For those that don't know, I've signed up for the Ride for Youth. RFY raises money for Youth Focus which is all about helping young people who are at risk of depression and suicide.

If you feel the urge to donate, please do so - but no pressure. If you do, please select my name on the list. ;-)

Part of the RFY program is training - we've been at it now for a few months and it just kicked off again this morning after our Christmas/New Year hiatus.

Today, we did three figure-eight loops through Kings Park as part of an individual time trial. If you're not familiar with group cycling, riding in a group gives you a tremendous advantage because you can slipstream behind the person in front. An individual time trial means you don't get to do that - it is all your effort. Consequently, it's a bit tougher.

Generally speaking, the training involves two interval sessions (Tuesday and Thursday mornings) and one long ride (Saturday mornings) which is usually in the hills. Sometimes there is a long Sunday ride as well. Regardless, I also tend to go out for either another long hills ride on Sundays or if I'm feeling tired a shorter flat ride just to stretch my legs out.

They tell me the training is harder than the ride and right now I'd believe them. The long hills rides are not such a problem but the interval training is tough. Maximum efforts up any hills the coaches can find in the inner and western suburbs. Before Christmas we were riding up and down Reabold Hill in City Beach - it is apparently 93m high which doesn't sound that much until you have to do it five or six times in quick succession.

Anyways, stay tuned - I'll have more updates later.