Angela McClure

Cycling Tribe Article 3

2011-06-20T14:16:00.000-07:00

The link
http://www.cyclingtribe.com/blog/post/show/id/217-Race-Diary-Ange-McClure-Trentino-Stage-1-

I will return to blogging more often in the next few days...my exams are now finished...so piece of mind and freedom has now arrived....

Ange

Cycling Tribe Article 2

2011-06-09T05:41:00.001-07:00

http://www.cyclingtribe.com/article/post/show/id/192-Ange-McClure-CT-Blog-Muri-Fermani-

Cheers
Ange

Cycling Tribe

2011-05-31T11:38:00.001-07:00

http://www.cyclingtribe.com/blog/post/show/id/208-First-CT-Blog-Ange-McClure-The-Process

Keen...

2011-05-15T08:25:00.000-07:00

This weekend racing is about to start up again for the second half of the season and I’m very keen and motivated.

The last 3 weeks has seen some good times. I completed my first Grand Fondo in Italy the guessed 200-300 starters was actually over 2000!! It was mayhem…I managed to run into follow Aussie Rach Neylan in a random café before the start, which was good. Saying we would stay together for the adventure around Lucca in the Tuscan region only lasted 400meters until we lost each other in the chaotic mass. After 6hours in the saddle and 170k under the belt…I felt like my photo describes one crazy tried person…Simone and Simon completed the crew for the day and are two of the funniest Italian men I have met!

No need for the hair product today...

The week then started with a mini team camp. A nice short two days to touch base with all the teamies.

The girls having a brew after the ride, i'm the only one that ever brings the laptop out at the table...ah well can you blame me, my teamies talk Italian while I tap tap away on the lappy...everybody is happy

The week has been rounded out with another trip to Lucca to catch up with Adelaide bother Andrew Roe. The coffee machine has been getting a fair working out.

The brew machine in full swing at Roey's

Next post will be a race report

Chat later

Ange

A mixed bag

2011-05-07T09:31:00.000-07:00

This week's photo Gallery:

Slowly learning how to cook.

Yes I live by myself but I had a good thing going...so continued to cook up and onwards.

The four hour lunch.

Fresh as a daisy from after the 3hour car drive (Florence).

The crew taking to the streets: Matteo, Kim, Me.

We are not affrid of the dark.

The kid is alive and well in me.

Happy snap time!

Watching the world go by...

The view at lunch after my four ride in the hills.

Kim and I soaking up the views.

Stole this idea from Dad from the picture he took when he visted Pisa thinking it was smart..then realised everyman and his dog had the same idea

Well as soon as I got my giddy up on with racing the first half of the season was over and a drought of racing for 3 weeks. This lead to many activities taking place to prepare for the second half the season that will hopefully see me feature is some of the hiller races and stage races of the season. However before I get ahead of my self I did say it was 3 weeks till my next race….

So with a week of easy riding on the program saw me jump at the chance to also freshen up the mind to see some new sights of Italy. I was lucky enough to concide this with the arrival of Matteo and Kimmy from Australia.

Our adventures as a mighty trio, or you could look at it as me ‘third wheeling’ the holiday goers started in Matteo’s hometown (the name of it was huge and started with T population 10,000 for those that love random facts). What better way to catch up with your friends over a 4 HOUR lunch cooked by a local chef… at his house, if the food was going to be anything like the house we were in for a treat…needless to say after every dish I was like ‘OMG’. With the tummies full it was onto Venice. I was a little disappointed because there was so many people and it made it hard to really enjoy the city without being pushed and shoved and somebody trying to sell you a fake watch. I’m not one for the big tourist places, rather destinations that tucked away and that few now about. Aside from this it didn’t stop the snapping action of the camera and the ‘ooo’ and ‘ahhh’s’ going on as I strolled through the beautiful old city and for those of you playing at home Venice is the city surround by water! Unfortunately I have no photo documentation of this visit because my camera decided to stay at home. However I stole Kim’s camera and will retrieve the photos one day. Much could be commented about this night…but mainly I was smashing the cordials all night…showing Italians the Aussie way of having a mighty swell night….

The next morning saw me fit in a nice easy ride and I don’t know why but at 8am Saturday morning you will never be without cycling company in Italy! I arrived back to Matteo’s three hours later and got my Italian food on again. Then it was of to Florence! I have mastered sleeping in all types of vehicles with varying amounts of space and this journey was no exception. Sleeping most of the way there I woke up ready to explore Florence. This town took more of my liking.

To sum up my time in Florence and the remainder of the trip

- Lot’s of pizza

- Went to Siena (my favorite place on this little adventure)

- Pisa

- 3 solid rides through the hills

- Memorable lunch on the restaurant’s patio in the hills

- Biscotti /gelato / waffles/chocolate…all amazing

- A lot of walking!

- Some serious back seat sleeping

- A lot of laughing

- Shopping

- Looking at some pretty cool castles and church’s

My little tourist adventure saw me return to Forli with a fresh mind to get stuck into the training. I have been training well and with purpose. Trying to get myself more in the Forli cycling scene I have discovered some good bunches to head out with. I use to love the solo fight of training, but these days I really enjoy training with others, for that extra effort required and of course to have fluent English conversations…

Tomorrow will see me head to my first Grand Fondo the only information I could find on this event in English is below if you want to know the pain I’m in for….

http://www.lasquadra.co.uk/2011/01/fancy-trying-a-gran-fondo-8th-may-gran-fondo-michele-bartoli

The option was either riding this event tomorrow or spending the day doing uni work any excuse to escape the books I will take, even if it’s extreme…

Chat Later

Ange

2011-04-26T02:41:00.000-07:00

Kong.

I like my ‘Donkey Kong’ metaphor so I will continue to roll with it until I think I have abused the saying enough. Yesterday was the GP Liberazione, our sprinter Annalisa Cucinotta managed to take away 5^th, which is a solid result after completing 12 fast laps of a 10k pancake flat circuit. My race was ok improvement is certainly needed in the positioning department. Getting myself to the front is one thing, staying there is another world. I did manage to get on the front for a short period and even attack once, but that was it and I found myself back in the ‘ticket collecting’ position at the back. It’s like a race inside a race positioning, all day I found myself sitting in the middle of the peloton and then at the back only to work hard to get to the middle again and then before I knew it I was at the back again. I’m banking on that the more I race the more I will become capable of holding a good position, and have a greater impact on the race.

The ‘Kong’ came for me at 13k. I crashed and was the 5^th person to go down in the pile up caused by some nerves in the peloton approaching the finish. I landed quite well and avoided gravel rash to be replaced with bruising and an out of place back. I managed to untangle my bike, and remount to finish the race looking a bit more then displeased as I crossed the finish line.

After the usual shower it was in the car for the 3hour drive home. For some reason time was traveling very slowly and the trip home seemed forever, finally I got to walk through the front door and crash on the couch. Still being revved up by the racing and all the caffeine in my body I couldn’t get to sleep and some serous TV time was going down to fill the gap until 1am when I finally was whisked away by the land of nod.

So what’s next, another National race next weekend. Then a week of low k’s and intensity followed by a good block of training to hunt down some form for the second half of the season. It would be fair to say that my first half of the season hasn’t even touched on my expectations of myself. I hope the second half will be awesome with stomping form to make up for what I have missed earlier this year.

No doubt I will post again later in the week

Thanks for reading

Chat later

Angela

Not Konging.

2011-04-21T09:02:00.000-07:00

The day before the race: Team Presentation.

Fleche Wallone Round 4 of the World Cup Series. My result DNF. An excuse? Well there is no, just a reason. After 50k I had a mechanical (chain not staying in the big ring) I went back for my first service form a moving car at 50 k/hrs. After rejoning the peloton, the same mechanical occurred. This time I had to dismount and the problem was NOT fixed within 30seconds, which saw the bike race disappear up the road, with me one frustrated Australian speaking broken Italian mixed with English at our Italian mechanic. I remounted my bike in an attempt to rejoin the peloton and make do with a little chain ring. After a couple kilometers playing in the car convoy I was dropped. Soon after a decent size group of girls came up behind me. I managed to make a few friends in my annoyed state that turned to being light hearted after a girl said ‘it’s only a bike race, there is another one next weekend’. With that it mind a few jokes started to be thrown around (it’s amazing how senses of humor can be international) and soon we arrived at the finish line.

The hunt begum for my team through all the team buses and vans along with the supporters crowding the finish area. Soon enough I found a very dejected team waiting for me at the showers. It wasn’t all bad Martina and Tanya managed to finish which was a great effort in itself. I still haven’t overcome the communal shower thing. However with a 8hour car drive ahead I took the option to man up and have a shower with my other competitors, I’m not normally shy but in these situations I’m very much so.

Cherry Beer.

The car and van were soon loaded and as I type this blog I’m on the way home to Forli. We have already mad our first bit stop at a service station and I picked up a Belgium cherry beer. On my flight to Belgium I meet a lovely girl called Isabel. She told me to try this drink, so I did. It was ok…but I would rather drink Little Creatures…!

So good-bye to Belgium and my next race is a local Italian race. I’m predicting a less intense version of the racing I’ve experienced so far, but not to speak to soon you never know what the Italians could come out with I’m sure it will be on like donkey kong. This time I aim to be konging not the donkey.

Awesome team.

PS. I wrote this before i knew the car trip was something like 14hrs long! it was crazy from the end of the race till 6am this morning was spent in the car! These Italians are hard-core. I must also mention I have a mighty awesome team who made the trip a lot easier!

Chat later

Angela

Sitting at Primo '2'.

2011-04-14T10:09:00.001-07:00

The second post of this series. After a ‘nice’ session on the bike this morning, I escaped to Primo café for the coffee and study. Being relatively productive this time with the occiaonal check up to see how my teamies are going in Holland. From the results it looks like it kept together and the girls finished well.

There is not much more to this post then to say everything is on track for Fleche Wallonne. I’m itching, dying to race my bike. Robbed of opportunties for being sick every time I’m called to the line, I really just want to get out there and do what I came to Europe for.

My next post will either be a motivating one before fleche or an even more motivated one after fleche. Saying this actually nit having raced my bike in so long I can’t expect much from fleche, but the experience will do me the world of good.

Chat Later

Ange

Avoiding study to write this blog post.

2011-04-11T09:20:00.000-07:00

To start off this awe-inspiring blog post I want to say that I often have my camera in tow when I head out for lunch and dinner for those ‘I wish I had a camera on me’ moments. When I go to order my food I always have a feeling it will be awesome, and I’m often correct, living in Italy makes easier to make such assumptions. However when my food does come out, I’m so involved in the moment that it is gone before I even have time to chew. So from now on I plan to make a bigger effort on taking wonderful pictures of the places I dine at, pretty much to make it easier explaining the food I eat to my parents!

So away from handmade pasta to handmade, heart and leg driven training. This weekend has been great. Nearly the whole Kelo Ladies Team came to train in Forli. We had a solid weekend in the sun, with many laughs, the girls picking up a bit more English and myself still lacking (despite trying) Italian lingo.

An event that also marked the weekend was my friend Natasha’s Birthday Party! I felt like I was at a wedding, the music and DJ pumping, long tables full of people enjoying their food and vino, and one well actually two massive birthday cakes. I may not understand full Italian, however dancing is it’s own international communication.

PARTY!

Italian family Barbara and Primo.

Monday morning brought a coffee ride, my enforcement of Primo café as our location of choice is slowly making its mark on the girls. I think the fact that we can sit outside in the sun on deck help’s my cause. It’s a tough world out there picking a café to sit and drink liquid gold, and of course Forli has one on every corner and in every street!

The sun and easy riding in full force.

To start the morning off...Primo cafe with the teamies.

Tomorrow 8 team members leave for Holland to race some flat and hard-core races. Unfortunately not my type of cake I will remain in Forli to keep training up a storm and will meet the girls in Belgium for Fleche Wallonne.

Chat Later

Angela

I don’t want to sit here.

2011-04-03T04:54:00.000-07:00

My wage allows me to splurge on the latest technology.

I am suppose to be in the saddle right now racing The Tour of Flanders this however due to some disappointing ‘technical difficulties’, Instead I find myself in front of the flat screen watching the men battle it out.

Let’s hope that these ‘technical difficulties’ are sorted out by La Fleche Wallonne Feminie in two weeks. My season has taken enough of a battling without really getting started I hope for a turn around soon.

Late this week saw me escape from the bike and the books and go to Bologna, with my Italian friend Roberto. A busy city is an understatement; imagine fitting Melbourne’s shopping scene into one long street!

I managed to get rid of ever other tourist for a personal shot with me and the fountain.

Chat later

Ange

Sitting at Primo '1'.

2011-03-31T09:47:00.000-07:00

Home away from home.

I’m creating a blog series titled ‘sitting at Primo’. This place is like my second home. You ask why? Every time you walk through the doors I’m greeted by welcoming smiles and warmth from Primo and his lovely wife Barbra. The language barrier is certainly present in this case, but nothing a random customer who knows a bit of English can’t translate so our points of conversation get across. The coffee is grand the pastries fantastic, and the location a nice 2min bike ride aware from my house. Further it is on a corner…if you don’t already now that if a café is on a corner more then likely it is an awesome one!

So let’s begin, I’m sitting at Primo for my third time today punching out some serious reflection while I overhear Primo explain to a customer that I’m from Australia and that I ride a bike for a job. It’s been a good week of training in Forli with the second half of the week bringing the goods with the weather. My uni studies have been making progress with a few assignments signed, sealed and delivered and a couple not far off. Tomorrow is going to bring a day off the bike, with a day packed full of nothing. Similar to what my housemate was enjoying today out on our little piece of balcony paradise.

Well deserved.

So enjoy the weekend people.

Chat later

Ange

First World Cup, Trofeo Alfredo Binda.

2011-03-28T12:25:00.000-07:00

Keen and ready at the team presentation before the race

After the race...

I’m the car on the way home from Varese to Forli writing this blog and having to tackle the fact that I DNF in today’s race. I’m angry, annoyed, disappointed, and I’m hanging my head low. I expected so much more from myself. I wanted to finish, I wanted to be there for my team, I wanted prove I’m a good bike rider to my team and myself.

I made some stupid mistakes the morning of the race and this inevitably saw me not cross the finish line.

So feeling down I went up to Bridie O’Donnell (to say congrats on her efforts today...but I got more then my money's worth!) I didn’t even get past saying ‘Brava’ before she jumped into giving me a debrief chat on racing in Europe and more specific in World Cup races. I’m taking Bridie’s advice on board and looking ahead to a week of good training leading up to the next world cup, next weekend… Flanders.

So not the upbeat report I wanted to give you all. FYI it's not fun writing not so positive blogs but this ramble page has to reveal all. I’m sure I’ll manage a couple more blog posts between now and my next.

Have a good week people.

Link to the results - http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/trofeo-alfredo-binda-cdm/results

Chat later

Ange

Blogging Wars.

2011-03-23T08:11:00.000-07:00

This week in Forli has been going mighty fine. I am back to full health and training well in the lead up to the first world cup this weekend, and not to mention my first European race with my new team. I very motivated for this race, to get a result for the team and to start my season off with a really loud bang. A detailed report will be up shortly after the race.

This week has also been grand because I made two very good friends. Roberto and Riccardo who are brothers with lively personalities and are very fun to be around. I stumbled across these gentlemen in a café I found close to my home called Primo. I must add Primo is the guy who owns it, and full respect to a guy that name’s his café of dreams after himself. So as you can imagine with new friends came new dinning experiences. Again Italian cuisine has not failed to disappointment yet!

Now to the most important section in this blog post. On the other side of the world sits another blogger who decided to discuss my rookie mistake last year at Redlands (First US NRS race of the season) on her blog. http://tiffanypezzulo.blogspot.com/ you can call her Tiff, I will call her Tiffany Pezzulo which will also feature on the death letter I post anonymously to her…In life we make choices and some are wrong. Mrs. Tiffany Pezzulo choose the wrong sausage this time…never go for the basil, go for the garlic I always say. So I’m not quite sure how to get this tiger back, but I know a time will come and when it does that tiger is going to make a fantastic front door mat.

To finish on an up here are some photos from an easy training ride earlier this week with some of my teammates.

Martina and Chiara at the cafe stop.

Some super fast legs lining up.

Some super fast bikes lining up.

Talk about formation.

Till my next post

Angela.

How’s Italy?

2011-03-18T08:07:00.000-07:00

It’s grand, a better question...how is Jo Hogan? Jo is one stomping cyclist and just received the AGF scholarship. I’m a massive fan of Jo’s because of the way she conducts herself on and off the bike. A true trooper and champion I have no doubt this woman is going to go a very long way in this sport, and wish her the best of luck and I hope I’ll see her soon in Euro land. Follow this link to find out more http://www.amygillett.org.au/champion-cyclist-awarded-amy-gillett-foundation-scholarship

Below are four pictures that sum up my time in Italy last week.

The healthy people workers.

Italy has a blockbuster..they didn't accept my Australian membership card...

Tough competition to where i spend most of time in waking hours.

There is a pile of dust on the floor, the picture doesn't show this, but i swear i was cleaning!

Being in a team house has its benefits. You always have people to train with, you love massive pasta feeds, and resting the legs on the coach is not seen as lazy but part if the job. However there is a down side that is if one get’s sick we all get sick. This has been the case in the KLEO household. I’m hitting it on the head with antibiotics and all other drugs as seen in picture one. The extra time off the bike I’ve spent attempting to study up a storm. Also catching up on some movies. And towards the end of this week I’ve become restless and even started to clean the house! After my first little spin today in 4 days I’m confident that I’ll be fully recovered in a couple more days and raring for next weekend’s world cup in Italy.

Tell next time when i'm back to my fit and jumpy self.

Ange

International women’s day…

2011-03-09T10:27:00.000-08:00

Great day wasn’t it?!...To celebrate the team members that are based in Forli’ decided to do something out of this world, different and as ‘Kath and Kim’ would say ‘unusual’…we all headed out to eat pizza. Unfortunately this try hard Italian but very proud Aussie forgot her camera…I’ll let you imaginations tell the rest of the story.

As stated in my last blog I was going to do a team post with lost of photo’s, again I ask you to use you imaginations knowing that this post will one day arrive. Like the mail my so-called ‘friends’ said they would send me…you know who you are.

So apart from the lack of postman apearences, training has been rough. At the beginning of last week, I saw snow for the first time. It was ok to see the snow from riding the trainer for 3 days inside, but when I went out in the stuff it was a different story. The team came up for the weekend, and we battled 3days of riding in the mountains together bonding with each and the snow. It was freezing to say the least, but also pretty dam cool. Descending for 20mins while looking out at endless mountainsides, riding up bergs feeling like you’re in a stage of the Tour De France with the team care behind you.

By the new week the snow had cleared up. A coffee shop ride was in order, as well as a crack down on my uni studies. Monday went by fast and training went up a gear again once Tuesday arrived. The team is going great guns, and we are all looking forward to out first local flat race this weekend.

Will post a race report.

Till next time

Angela

Note: Photo's are in very random order!

Andrea slogging it out on the trainer while i sip my coffee.

Andrea and I enjoying the sun at last.

Guila feeding the dog chocolate, always a good thing...

My dirty bike that is yet to get any love, after this weekend's epic rides.

My powerhouse of devices...aka my life!

Uptil this day i have used a protein shaker given to me by Lou Kerr at AIS camp 2 years ago. The shaker didn't make the trip to Italy. So penguin has joined my close circle of friends.

A little bit in the mood of 'shit it is cold out here after a long ride, and me being all sweaty inside'.

And a quick note for those of you playing at home please comment if you have any ideas of what i could blog about, take photo's of etc!

Onwards with the blogging.

2011-03-01T12:55:00.000-08:00

So let start be saying you can follow my team on Facebook, here is the link

The Italians lets say are a little behind on the technology side of things so the FB page is a bit doggy, you will see what I mean…

Next blog will be the ‘team blog’ with pictures of everything and everyone, with all this intense training I have not been able to take happy snaps on the ride!

So the second week in Italy has been very cold. The other day I came home literally frozen from training. It took me a good hour to warm up and my hands, where burning it was that cold! The weather has continued on the down, with snow expected tomorrow. The wind trainer will certainly be getting some loving this coming week.

To keep myself entrained I have started uni online, a struggle first to get the brain going again. Other time filling activities have involved watching a few Italians DVD’s, along with some serious card playing as proven below. It should not have to be mentioned but my commitment and dedication to coffee drinking has been in full swing as well.

We should also take some fashion advice from my teammate Chiara, her choice of bedclothes is truly a dedication to our grandmothers ;-)

Chiara in the morning, such a delight!

Fun, fun times! Andrea and I.

Till next time

Angela J McClure

And I was like OMG

2011-02-21T11:01:00.000-08:00

The first day that i arrived in Italy the steep learning curve begun.

I have limited internet access so will write blogs as I go and post them when I can.

I had a minor hic up with no airport pick up but once that was sorted it has been smooth sailing. I have all my equipment and everything is very nice and professional. We had our team presentation which took the entire day and for me I understood very little so it was a very long day.

I’ve decide to create ‘the list’ on ‘the list’ is notes of the things I’ve seen, heard, what has/ about to happen, everything along those lines.

‘THE LIST”

-My Italian has improved 100% since I have arrived and i'm picking up quickly

- For dinner you have 4 courses and my team eat as fast as I speak

- I' m averaging 8 coffees a day. As soon as someone says ‘caffe’ everyone yells ‘see see’ and away you go. You have two options espresso and cappuccino.

- My team is great. Everyone is very nice, as well as the management who have been very understanding of language barrier and are trying to cater to all my needs.

- The food is amazing.

- The country side is everything I imagined and more. So beautiful, with snow cap mountains, small roads, little villages everywhere.

- I’m currently on team camp, and will go ‘home’ to Forli on Monday to get settled down. 3 of the 11girls on the team live near me so i will have good training partners.

- You do everything together, except shower and go to the toilet. Café, training, walking around, washing, going with each other to do each others chores!

...and of course the photos

My first caffe with the team.

Me the climber and our sprinter Martina.

Video of hotel view.

Team dinner.

Before team presentation.

Outside team presentation.

Photo shoot, more of these pics to come!

Till next time

Angela

It's time to say goodbye!

2011-02-21T10:38:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow I will be embarking on my first European season and to be honest it’s only now that it has kicked in and I’m very excited. I’ll be based in Forli, Italy and jet setting around Europe competing in some of the biggest women’s races.

My preparation has gone well. With a lot of base under my belt and strength I’m looking forward to a great season.

However something had to occur before going away….my going away bash! What a night it was. There is nothing better then having all your good mates around you, drinking a diet coke (wink, wink) and having a tummy full of laughs.

The night was documented as seen below with pictures taken by my personal photographer Tahlia. Special mention has to go to this woman who has become a best friend since starting at Cibo Melbourne Street, what we have titled as a ‘25 year relationship into 3 months’. A shout out has to go to my coach who put up a solid performance…nearly as good as mine. A big thanks to my boss’s. Claude and Ori it shows how much I have enjoyed working at Melbourne Street Cibo when your boss’s come to your going away, and embrace the night just as much as you. Melbourne Street Cibo is certainly got this little worker for life when I’m in Aus. Lastly to my mates, thanks for being my buddies love each and everyone one of you and will be blogging and skyping so get on it!

Number one Italian friend, me and Matteo

Tahls and Me

Chaddy (white t-shirt) said to put this up.

The best boss's in the world, Ori and Claude.

Best friend, Coach, Life Coach and Dad- Nashy.

This is where I go wrong.

Pretty good family - Jane, Kel, Kate, Em, Shell.

Number one Nana.

Sharh B-rat wanabe

Till next time

Angela

A positive response bring on da blogging

2011-01-30T01:23:00.000-08:00

So I got some good comments about my blogging from some mates so here comes on the onslaught of my life!

This last week (since my last blog) has flown like the rest of this month. Time is traveling super fast and i'm just 2 weeks out of traveling to Europe for my first pro season.

Along with the training load, and work, summer in Adelaide is all about the love. I managed to put up my hammock, which my best mate Chloe gave to me for my 17^th Birthday. Already it had been christened with a nap, a couple of reading sessions.

The beast of a hammock

Saturday night brought a night of dinning out with the boys. You could say i'm the parmy queen. Polishing of my plate nicely he some boys failed at the challenge.

Tahlia (consolidating our 25year friendship), Me, Kimmy (awesome work side kick and balance between Tahls and I, and Matteo (teacher of inappropriate Italian.

Chloe (my new third house mate) and Me.

This week brings more k’s, more get together’ and with the heat finally reaching Adelaide some serious beach time!

Till next time

Ange

So what's been happening?

2011-01-27T00:53:00.000-08:00

The lead up to nationals was the perfect. The race itself was a massive let down without even stepping on the podium finishing 4^th u/23. However this did not put a halt on my desire to have a good season. It has only made me hunger.

After nationals I spent a couple days down the beach with my Dad in the boat fishing. Spending time with dad is rare and something which I haven’t been able to do in a long time. Spending time with Dad is relaxing because of our similar ‘go go go’ personalities.

By the end of national’s week I was back n Adelaide for the TDU women’s crits. The races provided me with some solid training, and I tried to be aggressive throughout the 3 races. A lot of k’s surrounded the TDU and the aftermath of the event. I’m in the full swing of training, with my homie Les and Chloe being good training partners along with the Bombardea boys.

I head across the pond on the 15^th of February, keen to start my first professional season with KLEO Ladies Team. More information about my new Italian team to come.

Amongst the awesome times here in Adelaide, master chef Les provided a fantastic Australia Day BBQ last night.

Stay tuned for what is going to be an action packed few months/year.

Till next time

Ange

* My thoughts are with Amber Halliday who crashed in one of the women’s TDU crits and was badly injured. Amber is a tough solider and I’m confident she will pull through strong.

First Post for 2011!

2011-01-04T19:24:00.000-08:00

This year I plan to become the best blogging expert out there...nah not really just write stuff that i hope you enjoy reading as much as I enjoy writing it.
So where we are at, Chrissy was a smashing hit with my family as seen below we all feel the love when photos are taken.

The cousins in a world of joy after Nana learns how to use a digital camera

The crew hard at

Chlo and I out on Dads Toy a bit of biscuting (soft option for those that can’t ski), it was funny then being thrown around out the back of a boat, but the next day the pain was worse than the first gym session back after the off season.

The picture that is missing is of my cousin Jase and me riding his new motorbike! Also the botchy game on Xmas Day a massive increase in form after me being in struggle city on Xmas Eve!

New Years day has been and gone and now I’m days away from my first official race of the season, the Australian National Road Race. I could not have been better pre pared for this event. Learning from my preparation in the last two years and adapting a few things to get the lead up correct, I feel fit, strong and confident. I look forward to the race and hope to see you all out at Buninyong enjoying the pain from the sidelines!

Getting back into shape on all levels.

2010-12-18T14:25:00.000-08:00

With slow shift from my off season to my season starting with Nationals brings the changes of sponsors, teams and all things exciting, including getting back into blogging.

I enjoy cycling and writing and next year I plan to ace both of them, and this blog bringing the two together.

Stay tuned

Till next time
Ange

Back on home soil!

2010-08-08T22:19:00.001-07:00

Wow 5 months in the

United States

flew! To say the least I had the time of my life on and off the bike! For one good reason it was all about the people…more on that later!

My experience saw me sleep on couches, fold out’s, queen beds, shared beds, air beds. I went all around America from California, New Mexico, Philadelphia, Colorado to

Canada

! I raced a big UCI 1.1 race in Philadelphia and raced the local calendar of Northern California! I saw endless roads, awesome lakes and rivers, gorgeous mountains, one wicked baseball games. I ate A LOT! Massive pretzels, Grand Slam Denny’s Breakfast, dinar burgers and fries, enough barbeques to fill an Australian summer, Ronnie’s choc cookies, to fabulous home cooked meals by the next Donna Ray…Katherine Curi Mattis!

This was the cake mix but it was the people that made my cake taste awesome! It was everyone who had me under there roof, every host house and the family’s of Comwell’s, Mattis’, DeBacker’s, Crane, Bates, Dearden’s and the Smith’s. And of course my right hand woman Jazzy. Only knew each other by name at the start of March, but by the start of August we have became best of mates. The third musketeer Billy Crane words can not describe the generosity of this man! Every fun time had Bill in it a friend and someone who looked out for Jazzy and I throughout our stay. The fourth musketeer… yes there was four , Emma Mackie. Some serious time at the cafe, along Foothill hwy and we got to know each other dam well! I probably can not stretch the musketeer talk much further so crossing to the Rock band metaphor! Other awesome souls that made our band sound so good was my development team teammates Lauren and Maura, KCM god of wisdom, the whole of the Webcor Pro Team crew, party animal Randy J and of course Ronnies she hates it but was our America Mum!!

Everything good had to come to an end. I’m back in Ballarat for a week my home town. Studying away and racing the Geelong tour this weekend! Adelaide my home away from home will be my next stop, where I will swing into full-time study, work, some more rest off the bike before training up for the second half of the year!!!

Till next time

Ange

Pictures will come one day soon...

Cascade Stage 4 Downtown Crit: ‘what’s the number for 911?...’

2010-07-24T20:22:00.001-07:00

Tonight was the second last stage of the Cascade Classic in Bend , OR, a four corner fast Crit with two long straights. The team sprint sensation Tiffany Pezzulo was on form tonight...if you brought tickets to the gun show it was money well spent! Megan chased down some early attacks, while the rest of the team Marisa, Kasey and myself where sending out good fast vibes from the pack...! Tiff pulled off an unofficial yet to be confirmed 7^th,8^th, 9^th, Megan 20^th and the rest of the awesome team finished the race hanging off the back of the main field!

‘911’ was going through my mind the whole race. With great support from Tom, Julian, Little Bit aka Ellen our host house and some home support from coach Dan I made it through a very painful Crit, my end of season is one race away, and my job on the team till I cross the finish line tomorrow will be to help Megan on GC and be the team enthusiast over the 51mile hilly slog fest that will commence tomorrow at 1pm!

Till next time when treads.com/DFT rock this party,

Train hard, and live even harder

Ange McClure (Guest Rider and proud of it!)

The way the cookie crumbles...

2010-07-22T09:36:00.000-07:00

Cascade Stage Race kicked off on Tuesday in Bend, Organ,two stages down and four to go!
Stage 1 brought a broken, which was replaced after the race by kindly replaced by Adrian from Colivatia.Stage 2 brought the comforts of grouptetto. Stage 3 takes place today at 12:36 today a 16 mile Time Trial!
Along with the fun of racing a stage race; having team mates around, mingling with other teams, host house experiences, fun times in a river...it all was challenged by something new on tour. Below is the head shot of what made my day yesterday at the start AND finish on the race. Ronnie's homemade cookies dispatched throughout the tour teams...thanks again Ron Ron literally a life saver

Ronnie's choc chip cookies.

So apart from the bit of bad luck at the start of the tour, it is the way the cookie crumbles and i'm heading into today's TT ready for a good one!

Till my next post
Ange

Tough Weekend

2010-07-18T17:34:00.000-07:00

This weekend brought the Tour De White Rock. The tour is based just outside Vancouver Canada. Three stages; 700m hill climb, 30 laps x 1k Crit and 80k RR 8x 10k laps. My expectations of this supposedly hilly course was high and I didn’t achieve what I wanted, however learnt a lot and had some good fun to lead me into Cascade which starts Tuesday in Bend, Organ.

Uphill TT.

I really didn’t know how to approach this one. I finished 19^th. 4 seconds off the fastest time which was taken by Joelle from the Webcor professional team. The climb was very steep however not quite steep enough for the pure climbers it was more suited to people who could power climb well.

Crit

The crit was very uneventful. My attempt of trying to get a breakaway going in the first few laps represented the negatively of the race. The wind assisting everyone up the only incline of the 3 sweeping corners kept the pack together. Again Joelle’s strength and power was a step above everyone taking all bar one prime and winning the crit. I did not look at results but believe I was in the top half of the field the crossed the line.

The day I had been waiting for. The race covered a tough course two decent hills and the rest either going down fast or rolling upwards. The first half of the race went fast and no real selection was made. The 5^th and 6^th laps is where I tried to get a group going off the front after the 2^nd of two climbs however failed. There was enough flat and downhill for girls to chase back on. With the last lap resulting in 15 girls still there at the finish I tried to stay clued to Joelle’s wheel in the sprint but couldn’t hold it, coming in 9^th. Disappointing. Worked hard on the hills all day but the jig-saw puzzle didn’t quite come together for a break to stay away. Too many strong girls unable to climb but could TT and not enough strength in the girls leading the climbs.

So not the weekend I was hoping for. Joelle a friend and previous team-mate swept the podium and rode strong all weekend.

We have both been sharing the same host house which for those who know Joelle her bubbly and flamboyant personality has kept me entertained and we have had a lot of good times! I wonder if our 4am wake-up tomorrow will see an excited Joelle!

Till Cascade

Ange

Garmin

2010-07-13T14:59:00.000-07:00

Thank-you Garmin America for my new Garmin Edge 500!

This device is small in size and is a bundle of joy to work with. The Garmin tells you everything that a ‘normal’ bike computer would fill you in on and so much more! Garmin takes a couple big steps upwards in bike computer technology and records millisecond bike data that you can download to your computer and review.

The Garmin has an easy mounting system on the handlebars without zip ties, the first time I set up the cadence/speed sensors it worked the first time! The bike data display is large allowing you to view up to 8 data fields at once. The software for the Garmin tracks your Heart Rate, Elevation, Temperature, Time and Cadence on simple graphs, while also summarising and averaging these figures.

Clear display and easy to use Garmin.

The online software allows me to upload my data on the internet and my coach on the other side of the world can log in and review my training. This benefit is huge in monitoring my training and performance on precise data versus me telling my coach how I ‘feel’, thus making adaptations to my training program and measuring my improvement effective and easy...and best of all the software is free!

The Garmin goes one step more and can be used with power cranks. I’m not yet to use the device with this measurement, but look forward to doing so in the future!

Garmin seems to have all corners covered, I have not yet been denied the information I want to see on my Garmin display, upload or analyse!

Racing using the information from my Garmin.

For my information follow the link-

http://www.garmin.com/garmin/cms/site/us

Brought to you by Ange.

Coming along nicely!

2010-07-11T17:21:00.000-07:00

The race report I wrote for my team-

A little recap. Since I left Liberty Classic in the birth place of America Phillidephia which was my first UCI race outside nationals, I went to Boulder, Colorado. For 4 weeks I trained mostly solo with the exception of my fellow Aussie mate Will Dickerson. I suffered through the Niwot Crit and Dead Dog Classic. All with one aim in mind to get ‘good legs’ for Cascade. The next phase of finding good form was to head to Canada to compete in BC Super week. The first of my two stage races here is completed and I’m on track for Cascade.

Tour De Delta

TT- 3k flat

This course was for a power rider, smooth fast surfaces with four corners. I disappointed myself here and finished 20^th 12 seconds down from the winner.

Crit – 40laps, 36k

The Crit was fun and fast. Again flat and with four corners and being the Canadian Crit Championships it was not going to be easy. The race was like a suction cup the whole way around the course, making it easy to sit in the pack however difficult for a break to last. Two of my attempts were successful in gaining time on the field, only soon to be shut down. I finished in the middle of the very nervous last lap pack. 20^th.

Road Race- 11laps 88k

A hill. A last I was given an opporturunity to test my strengths on a longer stage and also the single hill in the loop. The race was clam for the first 3 laps, some girls testing their legs on the climb but nothing sticking. On lap 4 I attacked and was away with four other girls for a lap. Looking good everyone was pulling through hard, although so was the main field and the break was caught. The race saw more aggressive attacks all occurring on the hill which was a short 600m with 6-8% gradient. With two laps to go I attacked with Amy a Canadian girl who was my host house for my time in Canada. A break formed of five riders and we were away! Pulling through hard for two laps and we stayed away! Having felt the effects of being in my previous break-away I had to be happy with 5^th, taking enough time over the other riders to end up 4^th on General Classification.

Next week is the second stage race of BC Super week, Tour of White Rock. Apparently the hillier of the two Canadian Tours, which will play in my favour!

Aside from racing the pictures show the fun I have had this week in the awesome country of Canada!

My homies enjoying my home cooked muffins!

Erin, Me and Jay..On a boat!

Erin and I out riding around the coast!

Learning how to Ski..no photos of me standing...they will be posted one day!

Ticketyboo

Ange

POP tarts!

2010-07-01T19:11:00.000-07:00

My time here in Boulder, Colorado is nearly over and I’m keen as to arrive in Canada to kick off my last block of racing before I arrive home early August!

Discoveries in America never stop and today out on the bike in the middle of the Colorado Hills I was not disappointed. I headed out for a 4hour ride with Will ‘Dicko’ Dickerson. We stopped for a brew to kick off the morning however I didn’t experience along enough ‘kick’ and my arrival from climbing 18miles into the small township of Ward was the best part of my day. Fully depleted I brought a coke and Gatorade. My ultimate mix when my ride is close to finishing. The total being $3.50 for my beverages which is awesome considering Aussie prices! As I sat down and soaked up 6,000 feet of altitude, Dicko pulled out POP tarts! A double take made me realise that I was missing out and ducked back inside to get in on the action! POP tarts won my heart straight away and with the knowledge that the original is not available in Australia...the bottom of my bike box will be layered with them!

POP Tarts...sooo good!

The one thing that I will miss from Boulder is the Boulder Creek. My permanent Ice Bath only a 2min bike ride!

Free ice baths in Boulder Creek.

Till next time when I’ll be writing from Canada and ravelling other useful gems of information!

Ange

"Off you trot"...

2010-06-25T11:25:00.001-07:00

The Boulder Colorado progress report, the highs and lows are not just in the mountains. My time in this little “hippy” town has brought some experiences to say the least. Since my last blog I have been doing some solid solo time in the hills at altitude of 5, 500 feet and upwards, to regain some mid season endurance and try to build on some form for the second half of the year.

So the run down on what has happened so far in my Boulder time;

- Training in the pouring raining, getting stuck at the top of a mountain amongst the down pour and saying to myself the whole 40min decent down “this is character building , this is character building” ...that’s a lie I was swearing to myself and saying “this is F#$%*”

- Having no idea where I am, out of food, drink and money, then a random guy at the side of the road gives me a “feed” power bar and gel and points me in the direction of Boulder...very random, but much appreciated!

- Spending 4 or so days with my new Holland friend Jolien a girlfriend to Marc from United Health Care who was away racing. We shopped, made Southern Sun Pub our home and ate some serious good burgers.

- Discovered Boulder has over 5 “good” cafes!

- Boulder Creek 24/7 ice bath for da legs.

- Once Jolien left I was by myself for I think 5 days or so. It was terrible and realised how much of a people person I am and need people around me! I spent all day on the bike, then all day at home myself...lonely days!

- Then Kate returned (where I’ve being staying for the last two or so weeks..,THANKS HEAPS KATE!) and also realised that the solo 5 days had put me in a routine and still up to this point Kate and I have only been crossing paths as she well summed up when I’m walking out the door “off you trot...”

- So what does my routine entail;

o Breaky/computer catch up time

o Coffee shop

o Ride

o Stretch

o Computer

o Creek

o Read/shop/coffee shop

o Dinner

o Movie/computer/read

o Bed

- This is my life and proud of it...while it lasts at least!

- On the 7^th I’m off to Canada to start my next and final block of racing overseas for this year! I’ve been training hard so wanting to finish off my year here with some good results.

- Until then this weekend I’m racing a local race called “Dead Dog Classic” inviting hey..!!

Until then let me know if this blog is meeting your expectations/ what you want to hear/see

Pictures from last week - finally have found the "add picture button"!

Jolien and me at Lurk Burgers

Me after a ride in the rain...note the layers

Riding 'down' (the hill on the way back up is painful) the street on the 'townie'

Ticketyboo

Ange

IN THE HURT BOX. Day 1, Boulder.

2010-06-10T14:21:00.000-07:00

Stats and randomness from my first decent ride in Boulder, Colorado.
- Altitude 6,000 feet...guessing
- 1 brew
- 2 massive hills- Mt Hotham distance
- 1 dirt road (long time)
- ½ time on dirt road only a back brake
- 3 boys willing to wait for me at the top of every climb
- Quote of ride “there is a section up here that’s pretty steep and makes you kind of sad, but just at the views” - Mara Abbott (Didn’t see the speed star for the rest of the ride...she had a easy day as well...)
- Michael Jackson song, “Beat it” in my head the WHOLE day

My first day riding in the hills of Boulder, was knocking on the door of “fun”, but dragging my arse over the hilly terrain and breathing through a straw took me back a step. Looking forward to some good training ahead, the area reminds me over a mix- combo of Adelaide and Bright. Tonight brings a session of Yoga with Jolene from Holland, that’s if my limbs can still move by then.

Stay tuned
Ange

Racing - Liberty Classic!

2010-06-08T13:09:00.000-07:00

This weekend has been one of the best weekends racing I’ve had yet in the states.

There website explains the race well;
“Over 100 professional, international women cyclists will compete in the 16th annual Liberty Classic, one of the longest-running, most prestigious women’s races in the country. The Liberty Classic race consists of four laps of a 14.4-mile circuit through Philadelphia with four steep climbs up the grueling Manayunk Wall.”

It was just crazy! It was a lot of fun! The Manayunk wall was as close as I could imagine to the crowds that the Tour De France draws on the pointy end of major climbs. For this race I was very proud to be racing for TEAM COLLEENN, and non- profit Cancer support and fund raising organisation, send a onetime team to race Philly. The group was absolutely amazing everyone was an extreme pleasure to work with. Jenny- Longo a 52 year old World Champion and Olympic medallist was on the team, with such a rich experience in bike racing, my brain was a sponge absorbing everything she had to say!

The race went well. It was certainly a race of position with so many girls, racing around streets that were narrow, and with frequent turns when in the hilly sections. The weather also made the race interesting with temperatures in the middle 30’s, making hydration fundamental. I was dropped the last time up Manayunk. I found myself in a couple of 10ish and we arrived 2min behind race winner HTC’s Columbia’s Ina.

I'm now off to Boulder, Colorado for a chance to get some solid training miles up!

Till next time
Ange

(photo's from the weekend- follow the link to your right)

Philly!

2010-06-02T09:44:00.000-07:00

I fly out from San Francisco on Friday morning to Philadelphia .Liberty Classic is this Sunday a UCI event covering 4 laps of a challenging 14.4 mile loop (57.6 mile). I’m riding for Team Colleen; follow the Link below to find out all the information about the team. In a nutshell it’s a collection of cyclists from around the world racing for one team under the title of ‘TEAM COLLEEN’ George Varhola the founder of the organization explains the aim of the team and program, “Our message is simple…we want to bring awareness to cancer research and hope to cancer survivors.” The organization encourages cancer survives to keep fit and stay healthy through cycling.

The link
http://www.teamcolleen.org/press.asp

Till then
Ange

Build up to Philly!

2010-05-24T18:16:00.001-07:00

I have a love hate relationship with the ergo, which was reunited this morning! I’ve never done a “ergo” (bike on a wind trainer) down in a basement before...and it didn’t in the slightest make me more excited for what I was about to encounter. The hate comes from the set up of the ergo, the gathering of all your stuff; bottles, towel and iPod all organised strategically in a radius around you so you don’t have to get off the stationary bike. The pain of the first effort on the bike the dead legs and mind set of “how the hell, am i going to get through all these efforts”. The Love only comes after you have experienced the hate, the feeling of stomping on the bike, your heart thumbing out of your chest, the pool of sweat...come on it’s kind of cool to see how much sweat comes out of you, your literally “working up a sweat”...and for me the big thing out of an ergo, is at the peak of an effort and my visualisation stream.....yep that is my secret to the survival of “ergo’s”! I FULL ON put myself inside a race situation at the very crunch point of a race I imagine every bike racer who’s better than me and myself being stronger than them at that point! Let me tell you I have won many World Cups in my time on the ergo....

So why the story of the ergo sessions? Because it’s a major part of my build up to The Liberty Classic!!!My first UCI race outside the Australian Nationals! When I have a race I’m aiming for the last three or so weeks out of the event my time on the ergo increases dramatically, and when I’m on the start line in Philadelphia I know I have done everything to prepare for the event, I also know that every girl has done exactly the same, it’s just a matter of which girl will make all their hard work count, and I’m very keen to reach “pay-day”!

Amongst the lead up to Philly I’m back in the South Bay area, retreating to Paul and Laura’s in Mountain View. With Jazzy the other Australian around the corner, and the third musketeer returning, I’m sure the time between now and me heading to the east coast will be fun on and off the bike!
Next activity planned...tin pin bowling...

Till next time

Ticketyboo

Ange

Ronnies....

2010-05-14T13:20:00.000-07:00

Petaluma for the last week has been the place where I have been doing some serious R & R! It has been fantastic! With a house full of cyclists some would be skeptical of how relaxed such a place could be! However the combination of relaxed stress free attitudes by all....something I should take a lesson from...a massive TV pumping out the movies, a cool dog called Ozzie and a hot tub under the stars it is like heaven!

At the moment the house is at solid capacity with Modesta from Lithuania, Wes and Rushlee from New Zealand, Marc and Rita from Belgium (full time stayers) and the big bosses and house owners Ronnie and Pete, further more with the coming and going of other cyclists like myself, there is never a dull moment in any corner of the house! Night time brings everyone around the dinner table mostly laughing at Modesta’s stories, half off us laughing because what she is saying is humorous, the other half laughing because we can’t understand her, yet it’s amusing as she gets so excited about her topic!...saying this from experience Modesta may be easier to understand then myself for I’ve been told many of times to “slow down”....so you can image the problems when Modesta and I try to hold a conversation...it’s getting better, but you know where off key when one of us starts to stare blankly at the other while the other one is speaking!!A few more dinners around the family table, a couple more night time under the stars hot tub sessions, more bike riding and the language barrier should be all ironed out!
To the left is the link for photos from our Friday morning walk into town to post postcards, get coffee and walk Oz....

Sunday is the Tour of California Crit...until that report...

Ticketyboo

Ange

Back home...

2010-05-11T09:20:00.001-07:00

Being back in California is like being home...my trekking around the US racing by bike for now finished up on Sunday with the last stage of Joe Martin.

The last two weeks I have learnt so much from how turtles survive in the wild at the New Mexico Rattle Snake Museum, to learning that acting like you know nothing at the airport gets you through security swiftly at the airport! But in all seriousness the time I spent on the road with the Webcor Professional team has left me something to aspire to! Lessons from racing, team mates and team staff will not be forgotten and the bucket list of how to improve and how to go forward is growing at one end, but being ticked off at the other!

The final result for Joe Martin was fantastic for our General Classification rider Kathryn Mattis (KCM) 2nd overall. The team bonded well and played to our strengths best we could to assist KCM the star of the show to such an awesome result.
For now I’m laying low at Ronnie’s (Super Host House) Headquarters in Petaluma and getting ready for the next block of racing come up!

Till next time

Ticketyboo
Ange

Pedalling forward from Silver to Green...

2010-05-05T08:01:00.000-07:00

For those of you who know, great lesson’s where learned in Silver City New Mexico, that pill was certainly hard one to swallow at the time. Now fully digested, yesterday brought about a 14hour drive to Fayetteville, Arkansas, and were I’m now two day’s out from my second stage race of this year with the Webcor Builders Professional Cycling Team, Joe Martian Stage Race.

Fayetteville has brought back green land, fresh air and a nice little coffee shop! After a team lunch which filled our tummies with decent food after yesterday’s epic drive and this morning’s lack of food supply after our morning spin, we hit the grocery store for a massive food stock up!

The team is now settled into our host housing and looking forward to one more day of relaxing, before the real fun begins!

Till then

Ticketyboo

Ange
(Pictures are to come; click on the TUMBLER link to your right)

On the road again...

2010-04-26T17:55:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I flew from San Jose to Albuquerque with a stopover in Phoenix final destination. Yes I’m in “the middle of bum fuck nowhere” Kathryn my team mate summed it up “I couldn’t imagine living here”, Erin another team mate toping it off “there is nothing”, the supreme icing by Kathryn “there is not a hell of a lot out here” so I think I have made my point I’m in the desert...which is New Mexico!!

Off the plane and the team and I went straight into tourist mode in Old Down Town New Mexico., Andréa, from Austria the driving force behind our tourist adventures with map in hand and directional calls wanting to explore “the American dream” ..all of us happy to jump on board. The buildings where box shape clay structures, the majority of shops selling “Mexican” items, hats, clothes, cool funky bags and jewellery. Dave our mechanic was dead set on going to the rattle snake museum, which we spent most of the time watching a DVD about turtles...they’re pretty cool animals...ask me anything!

We ventured to a Mexican Bar and the girls had martins, I underage (21 legal drinking age in US) and already sourced out by the barest stuck with good old water! But that little down was followed by somewhat of an up . Driving down the famous Route 66 taking in the fact that helmets are not needed when riding motorcycles, pubs and strip clubs made up the main street...maybe slight exaggeration but close, mustangs the car of choice! We soon or arrived at the Outfitter “restaurant” really a diner with wicked Mexican food...and bread scrolls covered with butter sauce..mmmmm!

....Now I’m the road with the team loaded into the Mercedes Sprinter called “Ina” and driving across this “beautiful land” to Silver City New Mexico where the 5 day Tour of Gila will start on Wednesday!

Ticketyboo
Ange

Where I'm at...

2010-04-22T18:23:00.000-07:00

It's been along time between blogs and a lot has happened...!

At the moment I'm in the America racing for the develop team of Webcor Professional Woman's Team title ' Webcor Alto Velo Bridge Team', and absolutely loving it!

The racing is faster, harder and so many more girls, even at the local races!My Next race is the Tour of Gila and it will be my first race with the Webcor professional team which I'm very excited about to be racing with the professional girls, working with the staff and above all having a lot of fun racing in New Mexico, I plan to be blogging throughout this race so stay turned...!

So my days revolve around waking up, emails, face book, cycling news and all that jazz, followed by training (on the bike and off) then hitting up coffee, either chilling out with a book in hand, or with friends, or exploring America!So I'm pretty lucky at the moment living the life I am, don't get me wrong there is some hard work going on to get me in the same place next year but hopefully a Pro and being paid!

The one standout thing that needs to be mentioned is the awesome people I have met! I have training partners all around me, everywhere I stay the families welcome me into there homes, and I've never spent so much time hanging out and just talking while the hours tick by!Its great!

Well must be off dinner awaits, this blog is just a warm up to what is to come!

Tickktyybooo,

Ange

2010!

2010-01-04T00:03:00.000-08:00

Again I have let the blogging slip...quick and sharp updates are my new plan of attack!

Bay Crits started on Saturday (4 races over four days 45min's around a circuit). I crashed on last lap!!...yep nationals prep slowly turning against me....however with everything it does not always go smoothly, this was just a bump in the road I told myself!

Next morning that bump felt like a truck driving over me then reversing! The plan was to wake up relax, ice the sore spots and see how I "feel". I rang the coach as planned and told him that I felt not so good..his words to my question should I race "yep lets do it!" at this time 10mins from start I put the fighter face on and went into battle. Spent the day keeping out of trouble and finished in the pack SAFE AND SOUND!

Now back in Ballarat choosing not to do the last two crits of the series to allow for some extra R&R time before the National crit this Thursday then the big main event I’m aiming for on the Saturday the road race!

Till next time
Angela

...Happy New Year as well!

COUNT BACK!

2009-11-16T01:33:00.000-08:00

above random pics from last few weeks!

Ok the lack of Blogging has been due to the last 3 or so weeks being full on with training, racing, studying, working and to add to the mix my Birthday! So here is the run down;

- Exams went well, predicting at least a pass in all subjects...p’s get degrees!
- Training full on as usual and keeping on top of the little stuff i.e. stretching
- Work is going swell, on top of working at Amart All Sports I got a job at Hudson’s Coffee (do not judge me it’s the person behind the machine not the label for you coffee critics out there!)
- My birthday was a day full of organising for the Tour De Perth however did not go un celebrated with a dinner at the Lion! Great pub...then Tash and I letting the other college exam mode people back to their books and we went on the search for additional cake on top of the ice-cream cake Tash brought me...I got further then Tash in my mission to finish of a massive piece of mars bar/tim tam cheesecake but I didn’t make it the full way...falling short at the icing stage...
- A friend of mine tried to sum up my birthday in a nutshell “so how does your first pointless b’day feel?” however despite this being semi true unlike everyone else I know, the fear of getting old is not there! I’m happy to move and go forward...I don’t know why I’m the only person holding the flag on this one...maybe if I explain my “life theory” it might change some people’s minds!
- The last race on the National Road Series calendar was the Tour De Perth and it was awesome! Great competition and a real test to see where I am at leading up to nationals. Being aggressive where I wanted to be and playing “smart” most of the time...I came away with 9th on GC, I was always in the lead group aka chasing Ruth Corset bunch ,however falling short a couple of places due to my TT not matching it with the other girls! Just something I need to work on.

Now back in Radeliade ready to move in Jonny’s son for a summer of training and work to SAVE SAVE SAVE for next year!

Till next time
Angela :)

HIGHS and lows!

2009-10-24T21:57:00.000-07:00

This week had a lot of highs and lows.

The high’s being i was back from Sunday Tour, a week to lay low and recover and get the legs and mind fully geared for what is going to be full steam ahead in terms of training for nationals and end of year exams. Also a weekend full of events; Tiff Cromwell’s 21st on Friday night backed up with Valedictory Dinner at college Sunday night...let’s just say both nights were a success, good and funny times!;)

The low’s were we me crashing in the B grade crit on Tuesday night at Vic Park. The legs were feeling good and the night did not have much wind, which would play in my lack of strength compared to the boys! However this would have been good if I stayed up right! Rather I experienced my first crash for 2009! The word HURT basically sums it up. My bike escaped a lot of damage, as for me i cracked a helmet and the right side of my body was/is skinned. I never knew how much a crash can take it out of you! I woke Wednesday morning having very little sleep, unable to move my neck, and walking to go to the toilet before I kitted up felt like the walk of death!...but the show must go on and this week in terms of training was meant to be “low and easy” it certainly was “low and easy” and for the first few days after my crash I could have joined in with a hybrid mountain bike bunch..yeepp I was creeping! However it’s Sunday arvo, the day is nice with a bit of sun and reflecting on the whole I had a decent week more so a decent weekend which included all my favourite things and people, so I reckon life’s not too bad!

One last note I’ve been avoiding study for two weeks now...the day is the day people! I thought if I wrote this down then I would be obligated to do it! :)

Till next time
Ange

SUN TOUR!

2009-10-18T00:43:00.000-07:00

PICTURES FROM HONDA HYBRID WOMENS TOUR

What a week! The Sun Tour was a success for me all round! Going into the Tour I was fready fresh legs, which showed by me being competitive each day, in what was a solid road stage which came down to a sprint, and a Crit which culled riders quickly at the start, and didn’t stop till the last bell lap rang, also coming down to a sprint. With the road race and the crit both ending in a sprint, the over contenders for the Honda Hybrid Women’s Tour Title would be established by the TT, and it certainly did that, with the top three on top of the podium being the top three in the TT!

The racing was fast and fun, and as always learnt a lot form the tour a couple of things:
- TT warm up- must be done under shelter so if the weather changes i.e rains, you can still do your warm up (i was caught out on this!)
- Gearing! On the TT course I was slogging to big and likewise in the Crit (felt like i did 70 standing starts!)
- Positioning in the RR lost concentration a few times and found myself at the back, and had to put in a good effort to get back to the front!

Apart from racing off the bike was also extremely god times, with the girls from QAS/SASI/NTID trekking around together all week and being on the same team (well half in QAS/SASI and the other in NTID) made for good camaraderie! This trip will go down as the Tour that Donna’s brownies were discovered! (AMAZING!)

All up a fantastic week, which was topped off by;
- Seeing my family
- Catching up with friends which i haven’t seen since February
- Having dinner at my cousins house and experiencing the next Donna Hay cooking by my cousin Mags
- Maccas’s Saturday night after the crit chilling with the cycling girls
- Discovering how much i love Kathmandu (kidding!)
- Hanging out with SRAM neutral support throughout the tour...great bunch of guys!

Till next time

Ange

Rolling along...

2009-10-04T17:44:00.000-07:00

Not much to report on this week at all! But a few points that do deserve mention;
- Keen for Sun Tour, especially the Lygon Street Crit, I’ve raced there before and the atmosphere is awesome it’s on the 17th of October , and is the last day of the Sun Tour, so training has been pretty much focused on getting ready for that!
- Had dinner at Carlee Light’s on Wednesday night, wicked pasta, veg and sauce dish!10/10, I did bring the Coke Zero and massive crusty white loaf of bread...well Tash did buy them, but as a tradition from now these items will be on my “bring to people’s house when you go for dinner” list.
- Officially need sponsorship by Coke a Cola! I never use to like the stuff. When I was little my McDonalds Happy Meal always contained Fanta instead of Coke...and I swore I would never change! But hey, never say never and now look at me, the stuff I dream about as soon as finish a race, or get off the bike from training, or feeling not energised is coke!
- Hanging out a lot with Tash this week, it is starting to feel odd if i don’t her from her by lunch time. On Thursday it was only till 7pm when I received a call wanting to come over! we have practically spent our whole holidays together, and yet we have never ran out of things to talk about. Credit must go to Tash for putting up with me talking about bikes 24/7 she prob knows more than the average cycling punter!
- Chris Martin’s welcome home party from Italy last night... a nice occasion and was good to see Chris
- Uni starts back Tuesday...weird but am looking forward to proudly handing over all my completed assignments! woo!

Till next time
Ange :)

Standard

2009-09-27T19:20:00.000-07:00

First week of Uni holidays and the mission of getting on top of Uni work has been a success!
So what a way to kick off this week, nothing holding me back, which means full focus on, good training, cafe time, playing my guitar and doing all those little things you need to tick off your “to do” list!
But to get me to this happy point this fine Monday morning last week had to run smoothly and it certainly did that;

Tash and I doing what we do best- coffee time :)

Few notes about last week;
- Training going nicely, backing off volume for a nice run into the Sun Tour
- Worked Friday night at the sports store and scored good commission
- Saturday; football backed up with women’s cycling world champs, all while sitting on a massive white leather couch with 5 of my mates!...massive couch!
- Sunday raced at Victoria Park, a pack full of men and the SA girls, had a few digs, but rolled in with all of them at the end! Feel gym is finally paying off!
- Sitting at the Bay sipping coffee on Sunday at mid- morning after racing, delivers nothing but happy feelings!
- Go to supermarkets on Sunday nights before they are about to close, you get fresh bread real cheap!

A typical week, but a mighty good one!

Till next time
Angela :)

SOLID WEEK OF ENJOYMENT!

2009-09-20T03:55:00.000-07:00

Picture's from C.Light's Beer Garden gathering for her BIRTHDAY!

What a week, words can’t describe it so I’ll explain it in numbers and short sentences;
Times I rode = 8
Ergo = 2
Gym = 4
K’s = confidential ;)
Uni finished and on holidays
Took time this weekend for some R&R&S (rest, relax and STACK!)
Pizza’s = 3
OMG espresso coffee with hazelnut ice-cream...out of this world!
Cafe stops/drop in’s/quality time = over 10
Stretching= 4 hours worth
Wines (MER-LOT ;) = 2
Birthday’s = 4
Excitement over seeing my mates in October = everyday at least 3 times!
Moments I thought geez life is pretty good, there may be some bumps and pitfalls along out road but we certainly have in good!
Times I spoke to mum = 4 (including 5:30am!)
Sister talk = 2 (1st= 15 seconds 2nd= over 3 minutes! Record!)
Footy games = 2
Desk time = 2hrs a day amongst uni (did not miss a class!)
That’s roughly my week! Holidays will involve a smash out of uni work in first week and some R&R time in second week... off uni work that is, the bike express will continue!

Quote (once again from SASI bible); “Some people succeed because that are destined to, but most people succeed because they are determined to.”

Angela McClure over and out! :)

Balance.

2009-09-13T16:40:00.000-07:00

When is it too much? When it is not enough? If I do this, does it throw this thing out of wack?
These are the questions I find a challenge and when it comes to cycling I practically struggle! Why? Because of my cycling aspirations I want to do everything in my power to achieve a high level in cycling, and that tends to be lined up with the thought process that the more I do the more I gain!..WRONG, but it’s easier to say this then to do it! A little voice in my head always looks for ways to up the anti, so I can up the performance!
However it’s the “little voice” that has put me in many “holes”, for those of you not familiar with cycling lingo; so stuffed that you can only ride at one pace and the thought of wind and hills throw’s you into survival mode to make it through the ride! Yep been there done that a few time’s! So have I learnt from my mistakes? Yes and No. I tend to get myself a little bit less in a hole these days before I pull out and try to get on the right track. But I think I’m slowly showing improvement and finding the balance. Ways in which I’ve done this;

- Backing my ride up with gym, not riding twice a day to get to gym at a separate time
- Recovery means recovery, slow and easy wins the race
- Recovery foods
o Protein shakes
o Eating heaps before during and after rides
- Only do efforts when I’m meant to i.e. only on the ergo and road when told to by my coach, not going out for a ride in the hills and treating it like a smash feast

So it’s taken a little while to get this far, in the process on refining my training, and hopefully only finer adjustments will need to be made from here on!
I also stuck balance in my life off the bike this week. I gave up desk time for social time. Had an extra coffee with friends, chilled and talked “smack” with my mates, spent more time with my sometimes neglected man Stack. This made my week so much more enjoyable and a little less stress over study, and a little more attention to relaxing and enjoying this great world! Put me in a great world for the week!

However while my realisations of life continued for me, one massive realisation which wasn’t so good came to my friend and the smasher on the front on a Wednesday morning bunch ride Chris Jongewaard. My heart dropped when I was standing at work on Friday night as the 6pm news came on and announced that Blood as he is known to many would be going to Jail for 9 months at least, over a cyclist car crash in 2007. Thoughts for Chris and his family are on every cyclist’s mind that knew him, also knowing that he will battle his way through this like a soldier. Amber Halliday summed up many cyclists feeling’s in the Sunday Mail; strongly recommend reading, on the insight of what has happened and how Blood does not deserve what he has been dealt!

Leaving on that note, have an awesome week, soak it up!
Till then :)
Angela

Picture’s from weekend’s Norwood Club Champ’s.Great day of racing; sun was out, nice loop of 17k completed 4 times!

Top girl C. Light 2nd in C grade!

Auto Pilot!

2009-09-05T22:42:00.000-07:00

What a week! All week I felt that I have not lived in the present and have been focused on ticking off the things on my “to do list”, mainly on the list was;
Bike riding
Gym
Studying

A pretty dull list, however as I plough through my work, I know that what I’m doing know which I still thoroughly enjoy, will enable me to be where I want to be in the future. Therefore I’m more than happy to put in the hard yards, and the satisfaction that I get from doing so is priceless.

So I’m going to hit the numbers again for a nice little summary of my week, unfortunately there is no pictures, due to a “misplaced” camera cord, but next week at least one picture will make it to this blog!

9 Bike rides
2 ergo’s
4 gym session ‘s
Over 15hrs of study..not uni..study at my desk!
2 essay’s done
6 cuts on my legs from mum sending me over a little bit of a survival kit containing razors!...note to self don’t use one blade BIC razors!
Training sessions with Carlee Taylor...every day!
Protein shakes 7...grow muscles grow NOW!!
Consumed bars on my ride’s this week: 16
Time’s I’ve dreamt myself to sleep thinking about being a pro cyclist...7!!!
3 You Tube videos sent to me which I ran down my hallway at college to show my mates
1 written blog completed on Sunday afternoon as promised!

Till next time

Angela McClure

- Stolen quote from SASI email last week;
“Patience, persistence and perspiration make an unbeatable combination for success”

Falling Behind Already!

2009-08-31T18:28:00.000-07:00

Sorry team my weekend escaped me and I forgot to update my blog. In regards to last blog pic’s are up on the good old FB if u want to check them out!!
Now in regards to this blog not a great deal went on this weekend, but that’s not to say it wasn’t good! In fact a solid week and weekend of training, cafe time, gym, and hanging out with the newly created city crew!:)So to sum it all up I’ll do it Rhy’s Gillet style;
· Number of coffee’s this week: over 15 (yep that’s right I started drinking coffee, and when I do something I never to it half hearted!)
· Rode my bike: 9 times
· Gym : 4
· K’s: a secret can’t give away everything...but a nice number
· Ergo: 2
· Protein shakes :...7 the taste is actually addictive
· Study time: 10hrs...needs to improve!
· Hours spent socializing at cafe, hanging out with Chris and Lucky in their new apartment in the city: unknown but quality time for sure!
· Times I’ve been told to move my bike out of the Lincoln College hallway: 6
· Times I’ve been told to move my bike from where I relocated it from the hallway: 3
· Nanna nap’s: 3
· Time’s I spoke to my mum on the phone: 4...this number is down this week!

Till next time
Ange McClure

BACK IN ACTION!

2009-08-23T03:08:00.000-07:00

Yes, I abandoned my BlogSpot page after AIS Altitude Camp, to focus a little more on my bike, uni and other fun stuff! But now that everything is flowing nicely I thought it’s time to bring my blogging up to date!
Since Camp my year to be honest thus far has not lived up to the expectations I set myself at the start of the year. No excuses, I just have not got the results I wanted.
So to overcome this dilemma, which is putting a hold on my big dream of “pro-cyclist”, I needed to sit down and figure out where I was going wrong! The answer has nothing to do with metal, or ability to apply myself, for those who know me; I put in the training time and ALL the little extras.
The answer is strength! My pins need some beefing up to put it bluntly, give a little of that light weight climbing ability for a bit of grind on the flat! - This is to become my focus from now till my next tour in Victoria in a couple months!
So now where all on the same page as to what I’m focusing on in the short term, I better provide you with an action packed South Australian Road Race Championships race report!!
What a race!!.....well 7 girls...2min before start brought down to 5 due to two missing the start...75k of undulating terrain with two nice little hills + some drizzle and wind!!So not the best start, and for me personally having a week break after the Geelong Tour, I was in no state of hoping for winning glory, however I was willing to give it a go! The race stayed together pretty well, until the last lap when Carly Light (powerhouse, rocket sensation..... and one of my TP) and Amber Halliday broke away!!As my legs screamed “you should not have played b/ball on Wednesday”, I just couldn’t go with!!nevertheless the race up ahead went on, Carly rolling Amber over the line in a slightly up hill sprint finish, then Bec doing the same to me 1 minute behind the two leaders, Liz G rolling in shortly after that.
The race was over and I still had one and a half days off...Yep no training what so ever before Monday... when its ALL back on! So I did what I love to do best after a race and went dinning with my best mates, ATE ALOT OF FOOD, and to top it all off Chris and I zipped down to Victor Harbour, for the night/rest of weekend!
Summing up a fantastic week off, and ready and raring to go for training on the bike, and GYM!

Till next time
Angela :)

PS. I will try and update my blog every Sunday at the minimum, and if I’m racing or other fun exciting stuff is going on in my life, you people will be the first to know!
PSS. Pics to come.

Testing backed up with racing!

2009-04-30T01:01:00.000-07:00

This week is the 3rd round of testing!!All girls test twice this week, and the test consists of 3 tests; a sub-max VO2, a 2min paced/2min all out test (calculates your VO2 MAX), and lastly an all out to exhaustion test!!What a mouth full! However thankfully tomorrow is the last time I have to do it! Wednesday I tested and my legs were up to standard, now tomorrow I’m out to get some numbers which need to be PB’s to show that camp has improved my performance, and to make the boss (Laura Garvican) happy that her study is a success!("the great white" the ergo we do all our testing on)
Hopefully once I’ve slogged it out on the ergo tomorrow, I can replicate it on the road in the Canberra two day tour!!Only time will tell!!

Race reports and one test report will be coming fast, so keep tuned!

QUOTE OF THE BLOG
“It’s only pain” – Veronica Dudderidge

Till next time
Angela :)

Nearly there...

2009-04-25T02:22:00.001-07:00

Camp altitude is coming to an end. We have just over one week left, and despite being here for a tad over 4 weeks, it does not seem this way at all!!Time has flown riding, eating and sleeping!!We have started our taper for the 3rd round of testing next week, which will be followed by the Canberra Tour! The treasure at the end of the rainbow comes once the tour is done and dusted, with all the girls being highly excited about the cook up at the end of the camp. All our hard work over the stove’s in nutrition class, is coming together to show off and impress what we have learnt about cooking over the 6 weeks that we have been here!!..(a detailed blog about this day will be posted!)
So the legs have not quite finished their work yet, however riding my bike is not the only thing I have been doing. Spratt, Chlo and I jumped the gun on cooking food on Monday (the day of the big cook up), and spent this afternoon baking in the nutrition departments kitchen!!Everyone benefiting from our solid efforts that afternoon at the oven!!

(me and chlo with da banana cake!; the workplace ; the eating process of the best slice ever!)

(spratt cleaning!; me and spratt with the slice pre- greatness; spratt)
The afternoon was topped off with the usual activity of recovery centre!!and thanks to Sarah Roy you are able to see what we talk about, when we mean it’s bloody cold in there!!Although the numbness feeling is eased with the anticipation of the spa!!Nevertheless as with everything on this camp, fun times do prevail!!

(Roy as if she was posing for an add!; me and carlee "bloody" taylor; chlo and rach; the girls walking in the cold!)

Till next time Angela :)

The slump...

2009-04-18T23:11:00.000-07:00

YOU GOTTA BUT UP WITH THE RAIN TO SEE THE RAINBOW! This week was the second round of testing at the altitude house, and what a week in was! For me, who up till this point I’ve been tapping along well, my body decided that it had enough and wasn’t going to pull me through the week of testing quite as well as I would have liked!!But nevertheless, after two doses of testing, 6 tests in total, the legs managed to survive and were more than happy to welcome the next two days of recovery!!
This week offers the return of Marv (National AIS women’s road coach) and with that training consisting of long k’s and strength. The call out form Marv “I’m watching” has made the girls even keener to once again get off the testing bike, and get out on the road!!
Amongst all the serious stuff, there has not been a day which has gone by in the house which has not involved laughing and having a good time! Something which I think will last to the very end of the camp...which is now only 2 and half weeks away!!Time fly’s when you’re having fun!!

Till next time
Ange :)

Happy snaps from the week!
(top to bottom; Lou her best friend Pippi; Carlee and Lou at cafe; LUNCH TIME!; on the way to the shops!; Zoe and Lou on reco ride)

THE HOUSE

2009-04-14T16:25:00.000-07:00

The altitude house is running like a well oiled machine. The routine has been established of eat, sleep, ride, and the realisation of how valuable computers can be when you have to be in a house for 14hours a day had came very apparent!
The routine was broken however for dinner at Debacle!! It wasn’t just any ordinary out for dinner, it was to celebrate Chloe Hoskings going away! Australia’s up and coming gun sprinter is being shipped off to China and then Belgium to show her talent and no doubt smash it up!!Dinner consisted of pizza’s which were demolished once landing on the table. This did not satisfy our stomach’s, and we where off in the search for ice-cream! However bitterly disappointed with everything being closed!!...maybe it was a sign! A great night nevertheless!
The intensity has sub-sided out on the road this week and has moved to the lab on the ergo! Yeap round two of testing has arrived!!This week is a chance to measure if we have improved in our fitness and amongst other things since we have been in the house!! The testing involves a sub max VO2 test, a paced 2min followed by an all out 2min, and the last test is an all out effort at high watts until you can physically go no more!!For the first time my testing is in the afternoon! 3pm to be exact! I’ve only ever done testing in the morning, so today no doubt will be one on anticipating what to expect at 3pm, and also a chance to rank up some variable altitude hours in the house!!

The Gallery from dinner...

(from top to bottom; spratt and me; me, chlo, chlo m, zoe; zoe, chlo and me; me, rach, carlee; me and LOU)

Till next time
Angela

THE SWAP

2009-04-14T01:50:00.000-07:00

We are heading off the path of the AIS altitude house, where I have been for 2 and half weeks and have 3 and a half to go, and onto the path of the equipment I use and why I made the swap in bikes from the FELT AR2 to the F1 SL R.

SO LETS TALK BIKES!
FELT AR2
Looks fantastic as you can see! When I first got this bike I was like WOW!!I remember pulling it out of the box at Cycle City thinking what a machine! No excuses now! I was busting to go for a ride on it; however this was delayed until I arrived in Adelaide the next day! When the time came to ride the FELT AR2 I took it out on some flat roads and I was amazed! For lack of better words, it was awesome! The bike was very stiff and ridged which meant that every ounce of pressure on the pedals goes directly to the bike = a faster bike! The bike dynamics of an aero frame, added to the bike being able to go faster with the same amount of effort applied in comparison to a standard bike. The bike being perfect for tours, because like many cyclists the bank balance doesn’t stretch enough for two bikes, therefore in tours where there is a time trial, the need for two bikes (standard road and time trial) is not required, for the AR2 being aero frame the attachment of aero bars to the FELT AR2 is sharply close to the aerodynamics of a standard time trial bike. However the bike wasn’t meant for me! For two reasons, 1. My strength is hills, and climbing up hills on what felt like a time trial bike wasn’t good, this was mainly caused by reason 2. I’m a girl; the bike was designed for men! Who also have the strength to push a stiff bike, including up a hill!
FELT F1 SLR
With these two factors about the FELT AR2, the advantage of the bike on the flats for me would be taken away as soon as I came to a decent climb of over 2k’s!So I reverted back to the bike I was riding last year, yet this year’s new design! The FELT F1 SLR, I’m a big fan. This bike does everything. I have raced Nationals, National Road series races, Oceania’s, Bay Crits, Time Trials on this bike and these races range from crits to long road races, and the FELT has never failed me. It’s a very responsive bike, which feels light but strong. This year FELT managed to step it up again, with making the bike even lighter, then last year. When I heard this I thought the bike would lose all its stiffness, however I was wrong, and it feels even better and more like a “race bike” then ever before! Very happy with it.
One more point, after trying DURA-ACE on the FELT AR2 I went back to SRAM, this time SRAM RED. I like SRAM better because the shifters are lighter and the group set has a fantastic response when applying pressure on it, in race circumstances! SRAM also feels and looks better then DURA-ACE!
That’s my bike wrap!!And I hope that gives you an insight why I ride a FELT F1 SLR!!I’m never sure if people want to read about the equipment I use or the paths I’m taking into becoming my dream...a pro cyclist!!Let me know!

UPDATE ON HOUSE TO COME
Till next time

Angela

EASTER!

2009-04-12T20:10:00.000-07:00

My Easter has been a bit of a blur thus far, mainly because it has been more about the bike then the actual chocolate eating period, but nevertheless it has been a good one!
The highly anticipated egg hunt kicked off on Saturday to create a funnier recovery day... and to celebrate Easter!!However the competitive people we are as cyclists, all the girls through the recovery out the window and raced around Canberra, finding chocolate and completing tasks to gain points to find MORE chocolate!!The hunt ended up with a real egg being thrown at me (below), but that did not take away the adrenaline rushing afternoon of finding chocolate...even tho I must admit I’m not the biggest fan of the stuff, a competition is a competition...and yes my group unfortunately lost, due to some technical guidelines we did not follow!!
Easter morning for me and I will presume the rest of the house was very different. There was no time to sit around and eat chocolate..we saved that for after..it was time for what we had read on our training sheets as “TRAINING WILL BE VERY HARD”, with this in mind, the girls in the morning were more focused about getting their bikes and selves ready for the 9am ride then what the actual day was; Easter!!
With the ride over and the tub centre (aka recovery centre..ice cold water) done and dusted, the arvo was spent relaxing in the house, aiming to stay awake long enough for the Pari Roubiaix..did not quite make it...but a great weekend all the same!!

Next week is our second dosage of testing at the camp!!posts will be coming a little slower..

Happy Easter and till next time
Angela :)

(top;me with egg on my knicks! bottom; the girls at camp!)

I wish I had a camera...

2009-04-10T03:25:00.000-07:00

Two blogs in a day...is legal when you have had a fantastic day and to capture the feeling and excitement, it must be recorded now!!

What was a very unenthusiastic mood to the start of today’s ride, with thoughts in people’s minds of a nice warm bed and watching a “film” (quote Carlee Taylor), ended up being one of the funniest and most enjoyable afternoons I have had at this camp thus far!, so good I wish I had brought my camera on the ride!!... to show everyone how much of a striking afternoon it really was!

Things that made the ride so satisfying..(no order);
· Making it through the ride; I was in the world of pain just rolling along, my legs were dragged over the hills and I ended coming out feeling better then when I started!!
· Riding while the sun was going down
· Putting in everything I had on the last SE (hill strength effort)
· Berry Gatorade
· Motor paced at speed over 60km (only lasted 2min but was nice)
· Descending steep hills
· The last leg of the ride, riding along the bike path
· Calree Taylor doing funny actions with her bike
· The pleasant mood riding home (everyone hit a high!!)
· Talking about the tub centre on the way home (recovery centre {ice baths})
· Sustagen (recovery drink) at the end of the ride
· Racing to the recovery centre (running late due to a lot of mechanicals throughout the ride!)
· I can’t believe I’m writing this but the recovery centre was so much fun!!!...everyone was happy and laughing it was certainly happy times!!
· The feeling of accomplishment after finishing a tough ride
· The support crew of Laura and Beth being super helpful and a blast to be around!!

So good Friday was I say a very good Friday, I must admit I did forget this when I ate chicken for lunch!!Whoops!!But I will make it up some time in the future!!

Tomorrow we have an EASTER EGG HUNT!!Something which has been in high discussion amongst camp, and which I’m sure will not fail to deliver on good times...and chocolate!!

(top; me and Roy, bottom; room toluca (Roy, Carlee and Lou) and me)

(Photos from last blog top; Loz and me bottom; Loz me and Chlo)

Till next time

Angela :)

Welcome to the HURT BOX!

2009-04-09T16:29:00.000-07:00

Training has been focused on strength and with this has come big gears, powerful efforts, and of course... the throbbing legs!!Our instructions where yesterday that you could not stop the efforts until you threw up!!The group split into two, all girls giving their absolute everything in the arvo session, something which can be proved by Dave Martin’s recordings from the top of the hill...fabulous images I imagine!!The first group took Martin Barras (AIS Women’s Coach) instructions a little seriously and continued with another effort, just because they thought they had to keep going till they threw up...great dedication girls!!The ride home involved take off from red lights being very slow and head downs...true indication of a great day of training!!
Today brings SE efforts mixed into a long ride; the hurt meter for sure will be running high again today!!

.....yet the time to chill is always found...Loz, Chlo and I watching a movie!!

(PHOTOS TO COME HERE... AGAIN MY COMPUTER HAVING A MIND OF ITS OWN!)

Till next time
Angela :)

...PHOTOS FROM LAST BLOG

2009-04-07T03:39:00.001-07:00

(left; me and zoe right; zoe, me and loz)

(top; zoe, chlo, loz bottom; me and spratt)

Down to business...

2009-04-06T04:20:00.000-07:00

Training is in full swing at camp!!Double sessions, long rides, sprinting, climbing, SE.... these last few days have had it all!!However despite the load of training and even tho this is only the start, the fun times keep rolling in!!On the bike has been a blast, you cannot get bored riding with 14 other girls, talking, laughing, and listening!! When I’m not on the bike I have been doing great old uni, although it can be a struggle, even tho you spend 24hrs with these girls, there is always something to do and to talk about!!

To escape the house last night we went to Chloe Hosking’s for dinner!!!Her family put on a fantastic BBQ and it gave us a chance to socialize in a different place away from the bike, the house and the dinning hall!!..and of course catch up with Chlo before she jets off overseas to become the next famous sprinter!!

...photos to come of the joyful night

Till next time
Angela

Living HIGH

2009-04-02T03:43:00.000-07:00

All is still going swell at camp. The training has started and the first day was good and solid. The girls were divided into teams and practicing lead outs and sprinting were thrown into the mix!!My team consisted of Chloe Mac, Lou, and Carlee and with a disadvantage form the start with everyone in the group bar one not being a sprinter...we were in for struggle! Although we pulled through nicely coming 3rd overall in the competition!!

Since last update the recovery pool has been hit up twice by the girls in the house and it was to say the least bloody cold!!!All girls concerned weren’t quite so chirpy once out of the hot relaxing tub, and into freezing water, however knowing that this will help soften the throb of our legs in the days to come, everyone proceeded in discomfort and the notion of not being able to feel your toes!

Last night was the final night that we were being monitored in case something went wrong i the house while at altitude. Everyone made it through night 2 without dramas! I don’t feel any different at altitude to be honest, but they say that many reap the benefits, only time will tell on this one!

(the altitude computer and a picture taken in the wee hours of the morning looking at my HR and another number which means im still alive!)

Shortness is due to my desk calling for me to do uni work...tell next time
Angela

We have risen!

2009-03-31T14:24:00.000-07:00

The house thus far is going swell!!After four days of vigorous testing on the bike and off, being pricked in every finger at least once, wearing the face mask for VO2’s at least 5 times, we finally got started with, what we came he do to and that was to live at altitude!!It was a restless first night, due to wearing HR monitor tabs on the end of our fingers to monitor our body’s response to the altitude, and to keep measure if something happened to go wrong. However these machines are designed for the average person, and not for a fit athlete. Miffy Galloways HR going so low throughout the night due to her superb fitness keep the machines throwing a frenzy all night, and the lab guys going in and out of our room constantly!!!!
Up till last night and before my last post the days have been running on a predictable basis. In times of boredom the escape route is walking a few steps down the hallway to one of the other girl’s rooms, or the kitchen...14 girls it’s hard to feel alone!!
The real training starts today, with a long bike ride around Canberra, with a few efforts thrown in to mix it up, no doubt all the girl’s legs are tried from testing, although the eagerness to finally get out on the road for some real training will hopefully override the pain!

(top; 14 camp girls and spratt! middle; me and "to cool" Carlee bottom; me, zoe,miff)

Till then....check out “The AIS altitude house” face book!!
Angela :)

Camp update..NUMBER 1!

2009-03-29T02:43:00.000-07:00

So the thick and fast updates haven’t arrived as yet, due to the lack of energy to sit at my computer and go through the last few days, which have been full of lows and highs.

Let’s start with the bad so we can finish on a high.... ok...My bike!!Through a lack of communication my bike ended up being left in Melbourne, while I was in Canberra ready to take on a 6 week training camp!...and with no bike this was going to be a struggle! I surprised myself because I didn’t get worked up as much as I thought I might have, and just accepted that my bike wasn’t going to arrive till Monday and that I would be forced to take the path of other alternatives!!

The bad news stopped there, and my world looked up when Mary Ann Simpson, found a bike for me to use till Monday, and on top of that camp testing will take up the next few days, and a bike was not completely necessary!!!So all was happy again.

HAPPY SNAPS!!

( top; me and carlee, middle; me and loz, bottom; zoe and me)

Testing has been tough, and draining. Thus far we have had two days of testing including VO2max and 4 minute half paced/ half flat out effort, amongst all the other testing of haemoglobin mass and blood tests. I was a lucky one, who after a mass of testing that morning (this was Friday), VO2 max, haemoglobin, blood test, I was randomly drug tested by the official drug testing body!!Not shy of having to do the “embarrassing stuff” of being drug tested, it was over relatively quickly. For my first experience it wasn’t that bad!!

The AIS altitude house has been going along dandy, and is certainly a big high, of the week. I’m amongst some of the funniest, and life loving girls! Even tho we are saying that in 6 weeks, we will be ripping into each other about little things, truly I don’t think this will happen!!!The balance has been found amongst the house of; own time, ride time and social time!!

The house goes to altitude on Tuesday, once all the initial testing is over!!everyone is itching to get off “the great white” the ergo we do all our testing on...named by Carlee Taylor, and get out of the AIS premises and hit up the road!!

Till then
Angela :)

EXCITING STUFF!!!

2009-03-25T21:06:00.000-07:00

6 weeks in a house with 14 girls, riding our bikes all day long, now what an epic camp! I’m sitting at the Sydney airport awaiting my flight to Canberra to start what I hope is going to a awesome bike camp at the AIS, I have no doubt in my mind that it will be.

My experience thus far at the AIS ......is grade 6 Canberra Camp!! I think this time tho it is going to be a whole lot better because instead of the kid walking through taking a look around, I’m actually going to be staying there. I should hold back the enthusiasm, and act as tho this is just a mellow thing in my life, but I can hold back.....I’m so EXCITED I have high hope, of having a blast on the bike, training hard, and getting to know other cyclists...I’m in this 6 week time gap this is very very achievable!

The build up to this point of finally starting the camp that had be in the back of my mind for the last few weeks, involved a very busy yesterday, which didn’t start well...I had a sore throat!!..However that didn't damper my spirits’ for my last ride for a few weeks with the SASI boys, who have been smashing me up since I’ve been in Adelaide! It was a fantastic day and with the sun out, the hills as far as you could see, Matty Benson summed it up nicely “suck it in” .I was on top of the world, there was no other place I would rather be!
What followed a blissful ride was a rushed and stressed afternoon. Getting packed, organising uni for when I go away and tying up all those loose ends before my departure this morning! Going to bed tired and unstreched wasn’t exactly the ideal situation before camp!

Although waking this morning (4am) hoping the sore throat had gone....and it semi has (thanks to pumping vitamin C all day yesterday and telling myself “I’m not sick”, I’m feeling pretty good and fresh all ready to tackle camp!!!

Time is in my favour for this next 6 weeks, so expect the updates to come thick and fast, loaded with all the action of my time at the AIS, on bike camp!!

(blissfull wednesday ride. left; Johnno and Matty right; Me and Matty)

Till then,
Angela

THIS BLOG WAS WRITTEN AT THE SYDNEY AIRPORT, BEFORE I NEW MY BIKE WAS NOT GOING TO MAKE IT TO CANBERRA THAT DAY!!!IN FACT NOT TILL MONDAY!!! WILL KEEP YOU POSTED....MEAN TIME HELLO ERGO!!!!!

HAPPY DAYS

2009-03-22T04:12:00.000-07:00

What an awesome week of being on top of the world! Things that made my week so good!..not in any order...

1. All bases at uni covered, assignments in on time!
2. Cleaning, washing etc...DONE
3. My social life!!after last week’s inner thoughts on my blog spot I decided to do something about it and know every Sunday afternoon I will have off...(live a little cafe, friends, food)...today was the first day and it was AWESOME!!(see pics below), however did extend the afternoon out till the night time!!..that’s how much catch-up relaxing I needed!!
4. My new bike coming here on Tuesday all ready for when I leave for Canberra on Thursday. Despite my FELT AR2 being a great bike and really finding it fantastic, for me a beast of a bike needed a beast of a person, and I don’t fit that category. It was too stiff in the bottom bracket for me and it was a heavier bike then what I’m usually used to! So the shift is being made to the F1 (my old previous bike upgraded) which I’m very pleased about, so I can tackle the hills of Canberra in full force!
5. Fireworks being on 3 TIMES this week and being able to view them from my bedroom window!
6. Getting my room phone! (Be on order since I’ve been here!)
7. Only one flat this week
8. Talking with my best mate on the phone for an 1hr...and knowing that her blog will be up soon...name will not be given, unless she decides not to follow through..this isn’t blackmail, just friendly reminder!
9. IPhone...FIXED, (I had one morning with no alarm because my phone died so I relied on waking myself up, and I woke every hour on the hour!!...not the best of sleeps)
10. Finding a 24hr car park, not adding to the current fines i owe to SA of $120!
11. Riding through the hills with the boys three days in a row...not so much enjoyable when I was hanging off the back, busting myself to stay there but it will lead to enjoyment hopefully...all in good time!
12. Going on my first construction site (this will be my job one day!)
13. Chatting with family on the phone and all is good
14. Working at the bakery 3 times, and get paid well 3 times
15. Working with awesome people at the bakery
16. Making my own Pizza a Hambly 2nd Floor function. Hambly is the building I’m in at college.
17. Eating Pasta (not college kitchen food!)...followed by COLD ROCK ICECREAM topping of a bliss weekend!
18. FULL out following my motto “WORK HARD, PLAY HARD”

So what a week, and I hope the week was also good to you, and I shall be updating this page allot more when I head to Canberra on Thursday for a 6 week altitude camp.

(Right: Chris Stack and I having a explore through the town Left: Tash Rich and I at a cafe that had rude as service (pet hate), althrough great thickshakes!)

Till then
Angela : )

FOMO...and other

2009-03-15T00:25:00.000-07:00

FEAR OF MISSING OUT!!... I experience this lot. The times when i’ve done the white ninja (slipping away from the party so no one notices, avoiding the “stay, stay, come on stay”) so I can get to bed ready for the early ride in the morning, not drinking alcohol, not eating crap, putting time aside for stretching and all that fun stuff!!All this time added up, I reckon I’ve missed out on some pretty good times, and asked by the girls at college why? I reckon its simply due to loving it and having a tunnel vision that one day its going to get me to the place I want to be.....(Europe, USA racing, like I said if that means riding at club level at these places then so it shall be, but I reckon I can jump a bit higher than that!!)

So after my little mind blast, let’s get down to the crux of this week and following in true Rhys Gillet style I’m going to use the roar figures to explain my week to you;
5 Flats....need new tyres
3 False fire alarms, this brought the total up two times I’ve had to strip out of my lycra throw on clothes, bolt down the stairs and to the lawns where everyone is gathering and be like “yeah it’s so early, why the hell would they wake us up at 5 n the morning!”
4 shifts at the bakery 8hrs each!
3 days at uni, which actually acted like rest for my legs, being able to sit down for 3hours at a time!!
4 late dinners (work, riding late etc)...it where you order form college kitchen...always real crap...think of camp food x 10
10 phone calls from mum...1 actually/only able to answer
6hrs of sleep a night
0 nanny naps
0 hour of social time (meaning cafe)
5 late nights of studying....always finished with looking blankly at a page, which is the sign to go to bed!!
1 very satisfied person that this week ended up to be very productive (last few wks have had things collapse all around me)!!On the bike, the legs are clocking over just nicely solid training. With a few adjustments to social life and nanny nap numbers, I’ll be one happy chappie!!
Excuse my briefness; ping pong in the common room is calling!!
Till next time
Angela

(right the fire truck at 5am in the morning, left Lam top guy the person we assemble around when the fire alarm goes off..this was him after the 3rd for this week!!)

Packed, wrapped.....2 weeks down in SA!!

2009-03-09T03:12:00.000-07:00

This week was a bit of a blur. It went so quick!!... although when searching for books at the uni SA library for my first assignment; waiting to get into the kitchen for a late tea after coming back from a ride; and listening to a lecturer repeat himself over and over and over again...at these times it felt like a winter had just passed!!

It wasn’t all fun and games there was some serious bike riding to be done, it was the first week of training under my new coach Gary West. The week’s training was different, the word “ergo” was thrown into my training. Up till this point I have not had a strong relationship with “ergo’s”, doing my efforts and all that fun stuff mainly on the road, however Gary made me very acquitted throughout the week. Not usually being around this environment I found it challenging; someone consistently looking over your shoulder, having to watch all types of numbers go up and down to see if what your doing is correct, and...being indoors!!But that is not to say I didn’t enjoy it, I really loved just clenching the lip and clocking up the pain meter!!

The pain meter went into over drive tho, and by Sunday when I raced my first race in SA for the year, I wished the meter had re-set itself. It was a Crit around Whitmore square and with 5 grades I was in C! Although that did not help my case ,despite attempts left right and centre I couldn’t get away from the men, the potential of my Felt AR2 to take an advantage when being in a break, didn’t get its time to shine. After giving all my energy into trying to get away for I knew I would be gobbled up if it came to a sprint.... that’s exactly what I had to settle for! Yet somehow I managed to place high enough to qualify for a wheel race in the afternoon....however if I wasn’t overhauled by men in the first race they sure as hell made sure I was in the second!!

The day’s efforts by all cyclists were rewarded with Tiff’s, Blood’s and Chris Martin’s going away party. It was a real good night actually seeing people out of their bike clothes and being able to talk without having to focus on the road, cars, lights, hills and all that which goes on when your pushing the pedals!!I would have some splendid photos of the night though...I forgot my camera and Carlee Taylor and I found an awesome park out the front of the hotel which wasn’t going to be sacrificed for anything!!

The week rounded up this time on the Monday, public holiday for the SA Cup.

The closure of the week brought a slow beach recovery ride... (below)...oh and I should not forget the icing on the cake.. the MASSIVE shift I did at work just now!!....I will save u that story!!

Tell next Sunday
Work hard, play hard!

Ange ; )

A massive week all round!!

2009-03-01T17:03:00.000-08:00

The adventure of this week started with me moving into college. With this came O week!!However training prevented me form experiencing the alcohol side of things, I still managed to have heaps of hilarious fun and meet some pretty cool people!!The week ranged from nuddie runs, boot camp, dressing up, dancing, laughing and acting like 12 year- olds around the streets of North Adelaide!!

(O week pics!)
The shock to the system of moving into my new humble a bow did not start off on the best foot, with my room only being double the size of my last room!!(The size of my last room only fitted a bed and had an arm’s length circumference around it!)...All went up hill from there with my orientation into my course going dandy (3 girls and 60 guys!!) fun year ahead, then landing a job at the bakery around the corner of where I live, then my other half of life cycling, brought even more to be happy about!!

In my world of bikes, I struggled this week with juggling being an 18 year old fresher at Lincoln College, new uni student, and training!!However I got through with a few very early mornings, and very late dinners I squeezed the best of both worlds into my day!!The week begun early with a struggle on Sunday, being on the bike for the first time after a week off after Oceania’s, I was in creeping city!!But I pushed on through this “stage” throughout the week, and finally just now I feel I’m back into the full swing of things!!Achieved by a planned SASI ride to hopefully not re-live the lows of last Sunday training, turned into a bar raising effort of my longest ride i have ever done!!A whooping 250k with an average of 30k/hr through the hills of Adelaide!! The new FELT bike should be thanked for its aerodynamics which I believe was the sole purpose I could hang off the wheel of the bunch revved up by the boys!!Hanging in for this ride has given me an extra spark in my training, my body is tried now and I will defiantly be a broken unit come tomorrow although my head and eagerness at the week ahead of training certainly won’t be!!

Till next Sunday, where I will hopefully have a race report for...

Ange : )

It's all happening at once!

2009-02-24T23:21:00.000-08:00

Hi my name is Ange McClure; this is my 1st blog so I’m still on my L plates! I haven’t written anything longer than 50 words since my year 12 legal studies exam last year on the 12th of November....to be precise, so I apologise for my poor English!

To begin proceedings here’s my story thus far....

I’m currently sitting in car travelling across to South Australia with my dad to live there for at least the next four years!!I’m studying Construction Management and Economics at UNI SA and living at Lincoln College which is a massive boarding house for uni students. However this is the background for my big goal and dream to become a processional cyclist...it is going to happen!!so not only will South Australia be educating my mind for when I do decided to work full time and “settle down” which will be years from now, it is also going to be the place where I’ll learn to train harder, trainer smarter, and become a better cyclist, a two for one deal! With the faithful support of SASI and my old local boys at Cycle City I’m loaded and ready.

The excitement doesn’t stop there, new city, new training ground, new people, new bar fridge nicely funded by DAD, and.....NEW FELT AR2 on top of my car roof, which has only been ridden around the bike shop block twice with a wheel change at the end of the first lap (testing which wheels I would have to be sacrifice, for the trip over to SA!)....I really just want to get on the thing and go for a ride. With all the hype around the bike’s arrival in the great land of OZ....so there should be when it is proven that it’s the fastest bike in the world! Tested in wind tunnels, made with super stiff and light carbon (go to cyclingnews.com and there is a link that tells you all about the beast), there are definitely no excuses with this one!

The eagerness to get on my bike is sparked by the fact that Chlo McIntosh (fellow bike rider, FELT and Cycle City sponsored as well) made the journey down from Ballarat yesterday to Melbourne to pick bike it up! Otherwise I would be with my old felt in SA while my new one was sitting in a ware house in VIC waiting for it to be sent to SA, that just wasn’t a option when in bike terms, “yeah it will be one week, two a most”, if it was to be delivered to SA, form past experience with everything that is suppose to come on time involving bikes it would be more like a month!!!I just couldn’t wait that long!...( we were suppose to get them in October , and to think I got away with the economic crisis not affecting me!...it ended up really hitting home!)

So what more do I need.ive got everything to take on SA in full force!!

Till next time

Ange McClure