KW - Amberley

 Didn’t have coffee in the morning. Didn’t think I needed it. 

In my mind we were going to start riding easy and slowly progress into a steady ride. 

In fact I said it out loud as we were starting to ride. “Let’s start easy”.

Next thing I know The Pope is at the front smashing it. And when I say smashing it I mean that by the time we were in Cobham, 10km into the ride for those of you not into Surrey’s geography, I was thinking there was no way I was going to keep up with this pace. I believe GC Denis was thinking the same. My brain was shut down by the effort but I seem to remember that he even said out loud. 

The Pope led all the way up Effingham. A steady pace that put me in a terrible position (remember, steady is not a synonym of easy).

I could either (try to) hold on to his wheel, something that didn’t really feel very appealing (or possible). Why on earth would you want to do that to yourself?

Or, let him go, but risk GC Denis following him and both of them dropping me. 

What do you prefer to punish, your body or your ego?

I decided to punish my body. 

Wrong decision because as soon as we got to the road that typically marks the top of the climb The Pope looked left and right, shouted “Clear” (I was dying and he was able to shout!!!), crossed the road and kept riding at his steady pace (remember, steady doesn’t mean easy). 

That was enough for me. Had to let him go.

Luckily for me my ego was saved because GC Denis also let him go. 

We were 25km into the ride. It was going to be a long day (and it will probably be a long ride report).

Second story of the day happened at Horsebridge Hill. 

The Pope quickly disappeared uphill leaving me and GC Denis to decide who was going to be last in the climb.

I felt pretty confident in my chances and set my own tempo. But something felt wrong when I saw GC Denis passing me. 

What is he doing?

I knew the climb. I knew there was still a fairly long way to go. 

I found myself in a terrible position. 

Again.

What do you do? Follow GC Denis or trust your knowledge of the climb even if a few kilometers ago you didn't know where you were, the Garmin is telling you the climb is finishing in 800 meters, and GC Denis NEVER gets a climb wrong?

What do you prefer to punish, your body or your ego?

I couldn’t possibly punish my body any more so I decided to punish my ego. I was going to be last anyway…

We were still 60km into the ride and I already had punished my body and my ego more than I like to confess.

A very much needed coffee and a scone at Amberly. Sitting outside. Making plans about our training camp in Asturias and The Pope confessed he had two coffees before starting the ride.

We need to establish the rule of sharing in the WhatsApp group how much caffeine everyone is having before the ride. If only to know in advance how hard the ride is going to be.

The caffeine did its usual effect and I felt much better on the way back. 

I was able to contribute to the pace. I even took the Horton sprint. 

And then, when I finished the ride, the Garmin gave me the ultimate punishment to my ego.

My FTP had decreased to 263w.

I need to have a word with Garmin’s product manager.

The ride in Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/14519090955 

Take care of yourself

Javier Arias González

Tour of the Isle of Wight

 Habemus Papam.

We need a new nickname for the mountain goat of the group (Looking at you TY).

Something related to the noises of his bike perhaps. Although, in this ride Tommy’s bike was making even more noises than Ed’s. With this trend soon our rides are going to start sounding like an out of tune orchestra. 

I was thinking bread-eater due to his peculiar nutrition choices but if someone has to have a nickname related to his peculiar nutrition choices, as no nutrition at all, that would be JFW. The final, let’s call it the mother of all bonks, didn't really compensate for the fact that he did the whole ride in the big chainring.  

Maybe Elizabeth can suggest something now that she has ridden with him for the first time. A shocking experience no doubt, but we can really use a fresh perspective here and we can’t count on GC Denis for that. Not exactly his first ride with Ed this one. Also, he was the best prepared for today’s rides, the one that organised everything, the most consistent rider, it wouldn’t be fair to ask him to do more for the group. 

DD could suggest something to us in Polish. The short Polish grammar lesson we had over dinner (a topic that can be only justified by the combination of tiredness and alcohol) showed potential for very great sounding, creative nicknames. 

My personal bet for the best new nickname would be it will come from Dai. His usual chattery, occasional grumpiness, and incipient Polish is the best combination to come up with a good one.

The rides in Strava:  

• To Southampton: https://www.strava.com/activities/14440094414

• Tour of the Isle of Wight: https://www.strava.com/activities/14440171885 

Take care of yourself

Javier Arias González

Oasts & Coasts 300k (Audax)

An event organised by Tom Jackson.

An event I rode with John Barkman.

That’s me mingling with proper Audax UK royalty.

I love this ride. 

I have ridden it in 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017. 

Even if it has the sad record of being the only brevet I didn’t finish (in 2018 I had a crash and broke my bike frame 6km into the ride) I was telling my Spanish friends this is the 300 event I would recommend to them if they ever come to ride a 300 in the UK. 

This is a route that has it all. Not flat the first 100km Strong head wind the following 50k. A touristic 50km to cross Dover, climb to its castle and ride through parks and near the sea. 50k with tail wind (although my comment about getting a second wind wasn’t as well received as I was expecting) and last 50k riding while the sun is settling and magnificent views of the valley on your left with a few easy hills. Perfect to finish the ride with a great taste in your mouth, to which also contributed the recently delivered pizza from the local italian restaurant that was being distributed at the final control.

Something tells me I’ll be back.

The ride in Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/14294733685

Take care of yourself

Javier Arias González

Tenerife - Masca. The other way

 First three climbs felt very hard. Especially Monte del Agua climb. Almost 12 km at 5.7%. Not really a hard climb but I felt tired and unable to put any power. 

50 minutes of questioning my training, my recovery, the carbonara I had for dinner yesterday, and, of course, the bike (are the brakes rubbing?).

By the time I got to the top I said it out loud. “I’m cooked” 

I was really worried. Not only did I still have to go up Masca. 4 km at an average of 10.8% but I was also puzzled with how I was feeling. I couldn’t spot a reason for it.

I crawled Masca and welcomed every time I had to put a foot down due to the amount of cars up and down that narrow road.

We stopped for lunch at Santiago del Teide. Two cokes, a “bocadillo de tortilla francesa”, and a “café con leche” and I started to see the world with different eyes. 

In fact I also said out loud. “I’m feeling much better”

And that feeling became true as soon as we tackled the small climb out of Santiago del Teide. Not that we pushed the pace, but at least I was not struggling.

The miracle happened on the last climb of the day, Subida la Guancha. 10 km at 4.2%. An easy climb. But a climb that allowed me to set an easy pace and start to ride following my heart rate with GC Denis and TY. I pushed the pace to allow my heart rate to go up gradually. The pace wasn’t anything spectacular, we are on the fifth day of a training camp, but we were getting faster and it felt like a sustainable effort. I even allowed myself to sprint for the last 100m.

At the top of the climb GC Denis and TY were kind enough to praise the work I had done at the front and, with that, allowing me to get a bit of morale boost after a terrible morning and finish this training camp with a positive note. 

I’m sure there is an explanation for such a change in feeling and performance. There is probably a lesson to be learned there. But I have no idea what it is.

The ride in Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/14127191023

Take care of yourself

Javier Arias González

Tenerife - Anaga National Park

This picture says it all. The Pope taking pictures and having the time of his live. GC Denis making an effort and me seconds before blowing up in pieces half way up the climb.

Tim Krabbé expressed like no one else. “Hell is the pace of the others”.

Today, for me, hell was GC Denis’ pace going up Pico de los Pasos.

A stunning climb. Probably the most beautiful we have climbed in this training camp. Steady, with great views, fantastic tarmac, and the last kilometres surrounded by trees that cover the road, my personal definition of beautiful road.

It sounds impossible but it was all downhill for me. From “I’m going to lead all the way to the top”, to “let’s share the work with GC Denis, 1k each at the front”, down to “let him do most of the work and beat him over the line” to giving up and having to slow down to a more sustainable pace.

I still pushed as hard as I could all the way to the top. I’m still happy with my effort.

So happy that by the end of the ride I was reflecting on the privilege that is to have a group of friends like these to ride with. 

Everyone needs a group of friends that makes him feel like this group makes me feel.

There is pleasure in visiting hell if afterwards you go back to heaven.

The ride in Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/14116789276/

Take care of yourself

Javier Arias González

Tenerife - Teide loop

In the end we had no choice but to declare the stage void.

Everyone but GC Denis and myself was (very) late to the start of the ride.

Everyone but JFW and myself refused to ride down to sea level to do a proper sea level to Teide climb. 

GC Denis decided to attack his own team when we were all working for him.

TY took another shortcut. This is becoming so common that his name is now “Shortcut” TY. 

The Pope decided to do hill reps up Teide.

JFW jumped on the wheel of a FDJ pro-rider. All the respect he won by riding the whole Teide in the big chainring lost in the less than 30 seconds he managed to hold his wheel. 

The weather didn’t play ball either. Very windy in the descent and reports of higher temperatures in London made us wonder what we were doing here. 

The Pope broke the group discipline not following the great pace I was setting with the aim of making the last climb enjoyable for everyone. 

GC Denis took a town sign sprint. I don’t want to remember which town. All I want to remember is that he attacked when I was taking one for the team and doing, for a second time in the day, a great work at setting the pace for him and The Pope.

The Pope didn’t allow me to take the final KOM. That was particularly malevolent after sitting on his wheel the 10km of the climb, listening to all the noises his bike was producing and the magnificent attack I launched. Yes, it was a bit too early, but the noise was getting in my brain. 

I must report the occurrence of a few cramps but I won’t name names (Javier wasn’t one of them though) to protect the privacy of those involved. The one I witnessed looked painful.

With less misbehaviours race organizers cancel stages nowadays. So the only option was to forget about sprint and KOM winners (I didn’t get any of either) and focus on the great day we had. 

Tomorrow’s stage will be great though. I'm sure at the very least we will start riding on time.

The ride in Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/14089037818

Take care of yourself

Javier Arias González

KW - Extended Milk Churn

 You know that feeling when you are at the front of the group, putting an effort to keep the pace of the group and you hear someone in the group chatting effortlessly?

Well, you know your day is going to be a hard one when the opposite happens. 

That is, someone is in the front, ie. Dai in this ride, chatting effortlessly with Robbie, while you are sitting on his wheel out of breath and fully focussed on not losing his wheel.

The sting is when you realise he is riding on the big chainring. Which wouldn’t be anything special if it wasn’t because we were climbing Effingham. And yes, I know Effingham is not the steepest of the climb but I was on the small chainring from even before the climb started. 

I knew I was definitely up for a hard day. 

So hard that GC Denis smelled blood and started to go for the intermediate sprints.    

Almost killed myself to stay on Dai and GC Denis’ wheel up Leith Hill and they beat me up Juniper by quite some margin.

Still, the best sign that I had a bad day is that GC Denis finished the ride with more sprint points than me. 

It is going to take a long time to recover from this. 

The ride in Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/14020182697/

Take care of yourself

Javier Arias González

Sprinters

I imagine it will be different for pros, I haven’t studied that fauna yet. For club riders, in particular for Kingston Wheeler riders and being very specific for the Saturday Gang I have the hypothesis that there are two types of sprinters.

Machine guns and snipers.

That would be it. Easy to understand, isn’t it. I’ll add some colour for those not cyclists among you.

A machine gun sprinter is a sprinter that sprints for every single town sign. 

It doesn’t necessarily mean we are talking about a good or strong (two very different qualities) sprinter.

There are machine gun sprinters that sprint for every town sign just because they know where they are. They leave the discipline of a perfectly formed riding group to get the ephemeral glory of crossing first a line only they knew existed. They even celebrate the non-contested sprint for a split of a second before their legs become jelly and they end up swallowed by the efficient group. Embarrassing. 

They are not the worst though. The worst are the desperate machine gun sprinters. Those sprint for signs that are not town signs, or the town sign doesn’t have the speed limit sign. Some of them even sprint for no sign at all. Desperate for sprinting points, they just cross an imaginary line and celebrate. They might be bad sprinters, weak sprinters, or tired sprinters. Losers really. 

The snipers couldn’t be different. The Kingston Wheelers Back For Breakfast gang are probably a very good example. A route published in advance. Three or four sprints are clearly spotted, a one pager detailing each sprint sprint is shared so everyone knows how long it is, the profile, and, obviously, the sprint line. Almost pro level.

The Back For Breakfast gang are my north star, my inspiration. After every ride they publish a ride report where they detail the outcome of each sprint. I always read them with interest, fascinated by the intricate strategies of those clever and strong sprinters.

I don’t join Back For Breakfast rides. My declared reason is that starting the ride at 6:30 is way too early, the fact that the rules are a bit too clear and fair for me to have any chance at getting any of the sprints might also be a factor. 

After all I am a machine gun, sniper wannabe sprinter. 

I only know where a handful of sprint lines are and, as a very good sniper, I don’t have any problem hiding for ages at the back of the group waiting for my opportunity to strike at one of those sprints. I did that twice successfully today. 

But the reality is I was a bit of a desperate machine gun sprinter today. Jumped out of the group for a couple of sprint signs. I celebrated with big fanfare such prestigious victories and when Diego, eager to join the sprinting competition, asked where the next sprint was I had to confess I had no idea. 

Wherever you see me going first and celebrating that was a sprint line is the only right answer.   

ps. I wasn’t the only desperate machine gun sprinter today and, yes, that is a consolation to me. 

The ride in Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/13963323063/

Take care of yourself

Javier Arias González

One Of The Best Cycling Strategists

 I am one of the best cycling strategists.

Give me a route and I’ll create a plan that will optimize my performance for the route and very often will end up with me taking the final sprint. 

My only flaw is that I probably should study Saturday’s routes a bit better.

For reasons I can’t explain I thought in today’s ride we had Whitedown as the final climb. 

Whitedown. A climb I don’t like (too steep) at the end of a never easy ride (https://www.unbiciorejon.com/2018/10/you-need-to-read-this-if-you-are.html).

I rode all day with that final climb in mind. 

And, of course, the final Esher sprint. 

Imagine my surprise when I realised we were heading towards Juniper. It would be difficult to find a hill more different to Whitedown. 

And, of course, to the Horton sprint. It would be difficult too to find a sprint more different to Esher sprint.

Being one of the best cycling strategists means I can adapt quickly to the circumstances. I welcomed the change. Suited me well.

Juniper was perfect. GC Denis led most of the climb. Cameron on his wheel. Me sitting comfortably on Cameron’s wheel. Dai, on tired legs after spending most of the day at the front, on my wheel. Difficult to find yourself in a better position.

As we were approaching the final ramp I sensed Dai’s attack. 

Perfect. This is too far away. I let him go and stayed on Cameron’s wheel.

Being the great cycling strategist I am, I knew Dai wouldn’t go far and Cameron would close the gap with me on his wheel, setting me up for a perfect KOM win.

A shame that Cameron didn’t try to close the gap and Dai just kept making it bigger and bigger.

I, of course, tried to close the gap to Dai. For a split second I even believed I was going to close it. But Dai kept pushing and making the gap even bigger.

To make things worse Cameron passed me just before getting to the top. 

Not great.

But the Horton sprint was my real opportunity to show everyone how it is done.

Somehow I found myself in the perfect position. In the final straight, with Peter L in front of me and with Cameron on my right.

The perfect position to admire the sprint between Dai and Cameron.

And I say to admire the sprint because seeing how those two animals sprinted, I knew there was no way I was going to take that sprint. 

I am, without a doubt, one of the best cycling strategists. But it doesn’t matter how good you are at cycling strategy if everyone else insists on doing what they shouldn’t be doing.

The route in Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/13953990566/

Take care of yourself

Javier Arias González

KW - Almost Pilgrims Way

From the moment I jumped on the bike I knew I was tired and I was heading for a hard day. Riding with the Saturday gang when you are tired is like riding surrounded by wasps that move around you with agility and speed and that, from time to time, merciless sting you. I was there or thereabouts in the first hills but it was the ramps what made it hard. Short, steep, everyone out of the saddle. I felt stung again and again. As you would expect of me I wasn’t seen in the front. I always tried to have at least two riders in front of me. Being very conscious of where I was situated. Bidders is bigger than Peter, Dai bigger than Chris. Let JFW be behind Peter and Chris, put yourself behind Bidders and Dai. Of course my riding mates noticed my game and made sure they mentioned it at the coffee stop. Maybe hoping I’d feel ashamed. No chance. Yes, I sat at the front for about 1km after the coffee stop, probably influenced by the latte I had, but that was it. Back to the middle of the group. Juniper, the last climb of the day, created a few interesting situations. At the bottom of the climb GC Denis and Chris got a gap. I was behind Bidders, JFW and Dai wondering what they were doing allowing such a big gap to open. Luckily for me I saw Dai starting to accelerate so I jumped on his wheel. That was hard work but it paid off. Soon enough we were behind Chris and GC Denis. Dai was on fire because it didn’t take him long to pass both Chris and GC Denis. I saw GC Denis following Dai and I followed him. I think Chris dropped at that point. I kept looking back. I knew Bidders would be steadily closing the gap and I wanted to make sure I was aware when he was approaching. It didn’t take long to sense him on my wheel. Not a good situation for me. Dai flicked his elbow, GC Denis moved to the front, I stayed on his wheel, Bidders on my and Dai dropped at the back. Even worse situation for me. GC Denis almost dropped me at the steep bit but he eased a bit at the descent and I caught with him, Bidders on my wheel, Dai on Bidders wheel. That didn’t last long. GC Denis opened a gap. I could, potentially, accelerate and close it but I knew if I tried that would be the end of it. I only had one bullet. The gap grew bigger and I was starting to fade. I was taking too much air in my face. Nightmare situation for me. Bidders might have thought I was hopeless so he decided to pass me. Dai on his wheel. I jumped on Dai’s wheel and managed to stay there while Bidders was closing the gap to GC Denis. Dream scenario for me now. At the back of the quartet, very close to the final ramp, one match to burn. Bidders started to pass GC Denis. Dai on his wheel. Me following Dai. Bidders opened a gap. Dai flicked his elbow. That was the moment of truth and I went for it. Not very successfully though. The gap didn’t shrink. If anything it grew a little bit bigger. The joys of going against Bidders. I still claim I took the KOM. Yes, Bidders was soft pedalling for some seconds but I did a second mini-sprint and I crossed the line at the top first. Take that those of you that were saying I’m never at the front. Of course you don’t want to know how I managed to get third, behind Bidders and Dai at the Horton sprint. You only care about the really interesting parts of the ride.

The ride in Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/13823622797

Take care of yourself

Javier Arias González

KW - Sumners Ponds the Bidders way

 Let me start with a short guide on how to stress me out.

Let’s plan a 4.5 hour “steady” ride for Sunday with Bidders.

Join JFW’s game on Saturday riding to Devil’s Punchbowl (https://www.strava.com/activities/13695818164) and make sure you end up well tired.

Find out when you return from your ride the route Bidders has chosen for the “steady” ride is a route to Sumners Ponds.

Didn’t look at the route but whenever someone suggest a ride to Sumners Ponds this post of mine from more than six years ago comes to mind (​​https://www.unbiciorejon.com/2018/10/you-need-to-read-this-if-you-are.html) “That was an easy ride to Sumners Ponds...Said no one. Ever.”

He has posted the route on the KW forum and added me to it. Start time 8am. Zero chances anyone else is going to join us.

Dead wrong. 

Saturday 22:19 The Pope sent a message. “Will join”.

I saw the message laying in bed, when I was about to go to sleep. Another sentence from my post came to mind “there is something about riding to Sumners Ponds that always slaughters the weakest rider of the group”.

I had nightmares last night. 

When you don’t sleep well your levels of stress go up. My god I was stressed this morning.

But things can always take a turn for the worse. 

Today, at LW, 8:06 the trio started the ride. 

I turned left. The Garmin beeped, The Pope shouted. I was wrong. The route was going to the right. 

That’s not the normal way of going to Sumners Ponds…

If not knowing the route stresses me out it would be wise to study the route before agreeing to ride it. Right? Well, I didn’t study it. 

Beyond knowing we had two hard, steep climbs at the end of the ride and knowing how Sumners Ponds cafe looks, I knew nothing about the route. 

To make my levels of stress skyrocket I found myself at the front, riding next to Bidders, while he was explaining to me he had chosen the route in such a way that we had head wind on the way out and tail wind on the way back (to climb two hard, steep climbs, I remind you). 

It shouldn’t be difficult for you to imagine Javier panicking and trying to find a way to fall back and sit on Bidders and The Pope’s wheel.

But The Pope was doing his usual thing. Riding a few meters back. Making it impossible for me to drop behind him without being absolutely clear about my intentions. 

My levels of stress were record high. 

But I was still playing it cool. I’d be such a great poker player if I ever learn the rules of the game.

All this and we were still in Epsom (no way this route would take us to Sumners ponds).

In Epsom we stopped at a traffic light and The Pope called my attention to the fact that I wasn’t carrying bidons (those two bidons in the picture I left ready next to the bike but, inexplicably I forgot at home). 

My stress levels were now record high. 

Heading to Sumners Ponds, not knowing the route. Without water and too arrogant to ask for it. The only gels I was carrying were the GU ones we got in that shop in California, that, of course, needed to be consumed with water. I was the weakest rider but I was sitting at the front into a heavy head wind and I knew we were going to finish the party with two hard, steep climbs (no idea with ones though).

Tears came out of my eyes but it was because the (heavy) wind got in my eyes.

It is fair to say that is a great way to stress me out.

All for nothing though. 

Bidders was true to his word and managed to keep a “steady” pace in a leg breaker route. 

It was amazing. I really enjoyed it. 

The fact that I didn’t know the route became part of the enjoyment. I found myself constantly surprised recognizing parts of the road and, still, having the feeling I had never ridden those roads in that direction.

The Pope did his thing in each tiny, little and big climb we went through but Bidders and I kept it nice and easy.

Scone with cream and jam at the stop. Not a drop of rain. Nice tail wind on the way home.

Five stars review for Bidders as a ride organiser. 

But don’t let my great experience trick you. This route is a killer. 

I know it doesn’t look much when you look at the numbers (123km 1400m) but, believe me. Ridden at the usual K2 pace of the Saturday gang this is a very hard route. 

So much so that at the coffee stop we fantasized with whom should we trick into riding it (TY your name was mentioned knowing your training in Florida would be great for this route)

So, yes. I’m saying “That was an easy ride to Sumners Ponds”, something I thought I would never say. But don’t expect that to happen to you. Especially if the plan is to follow this route.

The ride in Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/13705065574

Take care of yourself

Javier Arias González