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I knew if I was going to bag a 29er on this training run, it would be won or lost within the first 30km. Always a chance of mechanical issues, but barring that…130k/1,300m/29 av…. doable. 

So I cleared brutal Momoi (it’s been a while!) at a decent clip, and got within 300m or so of the Hanase top when the chain once again slipped to the inside. First time since that last run before UK return. Of course I learn from my mistakes, so calmly removed the wheel without doing any damage to the chain. I then reseated it and pushed to the top where I logged 32k/932m/22.2 av. Very happy with those numbers, and experience was telling me that I just needed to aero-it home for 100k, and I’d clear the target. 

Keihoku TT was glorious in the sunshine but I wasn’t hanging around for photos today. Ice coffee and ice lolly at the conbini while I caught up on work, then on to Shuzan. Enjoyed the climb and was enjoying a speedy descent when I came across a huge stag in the middle of the road. As usual, he stood and stared me down while I quickly contemplated whether I should go left or right. I thought right, and luckily he darted left so all was good. Gotta get me some of those fancy disc brakes! 

On to the 162, picking up speed at this point but once again was robbed of av on the first tunnel. Hit it at a calm 30 or so and the speed stayed constant while the av fell. I thought ‘sod this for a game of soldiers’ and promptly made the decision to bypass the next tunnel. 

More mechanical issues with three or four stops - back wheel not sitting well in the frame…keeps shifting to one side and rubbing against the frame …lots of friction. Once again reseated it and it finally cooperated, but I’m getting a little frustrated with the beloved Cervelo. New wheels, fairly new cassette, new chain …. this shouldn’t be happening. Very tempted to retire it after six good years! 

Head wind south to the Mikawa confluence was hard… 27 av there, 37 av back… from memory. Was looking at 28.9 av with less than a km to go, and knew I could squeeze out the 29, but…tech! 

Got the 29 as I pulled up to the apartment but Sidonie’s words were knocking around my head (“You know that Strava will impose a speed tax on you!”), so I made sure that I got a photo of it… because, well, that was my goal even though I changed the original route a little and did add 180m of elevation. 

Anyway, happy with the training… and it is just training. Certainly not looking to increase the distance at this particular pace. 

N.B. Judge Gio delivers justice in Ali vs The Tunnels. 29.5 🥳

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Fatboy Slim

Back in the Game

It Was the Myth of Fingerprints

Best Practice

Elphi VK

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