Taupo 2014 - Backing up

Stats:
153.1km  4:56:24 Moving Time  1,812m Elevation (?)

Avg                           Max
Speed 31.0km/h       70.2km/h
Cadence 92               127

Calories 4,000
Temperature 15℃
Elapsed Time 4:57:41


The day started almost exactly as the MetService had forecast, a cold start (around 7-8 degrees), strong and gusty southwesterly winds and possible showers, however the road was completely dry at this stage. I rode down to the start with Trace, Carl and Mondo. Already the wind was whipping up the lake making the easy ride in, not so easy. We went straight to the start chute, dropping Trace off with the DOC guys she was riding with and lined up near the front of group 2. Luckily the wind and cold didn’t seem so bad up on the main street (surrounded with hundreds of other cyclists) and the 50mins of standing around waiting to start passed OK but it still one of the worst parts of the event (you just want to get going!).

My basic plan was to go with the bunch and see how I felt.. and happily I found the pace not too hard and got myself near the front (15 – 20 wheels back) and tried to settle into a rhythm. I’d forgotten my HR strap so didn’t know how hard I was going (which might have been a good thing? ;-) Carl was right there with me (usually in front by a few bikes) but unfortunately didn’t see Mondo again after the start. The first 75k of the ride followed a similar pattern, sitting in the bunch, trying to keep near the front (but not too far forward to do any work ;-), save as much energy as possible, keep out of trouble and chat to Carl when possible.

At about 40k I said to Carl “hey that looks like Phil up there” and sure enough (and sadly for Phil) it was. He started a group (or 2?) ahead of us but already wasn’t enjoying his day. We both tried some words of encouragement (I assume Carl did ;-) as he slid back through our bunch. We didn’t see Phil again until after the ride. Waihaha climb was the first major climb test of the day and again I didn’t seem to have to go too deep to stay with the bunch (perceived effort that is) and Carl was up ahead of me but only 50 odd meters max (but always better positioned than me if the bunch had split.. some foreshadowing here ;-)

I had been analysing previous Taupo rides on Strava all week at work, so knew certain split times we needed to be on target for a Sub 5hr time and the Kuratau interchange was one of those spots. Last year 2.30, this year 2.24 so all was looking good.. apart from I’d just run out of water (finished my 2 bottles ahead of schedule and would have to wait 30mins until the Waihi water stop to refill). Approaching the hard left hand turn that leads to beginning of the Kuratau climb, I realised I had slipped a little bit back from the front of the bunch (and Carl) so attempted to move up but as soon as the climb started a gap appeared. I tried to bridge but failed and probably pushed a little too deep attempting to get across. At the top of Kuratau I was with other riders who had been dropped and I should have sat up and waiting for the bulk of the remaining bunch to sweep me up (only 30 – 40 guys had gone off the front and I’d estimate the group was at least 100 strong at the beginning the climb).

Eventually (it seemed like a long time but was probably 5 mins) a group of 8 – 10 rides came past and I hooked up with them but it felt like I’d spent a lot of energy for not much reward and on reflexion this 20min period of effort and no water came back to bite me… When I got to the Waihi drink stop (92km in) I got a real surprise to see Carl still there. He had filled his water bottles but also attended a call of nature at the porta-loos and was just about to head off when he saw me come in. In conversations after the ride Carl said he’d never seen me so flushed and his first thought was “he’s done” ;-)   I quickly got my bottles filled, dumped a cup of water on each leg and one over my head and got going again. Split to here was 3.03 compared to 3.06 last year and hopefully a helping wind to get me home to a PB?

As soon as I left the drink station I started guzzling water and gels.. and as soon as we hit the flat Carl went to the front and I tried to hang on as best I could. I was telling Carl to ease up (which he did) but I was already struggling to hold the wheel. By the time we got to the Turangi turn I told Carl if a bunch turns up, you jump on and don’t wait for me.. and sure enough a group of 4 or 5 came past, Carl got on but I had to ease up as I could feel cramp coming. From here I was pretty much survival mode, holding onto small groups when I could, keeping a high cadence, catching up on nutrition and stretching.. preparing for Hatepe.

Surprising I climbed Hatepe fine.. with no cramps. Yes it was a minute slower than last year but also a minute faster than 2011 and 2012. I also did a time check at the bottom of Hatepe : 4hrs 10mins, identical to last year so knew a sub 5 was still in the balance. I’d finished my water bottles again by the top of the climb (I’d drunk 2 bottles in about 1hr 15mins) but didn’t dare stop for a refill with only 20k to go. However my cramp was soon to return as I tried to up the pace on the long descent from the top of Hatepe, this time my right calf starting going but I just pushed on trying not to activate it by locking my ankle on the pedal stroke (but that didn’t really work ;-)

Luckily I found a couple of guys to work with on the run home but it was only when I was over the final small hump and about 3k from the finish that I thought it was in the bag (had about 9mins up the sleeve).. but I made really hard work of it. That last 2 – 3kms is right along the water front and the wind was whistling off the lake, and I had just let a fast finishing group go thinking “I’ll just cruise home from here..” but once I’d lost momentum it was impossible to get any back, with my speed getting down to 20kph at times. So after a momentary panic attack (“I’m not gonna make it!”) I  got over the line with just over 2mins to spare.

So the positives to come out of the ride :

The enjoyment of sharing 75% the ride with Carl 

I cracked 5hrs again but this time without the pacing of the Mt Eden group (which was always the big question mark over last year’s Sub 5)

I put myself in a position to post a 4.40 something time (as shown by Carl who did 4.45 riding in the same group)

I’m getting excellent at managing cramp (which I’d rather not be.. Trace reckons I should go to the Doctor and get some bloods done?)

Negatives :

Cramp and unfortunate that both Phil and Mondo didn’t have great days out. It was classic when Mondo found Carl and I after the ride, he walked over and looked completely shattered (probably what I looked like 5mins previous and 2 beers ago). Certainly no doubt that they both left everything out there on the day but just didn’t fire.. sometimes the hammer, sometimes the nail ;-)

Lessons :

Take another water bottle and if you get dropped, ease up straight away and wait for a bunch to catch you (ala Mad keen cyclist advice)