Close Friend of mine and fellow Rapha drooler Steven Marsh invited me down to his this week for a spot of relaxation and non-urban training. There are only so many times that I can bear to drag myself up and down the Lea Bridge Road to beyond the Green Belt.
Luckily the day that we chose to ride was an absolute scorcher. Fareham was like France in high summer and the small town of Old Arlesford that Steve had targeted for our coffee stop was exquisitely quaint. Just the kind of place we needed to show off our tan lines.
Mr Marsh I have to say really showed me how it's done style wise.
Somehow on the way back, we found it in us to really test ourselves on some of the sharp climbs that we encountered in the Meon Valley. I counted four sprints. This would prove to bode well for my racing legs later in the week.
The next day, I was introduced to Steve's training rollers. These are truly antiques and have to been seen (and heard) - (and felt) to be believed. I'm convinced that Steve rides them with the express intention of closing his eyes and imagining that the vibrations from the rotten bearings are mimicing the exact undulations and frequency of the pave found north of the Arenburg Forest.
Inevitably I couldn't help but put them through their paces, and found myself doing possibly the longest roller session of my life. I was reminded of how crucial rollers are to 'knowing yourself' and your form on a bike.
Joking aside, thank you to Steve and his loving Family for their hospitality and warm welcome.
Joking aside, thank you to Steve and his loving Family for their hospitality and warm welcome.
