Post race pampering!

This week the Singapore buzz was the OCBC (Overseas China Banking Corporation) mass cycling event.  A full day of races and family leisure rides in Singapore center on closed roads.

On more than one occasion I almost gave in and dropped off the back of the bunch but somehow I managed to stay with it and took my turn at the front on a number of occasions (not everyone did though!).  My hardest times were at around 22km, after the turn, coming back towards the city with the sea on my left and around the National stadium with around 7km to go (after a stretch on the front).  At 5km, knowing the end was in sight, the pace picked up a little and I felt good. 

Seeing the Singapore Flyer (Singapore’s version of the London eye) meant that we were nearly there and as we turned onto the F1 circuit the sprint started – I pushed as hard as I could, the legs were screaming in agony but I crossed the line after 40km exactly in 1 hr 5 mins at an average of 37kmh.  I was really pleased with the time and particularly pleased that I managed to stay with the group and that we worked together (well, most of us) to achieve a decent time.

On analysis later my heart rate was banging away at an average of 173bpm and had a maximum of 190!  I remember that it was showing 110 on the start line!

I chatted with David McCann the Irish professional racer for the Taiwan-based UCI Continental team Giant Asia Racing team after the main race,  (Irish national road race champion in 2000, 2001 and 2006). He has also won the Irish national time trial championships 4 times – 2001, 2002, 2004 & 2005) and whilst chatting over his two punctures in today’s race (one when he was leading) he revealed that his average heart rate for the race today was also high at 170bpm – that made me feel a little better!

The pro race was exciting – Maclolm Elliot, the Downing brothers, Alex Rasmussen and a host of pro riders from pro teams contested a 90 min criterium. The heavens opened for the start of the race but the speeds were still furious.  The track dried mid way through and after a number of splits due to the frequent sprints for cash bonuses it was Australia’s David Pell who came through in the end.

Fri 20^th Feb 09        Joyriders – Friday ride         51km   1.50hrs         28kmh

Sat 21st Feb 09       Joyriders – Changi              90km   3.06hrs         29kmh

Sun 22 Feb 09          To and from OCBC race       26km   1.05hrs         24kmh

Sun 22 Feb 09          OCBC Race                        40km   1.05:30hrs     37kmh

Genting lived up to its reputation and showed me just how much work I have to do in order to get more bike fit.  We started the ride at Kuala Kubu Baru, 24km from the foot of Genting with another 26km to the summit.

The gradient, combined with extreme heat and humidity and really took it out of me.  Elated to reach the top but disappointed with my total time of 3hrs and 16 mins.  Our top rider (Neo) finished in 2hrs, 21 mins! I was the 11^th rider to roll over the line out of 17 finishers but there were another 9 riders who succumbed earlier and made the remainder of the journey in the broom wagon!

Seeing the Tour riders power up the hill was very humbling but after asking one of the Garmin riders how we found Genting in relation to other climbs he replied, ‘man that was the toughest f*****g climb I’ve ever done, in the world!’.  The stage, (five), was won by Columbian Serpa Perez who took the yellow jersey and kept it to the end 2 days later.

Fraser Hills the next day was a much more pleasant affair but still tough – a bit like the Peak District back in the UK but longer, steeper, hotter and with the added spice of wild monkeys eying up your energy bars and iPhone in your jersey pockets!

Sat 13^th Feb 09        Joyriders – Genting             51km   3.16hrs         15kmh

Sun 14^th Feb 09        Joyriders – Fraser Hills         115km 4.30hrs         25kmh

Unloading at Kuala Kubu Baru

Unpacking my baby!

Team Joyriders

Ready for the off!

Is that a smile or a grimace?

At the top with Tour De Langkawi Stage winner - Colombian Jose Serpa (he was faster than me!)

The podium girls!

Starting to feel sorry for the UK team now – a great week of sunshine here in Singapore and consequently, some good preparation for my Malaysian trip to the Cameron Highlands and Genting later this week. 

Three regular runs with my Joyriders buddies on Wed, Friday and Sunday but changed my usual Saturday ride for a longer ANZA ride.  An early morning 30km dash through the city before the usual Kranji run – but this time with 4 NTU (Nanyang Technological University) circuits which includes some nice gradient and adds some extra distance!

Wed 4^th Feb 09         Joyriders – Wed ride            51km   1.47hrs         29kmh

Fri 6^th Feb 09           Joyriders – Fri ride              51km   1.51 hrs        28kmh

Sat 7^th Feb 09          ANZA – Hills                       113km 3.55hrs         29kmh

Sun 8^th Feb 09          Joyriders – Breakfast run      74km   2.34hrs         29kmh

Hope the weather breaks in the UK soon.

Chris

Just finished a Turbo session. I managed 1hr 50minutes taking it fairly steady and watching Bourne Ultimatum – great film ( thanks David for the xmas present!)

There are 6 inches of snow outside and I had to wear my leg warmers to stay warm in the garage – not good! Forecast for the weekend looks like more snow and ice so it looks like another turbo session – I need to get some more DVDs to watch!! Looking forward to some warmer weather.

No substance to this blog other than to say how hot it is here in Singapore!

 Enjoy the snow!

Did my 1st long ride for this year, in very difficult conditions cold, windy and (even snow was falling for the part of the ride). In a race of around 100 people coming in 11th in a time of 3hrs and 47 minutes was not too bad. I did find the last 10 miles hard going, so I think a lot more training is going to be required to complete 1000 miles in 8 days.

We (Dave W, Dave E, Richard, Pete, Jamie, Chris B) had good ride out thru Buckingham this weekend to get used to the first part of the ride. At one point meeting up with a big club ride from Bicester. We will be heading out this way again over the next couple of weeks so watch out for us.

Since then its started snowing so we will all be training indoors I guess this week on the turbo trainers.

Wayne entered a 70 mile ride on sunday which he completed in good time – I didnt envy him that as it was freezing – too cold to be coaching the under 11’s rugby team that was certain.

Managed 4 rides this week.  I felt strong on Saturday but I tweaked my right hamstring somewhere along the way and although it doesn’t seem to be a real problem, the feeling was still there on Sunday, so, at the half way point I took the easy option/short cut home !! 

My weekend trip to Malaysia for Fraser Hills and Genting is coming up in 2 weeks time, the following weekend it’s the big OCBC 40km race – will take it easy over the next few days.  (any excuse!)

Wed 28^th Jan 09      Joyriders – Wed ride   51km       1.50hrs  28kmh

Fir 30^th Jan 09         Joyriders – Fri ride                51km       1.53hrs  27kmh

Sat 31^st Jan 09        Joyriders – Sat, Changi loop  85km       2.30hrs  30kmh

Sun 1st Jan 09        Joyriders – Sun, Mandai        38km       1.17hrs  30kmh