After some quality R&R over the Christmas break, I hopped straight back into Lead Out training for the start of 2016. Having had a couple of weeks off the bike during Christmas made me realise that Lead Out has become a big part of my routine – I really missed it! So it was good to jump in to January’s block of training that saw us completing time trial efforts in pairs at Richmond Boulevard, perfecting our sprinting technique along the straight at Albert Park and then heading out to Mount Eliza on the weekends.
In between training, this month has been a great time for spectating. Towards the start of January, I went to Buninyong to watch the Road National Championships. The course is a loop of approximately 10km that includes a long, steady climb popular with spectators. I could spot plenty of riders using techniques that we are taught in our climbing efforts at Lead Out, but they made it look effortless! It was really exciting to cheer on some other friends in the women’s bunch, and in the men’s race had an exciting breakaway that kept everyone on the edge of their seats until the final metres.
But the most fun was a bit of cheeky supporting with the girls from Fondo. We set up camp on the mountain with blackboards to write messages of support to the riders. As the race wore on, our signs became a little bit cheeky and received a positive response from the riders and fellow spectators. My favourites were – “once you go Jack, you never go back”, “ride like a girl”, “your p(l)ace or mine?”, “love your stamina – call me”, “don’t worry about this hill, you’ll get over it!”, and “marry me Richie”.
After watching Australia’s best, I headed over to Adelaide’s Tour Down Under to watch some of the world’s best. Seeing the photos from Lead Out’s amazing trips to France in July last year, I was keen to make my time at TDU 2016 as fun as their adventure seemed. And I think I got pretty close! The atmosphere in Adelaide during the Tour Down Under is something really special. There are lots of familiar faces around from the Melbourne cycling scene, and because the courses are within riding distance from the CBD, flocks of cyclists head out along popular bike routes to watch the race go past in different spots. Plenty of Lead Out members were around enjoying the great riding, and we’d often meet up for coffee in the morning before heading out that day. At the TDU, there are often opportunities to see the professionals up close. It’s amazing to think that they race big distances, day after day, at such a high standard. I’m definitely inspired!
Fresh from watching some great cycling feats, I’m ready to give next month’s training block my all. I’ve also got Lead Out’s Cyclo-Sportive series in my sights: check out the video and the Facebook page for a taste!
In 2013 Bridget won a competition to be our ‘Zero-to-Euro’ Sponsored rider. During the 12 months Bridge trained with us barely missing a session. She accepted any challenge that came her way and by the years end with thousands of k’s in the legs and numerous races and events she was truly ‘Euro’! Bridge joined as a member in 2014 and continues her monthly blog. Enjoy