super endurance

Check this shit out. Imagine doing 1100 mile race through snow. Thats whats this guy does. Mike Curiak is a freak of the endurance racing scene. Mike has been quietly churning away in the endurance world before endurance racing was cool. His exploits include:
• 2005 350-mile Iditarod Trail Invitational, 1st overall, course record
• 2005 142-mile Kokopelli Trail Race, 2nd overall (singlespeed)
• 2004 142-mile Kokopelli Trail Race, 1st overall, course record
• 2004 2,500-mile Great Divide Race, 1st overall, course record
• 2003 340-mile Grand Loop Race, 1st overall, course record
• 2003 142-mile Kokopelli Trail Race, 1st overall, course record
• 2002 1,151-mile Iditarod Trail Invitational, 1st overall
• 2001 544-mile time-trial, Colorado section of the GDMBR, course record
• 2000 1,151-mile Iditarod Trail Invitational, 1st overall, course record
• 1994-2002 34 total 24-hour races, multiple 12-hour and • 100-mile races, with several wins, singlespeed records, and course records



I came across his bike on the Moots Blog and was amazed by the thing. Truely a crazy idea to race your bike through the wildeness of Alaska, but hey what ever makes you tick.

Snap crackle pop

That's the sound the ankle makes when it is rolln over on the netball court..... should have known it would happen to me sooner or later. Netball, I admit ain't the most manly game but I had been having fun the last few weeks playing it but.... no more!
I spent part of last night in the services of health care professionals at the local hospital and I ain't the best patient as I just hate being on the receiving end. I have to go back tomorrow for a bone scan to see if there are any cracks in the ankle bones as there is a shadow on the X ray. So after a uncomfortable nights sleep I am resigned to sitting on the couch with the feet up and hobbling around on crutches. Best I can hope for is a sprain and ligament damage which may see me on the bike in time for Chase the Sun 2 :(.
On a positive note I ordered some gear from web cyclery last Thursday and it arrived yesterday. That is impressive and puts Australian mail order to shame. Fast efficient service, that's what it is all about. I have on back order some parts with a Australian distributor in QLD and they cant even tell me when the said gear will arrive. The thing that shits me is they are poor at dropping you a update..... trust me I will not be using them again and at this stage I will not name em but time will tell.
So I guess I will have to polish the bikes and put em away for a while and wait and see what news I get tomorrow.

keep pedaling if you can!

bike sunday

Finished work today and hit the trails with NZ Gav after his return from knee surgery. He was up for a easy jaunt so I checked the course out for next weeks Chase the Sun. Should be a entertaining loop for 5 hrs of solo racing. Still a bit nervous about it as I have little training of late specifically for racing.
Found this bit of bike porn



If I win tattslotto I will add one of these to the collection.

Trails!

snow in the hills

I hope the the last 48hrs of weather is a indication of what might lay ahead for us who like snow. Cold temps and some rain has brought 25 cm of snow to the hills in the last day of two. Whilst not of any use yet for training at least the snow will help cool off the ground for the coming winter. At least the pain of the new training is going to pay off (I hope) as my body is holding together after the last few roller ski and hill running sessions.



Today I went over to Lysterfeild to do a lap or 2 but was defeated by the amount of water on the surface of the trails. The lack of trail maintenance is beginning to show as there are heaps of rutted out trail, now full of water. I feel that the park needs to add some extra trail to help spread the work load the the current trails, but that is unlikely. Today I gave up trying to channel some puddles to drain them. I ran in to Tim Ferris out doing the same thing. He is getting ready for the world 24 hr solo champs ... (mad I reckon) to try and better his 2nd place in his age group last year. Best of luck!
So I have entered the first two Chase the Sun's and am doing them solo (which will be interesting, don't know what the body will say about that !). I am hoping for some decent weather for them as riding around in shit weather for 5 or 6 hours is not that much fun!

Later......

words from the boys

locals doing it US side

England wins fifth stage, Lowe sets pace in Georgia
Reuters, Friday April 25 2008
By James Raia

DAHLONEGA, Georgia, April 25 (Reuters) - Former track specialist Richard England of Australia won the fifth stage of the Tour de Georgia in a tight sprint finish on Friday while compatriot Trent Lowe claimed the overall race lead.
The 26-year-old England, a double Australian team pursuit champion, bolted to the front over the last 500 metres to win the 214.7km leg from Suwanee to Dahlonega in five hours, 15 minutes, 15 seconds.
His compatriot Rory Sutherland finished second in the longest stage of the seven-day race, with American George Hincapie third.
England, Sutherland and Hincapie all posted the same time.
Lowe, who began the day sixth overall, 15 seconds behind race leader Greg Henderson of New Zealand, claimed the overall lead by finishing ninth in the stage.
Henderson tumbled to 93rd place, having lost more than 15 minutes after struggling for much of the stage in periodic rain.
American Levi Leipheimer, the race favourite, is in fourth place overall, four seconds behind Lowe.
The race continues on Saturday with the 142.3-km sixth stage featuring a climbing finish to Brasstown Bald Mountain, which at 1,487 metres is the highest point in Georgia.
It ends on Sunday with a 100.9-km circuit race in Atlanta.



Well its all good at the Tour of Georgia. Our local lads are doing Melburn proud. Ritchie pulled the win of his career off overnight wining stage 5. He out sprinted big George Hincappe and Rory Sutherland to win. Awesome! It has been a pleasure to know Ritchie over the years since racing on the track at Blackburn and watch him develop into the rider he is through serious hard work and determination. You can follow his diary of the tour on his blog through the side bar.


Trent Lowe has managed to grap the overall leaders jersey to continue a excellent year in the pro ranks with Slipstream. Bloody good effort by two local lads.

Before I forget to mention Gerro and his exploits in Europe. His for is coming along even managing a win at the Criterium International over coming Jens Voigt in the closing stages of the break away. He has also managed some great results in the Amstel Gold race a week ago with a 12th place so hopefully some more great results in the coming weeks.



It is great to see it all coming together for these local lads......hopefully its only the start!

trails!