Training Log Archive: on-the-wave

Warram8
Finally planned and executed the Warramate trip. Ride to Blackburn Station for 6:08am train to Lilydale with the bike. Easy trip with not many people on the train. I was the only person left on the train when we reached Lilydale.

Started strava from Lilydale but had the GPS running from home.

Took the Warburton Rail trail from lilydale to Killara road, then up to Warramate Hills.

At Warramate followed the track to the first single track loop. This is a fantastic single track course in tree fern and natural forest. Narrow track and not overused with some cool ramps and board paths. This park is very remote and probably should not be riding here alone. Next time will arrange a small group. After the single track loop I went looking for the big loop. Thought I found it going straight up about a 14% hill. Made it about half way up and thought this cant be it, so turned around and went back down (a mistake as discovered later).

Carried on with the fire track back to a fork I saw earlier and tried that. Petered out to grass track which followed for about a K but didn't look right so turned back.

Turned back up the fire track, past the 14% hill to the back gate and found no other route so I thought I may as well try the steep hill again. Rode and walked up till it eventually met another fire trail that looked used so kept going.

Turned out to be the right way and after nearly 4km's of climbing reached a mobile tower. An epic climb but not much of a view from the top due to trees, etc. There were 2 fire trails leading off from the summit but neither looked like the right direction so rode back down about a K and then followed a trail I noticed on the way up.

Came to a fork and turned left but came to a locked gate, scouted for a trail but found nothing. So back up a (very steep) fire trail to the fork and then took the right fork. Came to a gate and a private farm but there was no way I was going back up 6km of trail that reached 20% in places so I jumped the gate and rode through the farm hoping not to see the Farmer. Haha got to the farmhouse and there is the Farmer hearding his cows. He was cool and said the electric fences were off so don't worry about jumping the fence. Not what I expected as I thought they would be rabid private landholders ready to shoot any uninvited visitors.

Followed the farm track back to Killara road and back to the turn off to the Park. Hit lap on the GPS and carried straight on back to the Warburton trail. Back on the trail to Lilydale and then caught the train back to Blackburn.

Total time 5:25 Hrs

Lap 1: Ride to station and train to Lilydale
Lap 2: WRT to Warram8 - 20km, 53:58
Lap 3: Warram8 - 20.1km, 02:05:59
Lap 4: Warram8 to Lilydale - 19.42km, 51:36,
Lap 5: Train back and ride home

Forgot HR strap so no HR data!

Great trip and will definitely be back.

Tired and have kids party tonight so bussed again.

Bad night to be followed by even worse day. Bussed in and out, no paddling. Went home early for "meeting" and work from home.

Paddling would have been crap in the monsoon that came through yesterday.

Commute

Commute + yarra boulevard

Regular commute in. Felt pretty good and average speed last night and today was 28.5. Good for commute with stops.

The now standard 45 min tempo out and back. Too many disruptions from work to get seriously back to paddling and with no running there are no potential races.

Working on the knee and hope to be back running within the next 2 weeks and then start looking at some adventure races.

Commute to paddle and then home. Cool tailwind for a change so even though I was tired still cruised comfortably in mid 30's.

Bike is coming up for three years and 15,000 k's. Mmmm new bike time?

Commute in

Second of the xmas dinners and a late night commute home.

Had two beers but drank lots of water, so all good.