Ride against the wind

With half the world asleep, the other half probably absorbed in some sort of sin, I prepare to set off to meet my Lifecycle buddies. It is 330am on a Sunday morning, and most of my friends are out partying and making the most of the summer, which incidentally starts this very day!

I put on my helmet, switch on my GPS, bicycle lights and cycle to Ta’Qali to meet John, Maria and Pierre so that we can start our 160km training ride for the day. It is still dark, and sunrise is still a couple of hours away. I can’t stop myself from yawning and visions of my comfortable bed keep on appearing in front of my semi-closed eyes. I am on auto-pilot. Half way into training I have become very familiar with most of the Maltese roads, especially in the area around my home.

Cycling in the direction of Ta’Qali, I feel as if I am tackling the first hill of the day, when in reality the road is flat. The wind is blowing in the opposite direction and making it tougher for me to cycle. I had been warned that the forecast for the coming days would be windy. For once the Met office got it right!

John’s bubbly character makes it easy to switch into a good mood and his positive outlook always rubs off on me, even when I am trying to keep up with him to make sure that he doesn’t feel obliged to slow down because of me. Reaching Qormi in a very good time we head towards the airport to meet Maria and Pierre. We meet them just as we finish climbing up the hill – or ramp, as John likes to call them. I joke that it is unfair on us, having to climb this hill when we will probably have to loop this area twice in today’s training.

After a brief discussion as to whether we should do some loops to cover some mileage I suggest we do the Valletta route, which I normally undertake when I want to do a short route. It is scenic, has some undulations and is quite close to our meeting point at Mater Dei. Since looping is not something we enjoy doing, it was easy for me to sell the idea and we head towards Valletta through Marsa.


430am and sunrise is still about an hour away. This does not mean that there is no activity on the roads. Quite the contrary. Undoubtedly most of them are party animals on their way home. At one point we are accompanied by a mobile club – I guess if we cannot make it to a club the club will follow us. Well this is what four young males did. Presumably drunk, their comments were incoherent. A friend of mine, a Lifecycle participant in 2007, had mentioned that such encounters were part of the joys of Lifecycle training.

Since I am in the company of some very good cyclists I give that extra push, so much so that John teases me about my surge of energy! I am pleased to see that my average speed has increased to 23.5 km/h. We are on flat ground, the wind is in our favour and we are yet to attack the hills but it is still motivating. Maria and I comment that we have only fives weeks of training before we set off to Istanbul and start discussing what our activities will be undertaking when we come back – definitely more sleep, a trip on a jet ski, barbecues and perhaps even sky diving – the skies the limit!!!

We stop for a quick snack break, during which I try to stifle a yawn but Pierre quickly catches me in the act and starts teasing me, something that has become a habit!. After an hour we reach St. Julian’s. Being my usual route, I half expect us to turn back upon reaching the Love monument but Pierre and John have other ideas. We head towards the Coast Road and I start doubting and worrying whether we will reach Mater Dei on time. After all there is that little ‘ramp’ called Burmarrad Hill that we would need to tackle.

I start feeling tired and a bit unwell, I just try to brush it off and keep a steady pace, especially when we reach Burmarrad. I look at my GPS and am happy to note that my pace up the hill is improving every time I embark on this route. It takes us 20 minutes, from the start of Burmarrad to Mater Dei, covering 60 kilometres. We have now 100 kms more to go.

I am still not feeling 100%. I wonder whether it was because I might have pushed myself a bit too much or whether because I am coming down with some virus or something of the sort. I try to put it at the back of my mind while I get teased on my participation in a TV programme the evening before.

We are glad to see Ray, fondly known as Space, back in training after having missed a couple of sessions due to an injury. He is very enthusiastic about today’s training and is raring to go!

Listening attentively to Alan giving an update on the pre-visit

Alan gives us a quick update following feedback received from Soner, Mario and Gilbert, who are currently on a pre-visit. There is some amazing scenery to look forward to. However it is also already very hot. Sizzling 40 degree temperatures have already hit Turkey and Syria, so we already know what to expect in August. Alan emphasizes the importance of hydration, having the right mix of carbohydrates in our water, wearing sunscreen with an appropriate protection factor and covering our arms properly to try to avoid heatstroke as much as possible.

Receiving last minute instructions before hitting the road

730am. Time to hit the road. Tony and I decide to try and cycle together having done very well in the past week. We set off on the usual initial route through the B’Kara By Pass. Yet again I feel the wind against me, creating a resistance that requires more energy than I feel I can give at the moment. Slowly we progress towards the Mgarr Roundabout where we take a turn towards Rabat. A slow steady incline. As we move forward, I realise that I am not at all feeling the way I should. I am feeling dizzy. At the roundabout leading to Mtarfa, where we are supposed to tackle our first hill, I realise that the sensible thing to do is stop. Tony and Simon stop immediately to see what is wrong. My heart rate goes up. I start shivering. I feel very weak. Simon immediately calls Alan, who leaves his checkpoint to come and assess the situation. Just as Alan had instructed in the morning’s briefing, Tony and Simon put my legs up to try and get the flow of blood back into my head.

A steady stream of cars drive past us and as expected they do not stop. Two fellow cyclists and friends of mine, Karen and Justin cycle by and immediately stop to see if I need anything. That is one of the special things about cycling. There is an unwritten code of support. Karen immediately pours some cold water on my head, which is very welcoming even though the temperature is not that of a summer day.

Alan and Shirley arrive shortly after. Alan suggests that I go home and give it a rest for today. My determined, or hard headed nature, whichever you prefer, does not particularly like that suggestion so I wait a bit more in the hope that I get better and can proceed with the day’s route. Karen and Shirley stay with me. I eat a banana to try and get some energy into me, even though this is my third banana in so many hours.

Soon, we are joined by the rest of the cyclists who have already gone up Mtarfa and are heading towards Zebbug. They all stop to see what happened and while most of them would like to stay on to see that I am ok, Alan gestures for them to leave. I am in good hands so they must continue the ride otherwise they will lose precious time.

Half an hour later I muster up some courage to attempt to cycle. Karen offers to ride with me, whilst Shirley is still concerned. I assure Shirley that I will not push myself too much and will take it in stages, see how I feel. Slowly Karen and I push off. Thankfully there are few undulations in the road, and we set off at a comfortable pace, reaching the Zebbug by-pass in no time.

The road disappearing under me like a film reel, I pick up a good speed. The wind is in our favour, and I feel good enough to try to attempt going down to Qormi. I want to at least try to get to Hal Far and back. Taking a slow but steady pace we reach the Airport. I am still feeling very tired and weak and hit by an occasional shiver. Reaching Lister Barracks again the wind is against us. I admit I would have struggled a lot more hadn’t it been for Karen who cycled in front of me, sheltering me from the wind.

The ride stops at Caffeina, our favourite coffee shop in Zebbug. John, Jesmond and Pierre are already there ordering coffee. Soon after we are joined by other cyclists who have all felt the effect of the wind. Today was not easy for most of us. Although the sun barely made an appearance making it easy in terms of heat, the wind was quite strong, giving little respite even in downhills or flat spaces.

Whilst I am a bit disappointed at just having done only 105kms instead of the 160kms originally planned, there is always a lesson to be learnt and the important thing is that one takes heed of such lessons and try to learn as much as possible.


Photos courtesy of Ray Pace, pacemedia.tv