The Simple Life

Since finishing the FBD Insurance Ras life has been hectic; commitments which arose during the eight day period had to be postponed. Now that the dust has settled on a busy fortnight the introspection can begin.

My thoughts on the first two stages follow.

The Ras is a different event for everyone. Although each athlete arrives at the same destination each evening, the journey of each is unique. Over the course of the eight days I experienced a range of emotions which were almost inextricably linked to my performance on that days stage.

One of my most enduring memories from this years Ras was setting out from Dunboyne for the start of stage one against a backdrop of cheering crowds with the U2's 'Beautiful Day' resonating long into the distance. At that moment I was almost overcome by the significance of the event within Ireland. Leaving aside the fact that the Ras has become a major event on the international cycling calender, I was more taken back by the historical significance of participation in a event which has overcome manifest social and economic obstacles. My pensive mindset was soon replaced by one of concentration as we roared out of town for the beginning of the 2010 FBD Insurance Ras. The speed was about what I expected, poor bunch positioning caused me to miss a split in the bunch over the first KOM of the day. After Dundalk, what remained of the bunch fragmented once more as a group formed in an attempt to chase. I managed to make the split on that occasion but never regained contact with the leaders. The stage ended for me without incident finishing in 83rd place in a group which was eleven minutes behind the winner.

I had a few dark moments during the eight days. The worst crash I have ever seen took place on the second stage into Carrick-on-Shannon. I am not sure of the external circumstances that surrounded the crash but within the peleton it was business as normal leading up to the incident. We had just began a decent after a stinging little climb which had reduced the main bunch to little over forty riders. A Spanish team forced the pace, chasing the breakaway which had a dwindling lead. I was placed about fifteen riders from the front as the leaders took the apex through a blind corner on a country road. Crashes are usually characterised by the distinctive noise of brake pads squealing on carbon wheels but this instance the smash came before the squeal. A landrover had crashed into the front of the paceline, head-on. Riders funneled away through the narrow opening between the crashed car and the injured riders to maximise access for emergency services. The race was neutralised for the remainder of the day. Thankfully no life threatening injuries were sustained. There was a sombre mood as we rolled to the finish, each reflecting on events which had life altering potential.

The paradox

Medical professionals consistently recommend a well balanced diet and regular exercise as a prerequisite for good health. Regardless of ones primary motivation for cycling, an ancillary motivation was invariably the perceived health benefits associated with the sport. To those outside the cocoon that is the cycling world we are some of the healthiest people they know; those enveloped within the community know the real story.

It is a Tuesday morning, I have just finished a grueling two hour training spin with plenty of threshold work. From the moment I left my house to the moment I 'bunny hopped' the curb of my driveway and returned home, it rained. As soon as I get in the door my mind changes focus, it's no longer about braving the elements or wattage, the focus has shifted onto recovery. The usual routine begins - it's almost automatic at this stage. Recovery drink, shower, compression clothes and some good quality carbohydrates and protein. Time is at a premium when doing sessions before class so efficiency is essential.

I don't have a car and there is no way I am getting back into cycling gear for a fifteen minute commute into college so I opt for public transport. The rain has eased off somewhat, the sun is beginning to break through the clouds and the commuters seem oblivious to the conditions I have endured that morning. I sit on the crowded bus, dressed for weather ten degrees colder than that which I am currently faced with. I hear coughing and sneezing coming from the seats adjacent to mine, I immediately move to cover my face with my scarf -but in a way which disguises my insanity. I am a hypochondriac. This is the reality of cycling, a sport which is perceived to augment your health has an diametrically different effect; the immune system is so suppressed from the volume and intensity of training forced upon it that it is incapable of repelling infection.

The line between health and sickness is one which is increasingly blurred for competitive cyclists'. The Ras will test not only athletes' fitness levels but also there ability to deal with the suppressed immune system. Over time one develops unique, personal ways of promoting recovery and optimizing performance in latter days - all of these will be tested to the limit in a weeks time.

Preparing like the professionals?

It is fourteen days to the Union Cycliste International 2.2 ranked FBD Insurance Ras. I am part of a five man amateur student team riding the event. For eight days the top amateur cyclists' in Ireland will get a chance to sample life as a professional cyclist. However, there will be a marked divergence between our amateur preparation and that of our professional counterparts.

I am a full time student. Life between now and the 23rd of May will still go on -but with a difference. I will refrain from speculating on how a professional would prepare for the event and instead attempt to give an insight into how the other half prepare.

There exists a norm, which we as a team must conform to; certain expectations exist within the cycling community. I will be riding for University College Dublin. The actions we take will reflect on the college and on the wider cycling fraternity. There is a pressure, both internal and external, to achieve a minimum acceptable level of organisation. The only problem is that this minimum level requires a substantial temporal investment.

The team is comprised of three guys with full time jobs and two full time students - for both categories time is at a premium. Herein lies the challenge; to balance a 'normal life' with the logistical and physical demands of a professional cycling race.

Although the race does not begin until late May, the physical preparation began some six months and many kilometers ago. Winter is the time when the foundations of a season are built; the Ras will test the strength of those foundations. It will reveal those who sacrificed the most and expose those who over-indulged. One can only hope, at this stage, that when the professionals decide to turn up the heat that it does not melt my, as yet, untested foundation.

I will, over the coming weeks, provide a peek behind the scenes of an amateur in a professional world.