In a lot of ways, the hardest training camp we do every year is the cycling camp to Majorca. This year, two weeks in February were spent on the island. We were either on a bike, on an ergo or lifting weights. The ergos and weights are of course something we are used to, but spending two weeks on a bike is not!
The overriding memory of cycling camp for me is the pain; the pain in your legs and yes, the inevitable saddle soreness!
I am not a natural cyclist, our cycling coach Sandy Gilchrist when he first saw me on a bike, I think was pretty horrified! However, with Sandy’s expert coaching, along with hours in the saddle, I am now able to get the most out of my riding. I have however, had a couple of falls over the years which aren’t that enjoyable. In 2015 I came off and hit my head pretty hard and suffered mild concussion. An important reminder to always wear a helmet as they save lives!
Last year my gears didn’t pose a problem but now my legs weren’t as conditioned and it showed. It was a long grind! I paid for the 5 months off!
The reason we cycle is you can train for longer on the bike than you can rowing, so it’s a great way to work on your base level endurance. The change in gradients of the roads also provides variability in the demands on your lungs, heart and legs. In Majorca there are some great flat rides but once you get into the north of the island and the mountains, it seems like the only way is up!
There is a particular ride we do every year, that everyone remembers well for the sheer challenge that it presents. It is long and has some serious climbing, which includes the infamous Sa Calobra climb. Just under 10km long, with an average gradient of 7.5%.
This year I knew that this ride was going to take a lot of grit, due to my lack of fitness, after an extended post Olympic break. Whilst climbing up Sa Calobra, I was constantly searching for more gears. Last year my gears didn’t pose a problem, but now my legs lacked some conditioning and it showed. It was a long grind, I was paying for the 5 months off.
When I get really tired, I get grumpy, and at the end of the camp I was seriously grumpy. On the second to last day, we had one of the biggest rides to do and I really didn’t want to get back on the bike. The ride was out along the flat, climb a mountain then turn round and cycle home. I was with Jess Leyden and Charlie Booth for this ride, and we were all very quiet on the ride out. It was just heads down and get the work done. This camp I especially appreciate my team mates. At some point in the two weeks, we wall have a bad day but we always stick it out together. If someone is struggling, you will sit on the front for longer to help them out and you know they would do the same for you. This camaraderie is one of the best things about sport.
It’s these camps, and the hard sessions over the year that stay in my memory bank. It is what I draw so much of my confidence from on the start line of races. It’s in training that you find out how far you can push your body and break through previous limits.
