Legro’s Training Camps… Just a fanciful thought or a practical seasonal approach to maximising the enjoyment during the best weather that summer riding can offer..? This year I satisfied both…
Have never been on a training camp before, for sure have been away with the chaps to Girona and Mallorca where we manage all aspects ourselves, but going away to a place where rides are pre-arranged, supported, massage & physio services (Gordon & Bernie are a double act of pure comedy gold but top notch in their fields) available and an opportunity for a diverse group of fellow cycling mad individuals coming together to spend a week / two weeks sleeping, eating, riding repeating every day. How does that sound..?
Whatever the goals for the season having a method & structure to your training will maximise your chances of enjoying your rides. I’d spent the winter months hidden in my garage on the turbo trainer and racking up my rider levels on Zwift and hitting targets on Trainer Road. I say ‘hidden’ in the context of being in the garage, Zwift and the subsequent uploads to Strava means that whatever you are doing is being seen by your mates and those that have an interest in following your activities. Indoor training can be tough and is no substitute for the real thing. Coming into the spring months we’d be lucky to have semi-warm dry days to get out but the enticement of decamping abroad, an opportunity to satisfy the obsession of cycling in a warm climate with liked minded individuals, who are equally unhinged and who get conversations on gearing 52/36 with a 28/11t set up, Di2 set up’s and 23mm or above tyres. The world of Cycling Utopia. Does it exist..?
Step forward my coach, Dave Le Grys aka Legro… for the past 25 years he has been holding the Legro’s Training Camps in Mallorca during April, May & Oct. http://www.legrostrainingcamp.com. The scope to either participate for one week or two the choice and place availability is yours to make. I needed the time away to detach the mind from the day to day and decided that I’d also benefit from the week focus of doing everything cycling related.
These camps cater for all riders, whatever their ability, focus and inclination… all groups have the same structures and support with experienced team leaders with scheduled routes taking in the sights and delights of the island. I managed to convince a mate, Mark Perring, to come along. He has only been cycling one year and I’ve helped with a few pointers with his training and felt that he’d benefit from going on one of these camps. He has come on leaps and bounds and the opportunity to see and listen to folks that have been there, seen it and done it something that would create a steep learning curve but ultimately take him to higher levels. When we first start out riding and we join cycling clubs the majority are socially orientated, as Crest CC predominately is, the insight into the deeper world of cycling is not always obvious or visible. I didn’t benefit from being exposed to any of this world until, as I mentioned in a previous blog, I met Ben Hallam who introduced me to Dave. So, to that point I reference two benefits from cycling… chance meetings and where that may take you.
For me the May training camp was an opportunity to reset the mind, challenge the body, be inspired to push harder and to spend time with Dave to set goals. For Mark, it was to learn how to ride in a group, ride on terrain that you do not get in the UK and to listen to the team leads and other people, to be inspired to want to be a better rider.
Booked in advance the flights and the timing of the May camp fortunately missed the school holidays so no unnecessary price hikes. You are predominately out on the road all day so the hotel was a 3* breakfast and evening meal inclusive set up. Nothing fancy but ok… shared a cosy room that was practical and the house keeping ensuring cleanliness. Food was ok… the basic’s and no restrictions on amounts as a buffet type offering. Fill your boots was the motto… with breakfast you have a day ahead, eat healthy, eat well, think fuel for the ride. Evening meal, you’ve ridden all day and have earnt the capacity and right to have a cheeky little tuck in.
This camp coincided with the Liverpool and Tottenham Champion League Semi-Final games but all you wanted to do was recover and that meant maybe a few small beers then that rare commodity at home ‘sleep’..! I missed the games, would you believe it..?!!! Too tired… The important timings to remember…
· 08:00 Breakfast
· 10:00 Be at the start / group meeting points
· 19:00 Evening meal
We pre-determined what groups to get ourselves onto based on our own expectations and also where they were going to ride to. Group 1 or 2 for me… riding with some really talented riders with some great team leads in Westy, Millie, Tim & Neil thrown into the mix.
Being in a group that challenges you makes you learn, makes you want to push harder. A mixed bag of people that became good friends. We had banter, bike discussions, learning about each other’s occupations, life stories and listening to their exploits from their riding,racing activities.
For reasons I’ll explain in another blog I had a draw towards one of the Team Leads Westy and his participation in the Invictus Games. He was out on this camp with his family, Samantha his wife (a great cyclist in her own right), Holly his cute little daughter and the folks and in-laws
You never know who you are going to meet riding a bike…!!!! In Westy I now have a benchmark to look at and those goals that Dave and I set, I now have a real tangible picture of what that looks like in what Westy achieved (Michael Westwell… https://www.forces.net/radio/invictus-games-troop-teacher-toronto).
The Legro’s Training Camp is based in Pollenca, which is a great locational base… albeit a tad windy on the coast roads..!!! Flats to the South, lumps and bumps on the East with some fantastic rides including the bucket list entry that being the Sa Calobra descent and then ascent. Iconic…!!! Tarmac blessed by some of the best riders of our generations and I added my sweat to it… 44mins of joy. Strangely not painful and I could have pushed much harder but I would have missed taking in the scenery and sights. Actually, when I imply manageable we did do the customary dash for the line once under and over the bridge switchback..!
For some people times & Strava segments mean everything, for me on this occasion it was more about taking in the dramatic scenery and just visualising those famous names that had graced this secluded piece of tarmac. Iconic bucket list entry… I did it, enjoyed it, next time I may try to trash myself, but for now a nice little ‘tick’ against the climb.
After the scheduled rides and as a post-ride treat we would finish at the hotel, stay on the bikes and divert a mile along the beachfront towards Café 1919 which is located right on the roundabout at the Marina entrance. For those that diverted it was an opportunity for a few small beers or G&T’s, or a small recovery snack or for some a triple scoop of well deserved, recovery purposed ice cream. I’m sticking to that recovery plan ethos as it works for me..! (x2 Mint Choc with a layer of x1 scoop Lemon)…
We would sit in the late afternoon sun watching the cycling world go by admiring the shapes and sounds of riders and their machinery. A well-deserved R&R…
There was one funny story whilst sitting there… Mallorca is known throughout the world for cycling. It is home to professional teams and A-Listed cycling ‘celebrities’… Whilst chatting over that days ride we had a lovely lady come over to us, dressed in cycling apparel, obviously in great shape and looking like a serious cyclist. She introduced herself as Rochelle, handed us flyers and mentioned that her was selling off ex-Wiggle Team equipment and clothing. This was Rochelle Gilmore elite cyclist now team owner… https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rochelle_Gilmore . Royalty status in the female cycling world I would add…!
We assumed that this must be high end, quality and premium equipment being sold off from her previous Wiggle Honda team so we rode the short distance from café 1919 around the corner to the premises to see what was being offered. Prior to this Mark was having issues with a tyre and needed to replace (so hold that thought). To Mark the female cycling world is an unknown… he has a damaged tyre and needs a new replacement tyre. He somehow proceeds to negotiate for €15 to have the tyre replaced and could she do it for him, he would appreciate her changing that tyre he’d give her €20 in total. Hmmm, elite cyclist and now International Team Owner requested to change a tyre as if a mechanic… She started to take the wheel off mumbling under her breathe what sort of idiot cyclist doesn’t know how to change a tyre..? He thought she was a shop bike owner / seller / mechanic and for those of us who knew we were in absolute giggles. The equivalent is asking Brad Wiggins, elite cyclist and now team owner, “here is €20 can you change my tyre please..?”. In the end, one of the guys took over and did the job, but for that 5-10mins she was an unknown to Mark and even though he was charming, she was in ‘do you not know who I am..?’ mode. It was a priceless interaction, super funny.
Like anything in life, you get out what you put in and that ethos does not alter when on these training camps. Alignment to the right group is key… we are not professionals, where our bodies are used to the day on day, so including and riding scheduled ‘rest’ days for reasonable distance coffee & cake stops is equally as rewarding and beneficial. The body adapts and the benefits are multiple, these will see you through the summer sportive activities. The other half of the equation is the mind and being on these camps allows you to focus on what you want to achieve for the summer months.
For Mark his development was tenfold… taken under the wing of Tim (Team Lead) who shared his love of cycling and his knowledge of what that means for road riding. Back home now and Mark is flying, more relaxed on the upper body, close wheel riding, increased etiquette and all round a much better cyclist… and all that from one focused week away.
Since I have returned, the form in the legs has seen a marked positive difference… the ability to move up a few levels in riding capability and capacity has been motivational. All this from just one week..!
We forged bonds with people that we ordinarily would not have met… we continue to use the wonders of social media to pester each other from afar. I would also add that with Legro’s Training Camps having a long history we had Angelo flying over from Australia to participate, we rode with Steve (aka Bad Santa) & Brent, great guys and really engaging company, who were over from the US along with other guy’s from the US that we met around the pool post-ride over a few small beers. Noddy, Rock Star, Eoin, Posh Timothy, Millie, Helen… a real diverse and interesting bunch of people that mixed for the common purpose of the enjoyment of cycling.
Would I recommend Legro’s Training Camps..? Yes, without hesitation, the benefits are multiple. The structure and approach is what sells this… One of the gang observed that it seems to be something ‘a kin to a cult following’ with Dave being some sort of mercurial cycling wizard. It is extremely infectious and as a consequence we are all talking about the same camp in 2020 and I have no doubt that the numbers may swell because of the positive and enthusiastic feedback from those that participated this time around.
I loved it, would love to do longer next time… am hooked. The island of Mallorca is the Zwift equivalent of Watopia, a playground for all things bike related. The attraction of meeting different people and forging friendships along the way.
Even whilst riding back home in Hertfordshire, I am on a Victoria Cycling Club ride and I hear some shouting as we are flying along a country lane, thinking not too much outside of must be referencing someone else no one knows me out here. Some 20mins late and Eoin pops up riding alongside me with Millie a few seconds after. They recognised the handlebars and double backed and we had a little catch up. Now knowing where they escape for rides both Mark & I will now arrange a catch up and enjoy a summer ride with them. A great couple, great riders both of them and this bond of a training camp allowing chance meetings to happen.
Ask me again if I’d recommend Legro’s Training Camps..?
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