Wellington isn’t renown for its great summers; a mate is always quick to remind me that if the weather was perfect all the time, everyone would want to live here and we’d be overrun by Aucklanders (just like Aussies but not quite dumb enough to live in Canberra). As our summer goes into its last death throes of amazingly calm, sunny, cloudless days, the arm warmers and undershirt have only just emerged from their longest hibernation ever. And I probably won’t need them for tomorrow’s ride either.
Come next Monday, however, I’ll be on the other side of the world and months of unzipped jerseys and SPF30 will be but a memory; a cold, wet, distant memory. And I have to say I’m almost looking forward to it with a strange enthusiasm and a hint of romanticism. Almost. No amount of fitness gleaned from training in perfect weather can prepare one for the rigours of a Belgian spring.
We know how the body will react when it is pulled from its warm cocoon and plunged into an icy bath. How the mind will handle it is a bigger concern. We can prepare ourselves physically to the nth degree, but if we’re mentally inept then the sag wagon becomes a likely option. At which point something deep inside takes over, thought processes return to normal and the mere thought of getting off the bike is quickly and methodically banished. Not here, not now.
Let the hardmen be hardmen, let it rain and blow and the cobbles turn to mud when they grace these roads. But Merckx have mercy on a fair-weather soul, even if only for a few selected days. Let our Flandrian Best suffice and our tubulars have sure grip on dry stones. Failing that, at least keep us upright and we will drink a toast to you night after night.
Bring it on.
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The LBS doesn't have or even know what embrocation is, and apparently can't get any from their suppliers? Bad omen that is.
@tessar
The first song that comes on in this vid is Crucify Your Mind. That's the message for you guys on the KT:
Were you tortured by your own thirst
In those pleasures that you seek...
...I've seen your self-pity showing
As the tears rolled down your cheeks
When the cross comes into view as you round the corner on the Kapelmuur and all thought vapourizes from your mind, just know...that we are with you in spirit.
-f
@Chris Haha I will be cheering the racers.
I can confirm he has signed on. Racers are you ready.
@Marcus Good form ignoring the run in your training. How is your transition?
@DerHoggz Demote them to supplier of tubes only or just move on.
Marcus did very well on the bike leg. Just finished it averaging 32.54 kph. Swim was decent as well. Now we all need to say a few prayers for him on the dreaded marathon!
@Buck Rogers
Great effort considering the 30 - 35kmh North, Nor-wester wind here in Melbourne. The bike leg travels north out, south back. He'd have a head wind out, tail back x2. The marathon run home is pretty much a head wind straight on.
Now we all need to say a few prayers for him on the dreaded marathon!
Not too much prayer. Too much might lead to this;
@marcus great effort. For 10 short runs to come in with even 6m km splits topped it off nicely.
I had you and 1066 going head to head in div 4044 and you've bolted in.
Anybody who completed in those conditions did well.
@sthilzy
Now THAT is just a bad fuckin day at the office!
@Marcus What an achievement to finish it on your first try, and a pretty good time!