause, and you can see why I am participating in this ride (and you can also donate to the AGF) via this page:
https://www.registernow.com.au/agf/Donate.aspx?F=342

If you need more info on the foundation,
please read:
http://www.amygillett.org.au/
and
http://www.cyclingtipsblog.com/2010/04/what-does-the-amy-gillett-foundation-do-anyway/

Canberra adventure coming up

In less than two weeks time, I will go from this

and this

to this

and this

and then back to this.

Although it will include some hard work, I am hoping the trip is also filled with some memorable times and the making of some stronger friendships.

What a bike!... thanks Velo!!!

As I have said before, I am not a bike reviewer but after just a few rides on my new Time Edge Pulse, I can say that I am very impressed!...

But I haven't ridden another dozen carbon fibre bikes, so maybe I am biased? All the same, it rides exceptionally. Infact I just can't think of how it could be any better.

There is something uncanny about its ability to float up climbs and over rough roads. The carbon frame is stiff and light, but somehow shock-absorbing too. Our 185km ride on sunday proved to me its reported "all-day comfort and performance". And it steers so nicely with such precision and balance, and is amazingly stable at all speeds... I felt like I descended Mt Mee at twice the speed I normally would!

Riding was already excellent in the past, but it this has just put everything another level up again!
(and before you ask... 3T carbon bars and stem; bontrager carbon seat post; Ultegra groupset & Fulcrum 5 training wheels).