Your mountain is waiting

Tomorrow is the big day, we head off at 6am.  We're all hoping the weather is favourable, especially when you look at the ride profile.

Finally, I'm generally not a huge fan of motivational quotes, but I reckon this one is particularly apt.

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Don't forget, there's still time to donate and help Entoure support sick and disadvantaged kids. http://www.entoure.com.au/riders/georgezd/
See you on the other side.
cheers
gz

Two weeks off the bike, had to make do with running

I'm back in Brisbane after two weeks away, two weeks of almost constant eating and drinking, two weeks without even sitting on a bike, two weeks of thinking about Mt Tambourine.  Now only two days and counting, we're setting off on Friday morning on the Entoure Salt Cycle Classic, 400km in three days. 
I did lobby hard (although ultimately unsuccessfully) for special dispensation to take my bike away on honeymoon.  In the absence of riding I did a bit of running and managed to clock up just on 50km over two weeks, not a huge amount, but not bad.  If it wasn't for this 50km I would have come home 5kg heavier instead of 2kg.
I must say running Bondi to Bronte and then laps of Hamilton Island for two weeks is a nice change from 5:30am river loops.
Hamilton Island is a beautiful spot and whilst small, has enough road to get a decent run in. One Tree Hill is hard work with the Garmin telling me it hits 20% at one point.  At the top though, the views are spectacular.  

I love running Bondi to Bronte. It's the perfect course: nice flat stretches, a few stairs, a bit of wind & perfect scenery.  Topped off with a Nutella bagel and latte I can't think of a better way to start the day.
With only two days remaining I'm still working hard on fundraising with my target in sight.  Please hit up my Entoure page to support the great causes.  http://www.entoure.com.au/riders/georgezd/
cheers
gz

Mt Gravatt & Mt Cootha loop

Today was shaping as my last "proper" training ride before the Entoure event.  I'm heading off on a two week holiday and have been instructed that the bike must stay at home.  With that in mind I was keen to join the crew for a ride with a reasonable level of challenge.  I think we achieved that objective.
We had an eclectic group this morning with the Eagle pulling the pin due to red-wine induced trauma leaving a core group of five to take on the ride: "Real Ben" & Meredith (Brisbane cycling's answer to Torvill & Dean), Richard (newly nicknamed "The Pumper" for his love of the bike repair station at Garage), Condo and myself  . We were joined by special guest rider, Mick, captain of Team Treasury.
Today's ride saw us head off from Southbank to Mt Gravatt to take on the 2km climb to the top.  Whilst you wouldn't exactly call it a summit it's still a challenging steady climb.  After that we headed out through Rocklea into a section of reverse River Loop and on to Mt Cootha for another climb.  By the time we hit Cootha the sun was starting to make its presence felt.  After climbing Cootha we were left with the best bit of the ride (apart from the coffee back at Garage), the descent.  Descending down the back of Cootha is great fun as the steady gradient and twisting road make for a challenging drop.  I reckon The best reason for riding up hills is so we can come back down them again.
The Garmin readout shows a meandering ride bookended by the two climbs http://bit.ly/q7lipb


I'm undecided about whether I will head out for a short ride by myself tomorrow.  Otherwise I expect to be doing a bit of running  over the next two weeks to keep the legs and heart rate working.
Please don't forget to support the Entoure Salt Ride by donating to support seriously ill and disadvantaged kids.  http://www.entoure.com.au/riders/georgezd/
cheers
gz

Friday morning Love Ride River Loop

Today was the traditional Friday morning River Loop starting & finishing at Southbank.  Today's ride was billed as the Love Ride as the usual two peletons merged into one and were to ride a gentle pace together.  The pace was gentle for most of the way, but a small breakaway formed at the end of the Corso for an assault on Cemetery Hill and Montague Rd for the ride home.  
The weather in Brisbane at the moment is just perfect for riding.  The Garmin readout (http://bit.ly/pO1vML) shows the temperature varying between 7 & 13 degrees over the ride.  Perfect sunshine and mild temperatures make for a great morning hitout.  It's also getting lighter earlier, which makes getting out of bed a bit less of an effort.
Today was my last Friday River Loop for a while as I'm heading off for two weeks.  When I get back it will be time for the Entoure Salt Ride.  Don't forget, there's still plenty of time to donate and support the event in raising money for seriously ill and disadvantaged kids.  http://www.entoure.com.au/riders/georgezd/ 
Tomorrow Cootha & Mt Gravatt, my last ride for two weeks.
cheers
gz

Another challenging morning on the Corso

It's another beautiful crisp, clear spring morning in Brisbane today.  After opting for the sleep in yesterday I joined the team to hit the Corso for another session with Coach Boom today.
Today's session saw us utilising a shorter distance than Tuesday's ride, but at a higher intensity.  The objective was to sprint from the turnaround point and then maintain the effort to the base of the climb at which point we could relax on the climb to the top, recover on the way back down before sprinting again to the turn mark & coming back again.


It didn't take long before the hardcore riders dropped me and I ended up riding alone in between groups.  Putting in the effort when there's no one with you to share the load or inspire you on is a good mental challenge.
Whilst the Garmin readout doesn't look too exciting (all the back & forward riding) http://bit.ly/oVdKlz it was a really enjoyable, and taxing session.


Tomorrow is a leisurely River Loop so that should give the legs a chance to recover a bit.
Don't forget to hit my Entoure page to donate to the cause of helping seriously ill and disadvantaged kids, that's why I'm doing all of this. http://www.entoure.com.au/riders/georgezd/ 
cheers
gz

Cemetery Hill & The Corso

It's a beautiful morning this morning in Brisbane, the kind that makes you feel glad you got out of bed.  That's something I very nearly didn't do this morning.  When the alarm went off at 4:20 I was tempted to text the boys and pull out of this morning's session.  I felt I had a legitimate reason, running the Bridge to Brisbane on Sunday my legs still felt a bit stiff.  


Luckily for me I didn't take the soft option, but dragged myself down to the base of Cemetery Hill for Boothy's (http://www.boomtimecyclesystems.com.au/) Corso sprints.  After an hour of bashing myself up on the flats I felt a million bucks.  Reckon I'll be suffering by about 7pm tonight, but right now I'm energised and ready for a huge day.  The Garmin readout isn't too exciting, basically just going backwards and forwards, but worth a look anyway.
http://bit.ly/nOIeWH
Tomorrow - Cootha


Don't forget, the reason I'm doing this is the Entoure Salt Tour, 400km in 3 days raising money for seriously ill and disadvantaged kids. Would love it if you can support a worthy cause.  http://www.entoure.com.au/riders/georgezd/


cheers
gz

The best looking lycra in Kingscliff

It’s Tuesday night and we leave on Friday, bright and early on the Entoure Kingscliff Challenge 400km riding in three days to raise money to support critically injured children. 

While there’s still a question mark over the weather forecast there can be no question that the Team Enhance riders will be outfitted in the most aesthetically pleasing lycra in the tour.  I take pleasure in unveiling the team kit for this tour. 

A big thank you to our team sponsors: Intebuild, Consolidated Properties and La Dolce Vita Caffe.  These three companies have generously lent their support to our fundraising efforts for the Day of Difference foundation.

Keep an eye out for us as we roll down the coast.

Please support me on the Entoure Kingscliff Challenge.  400km in 3 days for critically injured kids.

http://www.entoure.com.au/riders/georgezd/

See you on the road.

gz