On the right track Gareth Ffowcs-Williams recommends that everyone hops on their bike this May, embracing the ‘give it a go’ spirit…
May is always a welcome friend. It usually brings with it the
Being able to see riders of this calibre doing the same event
promise of more reliable weather and certainly longer days.
as you is a bit of a buzz as it lets you appreciate first hand just
Getting dressed for a bike ride in April is the worst – you
how good they are.
need to be dressed for glorious sunshine, freezing cold, hot, cloudy, wet and dry all at the same time! With the more reliable
The huge variety of abilities helps to cement the fact that the
weather comes the confidence of organisers to start putting on
only person you are really competing with is yourself, and that
more regular rides, events and competitions and my advice to
helps to generate the welcoming atmosphere. Other competitors
everyone is to “give it a go”.
are not interested in how quickly or slowly you did the ride, what matters is if you are happy with it, did you enjoy it and
Rhos-on-Sea Cycling Club for example, like many in North
are you getting better?
Wales, put on a really busy calendar of weekly, semicompetitive rides as well as the more sociable group rides.
It can certainly be intimidating turning up and seeing people
These rides are either Hill Climbs or Time Trials. A few of us
who have the equipment of a professional athlete and, in
from the shop entered the first event a couple of weeks ago
some cases, the ability to match – but everyone who is there
which was a Hill Climb which, as the name suggests, is a cycle
was once in your position and attending their first event, and
ride up a hill. You set off on your own at one-minute intervals,
everyone remembers it. These officially timed events are a
and really you are only racing against yourself. This is a fairly
great way of checking on how you are improving over the
unique experience as cycling is often an individual sport, and
weeks and months and once you get into the swing of things
although this event sees you riding predominantly on your
you are sure to set yourself a little goal to achieve by the end of
own, there is a very real feeling of community and camaraderie
the season.
about the events. So look out for the “testers” down the Conwy Valley on a We have some amazing cyclists locally, and at these Hill Climbs
Thursday night and why not consider giving it a go? n
and Time Trials you will see current junior champions, national champions and ex British champions riding. So for the majority
Gareth Ffowcs-Williams is the owner of We Cycle in Llandudno
of us, we already know it is unlikely we are going to be the
Junction – the largest bicycle showroom in North Wales.
quickest on the day, so the pressure is off from that respect.
www.wecycle.co.uk
NWM 2022 Page 63
