Let me assure you that it is no holiday. The Lottery Funded cycling plan have taken over a block of apartment in Port de Pollenca in Majorca. These are used for blocks of training by all of the different cycling disciplines through out January, February and March. It was my first experience of Majorca for a week in January.

The weather is ok in the day, it has been around 14°C, a bit chilly in the mornings with warm clothes on all day (groves and over-shoes included). We have had the odd shower but it has generally been ok. The apartments have nice oil/electric heaters if you are lucky or Calor gas ones if you are not so, these are on all day and night in the rooms as it gets quite chilly. Now it sounds great a week in Majorca but let me explain a typical day. Don't get me wrong I know why we are here and what we hope to achieve. We are away from the "real world" and only have to concentrate on our training this is good for a few blocks of training at this time of year. So many people think it is a holiday or even glamorous, read on.......

08:00  wake up, wash, eat some breakfast, mix a few bottles for our ride, make a few sandwiches for back pocket, try to get in the toilet before anyone else does, see how warm it is and what the weather looks like it is going to do, put on the appropriate amount of clothes.

09:30  be outside and ready to set off on the days ride. As this is January we are mainly doing low intensity endurance rides of about 5 hours. We have a following car with extra bottles and clothes. Now for the next 5 hours it is pedal, pedal, pedal, not too hard but not too easy. Two lines of riders changing every five minutes at the front. I worked out the other day that if the lines keep the same order it is about an hour and a quarter before you are back on the front. As we are not going too hard there is a bit of chat........
A few of the topics today included the new design BCF kit, especially the new cloth caps. I recon Impsport should put an advert in Women's Own for these caps as they would go down very well at a street party this year for the Queen's Golden Jubilee! I can just see all the kids with them on waving their plastic Union Jacks. Oli was telling us about a section in one of these magazines that was about bargains picked at jumble sales.    
A few natural breaks along the way, a few missed turns, a few laps here and there, then head back.

14:45 arrive back at the apartment, wheel the bike around to the mechanic for a clean and service.

14:50 have some food, normal for me the same every day. Try to get in the shower before everyone else (as their is only so much hot water). Either try and beat everyone to the washing machine or hand wash your cycling clothes.

between 15:45 & 18:00 is massage time, massage is available every other day for a 45 minute slot. If not on massage have a rest e.g. read a book, lay on bed, some stretching, do some studying if your brain is working, something to fill the time.

18:30 team meeting, to find out the detail for the following day and to ask any questions.

18:45 cook and eat dinner

20:00 until bedtime entertain yourself again e.g. book, bed, study etc.

and repeat.....and repeat....and repeat

(not like home ah?)

 Barrie