I am not normally a road rider. I eschew the bright lycra, featherlight hardware and exhaust fumes and instead spend my two-wheel time on singletrack in the forests. The two disciplines require very different skills and attributes. We cross-country mountain bikers specialise in skill, talent,control,confidence and bursts of anaerobic power. Roadies (I do not stoop to calling them ‘Lycra Louts’) focus more on endurance, indifference to extended periods of pain, and leg-shaving. I think it may be an IQ thing.
So, hauling my 11kg mountain bike around a long, flat road circuit today was a challenging experience for me. I shall spare you the details, and give you the raw numbers:
– Distance: 50kms.
– Time: Just over two hours
– Speed: 22km/h (I know, I know)
– Slices of Chocolate Torte consumed immediately afterwards: 2
– Lycra Louts caught: 2
– Lycra Louts passed: 0
– Overtaken: Three times. Once by a girl. She did have the full UQ cycling team gear on, is my excuse.
– Quadriceps: Still on fire
Have some pictures:
