400km Training Weekend - pre 1600k Brisbane to Townsville Smiling for Smiddy ride.
We received the following story from Rob who is participating in this years 1600k Brisbane to Townsville Smiling for Smiddy ride. He though our readers might be interested in knowing how intense a 400k training weekend can be.
The Warwick training weekend has been and gone, and it was not without suffering.
Firstly arriving in Brisbane from Magnetic Island you notice considerably how much cooler it can be in Brisbane. I arrive at the bike shop to be fitted for the actual ride bike to be used on the big ride, and the first item I purchase is a pair of thermal arm warmers best thing ever, I even wear them here on Maggie in the early morning rides.
DAY 1:
0430hr start on Saturday morning to prepare for a 0600hr roll out from UQ Aquatic Centre St Lucia, slightly apprehensive about the ride ahead and the bunch, as this is the first ride with these guy’s (young guns). Last minute checks and adjustment to bike and introduction to the team, then the bell rings to roll on out from the warmth of the under cover car park. Bang it hits you, the cold air tears at your throat as you suck in air traveling at speeds of 32ks to 45ks these guy’s were keen to get to Warwick in a hurry.
I had no idea where I was in respect to suburbs, one thing I do know was that the course was not the most direct way to Warwick, you would see signs so many Ks to Warwick and sure enough we head off in the opposite direction to make up the 230ks for the day.
Half way through the day you knew you were working hard, the rolling hills were taking affect on me (I’m not the fastest up hill), but the bunch had ideas of not letting me fall behind, so the stronger riders rode along side of me with a hand on my back pushing me to the front uphill, Wow this technique is no mean feat, it makes you work so much harder than you would on your own steam, these guy’s are super and say it’s all psychological and it’s good training for them, I don’t believe that, I felt the push.
Lunch was a 40min break before the bell rings to roll again, the talk between all was what lay up ahead as some of these riders have passed this way before, CUNNINGHAM’S GAP, verging on the ridiculous, approximately 8-10Ks of 17% winding hairpin bends, has reduced riders to walking and if they successfully climb to the top could end throwing up. That was enough for me to digest, and I came to the conclusion to ride to the base of Cunningham’s Gap assembly area and then hop in the support car along with Falcon the person who chose this route, says a lot.
Sure enough the car ride up to the top fits the previous description RIDICULOUSLY torturous, but I arrive comfortably at the top. I then took it upon myself to hand out the recovery drinks to riders as they arrived, some were over achievers and were thankful of the ice cold drink, only to limp over handle bars and throw up, tough going.
Around 60ks to Warwick left to go, all are refreshed and keen to go, the speeds came back up to high 30s mid 40s once again, and it was a welcome relief to see that we were riding into the Bottle Mart Motel in Warwick around 1700hrs.
DAY 2:
Warwick back to Brisbane, early morning start 0515hr, step outside in cycling lycra in -1oC no fun in that. A great breakfast to fuel up on for what was installed for us on the return ride, a police escort out of town and through all the back country roads, and a couple of wrong turns, (no direct route again of course, we have to cover 220Ks this day, just a Sunday out for a leisurely ride) all these back roads lead us to the greatest down hill ride I have ever experienced, over 10ks of scenic gorge and forest. A free ride at speed in excess of 70ks (keep this quiet from Jill, she does not like me to go fast down hill) it was exhilarating; the ride bike was very sure footed and comfortable right through out the ride.
Back on the highways leading to Brisbane, and what you don’t want to hear is sounds of urgency back in the pack, and yes there was a crash a slight touch of someone’s rear wheel and down you go, fortunately no broken bodies just the loss of bark, that’s bad enough. We all regrouped for the last of the Ks to Brisbane, along the river area what could be describe as a relentless roller coaster of small hills close together, ride these at speed and you know you are working hard.
The grounds of St Lucia soon appeared and we rolled into UQ Aquatic Centre, back where we started from to the applause from waiting crew, family and friends congratulating all for their achievement. This ride was declared to be the best held together bunch and the fastest with an average speed of 28.8Ks, don’t I know it.
The Smiddy Ride have organized a doco film for the last number of years and the same for this year, but to my surprise they are doing a feature on those who are riding from regional areas – Mackay and Magnetic Island, as of Tuesday17/08/10, a photographer will arrive early to commence docoing, interesting.
And that’s a wrap up of how the ride went and what can be expected in the BIG ONE.
If you would like to help me along the way, please visit my Hero Page and make a donation for cancer research, and remember donating is easy; the ride will be hard for me, 8 days on the saddle 200ks a day.
I would like to Thank You Very Much in Anticipation for donating, to a very worth while cause.
Rob Jarvis.
Best of luck Rob, let us know how the event goes. - Jodie
