Kona - Day 9 - Friday

Up at sparrows fart today to hit the highway - plan - to beat the winds on the Queen K in my 80km Time trial.  Plan B wasn't formulatted, so I had nothing to revert to, when I got the friggin winds on the Queen K - at 7am in the morning!  I started off really well, heart rate was high, and things were looking good - then hit the wind that seemed to twist and turn it's way around me the entire time - it was almost laughing at me!  I was not laughing when I was travelling downhill, and had to slip it into the small chain ring, just to hold 23kph.  looking at my stats which aren't pretty, my heart rate lowered at about the hour mark, and I struggled to elevate it again - a by product of yesterday's dicky ticker episode I should imagine. I was grovelling, cursing, thinking I was really slow, when about 10km from the end I realised that my bike computer's TIME was actully 15mins over, as it took me 15mins to ride to my start point!  I was well pleased at this point, and managed to sneak in on 2hrs 29, averaging 31.9kph with average cadence of 89.  Stats can be viewd here: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/51304336.  It was overcast and quite chilly even when I started, and was still overcast by the time I finished - not hot at all!  if they get a day like today on race day, we can expect to see some fast times.  I am sure Pam still thinks I am making it up when i said how hot it was in 2007!  It certainly is NOT hot at the moment!

After my ride, I bumped into Pam and Bill en route to Lava Java, so had some pictures taken!

More than happy to be finished!

In true Hibiscus Coast Tri Club style - analysing the Stats at the pier - you'll love this one Nicka and Wayne!  How's THAT for bike bling - a NICE scott plasma!

So I tooyled up to Lava Java to chillax and consume a well earned 16oz lava Java latte, and WHO should I see running by, but Chris McCormac, Torenzo, and the crowd that appeared on my blog 2 days ago (images stollen from Torenzo's Facebook page).  NICE!  What more can I say.  Then they returned going the other way - they were flying!.  I had finished my drink, so jumped onto the Plasma, and rode along Ali'i Drive to my Condo, thinking they would have long since gone beyond that point, but was happy that i was mistaken.  Rode alongside them for a few minutes, chatting to T, and advised him to get some good Mother Lovin when she arrives and EAT a huge roast, lots of gravy and some yorkshire puddings - because, MAN - there is nothing to him!  They all look so tanned, fast and, and, and...... you know!

So I rode ahead, parked the trusty stead at my condo block and applauded them as they went by.  And to add enhancement to today's blog, I called out "NICE ASS!".  They all cheered and I heard Macca saying 'that was for me', and someone else said, 'no, must have been for me'!  You gotta love it!  And I guess, you just had to be there!

 relaxed by the pool, did 30min aqua jogging, then retired to the loungers under the cocoanut trees and spent some time with the neighbours.  Then visited Laura at her very flash condo - wow - it is FLASH!  Ours is right on the water, so I can't complain!

Dinner - then this.  Off to bed as have to get up REALLY early to do a swim race at Kukio.  have done this before, so as long as I am not too trashed from today's ride, hope to have a good swim.  A good practice run for Pam!  Over and Out.

Nice Ass Count - can't count!

Nice Bike Bling - LOTS AND LOTS!

Most Aero poition observed to date.

Brand, Spanking New. 

Look bike ex Atens Olympics - owned by a young English bloke who qualified in Taupo.  It has a sneaky brake lever on the left underneath the shifter - look closely.

Famous People - well, i have said it all already!  :)