Well we all survived the turn of a millennium. There was no end of the world just a very large party and a few headaches. My laptop still works so the millennium bug did not destroy everything. Most of the club managed to make it to Becketts for the first of the "training" runs of the season. There are now getting too many people out on a run for me to remember who went, and I am not going to get a paper on pen to take with me, and I am sure that even I would go slower uphill with a laptop in my back pocket.
So to what happened this week. Well it was supposed to be 2 runs, and A and B squad. The A squad chickened out and decided there was not enough of them. That meant we all went out together. Fine for the gentle winter run, but with quite a difference of abilities out, it does not help with effective training. I was a little nervous. The Christmas break had been good to me and I had not ridden my bike for three weeks and was (am) a stone heavier than before.
The ride itself was steady enough, but the it was very cold and there was no stop any more. That made for some very tired legs. Nick S suffered two punctures on the way out, but other than that it was a fairly quiet ride. A lot less ice than before Christmas. There was an attempt to start a rotation going, but the group was too large and it did not work out (A-squad interlopers please note). Just after we had started to head back, basically at the furthest point on the ride, the pace suddenly picked up on a short hill. At the top I noticed that a small and very select group had dropped off the back. Sensing that that is would be a good time to not get caught at the front I dropped off too. This left just four off us to work all the way back. funnily enough a group smaller than the A-squad decided they could not cope with. We were the B run for now, Nick S, DAS, Goldie and myself
A couple of miles later and Baywatch had also decided that he did not fancy the front group either. On the way back there was much discussion about the relative merits of two speed runs more of which I am sure will be said next week. I think Nick had calmed down by circuits on Tuesday. Also who also should have known better and dropped back (If they had looked back and seen there was a second group). True to form we came across a couple of dropouts. Nick Hand and China had also decided that the pace was a bit hot at the front. We then struggled back Dave "towing" us up some hills. Several different people suffering at in different times. Ullenhall was it's usual hell. I got cramp at the bottom and ended up going up faster than I would have liked just to keep moving. At the top is was effectively blown. We split up a bit then, Nick Hands who was going well, went off the front. Dave had already departed to Redditch. Nick and Baywatch paired up as they were going slightly better than me and China. China was also suffering from cramp, so we struggled back together.
At the end of the ride, the remnants of what shall be now known as the A-squad we still around. After some enquiries I have found out a little of what happened. Apparently the increase in pace was all Bob's fault, but then we should have known that. Several people did not make the group on the way back. Rob reported that he was doing all he could do to stay on when he noticed that Tom Kirk was ready to drop. Sensing a good excuse to ease up, not a stupid as he looks Rob, he asked Tom if he wanted to ease and cruise back. Tom was only too happy to agree. Another casualty was the Big Mac himself. Apparently on the back at the bottom of Gorcot, he was off the back by the top. Beans managed that bit, not surprising really, but was dropped on the flat at Portway. Mr Todd emailed me Monday to gloat and make sure that these points were noted.
Well it was an interesting start to the years serious training. We will have to see how the rides develop from here. I do not believe that he format as happened this week will last. There will be separate and better organised rides, or I will eat my laptop.
Yours, with legs still hurting three days later, but still looking forward to
next week,
Meg