Beat Cancer Tour Day 3: Rest Day

KM's Ridden Today: 38km
Total KM's Ridden: 121km
Pre Ride Weight: 78.2kg
Post Ride Weight: 78.2kg

So what do you do on a rest day - go for a ride of course!!

After Father Christmas departed for the North Pole yesterday morning I was looking forward to what will be our last sleep in morning for the rest of the week.  I awoke with the legs feeling pretty fresh - at 4.45am!!!!!!  More trucks with their reverse beepers this morning, plus a street sweeper, plus sirens.  I laid in bed for another hour and a half, then wrote on my blog before heading down the breakfast where I was able to contain my gluttony a bit better than yesterday!!

We had a briefing about today's ride - it was going to be short, but very hilly taking in Belair Rd, Sheoak Rd (which has 20% inclines), then the final climb up to Mt. Lofty.  Bade (our Ride Director) was saying that we should take it easy, we didn't have to set any Strava records (Strava is an app that records your rides and gives you times for each different section that you ride including hills), and because of the heat we should just go out there and enjoy ourselves.  Also due to the hot weather, we have to 'weigh in' before and after our rides so they can monitor our fluid intake on the ride.  If we come back under it means that we are not drinking enough.  That is why I the pre and post ride weights are there.

We headed out complete with our front and rear police escorts and rode towards Belair Rd.  My theory today was to sit at the back of the group, take it real easy, spin the legs, and do no work.  I was at the back of our group all the way from the Tour Village to the beginning of Belair Rd, then as so often happens with me, my theory went out the window!!

Two other riders were just ahead, so I just tagged on the back all the way up to the top.  It was a solid ride, but nothing that I thought I was over exerting myself on, however Strava said I did a PR (Personal Record) for the Belair Rd Climb, and also for the Windy Point climb - hey I was only following!!

The Group At The Top Of Belair Rd

We re-grouped at the top, had some drinks, then started for the next leg which was Sheoak Rd.  This road is steep starting off with a 20% incline, then a little break, then another steep bit, then a little break, then another steep bit and so on!!!  Again, I thought that I was setting a good but not a kill myself tempo.  This was my first time up this hill so I had no previous attempts to compare it to - but was the third rider to reach the cars at the top.

We then made our way up the Crafers to Mt. Lofty, and again I thought I was setting a good tempo, except one little surge up the final hill, but Strata once again said I did a PR.  I have previously done 29 efforts up this climb, and this was the fastest one by 43secs!!  I think I am hitting peak form just at the right time!!

At The Top Of Mt. Lofty

On our way back we called into Bicycle Express where I bumped into my all time favourite rider - Simon Clarke from Team Cannondale!!  He was happy to have a quick chat and a photo before he had to rush out the door - Thank You Simon!!

My All Time Favourite Rider - Simon Clarke!!

After you browsing around we rode back to the Tour Village where we then had free time until the next Team Briefing at 6pm.  I did an hours worth of stretching before catching up with the family and together we had a good walk around the Tour Village.

From there it was across the road to the Metropolitan for dinner, then a few of us went out for gelati, then just a quiet night before getting to bed early before tomorrows first stage - in 40c heat and a northerly!!

Crap Pro's Go Through: Groupies
Just like a rock band that has its groupies, so do cycling teams and also the cyclists themselves.  Luckily the Tour Down Under (TDU) is seen as a relaxed atmosphere and not high stress like the Tour De France etc.  The cyclists all like the TDU as they stay in the same hotel for the duration of the race rather than having a different room each night.
However this brings out the groupies.  There are people waiting both inside and outside the Hilton hoping to get an autograph or photograph (or both!).  When the teams go out on their rides there is a heap of cyclists that ride behind them - behind the team car that is.  Today when Team Etixx went out there would have been 40 riders behind them!  I'm not criticizing groupies, as I am slightly one too, however I'm sure it does get to the pro's after a while.

Beat Cancer Tour Day 2 - People's Choice Classic

Today's KM's Ridden: 83.2
Total KM's Ridden: 83.2

Today was a sleep in day, but at 4.30am everyone on the west side of the hotel was awoken by the reverse beeps of a truck that just didn't stop! They were taking down the huge Father Christmas at the Central Market and they wanted everyone to know about it!!

My day instantly approved when on the way to breakfast was Matthew Hayman and Luke Durbridge from Team Orica GreenEDGE. They were happy to have a quick chat and a photo which was great!



Myself with Luke Durbridge and Matthew Hayman



It's obviously been a loooong time since I last stayed in a hotel as I was like a kid in a candy shop when I saw the huge breakfast spread - hot food, cereals, toast, museli, yogurts, fruit, pastries and more - I swear I'll be 10kg's heavier by this time next week!

We soon departed for our first team ride - an easy one down to Outer Harbour. A ride which I have done hundreds of times before, but never with a team car both in front of behind us, plus a police escort to stop traffic for us along the way! I positioned myself right up the front for the whole ride which waas just great! Lunch was at Stuart O'Grady's cafe Velo Precint where inside he has on display many of his old race numbers and a few bikes as well.

About To Start Our First Team Ride

Lunch at Stuart O'Grady's Cafe Velo

Some of Stuey's Old R ace Numbers

We then rode back to the Tour Village, had a bit of spare time so I bought some essentials from the supermarket such as a toilet brush (don't ask)! I also managed to catch some zzzz's too! Back to the Village where we collected our bikes and rode to the the People's Choice Classic street circuit. We were allowed to do three laps and once again I positioned myself right at the very front which waas awesome! The people were clapping, cheeing, and blowing their horns for us right the way around which made for a great atmosphere!



The Team About To Ride On The People's Choice Classic Circuit



A quick ride back to the hotel, an even quicker change, then we walked back to the Classic where we were wined and dined in the SA Events marquee positioned right on the finishe line. The women's race got underway where there were a few thrills and spills and was won by Annette Emonson. The men's race soon started and it is unbelievable the speed they go!! The race was won by Team Orica GreenEDGE's Caleb Ewen.



The Riders At The Start Line



Back at the hotel and a lift ride with Geraint Thomas, Iam Stannard, and Peter Kennaugh from Team Sky plus Graeme Brown from Team Drapac!! Then a quick shower, wrote up this, then bed!!

Celebrity Viewings: I'm stopping this segment as it's just getting ridiculous!

Crap Pro's Have To Go Through: Hotel Bathrooms I'm sure the Hilton has had its bathrooms renovated since it was first built but it has become obvious that the renos were done by the comapny that submitted the cheapest tender! I have a ceiling shower rose but it is positioned too far down the shower, and the glass shower screen way too short ,that you end up with a tsunami of water on the floor. There is also a shower head, but even at its highest setting even a midget would be lucky to fit under it. Then when you step out of the shower into the sea of water (which doesn't drain as the floor tiling is crap and doesn't actually have the fall going any where near the drain), and into what has becone a steamroom/sauna as there is no exhaust fan!! Plus there was obviously no budget left for a toilet brush!!

Beat Cancer Tour - Day 1: Teams Presentation

Check in at the Hilton hotel was between 1-2pm where I found out that I had a room to myself with a big massive bed - Awesome!!

We checked in our bikes for the mechanic to have a quick look over before tomorrow's ride, then were presented with our team outfits for the week.  this consisted of two full riding kits (which look awesome by the way), two polo tops for wearing when we are  not in our cycling outfits, and our ID badges which gives us access pretty much anywhere!!

Our Beat Cancer Tour Team Kit

Out first Team Briefing was at 4pm where we were given an overview of the expectations for the week, a safety briefing, a few rules for when we were out on the road, and it was also a chance to meet up with all the other riders.

We then headed over to the back area of the stage for the Teams Presentations, however a non working PA system meant that there were big delays.  However, we eventually made it onto the stage, however as they were running so late it was a very quick introduction and then we were off again.

On Stage For The Team Presentation

Our first team dinner was held at Flinders Lodge - one of the Cancer Council's accommodation services that they offer to country people that have to come to the city for treatment.

We were given a couple of welcome speeches by various Cancer Council people before hearing a story of the value of the fundraising efforts we put in.  The story was told by a lady that used the Cancer Council services while her husband was undergoing treatment for testicular cancer.  It was a remarkable story - a young guy with two children getting diagnosed with cancer.  Unfortunately it spread - so badly that at one stage he was only given another two days to live.  However, he fought, and eventually beat the disease.
It was a remarkable story and no one in the room was left with a dry eye at its conclusion.

A great dinner was put on by the people from Fresh Active (www.freshactive.com.au) before we all came back to the hotel for an early night.

Tomorrow:
Team ride to Outer Harbour departing the Hilton at 10am, then we'll be on the People's Choice Classic start line at 4pm.

Celebrity Viewings:
Jack Bobridge and Rohan Dennis

My Fundraising...

The main aim of the Beat Cancer Tour is for riders to raise funds for the Cancer Council that goes towards the Beat Cancer Project.

The Beat Cancer Project is a strategic cancer research partnership between Cancer Council SA, SA Health, and South Australia’s flagship research facility the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI).

Cancer Council's Beat Cancer Project has one vision – to bring us closer than ever to a future without cancer... and we have every reason to believe it is possible!

Thanks to the contribution of cancer research, over the last 20 years in Australia we have seen;
 
- Cancer deaths fall by approximately 14%
- Survival rates for many common cancers increase by as much as 30%
- An estimated 61,000 Australian lives saved by improvements in cancer prevention, screening and treatment

Thanks to your generous support, Cancer Council SA is investing $10 million into Cancer Council's Beat Cancer Project over five years, to be matched by SA Health, creating a pool of funds totalling $20 million – making it the single largest source of funding for cancer research and infrastructure within our state.

Through investing these funds with SAHMRI, Cancer Council’s Beat Cancer Project will not only ensure that the donations given by our generous supporters are strategically targeted to cancer research projects that are needed most, it will also ensure that the research being undertaken is of the highest standard and enable further funding to be acquired.

My Fundraising Ideas:

When I was accepted onto the Beat Cancer Tour team my aim was do fundraise $25,000, and my official finishing total ended up being $32,954 !!!!!!

Some of the things I did were:

Catch the Crowds:
This was my biggest contributor.  I had some signs made up and stood out the back of the Adelaide Railway Station when there was a football or cricket game on and catch the crowd as they walked towards the bridge to Adelaide Oval.



Raising Funds Outside The Railway Station On Game Days

I stood here for around 3-4 hours each game day and generated anywhere between $500 - $900 per game.  I also got to talk to and meet many people, some with very touching cancer stories of their own.

CULLEN Real Estate:
I am fortunate enough to own my own  real estate business. 

Beat Cancer Tour Sticker On Our Window

Before the Beat Cancer Tour came along, every month I would make a donation out of the commissions I made to Canteen - an organisation that helps young people deal with the challenges cancer brings.  I then moved these donations to my fundraising effort.
I also has a sticker made up to put on my office window, and also promoted the Beat Cancer Tour on flyers I sent out to the local neighbourhoods.
I wrote letters to the people who had bought and sold from me before, and also tenants and landlords, many of whom were happy to donate!




Leaflets Distributed Around My Neighbourhood



 

 

 

Mum's 80th: 

My mum celebrated her 80th birthday this year and in lieu of receiving presents she asked people to donate to the Cancer Council via my fundraising instead.

 

She also put the word out to all her friends and our extended family, many who donated - some even twice!!

 

Thank you very much mum!

 

Mum and I at her 80th Celebration Dinner

 

 

My Swag Forum:

We are members of the myswag.org internet forum - a forum for offroad camper trailer enthusiasts.  This year I led a two week trip for interstate members to the Flinders Ranges.

 

Every morning the campers in our group would drop off all their 10c recylables to me which they had consumed the night before, I would wash them, crush them, and then carry them in a bag tied to our van.

 

The group also got together and donated $200 as a thank you for organising the trip!

 

Holding Up The 'Cheque' Given To Me By The MySwag Flinders Trip Crew

 

 

 

Adelaide Jeep Club:

 

We are also members of the Adelaide Jeep Club and have been since we bought our first Jeep back in 2004.  Although we are now Land Cruiser owners, (as many Jeep owners experience the 'Jeep Thing' too they also move to other brands - over half of our club are non-Jeeps!!), we have made many great friends within the Club.

 

Alot of members made individual donations as well as the Club as a whole donating $200 to me.

 

2 Handmade Quilts:

Caroline, a lady I sold a house to, put in a massive amount of time and effort to donate two handmade quilts to my fundraising effort.

I placed both the quilts on eBay and both were snapped up by an interstate buyer!

Caroline Presenting Me With One Of Her Handmade Quilts

10c Recyclables & Money Box:

 

We keep our 10c recylables and after rinsing them place them in a bucket.  It's surprising to see how much these add up to over the year.

 

We also have a little Cancer Council money box on a table where we place our car keys.  Each time we come home I empty the coins out of my wallet and into the box.  Again it is surprising how much this can add up to over time!

 

My Friends, Faceboook, and E-mail:

 

A HUGE THANK YOU has to go out to my Facebook friends and E-mail acquaintences.  Since March this year I have pestered them relentlessly asking them to support me with donations, sharing my Facebook posts to their friends, and giving me encouragement along the way.

 

These friends extend to old school friends, people I haven't even seen in over 25 years but still communicate with, the awesome Megabike cycling community, from the MySwag Forum and Jeep Club and more.  I can't Thank You enough and it is because of generous people like you that has made this all worth while!

 

My Family:

 

A MASSIVE THANK YOU goes out to to my wife Catie and sons Oliver and Jasper.

My wife held very strong holding down the fort of both house and business during my accident and was so supportive and patient with me during my recovery - I can't thank you enough.

 

My boys are always there with me - they have come out fundraising with me, Ollie was there beside me the first time I go on the wind trainer after my accident, rode Amy's Ride with me, and has been out on many of my rides with me.

 

I am very lucky to have such an awesome family - the time taken for training for the Beat Cancer Tour, plus the time for the fundraising effort has meant less time with them, but they have been very understanding, realising that participating in the Beat Cancer Tour is a dream come true for me.

 

Finally I would like to say that my fundraising journey has been very humbling and rewarding.  I have met some extrordinary people, realised the true friendships I have, and are blessed to be surrounded by the people I am close to.

 

Thank You to everyone that has donated to me and/or supported me in this journey, now let the riding begin....

Training...

Below is a snapshot of the training I have been doing leading up to the Beat Cancer Tour.

These are a few of my favourite training rides.  I don't do each of them every week, however I try and get in anywehre between 4 and 6 rides depending if I can get the time off from work that is needed, my body is injury free, I am not too tired due to working late the night before, the kids don't have anything on that I am needed to transport them too etc etc.


To Birdwood and back including Checkers Hill, Corkscrew, and Eagle on the Hill to Mt. Lofty - 158kms

This is my longest and hardest ride for the week.  I do it all in the top chain ring except for the three climbs to build strength in the legs.  This is particularly hard going up Gorge Rd, and also the unulations on the way back at about the 98km mark.

I have covered 118kms by the time the last climg up Eagle on the Hill to Mt. Lofty arrives, so the legs are certainly feeling it going up there.

This ride takes about 6hrs including a stop in Birdwood for a hot chocolate and a bite to eat.




To Birdwood and back

Easy Ride to Outer Harbour and Seacliff - 78kms

After yesterday's hard ride this one is the total opposite - an easy flat one done in the small chain ring to spin the legs.
I play a game on this ride called 'lets see how many people can pass me' so I don't start getting competitive and chase people down that I can see ahead of me!

This is a very popular route for cyclists so quite often I can get on the back of a group and just have a nice and easy ride.  It is also great during the summer months as there are many people walking along the beach, and the views out over the ocean are superb!



Easy Ride to Outer Harbour then Seacliff

 



Wednesday: Mega Spin Mega Advanced Class

I have mentioned these classes previously so just briefly, throughout the year when Megabike holds these classes I really enjoy participating in them, even though they are 90mins of suffering and sweating!!  It's an early morning start with the classes going from 6.30am-8am.

The classes are quite varied each week from sprinting, practising surges, climbing, time trials etc.  I have noticed a huge difference in my road riding since doing these classes and I can very highly recommend them.  Even Oliver is doing them now (he is in the beginners class though!!).

Mega Spin Mega Advanced Class

Ryan O'Keefe Ride Up Norton Summit then to Outer Harbour - 117kms

Ryan O'Keefe (ex Sydney Swans player) is one of the helper riders on the Beat Cancer Tour (BCT) so he invited participants that they could join in on this ride on a Thursday morning, which is done at a brisk pace.

Brisk - I think that was a subtle warning - this group is fast!!  The first time I went out with them I set a PR (Personal Record) up Norton Summit!!  From the summit we then go across to Mt. Lofty, then come down the Old Freeway back to the city for coffee.  The loop is only 50kms, but it is a hard and fast 50kms.

I then go a bit further to Outer Harbour and back, and a more sensible pace, and end up with a ride of over 115kms.



Ryan O'Keefe Ride

Triple Challenge - up Norton Summit, Eagle on the Hill, and Greenhill Rd, all to Mt. Lofty - 113kms

This ride is pretty much the same distance but has alot more climbing in it as I am going up to Mt. Lofty three times, but the pace is no where near the same as the one above as I am on my own and just enjoying the riding and the scenery that goes with it!

I consider Norton Summit the easist to climb, so I start with this one, then the next easiest is Eagle on the Hill (the Old Freeway), and Greenhill Rd the most difficult as it has quite a steep beginning, and there are no flat bits to give you any rest.  So I go from easiest to hardest on this ride.

Each time I reach the summit I have a couple of minutes break to have a gel, something to eat like a museli bar, and of course a drink.

The ride takes about 4h30mins, and is almost 3000m of climbing (Mt. Lofty is Adelaides highest point at 950m).



Triple Challenge

Megabike Saturday Ride: To the Bower Rd Roundabout and back - 75kms

I have two Saturday rides that I choose from, but this is the main one I do - usually because my legs are tired and I want an easier ride, and also because Oliver quite often joins in on this one too.

The other one I do leaves from the old Megabike shop in Hyde Park and is called the Fast 40's.  The pace is higher and goes all the way to Outer Harbour, and I do this ride is Oliver is not riding, or if the legs are feeling good and I want a fast one.

The first one leaves the Megabike shop in Rundle St at 7.30am, but I take the long way there going along Port Rd and down Robe Tce just to get in a few kms extra beforehand and it is done at an easy pace with the right hand lane doing 35kmh, and the left hand lane doing 30kmh, that way giving each rider a small turn on the front with plenty of time to recover.

We then ride back to the city for coffee and a chat, and then I just come home. 



Saturday Megabike Ride

 Sunday Surprise Ride - approx 90kms

By far my favourite ride of the week.  Every second Sunday Claud from Megabike takes us on a surprise ride in that we don't know where we are going until we get there.  Sometimes we head up Clarendon way, sometimes through Belair, and sometimes through Stirling and Aldgate and Hahndorf.

I like these rides the best as quite often we go on roads and climbs that I have never done before so it makes it interesting.  The rides I do my myself I have done hundreds of times before and just about know every inch of the road, so these ones gets me out to new places, seeing new views, going through little towns, and all with a great group of people!



Sunday Surprise Ride

All up I ride anywhere from 300 - 520kms per week plus the spin class over the 4-6 rides per week. As I write this, just a week and a half out from the Beat Cancer Tour, in the past three weeks I have set PR's up all the hills that I do, so my form is currently very good.

The biggest thing I am concerned about is having to back up day after day, and not getting a rest day at all. Approx 900kms in one week is way longer than any week I have had previously, my record being 540km, but I feel that I have put in the effort, and have the advantage of being in a group and not having to be out in the wind for the whole ride like I am when I go out on my own, so am quietly confident of meeting the challenge!!

 

To Make A Donation To My Beat Cancer Tour Fundraising:

https://secure.cancercouncilfundraising.org.au/registrant/FundraisingPage.aspx?registrationID=880491&Referrer=http%3a%2f%2fwww.beatcancertour.com.au%2f

Sunday Mail Article

I was given a call By Sam at the Cancer Council to see if I was interested in writing a few lines about my accident, training, and fundraising efforts for them to submit to the media to try and get the Beat Cancer Tour some exposure.

 

'Of Course' was my immediate answer, then my composition went to the Cancer Council's media advisor, Georgia, who refined my words to make it 'media legible'.



 

Thankfully the paper liked the story, and along with Felicity's story, which is more relevant being a cancer survivor, a day was set up where some photos could be taken.

 

 

So we met at the Beat Cancer Tour's sponsoring bike shop Bicycle Express where we had a few photos taken with a mechanic working on a bike.  It was funny in parts as none of us knew where to look or what to do, so quite a bit of direction was needed.

We then were given a couple of brand new bikes and Felicity and I went around the corner to a side street and rode up and down it five or six times, which is where the main photo for the article came from.  The 'training ride' was all of 500m!!

Next we went to the Hilton (where we will be staying with the pro's during the Tour Down Under, and met a couple of masseurs who set up their tables and we had a couple of photos of us pretending to get a massage.

Next we went across the road to a cafe where we ordered some breakfast food (even though it was early afternoon).  The photographer wanted all sorts of different photos of us eating, chatting, and looking at eachother, and in the small photo you can see the smirks on our faces as we kept on trying not to laugh at each other.

It was a fairly simple day, and then by surprise a few months later the article appeared in the Sunday Mail!

To Donate To My Beat Cancer Tour Fundraising:

http://sa.cancercouncilfundraising.org.au/personalPage.aspx?registrationID=880491&Referrer=http%3a%2f%2fwww.beatcancertour.com.au%2f

The New Bike...

After my accident my Merida was written off and thankfully the driver's insurance company gave me a decent payout based on its replacement value, not its current value.

So then the search was on of what to get next.  My older bike was a Cannondale and, although 12 years old now, it still serves me well and is an enjoyable and comfortable bike to ride, so they were definitely on the list.

My bike shop, Megabike, stock Fondriest and also Bianchi.  Bianchi have been around for a long time, are ridden by the Lotto Jumbo pro team, and have some cool frame designs.  However, they are associated with this light coloured green, a colour that I am definitely not a fan of!

Fondriest TFZero SS No. 5

So then it was onto Fondriest.  Fondriest bicycles are made in Italy and named after Maurizio Fondriest. Maurizio won the 1998 World Championships, along with 4 stage races, and 4 one day races during his career.

After reading reviews and speaking to other Fondriest owners, including my son Oliver who has a TF3 (and has no other experience with road bikes to compare it to apart from his Fondriest R20), it was then that I chose the Fondriest brand.  The next choice was which model.

Megabike not long after released an article about a Limited Edition TFZero Super Sport.  Only 9 were to be made in the world, and the frame was to be made by the famous custom frame builder Sarto, and were to be built to each owners individual specifications.

Pick Up Day!!

The order was put in and deposit was paid, now it was just a waiting game.

After approximately four months I had the call to say that it had arrived!

The bike build was No.5 out of nine (which is great as 5 is one of my lucky numbers!), and has full Campagnolo Super Record groupset with a 53/39 front chainring, 11-25 rear cassette, Selle Italia SLR saddle, Bora Ultra 35 wheelset, Keywin Titanium peddles, and 2 Arundel carbon bottle holders.  All up it weighs 7.1kg which is extremely light for an XL sized bike,  As a comparison, my Cannondale is 2.1kg heavier!

Finally At Home!!

The day I picked it up, Ollie and I went for a quick ride up Norton Summit, and compared to my 12yr old Cannondale it felt like a glider!!

No. 5 out of 9.

I then did the Megabike Saturday morning ride, then on Sunday did the Triple Challenge being three ascents up to Mt Lofty via Norton Summit Rd, The Old  Freeway, and Greenhill Rd - 110kms.
The next day I went out to Birdwood and back via Checkers Hill, Corkscrew Rd, and the Old Freeway to the bollards - 152kms.  Each ride was thoroughly enjoyable, very smooth, and the bike felt very accurate and precise when cornering and steady at speed too.

It is such a lovely bike to ride and I am very happy with my decision and  I am really looking forward to being on this machine for the Beat Cancer Tour!!

Full Carbon Frame

  

Weight - just 7.1kg (for an XL bike!)

Campagnolo Super Record

Bora Ultra 35's

An Awesome Looking Bike!

 

       

To Make a Donation to My Beat Cancer Tour  Fundraising:  

https://secure.cancercouncilfundraising.org.au/registrant/FundraisingPage.aspx?registrationID=880491&langPref=en-CA#&panel1-3