Todays ride was not a long one as We were taking out Pete- one of my neighbours that only started riding last Autumn and has not done many rides over the winter. We have got him up to 10 miles offroad on a flat trail but today was going to be 20 miles on the road. The bike we have loaned him is a Giant Trance- not ideal for the road but Don't think a change of bike to a road bike would have been kind to him today. "Some" of us kept our speed down to force him to go slow- but it would allow the hammerheads to show how "Macho" they are.


newrider..jpg

Met another rider that we have occasionally met and he joined us for about 6 miles. Another older rider and he invited us to his Cycle club meeting tomorrow. He bought his Colnago as a frame about 4 years ago on E-Bay for about 1/2 price and built it ups with Campy components. Surprising how easy it is to spot a quality bike when you see it.

The route we had planned was only a flat one but it has a couple of lumps in it. Two riders went for the first one and after making sure that someone was with Pete- I chased them. Got to within 50 yards by the top and caught them at the bottom of the down slope- just before the next lump. Halfway up and I passed one of them- he was breathing very hard and had gone. Sat behind the other one and he started to put the pressure in. I just upped the cadence to stay with him and as he flagged a bit- passed him.

Down to the cafe and the excuses started- My Boreas is so light I should have caught them on the first hill and the other one reckoned that low pressure in his tyres and grippy tyres did not help him. Now these two lumps are only 1/2 mile long each and about 8% and with my lack of riding over the winter- they should have lost me. Perhaps that ride that I overdid last week has had a better effect than thought it should have had. Or it could be that I had enough sense to let them wear themselves out so much on the first lump while I caught them on the downslope- and still had energy for the 2nd one----Experience will always work.

decent motor..jpg50+..jpg

Met one of the other regulars at the cafe and he said he had come down by Bike today. He normally comes in his classic Mercedes but decided to get some air round his body today. And sorry about the sacrilidge but no Pie today. I had eaten a full breakfast before I left so it was only a slice of fruit cake today.

By this time Pete was showing the effect of not training so Me and Ross took him home up the MUP. A few chances for Interval training and we showed him how its done. Slight slope and a clear trail and you sprint the last 200yards of the slope. Then you recover fully. After the 2nd one we could tell Pete was beginning to suffer so slow right down and just turn the pedals. We got him home with sore legs- a set of lungs that were beginning to burst and a Butt that did not sit on the saddle for the last 5 miles. Not certain if he enjoyed the ride but he said he wants to come out again shortly. Not next week but I think it will be back to offroading for a while. He found the few extra miles just a bit too much.

But that gentle ride did not do much to me today. I had the chance to put pressure in for a few slopes but nothing there to challenge me. But the object of today was Pete. He enjoyed the ride but also realises that road riding can be hard. The mad fool want to go offroad again next time. Problem is that if you say that to our group you will regret it. I may be the roadie that does some offroad but the rest of them are offroaders that sometimes ride on the road. Wonder how a novice will tackle a 1 mile 15% climb as the easy route to the hills????