It’s lockdown again, although due to circumstances I didn’t really leave it earlier. With a wife working at the hospital, elderly parents-in-law and kids at university I had to stay safe, to semi-isolate. Thankfully I’m a solitary person, but at times it’s been demotivating.
Family tragedy also affected my mental well-being, by the loss of an uncle who I truly regard as the most caring man I ever knew; and so it’s been tough finding the motivation to train over recent weeks. Being a parent also doesn’t stop when the kids are at university and being a nephew is tough when the uncle that you love and admire is suddenly taken away. Yes, this year has been unique and testing for all of us, and we have to try to stay focused. That doesn’t mean that things will be easy though and I knew that I needed to start turning a wheel again.
The thing is, I love exercise and training – it’s part of who I am. I wasn’t unduly concerned at having a break; it’s probably done me some good, but I knew that I needed to get back to daily training. Going for the odd short ride or a long walk just doesn’t cut it for me. I need to sweat, to ache and know that my heart has been pushed. Back to the garage and to the rollers, with YouTube and the Stelvio Pass firing me and Voom Nutrition giving the necessary boost and hydration before, during and after. Thankfully there’s a few sets of rollers set aside in the garage as we’re a cycling family; so even if my son is training, I can leap on board another set. Rollers are great, because you have to think,to concentrate, which makes them great for your mental wellbeing as well as the physical benefits.
I don’t usually train to music; I come from a mountaineering background. Back in the day we didn’t have the luxury of an iPod on a cliff face or up on a ridge – we just dug deep into our soul and emptied ourselves and puked as we ran, took a swill of water to clean out the mouth and then carried on. We were young, fearless and stupid and now our bodies suffer from it, from carrying 2 rucksacks; one filled with climbing gear and another strapped on top for clothes, food, tent and sleeping bag. No, music wasn’t required, for we had the mountains and sound of the water as the infant rivers fell down the hillside beside us.
But I needed motivation this week, if I was to get back into the swing of things and to roll the training gap. Spotify was downloaded and I searched for a playlist from number 1 son, who has an excellent taste in music. The Stelvio was back on YouTube in front of me, I had a Voom Nutrition bar in my rear pocket, a bottle of hydration powdered water on the bike and I was ready. ‘Go to hell covid, I’ll beat you,’ and I’ll also conquer lockdown – I’ll beat you because I never quit. The thing about being a climber is the mental strength. After all, there’s nowhere to hide on a mountain, when all you have for protection is a rope and your wits. Transferring this mental strength to my cycling is the simple part; finding the energy to support it can be tricky 😉 I’m away though, following the road in front of me on the screen. It’s not overly realistic but it’s a start, and quite soon I’ll be hooked up to the new Elite ‘Real World Video’ and adding that sense of realism – I can feel the need for a larger screen already – maybe a projector!
The music plays and it feeds my soul. I’m fired up like Lance Armstrong, albeit legally so and I’m back in the cycling zone. Natural endorphins and a good nutrition brand is really all that you need Lance 😉 I’m rolling the gap caused by this pandemic and recent events and I’m feeling good again, as sweat pours off me and my legs turn the rollers to the rhythm of the music. I love using the rollers; it’s not simply a case of sitting still and pedalling – you need to add that focus and to switch everything else off. If you have to train indoors, get yourself a good set of rollers, trust me. The whole aspect of using them is addictive and it creates energy in you, not just in the motion of the roller itself. Yes, cycling is part of who I am, because it allows me the freedom to just be… and right now that’s exactly what I need.
https://pedalnorth.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Elastic-Interface-Manager-min-min.jpg
938
1500
Pedalnorth Website
https://pedalnorth.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Pedalnorth-Logo-Vector-PN-11-Sep-2023-medium-1030x407.jpg
Pedalnorth Website2024-04-04 00:24:332024-04-15 14:03:13Elastic Interface Chamois Pad
https://pedalnorth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Nadezhda-March-2024.jpeg
948
1290
Pedalnorth Website
https://pedalnorth.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Pedalnorth-Logo-Vector-PN-11-Sep-2023-medium-1030x407.jpg
Pedalnorth Website2024-04-01 12:40:152024-04-08 09:02:48Peñas Blancas Malaga cycling climb – Costa del Sol
https://pedalnorth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Carbon-Wasp-5.jpg
1280
1920
Pedalnorth Website
https://pedalnorth.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Pedalnorth-Logo-Vector-PN-11-Sep-2023-medium-1030x407.jpg
Pedalnorth Website2024-03-28 20:02:072024-03-28 20:02:07Made in Yorkshire – Carbon Wasp
https://pedalnorth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Larisa-mtb-and-Camelbak-.jpg
1280
1920
Pedalnorth Website
https://pedalnorth.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Pedalnorth-Logo-Vector-PN-11-Sep-2023-medium-1030x407.jpg
Pedalnorth Website2024-03-26 10:58:302024-03-26 11:03:14Mountain Biking in Romania – Europe’s last great wilderness
