KW - Amberley

 Didn’t have coffee in the morning. Didn’t think I needed it. 

In my mind we were going to start riding easy and slowly progress into a steady ride. 

In fact I said it out loud as we were starting to ride. “Let’s start easy”.

Next thing I know The Pope is at the front smashing it. And when I say smashing it I mean that by the time we were in Cobham, 10km into the ride for those of you not into Surrey’s geography, I was thinking there was no way I was going to keep up with this pace. I believe GC Denis was thinking the same. My brain was shut down by the effort but I seem to remember that he even said out loud. 

The Pope led all the way up Effingham. A steady pace that put me in a terrible position (remember, steady is not a synonym of easy).

I could either (try to) hold on to his wheel, something that didn’t really feel very appealing (or possible). Why on earth would you want to do that to yourself?

Or, let him go, but risk GC Denis following him and both of them dropping me. 

What do you prefer to punish, your body or your ego?

I decided to punish my body. 

Wrong decision because as soon as we got to the road that typically marks the top of the climb The Pope looked left and right, shouted “Clear” (I was dying and he was able to shout!!!), crossed the road and kept riding at his steady pace (remember, steady doesn’t mean easy). 

That was enough for me. Had to let him go.

Luckily for me my ego was saved because GC Denis also let him go. 

We were 25km into the ride. It was going to be a long day (and it will probably be a long ride report).

Second story of the day happened at Horsebridge Hill. 

The Pope quickly disappeared uphill leaving me and GC Denis to decide who was going to be last in the climb.

I felt pretty confident in my chances and set my own tempo. But something felt wrong when I saw GC Denis passing me. 

What is he doing?

I knew the climb. I knew there was still a fairly long way to go. 

I found myself in a terrible position. 

Again.

What do you do? Follow GC Denis or trust your knowledge of the climb even if a few kilometers ago you didn't know where you were, the Garmin is telling you the climb is finishing in 800 meters, and GC Denis NEVER gets a climb wrong?

What do you prefer to punish, your body or your ego?

I couldn’t possibly punish my body any more so I decided to punish my ego. I was going to be last anyway…

We were still 60km into the ride and I already had punished my body and my ego more than I like to confess.

A very much needed coffee and a scone at Amberly. Sitting outside. Making plans about our training camp in Asturias and The Pope confessed he had two coffees before starting the ride.

We need to establish the rule of sharing in the WhatsApp group how much caffeine everyone is having before the ride. If only to know in advance how hard the ride is going to be.

The caffeine did its usual effect and I felt much better on the way back. 

I was able to contribute to the pace. I even took the Horton sprint. 

And then, when I finished the ride, the Garmin gave me the ultimate punishment to my ego.

My FTP had decreased to 263w.

I need to have a word with Garmin’s product manager.

The ride in Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/14519090955 

Take care of yourself

Javier Arias González

Tour of the Isle of Wight

 Habemus Papam.

We need a new nickname for the mountain goat of the group (Looking at you TY).

Something related to the noises of his bike perhaps. Although, in this ride Tommy’s bike was making even more noises than Ed’s. With this trend soon our rides are going to start sounding like an out of tune orchestra. 

I was thinking bread-eater due to his peculiar nutrition choices but if someone has to have a nickname related to his peculiar nutrition choices, as no nutrition at all, that would be JFW. The final, let’s call it the mother of all bonks, didn't really compensate for the fact that he did the whole ride in the big chainring.  

Maybe Elizabeth can suggest something now that she has ridden with him for the first time. A shocking experience no doubt, but we can really use a fresh perspective here and we can’t count on GC Denis for that. Not exactly his first ride with Ed this one. Also, he was the best prepared for today’s rides, the one that organised everything, the most consistent rider, it wouldn’t be fair to ask him to do more for the group. 

DD could suggest something to us in Polish. The short Polish grammar lesson we had over dinner (a topic that can be only justified by the combination of tiredness and alcohol) showed potential for very great sounding, creative nicknames. 

My personal bet for the best new nickname would be it will come from Dai. His usual chattery, occasional grumpiness, and incipient Polish is the best combination to come up with a good one.

The rides in Strava:  

• To Southampton: https://www.strava.com/activities/14440094414

• Tour of the Isle of Wight: https://www.strava.com/activities/14440171885 

Take care of yourself

Javier Arias González

Oasts & Coasts 300k (Audax)

An event organised by Tom Jackson.

An event I rode with John Barkman.

That’s me mingling with proper Audax UK royalty.

I love this ride. 

I have ridden it in 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017. 

Even if it has the sad record of being the only brevet I didn’t finish (in 2018 I had a crash and broke my bike frame 6km into the ride) I was telling my Spanish friends this is the 300 event I would recommend to them if they ever come to ride a 300 in the UK. 

This is a route that has it all. Not flat the first 100km Strong head wind the following 50k. A touristic 50km to cross Dover, climb to its castle and ride through parks and near the sea. 50k with tail wind (although my comment about getting a second wind wasn’t as well received as I was expecting) and last 50k riding while the sun is settling and magnificent views of the valley on your left with a few easy hills. Perfect to finish the ride with a great taste in your mouth, to which also contributed the recently delivered pizza from the local italian restaurant that was being distributed at the final control.

Something tells me I’ll be back.

The ride in Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/14294733685

Take care of yourself

Javier Arias González

Tenerife - Masca. The other way

 First three climbs felt very hard. Especially Monte del Agua climb. Almost 12 km at 5.7%. Not really a hard climb but I felt tired and unable to put any power. 

50 minutes of questioning my training, my recovery, the carbonara I had for dinner yesterday, and, of course, the bike (are the brakes rubbing?).

By the time I got to the top I said it out loud. “I’m cooked” 

I was really worried. Not only did I still have to go up Masca. 4 km at an average of 10.8% but I was also puzzled with how I was feeling. I couldn’t spot a reason for it.

I crawled Masca and welcomed every time I had to put a foot down due to the amount of cars up and down that narrow road.

We stopped for lunch at Santiago del Teide. Two cokes, a “bocadillo de tortilla francesa”, and a “café con leche” and I started to see the world with different eyes. 

In fact I also said out loud. “I’m feeling much better”

And that feeling became true as soon as we tackled the small climb out of Santiago del Teide. Not that we pushed the pace, but at least I was not struggling.

The miracle happened on the last climb of the day, Subida la Guancha. 10 km at 4.2%. An easy climb. But a climb that allowed me to set an easy pace and start to ride following my heart rate with GC Denis and TY. I pushed the pace to allow my heart rate to go up gradually. The pace wasn’t anything spectacular, we are on the fifth day of a training camp, but we were getting faster and it felt like a sustainable effort. I even allowed myself to sprint for the last 100m.

At the top of the climb GC Denis and TY were kind enough to praise the work I had done at the front and, with that, allowing me to get a bit of morale boost after a terrible morning and finish this training camp with a positive note. 

I’m sure there is an explanation for such a change in feeling and performance. There is probably a lesson to be learned there. But I have no idea what it is.

The ride in Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/14127191023

Take care of yourself

Javier Arias González

Tenerife - Anaga National Park

This picture says it all. The Pope taking pictures and having the time of his live. GC Denis making an effort and me seconds before blowing up in pieces half way up the climb.

Tim Krabbé expressed like no one else. “Hell is the pace of the others”.

Today, for me, hell was GC Denis’ pace going up Pico de los Pasos.

A stunning climb. Probably the most beautiful we have climbed in this training camp. Steady, with great views, fantastic tarmac, and the last kilometres surrounded by trees that cover the road, my personal definition of beautiful road.

It sounds impossible but it was all downhill for me. From “I’m going to lead all the way to the top”, to “let’s share the work with GC Denis, 1k each at the front”, down to “let him do most of the work and beat him over the line” to giving up and having to slow down to a more sustainable pace.

I still pushed as hard as I could all the way to the top. I’m still happy with my effort.

So happy that by the end of the ride I was reflecting on the privilege that is to have a group of friends like these to ride with. 

Everyone needs a group of friends that makes him feel like this group makes me feel.

There is pleasure in visiting hell if afterwards you go back to heaven.

The ride in Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/14116789276/

Take care of yourself

Javier Arias González

Tenerife - Teide loop

In the end we had no choice but to declare the stage void.

Everyone but GC Denis and myself was (very) late to the start of the ride.

Everyone but JFW and myself refused to ride down to sea level to do a proper sea level to Teide climb. 

GC Denis decided to attack his own team when we were all working for him.

TY took another shortcut. This is becoming so common that his name is now “Shortcut” TY. 

The Pope decided to do hill reps up Teide.

JFW jumped on the wheel of a FDJ pro-rider. All the respect he won by riding the whole Teide in the big chainring lost in the less than 30 seconds he managed to hold his wheel. 

The weather didn’t play ball either. Very windy in the descent and reports of higher temperatures in London made us wonder what we were doing here. 

The Pope broke the group discipline not following the great pace I was setting with the aim of making the last climb enjoyable for everyone. 

GC Denis took a town sign sprint. I don’t want to remember which town. All I want to remember is that he attacked when I was taking one for the team and doing, for a second time in the day, a great work at setting the pace for him and The Pope.

The Pope didn’t allow me to take the final KOM. That was particularly malevolent after sitting on his wheel the 10km of the climb, listening to all the noises his bike was producing and the magnificent attack I launched. Yes, it was a bit too early, but the noise was getting in my brain. 

I must report the occurrence of a few cramps but I won’t name names (Javier wasn’t one of them though) to protect the privacy of those involved. The one I witnessed looked painful.

With less misbehaviours race organizers cancel stages nowadays. So the only option was to forget about sprint and KOM winners (I didn’t get any of either) and focus on the great day we had. 

Tomorrow’s stage will be great though. I'm sure at the very least we will start riding on time.

The ride in Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/14089037818

Take care of yourself

Javier Arias González

KW - Extended Milk Churn

 You know that feeling when you are at the front of the group, putting an effort to keep the pace of the group and you hear someone in the group chatting effortlessly?

Well, you know your day is going to be a hard one when the opposite happens. 

That is, someone is in the front, ie. Dai in this ride, chatting effortlessly with Robbie, while you are sitting on his wheel out of breath and fully focussed on not losing his wheel.

The sting is when you realise he is riding on the big chainring. Which wouldn’t be anything special if it wasn’t because we were climbing Effingham. And yes, I know Effingham is not the steepest of the climb but I was on the small chainring from even before the climb started. 

I knew I was definitely up for a hard day. 

So hard that GC Denis smelled blood and started to go for the intermediate sprints.    

Almost killed myself to stay on Dai and GC Denis’ wheel up Leith Hill and they beat me up Juniper by quite some margin.

Still, the best sign that I had a bad day is that GC Denis finished the ride with more sprint points than me. 

It is going to take a long time to recover from this. 

The ride in Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/14020182697/

Take care of yourself

Javier Arias González