BurbleChaz

The Other Cyclist has yet to regain enough confidence to resume hurtling down obstacle-strewn tracks. Today, she was kind enough to let me have a play, though. We pootled over to Lysterfield Lake Park, and she took her camera, iPod and book to a secluded spot by the water's edge. I poinded the front end in an upward direction and started going uphill. Happiness.

For reasons neither of us could comprehend, the park was heaving. The car parks were full and the beach was obliterated by towels. We've been there on nicer days, on bank holidays, and during major events and it's never been this busy. Puzzling.

I reset my computer at the start of the Commonwealth Games Trail, and hurtled off. The downhill bits went quickly. Uphill was an exercise in temperature management. It was over 30 degrees, so I took it a bit easy and gubbled three litres of water. I cleaned the entire trail, event the really technical climbs. I madee it back to the starting point in 26'07", at an average of almost 9mph. Not very impressive, really. At the Commonwealth Games, the average lap time for the winner was 16'35". And they did eight laps. Room for improvement, then.