tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39576529820071230822024-02-20T12:01:01.318+11:00VonRiderAdventures of a woman riding, racing, touristing, snowboarding!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17270704254643234147noreply@blogger.comBlogger100125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3957652982007123082.post-47497441974492609602018-12-31T14:58:00.001+11:002018-12-31T14:58:08.510+11:00Bali by BikeWhen work announced there was going to be a trip for a conference a there was some excitement that it was going to be somewhere warm during the cold Australian winter.<br />
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So when Bali was confirmed I started to lookup places to ride and was inspired to take my bike. There was a contact from my racing days that used to take event photos - Jarrod Partridge who had started a travel company to do proper high end road bike tours. </div>
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As I had never travelled to that part of the world I had a million questions and he was kind enough to answer them, set me up with some custom riding experiences and contacts with the local ex-pat riding community.<br />
<img alt="" id="id_a0b2_55be_450e_fb7e" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-C49_Tq2eYSs/XCmScrnDOfI/AAAAAAAAS0Y/ec5VL5dK40IIVdJoETgQJRt3aFU9f78HACHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; cursor: move; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; height: auto; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; width: 353px; word-spacing: 0px;" title="" tooltip="" /><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
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The first day was initially a nervous ride around the south in Nusa Dua. The area near my hotel had a lot to give:</div>
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- Skinny back roads</div>
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- Coastal vistas</div>
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- Punchy roller coaster terrain</div>
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- Plus we rode up to the massive statue that had finished being erected! It was visible from every angle in the south!!</div>
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By the end of the day I was weaving through traffic and overtaking scooters. What stayed with me was the crackle of powerlines on the side of the road and the dogs that would wander out on the road or try to think about chasing us. I think that was the biggest barrier to going out for a ride on my own. Although I was pretty stoked to grab a few QOM segments in the region. </div>
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The next day I had lined up a 100km ride to the hills with the locals. I may have bitten off more than I could chew with this one. We had a group of 5 locals take off a little later than we expected and were running into the local traffic and lunch! We navigated around the parades and ate all remaining food in our pockets. The heat got to me - I had to launch myself up the final 12-15% punchy climbs up to the rim of the volcano. Lungs were screaming and legs were empty! </div>
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The views from the top were worth it! </div>
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The ride down back to the start was exciting and memorable. A chain of riders leapfrogging each other, faster than expected down the back-roads. At one point we were stopped by traffic outside a village with the Police directing things. I thought it was another parade until we heard the gun shots. The local riders got very nervous and got us out of there very quickly. By the end of the ride we were back in the flow of traffic and I was drafting scooters and made it back in time for my driver to take me home. I was very happy to jump in the pool when I got back!<br />
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During the conference we had team building events - one was to build a bike for a child in need and donate this to the charity.<br />
<img alt="" id="id_fff2_e4bc_68fe_30ac" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2FgP3MQL43k/XCmSa6pKiPI/AAAAAAAAS0I/notOyQ94C0UwHK6RoG2dRBY0YF-V2pTUACHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; cursor: move; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; height: auto; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; width: 353px; word-spacing: 0px;" title="" tooltip="" /><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
The second event was to do a "race around the world" style of event to undertake activities and follow clues to dinner on the final night - one activity was to cycle downhill MTB through some rice fields. It was great!<br />
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A week later after the work conference was completed I did one more ride with my mate Kat Lee along the coast line. It was lovely to see the water temple, and rolling hills. I would love to come back to Bali again and with some forward planning, I could definitely take my bike again.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17270704254643234147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3957652982007123082.post-10888551909752093932018-12-31T14:44:00.002+11:002019-01-02T09:32:01.599+11:002018 Year in Review<div style="text-align: center;">
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Jan</div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">New Years Day Crit in
Ballarat</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Ride from Bendigo to Ballarat</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Daylesford 100km loop</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Australian Nationals spectating</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Tour Down Under (GirlRide RADelaide/Rapha
Women's/Rapha Willunga Trip)</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Solo Cadel Evans People's
Ride</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Ride Marysville - Lake
mountain (1st time)</span></li>
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Feb</div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Ride to Melbourne for a BBQ lunch (135km) - train home</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Kinglake ride for Herald Sun
Tour with the ladies</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Ballarat Cycle Classic </span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Perth visit!</span></li>
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March</div>
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<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Fi and Brad wedding</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Ride Barwon heads</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Santa Monica
trip/Hollywood/Disneyland</span></li>
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April</div>
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<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">San Francisco/Tahoe skiing at
Alpine Meadows Ski resort for Easter</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Test ride Specialized gravel Diverge</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">RCC Women's Overnighter</span></li>
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May</div>
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<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Brisbane Zwift trip</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Riding with Rach and Shannon
around BrisVegas</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Mothers day 5km cancer
classic walk in Horsham</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Rapha Women’s Prestige Melbourne</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">New couch day!</span></li>
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June</div>
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<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Gave away a tonne of old
cycling kit</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Zwift Fondo training plan</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Dinner at Underbar in
Ballarat</span></li>
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July</div>
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<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Wangaratta ride somewhere
different</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Women's 100 Training Days</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Riding in Jan Jac</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Perth trip staying in Blue
Tree-house Air BnB</span></li>
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Aug</div>
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<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Zwift Academy start</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Women's 100 Training Days in
Melbourne</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Zwift session at Ergo Fitness
in Adelaide</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">2x Riding in Bali with
personal tour</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">100km volcano ride with Bali
locals</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Test Ride Specialized Tarmac
Disc</span></li>
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Sept</div>
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<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Long beach trip to visit
Zwift HQ</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Finish Zwift Academy at
Zwift!!</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Rapha Women's 100 in Santa
Monica</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Interbike US tradeshow</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Rapha Transfer Ride
(160+180+127=467km)</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Gears n Beers Gravel Fondo</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Test ride Canyon Gravel Grail
bike</span></li>
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Oct</div>
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<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Sick</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Vic Masters Road Race - M2
champion</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Canadian Thanksgiving</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Ride Daylesford</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Renew sponsorship with Thule</span></li>
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Nov</div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Sydney PROSCI training trip</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">TACX Neo 2 unboxing and test
ride</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Trainer Road new kit day/ramp
test/fitness baseline</span></li>
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Dec</div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Amsterdam - DC Rainmaker Open
House/ housewarming</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Ride around in Amsterdam</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Visit Tacx factory</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Berlin hike of Teufelsberg
(the hill Jens Voight Everested)</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Christmas!</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Rapha Festive 500km in
Victoria, Australia</span></li>
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<a href="https://2018.strava.com/en-us/video/9ba1091dbd1d89e1423f59342edc87bb8f5e3f1d/" id="id_c7c_510e_4aa2_d402" target="_self">Strava 2018 year in review</a></div>
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<img alt="" id="id_927e_9f24_89a3_8770" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ERp3lidm02o/XCtiFZQ0Q9I/AAAAAAAAS1A/12pze9l2t20s2ZK992p_MZGh1Qi2coHsACHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 353px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17270704254643234147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3957652982007123082.post-43143757323856603672018-09-14T13:37:00.001+10:002018-09-15T10:57:30.705+10:00Zwift Academy Journey 100%<img alt="" id="id_5690_5d67_9570_b492" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qssskTf3Vws/W5ss6Y0EGFI/AAAAAAAASss/LLV4-e1cOAYrCqvF0lTgAWDtCfMPxdpbgCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 353px;" title="" tooltip="" />
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With a quick visit to Los Angeles this week, I piggy backed off the invite from Zwift HQ to my husband Shane to meet up with Kate V and finish my Zwift Academy on site at Zwift!</div>
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My setup was pretty nice with Wahoo Kickr trainers and Wahoo desk, iPad device and wireless fans. I had brought my own bike to L.A. for some outdoor rides so I knew the fit would be comfortable for the hard session to come. </div>
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<img alt="" id="id_7ff4_b88b_38cf_8a2a" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-x7KMPIOl2zA/W5ss7EpXnrI/AAAAAAAASs0/-ensGdGJoVMnGp48hhU22586DFj6N3gJQCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 353px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
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As an added benefit, I managed to meet my weekly goal on Zwift and clocked up some vertical kms towards to Tron/concept bike challenge.<br />
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<img alt="" id="id_eed5_9adb_bf39_c5e6" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0nYWq1bkc7I/W5ss7DGHUzI/AAAAAAAASsw/9mNMT2zB6qQjSWRnFHijkPkDepVudciOACHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 353px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
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I was pretty nervous (for some reason) with other riders and staff members working out around me and walking in/out of the Lab. Once I got into it, it all went smoothly just like my sessions at home.<br />
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<img alt="" id="id_e092_41b1_4960_3713" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-B7lIReo1bOI/W5ss7Jw0MsI/AAAAAAAAStA/mnUHoBf8HQcTatXJGyx4ABBnl-Hjkc7cgCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 353px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
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The final unlock of kit was the magical ZA jersey and knicks making a complete set of socks, kit, gloves, glasses and cap.<br />
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<img alt="" id="id_f8a2_495f_2ce1_9a58" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-yoc3Zh50tpg/W5ss7t_IJjI/AAAAAAAASs8/qxeCvuVepYkUOuAgQTjBG_pen8F9Ssp8ACHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 353px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
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The new paintwork on the Canyon bike looked slick and matches all the other kit so well!<br />
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<img alt="" id="id_b5d6_c716_d352_b805" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ET2NX-SP8Xs/W5ss75E_73I/AAAAAAAAStE/pMyMC_z-WVUbdu7QUJSJmUDF7-_5fHQGgCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 353px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The final checkpoint was to verify on the website that the final ride counted and registered. With this all in place, I was set!</span></div>
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<img alt="" id="id_d2b1_80f9_f5eb_65d2" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZkPagxO9dSQ/W5ss8FaM1bI/AAAAAAAAStI/MmhrjItiiFwaBwYhSyN1qmsYOi8MWGw7gCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 353px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
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Mega thanks to all that chatted along on the group rides and races. Those that have shared on the Facebook group. I hope those that are still chipping away on the session will be encouraged to keep on going. It it totally achievable!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17270704254643234147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3957652982007123082.post-22662160470649269622018-08-22T08:02:00.001+10:002018-08-22T21:47:08.029+10:00Races Complete! Finishing ZA Strong<img alt="" id="id_44c1_3cef_7697_3c83" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-XXFpAZD9pmM/W3yL5I6fHCI/AAAAAAAASnw/WIcJpy_A0GUDzL200Hx56yfP4zQ2Gr8ygCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 353px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
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My winter escape is almost here and I’m eagerly preparing to take my bike to enjoy some sunshine in between the upcoming work conference. </div>
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One of these steps was to try complete any races or group rides (variables in the ZA) around my current work days. </div>
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There was some intent to get up early on Saturday to do one then, but sleep won that round! When I checked the upcoming schedule I noticed the races were starting this week! Yay!</div>
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RACE #1</div>
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As per most Zwift racing, the pace was on from the start gate. Within the first 5 minutes a good group of 5 was formed. It was great to see local racer M.Taylor on the start line as we haven’t ridden together since my last real live race on New Year’s Day! </div>
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<img alt="" id="id_68c_d819_b66c_ff51" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9EEqG_KvMP8/W3yL5n9kzQI/AAAAAAAASn4/Hm-23xw6VE04y_7oES2VcdTOwuSEph8qgCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 353px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
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By the time we were halfway through the course the hill on Innsbruck had taken its toll and we were down to 4!</div>
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I tried a mad attack at the top third of the climb to break the group up. The tactic worked, till the second hill and my body couldn’t pull off what my mind thought it could. This did split the group with me in 3rd place, but I had dug a hole that I struggled to recover from. The reality in the trainer room was not pretty - desperately wishing my fan was just slightly tilted on an angle more toward my body and my towel sopping up all the drips. </div>
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<img alt="" id="id_3af9_e658_e05b_8fe6" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2j0reteNbjw/W3yL5i42KNI/AAAAAAAASoA/H_zGUXRx0wQwLrAcTagwajLrtep6d5qewCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 353px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
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I tried to bridge to 3rd place on the last hill and got close. Indoor km goal met for the week was a nice touch as the ladies in front of me slowly pulled away. I held on for 4th overall. It was only later that I realised that one lady was in A-Grade so I made it to 3rd in B-Grade! Yay!</div>
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<img alt="" height="460" id="id_9a86_2edc_a3b_82bd" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wnZ9-dhhDYw/W3yL5gN4hcI/AAAAAAAASn8/QSwQx2HwpF0h4Vv4I9_UX8qGEe1yO_GOQCHMYCw/s640/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 353px;" title="" tooltip="" width="640" /><br />
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RACE #2</div>
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I didn’t think I would get a ride in last night, however when I checked the app at 6:30pm it said there was a 7pm race. Previous experience shows that doing back to back races is a bad idea. Shane was setting up for a live-stream coffee and chat ride so I thought I’d sneak into the trainer room and tick over the race with low expectations. </div>
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<img alt="" id="id_75da_d2dc_6c0e_21dd" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ec0rs05Cd6I/W3ySQc6oB_I/AAAAAAAASo0/FAYHGhu6XlU8l0iubzZu6yORw4YtS_TPACHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 353px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
The pre-race kms were not neutral and we had the top 3 for B-Grade in the split within the first 5-10mins. I love a flat course. This one was familiar from all the eCrit races last year. </div>
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The aim of this was to stay focused in the bunch, not do too much, don’t get dropped off the back on the hill and finish strong. </div>
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<img alt="" id="id_b8f0_7e51_49b0_d378" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-o8B5J_FupBY/W3yT8mi4Z0I/AAAAAAAASpQ/_uKqINm18hkU09DgIfj7UWVkEodzT34gQCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 353px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
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With 3km to go I interrupted Shane’s ride to ask advice. I was in top 3 spot and the hill was coming up. Do I use my Truck powerup on the hill or in a bunch sprint? After deliberating with the internet audience, I was already on the hill and my closest competition was passing me. I made the decision to use the powerup just as Shane said not to use it! I made it over the top just hanging off the back of the bunch. It was pulling apart slowly and I had to dig a little to come back up to the other two in the mix of A-graders. </div>
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The final sprint went from 300m to go and I lifted then punched it. A.Hailstone was dropped and came up parallel. I pushed a little more and we crossed the line at the same time!! 2nd in B-Grade was a great outcome.<br />
<img alt="" height="442" id="id_b0bb_d9d8_d0_f3b5" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-pAHorrT1ErU/W3ySQqjXSKI/AAAAAAAASo8/IXt1Flwt_04sYOEulTcjnc-O8B6Rm7WmwCHMYCw/s640/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 353px;" title="" tooltip="" width="640" /><br />
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I think being 70% complete the next ride should unlock another reward. My guess is the final one will be a jersey, so I predict this one to be gloves. We will have to wait to see!! 5 more sessions to go. Happy riding!<br />
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<img alt="" id="id_7cd7_8029_95c4_91ec" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-T4shoTG6pMg/W3ySQnbtYzI/AAAAAAAASo4/gRcyt5lTZKg1U0NsxHQNG3GdQAm9lARywCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 353px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17270704254643234147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3957652982007123082.post-72034441025525174312018-08-19T10:10:00.000+10:002018-08-19T10:42:01.284+10:00Glass half full? 50% ZA<div><img id="id_adb7_47bf_ad7b_6d3b" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ClNMKmXociw/W3i8N569wuI/AAAAAAAASms/wvsSwY_hpwsdBrIDH59jJZFsXdbnISI-gCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br></div>As predicted the weather here has been abysmal with temps in the negative. My paincave setup was in the garage and it was too cold for me! I was doing sessions without the fan and a thick jersey till the core temp went up then taking off the long sleeve and finishing off without the fan as the air movement was just too much for me. <div>The next month should warm up a bit - I hope!</div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_aeb6_487b_c5f9_3093" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-a80wE6n3cgM/W3i8Ot_Lk0I/AAAAAAAASnA/XGZD-fxLnPgNnBXBM7-5LteQHZfvtnz2wCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">I won an Instagram competition for my pic of the Innsbruck course! That was nice surprise to receive and goooooood motivation for continuing on with me Zwift Academy rides. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">I had a bit of a technical meltdown on workout 6 this week with the iPad not connecting correctly with the Kickr17. As the earlier intervals/warmup was so low on power I didn’t notice it failing to hold the watts. I tried turning erg mode on screen off/on (don’t get me started on the button labelling of that in the UI - it confuses me every time!) then I stopped pedaling 2x for erg mode to try catch up and re-enable. That failed a few more intervals. It was only turning the Kickr off/on at the wall that kicked it in for the end of the workout. I think I will go back and re visit this one workout later in the Academy period. <br></span><br><img id="id_236a_4f69_1e16_6705" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6hsTWy50BIc/W3i8Oc1ZowI/AAAAAAAASm0/bc0tRIr6OtU5Iv-lcV9880BOHvvKVssvwCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br>Workout 7 I was looking forward to a new style of session after the last 2 were quite similar. This one had more of a big block interval and I was pretty confident. There were a lot of riders on course. Here is a shot of one of the men’s bunches coming for me during warmup! </div><div><br><img id="id_935a_40c2_ab89_5be8" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zSofMFTavwY/W3i8OdBeB4I/AAAAAAAASmw/hM9bZkP7zlYLOq_pdnmXVfQHxRfHJxBPQCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br>This session I was using the Tacx Neo and the power was great except for 2x dropouts in the cooldown. I was not feeling the best, but pushed through. The first 8mins was great of the “free ride” self selected interval, then I almost literally “hit the wall” and tried my best not to drop the last 2 minutes. The average was just over what I thought I could hold for the 10minutes. <br><img id="id_893f_61e0_d2aa_48f0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-RiqV1s-58nM/W3i8Ofr1B_I/AAAAAAAASm4/iECOxM_Wp5ojdB40lDrmODw5IanXCJ_IQCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br>Now with 50% complete we have new sunglasses that are the <a href="https://au.oakley.com/en/men/sunglasses/sport-performance/flight-jacket/product/W0OO9401/?skuCode=OO9401-0837&variant=888392342386&categoryCode=101010000m" title="">Oakley Flight Jacket</a>. Not the style I personally would wear- but good to see another exclusive item unlocked. </div><div><br></div><div>Looking forward to the races this week. I have 1 booked in for early this week before I fly out later in the week for sunny Bali!</div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_c82d_fbb3_20e9_8deb" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zGCZ4FkgtmQ/W3i8OiVA8OI/AAAAAAAASm8/3lX20s-yXd8bp9vbLsASY_u5eIwAG4XRwCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><br></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17270704254643234147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3957652982007123082.post-58573366299796788502018-08-13T07:55:00.001+10:002018-08-13T07:57:53.788+10:00Rapha Women’s 100 Training Rides<img id="id_876_f97d_6e1c_219c" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-b29yWt31mdw/W3CsztLBJRI/AAAAAAAASlc/9aQJr496I7oi2p45xLc0GL4TDMzvfiPTgCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><div><br></div><div>Women from around the world have pledged to cycle together on 15/09/18 f<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">or this years Rapha Women’s 100 Ride. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Previously this has been held earlier in Winter when the memory of warm days and long training kms are still fresh in the memory and the legs. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">This year it’s been a struggle for me to get out, with the weekend morning bunch rides cancelled in Ballarat due to weather. So I have been doing a few more indoor rides and planning when I can get out for organised rides and the options around the area for different courses. It’s definitely a motivation to try do more event based rides. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img id="id_b36c_f049_e749_1507" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-FOCMmS9f5VY/W3Cs1aDjqpI/AAAAAAAASlo/vYeWHPZYjqgTBSdx1H7csRbNAl-6KhJEACHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Last month was the first organised Rapha Womens 100 Training rides for the Melbourne cycling club. I was tasked with leading the intermediate group for a 100km ride along Beach Road. On the morning it was quite windy and fewer riders showed up than registered, so we consolidated groups, shortened the course and rolled with the tempo of the fast bunch. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">It has been a long while since I’ve been out that way! Though it was easy to remember the rolling terrain and corners from frequent rides in a time gone by. </span></div><div><br><img id="id_f5c0_3337_ec0d_e260" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6E7JKCPz42g/W3Cs1N_DuSI/AAAAAAAASlk/iOAalMXccFkuvxgjt1kEXbPUq5DKlYMxQCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">This month we did a cut down variation of the planned W100 Melbourne course. There were 2 bunches on offer this time and we headed out of the city construction detours to the north. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">As per this time of the year it was a bracing and brisk fresh breeze that smacked us along the bike paths out of Melbourne. Those that came along brought a sense of adventure as I followed my Garmin 1030 with the extra mapping detail. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><img id="id_99ff_d12e_181a_fa28" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1PbkUUFHWCE/W3Cs1Eou5SI/AAAAAAAASlg/e_nF6VAbmP42J8hyw0_DT-UMT_zv08QfACHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br>It was also good to see a few friendly faces. The most FAQ was how is Ballarat/country life? As I don’t have a social life anyway, it’s just a longer commute to work and a shorter ride out to the countryside to ride! Also my heating bill is higher and I ride inside more over winter. <br><br><img id="id_9081_2f6a_9d6a_4dcb" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_W8-0j9U3hE/W3Cs3bAFljI/AAAAAAAASls/we6d-5EHra8DWGU7nRi6PdwH4wYVmH9bgCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br>The <a href="https://www.rapha.cc/au/en_AU/womens-100-rides" title="">new registeration site</a> is up now for the day. So those that have pledged to ride 100kms can sign up to join me or one of the groups for September. With a focus on participation rather than difficulty, it will be good to see how the final course goes on the day. There will also be a 65km option for those wanting to participate, but cannot make the full distance. Come join us. Also the coffee is pretty good!</div><div><br><img id="id_f236_2d33_c651_f13f" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-i0preenXS4o/W3Cs3hDnuiI/AAAAAAAASlw/LgNNhi-542szCVLDJ251nArY9cNtam6bwCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17270704254643234147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3957652982007123082.post-42582048816292308232018-08-11T16:46:00.001+10:002018-08-11T16:46:32.648+10:00ZA 25% complete<div><img id="id_65e7_44ea_3d40_ed32" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-12c6YfHZ_Yk/W26GKMSf8GI/AAAAAAAASjQ/uwEFggMESmEAbpbne8cdiAC24qXTIIzwACHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><br></div>This weekend it was wet and windy out so I set myself up for a double session. First up was a Zwift Academy group ride for an hour and then a group workout for session “3. Under Ones”. <div><br></div><div>It was nice to join a team ride with ladies ready to pedal the same watts. The peloton soon split to multiple groups on the road. </div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_c6a0_4b13_cc79_fe84" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jaJW0tFnssQ/W26GKsRzqXI/AAAAAAAASjc/wgQuccbuBUM9D_6TZv2m3H2lFcCjCnWhwCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br>Somehow I had escaped off the front of the group while typing messages to the group on my phone. After a few minutes I realised they were not coming back to me so I waited up for the group. At that time there were a lot of smaller groups so it was hard to tell when the main group would come through. </div><div><br></div><div>All in all it was a good warm up. As best practice I saved the workout and quit the game to restart for the workout session. It needs to do this to create a new file and register as a separate workout. Something I hope to see Zwift fix from a UI perspective. </div><div><br></div><div>Also when I went into the device connections in the companion app the Todays Plan link had disconnected again. I will need to raise a support ticket for that as I have tried on web and via the companion app and it will not stay connected. </div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_5322_2a7d_9ac8_ae7d" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-CpIdWf_WQkk/W26GKru9zDI/AAAAAAAASjY/y5jktIJNgaMo-MIHEpiUhdy7NkggiuVFwCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br>The other interesting functionality was the erg mode disabled on this ride and made for a flaky workout. I managed to salvage some of it once I realised, but I could not get it to re-enable. Some of the sectors could have stayed on erg to make it easier to pass. </div><div><br></div><div>It was good to see a few familiar names online doing the same rides as me too. A big motivation! Thanks! <br>Another motivation was the freebie unlocked item of the new ZA socks. Now I will be looking virtually sharp!</div><div><br><div><br><img id="id_2c43_a471_b2c0_bb5d" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--RjVbnzipTg/W26GKYtql8I/AAAAAAAASjU/hbp6LGc4BU4aL7uflLHHaaWa9yL1Ja_EACHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><br><br> </div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17270704254643234147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3957652982007123082.post-47736959830058311042018-08-04T12:30:00.001+10:002018-08-09T21:57:15.927+10:00 ZA structure and setup<div><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 25px; line-height: 1.5em;"><img id="id_ea3f_57f_da81_6b23" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-pG9Y3OrO3hA/W2wrEoz3ZAI/AAAAAAAASiM/2AczVdWFLnslNfsPLLrSRP_pKmZZ-EZ0wCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><font color="#000000" face="sans-serif" size="3"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></font></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 25px; line-height: 1.5em;"><font color="#000000" face="sans-serif" size="3"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">In the lead up to Zwift Academy (ZA) this year I tested out the Zwift Fondo training plan. This was a good start and way to get into a structured workouts at my own time and pace. </span></font></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 25px; line-height: 1.5em;"><font color="#000000" face="sans-serif" size="3"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">For ZA in 2018 we will need to complete 16 events during an 8-week period to graduate.</span></font></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 25px; line-height: 1.5em;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: medium;">- 10 structured workouts</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 25px; line-height: 1.5em;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: medium;">- 4 group rides</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 25px; line-height: 1.5em;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: medium;">- 2 races</span></p></div><font color="#000000" face="sans-serif" size="3"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The dates are from August 6th to September 30th. The Top 10 graduates will advance to the semifinals, taking place in Oct 15th - Oct 28th. Then the Top 3 advance to the finals, held in mid-November.</span></font><div><font color="#000000" face="sans-serif" size="3"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"><br></span></font></div><div><font color="#000000" face="sans-serif" size="3"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"><a href="https://zwift.com/academy/progress" title="">Progress can be tracked on the Zwift</a> website to make sure everything is accounted for. <br></span></font><div><font color="#000000" face="sans-serif" size="3"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"><br></span></font></div><div><font color="#000000" face="sans-serif" size="3"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">It should be pretty easy to do 2-3 sessions a week indoors now that it’s deep winter here in Australia. The cool part about workouts this year is that while you can still do all 10 solo, if you want to do it with others around you for morale and motivation, the group workouts count too!! Zwift have already started scheduling the first ones. </span></font></div><div><font color="#000000" face="sans-serif" size="3"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"><br></span></font></div><div><font color="#000000" face="sans-serif" size="3"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">I’ve setup my own Zwift station indoors as it’s way too cold to be in the garage/outside for sessions now. </span></font></div><div><br></div><div><div><font color="#000000" face="sans-serif" size="3"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">There have been a tonne of questions posted up and answered in the Facebook group with lots of interactions to help each other. It’s a great community. </span></font></div></div></div><div><font color="#000000" face="sans-serif" size="3"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></font></div><div><img id="id_a188_91c6_2f70_eb4b" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-BRwuLrVJS4w/W2wrE0-aBzI/AAAAAAAASiQ/toT4N8Z6Lms02nSwRa2f_Nm-krW6KL2XQCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><font color="#000000" face="sans-serif" size="3"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></font></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17270704254643234147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3957652982007123082.post-72076460098624146962018-08-03T22:37:00.000+10:002018-08-04T12:00:59.857+10:002018 Zwift Academy - the beginning <div><img id="id_706a_c083_4b2f_c59e" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ayLROKsCQ5E/W2UIw2Hm8KI/AAAAAAAAShU/80wrM8pVcsg4rDzCsw6fdZjTNYsP-J3WgCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><br></div>The <a href="https://zwift.com/academy/zaw2018" title="">Zwift Academy</a> starts this August as a great training block to get me moving again this winter. <div>I need all the motivation I can get with a lack of cycling, I’m in need of some weight loss and healthy diet. </div><div>This will be perfect for the upcoming adventures I have planned:</div><div><span style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">- Creswick Gravel Grinder 110km</span></div><div><span style="font-size: 12pt;">- </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">Rapha Womens 100km and training rides</span></div><div><span style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">- Sufferfest Knighthood approx 10-12hrs riding</span></div><div><span style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">- Bali cycling holiday</span></div><div><span style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">- </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">Gears n Beers 130km gravel fondo</span></div><div><span style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">- Rapha transfer ride 160 + 180km</span></div><div><span style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">- Mt Arapilies Cycling event 130km</span></div><div><span style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">- Victorian Masters Road Race in Ballarat</span></div><div><span style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">- Ride Daylesford 146km</span></div><div><span style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"><br></span></div><div>It’s going to be a solid few months so I will need to be in top performing condition on and off the bike. </div><div>Let’s get moving!!</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17270704254643234147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3957652982007123082.post-10173304987562212082017-12-30T22:46:00.001+11:002017-12-30T22:46:42.248+11:002017 on the bikeIt's been a big year in many ways. Here is a quick rundown and review:<br />
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<b>January 2018:</b><br />
Mars Nationals Gran Fondo<br />
Les Mills RPM class in Sydney<br />
Cycling trip to Tour Down Under inc Rapha Women's Ride ADL<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigpOYCYQErVLiMuCEZ3pLYaSvhIOj4Va6aLQtfDTSBY8b5J_4nYIe764DJzk9bDszOrGe1lrvELldXmzPOP9o39Fmo8OtHk4wp04CHQDawEdUfwicX7wgEcIogwOyLQcjaxbhhB-bxhyphenhyphenA/s1600/15966044_10211582810789290_3457719948642167126_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="667" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigpOYCYQErVLiMuCEZ3pLYaSvhIOj4Va6aLQtfDTSBY8b5J_4nYIe764DJzk9bDszOrGe1lrvELldXmzPOP9o39Fmo8OtHk4wp04CHQDawEdUfwicX7wgEcIogwOyLQcjaxbhhB-bxhyphenhyphenA/s400/15966044_10211582810789290_3457719948642167126_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>February 2018:</b><br />
Herald Sun Tour Prologue Ride<br />
Cycling/work Trip to Seattle, USA and snowboarding in Canada<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Rapha Women's Thursday Rides</span><br />
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<b>March 2018:</b><br />
Ella Cycling Tips Ladies Ride<br />
Lots of commuting via bike<br />
Rapha Women's Thursday Rides<br />
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BSFX2fLgC7b/" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">Milkshakes at the end of the ride 🥛 #ellacyclingtips #ellarides #ellavation #goactiveoutdoors</a></div>
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A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/v0nm/" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" target="_blank"> Von Micich</a> (@v0nm) on <time datetime="2017-03-26T02:05:58+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Mar 25, 2017 at 7:05pm PDT</time></div>
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<b>April 2018:</b><br />
Memorial Ride for Mike - Indian Pacific Wheel Race<br />
Cycling Trip to Vegas<br />
CVR World CUP - 5th in the WORLD!<br />
Whittlesea Challenge<br />
First <span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">KISS Australia-East eCrit Series Races</span><br />
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Rapha Women's Thursday Rides</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtAGshO6rIwymfTuzecifTXAt6QC8vei0z_qY_JcfCU0LzYK_RVHrwvk-GueU2bCPZE5FuWDKkmw50-PwqFj4xJrFQ14yj5qo6TZaJF4kHmEXyYXAoec3UAk7zM3F_99xX6-gjQWYqtqA/s1600/17904258_10158479516405058_9087169511723033766_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtAGshO6rIwymfTuzecifTXAt6QC8vei0z_qY_JcfCU0LzYK_RVHrwvk-GueU2bCPZE5FuWDKkmw50-PwqFj4xJrFQ14yj5qo6TZaJF4kHmEXyYXAoec3UAk7zM3F_99xX6-gjQWYqtqA/s640/17904258_10158479516405058_9087169511723033766_n.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br /></div>
<b>May 2018:</b><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">KISS Australia-East eCrit Series Races</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Rapha Giro Transfermento</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><a href="https://www.strava.com/activities/996338040" target="_blank">Thornbury Washboard ride</a></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Horsham Weekend rides</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">SKCC Women's Annual Ride and Luncheon</span><br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
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Rapha Women's Thursday Rides</div>
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<br />
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BUnpiQcgoUQ/" data-instgrm-version="8" style="background: #fff; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.5) , 0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: 99.375%;">
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<div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;">
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BUnpiQcgoUQ/" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">St Kilda Cycle Club annual women's brunch was lovely. Also great to feel a little more community out there on the bike 😊🥂🎉 @skcc1 #goactiveoutdoors #friendswithbenefits #womenscycling #ladieswholunch</a></div>
<div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">
A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/v0nm/" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" target="_blank"> Von Micich</a> (@v0nm) on <time datetime="2017-05-28T02:37:27+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">May 27, 2017 at 7:37pm PDT</time></div>
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<script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script><br />
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<b>June 2018:</b><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">KISS Australia-East eCrit Series Races</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Rapha Women's 100 training rides</span></span><br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
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Rapha Women's Thursday Rides<br />
Magnetic Island Trip<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BVVd7a7AKbv/" data-instgrm-version="8" style="background: #fff; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.5) , 0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: 99.375%;">
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BVVd7a7AKbv/" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Von Micich (@v0nm)</a> on <time datetime="2017-06-14T21:41:05+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Jun 14, 2017 at 2:41pm PDT</time></div>
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<script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<b>July 2018:</b><br />
Rapha Women's 100 training rides and ride leader on the day<br />
SKCC Trophy Race<br />
Cycling trip to Perth with Shane and Slane<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">KISS Australia-East eCrit Series Races</span><br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
Rapha Women's Thursday Rides</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
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<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BW_LDmWAvmZ/" data-instgrm-version="8" style="background: #fff; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.5) , 0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: 99.375%;">
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<div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BW_LDmWAvmZ/" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Von Micich (@v0nm)</a> on <time datetime="2017-07-25T22:55:41+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Jul 25, 2017 at 3:55pm PDT</time></div>
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<b>August 2018:</b><br />
LamaPaced up Deans Marsh climb with personal best time!<br />
Final Zwift - KISS Australia-East eCrit Series Race (1st overall woman)<br />
<b><br /></b>
<br />
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BXQBBgcgk_6/" data-instgrm-version="8" style="background: #fff; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.5) , 0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: 99.375%;">
<div style="padding: 8px;">
<div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 30.648148148148145% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;">
<div style="background: url(data:image/png; display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;">
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BXQBBgcgk_6/" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">The moment you reach the end of the segment and you know that you have smaaaashed it out of the park 🤜💥🤛 #yass #cycling #niceday #goactiveoutdoors #lamapacer #greatoceanroad #pb</a></div>
<div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">
A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/v0nm/" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" target="_blank"> Von Micich</a> (@v0nm) on <time datetime="2017-08-01T11:55:06+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Aug 1, 2017 at 4:55am PDT</time></div>
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<b><br /></b>
<b>September 2018:</b><br />
Cycling trip to Adelaide with Nik<br />
Fondo Pie Ride<br />
Zwift Academy Rides/Races<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
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Rapha Women's Thursday Rides<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BZNcfI2ANRy/" data-instgrm-version="8" style="background: #fff; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.5) , 0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: 99.375%;">
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BZNcfI2ANRy/" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Von Micich (@v0nm)</a> on <time datetime="2017-09-19T05:00:09+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Sep 18, 2017 at 10:00pm PDT</time></div>
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<br /></div>
<b>October 2018:</b><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
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<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Rapha Women's Thursday Ride</span></div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
Zwift Academy Rides/Races</span>Move house to Ballarat<br />
Ride to work Day - Ballarat to Melbourne<br />
Bowral Classic<br />
Crash on Black Hill - first gravel rash :(<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BaiRrALAc0E/" data-instgrm-version="8" style="background: #fff; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.5) , 0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: 99.375%;">
<div style="padding: 8px;">
<div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 37.5% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;">
<div style="background: url(data:image/png; display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;">
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<div style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;">
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BaiRrALAc0E/" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">Mega thanks to my sponsor @goactiveoutdoors that got out out to Bowral for the beautiful ride. I may not race bikes but they still support what I do 👊 If you ever need some bags/racks/bike/boat/multi sport let’s talk! 🚲 #thule #goactiveoutdoors #bringyourlife</a></div>
<div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">
A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/v0nm/" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" target="_blank"> Von Micich</a> (@v0nm) on <time datetime="2017-10-22T03:41:05+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Oct 21, 2017 at 8:41pm PDT</time></div>
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<b>November 2018:</b><br />
Unlock of Zwift level 25 (5277km & 53,700 m climbed indoors)<br />
Fight <a href="https://www.strava.com/athletes/107575/posts/841273" target="_blank">MND Charity Ride</a> all month long (1538kms)<br />
Bass Coast Challenge<br />
Introduction and first rides with the Ballarat Hummingbirds<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BbVk1MZDmkR/" data-instgrm-version="8" style="background: #fff; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.5) , 0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: 99.375%;">
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BbVk1MZDmkR/" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Von Micich (@v0nm)</a> on <time datetime="2017-11-11T01:49:46+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Nov 10, 2017 at 5:49pm PST</time></div>
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<b>December 2018:</b><br />
Final Rapha Women's Ride with Nadine <3<br />
First Ballarat Crit on the new surface<br />
Ride to SuperCrit - Ballarat to Melbourne<br />
FESTIVE500<br />
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<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BdEoWnPgiu4/" data-instgrm-version="8" style="background: #fff; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.5) , 0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: 99.375%;">
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BdEoWnPgiu4/" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">Cruisy Daylesford return trip today for the first #festive500 Saw 🐪 camels, had ripping tailwinds finally got a pic of the elusive white swan, great @allpressespresso in #Daylesford and fruit toast with cinnamon butter 🤤 found another reservoir on the way back 👌🏻 thanks to @crumplerl for a route that kept me off the main highway that I will use for many years to come #cycling #alpaca</a></div>
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A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/v0nm/" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" target="_blank"> Von Micich</a> (@v0nm) on <time datetime="2017-12-24T04:56:15+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Dec 23, 2017 at 8:56pm PST</time></div>
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With 2x USA and Canada trips and 2x Adelaide trips, 1x Perth and 1x Sydney there was a good amount of variety. I met and made some great connections with women from all around the world.<br />
Special mention to Kate V who I rode with at TDU and we met up in L.A. Lindsay G who I met in Vegas and set the next level as SUPERMUM rider inspiration. Anne-Marije who took me out on a massive adventure in Seattle. Nicole M who got me back on the bike and re-motivated after I got sick in August and after my crash at the end of October. Nadine for the weekly Rapha Women's ride that anchored my week and added some social to my week. Shane for towing me, motivating me, sharing the latest bike tech with me plus a few cameo appearances on the YouTube series - <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeDc5AkDnMO8Pa4yZ-5dgYPip722F8BCo" target="_blank">LamaDrives</a>.<br />
While my whole year has been less kms than ever before, November was a bigger km count than ever before! It was my first charity ride that I wanted to get involved with and I want to thank ALL of you for the donations and support to keep me going. Last but not least - Thanks to Go Active Outdoors that supports my cycling and keeps Australia in THULE products.<br />
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A few hints at what 2018 will bring:<br />
<ul>
<li>Spectating at the Australian National Cycling Champs and Tour Down Under</li>
<li><a href="http://www.cadelevansgreatoceanroadrace.com.au/" target="_blank">Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Ride</a> - Geelong</li>
<li><a href="https://reach4research.com.au/" target="_blank">Fiona Elsey Cancer Classic - Ballarat</a></li>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17270704254643234147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3957652982007123082.post-3018441588018569112016-12-29T22:58:00.000+11:002016-12-30T22:59:23.337+11:002016 Review on the Bike<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Just over 12,000km on the bike for the year of 2016, averaging 1,000km and 40hrs a month on the bike. A different type of riding this year - focus on long kilometres and different structure to training and keeping fit. Included in that is 2,552km indoors on Zwift.<br />
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<b><u>January</u></b><br />
Perth for work<br />
Spectating at the Nationals in Ballarat<br />
Spectating, driving women's TDU convoy - Zwift Academy Announcement!<br />
Organising and celebrating Mum's 70th Bday Party in Ballarat<br />
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<b><u>February</u></b><br />
The Ascent course recon, ambassador work and photoshoot<br />
Work in Canberra 2x and Gold Coast conference<br />
Ride long weekend on Gold Coast<br />
RACV The Ascent training rides<br />
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<b><u>March</u></b><br />
Canberra for work 2x<br />
RACV The Ascent training rides<br />
Easter on Magnetic Island hiking and swimming<br />
Commence Zwift Academy training rides - prep<br />
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<b><u>April</u></b><br />
New Subaru Outback<br />
Canberra for work 2x<br />
Rapha Prestige - Merricks<br />
First ever 100km indoor Zwift ride with Shane<br />
RACV The Ascent training rides<br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Zwift Academy Rides<br />
Bright Cycling Long Weekend<br />
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<b><u>May</u></b><br />
Zwift week in AU. Events in Sydney, Melbourne<br />
SKCC women's ride event<br />
Canberra for work 2x<br />
RCC Giro Transfermento Ride + Pizza & Beer<br />
Rapha Womens 100 Ride Leader Recon <br />
Zwift Academy Rides<br />
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<b><u>June</u></b><br />
Horsham bunch rides<br />
Canberra for work 2x<br />
Zwift Academy Rides<br />
Cairns Ironman spectator for Kat Lee<br />
Maap Womens Ride<br />
Melbourne Roobaix <br />
Zwift Academy Rides & Live Streaming workouts<br />
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<b><u>July</u></b><br />
Rapha Prestige - Brisbane<br />
Tour de Babes - Farewell Amy!<br />
Rapha Womens 100 - ride leader<br />
Canberra for work 2x<br />
100km metric century indoor Zwift ride<br />
TDF late night watching<br />
Perth Long weekend and rides<br />
Zwift Academy Rides<br />
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<b><u>August</u></b><br />
Sydney for work x2<br />
Cairns for cycling and hiking<br />
Zwift Academy Rides<br />
Darwin rides and Top End Gran Fondo<br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Falls Creek snow long weekend<br />
Zwift Academy Completes<br />
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<b><u>September</u></b><br />
Wonthaggi Long weekend with Deb<br />
Canberra for work 2x<br />
DZI 100km indoor Zwift ride<br />
Fathers Day ride - first cycle with Dad<br />
Amy's Gran Fondo and Great Ocean Road Long Weekend<br />
RCC Dirty 130 Pilgrimage<br />
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<b><u>October</u></b><br />
Mt Buffalo ride and flood dodging<br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Around the Bay 210km completed<br />
Canberra for work 2x<br />
Sydney for work<br />
Horsham Bunch Ride<br />
Rapha Prestige - Margaret River and Perth rides<br />
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<b><u>November</u></b><br />
All month in Sydney for work<br />
RCC SYD - Brooklyn, Palm Beach, Wyong<br />
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<b><u>December</u></b><br />
Le Tape at Jindabyne<br />
Sydney for work 2x weeks<br />
Spectate the Ballarat 1/2 Ironman with Fi!<br />
Horsham Bunch ride<br />
Spectate the SKCC Supercrit<br />
Rapha Festive 500<br />
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I hope to keep up the momentum in 2017 as the love of the bike - climbing, descending, railing corners, social chats and travelling is still going strong. Try and keep up!<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OX2SokBns64/WGZL7sbwOnI/AAAAAAAAR1I/EwPikbLfJf4Dvj2WPuU396AOmLcwP3QrACLcB/s1600/IMG_1358.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OX2SokBns64/WGZL7sbwOnI/AAAAAAAAR1I/EwPikbLfJf4Dvj2WPuU396AOmLcwP3QrACLcB/s640/IMG_1358.JPG" width="640" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17270704254643234147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3957652982007123082.post-53529876464470462972016-11-20T22:27:00.001+11:002016-11-20T22:28:31.779+11:00Catch up 2nd half of the 2016The last few months have been a blur finishing off <a href="http://vonrider.blogspot.com.au/2016/09/zwift-academy-graduation.html" target="_blank">the Zwift Academy</a>, so here is a recap of the adventures to date. <br />
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Shane and I made a secret mission to join 6 of our family members in a stealth mission over to Perth to surprise my sister for her 40th Birthday! Needless to say it was a total surprise, there were tears of joy and we spent the remainder of the weekend with the family catching up and cycling our favourite places. <br />
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BIkUALTDe5-/" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">The surprise party trip to #perth was a massive hit! 😘 Finally got to meet my new niece Happy such a lovely natured #babygirl Played #PokemonGo with Zella and cars with a shy Wolfie #jetlag #worthit</a></div>
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A photo posted by Von Micich (@v0nm) on <time datetime="2016-08-01T13:14:51+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Aug 1, 2016 at 6:14am PDT</time></div>
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After we got back from Perth I had a couple of days in Sydney for a work conference, then spent 5 days in Cairns to relax with Hannah, my sister and Stephen Lane (Slane).<br />
The second day we met up with Fi (one of Slane's athletes that <a href="http://www.hptek.com.au/" target="_blank">he coaches</a>) and took a ride out around the sugar cane. <br />
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BIzkJcljjl7/" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">Found some ☀️, some roads and some local wheels to follow up north. Thanks Fi! #queensland #fnq #holiday #ksfordays #womenscycling #community #canefields #garmin820 #tanlines #roadtan #straya</a></div>
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A photo posted by Von Micich (@v0nm) on <time datetime="2016-08-07T11:24:32+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Aug 7, 2016 at 4:24am PDT</time></div>
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The third day we went and challenged a local KOM called Copperlode.<br />
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The fourth day we went and checked out the gorges/waterfalls and went for a hike. The fifth day we re-visted Copperlode again. <br />
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BI4NRbwD2hX/" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">Top of the world! Thanks @feefiyard for the tour and ripping pace up to the top of #cairns #hike #goactiveoutdoors #glacier #qld #fnq #clydesdale</a></div>
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A photo posted by Von Micich (@v0nm) on <time datetime="2016-08-09T06:40:51+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Aug 8, 2016 at 11:40pm PDT</time></div>
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I had one final break in August before a big block of work and booked in a trip to the Northern Territory to coincide with the Top End Grand Fondo. It was super hot and I just missed out on the podium with 4th place, but it was great to visit another place on my bucket list. Last state is Tasmania. Not sure I can fit it in this year, but that would give me the complete set!<br />
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I also got talked into doing a crit on a semi-technical circuit. It was steaming hot, but good to get out there again. Finished in the bunch mixed in with C-Grade men so I finished up with a surprise second place.<br />
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Work started up again and Shane went to Europe for Eurobike. The next time I touched the bike was for Amy's Gran Fondo. Thanks to Thule and Go Active Outdoors we had entries and new kit to wear.<br />
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BKMUab5DQf9/" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">Rolling with my peeps. It begins!! #goactiveoutdoors #amysgranfondo #newkitday</a></div>
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A photo posted by Von Micich (@v0nm) on <time datetime="2016-09-10T22:39:27+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Sep 10, 2016 at 3:39pm PDT</time></div>
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Unfortunately the weather turned to drizzle and cold day out so it was pretty miserable through to the great ocean road home. We had the best fish n chips and our housemate Chevonne Arrowsmith won her age category. She did so well!<br />
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With the big goal of Around the Bay looming up, I didn't want a repeat day like the gran fondo, so I kept on riding through September and signed up for the first day of the Rapha Transfer ride to Wagga Wagga. We took a train from Melbourne to Seymour then rolled our way to Rutherglen. It was an interesting day as the weather just held out for us. <br />
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BLA_h_Lgnny/" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">"The Men have a half hour head start over the Women on tomorrow's #dirty130" - @pikey100 Incredibly proud of the 11 women that totally owned this years @rapha_rcc #rccmel pilgrimage. Chapeau ladies. #packlighttravelfar</a></div>
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We had a delayed start with a tree that had fallen down on the train tracks, then flooding in the area meant we may have to re-route, but the police checked that we could get through on our ride. Arriving at a local pub, it was a line-up for the two showers, but with a record 11 ladies completing the 200km day, I was feeling pretty chuffed. Another bucket list item completed - 200kms in one ride.<br />
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Unfortunately I got a head cold from riding in the rain from Rutherglen to Beechworth the next day, then cycling up Mt Buffalo into the snow, so I had a few days off the bike before Around the Bay.<br />
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BLDwbZCDLDq/" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">Waterfalls 💦 Mountains 🚵🏼♀️ Sunshine ☀️ and a little bit of snow on top 🌨 Great day out and road trip home with @gplama #goactiveoutdoors #rapha #cycling #rccmel #packlighttravelfar #vhurtical #restdaytomorrow</a></div>
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A photo posted by Von Micich (@v0nm) on <time datetime="2016-10-02T11:22:28+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Oct 2, 2016 at 4:22am PDT</time></div>
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The day before the big event, the weather turned quite bad with gale force winds. My team had abandoned the ride and if I was going to do it - it was going to be solo! With the change in plans, I decided to ride to the start and it ended up being a LONG day out jumping from bunch to bunch. I set a new personal best kilometre count with 240km, and set a new Strava QOM record from the Westgate Bride to Queenscliff. <br />
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Wind assistance helped for sure as the trip from Frankston to Melbourne City was abysmal and pretty much solo.<br />
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BLnxMVBjvsh/" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">Throwback to last weekend. First time on the ferry ⛴ from Queenscliff to Sorrento for #aroundthebay I was pretty chuffed that I didn't get sea sick, I made the 2nd boat and the bikes were OK! YAY! Also this was the longest ride I have ever done @ 230km in 1 ride 💪🏼 goals! Still amazed at what the body can do and kind of hooked on the idea of pushing those limits 🤔 #goactiveoutdoors #packlighttravelfar #rccmel @skcc1 @rapha_rcc</a></div>
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A video posted by Von Micich (@v0nm) on <time datetime="2016-10-16T11:01:49+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Oct 16, 2016 at 4:01am PDT</time></div>
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Here is the interview that Shane put up on YouTube for Around the Bay.<br />
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The next big event was <a href="http://pages.rapha.cc/feature/prestige-margaret-river" target="_blank">Rapha Prestige Margaret River</a> over the Melbourne Cup long weekend. I was pretty excited for this event after the Brisbane Prestige. Rachel Edwards was keen to come along right from the outset and had sorted out some sweet kit from ZOCA in California. I wanted to get a few local ladies on the team as well, so Erin Kinnealy joined us for the 180kms. Melissa had to pull out in the last week, but signed up Sabine Bird in her place. <br />
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BMI9NHaBcgy/" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">Cheeky check-in @margaretriverchocolatefactory #raphaprestige #margaretriver had it all... ☕️☀️🍷🌾🍫🍩☕️🍔🌪🌧🐄🐄🍾🍻🍕🎉 Thanku @v0nm @rachatkoiled #sabine magical 180kms 😘</a></div>
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A photo posted by Erin Kinnealy (@erinkinnealy) on <time datetime="2016-10-29T08:21:43+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Oct 29, 2016 at 1:21am PDT</time></div>
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We had a great time out and about, though I wished that I had have continued riding after ATB to have a bit more fitness under by belt. Stunning scenery was at every corner, but the weather did not play too nicely with the wind and drizzle setting in for the second half of the day. Totally worth the trip though and many thanks to Subaru for the car.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKc2014src8_S2hC_BlD6xrPUIy2KAqR_Aj1fkofVwxMo-ChxqupVN_f8VkGvtlCYccWVhIqozkr9azq2dvgmbjMorqQOmexXzO7_ViixcJ36mzV6_hzDcp4ekeurpEXSIZgZP79Jqtg8/s1600/IMG_0521.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKc2014src8_S2hC_BlD6xrPUIy2KAqR_Aj1fkofVwxMo-ChxqupVN_f8VkGvtlCYccWVhIqozkr9azq2dvgmbjMorqQOmexXzO7_ViixcJ36mzV6_hzDcp4ekeurpEXSIZgZP79Jqtg8/s640/IMG_0521.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A little bit of off road</td></tr>
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Here is the post ride interview Shane put up on YouTube.<br />
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The next day after WA, I was on a flight to Sydney for the next block of work. I left my bike in the bag and re-packed my work gear around it. Now I am training for <a href="http://letapeaustralia.com/" target="_blank">L'Etape Australia</a>. A mega benefit of joining Rapha cycling club this year has been to keep consistent in riding in a city I don't know.<br />
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Sydney is not the easiest place to get around, but with the high pressure I am under for work I am very glad that I brought my bike. Only 12 days to go before the race. Looking forward to doing some new hills!<br />
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BNA1f2KjHWl/" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">Shane showed me one of his fav routes here in Sydney. Absolutely beautiful day here #goactiveoutdoors</a></div>
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A photo posted by Von Micich (@v0nm) on <time datetime="2016-11-20T01:11:50+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Nov 19, 2016 at 5:11pm PST</time></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1rt1hRdci4U/WDF47R4-anI/AAAAAAAARxw/Ju-cBP3uOSEctxoopwW9EOsshh-CvIcrACLcB/s1600/IMG_0529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="568" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1rt1hRdci4U/WDF47R4-anI/AAAAAAAARxw/Ju-cBP3uOSEctxoopwW9EOsshh-CvIcrACLcB/s640/IMG_0529.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ciao from Margaret River </td></tr>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17270704254643234147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3957652982007123082.post-41283645086068079222016-09-09T18:34:00.000+10:002016-09-09T18:34:11.346+10:00Zwift Academy Graduation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP1dbBKzTyEXpoR7hQLLe5Srs1-j1a_Lou-FtP_FRXFiG2eTLr61FXHElcnPS6HTGwcrWs_Nw-gTLLCxdNY1VKALBxQdXhSzmccRB2Vd-l1FYD7s80GAOje9Efm-JTpRghVoS6FMfVkU8/s1600/unnamed+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP1dbBKzTyEXpoR7hQLLe5Srs1-j1a_Lou-FtP_FRXFiG2eTLr61FXHElcnPS6HTGwcrWs_Nw-gTLLCxdNY1VKALBxQdXhSzmccRB2Vd-l1FYD7s80GAOje9Efm-JTpRghVoS6FMfVkU8/s320/unnamed+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The virtual confetti has fallen to the ground and I'm kicking around balloons and wondering what to do next...<br />
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It was hectic in the final weeks of the Academy. I was so close to finishing, but running out of time to fit it all in around life and holidays I had planed months ago.
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BJfXh5lDvk5/" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">Cutting it fine with 7 days left to train, 3 days at the snow, 1 day work in Sydney 😭 Not sure how to fit it all in. Seems such a waste to stop short before completing them all 🙈 #zwiftAcademy #worklife #gozwift</a></div>
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A photo posted by Von Micich (@v0nm) on <time datetime="2016-08-24T11:40:51+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Aug 24, 2016 at 4:40am PDT</time></div>
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There was a little added stress with work throwing in some unplanned travel that meant I was either getting up early or staying up late for the final workouts.
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Just to add to the tension, Zwift sent an update out the day before the final workout was due and it changed the naming structure of the workout files, so my last qualifying workout did not auto register. I was trying to stay calm and did not raise a support ticket until the next day - hoping that it would be identified and resolved before I woke up the next morning.<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K84M3_nHKJs/V9JvMHgGvUI/AAAAAAAARso/oL8rBH6s_0gSn5RkBCtFNWsYOaqF5M-fgCLcB/s1600/snip_20160909180658.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="195" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K84M3_nHKJs/V9JvMHgGvUI/AAAAAAAARso/oL8rBH6s_0gSn5RkBCtFNWsYOaqF5M-fgCLcB/s320/snip_20160909180658.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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In the end I did it and I was 1 of only 15 women from Australia that completed the qualifying stage. Considering how crazy busy I have been (didn't even have time to write the update blog posts) I am really happy that I completed it and saw a measurable improvement in my fitness.
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Thanks to all the women who joined in, did double day work outs, shared their stories online and bad jokes on the Thursday night AEST workouts.<br />
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MASSIVE CONGRATULATIONS to <a href="http://academy.zwift.com/riders/semi-finals" target="_blank">the 10 women who were selected to go to the next round</a>. I wish them the very best and will be following their journey onward in the academy.<br />
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A little more on the selection process from the panel of expert judges: <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Identifying the 10 semi-finalists was a long and comprehensive process that was meant to ensure selection of the most fitting and top performing ZA riders. Starting with the results of the FTP tests, we identified a list of top performers. The first filter we then applied was w/kg which, while not perfect, helped us identify riders who were capable of racing at the World Tour level.<br />
If a rider made it through the first two checks, we then verified the Zwift test performances using various inputs: <br />
* performances on ZA group rides and workouts, <br />
* Strava and TrainingPeaks data (outdoor rides), <br />
* power at HR,<br />
* power sources, etc<br />
Once test results were verified, we dug deeper to get a more complete picture of each athlete. This included extensive research on each contender: race results, Google searches, questionnaires and more.
If a rider showed up on the roster of a pro team, they were deemed ineligible as per ZA criteria. In short, we used a combination of objective and subjective screening that we believe left us with a well defined and deserving top 10.</blockquote>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17270704254643234147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3957652982007123082.post-80109028329854339602016-07-23T14:53:00.000+10:002016-07-23T16:42:48.331+10:00Final indoor training plans released<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The final plans for the Zwift Academy have been released! There are 9 new sessions to complete and two main things that strike me when looking at the list:</div>
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1. Another FTP test is on the cards</div>
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2. There is A LOT of time in the orange and red zones</div>
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There is still time to complete all workouts and group rides by the end of August.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdwfw-canjHdqygA-viU2Ssf-z7qsKn2-W_V4x2l1LU8rvQMt_M0aSuFfQI67NNP_wOCk5OWAQgNIwJMUVuoArAaIx1W-NOwmc1g0nntg2_XsGBXznhEEdUEhKooAPNQHNVVVrlCXKAVo/s1600/snip_20160723141828.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdwfw-canjHdqygA-viU2Ssf-z7qsKn2-W_V4x2l1LU8rvQMt_M0aSuFfQI67NNP_wOCk5OWAQgNIwJMUVuoArAaIx1W-NOwmc1g0nntg2_XsGBXznhEEdUEhKooAPNQHNVVVrlCXKAVo/s640/snip_20160723141828.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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Next Steps... Semi-Finals<br />
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10 riders who have completed the qualifying program will be selected to advance to the Semi-Finals. <br />
A panel of judges led by 3 accomplished cycling industry professionals (Beth Duryea - Sports Director of CANYON//SRAM, Mike McCarthy - Professional Pursuit World Champion, Jon Sharples - Founder of TrainSharp) will carefully analyse data from the group training rides and Zwift Academy Workouts. Participants’ outdoor rides will also be considered and correlated with indoor performance using data from Strava and TrainingPeaks. <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Will you make the cut?</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg46tUmTyx_2G9E8P0Rxl2i6NC3IIPX8Hfsb3seL_sAssP7ptEId-6_izvzsXXnid8dpZFvp_TKU789Z1N8KkHepXa8k4k1Ov-oDoDrmEWR1ermSpWT52gd7jm0NVYySqutLnJ5YYPbwyU/s1600/snip_20160723145050.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg46tUmTyx_2G9E8P0Rxl2i6NC3IIPX8Hfsb3seL_sAssP7ptEId-6_izvzsXXnid8dpZFvp_TKU789Z1N8KkHepXa8k4k1Ov-oDoDrmEWR1ermSpWT52gd7jm0NVYySqutLnJ5YYPbwyU/s320/snip_20160723145050.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I still have a little work to do!</td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17270704254643234147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3957652982007123082.post-31486514365479954702016-07-17T16:41:00.000+10:002016-07-24T00:15:15.430+10:002016 Rapha Womens 100 <br />
It was a cold dark morning in Melbourne as I rolled out from home to the start at All Press Cafe in Collingwood.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo: Dean Tran</td></tr>
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Nadine from Rapha Australia had organised coffee for the ride leaders to start and we signed our waivers and were briefed on the details for the day. 8 groups of approximately 12 riders were lining up for the challenging 100km course, but the focus was on fun.<br />
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As the first group to roll out, there was just enough time for Mary Hall (my fellow group leader) and I to gather the troops and brief them on the first part of the ride.<br />
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Over the icy bridge off the Kew Boulevard and out through Ivanhoe. It was nice to meet and introduce a new group of riders to the backroads out towards Kangaroo Ground. First challenge was the Mount Pleasant route which was familiar to a few locals.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo: Dean Tran</td></tr>
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The route was pretty lumpy and consistency was important. The second challenge was descending down Pidgeon Bank Road and climbing up the other side. It feels like the edge of the world, but at least the road is pretty straight and you can use the momentum to carry you part-way up the next face. This was a real wall for a few in my group, one stopped on the descent and had to walk down (while other groups passed us at +70kmph) I turned back to check on her and we rode the last part up together. <br />
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Another lady who had made it down and walked/climbed up Pidgeon Bank Road AND all the rolling hills after that was in tears by the rest point. It is a massive undertaking as a new rider to use all the skills, concentration and fitness to complete that section! Big Kudos to all ladies who joined us on the day.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">H-Van and me all rugged up at the middle of the ride</td></tr>
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The last section was a nice gravel section to the half-way point at Sugar Loaf Reservoir. After a coffee, a bathroom stop, some sugar and hydration all bar one rider had accepted the challenge to continue on to the 50km home.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMN-7rzgopNZpbeZJCZJM_xTZbJ4VIF2n_Ho9xPpcNMFTwzBnQ4WGLgXkFsp0fHGAj_U21ZTeg94eeYX-4WhsSlZZ028kMn8M-zHq_1JSkXR5S0bBJMojX_AMJ0jwu5Hd1WtrRKu8zJBY/s1600/13765702_1057358840967744_3749831786623769078_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMN-7rzgopNZpbeZJCZJM_xTZbJ4VIF2n_Ho9xPpcNMFTwzBnQ4WGLgXkFsp0fHGAj_U21ZTeg94eeYX-4WhsSlZZ028kMn8M-zHq_1JSkXR5S0bBJMojX_AMJ0jwu5Hd1WtrRKu8zJBY/s400/13765702_1057358840967744_3749831786623769078_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo: Dean Tran</td></tr>
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As we rolled in it was a lovely sight to see all the bikes lined up and tables full of ladies milling about to share stories. I piled up my plate with sandwiches and Kirsten poured me a champagne. What a day :) <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I didn't eat ALL the food</td></tr>
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The ride leaders lingered on a little longer, nibbling on the last parts of chocolate brownies and having one more coffee for the road. I managed to fit a couple of brownies in my pocket to snack on while watching Le Tour de France later that evening and dreaming of the warmer days to come.<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17270704254643234147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3957652982007123082.post-13727886231742065782016-07-11T23:38:00.000+10:002016-07-11T23:50:46.586+10:00Rapha Brisbane Prestige<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A few hours before I was due to fly out of Melbourne up to Brisbane, I got an SMS today that my Iron Maiden Kate Lee was too sick to ride. I tried to squash the panic that started to rise over my nerves that our 3 riders - the only all women's team - would not be enough to get through the revised distance of 140 tough kilometres.<br />
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I notified my teamies, posted the "wanted ad" on my Facebook status, boarded the plane and tried to tune out of everything to compose myself. By the time I had landed Chevonne Arrowsmith had found Rachel Edwards as a replacement to join us, and I was feeling a little more composed and excited to see Emma Pane waiting for me at the airport.<br />
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I could spot my team mates from the end of the street as we rolled to the start line the next morning. We hadn't met before, but had been recommended as partners through mutual friends. Once we got chatting on the bike, it was an easy company with all of us and such a positive attitude and camaraderie. <br />
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After some introductions I soon found out I had a lot in common with Rachel Edwards and I was chewing her ear off as we rolled through the outer suburbs of Brisbane. We headed out to Mailmans Track approximately 30kms into the ride that was a 12% heart starter and only a hint of things to come.<br />
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The route weaved across the valley, Rachel lost her gilet on the road towards the goat track which was a good 4km at 7% compact gravel climb that sapped the legs nicely. We were smiling happy to have completed our first gravel section and headed towards Mt Nebo.<br />
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We decided to stop briefly for a water/bathroom break and it was our first opportunity to test out our new Specialized knicks that had a back clasp for easier bathroom breaks. I'll do a proper review of these in a separate blog/video, but in summary they were a BIG hit!<br />
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The descent down Mt Nebo was awesome, flowing and totally worth the climb up. Rachel was worried about the next section that the locals call a half Nebo that is normally undertaken on a mountain bike. We had 25mm tyres, 28 tooth cassette and a bit of gumption. <br />
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Turning off to Centre Road, you could see the tyre marks where earlier riders had blazed a trail and we dropped down a rugged trail all the way down to the riverbed at the bottom of the valley. If you stopped it was hard to get started again on the descent so it was best to clear the mind and relax the upper body so you could see where you were going!<br />
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Then there was the Centre Rd 1.8km climb at 8% on gravel that I was keen to tackle. I was the heaviest breathing diesel engine and almost had a heart attack, but made it up to the top and blew the cobwebs out of my lungs for the first time in months. The following 7km of descent on gravel required intense concentration. I moved to Rachel's wheel and just followed her careful and experienced moves (being a 24hr MTB specialist). When we got back to the road (at approx. 85kms in) we all high-fived and the road surface felt super smooth.<br />
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This was the start of a challenging 25km loop! We headed out to Haven Road and I was drained from the off road section, however Chevonne took off and smashed her way up the hill. Rach gave it a red hot go and made good headway too, but we all resigned ourselves to save a bit of energy and shout encouragement at Chevvy as we walked up a cliff-hanger like hill. I really have no idea how they tarmac these inclines. Maybe set the machine up at the top and let it run down the hill?<br />
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We did a re-start at the first shelf and rode the rollercoaster that remained of Haven Road onto Mill rd and there was some bush bashing in the Moggill Conservation Park. I think this was the point we went through a deeper creek crossing and when I started back into the uphill the surface was so loose the bike could not get purchase to keep going up. We all got off the bike and decided to do the hike to the top. This is what I have named the Rapha Guided Bushwalk.<br />
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Once the surface got a bit better, we scooted along to a grassland area that was lovely and lush. You could barely see the track except for where the brush had been pushed back into 2 tyre tracks. At one point we could see where the road would re-join and Rach just disappeared in front of us. She got stuck in a rutt and was swallowed up by the grass unharmed!<br />
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Heading back via Pinjara Hills there were some awesome views and rollers to break up the ride. Running low on water at this point had dampened our spirits a little, but the promise of the Brookfield General Store was soooo sweet. I lightened the mood by belting out a great power ballad and deemed it slightly successful as Rach joined in, and Emma steadily drove onwards. Our group decision was to hydrate and lightly refuel as there was only 35kms to go.
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This was also our second bathroom break and I followed the ladies a few minutes later after Chevy sent them the wrong direction. A few moments after they left the building before me I heard the main door slam closed and lock very loudly. After a minute of yelling, I gave up and phoned Chevy to come save me! (I'm sure my singing was not that bad!)<br />
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The last hurdle was Gap Creek Road. As this was a favourite training ground of Chevonne, it was nice to know what was coming up to measure the effort. Such a lovely stretch of road I would like to revisit. Once we hit the outskirts of town it was automatic mode to get back in the traffic<br />
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At one point on the descent I stretched on the bike and knocked the clasp on my rear light. it tumbled from my seat post, ran down the frame and caught on the crank arm. I yelled out to the team that I was stopping and managed to swipe it up as I pulled over out of the traffic. Thankful that still had it as it later in the day it was required to get home.<br />
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
As we rolled in it to the Green Beacon Brewing Company it was lovely to be greeted by Pikey and have a couple of pics together as a group. We were all pretty tired and ready for some food. What we have achieved hadn't quite sunk in. The only women's team and we finished the whole course together and came in about mid-pack at the finish!<br />
<br />
There was one food van that was struggling to keep up with the volume of orders by the time we arrived. I had one beer and there was nowhere to sit down. Emma claimed us some street space to nibble on our food and by that time we were ready to put our feet up and relax at home.<br />
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Calling it a day, hugs were shared and new bonds formed. Chevonne rode with Emma and I back to the accommodation as it was pretty nice to get into the shower and relax for the evening.<br />
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For our team we were pretty well matched, everyone contributed, we had a great day out that pushed us to the maximum of our abilities and capacity. I would have liked a little more celebration of the achievement, but I don't regret entering and taking on the adventure. If I had to compare, the Prestige Merricks was a better event. Would I enter another <a href="https://www.blogger.com/stories=" target="_blank">Prestige</a>? ...who is up for an ADVENTURE!?<br />
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<hr />
Mega thanks to all those to supported my crazy idea of a women's only team, especially: <br />
<br />
Kat Lee, Lisa Coutts, Emma Pane, Chevonne Arrowsmith, Rachel Edwards, Emily Smith and Shane Miller.<br />
<br />
<b><a href="https://www.instagram.com/specialized_au/" target="_blank">Specialized</a></b> provided us limited edition <b><span style="font-family: Thread-00000440-Id-00000018;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/boelsdolmansct/" target="_blank">Boels Dolmans Cycling Team</a></span></b><!-- react-text: 16 --><!-- /react-text --><!-- react-text: 17 --> <!-- /react-text --><a class="_56pjv" href="http://l.instagram.com/?e=ATNR979w5v4mHuiKWnXYs_dJI5WDbSw-vzn39TGosqeqgtD2_T-zl8SRqtaX&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.boelsdolmanscyclingteam.com%2Fen%2Fnews%2Fguarnier-stays-in-pink-in-giro-rosa" rel="nofollow me" target="_blank"></a>inspired kit that had awesome stretchy pockets to fit the mountain of food I ate. The new back clasp was great and did not rub and was a big hit for a big day on the bike. I would like to convert a few of my other knicks to this design!<br />
<br />
<b><a href="https://www.instagram.com/veloone/" target="_blank">VeloOne</a></b> provided us with mega big bidons that we filled and refilled all day long. They also know the meaning of comfort with their technical socks that were soft and wicked away the sweat, but super high-vis and matched the purple in our kits too. These will be great to commute to be seen out on the roads.<br />
<br />
<b><a href="https://www.instagram.com/goactiveoutdoors/" target="_blank">Go Active Outdoors</a></b> providing me with an awesome THULE bike bag to tote Tara Tarmac around the country, and mini sun screens for all the team.<br />
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<b><a href="https://www.instagram.com/rapha_australia/" target="_blank">Rapha Australia</a> </b>for putting on an awesome event, believing in our abilities, pushing us to our limits and washing away all the bad memories with beer that night and coffee the next morning!
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17270704254643234147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3957652982007123082.post-15291226955271005372016-07-06T23:40:00.001+10:002016-07-06T23:40:25.376+10:00Loving Indoor Workouts<br />
I finished my workout last night and felt the buzz again. It was so nice to step off the bike after a good session and feel the satisfaction of executing it perfectly!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Working out and watching Tour de France</td></tr>
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I've been working my way through the Zwift workouts and doing a few of the group rides. Coming from years of indoor training and preparation for racing it was good to review the types of workouts listed and they lived up to what I expected. Today we got the second months worth of workouts and I was interested to see what the progression would be.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Second Round of Workouts</td></tr>
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<br />
There is a good variety of cadence sessions and by switching to erg mode it is a whole new world with a Kickr! What I have noticed was that it will lock the power to be in a certain zone or level and then it will slightly adjust the resistance so while you might be doing 150w, you need to be in one of your highest gears spinning at 120rpm to execute some of the intervals correctly. Its has added a real dynamic to the traditional workouts and to have intervals automatically programmed in, it is a great reward to have a little gold star beside each segment completed successfully.<br />
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I have added all of the next months workouts into my Training Peaks account to plan out the next few weeks. There are still a few outstanding workouts from the first months I need to complete, but I am feeling much healthier and have been able to do double session days and long workouts like the Pretzel Mission.<br />
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I was pretty happy with my century ride late on Sunday as it was super consistent. However I totally underestimated my nutrition and had to call in Shane via sms for fresh drink bottles twice!<br />
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I'm looking forward to a little variety in the group rides this month. The 5x5 hill rides and sprints are getting a little worn out from the first month, but I can't wait to see what else comes up. <br />
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What I have noticed is that it has changed my perspective. Having indoor goals means I am not so focused on this winter weather.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17270704254643234147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3957652982007123082.post-17606228830470521382016-06-26T21:25:00.002+10:002016-06-28T15:09:24.743+10:00Challenge Rides<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In my cycling history to date there has been a lot of focus on intensity and preparing for races that are anywhere from an hour or so, to 80-100kms. This requires specific training to execute at a competitive level, and then repeat for multi stage races that were my speciality. <br />
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There are 2 rides that are coming up on my calendar that push me out of the comfort zone and will challenge me to go further than I ever have gone before on a bike.<br />
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<h3>
Rapha Prestige Brisbane</h3>
Earlier this year I rode in the <a href="http://vonrider.blogspot.com.au/2016/04/rapha-prestige-merricks.html" target="_blank">Rapha Prestige Merricks</a> that rolled over a challenging 121kms of the Peninsula in Victoria. I was so enamoured by the adventure and the camaraderie of my little team that I went in search for future Prestige rides in Australia. <a href="https://pages.rapha.cc/prestige/rapha-prestige-brisbane" target="_blank">Brisbane</a> popped up on the list for July and Margaret River later in the year.<br />
<br />
With Winter rolling in the rain and cooler days, it was not hard to drum up enthusiasm from those around me in Melbourne to come join in the Brisbane version! In fact we have an ALL female team set to take on the <b>170kms</b> of on road/off road action. <br />
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BHL3wcnjkF-/" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">Mega excited to try out these new Knicks from @specialized_au for #BrisbanePrestige They have a back clasp for quick and easy bathroom stops 😀 My team of 4 riders will be looking beautiful "like a sunrise" in these matching kits! 🌅🚲💃🏽💃🏽💃🏽💃🏽 @pane26 @kraftyxx @instapossum we will be super comfy!</a></div>
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A photo posted by Von Micich (@v0nm) on <time datetime="2016-06-28T04:54:52+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Jun 27, 2016 at 9:54pm PDT</time></div>
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I am pretty excited to take Tara the Tarmac up north again and soak up the warmth. I've had advice from The Ride Cycles about tyres and pressure to run, I've topped up my spares to take for the day and will be ready to rip up the roads with my teamies.<br />
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Specialized will be setting us up in some great kit for the day so that we will be super comfy and visible on the roads. There is a lot of terrain to cover and we will be matching on road and at the coffee shop :)<br />
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/v0nm/" target="_blank">My</a> team mates will be: <br />
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/instapossum/" target="_blank">Chevonne Arrowsmith</a> - BrisVegas local and gracious last minute replacement for <a href="https://www.instagram.com/lisa_coutts/" target="_blank">Lisa Coutts</a> - teamie from Melbourne Rapha Cycle Club/Merricks Prestige who was hit by a taxi and broke her knee.<br />
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/pane26/" target="_blank">Emma Pane</a> - long time team mate from Kosdown and Building Champions Womens Squad.<br />
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/kraftyxx/" target="_blank">Kat Lee</a> - best mate who just smashed out the Ironman Cairns this June.<br />
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To celebrate this event and Kat's achievement I have named our team the IRON MAIDENS.<br />
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I'm hoping they can all take turns to tow me around the course, take pics, have a picnic and we can work on our tans over winter. However this Instagram post below does strike fear in my heart... Wish us luck: <br />
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A photo posted by Nadine O'Connor (@oconnorn) on <time datetime="2016-06-10T05:52:59+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Jun 9, 2016 at 10:52pm PDT</time></div>
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<h3>
Amy's Gran Fondo</h3>
<b><span style="color: #ed1a91;">‘Gran Fondo’</span></b> is an age old Italian cycling term, meaning ‘great endurance’.<br />
I have competed in this for the last few years and this September they are changing up the <b>120km </b>course to reverse! <a href="http://amysgranfondo.org.au/" target="_blank">Amy's Gran Fondo</a> is just a magical ride. Last year I was so ill and still finished the course loving every minute of it with my team mate Nik. This year I will be with my GoActive Outdoor team mates to roll across the line together.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A long hot day AGF 2015</td></tr>
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<h3>
Around the Bay in a Day </h3>
This is a well known ride to anyone in Melbourne - even if you don't ride a bike. It is literally <b>210kms </b>looping anti-clockwise<b> </b><a href="https://www.bicyclenetwork.com.au/around-the-bay/" target="_blank">around the bay in a day</a> from Melbourne. This will be the most amount of kilometres I have ever ridden in one single day. <br />
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At this stage I will be riding solo, so if anyone else is signing up to this option in October, get in touch and lets form a peloton! There are many other distances from 20 to the new 250km route (taking in more coastline near Geelong), if you are up for the challenge.<br />
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This one has been on my bucket list for a few years and after it's done I will be able to call myself a real Melbourne Cyclist!<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17270704254643234147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3957652982007123082.post-54909844068583421702016-06-21T23:15:00.001+10:002016-06-23T20:08:45.483+10:00Live Stream Group Ride - Sprints<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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There are a few people hesitating to join group rides. What do they look like, what is the structure, what happens if I get dropped? Here is a live stream of actually what happens in a group ride when you join, when you roll out and a bit more on the Zwift Academy. Thanks for viewing!<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17270704254643234147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3957652982007123082.post-31110036074336944012016-06-20T12:43:00.000+10:002016-06-20T12:43:18.170+10:00Zwift Academy Workout ModeIn case you were wondering where the update was for last week, I came down with another head cold and took some time off the bike. Now I'm back into workouts and ramping up the training.<br />
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I was interested in the Zwift Academy workouts as I had not tried workout mode it since the first time it was released more than 6 months ago. The Academy workouts are available to all Zwift users for free. See pic below where they are located in the workout mode. <br />
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You can select any route you would like to view while executing the workout as terrain, laps, sprints/KOM and power-ups are not available to you in this mode as they may affect the output of your workout.<br />
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Using my standard setup of power meter and Kickr (that simulates the terrain in game) and I selected the first workout and got stuck into it. The first thing I noticed was it was NOT using the Kickr to hold the wattage at the target range. I had no idea what I needed to select and was already into the workout. The format of the ride looked pretty easy so I just ran with those settings. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Etna-vkNujtK6XNqYsdqMtcSpksYRGnTM-ZL8sthRQ_W14DrLQdE1TxuS95H9i1kvJOGf46KRqNEWPXZb_D0Lg4LTUEXa-9p0nTAIQB9_8g0NcDkM0NGdO-QGOeWRaQdqQR4QiB-e3Q/s1600/IMG_6462.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Etna-vkNujtK6XNqYsdqMtcSpksYRGnTM-ZL8sthRQ_W14DrLQdE1TxuS95H9i1kvJOGf46KRqNEWPXZb_D0Lg4LTUEXa-9p0nTAIQB9_8g0NcDkM0NGdO-QGOeWRaQdqQR4QiB-e3Q/s640/IMG_6462.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Note the "No ERG w/power meter" option at the bottom</td></tr>
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If you change your setup when you load Zwift to not use the power meter and swap it to the Kickr/smart trainer for the power source, then the options menu for the workouts show that they are in Erg Mode and the game will adjust the resistance for you based on the prescribed interval. I am going to try this for my next workout session (see image below).<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the Power Source/Controllable Trainer setup you need to use to get ERG mode to work</td></tr>
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One rookie error was I forgot to turn on the fan at the start of the session (the room was still cold), so I stopped and turned it on while still in warmup task. This was fine and I passed it with my first GOLD STAR!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Settling into the intervals</td></tr>
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Another thing to note, the colour of the progress bar at the bottom of the screen does not indicate if you are in the correct zone for the workout (eg: green does not mean you are on target), the colour indicates how close to threshold or which power zones you are exercising in. (eg: grey is recovery, blue is moderate, green is below threshold, etc) If you sit too far above/below the zone you are targeting, a message will pop up underneath the workout box in the middle of the screen to go faster of slower. This generally kicks in +/- 20watts from my limited testing.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My little avatar heading toward the epic KOM after the 1st Sprint (see red block)</td></tr>
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If you are finding the resistance on the trainer is not at the right level to match the "road feel" or gear ratio you are expecting indoors, you can adjust this on the phone app via the Resistance UP/Down buttons. Most Kickr users have this set to around 50-70%<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The iPhone companion app </td></tr>
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There were a few things I would re-design in this first workout. The 5mins rests after the 5min intervals and after the sprints were redundant as they were at the same power level as the 20min steady state section. <br />
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During the cool down you end up doing more watts than the steady state before winding down.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My avatar in workout mode - a little screen in front of their faces that other riders can see</td></tr>
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Overall I received 5/6 STARS on the workout and was a little perplexed. When I downloaded the file to Training Peaks and analysed it, all seemed perfect. There were 2 spots where the power dropped to zero - when I turned on the fan in warmup and when I answered the front door in a rest period for 30 seconds. As I got a star for the first time I stopped, I don't think the second interruption would affect the result. The power for the 2x 5min intervals were spot on as well and only differed by ~2watts between them so hopefully there will not be any other issues with future workouts that are more complex.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17270704254643234147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3957652982007123082.post-69374728547398409072016-06-18T14:45:00.000+10:002016-06-19T18:40:03.080+10:00Rapha Women's Ride Loop - MelbourneEach week I try and attend a group ride outdoors that finishes up with coffee or breakfast and get some social bike time in. Often I have to squeeze in a ride before work and head straight into the office or do the remainder of my weekly sessions solo these days. <br />
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The one ride close to my home that I enjoy doing is the Rapha Women's Ride from Collingwood in Melbourne. It leaves Thursday morning at 6am from the corner of Wellington and Peel Streets. <br />
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/jyqVTevfrQ/" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">Rapha chicks ride. Phone still works after I dropped it face first in traffic. Not a scratch on the screen, but a big chunk of metal out if the corner #lucky #raphawomen #cycling #iphone</a></div>
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A photo posted by Von Micich (@v0nm) on <time datetime="2014-01-30T11:37:45+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Jan 30, 2014 at 3:37am PST</time></div>
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Taking approx. 1hr 10mins it finishes up at a cafe nearby and we chat over coffee about what our cycling comrades are up to and our next adventures. I took a few ladies out this weekend to test out the course and catch up over coffee afterwards. Thanks Shel, Fats and Reese for the mornings ride!! Based on my Instagram forensics, I've been doing this ride for years, it's nice to share it out to a wider group.<br />
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We had a Zwift Academy "virtual hills" group training ride which was fun on Thursday and Shane live streamed it on Facebook over 2x 30min sessions. Shel said they saw it live and really enjoyed it. When they were out shopping for bidons, they came home with 2x Kickrs instead! I love that enthusiasm and showed them a few quick tips using the Zwift and Wahoo iPhone apps with our coffee.<br />
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The other cool thing about the Academy is that riding outdoors validates the results indoors, so it all clocks up towards your entry to the next round. Stream links below for those interested in what happens in a group workout and listening to Shane talk Zwift and indoor cycling with me popping in/out of the stream.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17270704254643234147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3957652982007123082.post-2441862861212571422016-06-07T22:38:00.000+10:002016-06-07T22:53:30.927+10:00Zwift Academy Group RideTonight was the first group ride for the Zwift Academy. The format was to ride together for 6 laps with the ride leader on the 5.1km flat Richmond course. <br />
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Lap 1 - easy pace warmup <br />
Laps 2-5 - sprint from the 200m to go sign to the green sprint banner
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Lap 6 - easy pace cool down<br />
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Logging in earlier, the game puts you in a holding pattern and when you pedal a virtual stationary trainer pops around your back wheel and you can spin to warm up. It has a BIG countdown clock and chat area to comment to others warming up and waiting for the start.<br />
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZoAmnIYZrHETjQmkTxsywhtniNtLB0qhrC5Qt4LzRqT22au92HoGxSdiFL-_C0WGtHmcFxXKdXiAsv2PkVNiZQmoRb4_Yo_Mv_exQwtShCS9d07COiWAYXxRQvgUIIrYReSBKvPr_5No/s640/blogger-image--106204813.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" />
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When you roll out, you pop out under the start banner on the Richmond course and then continue straight onto the circuit. In the picture below you can see the lap/distance counter in the centre of the image. The mini terrain map shows the green dot where the next sprint is.<br />
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I initially rolled out with the front bunch until the ride leader called us to wait, then dropped into the second bunch. There was not much chatter except for the ride leader calling out task cues.<br />
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The last lap cool down was great! Chatter on screen picked up and it was great to see ladies from everywhere online and participating. <br />
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My performance: It has been a long time between sprint sessions for me. I was 200w down from where I have seen my peak power before. I and found it hard to wind up and sustain. Where I kicked the sprint off from (the roundabout or closer to the intersection) didn't make much of a difference. Each sprint I did was faster than the previous so it was a great session from that perspective. It was different technique to outdoors where you would use the torque of the bike more. <br />
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What I did enjoy was the punchy and playfulness of the sprints which I have missed from my long km rides lately. So this was a good reminder to add some more into my every day rides.<br />
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Deadline to enroll - July 31st 2016. <a href="http://zwiftacademy.com/about#enroll" target="_blank">Join the Zwift Academy</a>.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17270704254643234147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3957652982007123082.post-49897129326706029212016-06-06T18:11:00.001+10:002016-06-06T18:11:30.958+10:00Meeting Canyon SRAM Racing and the kit!The moment I saw the Canyon SRAM kit, I was in LOVE with it. I had no idea at that time that they were linked with Zwift, I was just looking for my husband to buy it for me!<br />
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I didn't get picked for UCI team Canyon SRAM :( But I CAN pickup the HOT kit in March :) A good bday present <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/hint?src=hash">#hint</a> <a href="https://t.co/YhEh5j2SR5">https://t.co/YhEh5j2SR5</a></div>
— Von Micich (@vonm) <a href="https://twitter.com/vonm/status/678381135995383808">December 20, 2015</a></blockquote>
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I was in Adelaide during the Tour Down Under in January 2016 watching the Santos Women's Tour. On the rest days we went riding with the Rapha Women and Tiffany Cromwell joined us. It was great to see the kit close up and the quality. She was raving about the knicks at the time about how comfortable they were.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tiff front and Center. Photo: Beardy</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A tree down on course. Tiff shows us how to CX over it.</td></tr>
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After another stage of the UCI tour there was a session at the Rapha Pop-up store: <br />
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CANYON//SRAM: Pro racer Tiffany Cromwell and team manager Beth Duryea will discuss the team’s goals for the year. A range of Canyon bikes will also be on display to book a test ride.</blockquote>
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I had a nice night and some Italian food there listening to the session about what their year entails. Sounded gruelling and fun all at the same time.<br />
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I had an invite to the live session that Tiffany held in Adelaide with Zwift and they announced the Academy there. Such exciting news!! I was a little star struck being up close with Tiff and Beth, I didn't know what to say, so I just asked for a photo and let them do their thing.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beth and Tiff being interviewed by Sophie</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I got to Meet Tiff!!</td></tr>
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Finally managed to get
organised and purchase my own set of kit when it was available on the<a href="http://www.rapha.cc/au/en_AU/shop/canyon-sram-aero-jersey/product/CPJ01" target="_blank"> Rapha site</a> in May... <br />
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A photo posted by Von Micich (@v0nm) on <time datetime="2016-05-11T00:30:42+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">May 10, 2016 at 5:30pm PDT</time></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17270704254643234147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3957652982007123082.post-64182858013941783612016-06-05T23:29:00.000+10:002016-06-08T06:21:06.123+10:00Zwift Academy - The Initiation<div style="text-align: center;">
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There is no secret that I am a fan of women's cycling and have been racing for years. If you read back over the last few blog posts, I've been looking for something to catch my attention and would fit in around my busy work lifestyle. When I heard about the Zwift Academy, it caught my attention for sure.<br />
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BGORcmSPfgl/" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">Ok, it's in the system now. I am enrolled in the @gozwift Academy to become a pro cyclist and race around the world with @wmncycling I'm hoping to clock up the 9 group rides and finish the 27 workouts to make it to the semi-finals. Check out the details on my blog in my profile and follow along on the journey to becoming pro or at least getting fitter over the winter in Australia! #squadgoals #cycling #procycling #technology #gozwift</a></div>
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A photo posted by Von Micich (@v0nm) on <time datetime="2016-06-04T06:46:26+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Jun 3, 2016 at 11:46pm PDT</time></div>
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It was with some trepidation that I clicked on the Enroll button for the <a href="http://zwiftacademy.com/" target="_blank">Zwift Academy</a>. Would I be accepted? Had I done enough riding to be fit enough to start this? What would it involve?<br />
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- Did I have the equipment setup? Yes. Kickr, fan and TV setup in the spare room.<br />
- Do you have your accounts setup? Yes. I have connected my Strava to Zwift so it auto saves each workout and I have connected my Training Peaks account (adding in TrainSharp) to get all the detailed data.</div>
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- Did I have enough flexibility to add structured training sessions to my week? Yes. No current coach or cycling team responsibilities.</div>
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- Could I do group rides on Zwift? Yes. Assuming they fit in around the work day.<br />
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Follow my journey</h3>
To keep me accountable, I am going to put my workouts in my "Ride Calendar" above. I am tracking everything in Strava and Training Peaks, so that my rides will be available to Zwift and TrainSharp to assess. You can ride online with me for the sessions if you are in the same timezone and if you see me, give a #RideOn<br />
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I will do a weekly wrap-up of my rides for the week, how my points are tracking, and how I am coping on this blog. As always you can see my other daily updates on Instagram/Facebook/Twitter.<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17270704254643234147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3957652982007123082.post-73659091390259152942016-06-04T16:14:00.003+10:002016-06-04T22:45:28.135+10:00Zwift Academy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I'm joining the Academy. Not the Police Academy! <a href="http://zwiftacademy.com/" target="_blank">The Zwift Academy</a>. In the hope that some structured training will get me through these winter months and start motivating me for more fun adventures on the bike.</div>
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The concept is to stick my bike on the indoor trainer and do workouts (9 for this month, 27 in total) as prescribed by Jon Sharples from TrainSharp using Zwift workout mode. This should be familiar as I've been doing indoor workouts over winter for the last 5 years.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Riding at the Bike Gallery Zwift Launch in 2015. Photo: Martyn Taylor</td></tr>
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I will also need to schedule in the group rides once a week (to complete 9 in total) to get a feel for the competition and to get used to riding later in the evening (they start at 8:30pm!?! on the east coast of Australia). I have been riding on Zwift for over a year, doing some racing online with Pro4mance, some of the C grade races and the initial Zwift Academy rides so it is familiar. This is going to be fun!<br />
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The concept is pretty cool, but the journey will end for most in September when only 10 women from around the world will make it to the semi finals. Those that make it that far will receive a mentor, invited to on-site workouts and receive a complimentary Wahoo KICKR SNAP smart trainer to complete the remainder of the process!<br />
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BE3S5ApvfsL/" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">Yeah mission accomplished tonight. 1.5hrs on the trainer matching jerseys on sprint, QOM and EPIC QOM. Knocking off #squadgoals with @gplama and @cyclingmaven tonight on @gozwift #rccmel</a></div>
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A photo posted by Von Micich (@v0nm) on <time datetime="2016-05-01T12:05:07+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">May 1, 2016 at 5:05am PDT</time></div>
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Once they whittle down the numbers, 3 lucky finalists will be invited to the CANYON//SRAM Racing Zwift Academy Training Camp. I'm not sure where in the world this will be held, but I'm sure it will be worth saving up to fly around the world for this. The final winner will get a paid contract for the 2017 racing season with CANYON//SRAM.<br />
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Now I know that I am not going to make it to the semi-finals as I know my power numbers are not amazing and my time commitment with work is hard. So the aim is to see how far I can get through the process and enjoy the free workouts!<br />
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/0uc1_6PfuI/" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">Like sands through the hourglass... So are the days of our lives ⌛️🚲 got the #sprinter Jersey on #zwiftIsland @gozwift is addictive. Wanted to try for the QOM but that will be next session! 👸 racing for real tomorrow!!!!! YAY! #sunrise #cycling #ergo</a></div>
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A photo posted by Von Micich (@v0nm) on <time datetime="2015-03-27T09:16:37+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Mar 27, 2015 at 2:16am PDT</time></div>
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The exciting thing is that this opens up the whole new world for women looking to join the professional ranks. The traditional pathway in Australia is to race your way into gaining notice and applying through an Institute of Sport. You might be lucky enough to be selected to race internationally for the national team if you get picked up by a state or national institute. I am really looking forward to following everyone's journey and I'm going to share mine along the way too.<br />
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First step for me will be all the setup and planning for the first month! Wish me luck!<br />
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/052M7DPfpY/" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">Welcome back to the island! #reality is the top of the range @specialized_au TT bikes hammering out intervals ready for 4 days #easter racing. #virtualReality is a hilly course on kids dragsters! Hope to get some #drift through the corners 😍 #aprilFool @bcswomensteam</a></div>
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A photo posted by Von Micich (@v0nm) on <time datetime="2015-03-31T19:29:51+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Mar 31, 2015 at 12:29pm PDT</time></div>
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<script async="" defer="" src="https://platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17270704254643234147noreply@blogger.com