.... the jackal rides and run....

I was planning a fast 100km+ ride for Saturday but me mate Ryo needed to be back early so we went through the relatively flattish 80km East West route (Tuas and back). Even though it was shorted than the initially 100km plan, I found it to be a thoroughly satisfying ride as 1) we attacked every slope we encountered 2) we attacked the flats, more so if there was headwind! 3) I had thigh burn from every attack. Although the ride average for was only 30.3km/h, its not reflective of the intensity of the ride. A quick look using Sportracks shows that we started very slow and only picked up speed after Nicoll...we slowed as well due to traffic at Tuas and also Raffles Marina, just spinning and sightseeing there. Average speed from Nicoll - Tuas - Nicoll (about 70+km) was about 32km/h. The ride back from Tuas - Nicoll was 33km/h ave. Average speed at Viaduct was impressive, probably about 42.5km/h for the full length. I managed to pull up to 45-47km/h at some stage. Pretty good for 2 guys...

Morning RIDE I did not join the rare Masher ride scheduled for 6.30am (they planned to do the Eastern loop, a relatively flat course, avoiding Mandai altogether) as I needed to be back by 8am. Thus, I set out on my own at 5am to do the East West 80km loop.....basically to Tuas and back. the plan is to do a achieve a post 30km/h ave on my own without killing my legs. The route is relatively flatish so no problems. I was on a moderate pace when I caught up with a group of 8 riders at Nicoll. I opted not to overtake them but also not to draft them so I kept a distance of at least 5-6 bikes away. They were doing pretty much moderate speed about 30-32km/h. I waited for them to attack the pace at the Viaduct but it didn't happen and they remain at that same 32km/h pace.....so I overtook them and went at it to post 36km/h speeds at the viaduct. Surprisingly, no one gave chase. At the end of the viaduct, I took a quick peek behind me and they were out of sight. I slowed down to moderat...

Haven't ran since JMFR so decided to go back to the usual 2 x 5km routine for weekdays and 2 bike rides over the weekend. The 2 running activities were not good at all. Pace was 6min/km but I did a new route which is 5.5km iso 5km. These are more as filler activities for cycling. Weekday cycling is too much for me most of the time....waking damn early and take a while to get setup. So on election day Saturday, I went yet again on a round island solo ride (112km). I changed my saddle tilt a bit (flat) and consciously try not to put too much weight on my hands, esp the right one as I'm developing some sort of Tennis Elbow due to cycling. Kicked off around 5.05am and was trying to complete by 9am. Unfortunately, I came in 2-mins after 9am...exhausted. Normally, I will have 1/2 to 1/4 bottle of liquids left but this time around completely finished. It was ok up till around Mandai (30.7km/h average) until the sun came up. It became hot really fast and it was a real struggle maintain...

Did back to back East - West rides over the weekend. Basically from my home to Raffles Marina/Tuas 2nd Link and back. On Saturday, I set off alone at 5.15am...and was back home by 8am. Pretty speedy ride and the course is not so undulating and much less traffic lights. Managed a 31.5km/h average for entire ride which is my fastest solo 80km to day. Of course, the course is much more straightforward. Tuas was quite busy even at 6.30am...many trucks running along the roads but thankfully not at high speeds and were quite generous (luckily) in giving amply space between me and them as they passed. Ave HR for the ride was 150bpm. On Sunday, KL and I went for the same route. Got re-routed into the F1 pit due to the stupid OCBC thingie and we got stuck in there. I was quite fed-up with those guys manning the barricades and stuff....clearly they could let me out of the place and let us be on our way but they were being difficult. I had to throw a bit of a tantrum before they let us pass throu...