“There they go again, leaving me behind. Don’t they realise how hard this is for me?”
Geneva is a hilly place.
Pretty mountainous in fact in pretty much any direction outside the city.
So almost all the rides we do as a group involve some sort of climbing. And with climbing comes the knowledge that I will be dropped.
A lot.
My typical view on a ride
I’m not unfit, but I’m an ex-rugby player, a sprinter, who used to spend most days in the gym with the goal of getting bigger and stronger and faster.
Now that I’m a cyclist, those 15 years of rugby training weigh rather heavily when the road goes uphill.
And I get dropped. Always.
I think we have all experienced the feeling of being left behind, abandoned, forgotten as our riding buddies seemingly float away, legs whirring like an eggbeater.
Eggbeater example (with bonus heavy breathing)
And then the negative thoughts start:
“Those bastards just don’t know how hard this is …”
“Why can’t I be faster?”
“Why have I come out today?”
“They’re going to be waiting for ages for me at the top”
It’s hard to quell these thoughts, but I’ve learnt to try to reframe things in a more positive light.
Me and the col. This morning.
“I’m getting to spend more time on this beautiful road”
“They’re all likely suffering just as much as I am”
“I’m damn lucky to be out here riding my bike”
“I’ll get to the top eventually so just enjoy the ride, enjoy being in nature, and enjoy the feeling of working hard”
And it isn’t personal. My fitter, lighter, faster friends will wait for me, and they’ll be supportive and congratulatory when I get to the top.
And it is hard for them too.
As the famous quote from Greg LeMond states:
It never gets easier, you just get faster
I’ve learnt that there is always going to be someone better than you, so if you want to compare, compare to yourself, and enjoy the feeling that comes with getting fitter, and being outside in the fresh air.
I wasn’t last up the hill this morning, and what a tremendous feeling reaching the col sign, knowing that the rest of the ride is almost all downhill. Which is where my weight really becomes a benefit!
On the way down from Col de la Faucille
We climbed Col de la Faucille this morning, which gives some of the best views of Mont Blanc in the alps. If you’re ever in or around Geneva and want (a slowish) guide, then drop me a line paul@bornecycling.com