The training and adventure
My training plan for Ride Sri Lanka,was to include a weekly ride with a gradually progressive increase in distance and 2-3 indoor bike training sessions.
With the help of Zwift and other TV distractions, I loved the indoor training. My FTP increased by 11 watts – but being honest I didn’t do a baseline test. So realistically it increased a lot more than that. I loved the indoor bike so much, which combined with a cold and wet British winter meant that the weekly outdoor rides didn’t happen. I made 2 rides of 6 miles each! Testing the new bike and getting it slightly dirty were the only actual outcomes!
The downside of indoor training for me is that it becomes a bit of an obsession and I ended up getting injured. This time it was (still is) a really painful sciatic nerve/tight gluteus medius. A constant pain and restricted movement. It turns out that actually I have a protruding disc or two…
But in terms of training, I was happy that I was fit and raring to go.
My next step was to prepare the nutrition. Powered by Torq, I calculated an appropriate intake on each of the 5 rides, plus some extra for spares and snacks. My general daily snack bag included jellies, rhubarb and custard gel, energy bar, flapjack and energy drink with electrolytes.
The journey was incredibly long. I left my house of Thursday evening, had a day in London on Friday and then an overnight flight to Colombo. With a painful back, I was worried about the flight, but SriLankan Airlines very kindly upgraded me to Business Class, so it was a very pleasant journey. Another 5 hour coach journey and we arrived in Trincomalee. A beautiful resort awaited the 76 riders and 15 companions. We had a day to reassemble bikes, a warm up ride and then enjoyed some welcome drinks. The ride was wonderful, and was actually enhanced by falling off in a large puddle, which was delightfully refreshing!
After a delicious breakfast and packing the bags, we set off for the first official day of riding from Trinco to Habarana. With 98% humidity, I found this ride to be really hard. I made some friends and together, with the help of the feed stops, we pushed through to the end of the medium route – 87 km. Then a short bus ride to the next resort – even better than the first!
Habarana to Matale was my favourite day of riding. Using back roads and gravel paths, the route provided outstanding views of Sigiriya and Pidurangala and then alongside the beautiful Kandalama wewa (lake), following waterways and canals. A stunning route, enhanced by great company. We did hit a patch of very deep mud which caused me a cleat problem and a subsequent slow motion fall half way up a very steep hill. No pain, but a black eye!
We had much less humidity and cooler temperatures in Nuwara Eliya and enjoyed a day off and a delicious high tea at Jetwing, St. Andrews.
Ride day 3 started at the island’s highest town, where we climbed even higher, up to 2100m to cross one of the most important and revered national parks in Sri Lanka, Horton Plains. The park is home to 24 species of mammals, 87 species of birds, nine species of reptiles and eight species of amphibians many of which are endemic to the region and include Kelaart’s long-clawed shrews, toque macaques, purple-faced langurs, rusty-spotted cat, Sri Lankan leopards, wild boars, stripe-necked mongooses, Sri Lankan spotted chevrotains, Indian muntjacs, grizzled giant squirrels, fishing cats and European otters. I was relived to spot very few of these scary beings.
The hill on this ride, was the hardest I have ever ridden. 763m of elevation, going up to 2172m, it was very long, very steep and very hot! The downhill was not too pleasant as the surface wasn’t too smooth and my confidence was shot with a few mechanicals ending with a mangled derailleur.
I was very fortunate to be able to borrow a bike for the next two days and had a brillant last long day of riding. We went from Ella to Tissamaharama which started with a fantastic descent on beautifully smooth tarmac. A great day, on a great bike, ending up at a great hotel to prepare for the last day of riding.
The RSL procession went from Thissa to Hambantota and included a short stretch of (quiet) dual carriageway. Some beautiful scenery and great riding companions provided a very fitting last day of cycling with the amazing Ride Sri Lanka. After lunch we were then treated to a boat trip for a drink in the Mangroves.
A day to repack the bike and explore Colombo before the closing ceremony and the last night.
It was a memorable and truly amazing experience I feel so very fortunate to have been able to participate in. I am so grateful to Torq Fitness, Sri Lanka Airline and MTB worldwide.
