Water | Afro-pop Music by Kontraa Music from Pixabay
I was really excited about last Sunday’s ride to Santa Cruz. I imagined I’d have time to stay there for a while, at least two or three hours, take some photos around town, enjoy the sea breeze… but no, those who live on illusions end up with disappointment. Seems that’s the cross I have to bear. And Santa Cruz (what a coincidence, right?) came to remind me of it. 😅
I couldn’t do much on the trip. What I did do was get really tired, because I had to go way too fast. The group were riding as if it were a training session, not a cycle‑touring route.
The ride started going wrong from the very beginning, and I wasn’t able to read the signs. From the moment I left home, I mean.
I was supposed to be at 7:45 at a spot in Virgen del Camino, under a ceiba tree, and I got there at 7:48 — they didn’t wait, even though they knew I was on my way.
These Sunday outings are meant to be relaxed, that’s why I join them. I spend the whole week working on the bike, so on Sundays I don’t want to train, I want to wander. Imagine 120 km (the first 60 against the wind and with plenty of hills) at full speed. No, I simply can’t.
For those who know, an average speed of 20 km/h is what you should aim for on this kind of trip. Not too fast, not too slow… anyway. If I’m wrong, please correct me.
The next day I raised my concerns in the group and said that it would be my last ride with them if it was going to be like that, because that simply isn’t my idea of cycle touring.
This opened up a debate in the group where everyone admitted I was right… by then my emotions had settled, though I won’t deny that after the ride I was more than a little annoyed. So that day it actually made me laugh, because the only thought running through my head was: too much testosterone spilled on the pavement. I don’t know if that’s a general rule, but in this case some basic and important aspects of good behaviour were completely left behind.
In the end I filmed a little, just to keep a record of the ride. Hope you enjoy the video.
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