Nikki Kaye: Back on the bike

Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge 2009

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By Nikki Kaye- MP for Auckland Central

Hi - I am Nikki and I am engaging in the career limiting exercise of beginner blogging and racing Trevor Mallard around Lake Taupo. This weekend I got back on the bike - it is not as though I haven't been cycling recently but I would call it a pretty leisurely exercise up until this point. I would not consider myself a natural cyclist, I love my running but can be a bit uncoordinated when it comes to other sports. It has also taken me a bit to get used to the clipons and I have the bruises to show my inability to unclip at crucial points. Luckily the times when I have fallen off there has been no one around as it has been so early in the morning.

The challenge I have with this blog is that I want to give you an insight into the training but I also want to beat TM so I am going to try to keep some of my training secrets under the radar.

On that note if you are a good cyclist and want to help me out then please feel free to contact me with your training tips - go on - please - thanks in advance. The other thing I need help with is a nutrition plan - airnz cassava chips and lollies (no matter how tasty) will not cut it. I had my first protein drink in ages and I feel it tastes like sawdust - maybe it has just been sitting in the cupboard too long or maybe it does just taste like sawdust.

Anyway I am on the hard road of cold early painful mornings in pursuit of hopefully a sweet victory in Taupo.
Nikki

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Posted 08-11-2009 8:32 a.m. by nikki.kaye

Comments

Garconz wrote re: Nikki Kaye: Back on the bike

on 08-20-2009 10:02 p.m.

Hi Nikki

Hope you have managed to upgrade the bike to a decent road frame by now?

Make sure you do lots of hill work. Taupo is all about getting to the top of Kuratau (80km) and Hatepe (135km) Hills with a good bunch and they will speed you home.

I'm sure you can thrash T Mal-Lard on the day!

Johnb wrote re: Nikki Kaye: Back on the bike

on 08-21-2009 7:00 p.m.

Hi Nikki,

I really hope you are not riding the bike featured, it looks like a Nana bike cause you will never beat the duck Mallard on it. I have a Cannondale Synapse, they make a great ladies model and the best part: its BLUE. Go Girl

nikki.kaye wrote re: Nikki Kaye: Back on the bike

on 08-24-2009 11:34 a.m.

Thanks guys. I have had some really excellent feedback and support from this blog. I am working hard on my training with a lot of focus on nutrition as well. I'm not sure what Bike I will be using on the day but hopefully It won't be a "nana" one.

Thanks again for the support.

Best wishes,

Nikki

paul o wrote re: Nikki Kaye: Back on the bike

on 08-26-2009 11:14 p.m.

Hi Nikki,

i agree with the other guys - get a good bike and a regular training programme - including longer rides 2 to 3 hrs plus (vital) and hill climbs (even vitaler) the more hills you do the better, and the easier you will cope with taupo.

Last year i rode most of the circuit with the Mallard - purely by chance - i actually struggled to shake him off. After about 100 kms and convinced i'd left him in the western hills, i stopped at the waihi drinks station for a break and a view of lake when the bugger came past.

It's all flat from tokaanu to taupo except for hatepe hill and he's quite good on the flats so we pretty much followed each other home with a race in the finishing shute.

Had a good chat with him after finishing - he's trying to break 5:30 which has eluded him marginally up to now, but he may be even more determined come november.

Don't underestimate him and good luck with your build-up.

paul o