Not just THE Coach

but also THE photographer. 

There have been lots of comments from blog readers about the blog photographs so I must finally acknowledge the talents of THE Coach.  Today, not only did he gently persuade me to do 8 of the Lilyfield hill inclines, but he also photographed me in the process.  THE Coach has a new phone with a camera so these shots were all taken with his latest gadget.  I've edited out some of the most unflattering behind shots, not wishing to lose any blog readers.

Not much riding yet again. The weather has improved but as we spent the long weekend in the very chilly Blue Mountains we didn't ride.  Only one ride this week - today 25kms with 8 of the Lilyfield hill climbs.  Really a bit of a worry...

You see so much more...

from a bike.

I would never have noticed the two men crouched under the pine trees beside the bay, if I hadn't been riding past.  Just seeing them with their simple implements and buckets took me back to the damp, chilly, pine forests in Canberra where mushrooming was our reward after days of wet weather.   I can't remember what we did with the mushrooms, but I do recall the excitement of finding little outcrops that we would gently cut to add to an overflowing bucket.  As I rode past the foragers yesterday, I wondered just what delicious mushroom dish would appear on a Leichhardt dinner plate in the evening.

Following the training instructions from Phillip last weekend I've focused on a 'strict' regime of riding the Lilyfield hill.  THE Coach was impressed. YES! Can you believe it?  He actually congratulated me for riding up and down the Lilyfield hill two days in a row.  Of course, he couldn't leave it there but had to remind me that if I can do 6 hill climbs each day, then this week I should try 8.  We'll see... who knows what else I might notice on the ride?

 Doesn't look much, but can you see the people pushing up the hill!

Homeward bound hill - yes it is flat round here.

Solo puddling

 http://www.flickr.com/photos/amstersam/3052514770/sizes/m/

Once again not much to report this week due to the wet weather.  THE Coach and his cycling mate, Phillip, rode to Parramatta very early this morning.  I peaked out from under the covers to see THE Coach wearing legwarmers and sleeves, so that was enough of a weather warning to keep me snuggled under the bed-covers reading the Sunday papers for another hour. 

A solo ride this morning through lots of puddles.  At least I managed to stay on my bike to complete the Drummoyne, Five Dock, Canada Bay loop - only 24kms with a slow average speed of 17kms.  I kept any eye out for hills, not that there are many round here, and made a few quick detours to test my knees.  It's now less than a month till we head off to the hills of the Dordogne.  Yikes!

THE Coach is right...

I am a fair weather cyclist.  

http://www.flickr.com/photos/annemiekvanderkuil/740838929/in/set-72157594584784175/

That's not me!

No cycling last weekend due to the chilly, wet weather.  The hills will always be there so I'll have to do even more hill seeking next weekend.  I have borrowed a gym membership for three weeks so I might??? try an indoor cycling session this week. 

Don't think I'll be enjoying a reward ride with THE Coach in the near future.

Hill seekers

 

Lake Burley Griffin was sparkling during our weekend in Canberra. 

Perfect weather for cycling as the temperature hovered around 17 C during the middle of the day with no wind.  The autumn leaves were still putting on a glorious show of colour against the clearest blue sky.  The only downside for the whole weekend was experienced by THE Coach. 

Yes, that's THE Coach changing not one, but two flat tyres, one per day.  Two rides in Canberra - about 45kms over the weekend - not so far, especially not in comparison to those cycling bloggers from New York, but at least we found some hills, thanks to Tim. 

We also found a gem of a cafe on the terrace of the National Library where we enjoyed lunch on Sunday. Thanks Sue and Tim for a great weekend of chatting, eating and cycling.  We'll be back before you know it.

Made our final payment for the cycling trip and have received the train tickets from Paris to Souillac.  There's no backing out now so I must keep hill seeking this week.

No cycling this week...

as I was distracted by a fabulous wedding,

Mother's day breakfast

My mum and her girls.

and Mother's day lunch.

THE Coach and his mum. A rare photo of a smiling coach.

This is rapidly becoming the blog of staying off my bike!
Yikes.
"Luckily, tomorrow is another day," my mantra to THE Coach.

Misty morning ride

THE Coach was happy today as he was riding in fine company.  Gerard and Annie joined Phillip and THE Coach on a speedy ride to La Pa.  The misty morning didn't phase them a bit.  As they pedaled off into the soft, white morning, I dragged myself out of bed for my one and only ride this week.  

I met Gen and Bill at Centennial Park so we could ride a few hills before the cafe stop.  Only 18kms today but the Hill Coach was encouraging, and even made a positive report to THE Coach, over coffee at Phillip's favourite Buzy Bee cafe.  (No raisin toast this morning as I was tempted by banana bread - a mistake- will return to the usual next week.)

The mist had cleared by the time the two teams met up.  As you can see below, THE Coach looked positively chipper after his ride without his trainee. 

 Best get back on my bike this week, as I was bluntly reminded that it's less than two months till we climb the hills of the Dordogne.