Did the 48km Prasat City circuit this morning. There was a stiffish breeze blowing...mostly neutral or tail for the trip from home to Prasat, so I made good time with no great effort. The return trip was mostly into the breeze...it was a challenge, but I was still reasonable fresh so was in a mood to push. The result was I managed to knock about 6 minutes off my previous best time for this circuit.
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I had a wet road, no breeze from any direction, and rode an even pace around the whole circuit...30.7KPH average over 32km...managed to knock one minute and a half off my best time, so I am closing in on this challenge.
A rare opportunity to ride with the lad. Mawin [13] and his cousin Plaeng [9] rode with me, so we had a gentle roll to Khok Klang and back. The slow pace gave me an opportunity to impart some of my bottomless supply of cycling wisdom...like
*how to relieve a painful bum by standing up on the pedals and using one hand to pull the underpants elastic out of the rut it has created in the cusp between your leg and your bum* :)
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Managed to put something into the back tyre while I was pedalling along a loose gravel road about 8 km from home...I haven't had the bike on this segment before.
There was a small Village on Road 2375, about 1km back, so I walked the bike back there. I moved slowly through the Village, looking for a place that might be in the tyre business, with a dozen dogs venting their annoyance at the stranger in their midst as I went. Soon enough I found a small shop that clearly specialised in fixing motorcycle punctures. I called out, into the empty shop, and soon a middle aged, friendly-faced bloke came out. I explained, by sign language, my problem. His initial reaction was that he had a replacement 26inch tube, but it was too narrow, but I said it will work fine! He helped me fit the new tube, and blow it up...he was interested in my quick release axle, as he had evidently not seen one before. Cost 60baht...about AU$2.50...I gave him 100 baht, and he was delighted!
Felt like a slow, gentle roll this morning, and it did me good.
Well...got there a little quicker than expected!
This morning I managed to complete a 32km flat segment at 30Kph, and I am feeling pretty good about it. I started out a bit slow, and didn't feel very motivated. There was a bit of a head wind on the long Southerly pull, but then I suddenly had energy to steam home the last 5km. I thought I was a minute or two off the pace, but then it dawned on me I was pushing a bigger gear than I normally attempt.
From the Village Temple to highway 24, along Road 2375, is clearly marked as exactly 8km...Strava reckons it is 7.7km...it is along due North, flat, mostly smooth and with a broad shoulder for local traffic and motorcycles.
I have decided to use it as a personal sprint challenge. Here is my effort, today. I am quite pleased with 35.2kph average speed, and was quite out of breath. There wasn't a lot let in the tanks for the return roll.
I seem to be closing in quickly on the person challenge to cover 30km in an hour...managed 29.4 on my 30 km segment this morning...I think the following helped:
* a bit more air in the tyres * a bit more efficient in taking drinks * pushed a higher gear than usual in a couple of places where I felt I was rolling well. Really enjoying learning to ride the Gip.
Found a nice, clean, smooth circuit of about 33km...by cutting a bit off it I have created a reference ride of 30km, on the Gipiemme road bike. I have a target to ride this segment in 1 hour, so there is 5 1/2 minutes of improvement required. I think I can improve a little just by working on drinking without almost stopping, but the rest will have to be from improving my fitness.
Gentle ride, looking for a Khmer Ruin I was told existed not far from my house. Eventually found Prasat Lalomtom about 8 km West.
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About RayI love cycling, whether rolling about in Bangkok or on country lanes. Recently I have also been attracted to bike racing as a means of challenging myself as I mature into that category known as The Elderly. Categories
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