Pleasure Team Porridge

The Ronnie Barker classic “Porridge” ensured that a certain generation understands perfectly the phrase ‘doing porridge’.  For a lot of Island Wheelers ‘doing porridge’ is exactly how they view their winter training : – Out in all weathers grinding out big miles, trying to maintain the summer pace; dark evenings spent on the turbo or at spin classes with the sweat dripping onto the floor – “no pain, no gain” their mantra. Not so in the Pleasure Team where the winter months are welcomed as an opportunity to rest body and mind; focus on skills and discipline; train up new recruits and of course to indulge in the simple pleasures of life.

From November – March the weekly Saturday Pleasure Team run is a max of 30-35 miles at an average 15/16 mph. New recruits are given every opportunity to come up to pace; old recruits returning to the fold are expected to get themselves up to pace. All riders are encouraged to ride as “a group” and not as “a group of individuals”, no point powering up a hill if the tail end is 100yds behind.

A “steady pace” is our focus. Riders are allowed to drop off the back, but charging of the front is a major faux-pas. On hills, a rider who can’t maintain ‘group pace’ moves sideways and allows the group through.

Only going out once a week means that Pleasure Cyclists have a lot more time on their hands to indulge their other ‘pleasures in life’. During the coffee stops on Saturdays these other ‘pleasures’ are often discussed; “dark chocolate and red wine,   single malt Islay whiskies, home-made bread, Indian food, Italian food,  any food….”. I love winter cycling.

by Gerard Scott.