Yet again BCC has ventured abroad for our pre-season training camp. Yet again they let us in. We just managed to beat the disinfection squads at the airport, though some members could have done with a bath. This year everyone was there who should have been there and the flight out all went swimmingly. This year we had a departure in that not everyone took their bikes. 15 of use hired our steeds from Majorca. Very good they were too. 27speed, alu tubed Peugeot. I changed saddle and tyres, and found them more than adequate. Good start, and things got better and better.
As is usual for our first day it was windy. This year it was very very windy. I had not ridden in Majorca in conditions like this. Due to the size of the group now, we separated for this ride. The A squad went off alone. Unfortunately they forgot Wilksey. With the wind it made things very difficult. The C squad broke off and went a shorter route and Cazza was actually blown off the road! I think I actually saw Beans flying passed me in one strong gust about 10 feet off the ground. The offer of lead lined tubes for his Pinarrello was politely declined.
The Greek managed to break off a bottle cage. Myself, Trevor (Rudy) and Dave waited which was a mistake on my part. We only caught the main group when they stopped. It was HARD work. Once we had turned then it was a lot easier. I managed to puncture in the lane back to the hotel. A new guy, a Geordie called Kevin waited with me. I thought I had seen him before, I had, he was at the airport on his bike. He had ridden back from Palma before coming out with us. He then dragged me back to the bunch. Back at the hotel we had the place to ourselves. A quiet evening with an ice breaker event where we all sat round and introduced ourselves to the rest of the group (nicknames included).
The first long ride and we were fully split up in our groups for the training. The B group was upto around 25. The wind was still there, though not as gusty as the day before. It was warm, but not the Majorca temps that we usually get. We struggled out in the head wind, making slow progress. As soon as the wind changed then it all let loose. I managed to take a couple of sprints, though there was not much enthusiasm for them at this time. We turned down the main Manacor road almost directly into the wind as we did not have time for an extra loop before lunch. This was really hard. I decided to go to the front over one of the drags, forgetting there was another drag to come. Everyone else was happy to leave me at the front. At the top of the second drag it cuts through the hill so there are cliffs on each side. The wind was funnelled down this straight into my face. As I nearly stopped at the top, Dave came past to help out.
Lunch was at the lovely Montuiri cafe, where we met the C squad with Cazza in full flow. I was struggling to eat anything, the stomach was not into heavy training mode. The way back was much more pleasant and we were treated to fearsome display of sprinting from Ozzie. With 400m to the sign Ozzie asked "where is the sign?", when we told him he set off with 300 to go and 100 behind those already sprinting. He caught and passed them all. Very very impressive. We came back in all along the coast road, some people still had too much energy and were going through and off. As my legs were stuffed I looked round to see if there was anyone else taking it easy. Fortunately for me Todger had sensibly backed off and was rolling back with 007 (names will be explained). We picked up the C squad and also some more stragglers on the way in.
Back for a massage, my legs were very tired. Karen is a good and gentle masseur which was much appreciated.
At last, we got the weather that we expect. Our half mountainous day. We had another large group with a couple of A runners dropping down for an easier day. We had a good through and off session from Sa Pobla all the way to Inca. It was very smooth apart from China kicking through, for which he got a slap from Nick, well deserved. There was a sit-in sprinter for the Inca sign, but he was well beaten. Through Inca we started our loop to Sineu for lunch. Going through Lloseta we came very close to getting lost, but Todger saw us right in the end. It wasn't his fault. Half of the town was in bits due to some road works.
The run down to Sineu is fairly lumpy. There was much encouragement for Beans to go for the sprints and he just managed to hold off Baywatch for one. At one point when we went through Costitx and I thought I had gone the wrong way. There was a small group off the front and I sat up for everyone else. Then no-one appeared. I was worried for a bit as the front group were also out of sight by now. Eventually they appeared, but I do not know why they were so slow. Again another usual cafe, no stroppy Scottish waitress this time. We had to sit inside as things were not that warm. Things nearly got a bit nasty when China’s food did not turn up until the last minute. It would have been carnage if he had missed out. After lunch back to Inca and up to Sineu.
The climb went Ok for me. Dixie had gear problems at the bottom and was just in front of me. He gradually pulled away from me. I must of pushed a bit too hard following him as I then blew half way up and had to recoup. Beans was fist up again. The weather was sunny enough that we stopped and had lots of coffees. Behind me was China @2min, Dave and Louise @3.30 and Nick @ about 10min. The climb took me 38minutes from the sign at Caimari, which is where the climb starts proper. Beans said it took him about 25mins.
As we started the descent I was one of the last off. I caught some people on the first descent after the café. As the “undulations” started I was with Todger and Mary-Rose. To my surprise I dropped them and could only see the two mountain goats (Beans and the Pirate) in front of me. I could not quite catch them before we started to descend, but caught them as soon as we started to go downhill. I then had the descent on my own. At the bottom I saw no-one ahead and started to go on my own. I saw the two behind but they did not appear to be catching so I put my head down. When I go to the island at Pollensa there was Nicole and MrCool shading themselves having been a long way ahead. We rolled back to the hotel, Gary had a bit of cramp but was OK. Dave had seemed to enjoy the time with his climbing partner.
This day was planned with some proper team TT training. We were split into groups for some real training to take place on the ride. It was a hot and sunny day on very familiar roads. We had an extra body with us “Gobby” from the Warwicks was with us. I think that was his name. Well it fits anyway. We split into groups on the rolling road to Petra. The group I was in was Dave, Nick, Todger and Mary-Rose. Nick was struggling a bit on some of the rises and I paid him back for some of the pushes that he has given me over the winter. We then had a lorry right in the way on the way down. Nick was right in the exhaust pipe, which was an interesting idea with all the fumes that were coming out of it. We then had a really nice ride to lunch. I always like it when we go south of the Manacor road and the ride down to Porreres is a good one. It was busy at the café in Montuiri there were a few others apart from us there.
On the way back China was sprinting well, but very noisily. He took the Sa Pobla and Pollensa signs. He got the Sa Pobla sign as he scared the life out of me. As I rounded Todger I heard this very heavy breathing behind me. Turning to see what the noise was, China came churning past me as I watched in astonishment. On the run in to Pollensa a similar thing occurred, but I was well out of that sprint anyway. Definitely an eye opener for me. We did some more through and off on the way back though the groups shuffled around a bit. It was downhill with a tailwind this time and the pace was really on into Sineu.
Pissing about in a car. Manacor bike shop, Palma and out to Deja. God the tunnel cuts off a lot from the mountain. Came back into Pollensa through the mountains with Todger nearly running out of petrol.
This is it. Our big day (well at least a morning) in the mountains. Started out nice and sunny again so no real need for capes etc for the descents. Fair few interlopers into our group including Wilksey, Nicole, Pikachu. As usual it all split on the first climb. As I went there was someone infuriatingly taking photos of us as we went by. He said that most people smiled as they went by, obviously he is not very good at lip reading. I was on my own, but surprisingly with Todger only 100yds ahead. It stayed that distance all the way up, although when Pikachu joined him (after a natural break) they started to go away. Fortunately we were nearly at the top. I caught Todge off the top but Pikachu was gone. We re-grouped at the turning for the monastery. We also re-grouped under the viaduct after the descent. This was a great idea as they were selling the loveliest oranges and with the heat it was a good place to stop for water.
I rode the 2nd climb tempo, which meant at Dave’s speed. There was a group of 5 of us, which made it a social ride. Once we got to the second reservoir I went on and caught Dixie by the military base before stopping at the tunnel to make sure we were all together. I started the descent with Nick to see what I could learn, but he was just cruising so I carried on. I caught Trev and Louise and then Trev picked up the pace and we had some fun overtaking lots of cars. Dave had punctured for about the 10th time when we were in Soller. We set of in groups all desperate for lunch. I was alone all the way up but passed a few who were caping up for the descent. I pushed a bit too hard in the first couple of hairpins and nearly came a cropper. After nearly face planting I took it a bit easier for the rest. I still caught Mary-Rose and Scratch on the run to Bunyola. By the café everyone was pretty knackered and we decided not to go over to the Orient on the way back. Todger’s normally impeccable route finding went astray in an effort to keep us off the Inca road. Still we managed to go the right way in the end. Then rolled it back towards Muro and then Sa Pobla and home. A very tiring day, but the most pleasurable I have spent in the mountains.
Funny ride this one. The wind was back from the first days and it was not so warm any more. We were going to the café in Randa at the recommendation of Wally. What a wally. Bad suggestion. We struggled out into the wind with the group breaking up everytime we got to a hill. Nick had a few words about trying to keep it together with Linda. Then we crossed the Mancor ride and 7k to Randa. Then basically the road was constantly uphill. Linda, Beans and MrCool went off and the rest of us were left to our own devices. God it was hard. I was going fairly well compared to most other people. The mountains had not destroyed my legs. I was on my own behind the front three. Surprisingly in front of Neil Wilkes, Mary-Rose and Scratch. I had enough of struggling into the wind after a while and sat up for them. When we got to the Randa there was some confusion about where the café was and we had to wait for Wally to find it. The meal was very different. A full 3 course meal, very cheap though, with as much wine and water, as you wanted. I stuck to water. There was a soup and some kind of meatballs for the main course. Strange.
The way back was much more pleasurable. With the wind behind us it was quite nice. There were a couple of people who were allegedly suffering on the way back, but no sooner was he down than Todger attacked. When we went through Sa Pobla to the bulrushes he was gone. Things started to get really fun then I was with Beans and Ali when he put the boot in. We caught and passed Todger. Ali them kept going and going until me and Beans were blown off the back (at 34mph according to Ali) we then worked it through for a bit until the group caught us. There was then 5 of us, but we still could not close down Linda. He held us off, swine. Still it was a lot of fun. On the way home, Dave sent secret troops ahead to make sure a B run regular took the sprint. Which Beans and Gary did by virtue that no-one had seen them take a short cut. I just managed to hold of Linda for 3rd.
A fantastic week on the bike. Slightly more mileage than usual and a great group to ride with.