There were a number of different distances available to all levels of rider, from 25, 50 and for the first time in the event’s 20 year history, a 100km quadricep searing ride out to the Bay and Back. It is what it says on the tin!

My day started low key and I woke before the alarm, as I often do when I know I have an important event on for that day: 4.45am.  I did have every intention of doing some Yoga the night before as I had been suffering during the week with a bad back of my own. I don’t mind getting the occasional lumbago- it helps maintain my emapathy toward my own patients!  Suffice to say my Saturday night ‘in’ got the better of me, and although I’m ashamed to say it I succumbed to a buttered chicken and some naan bread and a few episodes of Sons of Anarchy.  Well at least I got the carb-loading box ticked.  And besides; what better way to prepare for my longest bike ride in years!

I had previously the day before greased and oiled my trusty stead- and was satisfied that the magnificent carbon machine would get me through, so I had little else to do once I awoke.  I quickly downed a bowl of oats and did a P90x warm-up routine. These home exercises are an awesome way to get overall body fitness and he (Tony Horton-Fitness Guru) preceeds every class with a full body warm-up.  No better way to prepare mself for the action ahead.

I met up with a few of my cycling companions: Swiss Paediatrician Dr. Spartacus II, Mark the machine G, and the Palliative Care Ulsterman, Dr C.  The irony of having access to two medical specialists wasn’t lost on me and I was hoping that palliative care wouldn’t be required, although it did comfort me!

I had never ridden with Dr Spartacus II- whom I dubbed this name after only 5km in as he proceeded to scoop his chain onto the ‘big-ring’ and single-handedly escalate the speed up to around 40kph.  In a car this doesn’t seem like much, but for all of those who have ridden, I’m sure you’ll appreciate that this is a formidable pace, for a charity ride no less.  Oh, by the way, Spartacus is the nickname given to the Swiss rider Fabian Cancellara who has won the World Titles in Time Trialling a staggering 4 times.  It must be all that Swiss Mountain air!

After 50km of this edge-of-the-seat pace the mental battles began, where my legs were telling my brain to conserve and my brain was telling my legs; I KNOW!  I did what Eckhart Tolle suggests- Make a change or surrender.  Well I did both- with careless abandon I increased my speed to match Spartacus II and I dropped in on his ‘slipstream’- that pocket of wind free zone behind every rider and a zone that every weaker rider (me) loves to find.  As it happens, I’m very good at finding this zone…  And this is where I stayed for most of the 100km.

As I rode I kept waiting for the Swissman to ‘crack’ and I imagined myself stocically cruising past with a poker face and one eye-brow raised and offering this machine of a man my own slipstream- suffice to say, that didn’t happen more than once.  And when it did, I got a fright because as soon as I pulled out of the comfort of the slipstream every muscle in my body screamed in chorus- “Are you crazy, man! Get back in there!”. Who was I to argue; sheepishly I offered my apologies for failing to provide more than a moment’s wind free travel for my companions, and I dropped back.  This was turning into a journey of survival.

As we made our approach toward the finish, I was never so happy to run into a multitude of red lights.  Normally cursing my misfortune in such circumstances, this time I revelled in delight every time I saw that little red star of mercy.

With 500m remaining I found myself ahead of Spartacus II, no this could not happen, it was only right that our trusty Swiss Diesel engine take the honours in this event that “wasn’t a race”.  Ha, tell that to my legs!

It’s been awhile since my body has been asked to push itself for more than 3 hrs, but I was delighted with how I faired.  After an obligatory coffee (cycling etiquette stipulates that it’d be rude not to accept such a beverage after any ride), I made my way, rather wearily, back home, riding slowly and enjoying the endorphin release that is a welcome and ironic side-effect of any intense exercise like this.

If you’re interested in where exactly this course went, have a look at the following link to Garmin.  It’s a record of the ride on GPS and records loads of other measurements such as heart rate, speed, temp etc etc. If you’re into ‘toys’, cycling is your sport!

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/94832212

Enjoy the Journey!

Anthony Collins

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