Probably a meaningless post to you but one of those sentimental ones for me.
This is just a standard buy at the supermarket glad zip lock bag. This baby was the protector of my phone, while stowed safely in my jersey pocket for the duration of the ride. The phone was removed and re-inserted into this thing countless times, it protected the phone from sweat & rain. I still think it had a few more rounds it is as well. I wonder if any of its brethren have seen this much workload... Unlikely.
Another random photo as well. The helmet, complete with Scala two way radio device attached as well as some specialised MAPM kit (Magpie Attack Protection Mechanism), otherwise know as a $3 set of zip ties from Bunnings.
A razor was also wasted weight and space. For a decidedly un-hairy specimen from the human genome, I didn't think this was a bad effort for 9 days of growth...
Justin.
Finishing weights:
The Bike: 19Kgs
The Boy: 78Kgs
So, despite eating like a Mongolian yak for the trip, it appears calorie intake didn't match calorie outgoings. I have shed around 4.5Kgs. My suspicion of this weight loss occurred on the second to last day. I felt my jeans were lose. I attempted to tighten my belt. I found it was already on the smallest hole. While yes I lost a weight around the belly region (not that I had a muffin top issue or anything in the first place), unfortunately I think I also lost some upper body muscle definition so I'll need to work to beefcake myself up again.
Upon arrival home on day 9, the Garmin read 963.5Km's. I lousy 'effin 36.5km's from the 1000km's. So day 10 was a few laps around The Bay (with pannier weight on) and then a ride up to and back from the gym (see comment below...)
And here it is..
- 1,001Km's in 10 days...
- 46hrs 45mins in the saddle
- 31,668 calories burnt (or 133,005 Kilojoules - which sounds so much more awesome)
Day 10 was an interesting day. Exercise is as much mind as body. Honestly, for those 9 days, parts of my body, like my quads were screaming. But mentally I knew I had to keep going. Only by pedaling was I going to reach Sydney. So I think it was a case of:
Body: "Please stop, I'm damaged and can't go on.
Brain: "Shut the fuck up and ride"
This body/brain banter continued for 9 days. On the 9th day I reached my destination, cracked open a beer and crashed on the couch. I think at this time by brain gave into the body:
Body: "Please stop, I'm damaged and can't go on.
Brain: "Fine. Pussy."
Day 10 was an out and back loop ride in Sydney. I didn't have to ride. I was done. This was just the icing on the cake. And by this time, my body had well and truly won the brain over. These 36km's felt terrible. At the gym I couldn't lift shit. This feeling actually carried on for a few days, which I can only assume was a form of fatigue. I hear that on the designated rest days of the Tour de France, the riders still go out and smash 100km's as a rest day can spell disaster for the remainder of the tour. I really do get it.
This feeling of fatigue lingered around for a few days. I was also somewhat discombobulated. I couldn't get enough food into me. I didn't want to go anywhere or do very much. It was about 5 or 6 days before I felt back up to normal operating mode.
Justin (all 78kg's of me).
Distance: Nearly there, don't care
Pain Factor: Nearly there, don't care
Magpie attacks: Nearly there, don't care
Cow sightings: Nearly there don't care
Accommodation
Highlight: My own bed. Huzzah!
http://www.strava.com/activities/191513211 (Part 1)
http://www.strava.com/activities/191513467 (Part 2)
Like...a...boss!
9 days after setting out from Brisbane, at 2pm Sunday 7th September, we had done it. 1 full day ahead of schedule too. Thankfully, despite some darn right crappy weather for the last few days, apart from a few spots of rain at palm beach, Sydney turned on the weather for our arrival.
Having resisted the temptation to seriously "get on it" last night - limiting myself to just 2 glasses of wine, we set off at a slightly earlier time than normal. Today was a little different, because about halfway through the days ride, we needed to catch a ferry from Ettalong Beach to Palm Beach. The ferry of course worked ona schedule so today really was the first day we had to ride to a schedule. We left at 8am. The ferry departed at 11am. It was 50km's down the road. As usual, my body kicked and screamed and carried on like a pork chop for the first 20 minutes of the day. But ye 'ol faithful diesel engine eventually kicked into gear. Thankfully also the wind had died down a bit so I was able to keep a very decent pace up around the 25 to 30km's/h - much less than this and there was a real chance of missing the ferry. The remnants of my cold were breaking up too. I was a snot factory. Not sure if you needed to know that though..
Anyway, we half followed the GPS and half followed our nose towards Ettalong. One magpie attack and this was the first one who actually made an effort to hit me. Waving one hand around my helmet, I am sure I looked like a right slight to passing motorists. With a time limit, I made good progress and rolled into Ettalong at about 10:15am. As usual, Santo was already there and had staked out a cool little cafe (note: the Cafe at the Ettalong ferry wharf does THE best banana bread I've tasted!). Today was fathers day so a quick call to Dad while I inhaled a coffee and banana bread and we were on out way again.
Santo waiting as the ferry pulls into Ettalong...
..And then we were in Palm Beach, and while it is the far northern woop woop extremity we were, officially, in Sydney! Still a solid 50Km to ride though. On arrival in Palm Beach a bit of rain set in, so we waited it out for 10mins while it passed (what did people do before smartphones and the BoM radar?!?). Today was the first day of the AFL final's and my mate/flatmate's team was playing (Richmond). When a mate is such a massive fan of a team, you can't help but it rubbing off on you and I now had a new mission - to get home in time to join him on the couch to watch the game with an icy cold FULL STRENGTH beer in hand.
The ride from Palm Beach to Sydney was pretty typical for Sydney. Busy traffic and inconsiderate drivers. We were going to stop at a friends house in Manly on the way through, but pushed on. We agreed on a stop at Milsons Point for some obligatory "RAAR - How good are we photos". I felt fine for this leg, probably in the knowledge that I was so close to finishing. I arrived at Milsons Point and joined up with Santo for some photos....
Perfect day for it. I looked around at the normal activity in the area (tourists, a wedding, runners) and thought to myself, if only these people knew what I had just completed. This is where Santo and I went our separate ways, since he lived on the north side. Santo, it was a pleasure riding with (or several km's behind) you, good sir. Thanks for the adventure, support & company. A motivator in a very non annoying way, at least for this ride ;-)
Anyway, I had this thing about getting to the GPO, so continued on, over the bridge to the city. Oddly, this was the first moment I started to detect some resistance from the bike; the odd squeek and dodgy gear change. Given the amount of rain we rode through, I guess this was inevitable. I arrived at the Sydney GPO at Martin Place and found a random to take a photo. Success. Brisbane GPO to Sydney GPO. 9 Days and 963km's.
After a momentary reflection, I was back on the bike for the ride home to Drummoyne. The feeling in the body was odd. I knew I was fatigued. My legs were tired, but I could have comfortable kicked on, doing this day after day if I needed to. It was all about the routine - good feed and hydration in the evening, limited alcohol and I am positive the 30mins of legs in the air each evening was a saviour.
I was home. Dumped the bike. Emptied my bags onto the bedroom floor. Shit, shave, shower and I was on the couch, icy cold bottle of goodness in hand with seconds to spare before the start of the AFL.
Mission accomplished. But there was one last thing I had to do. I had ridden 963km. I was a mere 37km's short of cracking the 1000. I would ride tomorrow....
The legend is born,
Justin.
