Yesterday was promised to be dry, so I excitedly brought the GF-Ti down from it's bedroom.....we must have lasted seconds outside before the pat-pat-pat of raindrops began. :( Then just to make things really fun it threw a hail storm at us! Still I got to play for a little bit with the gold chain. I know it's shallow but it does look pretty!
However I'm curious of one thing, it's a Dura-Ace groupset. Yet the shifting it much better with the new chain? The last one was Dura-Ace. I can only think in the most scientific terms, it must be because it's BLING!
So home we came. Pacing up and down I decided to make best use of the time.....
The weather had continued. One moment lulling you into a false sense of sunshine before gloomy clouds decended again bringing stair rods of freezing rain. I wanted to get back out for a few extra miles. Motivation was lacking. Scrolling through Twitter I wasn't the only one. I spied a friend in the same thoughts and we arranged to meet.
The clouds broke open for us as we danced up hill, the sun shone and the tail wind on the tops made for an ace ride. Tim and I are simular height so we were able to swap bikes and I got to have a quick play on his new Kinesis road bike, before he squeeked that my legs were slightly longer and could we swap back!
We made a quick trip through the park in Todmorden to pat the Lucky Dog to see if it will bring us good weather. Fingers crossed eh!
Thank you Tim for a great ride.
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So come,
Come to the land where anything belongs
No one else will let you know the truth
You'll never be alone again
Well come on, well come on
Well come on, well come on
Because we are your friends
You'll never be alone again.
Ok so maybe Simian's thoughts when writing those lyrics might not have been about cycling up and down brutal Yorkshire climbs, but it sort of fits! After all Mr Pain and Mr Hill are your new best friends!
I'd been wondering about trying to join all my favourite "nasties'' together and how many feet of climbing that would be.
I must admit it was to be a brutal day despite the weather. I'd plotted 10'000ft of climbing in 75miles. The idea was to plot something worse than the Fred Whitton, only shorter so that both Simon and Ali would gain the confidence to know they could do it. Simon had won a place from Saddleback through Bikeshak where he works. It's hard to pack all the climbs in if you live somewhere flatter. A relentless sucession of 25% climbs starting within the first 4 miles.
I think we had a little bit of everything cycling can offer all packed into a day. Sun, rain, hail, wind, mechanicals, punctures, steamy cafes, cobbles, climbs, joy and nearly tears!
I'd ridden the TK2 again, quite glad it had it's mudguards on. I think the GF-Ti will think I'm neglecting it if the weather doesn't clear up soon! To give the TK2 some credit though, it's a great bit of kit, you can bash it up and down all sorts and it rarely complains. I am getting a bit bored of coming in wearing my brake pads on my shins though! Twisting and wiggling little lanes certainly test both you and the bike to the limit. Simon exclaimed at one point "I can't believe it, 30mph to bottom gear in 10 seconds!"
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[[posterous-content:pid___0]]Off we set again in 'Snail', our van, heading for the Lake District to ride the Lakeland Loop. No sushi this time unfortunatly, but we did treat ourselves to dinner at Lucy's in Ambleside, *ahem* not entirely sure that tapas can be considered the best pre-ride food, but gosh, it was delicious!
Alas the GF-Ti had stayed at home this time. I'd broken a link in the chain the week before, surprised really as Dura-Ace chains have done me well in the past. It's probably only got 1000 miles on it. Funny really, I had the chain when I built up the GF-Ti but really wanted to put YBN Gold chain on, couldn't quite justify it. I know it's shallow but you can't beat a bit of sparkly bike bling! I had YBN on my last 'best' bike and it does last longer too.
I didn't mind too much really. I'd been coughing and sneezing all week, it's never a good idea to get on a nice bike when you feel lousy! Also if I rode my TK2 with it's full mudguards and lights then it should mean that we'd get good weather!
I decided to ride round with Ali today as when we come up to do the Fred Whitton I'll be going for a time and won't get to ride with her. That's one of the fun bits about sportives. A lot of hot air gets spouted about them. Experienced racers often comment that sportives are pointless and that if riders want to race then they ought enter a 'real' race. Slower riders often slate them as being elitist as they think people will race them. Personally I think they're a great fun way to ride, you can ride them how you want to. I find them handy training for Ironman, as often the distances are the same and any kind of pinned on number make you try that bit harder. They're also a great way for everyone to challenge themselves, with different lenght routes for different abilities. Everyone has the right to try as hard as they want to, it's a challenge after all!
You see quite a few strong riders helping others achieve their dreams. Groups of friends out having a jolly. Racer chasers jockeying along. MTB riders with slicks. Who cares?! Surely the fact that it's getting folk out on bikes is the main thing? We pulled into one of the feed stations and started chatting to the girls who were making the tea (yes that's right TEA! mmmm!), one of them started asking questions about the bikes, shoes, riders and everything she'd seen that day. Happily, Ali and I answered her questions and suggested places she could get information about where to begin. I love it when you can tell that someone is inspired. It did make me a little bit sad when she appologised for asking but said we were the first ones who'd looked approachable!
It was a cold yet beautiful day, the BBB kit seems to be working a treat in all weathers, I'd gone out in one of their baselayers, Raceshield gloves, great spring wear and I seemed to maintain a good even temperature all day. We're still waiting for the new season team kit to arrive and in the meantime I treated myself to some Castelli women's Body Paint bib shorts, oh my! They've certainly raised the game with these. I can't believe how comfy they are. It's like they're not there. The padding is awesome. When riding beow your pace I find I sit heavier in the saddle and can get uncomfy, none of that with the body paint.
We had a really lovely day, Ali climbed Hardknott all in one go! It's the first time she's tried! I don't know what time we did, this time I don't care, it was about riding and enjoying ourselves, eating cake and smiling. Big thanks to Mark at Epic Events for another great day.
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The Ironman bike course is one of my favourites. It pretty much circumnavigates the whole island. You really feel like you're on an adventure rather than a race route.
Snaking our way up out of Puerto Del Carmen, the volcanoes of Timanfaya National Park come into view. Most of these were formed between 1730-1736 when the greatest eruptions happened on the island. Almost a quarter of the island was covered in lava. 11 villages and much of the fertile farming ground was lost. Still today the Montanas Del Fuego are active, though more often used to cook dinner for the tourist coaches, which wind their way through the lava tunnels to the top. It reminds me of the Restaurant at the End of the Universe.
The wind seems to be kind to us today. It's worrying, the wind is never kind here. When I raced here last year a pounding head wind battered even the hardiest of rider. I wonder if the locals spend as much time talking about the wind, as the Brits do about the weather?!
I've chosen to take out the slowest group of riders today. It's probably the hardest work as they're the most knackered. Keeping the group together is all the more important. It also gives me a chance to ride with Ali. She started the week saying she might only do the time trial and the hill climb and the big ride at the end. She's stormed it and has ridden all bar one of the days! I'm very proud of her. She'll be so strong for the Fred Whitton. Anyway back to the camp.
We're riding well together with stronger riders taking the front and keeping good check on the weaker ones. We set off a little earlier than the other two groups in the hope that we all time the north of the island together. The wind is coming from the side slightly as we climb Fire Mountain. It's beautiful here. the burnt earth, still red, as if its just erupted, blown tops with craggy sides jut into the sky. Only the tiny lichen clinging to the tips of the lava let you know that it's long set. Swirling bubbles of gloopy tar like molten rock surf off into the distance. The odd brave cactus pokes from the cravas. Its as if life will cling on at all costs. We whoosh on downwards, I love this strip of road, the bends are just right, the tarmac so smooth, blue sky, black land, green shoots shock colour into the fields.
We stop for water at La Santa, perfect timing, the croissants have just come out of the oven! Jo's group are reluctantly leaving. Its reasuring for my group to see them looking knackered too. It's always hard if you see people dance off into the distance, but good to learn that we all feel it, everyone works their hardest, we just have different levels of hard.
The landscape changes here, we enter the El Jable Desert, it's barren, long derelict houses sprayed with graffiti. Over the past few years the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve status of Lanzarote has been questioned after the former President, Mayor and 20 Politicians and Businessmen we arrested in connection with illegal building permits along Lanzarote's coastline. There is political graffiti on many of the bridges too. The Island has been saved by the work of local artist and achitect Cesar Manrique 1919-1992. He campagined for the two rise policy which has kept the huge hotels away from the island and preserved its appearance keeping the Spanish and Ottoman inspired aestetic. Many of the round-a-bouts have sculptures of his which move with the winds, yet harmonise with their surroundings.
We roll along towards the sandy dunes of Famara with the Famara Masif jutting up from the sea. Sand covers the road, turning inland the temperature rises, slowly starting the grind upwards towards Haria. The farm land that terraces up the hill sides looks less green than last year. I chat with Helen the camp massage therapist as we climb, pondering the state of local farming. I fear my chewing everyones ears off whilst they're trying hard to breathe is getting a tad annoying for some!
The wind is blasting us to pieces as we fly down Haria, buffering us back and forth, we get the odd spot of rain. Unusual, it only rains her a couple of times a year. As we pull in I notice the ground is a bit wet. Ha! And so is Jo! Her group managed to catch the one rain cloud and she's dripping! But for us its cake o'clock. Cheese toasties for Ali and Helen, they assured me that the white sliced bread was the finest they'd had ever!
Up and over Mirador Del Rio, into the whooshing decent back. BANG! The head wind I had feared has arrived. Often the wind comes from the other direction meaning the second half of the course is easier. Not this time. My group are knackered. It's the 2/3's point in a ride when you always seem to flag. Luckily for me I've come to recognise it more and learn ways of dealing with it, mainly to stick my head down and pedal. I can't do that now, I don't think they'd hold my wheel. The road is hot, the wind is hot, like riding in a hair dryer. Water is low and I know the next point is a few miles yet. Helen shares with Andy, Sarah drops a gel, Ali pulls a face at me! I knew that it would be tricky taking the group with my partner in, as you can always have a real melt down that you'd hold off with friends. Sarah and Ali have been a rock for each other. Last year Sarah was here with the massage therapists role and talked into doing an Ironman. She's shown great strenght on this camp and I have the upmost respect for her.
The road up to the old capital of Teguise is a grind. It goes on and on and on. The complaints are coming, for once I shut up. I fear being too chirpy on this hill might not be encouraging anyone. Fuelled up at the garage we turn left from one head wind into another! HOW!? Its like the wind has got it in for us!
Monumento De Campessino is in sight. Its a becon for me as I know it's the start of the vinyards. It's a strange view of the La Geria reigion, thousands of 8' wide dips in the volcanic lapilli, each with a semi-circular stone wall around it and a small green vine at the bottom.The curved walls help catch the morning dew. It's now listed as a world heritage site. There's something very beautiful about the repetition.
At last it's the top of the last hill, we fly down. Sarah lets out a "WHOOP" as her clock passes 100 miles for the first time! Just 12 more to go and we're in. They've done it!
Yana is there on reception to greet us with a huge smile and another pair of fabulous heels, I'm more impressed she can walk in them than we can ride that far!
And now it's time for the after camp PARTY! Such a great group of people to meet again this year. I wish them every sucess in the races they're training for, there's some real troupers!
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I however had a lie in! ;)
I was taking the fast group out on the bikes for the long ride. They had the option of cutting it to the standard distance at the top of the Fermes climb. We rode out through the lava fields and backwards round the El Golfo loop.
As we rolled down past the sea, waves bashing the shore we saw what I thought was a wedding taking place. A woman in a long white dress, a few others, a film camera. I was kindly informed by Mel that they were shooting a porn movie! She'd been caught there once before when someone had a mechanical. Erm Lava porn? Really? Sounds rather uncomfortable!
We headed right down to the south of the island towards Playa Blanca before turning in to climb Fermes. I've been waiting to have a good stamp on this one. We've all signed on to Strava and I could hear it calling!
It's not too steep or too long, little kick at the end but fun all the same.
I had the camera on my bars, thinking it would be fun to film myself climbing. I don't think I'll post it, looks more like I'm auditioning for the lava porn!
Coffees at the top before we go flying down and up and over Fire Mountain. I can't resist pushing the pace a bit having kept it quite steady with the slower groups. The Tarmac is so smooth and the bends twist and turn through the jutting lava.
It's ok for me though as I'm helping time keep, it's the campers who have to run a 10km race when we get back.
And yes this is their easy day!
The campers are all competing for an overall prize and this race gains them more points. Steven has been having a lovely time calculating the handicap so they all cross the line together. There's some tired faces chugging along by now.
Still a race is a race and by the time they cross the line the smiles are beaming!
I find it quite hard to make myself road run unless I have to, so choose to run back around the bay. A few scrambles over the rocky sides and trails, I'm in inov8 Bare-x 180 shoes and the sticky soles enable you to take most things in your stride......you can take a fell runner out of Yorkshire but she'll still find some filth to run in!
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The fear of jellyfish brought forward the camp swim race, I was lucky, I got to be the buoy, so it was just 20 minutes of aquafit whilst I tried to stay warm! There are some awesome swimmers on the camp and having them charging towards you at full pelt made the jellyfish look less scary!
The sea had a bit more chop on it that usual making it harder going than normal. Campers have to do a half hour swim each day to complete the camp. Choppy sea and jellyfish fear had managed to give Ted the willies! He wasn't keen to swim straight out to sea for the last leg of the race (last year a camper swam too far, missing the row of buoys and had to ask a fishing boat for directions!). This would have meant an incomplete camp.
However I fancied a swim to warm up and wanted some company so poor Ted got dragged back into the sea to escort me! Thanks Ted :)
After our little extra jaunt up it earlier in the week, spirits were running high and Steven had said that if anyone could beat him they'd win the shirt off his back! I ought to add that Steven is an awesome athlete. In reality I haven't got a chance of beating him, however in my head is a different matter and I'll sick my lungs up trying! He must have been secretly worried, I've never seen him use a gel before!
Steven has worked out the start order so that everyone is on their toes. Tim and Roger are ahead of me and fairly keen not to get 'chicked' again on this climb. The climb wiggles its way upwares with a sucession of hair pins allowing you to have your 'bunny' in sight most of the time. This also means the wind plays a big part in a strategy of climbing. One second you're flying and the next you're into an invisible wall of wind.
5 - 4 - 3 - 2 - 1 - GO!
We're off, Roger is in my sights within seconds, every time he leaves the saddle I gain on him. I've taught myself to stay seated and spin over the years and at times like this it really pays off. Heading inland from the sea and the temperature rises, hot air on lungs already starting to burn. Legs taking strain from days already in the saddle. Roger is closer, I'm reeling him in, have I gone to hard? Just in the distance the flash of Tim's Blue catching in the sunshine. I pause for a second before plowing past Roger, I hope it's not to early as he'll be on my tail. BANG into the wall of wind, the others in sight too, slowly I pick them off before the fast turn back into the tailwaind. Whoosh! Tim is in the tailwind. I look back and see Roger not far back. C'mon pedal legs!
Past the top turn and into the white walled hairpins at the top, hot wind is trying to force me backwards, behind me Roger has a second wind, in front Tim knows I'm chasing, Roger screams 'don't let the power off, CATCH HIM!' Five minutes left to climb, Tim is holding steady, pain is surging through my legs, I shift forward, down on the drops, perched on the tip of the saddle (OW!) for maximum power, I pass the others, Tim still just in sight as we curl round the top bend, STAMP, SPRINT, out the saddle and drop the bomb......BOOM!
Feel a bit sick now!
Roger gives me a big sweaty hug, Tim recons I have 70 seconds on him. What fun!
Steven's shirt is safe. I came 3rd overall. Happy :)
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Sometimes I wonder if fate plays a bigger part in our lives than we give credit for. Some years ago now, I did Wenesledale triathlon. It's one of my favourite races and sits close to my birthday. I had a few friends coming up for a weekend in the Dales. Two friends had bought me some Wonder Woman pants and dared me to wear them over my trisuit.
It's here that I met Jo Carritt for the first time. It's probably the worst conditions I've ever tried to do a triathlon in. Torrential rain lashed down, whilst winds battered the already flooded lake we were due to swim in. Transition was 3' under water and waves were lapping across the road. Wenesledale is a brutal race with a succession of 25% climbs and a 12mile fell run to round it off! A marshall shouted 'you're second lady!' as I dropped down a rock and pebble strewn road. I had a girl in my sights and we drew battle with each other dancing back and forth along the road, squealing into the bike to run transition. Fields were waist deep in water as we set off up the fell. Poor girl didn't know that running isn't my greatest strength and pelted off out of sight, which to be fair wasn't that far in the thick fog! It was August!
We came in 1st and 2nd respectively and I think we both still hold the course records for our favoured disciplines.
That girl was Jo.
We didn't meet again until the sign on queue for Lanzarote Ironman the following year. Jo turned round and exclaimed 'oh god! I hope you've not bought those sodding Wonder Woman pants, they've haunted me!' We've kept in touch properly since then.
When I first met Ali she was still living in London. I was training for another Ironman and needed people to train with when I was down there. Jo's talents had been spotted by this point and she was now racing as a pro. I knew she was in London so asked about training buddies. Jo hooked me up with her old club Tri London and although she was out racing in New Zealand assured me that they were friendly and to look out for her sister. 'like me only taller' she said.
Sure enough they were the friendliest club you could meet. Jo and Steven coach many of them and achieve some fantastic results, including many visits to the world champs in Kona, channel swims and ultra runs.
Last year they ran their first Ironman training camp in Lanzarote. A ride guide had been unable to attend and Jo mailed to see if I could step in. It had been Ali's first Yorkshire winter and she was needing some sunshine. I felt bad if I had a week out here without her so mailed Jo back asking if she wanted a physio along too?
It's customary to have a massage therapist on camps but less so a physio as well. Lucky athletes!
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