Taupo 2017 - The FFC train

I jokingly sent this ride report to Carl last Thursday, "Rode smart, stayed in the bunch, beaut conditions, got a PB" and that's nearly exactly how it played out but that's getting ahead of myself.. lets start with the weather.

A week out the forecast was looking good "warm and overcast with a light Nor-Easterly wind, possible rain around or after lunch" and that forecast really didn't change all week and when we arrived on Friday it was sunny and hot. Luckily the day itself was true to the forecast and it was overcast but around 14 degrees even at 7am. I'm pretty sure it's the first time ever I've arrived at the start line with only one layer on, no warmers, shoe covers or vest... just bibs and jersey and the usual headband to mop up the sweat.

Carl, Gus and I said goodbye and good luck to Mondo and Tim and lined up at the back of group 1C. I noticed there was a large number of FFC kitted guys around us, a small group of Lone Star riders and coach (former Pro cyclist) Tim Gudsell just in front of us. Carl mentioned that Gudsell was in his bunch last year and was a calming influence, advising the leading guys when to back off etc. I took that as a good thing and hoped he might take the lead of our bunch today.

Soon enough we were off and the pace wasn't too hot, we slotted in near the front of the bunch about 6 to 8 wheels back. Carl's wife Vicki had brought the kids up to the intersection of Acacia Bay Rd and Poihipi Rd and they shouted out plenty of encouragement as we rolled by. When we turned on Whangamata Rd the pace still felt fine but as we took the first long descent I noticed a fair few of the FFC boys riding to the front. Once we started the peaky rollers of Whangamata Rd the pace definitely hotted up and although I was staying in the bunch, a few spilts appeared which I had to ride around and the legs started feeling the burn. Gus was sitting well up in the group (as he did all day) and Carl was 3 - 4 wheels ahead of me.

The turn off to Tihoi Rd means you've almost travelled 40kms (1/4 race distance) so is the first major check point. We were already averaging 32.5 whereas last year my average to this point was around 30, so I knew we were definitely on for a good time... if I could stay with the bunch. Around 50kms in Carl remarked "We've picked the right group, we're catching the bunch ahead" and sure enough they were coming into sight. When we hit Waihaha (the first of the 3 longer Taupo climbs) our group swamped the bunch ahead, and Phil was in it.. we gave him a quick shout out as we passed by. The first half of the climb was quick, as we made our way through the different paced riders but the second half of the climb settled down as the bunch took it's shape again.

From here until Kuratau climb (and 2nd big climb) the bunch settled into a good rhythm but the road is repeatedly up and down, not large climbs but repeated short hard efforts and I seriously wondered how long I could keep this pace up. At the base of Kuratau, Carl and I found ourselves behind a split and had to jump across a gap to the bunch. I totally expected the hammer to go down on Kuratau but we soon found ourselves safely in the bunch, climbing with the leaders... so had they sat up a bit or was it just one of those good leg days?

After cresting Kuratau still in the bunch, I started to reaccess my drink strategy. I totally expected to have been dropped by now and my plan was to stop at the Waihi drink stop and refill the bottles (as I've done every time I've ridden Taupo). I only had 2 bottles on the bike (full of Powerade) and a 400ml pump bottle in the back pocket, full of Redbull (the boost to get home ;-). I had around half of one bottle and hadn't started the Redbull but quickly decided I couldn't stop now... I'll push on and if I fall apart, so be it... but also reasoned that we were so far ahead of schedule that if I did blow up I could still go close to a PR. Carl asked me what time should we have at the Waihi drink station, last year I did exactly 3hrs, this year 2:45!

The biggest descent of the day, down to Turangi flats went without incident (or cars slowing us down) and the bunch settled into a strong but steady pace (around a 40kph avg 😉)  I found a good wheel to follow and was surprised how fresh I still felt. After about 20kms of flat, I turned to Carl and asked him how he was feeling, "really good" he replied with a smile and I said "I don't want to jinx it... but me too". As we hit the rollers just before Hatepe I could fell a bit of cramp creeping in so did some riding out of the saddle, took a large swig of Hotshot (the cramp stop stuff that I use) and that seemed to keep it at bay. I also stuffed most of my remaining food and drink into me, at least as much as I could handle.

Before we knew it, Hatepe hill was looming large (the last big climb of the day). Again for comparison, last year to this point 4hrs, this year 3:40. As soon as we hit the climb, Carl took off towards the front of the group, in pursuit of Gus (who was having a great day at the front of the bunch, we hardly saw him but knew he was up there). I settled into a rhythm that I hoped I could hold and latched onto a couple of the FFC guys. I was thinking if I can hold their pace at least I'll have guys to ride to the finish with. One of the FFC guys had a boom box in his back pocket and was blasting out some Shihad, which I appreciated. The climb went as well as it could (no cramp, yay!) and I crested with a couple of FFC guys behind me but the main bunch was already 500mtrs up the road. I pedalled easyish for a bit and soon enough a train of FFC riders came past, surprisingly about 8 - 10 of them and they were honking. I quickly got back up to speed and jumped onto their coat-tails.

As we dropped off Hatepe, I got myself into a good tuck and hit my fastest speed of the day (just over 80kph) and moved up in the bunch, just behind FFC who were taking turns on the front. I could see we were reeling the main group back in and soon enough it was "grupo compacto", so I positioned myself near to Carl to let him know we had come back. The last small obstacle of the day is the airport hill. In the past this bump has nearly broken me, and cramp almost always arrives... this year I hardly noticed it as the bunch powered on up the slope. By this stage we knew that we had smashed our PR's and no matter what happened from here, we were going to be well under 4.30. Then disaster.. about 5kms from the finish we saw Gus pulling out of the bunch, looking down at his crank and chain.. I yelled some encouragement as we sped by. Somehow he had shipped his chain and had to pull over to get it back on. Luckily it only took a minute to do but by then our bunch was gone. It would have been great to finish together and was a shame as Gus had ridden a perfect race all day.

In the final handful of kms, a few guys were dropping out of the bunch (or we were picking up slower riders and spitting them out) so we had to do some weaving to keep ourselves near the front. Carl said to me, "if we keep in the bunch, we'll go sub 4.20" so I thought right, lets gets some of that.. and made a final push along the water front. Luckily the bunch seemed very sensible heading into the final corner and there was no way that I wanted to try to sprint for the finish, having never seen the front of the bunch all day. But apart from that, what better way to finish than side by side with your training partner (for the 2nd race in a row) and that's exactly what happened, side by side with smiles for the camera (as Vicki had position herself and the kids perfectly just after the finish line, for the money shots ;-)

Final stats, time 4:18, avg speed 35.4, HR avg 152 max 175.

Obviously it couldn't have gone any better for us but the day was deflated with the news of Tracey's crash.. the only good point was she didn't break anything. I never thought a time like that would be possible for me, I was realistically targeting 4:35, a sub 4:30 was a stretch goal and I honestly would have been happy with anything under 4:40… so “happy” with the performance doesn’t quite cut it 😉

K2 2017 - Mizzle all day

This was my 7th K2 start and while I always enjoy the challenge (I must do as I keep coming back 😉), I’ve never really had a good day out where everything has gone to plan. I’ve had many a disappointing ride on this course (but most completely of my own doing), ranging from mechanical mishaps like punctures or a broken derailleur cable or last years flat Di2 battery, to physical melt-downs; usually by starting too hard or pushing too long to stay in a bunch but always ending in a cramp-fest and limping to the finish. My training had been going well this year and I am a couple of kilos lighter than last year so I was optimistic of a good result but also realistic to know not to get ahead of myself.

So results wise, I’ve never gone under 7hrs but also had never been over a 8hrs, except the broken derailleur cable which resulted in a DNF.

The day’s weather didn’t start well, a misty drizzle had set in and didn’t really look like it was going to clear either but there wasn't much wind, so that was good. The rain doesn't really bother me but knew you’d have to watch the descending more than ever and give other riders plenty of space. Carl decided that we should ride together, although he's a stronger than me but he just views K2 as prep for Taupo, so he dropped down from group 5 to my group 7 (which is aiming for 6.20 - 30).

The bunch started at a reasonable pace but I was mindful of starting too quickly (and not make the same "fast start" mistake, again) so found myself at the back of the group after Kuaotunu but still in contact. Myundermans is the next climb and gaps were opening but I was trying to ride my own pace and not get caught up chasing and pushing too hard, too early. Over the top of Myundermans Carl decided we should bridge the gap that had opened and charged down the descent... and gaped me! so while he made it comfortably across while I got caught about 20mtrs off the back. I sat up pretty quickly when I could see I couldn't make it to the main bunch but teamed up with some other stragglers to work together. I assumed at this point I wouldn't see Carl again but I wasn't worried or offended, as we'd discussed pre-ride that we might get split and if that happened, just to ride our own races.

Most people know that Whangapoua is the hardest climb on the K2 course and it was next on the menu. My new small group of about 5 worked it's way there with minimal fuss, everyone contributing but wary of the climb ahead. Soon enough we were on Whangapoua, I just tried to find my own rhythm and to keep it steady. I was on my own at the top but who should be waiting for me but Carl. I was surprised and happy to see him. From here and right down the coast we worked together, picking up the odd rider but generally riding as a twosome. 

About halfway down the Thames coast 2 strong riders (Dougal and Hamish) caught us and we worked with them to the Kopu turn and onto the longest climb. I was feeling it when the road tilted up and felt I needed to let these guys go and recover a bit. Carl could have pressed on with them but hung back with me and I appreciated it. Over the top of Kopu the rain had returned and I was freezing on the descent and for the next 10 - 15kms I had my worst patch of the ride. 

Again Carl was a trooper and he towed me along the flats on the way to Tairua whenever I couldn't maintain the pace of the passing bunches. About 10kms from Tairua a massive bunch of riders, mostly the same club (which I can't remember their name now), came past so I thought I'd try to get on the back and happily my legs responded enough to hold on, good times. We stuck on the back of this group all the way through Tairua, to the last big obstacle of the day, Pumpkin hill. I soon lost the wheel as we hit the climb but pressed on at whatever pace I could manage, disappointed I couldn't keep with this group as it would have been a sweet ride to the finish. 

Signs of cramp had been coming on for a while so eating and drinking was my priority now but as we got to Sailors Grave Road, the big bunch had pulled over together and were handing out fresh drink bottles and generally regrouping. What luck for me, if I could just get over the rest of Pumpkin ahead of this group then maybe we could get that tow to the finish... and that's the way it panned out, the big bunch picking us up a couple of kms after the base on Pumpkin and we hung in with them right the way to the line.

From about 20kms from the finish I knew we would easily go sub 7 and as the kms clicked past, our time was looking better and better.. eventually the finish line was there and Carl and I hit it together...   final time was 6:41:08 and Carl got exactly the same, to the second.

Obviously I have Carl to thank for his selfless efforts and it was great to finish a big ride together, especially after all the training we do with each other. Both Hamish and Dougal had ride times around 6.28 so i reckon that's where Carl could have finished, had he not waited for me. But personally it was a great feeling to finally get the sub 7hr monkey off the back and do it with a bit to spare.. and I'm sure I'll be back again next year to try again, did somebody say 6.30? 😀