Yesterday was the first day I got back on the bike since getting back from Sweden. Cycling back to Irvine from Glasgow. 38 miles. I'd done it in 2.75hrs in one go the last time (two weeks before the trip).
This week it took us just over 3 hours - which still isnt too bad. But it was absolute hell. I'd made the mistake of hurrying whilst washing my water bottles. That meant when I needed liquid most and took a quick swig I couldn't. All I could taste was washing up liquid. Now, If you have ever tried to cycle 40 miles across the countryside with no liquid you will know how stupid that was.
My muscles were starting to seize up pretty badly, my lips were dry, and I could feel them starting to crack.
I made it though.
That wasn't the worst though. At the end of the night I lay in bed trying to sleep and just about managed to drift off when I jumped out of my skin...everyone has this from time to time. You know the dream. You're falling, falling, falling and boom with a jerk you wake up...then you drift off to sleep again. It happened to me 4 times last night. Its pretty un-nerving waking up thinking you're about to crash, even my hands had tightened as if I was pressing the brakes.
So what the heck happened?
Well. At night your bodys cicadian rhythm starts to slow everything down so you can sleep. Hormones are released to induce your body to want to sleep, you yawn your head off, and then nod off. simple?
Well, when you are exhausted your body is affected much more than normal, your heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure drop much more rapidly. Your lymbic system panics as it thinks you are about to pop your clogs and sends a massive jolt to every muscle in your body - a kind of a jump start. Your heart rate speeds up, your breathing quickens and your blood pressure spikes temporarily; trouble is, I was so tired that this "one time fix" didn't work. So my brain tried it, again, and again, and again.
The net result is a very bad nights sleep; and very sore muscles the day after.
What have I learned? never ever ever wash your water bottles only 8hrs before you use them. Wash. Rinse. Rinse. Rinse. Rinse. and Rinse again!
And I've decided that cycling alone isnt going to help. This week sees me starting weight training again, and rowing, possibly running although I can't think of anything worse!
Monday, September 29, 2008
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Brake! Brake! Brake! Power on!
21st September 2008...a quiet day in the countryside, in the distance you can hear birds tweeting in the autumn sunlight. We are in a conference room, surrounded by racing memorabilia. Up at the front the Chief Steward is telling us the rules for the day. He's being lighthearted about the rules but making sure we understand the severity of breaking them.
We file outside, put on our helmets and get our instructors paired with us. We're about to race round scotlands only touring car circuit. As I get in the car, my instructor sets the rear view mirror so he can see out the back - he explains that I wont be using that mirror and I have to learn to use the door mirrors instead as the formula 3000 car I will be in next doesnt have a windscreen, never mind a mirror attached to it!
We file into the pit lane one by one, lined up at the end of the lane waiting our green light...car number 7 gets off first, then 4...closely followed by 6 and then me...number 5. I bring the revs up to 3000 and wait...wait...as I drop the clutch I can feel the wheels scrabbling for grip but not quite spinning.
The first corner is close to the entrance but even still we are doing 50mph and have to go hard on the brakes, the car dives on to its front wheel as the weight transfers from the back. I can feel the car trying to pull left as I turn right and down the hill, on the accellerator now. Swing to the left, brake for the corner turn right, power on to pull up the hill and a quick left right throught the chicane. Now a long left hander, working up through the gears, hitting 125 on the curve before quickly getting on the brakes using the gears to help slow down quick....quicker that hairpin is tight and quickly approaching...Whew, slowed enough, full lock to the right, second gear ready and foot down bring on the power nice and smooth, you can feel the turbo kicking in!
Quickly through the gears up to 6th along the start straight. One lap down...two more to do...and thats practice over.
Our instructor then takes us back out in the same car to show us how to improve. Listening to him intently I manage to get my time down even further.
Now...its time for the formula 3000 car. Its a modified one with a 1000cc race bike in it. Thankfully I get the ferrari red one (thats made my day). This time starting the car isnt so easy as turning a key, first you need to ensure the water and oil pumps are on, now, select first gear using the paddles. Clutch down until the gear selector flashes at you..as you press the start button the engine roars into life, the carbon fibre silencer (what little there is of it) doesn't do much to dull the roar of the engine.
Gingerly lifting off the clutch (theres no biting point on it at all) so as not to stall I peel out of the pit lane, the training car was quick but this is quicker. I bring the engine up to 12000rpm before changing to 4th, on the brake ready for the first corner, the car turns in sharply, this time no roll at all. I can feel all the grip transfer to the left tyres as I turn right, on the power again and a smooth transfer to the left, accellerate again and then lift off, turn right and power on. Catching the apex just right to swing me out to the left. Keep the car in 3rd and power on up the hill drifting right, now aim for the kerb on the left dont touch the brake till you are on the apex, the steering goes light - the apex is right on the crest of the hill, its do or die time, foot down accellerate hard and turn right so the car swings on the opposite kerb and maintains the line.
Smooth now, up to fifth, brake again for the right hander before the long left, take a lazy right so you are on the left, now drift across the track. The hairpin approaches at dizzying speed, only 50 metres from its apex i hit the brake and come down the gears, 6th, 5th, 4th, 3rd, turn hard right - cross the arms get full lock, right hand front tyre is almost on the grass, power on...4th, 5th, 6th, watch the crew for my lap time...keep your mind on the track Mauro...you've still got a race to finish! As I turn my head back to the track I can feel the force of the wind trying to move my head this way and that...130mph less than 3 inches off the ground is exhilirating....the sound of the engine fades to the background all there is is the track and the car in front...
Lap by lap my times come down, I pass a few cars, until my confidence is knocked...Coming up the hill to the chicane too quick I almost run into the back of a slower car, I slam on the brakes but because the car is travelling so fast when I hit the crest the wheels lock up...I lose ground because I've gone wide..damn it! Quick, get back to the racing line...2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th don't let the car or track scare you Mauro, you've got to get it done! My times start coming down and down and down..by the end of the day I've taken 17seconds off my laptimes. I'm happy with that. Its time for a well earned drink and the prize giving.
I didn't win anything but I'll have a fantastic memory. I am home now, the smell of oil and fuel is in my clothes and on my hands...I don't think I will be able to sleep tonight without thinking of the race.
We file outside, put on our helmets and get our instructors paired with us. We're about to race round scotlands only touring car circuit. As I get in the car, my instructor sets the rear view mirror so he can see out the back - he explains that I wont be using that mirror and I have to learn to use the door mirrors instead as the formula 3000 car I will be in next doesnt have a windscreen, never mind a mirror attached to it!
We file into the pit lane one by one, lined up at the end of the lane waiting our green light...car number 7 gets off first, then 4...closely followed by 6 and then me...number 5. I bring the revs up to 3000 and wait...wait...as I drop the clutch I can feel the wheels scrabbling for grip but not quite spinning.
The first corner is close to the entrance but even still we are doing 50mph and have to go hard on the brakes, the car dives on to its front wheel as the weight transfers from the back. I can feel the car trying to pull left as I turn right and down the hill, on the accellerator now. Swing to the left, brake for the corner turn right, power on to pull up the hill and a quick left right throught the chicane. Now a long left hander, working up through the gears, hitting 125 on the curve before quickly getting on the brakes using the gears to help slow down quick....quicker that hairpin is tight and quickly approaching...Whew, slowed enough, full lock to the right, second gear ready and foot down bring on the power nice and smooth, you can feel the turbo kicking in!
Quickly through the gears up to 6th along the start straight. One lap down...two more to do...and thats practice over.
Our instructor then takes us back out in the same car to show us how to improve. Listening to him intently I manage to get my time down even further.
Now...its time for the formula 3000 car. Its a modified one with a 1000cc race bike in it. Thankfully I get the ferrari red one (thats made my day). This time starting the car isnt so easy as turning a key, first you need to ensure the water and oil pumps are on, now, select first gear using the paddles. Clutch down until the gear selector flashes at you..as you press the start button the engine roars into life, the carbon fibre silencer (what little there is of it) doesn't do much to dull the roar of the engine.
Gingerly lifting off the clutch (theres no biting point on it at all) so as not to stall I peel out of the pit lane, the training car was quick but this is quicker. I bring the engine up to 12000rpm before changing to 4th, on the brake ready for the first corner, the car turns in sharply, this time no roll at all. I can feel all the grip transfer to the left tyres as I turn right, on the power again and a smooth transfer to the left, accellerate again and then lift off, turn right and power on. Catching the apex just right to swing me out to the left. Keep the car in 3rd and power on up the hill drifting right, now aim for the kerb on the left dont touch the brake till you are on the apex, the steering goes light - the apex is right on the crest of the hill, its do or die time, foot down accellerate hard and turn right so the car swings on the opposite kerb and maintains the line.
Smooth now, up to fifth, brake again for the right hander before the long left, take a lazy right so you are on the left, now drift across the track. The hairpin approaches at dizzying speed, only 50 metres from its apex i hit the brake and come down the gears, 6th, 5th, 4th, 3rd, turn hard right - cross the arms get full lock, right hand front tyre is almost on the grass, power on...4th, 5th, 6th, watch the crew for my lap time...keep your mind on the track Mauro...you've still got a race to finish! As I turn my head back to the track I can feel the force of the wind trying to move my head this way and that...130mph less than 3 inches off the ground is exhilirating....the sound of the engine fades to the background all there is is the track and the car in front...
Lap by lap my times come down, I pass a few cars, until my confidence is knocked...Coming up the hill to the chicane too quick I almost run into the back of a slower car, I slam on the brakes but because the car is travelling so fast when I hit the crest the wheels lock up...I lose ground because I've gone wide..damn it! Quick, get back to the racing line...2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th don't let the car or track scare you Mauro, you've got to get it done! My times start coming down and down and down..by the end of the day I've taken 17seconds off my laptimes. I'm happy with that. Its time for a well earned drink and the prize giving.
I didn't win anything but I'll have a fantastic memory. I am home now, the smell of oil and fuel is in my clothes and on my hands...I don't think I will be able to sleep tonight without thinking of the race.
Monday, September 01, 2008
The Cycle - Day 2
Well day 2 started with a feeling of hope and eagerness to get on; we'd had a hard day but the sights of the night sky, the good food, and excellent company meant that we rested well and were ready to face anything.
We started with what we thought would be a half hour cycle to the ferry...it took us less than 5 minutes to cover the distance that took us close to twenty/thirty minutes the night before. It was cold as it was so early but the day promised to heat up as there wasn't a cloud in the sky.
The ferry took us back to the mainland about 10:00am and then we started north. Today though we faced a further challenge of having to get 4 ferries between headlands or we would have to cycle over 100miles!
We made excellent progress despite the numerous stops forced by ferries and eventually at lunch time we stopped at a fantastic seafood restaurant at a marina in Fiskebäckskil where we helped ourselves to a copious buffet and then some soup with mussels and assorted fish (I'm not a massive fan of fish, but you really have to sample local foods when you are in foreign countries as you may find something you actually quite like).
After a huge lunch and some sugary drinks we made our way up hill to the ferry which would take us to Lysekil. This would be the last ferry of the day and almost proved to be my downfall. The combination of large lunch followed by a half hour sit down for the ferry ride meant that my legs didn't want to carry on any more.
I'd made up my mind to get in the van at the next stop in Brastad, however before we got there we had to negotiate a stretch of 90kph limit road which meant we had to pedal fast for a while.
Eventually after a long internal monologue about how it wouldn't be quitting if I got in the van we got to Brastad, where I decided against all sanity that I was going to carry on to the next stop. If I still felt bad I'd then get in the van. The next rendezvous with the van never came though as we had changed course and were no longer due to go to the town where we would meet the van. That ensured that I HAD to continue the cycle. I am glad I did, we saw some fantastic scenery; trees 40 metres tall and straight as an arrow growing on the sides of a steep valley, it was breathtaking cycling through it with the sun piercing through the branches and boughs.
We made it to Fjallbacka around 7:30-8:00pm where we had to REALLY quickly load the van with food and drink as the small fishing boat was going to pick us up shortly. A few of the guys did a trolley dash round the local coop for food, drink and snacks and then ran out again...we almost loaded the van on the trot and finally made it to the pier to get our boat.
As the boat was being loaded, the food was on board, the bikes were beginning to be loaded as were the bags we realised something horrible...we'd lost Douglas. Try as we might we couldn't figure out where he was. Eventually we got through to his mobile phone to find out that we'd left him behind at the coop in the rush to get to the van. This would become a running joke through the holiday.
Finally we got Douglas, his bike, and cider loaded on to the small fishing boat. The boat was so small that Douglas and John had to hold on for their lives at the back. We couldn't go too fast as the boat was close to being overloaded so we took a leisurely speed and course to the island. We moored up shortly before 9pm and started unloading the bikes. The good thing about having a small island to yourselves is that you don't have to lock your bikes (there wasn't really anywhere to chain them apart from the trees and rocks).
Bob, thanks to his culinary skills, made another fantastic dinner and then we got stuck in about the beers and crisps. Too soon came the time where we all felt too tired to stay up, so we went to bed comfortable in the knowledge tomorrow would be a rest day.
Our legs were tired, our backsides painful from two days in the saddle but our spirits were high and our mood was elated. Nothing could stop us from completing the cycle.
We started with what we thought would be a half hour cycle to the ferry...it took us less than 5 minutes to cover the distance that took us close to twenty/thirty minutes the night before. It was cold as it was so early but the day promised to heat up as there wasn't a cloud in the sky.
The ferry took us back to the mainland about 10:00am and then we started north. Today though we faced a further challenge of having to get 4 ferries between headlands or we would have to cycle over 100miles!
We made excellent progress despite the numerous stops forced by ferries and eventually at lunch time we stopped at a fantastic seafood restaurant at a marina in Fiskebäckskil where we helped ourselves to a copious buffet and then some soup with mussels and assorted fish (I'm not a massive fan of fish, but you really have to sample local foods when you are in foreign countries as you may find something you actually quite like).
After a huge lunch and some sugary drinks we made our way up hill to the ferry which would take us to Lysekil. This would be the last ferry of the day and almost proved to be my downfall. The combination of large lunch followed by a half hour sit down for the ferry ride meant that my legs didn't want to carry on any more.
I'd made up my mind to get in the van at the next stop in Brastad, however before we got there we had to negotiate a stretch of 90kph limit road which meant we had to pedal fast for a while.
Eventually after a long internal monologue about how it wouldn't be quitting if I got in the van we got to Brastad, where I decided against all sanity that I was going to carry on to the next stop. If I still felt bad I'd then get in the van. The next rendezvous with the van never came though as we had changed course and were no longer due to go to the town where we would meet the van. That ensured that I HAD to continue the cycle. I am glad I did, we saw some fantastic scenery; trees 40 metres tall and straight as an arrow growing on the sides of a steep valley, it was breathtaking cycling through it with the sun piercing through the branches and boughs.
We made it to Fjallbacka around 7:30-8:00pm where we had to REALLY quickly load the van with food and drink as the small fishing boat was going to pick us up shortly. A few of the guys did a trolley dash round the local coop for food, drink and snacks and then ran out again...we almost loaded the van on the trot and finally made it to the pier to get our boat.
As the boat was being loaded, the food was on board, the bikes were beginning to be loaded as were the bags we realised something horrible...we'd lost Douglas. Try as we might we couldn't figure out where he was. Eventually we got through to his mobile phone to find out that we'd left him behind at the coop in the rush to get to the van. This would become a running joke through the holiday.
Finally we got Douglas, his bike, and cider loaded on to the small fishing boat. The boat was so small that Douglas and John had to hold on for their lives at the back. We couldn't go too fast as the boat was close to being overloaded so we took a leisurely speed and course to the island. We moored up shortly before 9pm and started unloading the bikes. The good thing about having a small island to yourselves is that you don't have to lock your bikes (there wasn't really anywhere to chain them apart from the trees and rocks).
Bob, thanks to his culinary skills, made another fantastic dinner and then we got stuck in about the beers and crisps. Too soon came the time where we all felt too tired to stay up, so we went to bed comfortable in the knowledge tomorrow would be a rest day.
Our legs were tired, our backsides painful from two days in the saddle but our spirits were high and our mood was elated. Nothing could stop us from completing the cycle.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)