10 minute read
Ten blocks of ice are attempting to make perfect circles in a jerky dissociation from my limbs as my motor functions rapidly slow with the wind chill. A wind chill so fierce it will strip any remaining layers of dermis exposed. Head down I advance, meter by meter, shielding myself from the whiplash and turbulence of passing vehicles. Like an Olympic swimmer, I’m rhythmically twisting my head in search of pockets of life-supporting clean air to sook in. Through the road spray, every breath is dual purpose- Filtration and oxygenation. Car headlights are creating a dazzling, yet blinding ‘Aurora Crash-e-alas’ of flashes in my field of vision. This is no longer about the journey. This is purely about the destination. A destination I eventually reach in a cold-suffering hypnotic daze. A daze that I’m broken from by a single life-affirming question. That question ” What Ice Cream Cone would you like?” asked the Igloo Ice Cream Van Driver ‘two cones, One scoop each, both with Nutella drizzle please my man” I mutter without my lips or face moving. I have twenty minutes before I undertake another Zwift training session and I have just made the perilous 50m expeditious winter journey from my front door to the parked ‘Igloo Ice cream Van’ down the street. Yes, regardless of the weather this Ice cream van does the rounds in rain, hail, snow and on the odd occasion, in the sunshine. I might be racing the volcano circuit soon but the ice cream is for the kids..honest! I trudge back to excited children, handing over their windswept and diluted ice cream, before disrobing the winter garb and heading to the man cave.
I would like to be outside riding my bike but yet another bad weather protocol has forced it indoors. We are blessed with many things in Scotland but Winter riding is not one of them. It generally veers from one extreme: Wrapped up like Scott of the Antarctic, to taps aff 1 stripped down to your bib shorts and heart rate monitor for another totally tropical turbo session.
I clip in and start my warm up. With the fan blasting my face and my better looking virtual avatar on a pootle around Central Park, my mind inevitably wanders. I look to the cocoon of four walls and dream about winter riding in the glorious sunshine. As the clock counts down but my speed and heart rate picks up, I scroll my Strava feed to fire a few obligatory Kudos into the community. Keep the motivational spirit strong before I start. A logged ride piques my interest. The profile carries a St Andrews flag. The sun-kissed pictures capturing shore line’s and panoramas that are most definitely not Ayr beach but a portal into a beautiful parallel universe 5,126 miles away from here. I need to know what this cycling winter wonderland is like. Curiosity and the seed of an idea for a guest feature Q&A on the BCR takes hold. I decide to reach out to the Strava Athlete. He may be on the other side of the world but nothing ventured nothing gained eh. I receive some very’ good vibrations’ in return(couldn’t help myself with the beach boys nod and wink) and this is where our story takes flight across the Atlantic pond
Enter stage left Mr Latha Duncan.
Latha hails from Beverly Hills where he lives with his Girlfriend and is of Scottish descent (gone yirself). He Studied Law and Political Science. When he is not cycling he is an Acquisitions Lawyer for Lionsgate, one of Hollywood’s major entertainment players.
He is a true force of nature in the Strava community with over 10K followers. A benchmark many a world pro rider has yet to amass. Latha is going to give us a little snapshot into his cycling life in and around The City of Angels. Along the way, we dive into wine, music, his own cycling website and a surprise ride with Geraint Thomas current Tour De France Champion.
Grab a glass of the good stuff and get prepared for a healthy dose of Vitamin D with our Q&A With Latha Duncan. Continue reading “Latha Duncan – The Attorney”
Braes City Rouleurs 