JOIN THE RIDE
PROFESSOR ROSS TUCKER IS ONE OF THE WORLD’S PRE-EMINENT SPORTS SCIENTISTS. He also happens to be my co-host on our regular The Real Science of Sport podcast (Punt warning: available on all major podcasting apps). // BUT MORE RECENTLY, ROSS HAS TAKEN TO MOUNTAIN BIKING. Now he’s like any newbie, despite his illustrious standing in the world of science and sport.
JUST A WEEK OR TWO AFTER HE BOUGHT HIS FIRST SECOND-HAND BIKE – A WHIPPETFAST BIANCHI METHANOL HARDTAIL MTB – I WAS OUT SHOWING HIM THE FUN OF CAPE TOWN’S RELATIVELY INNOCUOUS GREEN-BELT TRAIL. // Now, Ross has ridden road bikes before; but like any mountain-biking noob, feeling his tyres moving around, getting over roots and logs and negotiating singletrack meant that his heart rate was higher on the descents than on any of the climbs. HE’S ALREADY CRASHED A COUPLE OF TIMES, AND HAS THE ROASTIES TO SHOW FOR IT. // But as we’ve got into the habit of catching up for a weekly ride-along,
ROSS’S CONFIDENCE HAS GROWN; AND SO HAS HIS FASCINATION WITH STRAVA DATA AND THE CHALLENGES THAT COME WITH IT. Now our every ride is followed by a detailed analysis of wattage, average speed, and “most desirable Strava segments to target, based on power-to-weight ratio”. OBSERVING ROSS PORING OVER HIS STRAVA DATA IS LIKE WATCHING A 10-YEAR-OLD AT AN ICE CREAM COUNTER. // Just yesterday he texted me a screenshot of an All-time Top-10 placing he achieved on a brutal climb near Kirstenbosch, as well as an explanation for why he thought the KOM was in reach. // THERE’S LITTLE DOUBT THAT ROSS IS A NATURALLY GIFTED ATHLETE; but most endearingly, his enthusiasm for stuff that I’ve known for years has re-ignited my own passion for the numbers – and for the pure joy of challenging myself each time I head out for a ride. // SO WATCH OUT, STRAVA KOMMERS! PROF TUCKER IS HEADING YOUR WAY!