After bathing in the glory of our win at the Tsukuba 8 hour enduro for a week I finally got back on the bike the following Sunday. It felt like I had been off the bike for a month. I took out the Fondriest with Chazzer from TCC who made an early start from central Tokyo to meet me just 500m from my home. He did the real riding of the day, I was just like a fly tagging along.
The plan was to go and watch the Saitama TT and cheer on a few friends. We got to Sekiyado at the end of the Edo river and took a few pictures and had a quick drink. (non alcoholic of course). Then a left turn up the Tone river about 15kms or more til we found the race.
I am not a TTer but I guess it is another excuse to train harder and try harder, so I may give it a try next year. I had to be home by 1p.m to meet a breeder who was going to inspect my puppies and give some advice… I was going to be a little late, but we made good time back home and I wasn’t in big trouble and got the job done in the end. We had a bit of a race with guys in my team who took a different route back. Twice we crossed paths. They stopped at Sekiyado, we kept going.

Poor old Chazzer was eaten alive by my piranha terrier pups on arrival who were licking the salt off his legs with their teeth…. We got back about ten or fifteen minutes after one but it took me longer than planned with the dogs.. Unfortunately I couldn’t have a quick lunch with him and he had to ride off into the West and I heard he made it home safely. I did about 75km for the day but he must have done close to 180km.
I had sunburn on the back of my legs only has I’d coated the rest of my skin with sun screen earlier in the day. The ride got my body back into a riding frame of mind. I was however exhausted. The sun really got to me. Hottest day so far this year at least.

Then came Monday(last) night and another friend asked if anybody was interested in a Tuesday night training on a Monday night instead. I volunteered and the two of us were the only starters. We decided to ride as usual. 10 laps, 10 sprints, fast pace, take no hostages. I had a bit of a warm up beforehand so took the initiative and won the first two sprints. Feeling burnt out from that I kind of gave up on the next two. 2-2 and I was going to try and go one ahead on the 5th. We both played cat and mouse and it was do or die right to the last 10cm. Unfortunately, I failed. That was a killer. I then lost the next four. I was outpaced, outraced and out of shape… I was rested enough though to win the last lap. I’m sure I just got him too tired. (tired of beating me). 38 racing km and 10km warming up and warming down kms.

Tonight, Tuesday night training is on the calendar. I’m praying for rain. Training starts at 9 to 9:30 and the local weather report says rain from 9:00. If it’s fair, I will go for it again. Great training. I need it for the TOJ on the 24th. I’m lazy though. Come on rain.