My 2009 Cycling Year in Review

January
Two rides, both with serious climbs, started off the year. Murchison Gap (100k) and the Mt Wallace 150 were both ridden in mild conditions. Late in the month I rode my first true Audax 2.2.5 200k event which was held under extremely hot and trying conditions

Relaxing during a training ride @ Lismore, Vic.

February
The month started with a good ride in the ABBA 300 and also included a fast 100k at Maryborough.
 March
This month provided two of the years highlights,  a succesful Southern 600k at Heywood and the Fleche Opperman. This year teaming with Peter Donnan, Hans Dusink, Leigh Paterson and Frank Preyer.

Not One Moore - Oppy Team 2009
From Left: Leigh, Peter, Hans, George, Frank

 The Merrimu Meander 120k also  ensured I got my share of hill training.

Car Park finish for Mal's Merrimu Meander

April
My third Great Ocean Road 200k and a 100k at Malmsbury lead on to a 400k titled "You would have to be Crazy" at Lancefield. I really struggled on this ride which included rain, severe winds and cold. Peter Donnan pulled me through on this one which gave me my first Super Series for the Audax year.

Great Ocean Road finish

May
Two 200k rides for the month. Wheels on Fire at Drouin and Blackgate Saunter at Grovedale were both a bit of a struggle in cool to cold conditions.
June
Back to back 200k rides at the Queen Royal Tour at Creswick started the month. Day one was very wet and very cold, day two was very windy. A foggy start for the Wandong Winter Wander 200k rounded out the month.
July
Only one 200k ride in July, Gales East of the Prom at Foster provided a  wet ride down to Tidal River and a very scenic ride through the hills at the back of Fish Creek.
August
Three 200k rides in this month. The most memorable was Ballarat Bertie for the extremely high winds throughout the day. The King Parrot Creek ride took me through the Kinglake area devasted by bushfires 6 months earlier.
September
Spring into Seymour 200k lead on to a strong solo 300k ride in the Wild Wild West from Werribee. Mallee Routes 200k was a tale of two halves brought about by very high winds.
October
A tough hilly 200k to Noojee and a challenging Greendale Jaunt 200 Permanent laid the foundation for my highlight of the year for me. The Gran Tourissimo Series provided me with a second Super Series for the year, earnt in the space of 9 days. A bit of illness on the 400, a beautiful ride over Mt Hotham on the 200, a tailwind 300 and a hot and sleepless 600 made this series something to remember.

Setting off from Winchelsea 400k down 200k to go - Gran Tourissimo Quarto

November
A humid, wet and windy Indigo Classic 200 and a wet and windy Bellarine 100 startd the new Audax season.
December
The longer distance bug started biting so a 400k at Maryborough and a 300k Eildon Endurance finished off the year.

Total distance ridden in 2009 = 16, 444km