Ardingly reverse

 Well, this one went better than I was expecting.

GC Denis had suggested a perfectly fine route to Alice Holt and The Pope came with a counter proposal. A longer route with twice the climbing. Enough for me to worry.

I took it easy Friday and Saturday with just two easy hours on the turbo each day. 

But I worried even more when I saw the quality of the riders that had signed up for the ride.

I figured I had a chance at the final sprint so my plan was (I always have a plan, even when I say I don’t have a plan): No coffee in the morning, sit on the wheels all day, and aim for the final sprint. Simple. Easy to follow.

I was fast screwing up the plan. First climb, Banstead Rd., and I find myself at the front “talking” to JFW.

When I say “talking” I mean selecting carefully the moment and the sentences so you can deliver them in such a way that you make the rider riding next to you, JFW in this case, that you are riding effortlessly. I had screwed up my plan but at least I was winning the psychological war. 

A bit of a pointless victory to be honest as JFW quickly mentioned (after he recovered his breath) that he wasn’t riding the full route. I demoralised the wrong rider. Sorry JFW.

Those were not my only mistakes. In a short and steep climb I insisted on following The Pope and Alfredo. Not a clever move. I also found myself a few times at the front of the group. Many of them when we were getting head wind. A wind that was getting stronger and stronger. 

By the time we got to Ardingly I was tired, we were half way, and the second half had more climbing. Why do we listen to The Pope?

But I had a coffee and that changed my perspective. Suddenly life was wonderful, I was full of happiness.

To make things better at some point I recognised the road. It was the standard way back from Brighton.

For the first time in the day I knew where I was and what exactly was coming. 

The “how I feel” divided by “what is left” gave me an encouraging sign. I moved toward the front and started to contribute, consciously and voluntarily, to the pace. 

Even more, I started to consider the idea of attacking the group at Juniper. Me, the most cowardly rider, riding with such a strong group. Caffeine is a strong drug.

And, again, I screwed up the plan.

Somehow I found myself on Amber’s wheel approaching the Juniper&Box roundabout and with a gap to the rest of the group.

I moved to the front and took it steady at the ramp that takes you to Box. I was waiting for the group to catch up with us. I knew I couldn’t afford a two up Juniper with Amber. Her power to age ratio would kill me. I wanted a standard “I sit at the back of the group all the climb, sprint for the last 50 metres and I get the KOM”.

By the time we turned right to enter Juniper the group was almost there but not quite there. That is not good. I didn’t know what to do. So I did something silly.

Pushed the pace a little but not quite like going all in for the breakaway. Not here nor there. 

It wasn’t long until I felt a rider was moving towards passing me. I looked back and it was GC Denis. I looked back again and I saw a gap to the rest of the group. THANK GOD. 

One of my beliefs in cycling is that if I am around GC Denis I am doing very well. He is very generous in his effort and we are used to working together. It was going to be hard for the group to catch us.

In fact, by the time we got to the final ramp, I looked back and couldn’t see the group. I took the KOM. Boom!!!

I also took the final sprint, at Horton roundabouts. The Pope did all the work at the front, GC Denis led me with his constant pace, Nigel was feeling the ride in his legs, and Alfredo didn’t know where the line was. By the time he passed me I had already taken the sprint. Boom, boom!!! (A John Lee Hooker - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_6SlT3Yy10).

Probably my most successful day in my cycling career.

The ride in Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/20726322099/

Take care of yourself

Javier Arias González