Chapter 16 - TriCamp revisited and muchos riding

TriCamp - The Sequel

Is my helmet on straight?

Usually the sequel is never as good as the original, so I was slightly concerned that my second visit to TriCamp wouldn't be quite the journey it had been last year and would I really get as much out of it? I was particularly concerned as I'd had a cold for most of December and January and whilst I wasn't as green as I was last year I certainly hadn't been able to put in the hours of training that had been clocked up by early 2014. So I was worried that I wasn't going to have the stamina required for this level of exercise.

I was determined that this time I wasn't going to be the camp numpty. Especially when my friend Steve admitted that last year when we had first gone out on the bikes it was agreed "she's the one to avoid!". Something about my my Liza Minnelli jazz hand cycling signals and inability to locate my brakes. Well I've come a long way, my chain doesn't come off up hill everytime anymore and I know the difference between the big cog and the little cog (ones bigger than the other). So I was determined to keep my head down and stay below the radar. Well so much for that! Day 1 didn't go too well......

DAY 1 - STAYING BELOW THE RADAR

Day 1 off to the local pool on bikes. Oh how terrified I had been last year on that first ever foray on a road bike.  But it was a doddle cycling to the pool this year for swimming drills. There were definitely others who showed their cycling proficiency to be distinctly lacking. Yay! I wasn't going to be the one to avoid. Well at least not on the bike!

My swimming had come on since last year I wasn't that person taking 1 deep breath, going full pelt and having a heart attack at the deep end. No I had come a long way, I could alternate breath and everything, I'd show them.  Coach Hev was going through hand exercises with our lane to get us to "feel the catch". Everyone was going up the pool no problem. Well apart from me who wasn't quite "feeling the catch".  But I was getting away with it. Below the radar below the radar. Coach Hev.... "CATHERINE ! come over here" ...Oh No! don't single me out it's only Day 1 I'm staying below the radar.  She starts explaining the motion I should be replicating. "Oh Yes Yes I see " say I.  Off I go...."CATHERINE!" Oh No she's spotted me.  Have you ever had that brain freeze moment in an interview when you're asked a question and your brain completely empties leaving you with panic as you seek to find the answer any answer to the question? It didn't matter how much Coach Hev explained the hand motion, it wasn't sinking (swimming reference!) in. I think she realised she was getting no where.  It was as if she was explaining it in Spanish. Similar to when I've had big cog little cog on my bike explained to me. But being singled out wasn't the worst bit of the swim session it was about to get much worse.  In a moment of pure "killer whale hunts down a seal" speed swimming, I overtook my opponent in the pool only to crash head on with my friend JT who was coming the other way.  10 people now looked at each and agreed "She's the one to avoid!". 

Day 2 didn't get much better, a perfectly lovely cycle to the sea for a swim in wetsuits.  Open water swimming isn't my favourite past time. Whose is ? Oh apart from Sandi my lovely cornish room mate who had been a lifeguard in Australia, she was like flipper in the water perfectly happy.  No there is something about all those other people thrashing around you that makes my heart race and have a rising sense of panic. Give me a lilo and I'm perfectly happy.  It was also quite nippy in March.  To the extent my feet felt numb with cold. So whilst last year I hadn't quite made it around the buoys, this year I did, but I felt really dizzy and had to get out. Quite common with sea swimming. This below the radar strategy wasn't actually panning out too well. Coach Nick was great as ever as I sat fighting back tears on the beach - very encouraging. He's very good with erm you know what do you call them ? Ah yes "Middle Aged Women"!  I got back in the water on his persuasion only to have a head on collision with ....yes you've guessed it....JT. "I'm really really sorry"....  JT to me "You're a mad woman you're aiming for me!" It's a good job I know him. And anyway he should understand he nearly killed a Triathlon Nun so he can't talk. See Chapter 8.  Well the afternoon was much better........or was it?

GROUP RIDING OR NOT AS THE CASE MAY BE.

Me and the Pelaton !

The afternoon was spent learning the art of "Group Riding" something I've never really truly got the hang of. I'd usually only ever ridden with 1 other person.  And the other times I'd ridden in a group (and I use the term loosely) I had had 1 sarcastic comment from my friend Gareth which made me realise I hadn't quite got the etiquette right. And when I'd ridden with my local Tri Club, I got the distinct impression the men didn't want to be held up by me and so left it upto the only other female on the ride to look after me. Several times they came back for me, but I just couldn't keep up the same pace as them.  So I was looking forward to learning this ancient art. I might even be part of a Pelican.

There they are !

Off we all set - and I think it's fair to say there was a lot of Northern testosterone flying around! There were only 2 females on this year's TriCamp, so we were definitely outnumbered. And it became clear that at the very least no male was going to be overtaken by a girl. Especially a 46 year old girl - OK middle-aged woman not girl. It became apparent there were 2 distinct riding groups and then me! Why is it always me?  So group 1 fuelled by sibling rivalry and testosterone sped off practicing the art of group riding, it looked great, even off in the far distance.  And then there were others behind, others that didn't really number "a group" and hence the art of "group riding" couldn't really be practiced, and any etiquette of Ride Leader and Pupil seemed to be getting a bit fuzzy. It was getting quite tense back there. So I decided to cycle full pelt and catch up with the Pec's-A-thon. And at one point they were most definitely within my sights, and then as I edged closer they seemed to go up a gear and effortlessly pull away.  So now there was a group in front of me and a group behind me, neither within my sights. So on our "group riding" day I was most definitely cycling on my own and most definitely not in a group, ho hum.  I decided there was no point going into Zone 5 - cardiac arrest zone - to catch up. I'd just go at my own decent pace. I came across a German Touring Group with proper handle bars and picnics in their back packs.  They were going at a lovely pace, and were chatting and laughing.  For a brief moment I thought "Perhaps I'm on the wrong holiday - I've found my perfect riding group, back packs and picnics- Eureka!" perhaps TriCamp just wasn't for me?  And then lovely Matt the policeman from Devon appeared like a knight in shining armour.  "Get on the back Catherine" and off we sped.  You know what? that did definitely feel better as we swooshed at speed past the Von Trapp family on their day out.  OK now we just had to catch the others.  We did eventually do some "group riding" with the Pecker-A-Thon. Still couldn't say I entirely understand group riding.  But I am a bit more informed.  And it did make me realise that left to my own devices I will quite happily potter along. I definitely need someone pushing me, and I realise I can actually do it - so maybe I always need to just push myself that little bit harder? Take myself out of the pootling zone.

CYCLING - GOOD FOR THE SOUL.

Muchos Riding

Over the 3 weeks I was in Mallorca I cycled 550kms. Maybe not that far in distance to some but a fair bit of climbing involved, plenty of banter, some scares, laughter and lots of wonderful people. Not as much cake as I would have liked Nick Dunn! I once more visited Sa Calobra but with no stops this time, no back pack and a more sophisticated range of nutritional aids. Thanks to Simon Wood for coming to cycle with me for the last bit of Sa Calobra in the absence of Andrew.  And you can borrow my reading glasses anytime! And Mark who kept me company whilst I swallowed a fly and was very encouraging.  And a big thank you to Dave Harwood at SunVelo who provided the lovely wheels for me to enjoy. I cycled up hills, beside the sea, saw a lighthouse - Yes Sandi it was there.  Went under tunnels, went up more hills, visited the garage, nearly got blown off a hill, went up more hills, went down the other side, along country lanes with muchos aribos de olivos. Cycling in Mallorca is wonderful, it makes you want to learn spanish, buy an olive farm and cycle till your hearts content. Cycling makes you feel like a kid going out on your bike for the day with friends for an adventure.  It lightens the soul. I LOVE IT!

10 THINGS I HAVE LEARNT CYCLING IN MALLORCA

Power Bar fuelled goat

1. Those with the all kit can't always cycle. I definitely didn't do my BMC bike justice. You can almost reverse the ratio the more expensive and matching the bike and kit - the more likely to find yourself not riding in a pair. You're not fooling anyone.

2. Take your sunglasses off when riding through a tunnel. You are less likely to feel like you're going to crash and die. AHHHHHHHHHH

3. Mallorcan goats are a road hazard and prefer to eat Power Bars than muffins, and thus need to be treated with extreme caution because they WILL have a turbo charge.

4. Big lads struggle up hills but boyo can they get down the other side quickly. Tortoise and Hare.

5. A bike ride is definitely enhanced by cake and a bike ride with a full afternoon tea is heaven.

6. Never underestimate what you are capable of.

7. You can get your wheel caught in a Mallorcan drain cover. And I have seen a pro cyclist do it so I'm in good company. I did exclaim "SHIT!" loudly. He just blushed profusely.

8. Group Cycling - bit like biology I was always rather average at it.  Not at the front and not at the back - but somewhere in the middle on my own - touring with the picnic brigade. Could do better.

9. Windy bike rides on mountains are scary. If it's windy and rainy it's best to stay indoors and keep warm.

10. Old lycra cycling shorts can become see through, and you don't wear pants underneath. Please consider other cyclists in your Pelican. Bend over and check before you mount.

CYCLING QUESTIONS STILL PERPLEXING ME

Question 1 - Why do my toes go numb ? Even when it's hot and dry?

Question 2 - Is there an international cycling hand signal for road kill?

Question 3 - Car Up or Car Back ? Which way is up ? Make your mind up.

Question 4 - What is the point of an electric bike?

Question 5 - Is it just me or does everyone need just one more tiny gear to go up a hill?

Question 6 - Big Cog Little Cog - yeah yeah glossing over.

Question 7 - Cherry Drops or Werthers Originals?

Question 8 - Wouldn't a cycling cap be a good idea when it's raining?

Question 9 - What is enough oil on a chain and the same with chamois cream?

Question 10 - Never judge a place by it's flower pots. You never know what's inside.

WHAT'S NEXT ?

Did I enjoy TriCamp the sequel?. Yes I bloody well did - lots of laughter, lots of exercise, fresh air, great food, amazing scenery and lovely people. And there's always something new to learn. Like don't turn right down bin alley. And don't bother bringing your going out threads eh? Andy, Rob and Joe? you'll just be way too knackered to go out and party. But it's a great feeling. We smashed it! 

Next challenge? to cycle 140km around hilly Wales at Velothon Wales in June. I really do need to get my speed up and stay in the saddle for 6 hours and practice some hills. I reckon I need to cycle 100km a week starting from this week. So cherry drops or werthers originals?