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You don't know what you've got…
About forty-five minutes into my cyclocross race this past Sunday I looked down at my legs in pain and yearned for a feeling that I had just four short weeks ago. You see, a month ago when I stepped off my BMC in the middle of Ascoli Piceno on that last day of the Rapha Randonnée Appenninni I felt as invincible as I ever have on the bike. Legs swollen by six consecutive days of 6-7 big climbing hours in the saddle, I had transcended from weekend warrior to a hardened grimpeur.
But last Sunday, with distance, the days and the realities of work and family, my "good legs" were just a fond memory.
Since coming back I've kept in touch with some of the other riders and the guides from La Fuga. We're all back into the swing of our lives, and we are all already trying to figure out when we can get away next for a "camp" like that again.
I have spoken with some of the Randonné alumnus from the other trips and it seems that our Italian experience was true for the French tours as well. I was curious if that those trips were as hard and as rewarding as what I had felt of Italy, and if they would consider doing another Randonnée? To which I heard back:
"As I told Claire atop Alpe d'Huez (after the Madeleine and Glandon) 'That day was gift.' I was in tears, I had a Cavendish moment."
"Because of how delightfully wrecked I was at the end of each day. I dug deep and kept up for the most part- but wow was I was in tatters."
"To cycle is to suffer. Maybe I'll be faster next time."
(me, Carrick, Pablo, Arnie, Aussie, Ian)
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- Last week was a great one for Rapha Condor JLT, all the action and images now up on the team site: http://t.co/ftBejPnnCJ
- RT @alainrumpf: Well done @mike_cuming and @raphacondorjlt winner of #TdK2013 under the scrutiny of latest drone… http://t.co/gv81uP9mHP
- In their attempt to cross the US in 24 days, @michaeltabtabai & Andrew Hudon will ‘Leave It On The Road’. → http://t.co/Per6QsCAtt
- We are delighted to announce the opening of a one-month, pop-up @RaphaCycleClub in Tokyo this summer from 22/6–21/7 → http://t.co/Jrc0EKZ9ky
- Huge congratulations to @raphacondorjlt’s @mike_cuming for winning the @TourdeKorea2013 and to @tomsoutham for best DS. #TdK2013
- @danfromnam in Corsica — outtake from our 2013 Spring/Summer shoot #corsica #beningstagram http://t.co/03A7pT9mtj
- Winner Winner Chicken Dinner ! The most important jersey of #TdK2013 hot off the press. http://t.co/Pflx0eUfdv”
- What a day... The boys keep Mike Cuming in yellow, after having to chase all day. Great performance by all.
- Just rehearsing the whole of Pacino's speech from Any Given Sunday to recite to the boys...
- UK: Thanks to all who came to to tonight’s Rapha Étape Evening in London with @CyclefitUK — one of our biggest turnouts yet.
Comments
Jon Cannings
15th October 2010 02:43pm
legs are lookin ripped in bottom pic there mate. Holty looks fresh, sat on the back all week?!
Bruce Rychlik
16th October 2010 12:22am
I went on the 6 day trip through the French Alps thinking it would be a great chance to check off some incredible mountain passes – one more impressive the next. But by the second day, I could no longer worry about the remaining cols of the day or the next day's ride - the terrain was challenging enough that I had to stay focused on the moment - and that, in fact, turned out to be the reward - and, I think, the beauty of a randonnée. The water's edge in Nice would reveal itself in time.
I made this video for the guides and the riders as a way of saying thanks – I think it captures the essence of our week together: http://www.vimeo.com/15628110
Tim Goode
19th October 2010 03:43pm
So…when are the new RAPHA bibs you are wearing going to be available?