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@user85743
Just thinking about John Austin and the Sunday club runs. While my school friends were doing sensible things on a Sunday like having a lie in or meeting for a few games of pool, I was up at the crack of dawn to get to the roundabout in Harrow.
I recall the agony and the ecstasy.
The agony consisted of headwinds and mid-winter icy rain, fingers numb on brake levers, aching lower back, cramping calf muscles and a hill to test your manhood!
The ecstasy was the long hot bath and steak and chips dinner from mum!
My teachers never believed that a 13 year old could, or would, cycle 120 miles for pleasure. I'm inclined to think like them 40 years later.
I enjoyed the Moberly weight training and gym sessions.
So much energy! After a day at school. Amazing.
No regrets.
Character building I think it's called.
Very few people understand what physical punishment and mental strength is required to be a successful racing cyclist.
So, hats off to the Froomes and Dumoulins and Nibalis of this world.