In common parlance tempo simply means speed or rhythm, and in music it covers a range from Adagio to Allegro. In cycling, on the other hand, it is a steady, moderately hard, effort that you can sustain for a relatively long time without fading, a comfortable pace between endurance and threshold heart rate levels. As a Club, we aim for a cruising speed between 13 and 17 mph, but for some that is too close to endurance, for others too close to threshold. This morning we tested that. One rider commented, after reaching the far end of Sandhurst Lane, that it was his hardest ever cardio workout. Then the pace picked up on the northbound A38!
Clearly, we had to split the ride. The adagio group, which included a newcomer to the Club whose previous longest ride was 25 miles, followed the route of the allegro breakaway as far as Pendock before diverting to Bromsberrow Heath. Here the village shop is to be found in an unpromising gravel yard, just north of the M50. It was staffed by one lady who was already very busy selling newspapers and more to the local clientele, but who managed to also make coffee and tea for thirsty cyclists. No complaints from us though, for service came with a smile and a generous cafetiere meant that there was more than enough for each of us to have two cups (on saucers, so civilised) before departing.
We made our way back through Redmarley and Hartpury for an early return that accommodated the appointment one rider had with IKEA.
MT