This post is mostly going to be a
dedication to the things I’ve learnt (in sickness and in health) in this fine
Belgian land of pushbikes. Hopefully it’ll provide some amusement and might
even turn out to be useful advice for future riders.
Don’t panic. This works on so many levels. The beans on the hob are
getting burnt, don’t panic: they only cost 47 cents! The break has just gone up
the road without you, don’t panic: one of these over-energetic Flandriens will
tow you across.
Roads are rough, tough and unforgiving. Riding over them sometimes
isn’t that fun; skidding along them on your face never is. The minute you start
worrying about that though you’ll be on your arse. The key is to retain a
certain ‘joie de vivre’ even when brushing shoulders, bars and rear mechs with
other riders and street furniture solid enough to incur involuntary shudders.
Pain cave: no soft landings here.
Yes you can ride the rim for the rest of your ride, but if you do
it when you’re 15k from home you get a sore back. As I found out a couple of
times this year when two spare tubes just didn’t covered it. Just take it steady across level crossings
because those babies will take you down!
What happens when you train on a flat.
It’s all in the head; unless you really are ruined. Then you should
have a nap. I’ve found a few times this year I’ve felt absolutely smashed in,
but then I’ve started some intervals and actually been going well. The human
body is a weirdo and still manages to play tricks on me regularly.
Hell on earth.
No matter how much you’re suffering, you can still suffer more. The
limiting factor of performance is almost always the mind, so don’t be a
pussycat. And if it’s getting really tough remember one thing: at least you’re
not working a 9-5, sitting your life away in a drab office, eating your way to
obesity.
