25-3-2010 – Mathew Flinders

25-3-2010 – Mathew Flinders

After a less than spectacular “last minute” kind of fixing up the bike, we are on the way for our bike ride.

Bike belongs to Paul. It is heavier than my last rental. When I get up and peddle, I realize how difficult it is and I am on the mid to low gear. It is a reality check and I realize quickly I am going to be slow. Expectation is one thing, the real thing is definitely going to hurt when it sunk it.

The ride target is to reach the U-turn point about 25km+ away and Paul will come and pick us up. At the end we were picked up at 10km on Mathew Flinders.

When the talk is on Ironman Australia, the top thing on everyone mind is Mathew Flinders where the steepest slope awaits. It is going to be challenging, something that is worth the “salt”.
A return loop of the bike course is 60km. First 10km of the route is sloppy. Something like Deasru. Although weather is cooler here, but the Sun is at least equal or fiercer than Desaru, given the bad ozone problem in Australia. Next 20km is flat. Finger cross that the head/cross wind on the day won’t pose much of a problem. The last 30km is like driving inside Malaysia plantations. Both sides of the road have tall trees, It provide shades, but unfinished “speed humps”. Not to mention the road condition as a whole for the course is horrible! Worst than any roads I have experience even in MY. No big pot holes, but bumpy rides throughout.

We sort of mis-orientated at Mathew Flinders and by then Paul have reached us so we decide to mount up the bike and do a recee by car instead. Actually I don’t understand why the hype about Mathew Flinders. It just a short, steep slope. I only glance at the speedo once and it show 8km/hr. It was within my expectation and I have to rethink the strategy whether to push up later, when I expected to start the steepest climb at 50, 110, 170km mark.

On the speedo, we complete about 10km. Average pace at 18km/hr! Not very good for morale. Damn suck! I think it is going to be a super long ride on Sunday. Expected 8hr of bike time perhaps. I miss my Ironhorse. :p

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Went over to register for the event. My Bib number is 597.

Well, the atmosphere seems quiet to what I experiences in the last 2 IM events. Maybe it is still early. But I can’t seem to find the energy from the event. The only thing I see, is the many bikers/runners on the road that reminds me that there is an event going on.