Really?

AG: Quizirque subire Morcuera, Navafria y Canencia. En ese orden y concierto. La idea no es mia, es luterana. Pero si esa gente de las colonias puede, nosotros, españoles todos, haremos por poder.

("The idea: to go up Morcuera, Navafría and Canencia. In that order. The idea isn't mind, it's Lutheran. But if those people from the colonies can do it, we, all of us Spaniards, will do it for power.")

The strange thing with cycling is that, in spite of the teamwork, the pelotón and the basic concept of having to compete against other people, it is a relatively solitary sport. At the end of the day, you really don't need anyone else: you need a bike, a pair of legs that can more or less move, and a pair of arms and legs to hang on to the handlebars. And that's it. Getting used to that idea --that having other people around is nice, but not fundamental -- takes time. But once you're used to it, it's immensely liberating.

Of course, what it means to be "alone" is open for interpretation. To find that you've been given a specific training task, and to find that someone has decided to come along without being explicity asked to accompany you...that's annoying. It would have been one thing to have been asked: "Do you mind if I come along?" It would have been another thing to have been explicity challenged: "We're coming along whether you like it or not."

But that sideways inference - conflict without the contact...what is UP with that? You wanna come with me or don't you? Just ASK.

So I'm taking off tomorrow on the 7:30 train and plan to be at least an hour in front of them. There'll be so many cyclists going up those mountain passes tomorrow that there's a good chance I'll never even see them. Besides, after the strong day I had yesterday, and knowing that AG's only gotten one good ride in since Easter, I may not be the one getting dropped tomorrow.