Sprinters

I imagine it will be different for pros, I haven’t studied that fauna yet. For club riders, in particular for Kingston Wheeler riders and being very specific for the Saturday Gang I have the hypothesis that there are two types of sprinters.

Machine guns and snipers.

That would be it. Easy to understand, isn’t it. I’ll add some colour for those not cyclists among you.

A machine gun sprinter is a sprinter that sprints for every single town sign. 

It doesn’t necessarily mean we are talking about a good or strong (two very different qualities) sprinter.

There are machine gun sprinters that sprint for every town sign just because they know where they are. They leave the discipline of a perfectly formed riding group to get the ephemeral glory of crossing first a line only they knew existed. They even celebrate the non-contested sprint for a split of a second before their legs become jelly and they end up swallowed by the efficient group. Embarrassing. 

They are not the worst though. The worst are the desperate machine gun sprinters. Those sprint for signs that are not town signs, or the town sign doesn’t have the speed limit sign. Some of them even sprint for no sign at all. Desperate for sprinting points, they just cross an imaginary line and celebrate. They might be bad sprinters, weak sprinters, or tired sprinters. Losers really. 

The snipers couldn’t be different. The Kingston Wheelers Back For Breakfast gang are probably a very good example. A route published in advance. Three or four sprints are clearly spotted, a one pager detailing each sprint sprint is shared so everyone knows how long it is, the profile, and, obviously, the sprint line. Almost pro level.

The Back For Breakfast gang are my north star, my inspiration. After every ride they publish a ride report where they detail the outcome of each sprint. I always read them with interest, fascinated by the intricate strategies of those clever and strong sprinters.

I don’t join Back For Breakfast rides. My declared reason is that starting the ride at 6:30 is way too early, the fact that the rules are a bit too clear and fair for me to have any chance at getting any of the sprints might also be a factor. 

After all I am a machine gun, sniper wannabe sprinter. 

I only know where a handful of sprint lines are and, as a very good sniper, I don’t have any problem hiding for ages at the back of the group waiting for my opportunity to strike at one of those sprints. I did that twice successfully today. 

But the reality is I was a bit of a desperate machine gun sprinter today. Jumped out of the group for a couple of sprint signs. I celebrated with big fanfare such prestigious victories and when Diego, eager to join the sprinting competition, asked where the next sprint was I had to confess I had no idea. 

Wherever you see me going first and celebrating that was a sprint line is the only right answer.   

ps. I wasn’t the only desperate machine gun sprinter today and, yes, that is a consolation to me. 

The ride in Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/13963323063/

Take care of yourself

Javier Arias González

One Of The Best Cycling Strategists

 I am one of the best cycling strategists.

Give me a route and I’ll create a plan that will optimize my performance for the route and very often will end up with me taking the final sprint. 

My only flaw is that I probably should study Saturday’s routes a bit better.

For reasons I can’t explain I thought in today’s ride we had Whitedown as the final climb. 

Whitedown. A climb I don’t like (too steep) at the end of a never easy ride (https://www.unbiciorejon.com/2018/10/you-need-to-read-this-if-you-are.html).

I rode all day with that final climb in mind. 

And, of course, the final Esher sprint. 

Imagine my surprise when I realised we were heading towards Juniper. It would be difficult to find a hill more different to Whitedown. 

And, of course, to the Horton sprint. It would be difficult too to find a sprint more different to Esher sprint.

Being one of the best cycling strategists means I can adapt quickly to the circumstances. I welcomed the change. Suited me well.

Juniper was perfect. GC Denis led most of the climb. Cameron on his wheel. Me sitting comfortably on Cameron’s wheel. Dai, on tired legs after spending most of the day at the front, on my wheel. Difficult to find yourself in a better position.

As we were approaching the final ramp I sensed Dai’s attack. 

Perfect. This is too far away. I let him go and stayed on Cameron’s wheel.

Being the great cycling strategist I am, I knew Dai wouldn’t go far and Cameron would close the gap with me on his wheel, setting me up for a perfect KOM win.

A shame that Cameron didn’t try to close the gap and Dai just kept making it bigger and bigger.

I, of course, tried to close the gap to Dai. For a split second I even believed I was going to close it. But Dai kept pushing and making the gap even bigger.

To make things worse Cameron passed me just before getting to the top. 

Not great.

But the Horton sprint was my real opportunity to show everyone how it is done.

Somehow I found myself in the perfect position. In the final straight, with Peter L in front of me and with Cameron on my right.

The perfect position to admire the sprint between Dai and Cameron.

And I say to admire the sprint because seeing how those two animals sprinted, I knew there was no way I was going to take that sprint. 

I am, without a doubt, one of the best cycling strategists. But it doesn’t matter how good you are at cycling strategy if everyone else insists on doing what they shouldn’t be doing.

The route in Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/13953990566/

Take care of yourself

Javier Arias González

KW - Almost Pilgrims Way

From the moment I jumped on the bike I knew I was tired and I was heading for a hard day. Riding with the Saturday gang when you are tired is like riding surrounded by wasps that move around you with agility and speed and that, from time to time, merciless sting you. I was there or thereabouts in the first hills but it was the ramps what made it hard. Short, steep, everyone out of the saddle. I felt stung again and again. As you would expect of me I wasn’t seen in the front. I always tried to have at least two riders in front of me. Being very conscious of where I was situated. Bidders is bigger than Peter, Dai bigger than Chris. Let JFW be behind Peter and Chris, put yourself behind Bidders and Dai. Of course my riding mates noticed my game and made sure they mentioned it at the coffee stop. Maybe hoping I’d feel ashamed. No chance. Yes, I sat at the front for about 1km after the coffee stop, probably influenced by the latte I had, but that was it. Back to the middle of the group. Juniper, the last climb of the day, created a few interesting situations. At the bottom of the climb GC Denis and Chris got a gap. I was behind Bidders, JFW and Dai wondering what they were doing allowing such a big gap to open. Luckily for me I saw Dai starting to accelerate so I jumped on his wheel. That was hard work but it paid off. Soon enough we were behind Chris and GC Denis. Dai was on fire because it didn’t take him long to pass both Chris and GC Denis. I saw GC Denis following Dai and I followed him. I think Chris dropped at that point. I kept looking back. I knew Bidders would be steadily closing the gap and I wanted to make sure I was aware when he was approaching. It didn’t take long to sense him on my wheel. Not a good situation for me. Dai flicked his elbow, GC Denis moved to the front, I stayed on his wheel, Bidders on my and Dai dropped at the back. Even worse situation for me. GC Denis almost dropped me at the steep bit but he eased a bit at the descent and I caught with him, Bidders on my wheel, Dai on Bidders wheel. That didn’t last long. GC Denis opened a gap. I could, potentially, accelerate and close it but I knew if I tried that would be the end of it. I only had one bullet. The gap grew bigger and I was starting to fade. I was taking too much air in my face. Nightmare situation for me. Bidders might have thought I was hopeless so he decided to pass me. Dai on his wheel. I jumped on Dai’s wheel and managed to stay there while Bidders was closing the gap to GC Denis. Dream scenario for me now. At the back of the quartet, very close to the final ramp, one match to burn. Bidders started to pass GC Denis. Dai on his wheel. Me following Dai. Bidders opened a gap. Dai flicked his elbow. That was the moment of truth and I went for it. Not very successfully though. The gap didn’t shrink. If anything it grew a little bit bigger. The joys of going against Bidders. I still claim I took the KOM. Yes, Bidders was soft pedalling for some seconds but I did a second mini-sprint and I crossed the line at the top first. Take that those of you that were saying I’m never at the front. Of course you don’t want to know how I managed to get third, behind Bidders and Dai at the Horton sprint. You only care about the really interesting parts of the ride.

The ride in Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/13823622797

Take care of yourself

Javier Arias González

KW - Sumners Ponds the Bidders way

 Let me start with a short guide on how to stress me out.

Let’s plan a 4.5 hour “steady” ride for Sunday with Bidders.

Join JFW’s game on Saturday riding to Devil’s Punchbowl (https://www.strava.com/activities/13695818164) and make sure you end up well tired.

Find out when you return from your ride the route Bidders has chosen for the “steady” ride is a route to Sumners Ponds.

Didn’t look at the route but whenever someone suggest a ride to Sumners Ponds this post of mine from more than six years ago comes to mind (​​https://www.unbiciorejon.com/2018/10/you-need-to-read-this-if-you-are.html) “That was an easy ride to Sumners Ponds...Said no one. Ever.”

He has posted the route on the KW forum and added me to it. Start time 8am. Zero chances anyone else is going to join us.

Dead wrong. 

Saturday 22:19 The Pope sent a message. “Will join”.

I saw the message laying in bed, when I was about to go to sleep. Another sentence from my post came to mind “there is something about riding to Sumners Ponds that always slaughters the weakest rider of the group”.

I had nightmares last night. 

When you don’t sleep well your levels of stress go up. My god I was stressed this morning.

But things can always take a turn for the worse. 

Today, at LW, 8:06 the trio started the ride. 

I turned left. The Garmin beeped, The Pope shouted. I was wrong. The route was going to the right. 

That’s not the normal way of going to Sumners Ponds…

If not knowing the route stresses me out it would be wise to study the route before agreeing to ride it. Right? Well, I didn’t study it. 

Beyond knowing we had two hard, steep climbs at the end of the ride and knowing how Sumners Ponds cafe looks, I knew nothing about the route. 

To make my levels of stress skyrocket I found myself at the front, riding next to Bidders, while he was explaining to me he had chosen the route in such a way that we had head wind on the way out and tail wind on the way back (to climb two hard, steep climbs, I remind you). 

It shouldn’t be difficult for you to imagine Javier panicking and trying to find a way to fall back and sit on Bidders and The Pope’s wheel.

But The Pope was doing his usual thing. Riding a few meters back. Making it impossible for me to drop behind him without being absolutely clear about my intentions. 

My levels of stress were record high. 

But I was still playing it cool. I’d be such a great poker player if I ever learn the rules of the game.

All this and we were still in Epsom (no way this route would take us to Sumners ponds).

In Epsom we stopped at a traffic light and The Pope called my attention to the fact that I wasn’t carrying bidons (those two bidons in the picture I left ready next to the bike but, inexplicably I forgot at home). 

My stress levels were now record high. 

Heading to Sumners Ponds, not knowing the route. Without water and too arrogant to ask for it. The only gels I was carrying were the GU ones we got in that shop in California, that, of course, needed to be consumed with water. I was the weakest rider but I was sitting at the front into a heavy head wind and I knew we were going to finish the party with two hard, steep climbs (no idea with ones though).

Tears came out of my eyes but it was because the (heavy) wind got in my eyes.

It is fair to say that is a great way to stress me out.

All for nothing though. 

Bidders was true to his word and managed to keep a “steady” pace in a leg breaker route. 

It was amazing. I really enjoyed it. 

The fact that I didn’t know the route became part of the enjoyment. I found myself constantly surprised recognizing parts of the road and, still, having the feeling I had never ridden those roads in that direction.

The Pope did his thing in each tiny, little and big climb we went through but Bidders and I kept it nice and easy.

Scone with cream and jam at the stop. Not a drop of rain. Nice tail wind on the way home.

Five stars review for Bidders as a ride organiser. 

But don’t let my great experience trick you. This route is a killer. 

I know it doesn’t look much when you look at the numbers (123km 1400m) but, believe me. Ridden at the usual K2 pace of the Saturday gang this is a very hard route. 

So much so that at the coffee stop we fantasized with whom should we trick into riding it (TY your name was mentioned knowing your training in Florida would be great for this route)

So, yes. I’m saying “That was an easy ride to Sumners Ponds”, something I thought I would never say. But don’t expect that to happen to you. Especially if the plan is to follow this route.

The ride in Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/13705065574

Take care of yourself

Javier Arias González 

No more sprinters allowed in the Saturday gang

 That's it. 

No more sprinters allowed in the Saturday gang.

I miss a Saturday ride and another sprinter joins the group. 

Ibrahim and Moira didn't go for any sprint today. Everyone else was sprinting for everything.

We had JFW on the ride so I was expecting some sprinting fireworks. What I was not expecting is everyone joining the party. 

A green sign with white letters? Is that really a town sign? Who cares? Let's sprint for it.

Someone is at the front and we pass a town sign? Let's celebrate it with an arm in the air to make it count.

And that is a problem. 

It is a problem because half way through the ride I had lost count of how many points everyone had. 

I knew Ibrahim and Moira had 0 points.

Now, was JFW leading the sprinting competition? Maybe. Although he probably lost the lead in the second half of the ride. 

Was DD ahead of Dai? Probably. She was fearless in the competition. Risking her life was not a problem if that meant taking from me my first points (duly note taken).

I wouldn't say Chris T. (the new joiner) was in the lead. He definitely took a couple of well contested sprints but not knowing the route and his inability to invent sprint lines was holding him. 

Me? I also had a big, fat 0 in my score so it would be difficult for me to say here I was leading the sprinting points without any of my riding mates calling me out in Strava (believe me, it wasn't difficult I wouldn't hesitate to make such a claim).

So this is it. It is hard enough to be a sprinter that doesn’t take any sprints. Not being able to keep the sprinting tally to manipulate it in my interest is a step too far. This is too stressful for me.

From now on, if you are a sprinter, you’ll have to wait until we lose one of the sprinters in the Saturday gang before you are allowed to join us. 

If you want to make it look like an accident, get in touch with me. I have my suggestions in priority order.

The ride in Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/13695818164/

Take care

Javier Arias González

KW - Jo.Co

Fantastic ride. 

Riding steady. Moderate efforts up the hills. Feeling easy for the whole ride. 

Great coffee stop as well. Very good coffee and two pastries for me (can’t resist the temptation of a good Pastel de Nata).

I was forced to sprint for Juniper’s KOM when JFW got in parallel with me. For a second I panicked and put a stronger effort than strictly needed.

At Horton roundabouts I played it safe. I let JFW and Denis take turns at the front while I was taking the free ride.

It felt very comfortable. Although it is fair to say we were taking it easy at the roundabouts as the tarmac was wet. 

Being an experienced sprinter I moved to second position at the right time. JFW at the front. Denis behind me. Perfect positioning when we entered the final straight.

I still had time to fill my brain with doubts. I couldn’t tell if JFW was completely cooked or if he was pretending to be cooked. 

I moved parallel to him and looked at him. He looked completely cooked to me.

I looked again to my left. He was definitively cooked. There is no point in sprinting. I can just turn the pedals two or three times a bit stronger and I’ll take the sprint. 

Looked at him one more time fearing he was tricking me. That is how much I trust the man. 

I looked at the front right on time to see GC Denis passing us both and taking the sprint. 

Not really a big fan of this new breed of GC riders that get involved in the sprints. Huge distorsion to the results.

The ride in Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/13572446557/

Take care of yourself

Javier Arias González

The Pope in killer mode.

True to tradition, he arrived at his typical time. 

Something tells me he was in a hurry. Maybe he had to be back home at some impossible time.

He let us lead the first few kilometers so everyone had a nice warm up. 

Then he hit the front.

And that was the story of the whole ride.

The Pope leading, everyone else praying their favourite litany. 

He took all the KOMs and all the sprints.

All but the one DD took.

He didn’t take the Esher sprint either.

He was going to, but he had me on his wheel all the way and he didn’t. 

Not because I passed him in the last 10 meters, arms in the air celebrating just another amazing win in my fantastic cycling career, but because the sprint was neutralized due to too many cars.

I feel for him. All that effort wasted, without reward. 

I don’t feel too much for him though. He was not in my team today.

Still, I’m such a nice guy that I hope he wasn’t too late back home.

The ride in Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/13509476294 

Take care of yourself

Javier Arias González