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Since the start of the year, I've been riding to work two or three times a week.  It's a 53Km round trip, mostly flat, mostly on bike paths, and reasonably safe.  The ride home is always a little tiring because there's a long(ish) hill 3/4 of the way home.  I always find it tough, but I always make it without having to get off and walk.

I hadn't realised that riding with a weight (backpack with laptop) and regularly climbing a hill actually improved my riding significantly.  I guess it's one of those things you don't notice until you're a) not riding with a weight and b) not riding up a hill.

In most states, March is Bike Week, and Bicycle Queensland did a pretty good job of it this year.  I participated in the Great Brisbane Bike Ride, something I've done for the last three years.

To summarise my last two efforts - the first year was done on my old mountain bike.  I collapsed somewhere like 10Km into it and sat on the side of the road gasping while my mother and BestMate rolled their eyes and told me to harden up.  I eventually got back on the bike, but I struggled the whole way.  The worst part was a hill in Dutton Park that was so steep it caused my legs to instantly cramp and I had to walk up it.

Last year, I rode The Noble Steed, and did a much better job of it.  I didn't struggle until near the end, and that hill defeated me again - although I did make it halfway up before my legs gave up.

This year, I rode The Beast into town to the start line (rather than drive in, as I'd done in the past).  I did the official ride almost effortlessly, and that hill was finally conquered!!!!!!!!!!!  I put it into the easiest gear, and stood up all the way.  It was tough, but my legs didn't conk out and I made it all the way up!  By the end of the ride, I'd done 65-odd Km and was feeling just fine.

Now that's gotta be from doing all the extra riding to/from work.

I stayed off the bike for five days after that ride - mostly due to lack of motivation.  Anyways, I rode into work last Friday and every pedal stroke was an effort.  Note to self:  Do not follow long rides with consecutive days of inactivity.  Although I made it to work, the ride home was less than stellar.  I ended up having to get MaxBabe to pick me up halfway home because I just couldn't face that long hill.

During the drive home, I got a phone call from this chick I've been wanting to ride with for ages, but haven't been able to due to conflicting schedules. So when she suggested we go for a ride on Saturday, I didn't hesitate. The conversation went something like this:

BikerChick: Let's go for a ride tomorrow!
Max: OK!
BikerChick: Let's ride out to Redcliffe (a 50Km ride)!
Max: OK!
BikerChick: And let's ride back from Redcliffe (100Km round trip)!
Max: OK!
BikerChick: Seeya!
Max: Bye!

Max (to MaxBabe): WTF did I just agree to? I have a huge ride on Sunday!
MaxBabe: Better HTFU, babe.

Anyways.. I went on the Redcliffe ride with BikerChick and managed to do 104Km all up.  The long ride I mentioned above was the Ipswich 100.  In hindsight, I really shouldn't have done the long ride on Saturday, because the Ipswich 100 was 100 kilometres of gruelling, punishing, unrelenting, hill-climbing hell.  I was doing OK at the first stop. By the second stop, I was starting to hurt. By the third stop, I'd run out of gas, and all but collapsed. I wanted so badly to get on the sag wagon and be done with it. I just couldn't face another 25Km of cycling hell. My mother (the former world-class triathlete) shamed me into completing the ride, so I sat on her wheel the rest of the way. It was tough. I had to stop four or five times during that last leg just to get my mojo back. But we finally made it to the finish line.

I recorded the whole thing with my iPhone's CycleMeter app.  You can see the route here:  http://ridewithgps.com/trips/25878. 10.3% maximum grade!

My mum really is a machine. She was struggling by the end though.. but that's only because she hasn't been on a bike since January! I've long maintained that the only way I can keep up with her is when she's been off the bike for ages. The same goes for BestMate. One day I will become a better cyclist! Until then, I will fall back on writing about my rides on this blog! 

Though I was a little sore Monday and Tuesday, I'm feeling pretty good overall.  It's the first time I've done back-to-back 100Km days.  I'm pleased that I survived the Ipswich 100, though in all honesty, I doubt I'd willingly do it again.  It was really tough, and I stopped enjoying it somewhere after the 50Km mark.

That said.. I've signed up for the Brisbane To Ipswich ride, which is in mid April.  That ought to be a good ride!