We did about 65-70 miles including some big hills - over to Settle and back via Halton Gill. There seemed to be a headwind the whole way round but for some unknown reason I felt really strong the whole way. When I returned home I felt like I could easily have gone round again, and I was having trouble reining it in when I was on the front (much to the anger of the group who berated me constantly for going too fast!).
I always struggle with keeping the right pace and today, into a strong headwind, only working at about 70% capacity I was too fast for the boys behind. Harry Q was having a bad day as well and we left him on the way back in to struggle home at his own pace. But for some reason I felt great - even big-ringing it up the final hill we often sprint up (and I normally trail up behind all the others).
It is worth reflecting on my good "early-bird" friends as this morning was the hardcore 4 of us who are the main stalwarts at the moment.
"El Cid", is a dead-ringer for Tom Boonen. A leader and a man's man. Big and strong and yet amazingly elegant on his bike - beautifully balanced on climb, flat or descent. His style is strong and steady, but has a an amazing turn of speed when needed. He often booms out a "fucking slow down" to keep us youngsters in check.
"Cacophony", the other leader of the group, is our Marco Pantani, both in looks and riding style. He had potential in his youth to be a true great, but lost his way to a lifestyle of excess and wild partying. His riding style is erratic - not well balanced like El Cid's, but he can climb like any one of us. You never know what you are going to get with him - some Sunday's he is like a Spring chicken full of life and exuberance. Other weeks, suffering from drunken debauchery from the night before he will stop at the roadside to be ill.
"Harry Quinn" looks just like David Millar. He is tall, long-levered and has a quiet introspection. Like David he plays guitar, and is similarly tortured by inner-demons which prevent from his hitting his best. He is too tall to be an out and out climber, but is steady and measured in all things. He is the voice of common-sense to Cacophony's wildness.
To show how much they look like each of their famous lookalikes, Ive put a recent picture of each of them below.
Not sure who they would see me as being?
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