RAB Training Ride

Last Sunday was my first experience of a Threshold Sports organised event, namely the RAB Training Ride. Start and finish were at a community centre in Princes Risborough so not too far a drive to get there but thank goodness for Sat Nav as it was down a warren of streets.

The organisation was excellent, decent breakfast laid on and everything set up ready. The first part of the day was some interesting talks by previous participants, the mechanical and medical support. There is a large emphasis on hygiene, both around your bottom ( saddle sores and infection could ruin your ride) and for hands/food. With around 1,000 riders this year any sickness bugs could spread like wildfire.

After that we got off on the ride.  Being split into groups of 8-10 we avoided the fast 17mph average group and settled for a more sensible 15mph.  If one goes south from Princes Risborough it gets very hilly, however to the north it is fairly flat. Our route was to the north given that the lesson for the day was in group riding rather than hill training.  This was excellent for me as I usually ride alone or in a small group of 2-3.  Being able to share the work in a group by rotating to the front is a much more efficient way of riding.  As an additional bonus it’s a great opportunity to chat to many interesting people. Including Richard the Chaperone with us who also has a professional interest in Quantum Computing so we are following up professionally. The first 35 miles were at a comfortable pace, slower than I normally ride, but I could maintain all day. This conservation of energy will be vital for the 9-day RAB challenge.

The pit-stop did not disappoint, and suitably refreshed we decide to join the 65 mile group rather than the 45 mile group. This was done at a much higher pace, and whilst excellent skills training I couldn’t do it all day and definitely not for 9 days on the trot. The picture below shows interesting data – note after 35 miles my heart rate is much higher for not a massive gain in speed – perhaps this is the key to my pacing?

Strava Data for the Ride

Back to Ride HQ it was for pasta and then home.  A really good day with the following lessons:

• Hygiene is very important
• Group riding is physically efficient, but mentally hard work
• You meet interesting people, including geeks, in the strangest places
• Use my heart rate to pace myself
• Take my own cutlery, RAB use disposable wooden cutlery which I don’t really like.

Our 65 mile group.

The 7Ps Rule

Happy St Patrick’s Day. Spoiler Alert: Patrick is not one of the Ps.

The weather has finally sort of broken. It’s now only a bit breezy rather than gale force and bright sunshine was bathing the glorious countryside. Here was an opportunity for a decent ride and a way of blowing away the cobwebs caused by watching yesterday’s rugby in a brewery.

A quite uneventful ride to start with, up through Bourne End and Marlow then up a couple of nice hills to Christmas Common, all nice familiar stuff.

Then onto pastures almost new, an excursion down Swyncombe Hill rather than a slog up it which was nice. I was surprised to find some sheep in a field. Very common in my native Lake District, but not too much in Oxfordshire.

Onwards, and back up to Nuffield, breaking my personal best on the long climb and then down to Henley, or at least that was the plan…

Coming out of Shepherds Green I hit a large, deep and sharp pothole. My pleasure at not falling was soon deflated by the hissing of air escaping tyre – I had a pinch puncture on the front wheel.

No problem I thought, I can swap an inner tube. Well dear readers I confirm that I can. However, I couldn’t inflate it, even using the solitary gas cartridge I had. After refusing about several offers of help (cyclists are generally a great bunch) whilst I attempted to inflate I admitted defeat and accepted one. It had him flummoxed too, and eventually we decided the brand new inner tube was defective. Being an absolute top bloke and only a few miles from home he gave me a spare and refused payment, just asking that I do the same for someone else sometime. I’ll be sure to.

After saying our goodbyes my spirits were dashed again as I noticed that my rear tyre was also punctured. Being out of gas, tubes and not having packed any patches I accepted my situation and called my wonderful wife for a lift home.

Lesson from this – carry more repair stuff, test it before I go and carry patches. Or, remember the 7Ps rule:

• Proper
• Preparation and
• Planning
• Prevents
• Piss
• Poor
• Performance