Training stats from 17th Feb to 10th Mar, 10:00am:
- Swimming 4h:55m/13.75km
- Cycling 14h:49m/369.55km
- Running 2h:02m/25.1km
- Gym 3h:00m
Following on from my previous post and the Di2 battery death crisis, at lunch time (on Thursday) I headed toward a shop that I had confirmed that they had an external Di2 Dura Ace battery in stock as the internal type wasn't going to be suitable.
On the way to the train station I decided to check if Clarence Street Cyclery had one. No good. I then stopped by Jet Cycles. Bingo. $99 later and a quick look at the internal battery. Done. No need to go to North Sydney and walk for another 15 minutes then get back in a reasonable amount of time.
A few more bits and pieces from JayCar and back to the office.
- DIY disaster averted
After making a mess on the train home from work while using a multi tool to dig the old batteries from the seatpost and stopping at Bunnings for some epoxy resin, I was ready to start.
While carefully opening the top of the battery container I ripped one of the connection points off the circuit board. IDIOT! There was only about 1mm of remaining copper under the surface of the coated circuit board so I had to scratch the coating off to get some purchase with a dab of solder. If I failed I would have wasted $99!
Thankfully it worked... just... It was hanging on with the slightest bit of solder.
I mixed up the epoxy and poured it into a plastic mold around the top of the circuit to set the wires in place permanently. The first attempt was too runny so it leaked down the sides of the battery, all over the makeshift bench - an old tallboy in the garage and the floor and my feet. IDIOT! I had some left and doing the typical DIY mistake... I added more catalyst. Obviously after a few minutes it all of a sudden went rock hard quicker than I could get to it and pour it in. So I had to mix another batch. Still with too much catalyst but I stood there watching and stirring until I was satisfied it was gluggy enough not to run out he bottom again or go hard before I could pour it in the mold.
I mixed up the epoxy and poured it into a plastic mold around the top of the circuit to set the wires in place permanently. The first attempt was too runny so it leaked down the sides of the battery, all over the makeshift bench - an old tallboy in the garage and the floor and my feet. IDIOT! I had some left and doing the typical DIY mistake... I added more catalyst. Obviously after a few minutes it all of a sudden went rock hard quicker than I could get to it and pour it in. So I had to mix another batch. Still with too much catalyst but I stood there watching and stirring until I was satisfied it was gluggy enough not to run out he bottom again or go hard before I could pour it in the mold.
Here is the finished product. Once the epoxy was set. A quick check with the multi tester and to my amazement, I actually did it without damaging the circuit board, having the batteries explode during the epoxy curing stage! The dodgy wire also held during the process which I think was more of a fluke than expertise!
Ripping the contact off early on was a massive stuff-up. I am surprised the small amount of solder. There would be no way to charge the batteries if I didn't fix it...
Getting it back in was a challenge. I wanted to wrap it in plastic, insert/drop it inside the frame then follow it in with the seatpost. No good. This is not enough room. After cleaning a lot of the No More Gaps off the sides of the seatpost I was able to slide the batteries back in the original position. It was a tight fit so it shouldn't drop out.
[Saturday]
The club race is on tomorrow (Sunday). Talk about recovery week. I'll have to just write this week off.
The battery problem really stopped my training, as well as the usual Tuesday night strength training - PT session. I am finally able to squat, sit down and up without the DOMS.
The battery problem really stopped my training, as well as the usual Tuesday night strength training - PT session. I am finally able to squat, sit down and up without the DOMS.
Intensity building next ("on") week.
[Sunday - Club Race day Round 6]
500m Swim: I felt really comfortable and strong. I probably held back a little because I fumbled around getting the Garmin into Auto-Multisport mode, doing a few frog style kicks (breaststroke without the arms) until I pressed the correct button to start so I was a little preoccupied.
I wasn't sure if it counted the lap so just in case, I counted as well.
20km Cycle: I didn't feel as strong as last time (Round 4) in the cycle leg but my average speed was up by almost 1km/h - 35.3km/h.
My quadriceps felt tired as if they had no strength to surge up the hill out of the lower corner and I felt like I was tiring too quickly on the hill. To my amazement, one of the laps was a Strava PR. 1m:34s.
My quadriceps felt tired as if they had no strength to surge up the hill out of the lower corner and I felt like I was tiring too quickly on the hill. To my amazement, one of the laps was a Strava PR. 1m:34s.
4km Run: As usual it took the first 2 kilometres to work through the mild calf cramps and stretch the legs out.
It worked out that I had improved each discipline by 1 minute each since Round 4 in January.
I am happy with that, especially considering I had not trained since Wednesday and have done very little running lately. That will change next week...
I am happy with that, especially considering I had not trained since Wednesday and have done very little running lately. That will change next week...
Total Time: 1h:02m:43s (unofficial - My Garmin)
Cheers,
:Pat
