RIP Trouble

Memories of all the happy times we shared.

I heard a noise when I ironed my shirt this morning and thought it was you coming in through the cat flap ... and then I remembered ... and tears filled my eyes. The house feels empty without you. I'm missing your cheeky face peaking around the kitchen door corner and your demanding little meow at dinner time. Good bye little one.
We love you and will remember you.

'Your ass is getting sexier'

... is what he said before he took off to Adelaide. Happy memories of last year's Tour Downunder and I wished I could have gone, too.

Well into 2010 ... and this blog shows three entries.

Some other friends reticent, too ... and I understand.

Words eloquently describing my daily grind ... I'm not inspired to search for them.

But I haven't been all that idle.

With the weather so beautiful and the tan lines so prominent - still - after six weeks of sporadic riding, we headed to the beaches often in the past few weeks. An attempt to even out the skin tones and surfing is a great sport, too.

And then, after weeks of rest and another couple of weeks of procrastination, I started cycling again this week.

I also wrote an article about saddle choice that was published in Brisbane's Dawn Magazine. It's a bi-monthly publication aimed at women pursuing an active lifestyle and has some pretty inspiring stories. I found the article about women, sport and hormones on page ten very interesting. Check it out if you have a spare minute.

And back on the whole 'ass is getting sexier' subject that wasn't actually an issue until he mentioned it. It's not a good thing when a South American says it to you! Not when sexier translates into bigger in a 'the skinnier the better' female cyclist's mind.

It's Mum's fault. She keeps baking German butter crumble cakes. There was only one solution to my "impulse control' problem. I booked a nice little hotel in Cairns, about 1700 km north in tropical north Queensland, and sent them on a 'holiday from their holiday' for a few days. That was before I knew about Olga. I checked the latest weather warnings and the cyclone is just about to hit the coast some 95 km north of Cairns. I hope nobody gets hurt. For my parents a story to tell back home I suppose.

So all would be good if just my cool little cat wasn't sick. He is old and it has been on the cards for a while but I pray he'll make it through what could be a chest infection or lung cancer. Either way it's not looking good right now.

He snuck into our lives over eight years ago - unexpectedly - and then our hearts - expectedly - and the thought that it may be time to say Good Bye is making me very sad.

Seeing him hanging on a drip at the vet or laying listless on the veranda, only skin and bones, and stressing him when giving him his medication just about breaks my heart. But he's a tough little bugger and he might surprise us all.

Bad ass girlz team?

Last Sunday a few Hamilton club girls met for an ‘all girl's ride’. The text said "easy to Sandgate" so I thought: An hour and a half, two hours the most! Hadn't seen Suz, Donna and Mel since before Bright...

The four of us set off at three and when Mel said "Scarborough" I knew immediately that it wasn't going to be only two hours. She showed off her bruises from a race crash two weeks early and then pushed the pace. She always makes me feel like a real sissy. Note to self: Must train with her more often...

We stopped at Redcliffe. It was too hot for coffee. We stopped for Gatorade and water, chatted for a while and continued on. I so enjoyed myself, but felt a little guilty for leaving AMR and my parents waiting. It was just one of those afternoons where I could have continued on forever, fast, slow, hard, easy ... I didn't care as long as I pushed the pedals.

One by one the girls said 'good bye' as the sun was setting, Mel at her house along the waterfront and Donna at a roundabout, and then it was only Suz and I for the last ten kilometres. The conversation turned to racing, race goals for the next season, coaching and the ‘girls team’. The Hamilton club has strong, talented and, most importantly, motivated and keen girls. We could do well in races this year.

The idea of a HPRW girl’s team was born late last year when we raced the team time trial. We don't just have enough talented girls for one team but even for two teams in two different categories. A girl's racing kit was submitted to the club for approval but the last word was that it was rejected. "Why do we need another race kit just for the girls?"

Suz said that someone should take the 'team thing' into the hands otherwise it won't happen. I asked who that 'someone' should be and while speaking the words it dawned on me what the answer might be. I got the answer I expected (feared?). In her opinion Donna or I should manage the teams.

She said it would be sad to loose me to another team.

I had told her before Christmas that the team that AMR is joining this year also extended an invitation through him to me. I really like their female riders and would love to race with and for them and the whole idea of AMR and I racing for the same team appeals ... but at the same time I never did the team racing thingy. I'm nervous. And noncommittal.

But I feel attached to my club and I love the girls in the club. They are all inspiring, gutsy, kick ass riders. All of them! I know them a lot better than the girls in the other team and believe that HPRW girls will clean up this year – team or not.

So what's stopping me from putting my weight behind the HPRW team idea? Two things: I have no clue how to manage a cycling team! And I doubt I could commit - funny that! - with a full time job, training and coaching... Oh, talking about coaching: I haven't mentioned that, yet, have I? About a month ago I started coaching! A whole new world is opening up. It’s an amazing perspective from the other side … and it’s by far not as easy as I thought!

And talking about lack of commitment - maybe I should have called this post 'commitment problems'? - my own training hasn't quite taken off as planned ... yet. After the long break and with the racing season seemingly far away I find it hard to commit myself to early morning starts.

I’m excited about 2010 but my excitement doesn’t quite translate into motivation to train. Right now I’m more excited about tomorrow when I will take my parents yet again to the beach … another beach … down south ... for a change. The weather is supposed to be just perfect!

No more!

The moment of truth came today in unexpected form and shape. While I put the dishes away Dad marched into the kitchen armed with ...

THE SCALES!

The kitchen door was blocked by Dad's big frame and Mum looked scared in the corner. Dad looked determined but I saw him taking a deep breath.

Starting weight: 89.5 kg
Current weight: 90.1 kg

Encouraged by his good result I bravely stepped on the scales:

Starting weight: 55.4 kg
Current weight: 55.9 kg

Something to brag about, indeed. But seriously, that was unexpected with all the cakes I ate and all the wine I drank over the past four weeks. The secret? I skipped a few dinners here and there after an especially rich afternoon cake, which might have helped.

The cat was next. He was the biggest looser despite eating heaps and I'm worried. He has been sick in early December and I feared he wouldn't see the New Year. He made a recovery but is still only 2.8 kg, down from 4.2 kg. I suspect him using the wind trainer secretly at night when we are asleep.

Next and last in line was Mum. I don't think it appropriate to reveal her weight here but let's just say that she was the biggest winner and fell below the yellow line. She is enjoying her holidays and so she should!

My diet will have to change now with the base training about to start. No more cakes. No more pasta, breads and carbohydrate-rich foods of the holiday season (sigh)! No more red wine.

Base training diet is diet higher in fat (yes, fat!) content; good fats of course that come from avocados, nuts, olive oil and fish.

Queensland Style

It's quiet in the house. Strangely quiet. My parents took the bus into the city. By themselves. I didn't argue. I hadn't planned on time to myself. Now I'm a bit shocked how quiet it can be.

People usually don't believe when I say I'm an introvert. I know it from the way I recharge my batteries, by having "me" time. Time for myself keeps me sane, yet, it feels unreal to be home alone now after weeks of mixed German and English and Brazilian chatter.

Here I sit now in this silent house and try and write an article about saddles for a magazine. 600 words! By tomorrow! But my thoughts keep wandering back to the dog. He was a beautiful Rottweiler. Huge. And I don't even know his name. The new year hadn't been an hour old when we spotted him, running smack bang down the middle of this, at other times busy, four lane road. The fireworks had just finished and we were on our way home. He was lost. Confused. Scared. And exhausted. This picture of him, looking up to Alberto with his big black droopy eyes, trusting and hopeful that we would help him find his way home. He had no chip or details on his collar. We took him to the vet place that is open 24/7.

I missed my last opportunity for a ride in 2009. A year of missed rides and four weeks of no riding at all and I figured I didn't need to change the theme of 2009 on it's last day.

2009 went out in style. Queensland style! We had an amazing day and it didn't involve bikes. It involved sand and water and sunshine. That's how cross training should look!

Warning! This video could upset people in the Northern hemisphere.

We spotted bikes parked by the beach. These guys carry their surfboards in style.

And because I did take this long break after climbing off my bike on top of Mt Hotham almost a month ago and because I didn't panic about loosing all my fitness, I feel now refreshed and ready and I made ambitious plans for the 2010 racing season. I took the first opportunity for a ride in 2010. The year was 12 hours old and I got told off for riding too fast. Fresh legs and a fresh mind feel amazingly good.

My annual training program is set and training will resume on Monday!