King of the mountains

Know your place

My cycling Palmares speaks for itself: Etape de Tour 02, six days in the Alps 06, Mt Ventoux 11, Col du Tourmalet 12 and the mighty Stelvio June 13.  I’ve also done numerous sportives in the UK and Ireland.

But due to the recent surge in Cycling over the last few years instead of cycling mainly on my own I’m now cycling with cyclists of varied abilities.  When I started there was no strava, it was the polar heart rate monitor, and to put it mildly I was just cycling.  Now it’s GPS, Stats and power meters.

I’d call myself an experienced cyclist.  I know my capabilities, my heart rate, my legs, and I know which hill I can conquer.  I conquered the mighty Bwlch y Groes on my 3rd attempt; I managed it by swearing and cajoling myself up the pass and duly phoned my wife to tell her of my achievement. Did she care/ was she interested - no.  For info, The Bwlch is probably one of the hardest climbs in the UK.  I’ll let you in on a secret, I managed it I’m sure due to the benefit of cycling in France the previous week – I had what we call climbing legs.

The main point of my blog is to acknowledge it doesn’t matter how many cols you’ve conquered there is always someone better or fitter than you.  There’s no shame in that.

Yesterday I had the choice on our Sunday club run to go with the beginners or the inexperienced at 13-15mph or go with the elite at 18mph – I chose the latter.

I hope they don’t mind me calling them the elite, because locally or in our club they are, they can glide up hills, avg 20+ on the flat effortless.  Mind you they are approx 20 years younger than me.  Should it make a difference?     I know cyclists from other local clubs virtually the same age as me who could keep up with them trust me, where did I go wrong?

After avg 19 mph in the first 7 miles yesterday not the stated 18, I felt good, I was sheltering behind them, literally cruising.  The planned ride was a tough one; I felt maybe I’ll stay with them.  The first major climb of the day was Oakley Drive from Maentwrog up to the Trawsfynydd Power station.  It has 3 strava segments; it’s not easy I’ve gone over the years from 25 mins to 14-15 mins.

 Well today over the 3 miles I smashed it with a time of 13.15, but that’s half the story.  The elite did it in 11.04 and 11.10 respectively and to be honest they were cruising- gliding, whilst I was working like a dog - grovelling.  We approached the hill at 19 mph then I was still on the lower slopes doing 16 - what!    Then the gap appeared 10 metres 20- 30- 40 half a mile I was down to 12 mph, but didn’t go below 10.

When I got to the summit they were waiting for me in a lay-by - I told them games up, enjoy your spin see ya.

I turned back in shame – no I didn’t, I knew that with them in front I’d achieved something, a new PB on strava.

 I’m a realist I know where I am and it isn’t at elite level.  It’s about 16- 18mph, anyone out there same age same speed give me a call.

Wannabe climber