Cadel

Preparation, Concentration, Determination and GUTS.
The only way to describe the way Cadel Evans has ridden the tour this year.

Congratulations Cadel!

Eureka!

Yesterday 23rd July I rode a new permanent. Eureka Dales takes in locations such as the Eureka Stockade in Ballarat as well as dale towns, Smythesdale, Scarsdale and Teesdale. It is by no means a flat course and a lot of the climbing on this one is gradual. Steepest sections include the rise out of Morrisons on the road to Elaine, Furness and Eastwood streets in Ballarat, the climb out of Rokewood Junction and my favourite climb out of Shelford. In comparison to my previous permanent a fortnight ago the conditions were excellent. Foggy around Meredith and Elaine, sunshine by Ballarat, and just a light headwind and a little chill on the way out to Smythesdale. The undulations on the ride had my legs tiring a little towards the end. My past month of training aside from the Wandong Winter Wander and Greendale Jaunt permanent have been indoors where it is hard to replicate hill climbing. I finished the ride in 8 hrs 44 mins.

Foggy around Elaine

Blue Bridge Road

Sunshine at Eureka Stockade

Greendale - What a blast!

10th of July I rode Greendale Jaunt permanent. It was one of the harder days I have spent on the bike for a very long while. The wind out of the west was gale force for most of the day reducing my speed to a mere 12kph when it was in my face. I was drowned in an hour of torrential rain towards the end of the ride. As the ride drew to a close in sodden clothes I was chilled to the bone. This ride is reasonably challenging in good conditions as you climb through both the Brisbane Ranges and the Pentland Hills but the conditions really toughened it up. Finishing was most satisfying. I will remember that 10 hrs 10 mins for a while.

The wind was blasting across the Werribee Plains