´Schoolboy Errors´and Spanish Bike Posing

Attempting to descend at speed- I need to practice

I started my last race truly feeling like a British fourth cat. My legs were wallpaper white;
this was their first time in the sun for 4 months. I also had some of that dreaded stubble. I couldn't shave as I have a mild skin infection that has resulted in small red marks over my legs, which would scar if I used a razor (trust me, I tried in vain last week). My shorts were ABOVE my weak tan line, and my legs weren't particularly defined. I know these aren't the correct things to be worrying about on the start line, but I couldn't help it when lined up against all those tanned legs. It didn't bother me too much once we started racing. The circuit required some pretty intense concentration as we raced up and down five kilometre climbs. I felt really privileged to be able to race those road with no cars, as it is rare opportunity for amateur racers (at least in Britain).

The competition was only 100 kilometres as it was considered such a hard course, and it finished with an summit finish to Ereno. I wasted a lot of energy midway through the race when I let about 40 riders up the road ahead of me, and had to chase up a climb for half an hour after a bollocking from the directeur sportif (David Extebarria). I then missed the leading breakaway of three over the penultimate climb, and came second in the sprint from the chasing group. David called my mistakes 'schoolboy errors' in the following days newspaper article.

One revelation I have been having this past two weeks is that I do not need to worry about
my weight to climb well. I have been eating much more than when I was a junior and was doing a similar workloads, and feel ten times better, even if I am a few kilos over my previous 'race weight'. I can't help wondering how much I had handicapped myself over the years worrying about my calorie intake.

Next week I have another pair of hard, hilly races. I am not sure about the details, but
hopefully without my schoolboy errors I might pull of the big one!

All the races make it into the local paper


It is still entertaining noticing the small differences in cycling between England and Spain.
Sartorial elegance seems to hold far more significance over here for racers and for the regular club rider. I suspect that in Britain a lot of cyclists accept that they are part of a minority sport, and can't be bothered perfecting their appearance for the unappreciative public and rare passing cyclist. In Spain the public can understand when a cyclist is dressed correctly, or not, and it becomes all the more important to make an effort.

Wearing co-ordinated kit is a given, which is often not the case in Britain. Pro replica kit is rare, except for Euskatel- Euskadi, which is acceptable as it is a demonstration of regional (or national!) pride. Bikes are usually pretty clean and either Orbeas, Pinarellos, or BH, rather than the rash of Focus and Specialized that is seen in Britain. There is an amazing amount of deep section carbon wheels used for training. This can only be for appearance as there is virtually not a single flat road in the Basque country. What gives the Spanish away as true posers rather than aficionados is when you look closely at the details of the bike. The 105 chain on the Dura Ace groupset, the Michelin Lithion tires or a pair of Corima Carbon deep sections, the white oversocks covering up the old cheap shoes (which were ridden by a man on a Pinarello Dogma with Campagnolo Boras). These little tricks are far more commonplace than in Britain. I personally prefer it this way. What's the harm in enjoying looking the part?