One Click Is All It Takes

The biggest challenge facing me on my first sportive cycling event was not how to pace myself but to negotiate a safe path through the ponies, donkeys and cattle grazing roadside through the New Forest.

I have always had a deep mistrust of anything with four legs so when I found myself face-to-face with a very docile pony, I found myself taking a deep breath, unclipping my left foot faster than I have ever managed, placing my foot on the ground, coming to a halt and just waiting.

It was good to have a breather at this stage of the ride as we had been pedalling constantly for 75 minutes and my legs welcomed the rest.

The cream coloured pony and I made eye contact, he seemed to nod as if to say “hi there”, turned his head to one side and slowly wandered off, allowing me and the group of riders who had now caught us up, to resume our leisurely ride.

I have been riding mountain bikes for more than 10 years but have been keen to switch to a sportive bike or some months. I did not consider the switch from full suspension, disc brakes, a wide range of gears and riding on flat pedals to a sportive bike with no suspension, rim brakes, fewer gears and clipless pedals too difficult an adjustment.

I got that wrong, falling off my brand new Giant Avail on my first practice ride. I found myself lying on the ground with my pride having taken a severe dent. Clipless pedals give you a feeling of being connected the bike which I most certainly was.

 

 

My first training rides were on a flat, quiet closed road to shift up and down through the gears and practice clipping in and out before I ventured onto the familiar country lanes of Surrey and Sussex. My UK Cycling Events sportive debut was looming but I sensed I needed some expert advice.

Whenever faced with a challenge I like to get it right. Events like the Wiggle New Forest Sportive 100 are not races, more a marathon on two wheels. We all like to complete the distance, set a benchmark or beat a previous time.

These long distance non-competitive cycling events, which attract thousands of riders, are just that, and for my first one I knew I would be in the saddle for a few hours. I can ride my mountain bike all day and have previously ridden the London to Brighton and End to End Challenge on the Isle of Man. This was to be a whole new challenge.

I was also anxious not to look inexperienced in my first sportive. I needed a confidence boost to know I was doing it right.

Steve Young knows all about that. A personal trainer with some of the country’s top athletes, he has ridden the Tour de Force – multiple stages of the Tour de France – and was part of an eight-man team who took part in the 3,000 mile Race Across America regarded as one of the toughest rides in the world. It took them 6 days 13 hours 58 minutes. He knows what he’s talking about.

I have known him for around 15 years and knew he would be brutally honest about my skill base, in particular the art of clipping in – and more importantly out – of the pedals which was still new to me even though I have also been ski-ing for many years. His expert advice would be priceless.

I would also allow him to shout at me, if at all necessary, whereas if my husband shouted to me like that on a training ride I would most likely shout back and we would be going nowhere.

“The pedals have a spring mechanism like a ski binding that a dedicated cleat on the shoe fastens into. You feel the click and you're in.” Steve told me, insisting I WOULD fall at some point. I had already achieved that twice in recent days but he pointed out it will happen on my first event. He was right about that!

I am so used to riding off-road on flat pedals, this new discipline of riding with clipless pedals, and slim as opposed to large knobbly tyres left me feeling exposed. Sportive bikes are so light in comparison to mountain bikes, I feared the slightest wobble might see me end up in the grass verge upside down still attached to the bike.

Then there are the drop handlebars which offer at least three hand positions so you can move around for comfort. This was a whole new concept of riding and felt like going back to basics.

Steve explained that on flat pedals only the downward stroke generates any power while clipless pedals allow you to pull your pedals upwards as well. The combination of the two means you travel further with each stroke.

We spent some considerable time in a public park with Steve www.foreveryoungfitness.co.uk refining the art of clipping in and out, over and over and over again, mastering other techniques and building my confidence. Practice makes perfect they say. I was doing a lot of that.

He assured me that once I had clipped in, I would adapt quickly and never go back to flat pedals. He may well be right on that as well.

Once happy with my confidence levels, Steve’s bombshell that we would do some serious climbing was unexpected. It was too much to think about, so I didn’t and off we rode. When faced with the narrow hill – probably a 12 per cent incline – I pushed on with fewer gears than I am used to with Steve behind me encouraging with shouts of “C’mon, you CAN do this”. Somehow I did, and that proved invaluable on my first event.

I have spent a number of weekends this year helping UK Cycling Events www.ukcyclingevents.co.uk at some of the sportive and mountain bike events they organise across the country. Looking after one of the feed stations for the thousands of hungry and thirsty cyclists stopping for welcome refreshments, these riders were my inspiration to try something new.

It was by talking to them while they topped up water bottles or ate from the food trays stacked with fig rolls, flapjack, jelly beans, gels and energy bars that my interest in riding a sportive event started. But I knew if that was going to happen I would need the right bike for the challenge, along with the clip-in shoes and up my fitness. It’s an expensive hobby.

For the big day, I had prepared myself through physical training and mental motivation which was helped further with a morale boosting text from my coach Steve the night before. I was beyond being nervous but did have a few butterflies joining the queue for the start after the least amount of pre-event faffing - ever. That was a new experience too.

With three distances on offer 41, 70 and 102 miles, I opted for the shorter. I wanted to finish, and have enough left in the tank to be able to think about doing this again.

With riders starting in small groups I was really hoping to start at the back of one keeping a low profile, but as the riders were waved off, I found myself at the front. Oh joy! Still, no gremlins in my head anymore so I was happy to be leading the group out, clipping in effortlessly, riding as light as I could with everything I would need packed into my tiny saddle bag instead of being carried in my backpack.

Out onto the main road it just got better as I overtook other riders which really helped settle me early on. I was overtaken myself by some far more experienced riders who had clearly done this before, but I was ready to enjoy this adventure.

The New Forest route was just spectacular, quiet country lanes, quaint villages with chocolate box style cottages, and wide open heathland which weaved its way across the Hampshire skyline. To see thousands of cyclists riding in single file for miles ahead was quite a sight and knowing I was a part of that was something I had only previously dreamt about.

The more experienced riders were certainly fast, but my hill training paid dividends on the day and I got up them all, bar one!

As Steve predicted, I did fall off, and I know exactly what happened. I was going at a good pace, but I looked ahead on this steady climb which appeared to be getting steeper.

I changed into the small ring far too soon, found I had no momentum, was not going anywhere, lost my balance and fell sideways onto the grass verge. This was not the mountain bike I was used to with the wide range of gears to select from. I just did not react quickly enough to prevent myself from tumbling over. It all happened in slow motion and luckily it was a soft landing, but my right foot was still clipped in, attached to my bike. I was stuck in a most unladylike pose.

Suddenly I found myself surrounded by a group of male cyclists passing by anxious to help me unclip. I joked I just wanted time out of the saddle to rest and stretch my legs. Don’t think they fell for that.

One of them, who I noticed from my ground level viewpoint, had a pair of the smoothest legs I’d ever seen on a man, gently released my shoe and then rode off. What a gent. I just lay back on the grass highly embarrassed at now having to get up, dust myself down and act as though nothing had happened.

Unharmed, I finished the climb and breathed a sigh of relief. My bike, bought from the Giant Store at Shoreham www.giant-shoreham.com continued to run smoothly as it had all day. As each mile passed I gained in confidence with the pedals and loved the whole experience. I may have been a bit slow towards the end so many thanks for the patience and courtesy shown by the motorists we shared the roads with.

The 41 miles was a little tough, but only because I had never ridden consistently at that pace for so long. I had no on board computer to measure my performance, speed, heart rate or cadence but I felt strong at the finish, and know I will do more. I know my raspberry ripple gels and lemon and lime high carbohydrate energy drink from Torq www.torqfitness.co.uk certainly helped me through.

My sole purpose on this debut was to get round the course and enjoy it while still pushing myself. I succeeded on all levels.

The adrenaline was pumping as my husband and I crossed the finish line together, my trusted wingman having ridden behind me all the way.

I was tempted to cross the finish line like a professional, pointing to the “sponsor” on my shirt, and then lift my arms to the sky. I knew it could have made for a spectacular finish, one way or the other! I decided not to push the boundaries too far. Maybe next time.