Jan 31
Booze before Training
Now this is by no means an endorsement for drinking. Look we’re all human and falling off the wagon once in a while is always an option. For most a long training program can lead to a low tolerance to booze, as I don’t train enough to classify myself as one of the above I’ll just stick to the understanding that I’ve never been one to hold my booze.
Last Sunday morning I had arrange to head out on a local ride that would cover a total of about 60kms. Not a long ride by any means. I had not planned a big night out as “I was riding in the Morning” it’s the usual excuse for a sober night. Off to a BBQ to celebrate a friend’s 35th birthday.
Things where going to plan for the night when I came across what I term as “Mothers Milk” aka: Jim Beam in pre mixed UDL’s. This is a combination that generally after I have the taste… will see me out of action on for the bike next day or two (the older you get the longer the recovery).
As this was a pre arranged ride and after reading the How to be Popular post by Fatty I decided I had to follow through with the ride. To coin a phrase “It would be rude not too!” leads me to the fact that it just had to be done.
Up at dawn trying to re-hydrate the alcohol saturated body from the night before, this was not a pretty site. The ride that lay ahead of me was not something I was game to attempt as training over the past few months has been non-existent. Those that know me will confirm, I have the longest list of reasons to stay in bed (this is another post in the pipe line).
Eventually we rolled out and the ride was underway, the down side to riding from home is there is no way but up this makes the warm up a killer. I wasn’t feeling too bad as the legs kicked in and the mind appeared to have overcome the booze factor. Not far into the ride and providing the lead wheel to the massive peloton totalling two (yes 2) in the pack.
I must admit I this ride I didn’t have the old Polar 720i in the bike so any idea of speed, power or distance travelled. Let’s just say I was riding by brail, effectively hitting a high cadence and following the rule of: If the lungs burn, slow the legs, if the legs burn suck it up..!
As this rule was inplace and I had no concept of speed other than the head wind I figured all was well… until the comment came from behind – Are we training for F&#@ing Beijing, what’s this 38km/h ave (insert more obligatory comments ) speed .
It was at this point that I realised that the booze from the night might not be a bad thing. This in turn had driven the lead out man (myself – not known for speed) to crack the other half of the peloton. Due to the nature of any cyclist friendship it was not the done thing to maintain the Red Mist.
The rest of the ride was at a more realist pace for two cyclists that have little or no time for training. All round I had a great ride followed by the generally required coffee, the rest of the day is another story, let’s just say that there was a hangover to contend with.
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Yeah, don’t like the flat rides!