Day 2 – Winter training camp
The morning was a leisurely time spent reading by the pool. It was blue skies and not a cloud on the horizon.
Much of the Cape Epic is about challenging yourself to exceed your expectations and to encourage other to be courageous and be inspired to do something new.
It was interesting, therefore, to read about an author who had found out that the most inspirational man he knew only reached his potential by helping a child reach his! Wow!
The Spanish Posse began to gather at 13:50. The ‘medals’ were subtle but nevertheless plain for all to see …………….shirts emblazoned with marathon this or triathlon that, or ironman somewhere else. Bigman boasted his Scotland cycling shirt ……….. and only he knew he was from The Posse Ecosse.
The warning was issued. This outing was for experienced cyclists only. At the first village (5Km) out, participants were asked to consider whether they could stay the pace. If not, they should self select and return to La Santa to avoid ‘spoiling’ the ride for others. Mmmm ……………… encouraging though Bigman.
The Posse left the meeting spot and gingerly began the climb to the village of SOO. No-one dropped out. The average pace was to be around 30km over the 75km. At least by cycling in a pack the Lanzarote breeze was minimised.
There were 24 riders spread along the road from many countries around Europe. On the smooth surfaces, it felt good to be in the pack. We had three escorts setting the pace and leading the group. After the next village, the posse started the climb to Teguise, the ancient capital of Lanzarote. It is a steady climb and the breathing of some of the pack was getting heavy. Bigman felt within his comfort zone. After all, he has his very own Ironman to contend with every Saturday. After Teguise, a puncture caused a respite in the driving pace in heat of circa 28 degrees. The waterbottles were being hit hard.
A right turn after the climb to the windmills and back round to Teguise. From there it was a sprint down to Nazaret before heading to San Bartolome. At this point a few riders decided to take the direct route back. This left 21 riders to head out to Fire Mountain and Uga before returning to Blanca Mancha. As the posse passed through village after village, you could almost imagine children being shepherded indoors as the posse passed through at pace.
At the top of the hill down to La Santa a race broke out. Just goes to show cyclists are the same the world over. Close to home and it’s a race. Bigman could sense it in the air. The smell that oozes from The Fit One when he is contemplating a break. And then it happened, a break from the pack. Bigman joined the breakaway. About half way down the hill, the rider in front blew up and Bigman had to lock the brakes to avoid crashing into the back of him. A quick pull out and the busted biker was history. Bigman could see the leading two ahead of him and kept the pace down the hill. The breeze was tough and definitely not your friend. By the time the speed limit in La Santa was passed Bigman had achieved a credible fourth place. Good fun.
75km covered in less than 2 and a half hours, averaging around 30 km per hour, including some tasty little climbs. This felt like how it is going to be in South Africa in little over 15 weeks.
For sure, Scotland is not going to provide the temperature challenge in training sessions that will exist for 8 days in South Africa.
A final challenge at Squash ended anther fantastic day just as the sun set on day two of the Winter Training Camp.
The morning was a leisurely time spent reading by the pool. It was blue skies and not a cloud on the horizon.
Much of the Cape Epic is about challenging yourself to exceed your expectations and to encourage other to be courageous and be inspired to do something new.
It was interesting, therefore, to read about an author who had found out that the most inspirational man he knew only reached his potential by helping a child reach his! Wow!
The Spanish Posse began to gather at 13:50. The ‘medals’ were subtle but nevertheless plain for all to see …………….shirts emblazoned with marathon this or triathlon that, or ironman somewhere else. Bigman boasted his Scotland cycling shirt ……….. and only he knew he was from The Posse Ecosse.
The warning was issued. This outing was for experienced cyclists only. At the first village (5Km) out, participants were asked to consider whether they could stay the pace. If not, they should self select and return to La Santa to avoid ‘spoiling’ the ride for others. Mmmm ……………… encouraging though Bigman.
The Posse left the meeting spot and gingerly began the climb to the village of SOO. No-one dropped out. The average pace was to be around 30km over the 75km. At least by cycling in a pack the Lanzarote breeze was minimised.
There were 24 riders spread along the road from many countries around Europe. On the smooth surfaces, it felt good to be in the pack. We had three escorts setting the pace and leading the group. After the next village, the posse started the climb to Teguise, the ancient capital of Lanzarote. It is a steady climb and the breathing of some of the pack was getting heavy. Bigman felt within his comfort zone. After all, he has his very own Ironman to contend with every Saturday. After Teguise, a puncture caused a respite in the driving pace in heat of circa 28 degrees. The waterbottles were being hit hard.
A right turn after the climb to the windmills and back round to Teguise. From there it was a sprint down to Nazaret before heading to San Bartolome. At this point a few riders decided to take the direct route back. This left 21 riders to head out to Fire Mountain and Uga before returning to Blanca Mancha. As the posse passed through village after village, you could almost imagine children being shepherded indoors as the posse passed through at pace.
At the top of the hill down to La Santa a race broke out. Just goes to show cyclists are the same the world over. Close to home and it’s a race. Bigman could sense it in the air. The smell that oozes from The Fit One when he is contemplating a break. And then it happened, a break from the pack. Bigman joined the breakaway. About half way down the hill, the rider in front blew up and Bigman had to lock the brakes to avoid crashing into the back of him. A quick pull out and the busted biker was history. Bigman could see the leading two ahead of him and kept the pace down the hill. The breeze was tough and definitely not your friend. By the time the speed limit in La Santa was passed Bigman had achieved a credible fourth place. Good fun.
75km covered in less than 2 and a half hours, averaging around 30 km per hour, including some tasty little climbs. This felt like how it is going to be in South Africa in little over 15 weeks.
For sure, Scotland is not going to provide the temperature challenge in training sessions that will exist for 8 days in South Africa.
A final challenge at Squash ended anther fantastic day just as the sun set on day two of the Winter Training Camp.
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