Day 4 Winter training camp
After a few days in the saddle, Little Nemo opted for the ‘stay at home’ option today. Her day started at around 11:00 when the Stretch and Relaxation class got under way.
Bigman headed off in search of the Green Lagoon, the remnants of a volcano which has been eroded by the sea.
Overnight a storm had given the given the island a good clean with heavy rain. The wind had not abated and the cycle out was going to be straight forward however the return journey would be punishing. Even as Bigman climbed out of La Santa, early morning cyclists were returning down the hill wearing a grimace. This did not bode well. The bike was moving swiftly, the legs were turning smoothly, things felt good.
On ascending Fire Mountain, the wind supported downhill meant Bigman could not turn the pedals fast enough to maintain drive force on the pedals. The feeling of speed was awesome.
At Yaiza, it was a right turn under the main highway to Arrecife and a climb passed the lava ‘fields’ marked military zone. I have no idea why anyone would want to clamber over jagged lava rock in any event. Firing shells into it seemed an appropriate use of space. Space management as the Ironman would call it.
The Green Lagoon by the village of El Golfo was tucked around the headland and not easily accessible in cycling shoes and so I have shown a photo of the surrounding area. It should not take too much imagination to create a lagoon coloured green in your mind and you get the idea. Before you start suing for mis –representation, no-one said this blog was a tourist guide!
Bigman found a nice little restaurant for coffee, nestling by the sea shore. As a shower of precipitation arrived, coffee turned into a Spanish Omelette. Just after the order arrived Little Nemo sent a text advising she would wait till I returned for lunch. I guess the Spanish Omelette will need to remain a secret!
The return journey was everything it promised. The wind, if anything had strengthened. Carbon bikes are great for speed however when riding through hills acting like wind tunnels they have the effect of bouncing you around like the clothes in a washing machine.
It was a long climb back up over Fire Mountain. Bigman kept thinking of the climbs in the Cape Epic and hoping they did not suffer the same winds in South Africa that clearly frequent the Canary Islands. 110k+ on a mountain bike in these winds would indeed be a challenge and a half. Perhaps even a challenge too far! In Michael Hutchison’s book about his attempt on the Hour Record, he talks about the need to maintain an edge, that your challenge may not be possible, to keep you focussed on your training regime thus reducing the taste of failure.
The return to La Santa was in time for a second fine lunch. This was followed up by the Ab Attack class which had a particular focus on the Abdominals Muscles. It felt like you had not worked out yet your body felt it had gone nine rounds with Mike Tyson.
It set Bigman and Little Nemo up well for the Body Toning class which focussed more roundly on the muscles about the body. Armed with a metal bar ( for weight lifting) and an exercise mat, they were taken through their paces. Another non aerobic class yet your body new it had been through a workout.
And then it was onto the daily squash match. Little Nemo gaining confidence by the day that her ageing father would soon not keep up the pace. Again it went to three games with Little Nemo once again suffering from second game syndrome, i.e after winning the first, blows the second in a youthful ‘whatever’ sort of way. The last game went to the wire with Bigman saving the day for Age Concern with a fine volley.
Bigman lives on undefeated!
After a few days in the saddle, Little Nemo opted for the ‘stay at home’ option today. Her day started at around 11:00 when the Stretch and Relaxation class got under way.
Bigman headed off in search of the Green Lagoon, the remnants of a volcano which has been eroded by the sea.
Overnight a storm had given the given the island a good clean with heavy rain. The wind had not abated and the cycle out was going to be straight forward however the return journey would be punishing. Even as Bigman climbed out of La Santa, early morning cyclists were returning down the hill wearing a grimace. This did not bode well. The bike was moving swiftly, the legs were turning smoothly, things felt good.
On ascending Fire Mountain, the wind supported downhill meant Bigman could not turn the pedals fast enough to maintain drive force on the pedals. The feeling of speed was awesome.
At Yaiza, it was a right turn under the main highway to Arrecife and a climb passed the lava ‘fields’ marked military zone. I have no idea why anyone would want to clamber over jagged lava rock in any event. Firing shells into it seemed an appropriate use of space. Space management as the Ironman would call it.
The Green Lagoon by the village of El Golfo was tucked around the headland and not easily accessible in cycling shoes and so I have shown a photo of the surrounding area. It should not take too much imagination to create a lagoon coloured green in your mind and you get the idea. Before you start suing for mis –representation, no-one said this blog was a tourist guide!
Bigman found a nice little restaurant for coffee, nestling by the sea shore. As a shower of precipitation arrived, coffee turned into a Spanish Omelette. Just after the order arrived Little Nemo sent a text advising she would wait till I returned for lunch. I guess the Spanish Omelette will need to remain a secret!
The return journey was everything it promised. The wind, if anything had strengthened. Carbon bikes are great for speed however when riding through hills acting like wind tunnels they have the effect of bouncing you around like the clothes in a washing machine.
It was a long climb back up over Fire Mountain. Bigman kept thinking of the climbs in the Cape Epic and hoping they did not suffer the same winds in South Africa that clearly frequent the Canary Islands. 110k+ on a mountain bike in these winds would indeed be a challenge and a half. Perhaps even a challenge too far! In Michael Hutchison’s book about his attempt on the Hour Record, he talks about the need to maintain an edge, that your challenge may not be possible, to keep you focussed on your training regime thus reducing the taste of failure.
The return to La Santa was in time for a second fine lunch. This was followed up by the Ab Attack class which had a particular focus on the Abdominals Muscles. It felt like you had not worked out yet your body felt it had gone nine rounds with Mike Tyson.
It set Bigman and Little Nemo up well for the Body Toning class which focussed more roundly on the muscles about the body. Armed with a metal bar ( for weight lifting) and an exercise mat, they were taken through their paces. Another non aerobic class yet your body new it had been through a workout.
And then it was onto the daily squash match. Little Nemo gaining confidence by the day that her ageing father would soon not keep up the pace. Again it went to three games with Little Nemo once again suffering from second game syndrome, i.e after winning the first, blows the second in a youthful ‘whatever’ sort of way. The last game went to the wire with Bigman saving the day for Age Concern with a fine volley.
Bigman lives on undefeated!
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