Well, Down Under summer has begun and I learned a valuable lesson today.

I had a hard race yesterday, and today decided that going for a 50km very hilly ride (I climb up to 600metres above sea level twice - I must ask my son to work out the total climbing for me) was just the ticket.

So 50km on the flat in recovery mode would be a good thing. But I went in the middle of the day and watched the temp on my bike comp fluctuate between 30-38'C (thats approx 84-103'F). Most of the ride was accmopanied by a stiff sea breeze - only the last 10km of which were as a tail wind.

I went through 3 bottles of water thanks to the local school having a convenientap (some of it tipped over my head and neck as I got close to home - reminiscent of Landis in the infamous Stage 17).

But unlike Landis, my climbing was completely forgettable. On slopes that I would normally climb at 10-12kph, I was barely able to maintain 5kph.

I wasn't close to bonking - my nutrition was ok. But I was dripping sweat, guzzling water and my legs were like mud.

Note to self, choose to do 50km hilly rides at least 48 hours after racing and never in the heat of the day!

So... how did your Sundays go gals?