Being dropped

It will never happen to me. Yet it did. Humiliation, defeat, weakness. It wasn’t even a quick ride. Bump, gone, just like that. Dropped.

The melancholy of losing form and fitness

I used to be a contender. I could have taken that KOM. I was quicker goddammit and now look at me. Pathetic. Slow with a tailwind, the merest incline induces a series of huffing and puffing and effing and blinding. Strava automatically marks my rides as private as a sign of a respect to my […]

The post ride hangover

Who is the creature who returns home exhausted, depleted? Dry salt caking face, heavy black rings lacing eyes, more aches and pains in legs than your average nursing home. This is the cyclist who has ridden too far, too high. Bitten off more than they can chew. The route too big for their legs.

To ride or not to ride – An internal monologue

The conversation between head and body when you’ve been cycling too much. Head to body: I’m up for this, let’s have it! Body to head: I’m not so sure, I’m a little achy. We cycled three big days back to back this week. Head: That’s true but I feel great, come on, stop your whining and let’s […]

The aftermath – How cyclists actually recover post-ride

The suffering is over. Many hard miles logged, metres climbed. You’re so tired you’re unsure of your own name. After a hard ride there’s only one thing on your mind. It’s not stretching. Or active recovery, or even your ‘nutrition strategy’ otherwise known as eating. No. Get me off this bike, you think. Now. Minute […]

An enforced rest – know when you are beaten

Legs dead, they hurt climbing stairs. Pain strikes when standing from a seated position. Time for rest. I’ve been commuting every week and cycling every weekend since November. My legs have given up. Mentally I’m shot too with 9-5 (more like 8-6 of late) office life taking its wretched toll. Colleagues have been talking at […]