Damn, I really got my 'arse kicked' today
Me, a 40 year old. Me, who is 2lbs shy of 13 stone, who has always hated hills, who has never proclaimed to be any good up them. Me who always gets dropped when the gradiant gets above 4%. Me who struggles breathing in the damp cold air, especially with no warm up. Me, I got my arse kicked today - I'm gutted - I'm not going to be able to sleep tonight
I had totally forgotten about today's hill climb until a text from Brian R on thursday reminded me of the fact that I had, for some bizarre reason, agreed to enter this insane (for me) idea of fun
With the rain pi$$ing down as I looked out the window this morning, and then watching my youngest daughter opening her birthday presents, the thought of cycling over to Ranmore made me feel quite nauseus. Time ticked by and my wife said "aren't you going". Couldn't chicken out now, even if I wanted to, so shoved the bike in the van and tanked it down the A217 and then on to Dorking and up to Ranmore.
With only Tony in the car park and no signs of any bikes down the road towards the climb, I hoped it had been called off. Then Stu and Hal came along with numbers on their backs, so I reluctantly got the bike out and put my shoes on. My thorough warm up of 200m took me to where the numbers were at the finish point of the climb. I asked if I could do the run in the reverse direction but Jon was having none of it
Down the hill to the start - flippin eck, this is quite steep isn't it
. I know I've been down it before but I've never been down it knowing that, within 2 or 3 minutes time, I'd be racing (if you can call it that) back up it.
My minute man was a dns, so it seemed a long wait till my off. I'd told myself numerous times not to start too quickly, so as I pulled away from the line and up the first 200m it was inevitable that I would start off too quickly
. I then had to knock it up a sprocket or 5
. It was then I realised that my mum had kept a secret from me for 40 years. My legs are really made of wood
. Well it bloody felt like it anyway, such a horrible feeling. Obviously a consequence of not warming up.
I nearly ground to a halt, and as I saw Joyce up ahead on the hairpin, I was going to stop with her and watch the rest of the nutters (sorry, riders), fight their way to the top. But as I got to her she gave a huge shout of encouragement. "Go go go that's it, out the saddle, push push push". So what could I do but to keep going? Thanks Joyce
I crossed the finish line totally blowing out my backside. I felt sick for about 25 mins after. Without doubt the hardest 3 1/2mins I've ever had on a bike. Oh, by the way, I'm still devistated that I got my arse kicked.
Thanks to Jon, Tim and Joyce for organising
Adam, if you spent as much time riding your bike as you do ribbing everyone else on the forum and, as Paul says, 'biggin it up', you might be a half decent bike rider. I reckon you should start letting your riding do the talking and when we see results from this extra time spent on the bike then you can start 'givin it large' or preferably not then either
Oh, I did a 23.49 for the Holmwood 10 the other week. Can't remember what your best time is - could you let us know
Steve