A couple weeks ago a reader asked a question that every aspiring bike racer wonders at some point: “How do I make the leap to A-Grade?”
Q: I’m currently a B grade rider (not placing but finishing with the bunch), and would like to be able to try and work my way up to A grade by the end of the year. I ride up to 300k a week, but this will depend on my work load.?It seems like a very broad question, but how would I be able to achieve this outcome? A combination of the right Diet and Riding I assume – but is that it? Some guidance in the right direction would be greatly appreciated.
I thought this question would be a good one to let Rob Crowe answer. He’s out there creating A-Grader champions every day and he’s been through this a thousand times. Crowie has competed at the top level of the sport I learn something every time I ride with him. He also rides a Parlee! A very wise man indeed…
Everyone in Australia will know of the Black Saturday bushfires that killed 173 people and destroyed over 2000 homes one year ago. Unfortunately the people who didn’t lose their homes weren’t much better off. Whole towns were completely erased. Only when you go into the areas you’ll gain an appreciation for the magnitude of this disaster. I’m sure everyone who lives in Melbourne knows someone who was directly affected.
The areas that were hit by the bushfires are some of the best riding grounds in the country (I realize how selfish that sounds in the context of what happened and don’t mean to downplay it). I absolutely love it out there. Since the fires we’ve been conscious to keep our distance and have only visited there a few times. This weekend we made a point of going there to pay our respects and leave some money behind in some of the community cafes and bakeries. Here is the route we took. This is one of my favorite rides.
I couldn’t go another day without talking about 20yr old Jack Bobridge breaking the world record for the individual pursuit this week. And he had only done three track training sessions after the TdU prior to his record. What a legend! To be accurate, the world record holder for the pursuit is Chris Boardman but he used the superman position which has been outlawed by the UCI.
After riding through debris use your bidon to rub your wheels clean instead of using your hands. This will save wear on your gloves and avoid getting slivers getting caught in your fingers.
If you don’t have a tyre lever to fix a puncture try using the quick release part of the skewer.
Instead of trying to wipe your sunglasses clean from sweat with your jersey, just pour water over them and give them a shake. You won’t risk scratching them and they’ll dry without spots or smears.
When riding beside someone and you need to look backwards put your arm on the shoulder of rider next to you. This will give you a sense of reference to keep riding straight ahead.
Tip for cleaning jockey wheels: Let the chain pull a wipe into the derailleur and when gets stuck there it’ll clean as you turn the chain. Then just push the derailleur until it is straight and pull the wipe out.
Open your energy bars before you start your ride or race. This way you won’t need to fiddle with them while you’re riding and it’ll make you eat more frequently.
Use babywipes to clean your bike, shoes, chain….nearly everything. I don’t know what they put in these but there’s no better thing on earth to keep your gear clean.
I’ve just posted over at Fairfax (The Age, SMH, Brisbane Times and WAtoday). Feel free to go over there and have a look at my post “Engage With The Traffic”. I’m keen to hear your views on this.
Kinglake at the crack of a sparrows ass to beat the heat. It looks spectacular this time of the morning. – Graeme Pereira
This weekend will mark the first anniversary of the Black Saturday bushfires. The roads that go straight through the devastated area are some of Melbourne’s best riding areas and my favorite training grounds. Glad to see the people are getting back with their lives and the forest is starting to recover.
On another note, a fellow Canuck emailed me yesterday asking my advice. He and his wife are making the move to Australia for a bit of adventure, riding, job opportunities (healthcare and hi-tech) and great weather. They’re deciding between Melbourne, Adelaide, and Brisbane. Sorry Sydney, you didn’t make the shortlist ;-) Of course I recommended Melbourne if they want all of the above and more (I’m awaiting a “great weather” wisecrack. It’s all relative…). Anyone have any other tips for them?
Patron of the Peloton – My friend Brad coined this term and it’s come up in discussion a few times over the recent weeks. The “patron of the peloton” (POTP) essentially refers to the figurehead of any bunch ride. He’s not necessarily the best rider, but he is the most respected and the unspoken leader. He’s the guy who shouts “piss stop!” and everyone stops. He is the guy who is able to say “single up!” and everyone singles up. Nearly every bunch includes one rider like this and it’s always handy to know who this person is.
I’m a huge Jens Voigt fan and love to watch him ride a bike. His affable personality off the bike and his eagerness to inflict pain on himself and others is infectious. He is a hard man who doesn’t take himself too seriously and I think that’s what we all love about him.
I laughed so hard at his “Shut Up Legs” comment and I thought it would make a great t-shirt. I’m trying to get in touch with Jens just to make sure he’s cool with it (I don’t want any lawsuits coming from him or Saxobank).
In any case I’m going to get one of these t-shirts made for myself. If anyone else wants one I’ll add you to the list. I’m guessing that these tees will be less that $60 but the exact cost will largely depend on quantities (thus the voting button below). It’s going to be a good quality t-shirt, I can promise you that. The design isn’t finalised yet but it will look something like the photo. Suggestions are welcome. Thank you to Robert Rychter for passing Jens’ quote on to me.
Do you want me to order you one too? I’ll give a selection of colors to choose from when we get to the ordering process.
State of Origin – NSW vs VIC up Willunga Hill(Photo Leigh Schilling)
My head has been left behind in “Radelaide” this past week. I had such a great time at the Tour Down Under and I can’t take my mind off it. In fact, we’ve been privileged to a mind-blowing past couple months of cycling here in Australia. I know the theme of this site is “Cycling Tips”, but all the action that’s been taking place so close to home has been hard to ignore. This blog simply writes itself during times like this!
Before TdU fever dies down I wanted to take the opportunity to tell you more about our experience in Adelaide. Where we stayed, recommended rides, the best way to watch the race, etc. I went to the TdU last year but unfortunately I had to come home early and missed most of it. This time I got the full experience and it might be useful to pass on for those thinking about making the trip next year.
State of Origin – NSW vs VIC up Willunga Hill (Photo 
