The Phuket training camp started on Saturday 12th with a light ride over to Patong for me and Danny did some loops of the Kata-Karon loop.
On Sunday we took off for Suring beach via Patong and Kamala. The hills to Patong were sharp reminder of what was to follow. The Kamala hill climb proved too much for an uninterrupted ascent and apit stop at the small Gasoline humpy was made and use of their table and chairs for some water and recovery.
Next section of the ride was the downhill into Kamala and the suberbly picturesque ride around the coast to Surin beach. Another pit stop for morning tea at the Surin Cafe, who are well used to sweaty riders coming in for R+R.
We decied to continue to Laguna Beach and tackle the fist 10 km or so of the Laguna Triathlon bike course. The hills were killers and the initial three step rise out of Laguna was tough. But nothing was so tough as the short ride up the long climb out of Anderman white sands and the subsequent long hill.
We then took a ride through some rubber plantations and be lined it back to Kata beach by riding down through the middle of the island.
We met a group of riders and followed them for 15-20km before losing them at the lights and making a final quick stop at a seven eleven for gatorade and carbohydrate.
All energy was spent and needed a good late lunch at club med to feel human again.
Total ride approx 100km
Elapsed time was almost 5 hours
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Friday, July 10, 2009
Phuket training camp 12-15th September
The team training camp will be held in Phuket from 12-14th September, based out of the Club Med Resort at Karon Beach.
The biking will be an intensive three half days of riding including a partial ride over the Triathlon course. Other challenging rides will include a trip over to Rawai beach for breakfast which features the spectacular and steep hill climb out of Kata up to the lookout.
Tips for bike preparation
- always carry two bottles
- make sure the bike bags are well padded for air travel and handling
- it is usually best to remove the front and back wheels from the frame for travel
- bring at least one spare tube and set of levers
- I will bring a foot pump and a small clip on portable pump (so no need to bring)
Friday, June 26, 2009
First Training camp - Phuket
September 11-15, 2009 are the dates for the Black Hanky Boys training camp in Phuket
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Team Blacky Hanky Boys enters Phuket Tri
It is official we are entered into the Phuket Laguna Triathlon team event.
Things left to do include the :
- accommodation
- training camp(s)
- Organising own flights
- Team shirt
- Team target
Will catch up with you on the fees, and a team target next week.
In the meantime good training !
Things left to do include the :
- accommodation
- training camp(s)
- Organising own flights
- Team shirt
- Team target
Will catch up with you on the fees, and a team target next week.
In the meantime good training !
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Riding with Ex-Hawthorn Footballers Can Be Humbling
Our Saturday and Sunday morning rides have now taken on a new dimension as ex Hawthorn footballer - Andy Bennett - has entered the training team. And what a machine!!!!
Andy is the sort of guy that likes his gym time during the week and just for fun has decided he might have a crack at riding. I lent him my first bike - the Avanti that Sean had took command of over christmas.
Within a few weeks of working out how to handle the clips and the bike he has become a real contender. You just know when you decide to have a crack and there is no way you can get him off the rear wheel that you are in trouble.
Our normal weekend team Stuart, Andy and myself was depleted when Stuart couldn't make it so the weekend was man versus the Bennett machine over the two days.
Saturday ride was a 40km ride from West Hobart with Andy out past the Cadburys turnaround all the way out to the Bowen Bridge. It was a good hit out with a good little climb on the way back over the Austins Ferry Hill (near St Virgils). The extra distance was good for the legs although we had to punch into a solid headwind on the way out. The return leg was a real hoot with the speed winding up on the way into the Cornelian Bay straight to around 50km when my back tire blew.
We called the recovery crew and Andy had to do the last 5 kms solo.
Sunday was the usual 7.30am start for Bonnett Hill and return. A really solid hit out through Sandy Bay and Taroona and then Andy took off as we hit the bottom of the hill. He got about 200m on me and I clawed back a little bit of distance on the way up but have now been relegated to number three on the hills - more work to do!!!
The hit out back was very fast as we kept up the pace off the decent. I thought I had dropped Andy on the way back but he was there the whole way and when I turned around (on the little climb past the units that Sean used to live in) he was right there.
We were joined by a guy out of Taroona but we dropped him on the little climb in Taroona.
A good decent into Sandy bay beach area with a top speed of around 55km down the decent into the beach.
Solid pace maintained all the way back. Legs were a bit sore as I had used Stuart's bike and had a little bit of over-extension on the bottom of the pedal stroke.
The bikes back in the shop but will be recovered for the weekends onslaught. My PA Laura has made sure that the boys will have it ready on time and in good order.
Good training guys. I am definitely up for a training camp and a week off around the big event. We enjoyed Club Med when we stayed there last time as an option for accomodation. Can I suggest a September training camp in the school holidays.
Andy is the sort of guy that likes his gym time during the week and just for fun has decided he might have a crack at riding. I lent him my first bike - the Avanti that Sean had took command of over christmas.
Within a few weeks of working out how to handle the clips and the bike he has become a real contender. You just know when you decide to have a crack and there is no way you can get him off the rear wheel that you are in trouble.
Our normal weekend team Stuart, Andy and myself was depleted when Stuart couldn't make it so the weekend was man versus the Bennett machine over the two days.
Saturday ride was a 40km ride from West Hobart with Andy out past the Cadburys turnaround all the way out to the Bowen Bridge. It was a good hit out with a good little climb on the way back over the Austins Ferry Hill (near St Virgils). The extra distance was good for the legs although we had to punch into a solid headwind on the way out. The return leg was a real hoot with the speed winding up on the way into the Cornelian Bay straight to around 50km when my back tire blew.
We called the recovery crew and Andy had to do the last 5 kms solo.
Sunday was the usual 7.30am start for Bonnett Hill and return. A really solid hit out through Sandy Bay and Taroona and then Andy took off as we hit the bottom of the hill. He got about 200m on me and I clawed back a little bit of distance on the way up but have now been relegated to number three on the hills - more work to do!!!
The hit out back was very fast as we kept up the pace off the decent. I thought I had dropped Andy on the way back but he was there the whole way and when I turned around (on the little climb past the units that Sean used to live in) he was right there.
We were joined by a guy out of Taroona but we dropped him on the little climb in Taroona.
A good decent into Sandy bay beach area with a top speed of around 55km down the decent into the beach.
Solid pace maintained all the way back. Legs were a bit sore as I had used Stuart's bike and had a little bit of over-extension on the bottom of the pedal stroke.
The bikes back in the shop but will be recovered for the weekends onslaught. My PA Laura has made sure that the boys will have it ready on time and in good order.
Good training guys. I am definitely up for a training camp and a week off around the big event. We enjoyed Club Med when we stayed there last time as an option for accomodation. Can I suggest a September training camp in the school holidays.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Jogging, Spanish and Danish Style
I had the chance to do some pretty exotic jogging in the last month. Two weeks ago I was in Barcelona for a week of conferencing and managed to get out for a fog each day. The hotel was called the AB Skipper and was located on the beachfront next to a very large marina in the areas formerly used for the olympic village. My colleague measured us at about 6-7 km course running on a path alongside the beach. First few days I had to run out and then stop on the way back to gawk at the boats on sale.http://abskipper.barcelonahotels.it/?source=googleh
Last couple of days went along to Las Ramblas and explored a bit of the old city, fantastic place with a big boulevard running down the hill to the sea and little side streets packed with shops, tapis bars and cafes.
Distance covered was probably around 35km for the week. Pace is slow at about 12km per hour and need to get some speed, hills and interval work into the training plan.
Have had a raging flu last week so only ventured out in AArhus Denmark twice this week. Its wet and cold here so have to rug up, wear three or four layers and with a beanie hat. Went for an interesting jog around the old town and port today and saw lots of cool places to eat hidden away in the back streets. Must check them out next week when I come back. Terrain is pretty flat but managed to finsh on a hill and raced a cyclist up the hill for the last 300 metres or so.
Will need to hit the track in Switzerland this weekend, Sunny tells me she has been out jogging twice this week, so we might get the chance to have a run together.
Good training dudes
Remember April registration for Phuket is only days away !
We should consider a training camp some time between now and December.
Last couple of days went along to Las Ramblas and explored a bit of the old city, fantastic place with a big boulevard running down the hill to the sea and little side streets packed with shops, tapis bars and cafes.
Distance covered was probably around 35km for the week. Pace is slow at about 12km per hour and need to get some speed, hills and interval work into the training plan.
Have had a raging flu last week so only ventured out in AArhus Denmark twice this week. Its wet and cold here so have to rug up, wear three or four layers and with a beanie hat. Went for an interesting jog around the old town and port today and saw lots of cool places to eat hidden away in the back streets. Must check them out next week when I come back. Terrain is pretty flat but managed to finsh on a hill and raced a cyclist up the hill for the last 300 metres or so.
Will need to hit the track in Switzerland this weekend, Sunny tells me she has been out jogging twice this week, so we might get the chance to have a run together.
Good training dudes
Remember April registration for Phuket is only days away !
We should consider a training camp some time between now and December.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Bike Training Underway in Tasmanian Autumn
As the days start to shorten and winter emerges in Tasmania, riding over the hills of Phuket in sticky humid conditions in December provides a great incentive for winter training.
This weekend involved two 30km rides.
On Saturdays ride we took the Hobart city cycleway down to the picturesque Derwent River, under the Tasman Bridge and then out through the Northern suburbs, past the vineyards at Berriedale, to the turnaround at the Cadburys' chocolate factory. Great conditions with little wind and little or no traffic to deal with.
Along the way the huge excavations at the Morilla Winery are changing the landscape with a massive vault being progressively etched into the headland on the river to house the antiquities collected by its owner.
Autumn leaves are forming and the vines are "rusting up" and leaves falling. The 7.15am start provides the first hint of coldness in the air which requires a layer to be added as we head off.
A good time recorded for the trip and a hard squirt up the Cadbury's hill sees us hitting the top at record speed.
On Sunday we joined a couple of guys from Hobart Water and headed south along the Derwent River to climb Bonnet Hill and return.
The track takes us along the wharf and up through the sandstones wharehouses of the Salamanca area. We then head south through the heritage buildings of Battery Point and onto Sandy Bay Road. Sandy Bay Road takes us along past the shopping centre and University down through the lavish houses of lower Sandy Bay and onto the lower Channel Highway at Taroona. From there we start the climb past the lower reaches of Taroona and the old Shot Tower until we reach the top of Bonnet Hill.
The day is clear and crisp and we are able to get some great views of the river as we climb through the tree lined roads to the top of Bonnet Hill.
The Hobart Water boys lost touch on the way down the river but one of them blitzed the hill and passed me about 3/4s of the way up. More climbing training for me is the clear message!
We form a solid train on the way down the hill and back into Hobart. The Hobart Water strong hill climber attempts a couple of breakaways but we reel him in and get to the end together.
Back to the gym this week with three sessions planned and two weekend rides. On Sunday we will probably stretch out the Bonnet Hill ride another 5kms to go futher South to Kingston and then climb back over the hill to Hobart.
I had a search on the Phuket website to find a profile for the bike course. No success as yet!
I will probably find some similar sized climbs around Mt Wellington. I figure the sooner the training on these climbs starts the easier it will be in December.
Shorter days will see us shifting our rides from early mornings to middle of the day during the next month or so.
Good training lads - I will keep you up to date and look forward to hearing of your progress.
This weekend involved two 30km rides.
On Saturdays ride we took the Hobart city cycleway down to the picturesque Derwent River, under the Tasman Bridge and then out through the Northern suburbs, past the vineyards at Berriedale, to the turnaround at the Cadburys' chocolate factory. Great conditions with little wind and little or no traffic to deal with.
Along the way the huge excavations at the Morilla Winery are changing the landscape with a massive vault being progressively etched into the headland on the river to house the antiquities collected by its owner.
Autumn leaves are forming and the vines are "rusting up" and leaves falling. The 7.15am start provides the first hint of coldness in the air which requires a layer to be added as we head off.
A good time recorded for the trip and a hard squirt up the Cadbury's hill sees us hitting the top at record speed.
On Sunday we joined a couple of guys from Hobart Water and headed south along the Derwent River to climb Bonnet Hill and return.
The track takes us along the wharf and up through the sandstones wharehouses of the Salamanca area. We then head south through the heritage buildings of Battery Point and onto Sandy Bay Road. Sandy Bay Road takes us along past the shopping centre and University down through the lavish houses of lower Sandy Bay and onto the lower Channel Highway at Taroona. From there we start the climb past the lower reaches of Taroona and the old Shot Tower until we reach the top of Bonnet Hill.
The day is clear and crisp and we are able to get some great views of the river as we climb through the tree lined roads to the top of Bonnet Hill.
The Hobart Water boys lost touch on the way down the river but one of them blitzed the hill and passed me about 3/4s of the way up. More climbing training for me is the clear message!
We form a solid train on the way down the hill and back into Hobart. The Hobart Water strong hill climber attempts a couple of breakaways but we reel him in and get to the end together.
Back to the gym this week with three sessions planned and two weekend rides. On Sunday we will probably stretch out the Bonnet Hill ride another 5kms to go futher South to Kingston and then climb back over the hill to Hobart.
I had a search on the Phuket website to find a profile for the bike course. No success as yet!
I will probably find some similar sized climbs around Mt Wellington. I figure the sooner the training on these climbs starts the easier it will be in December.
Shorter days will see us shifting our rides from early mornings to middle of the day during the next month or so.
Good training lads - I will keep you up to date and look forward to hearing of your progress.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
BHB blogspot
The countdown to the Phuket triathlon is about to start, registrations open in April then the BHB need to sign up and commit to training for the event.
The team line up so far includes:
Swim: John
Bike: Danny
Run: Sean
Reserve : open
you can sign up for the e newsletter direct from the organizers here.
http://www.lagunaphukettriathlon.com/e-newsletter.html
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