Spinning with the Blue Brazil

Bigman returned to the spinning class at Cowdenbeath. It may not have had the sunshine of Lanzarote however it did have the heat as the pace increased and the fans failed to cool the participants down.

With a little imagination it was not too difficult to transport yourself back to Fire Mountain and the race back down into La Santa.

With only 100 more sleeps before the Cape Epic begins, the final preparations are underway. The Ironman has been disolving him in the local culture as he sorts out local arrangements. Both Bigman and The Ironman are keen to have a taste of the 'Greenhorn' however will probably leave until the end of the race!

The hotels for pre and post race are sorted.

After Christms celebrations are over the training will be stepped up to ensure the team enjoy the experience as well as survive it!

Ironman and Bigman taken in by the Bull......

It was a day to remember, a day to get wet and a day to do some proper 'mental' training! The day was a promised on the forecast, wet. Very wet. Bigman, looking a bit like a skinny Jimmy Calderwood with his Lanza tan, was on great form.

We shared the craic on the climb up Knockhill. The Bigman has returned a very fit man. A week of training in Club La Santa has worked wonders and I realised as we climbed up to Saline just how fit he is. I was breathing hard whilst the Bigman was practicing stealth breathing i.e. breathing hard without being heard!!

We turned up towards Knockhill and just after the top turned off road. We lifted the bikes over the gate and set off into the unknown - the Bigman took a while of convincing that the track existed but eventually Doubting Thomas believed sufficiently to risk the off road. Sadly having just gone off road we were stopped at the next gate.

All it said was BULL IN FIELD. We stopped, we pondered, we questioned, we considered more, we turned around and scarpered! The race is a going to be a massive challenge in South africa but the Bigman and I decided to defer our practice of escaping from angry animals for another day! On reflection, we should have gone for it in case next time it's a lion!!!

After the turnaround we set off back towards the back road to Cleish and it was off up the North Face once more. It seems tougher on a mtb rather than a roadie. We turned off towards Blairadam off road once more. It was fab splashing through the puddles like 5 year olds in wellies and speeding down the hill to Kelty. There weren't very many hardy souls in the forest.

Our biking compass was missing but somehow we managed to find our way back onto the road exiting the forest and drop off Cleish and head home.

The Bigman knows I'm not a racer. So the usual race to the bus museum came as a little surprise. I was gliding to victory when my right foot pulled out of the cleat and my chain slipped from the big ring to the middle ring. The Bigman sniffed glory and pulled past making a mental note to self that there is always a race at the bus museum!

It was a day of technical challenges. My gears were playing up, brakes rubbing and we eventually stopped at the top of Cleish to point at the bits that weren't working and suggest that we really do go on a techy training course!

So I reckon we covered aboout 60km today. Great company as ever and time passes with ease even in the rain.

One final thing. No matter how bad you think it's going to be it once you're out and about on the bike it doesn't seem as bad - I write this purely as a 'mental' note to self to remind me on the dank dark days that lie ahead! Told you it was a pure 'mental' training day!

Wet, Wet, Wet

After all that heat in Lanzarote, Bigman was delighted to return to the Ecosse Posse this morning. The weather had great er precipitation and significantly less heat BUT it had all the colour of a beautiful countryside and the company of The Ironman.

It was decided to have a day of climbing on the mountain bikes. It started with a climb from Saline up to the Knockhill cross roads. A sharp left and it was up to the Knockhill race course. Down the other side and turn left along to Cleish village.

From there it as back up and over the North Face of Cleish and down the other side before turning into the Blairadam forest and down to the Forestry commission buildings.

At this point, and for some extra fun, the posse turned around and climbed back up to the Cleish road.

By this time, we were wet, cold, covered in mud but happier than being out Christmas shopping!

An estimated 65 km covered and it felt good to be on teh Mountain bikes. As the trip is now only 14 weeks away, much of teh detail is being discussed as we train.

It feels soon, it feels good

Moses appears in Alloa.....

It was another cracking day in Fife, albeit 2o deg lower than at winter training camp, but work was pressing. A late in the day computer crash lost the entire afternoon's efforts. Gutted. I'm sure it's in there somewhere so tomorrow morning will be trying to find the lost work.

So in the midst of computer carnage I had to leave. Footy was calling. We won. Again not entirely due to my finishing skills, Alan Shearer I'm not, Phil Godman might be closer.....I did however run for the entire game and my silky passing skills set up a good number of our goals. The spotty dog experience following my first game back a few weeks ago has gone and my muscles seem accustomed to the game. So hopefully no painful walking tomorrow.

I drove home at speed (obviously within the speed limits) and made it home in time to change clothes and grab my swimming kit. Santiago picked me up 2 minutes later and we were off to meet the Fit One at Alloa (should be twinned with Honalulu!) swimming pool. Santiago is doing the Outlaw with me next year and we are both in the base training phase of that (I'm in full swing for Cape Epic!!) and the Fit One had suggested a training swim.

The Fit One swims about a kilometer every day and without doubt a very good and fast swimmer. His speed is generated through power and he has an incredibly powerful front crawl. So powerful in fact I was convinced Moses himself was parting the water as he flew through the pool.

Santiago is also a quicker swimmer than me and I guess just needs time in the water to build stamina and speed.

The Fit One lost his grace, mind you, doing a length of butterfly. A bit of soap and I could have got my washing done!

Another good day from a food perspective. Day 3 - one more than usual! I'm not sure what tomorrow holds in term of training. I'm considering a rest day.....

Looking forward to a ride out with the posse on Saturday!

Little Nemo squashes Bigman

Day 6 – Winter training camp

It was the final ride out of the winter training camp. Little Nemo was keen to do another outing and the 60km with the Spanish Posse yesterday looked an appropriate route.

The wind was still fearsome however the majority of the ride carried the wind at your back with only the ascent of Fire Mountain head into the wind. A small price to pay for an otherwise idealic route through the vinyards of Lanzarote.

The day started with The Fit One foremost in the thoughts of Bigman. The Primary reason for this was his call at 07:14 to see how the training was going! It was a short call.

Time for breakfast arrived an hour or so later and it was off to the bike shed to sort out Little Nemo with her trusty steed for the day. The temperature was back up to 25 degrees and extremely pleasant albeit the wind was still giving it full pelt.

As mentioned yesterday, the locals are sporting fine woolly jumpers and long trousers to fight the ‘cold’. Best dressed local today was sporting a balaclava. This is not a joke. If Bigman had thought he could have, he would have taken a photo to prove it. Instead, we will just have to trust him!

Little Nemo has certainly gained confidence on the road bike. At times she grew tired of the pace and wished she had a bigger cog on the front as she could not turn the pedals fast enough! It was not unusual for her to fly past Bigman wearing a massive grin from ear to ear ………………. Usually on a downhill.

After a coffee stop in Yaiza, it was time to tackle Fire Mountain. Little Nemo made it look like a damp squib as she fired up the mountain as if it did not exist. And she pushed hard down the other side leading into the wind. She has clearly got a sense of opportunity to race and the journey into LA Santa had Bigman imagining The Fit One was on his tail to inspire and motivate him to stay in front.

After lunch, Little Nemo went off to Fitball class. Not a mis-spelling. The exercise requires you to do various exercises on and with a large ball.

It seemed a bit extreme for Bigman so he went off to do a 1km swim. A 50 metre pool feels a lot longer than 2 X 25m lengths and certainly a lot less opportunity to push off frequently a quarter of the way up the pool.

But the key challenge for today was left until last. The final squash game of the week. It should have been an opportunity for father and daughter to bond, building relationships, however there was too much at stake. A David and Goliath story. Like two gunslingers duelling at noon, this would be fight to the death. A whisp of dust and you could easily mistake the scene for a spaghetti western. The pattern was predictable for the first two games.

Little Nemo takes the first and suffers ‘second game syndrome’ to lose the second. The third would be the decider. Little Nemo suggested best of five should she lose. Time did not permit as the supermarket shut soon and so it had to be now or never. Bigman felt confident that Little Nemo was already beaten in her head. And so it appeared, at 14-12 in favour of Bigman when Little Nemo took back serve to rocket to victory. The entrance to the squash court was not big enough to enable her smug grin to pass through. Note who is wearing the halo in the photo!

An extra match has been arranged for tomorrow prior to departure for the airport.

Day 2 - Pre Christmas Good Food.....

A new day. From the off I was under pressure. Christmas is a joyful time to celebrate, a time to reflect and a time for new beginnings. Why does everyone want everything done and dusted for Christmas!

Anyway after a busy morning I had planned to run or bike at lunchtime. My errant memory drove me back to the office - I'd forgotten something and it needed done immediately. So my trip was postponed. Darkness had settled over Carnock when I left the shed aka office....

I'd dressed this morning for a ride so it didn't take a minute to get ready for the run. I set off at a steady pace and then gently increased to 8mph. It felt good. 5 miles done. Heart rate remained stable and I felt in control throughout the run. One of things I learned whilst doing the marathon is that control over breathing is key to endurance.

Straight after the run I jumped onto the spin bike and did a 40 minute climb. It was hard work after the run. In triathlon you normally run after biking - switching this shocked the muscles. They say that biking helps your running whilst running doesn't help your biking. That what I'm told anyway. I think if your run fit it must be easier to get bike fit and the same in reverse.

I thought of the Bigman enjoying the sun and after reading a text i spent a couple of minutes imagining him on Le Tour supporting Lance - it drove me onwards. Every 5 minutes I ramped up the resistance. Continually building my way to the top of the hill - I'd set a time limit and I was chuffed to reach the top. The evidence of my efforts was visible in perspiration.

A quick 50 sit up on the Swiss ball finished off today's routine.

Day 2 of the good food drive has worked out - no rubbish consumed. Good mix of veg and eh veg and fruit - I am a quasi veggie after all. The cliff approaches - will I make day 3 of the challenge work.....

Only time will tell!

Fast and furious...........

Day 5 – Winter training camp

Today was a day when the sum of the efforts of Little Nemo and Bigman made for a full day’s training. A game of two halves, you might say.

The intermediate Spanish Posse was riding out into bandit country at 09:15 which meant Bigman set the alarm for 08:00. Little Nemo slept on. Bigman had breakfast. Little Nemo slept on. Bigman prepared his stuff for going out for the 60km ride. Little Nemo slept on.

In fact, this ‘slept on’ thing continued until 10:30! No doubt she was dreaming of exercise classes.

The Posse was once again instructed on the rules of the highway and given a ‘warning’ about the pace and the need to self select if you were struggling. The ride was to be led by Paul. Turns out he rode as ‘domestique’ to Michael Hutchison, the author of the book ‘The Hour’ I referred to yesterday. It was fascinating to ride alongside someone who had been with the greats. He was a pleasure to cycle with. The wind was just as strong today. We would have it on our backs on the way out to Soo and then to Uga via Mancha Blancha turning ride towards Yaiza and battle back over Fire Mountain into the strong winds.

The hillsides are bespeckled by black bomb shaped holes. These are vinyards. The vines lie flat as teh constant winds would batter the vines and the walls are built to shelter fro the prevailing winds from the north.

It was cracking blue skies overhead and the company was great. 24 cyclists from all over Europe sharing a common pursuit on some of the finest road surfaces.

Bigman mentioned to Paul he was taking part in the Cape Epic in 2010. Turns out the Sporting Director from La Santa is a regular participant along with the Marketing Manager from one of the big bike manufacturers. A small world indeed. A discussion ensued on the pros and cons of tubeless tyres on mountain bikes. OK so it was a short discussion.

Clearly winter has arrived in the Canary Islands. The locals were dressed in long trousers and wearing pullovers. Bigman tried to imagine the number of layers they would be wearing if they were in Scotland today!

On the climb back over Fire Mountain the wind was like the breath of a dragon, lashing anyone who strayed outside formation. As we approached the crest, the pace quickened. The ‘domestique’ started to challenge his La Santa guide and colleague for a race to the top. It is fair to say they dropped the posse and sped to the top as if it was flat! Bigman held on for a fourth place. Third place went to a man who was a blend of some familiar figures from Posse Ecosse. The physique of the Ironman, the attacking nature of the Fit One, and the staying power of the Duracell. Hard to believe all these attributes could be present in one person, let alone someone making up the Spanish Posse.

As Bigman cruised back to La Santa, his mind mused over an interview by Michael Hutchison with Graeme Obree, the famous Scot who built his bike from washing machine parts. In discussing his driven ambition, after a lot of counselling he now felt he can read a book because he wants to, not because it would improve him as a person, or because the knowledge will be useful some day. Before, he would only do something useful. Everything had to have an achievement, and there was a terrible guilt at enjoying something that was not an achievement. There seems to be a lesson for life in this short extract.

Meanwhile the downhill into La Santa is shaping up for another race. The young pretender from La Santa staff is winding up the pace. Bigman hangs onto his wheel and sits in his stream. The pace is fast and furious. Cyclists are being dropped faster than the pound against the Euro. A German goes for a flanking movement however as he moves out, the full force of the wind hits him and his attack is over before it began. He merely sits on the outside spinning his legs and moves backwards.

Bigman holds on for a second place. The boys back home would be cheering from their office chairs if they could see the race live on Eurosport.

Back at La Santa, Little Nemo has signed up for Stretch and Relax class at 15:00 followed by Body Toning at 16:00. Bigman plans a 1km swim for the afternoon.

Discussions overlooking the pool subsequently eat away the afternoon and the Stretch and Relax is well missed. As the clouds gather, Little Nemo disappears for her Body Toning whilst Bigman retires to the bar to re-hydrate and so some ore reading ……….. for relaxation!

The daily squash match was a tough affair with Little Nemo winning the first game easily. The second game lacked the usual ‘syndrome’ and Bigman had to snatch a win from the jaws of defeat. The third game was a close affair however age once again triumphed over youth.

Good to see Ironman has come out from the closet with his recent training. He has also been busy organising the next stage of kit production and support when we are in South Africa.

Tomorrow Little Nemo will join Bigman for a trip over Fire mountain on their penultimate day of winter training camp.