Not
one to let the grass grow among my feet, I decided to do something about my
new-found interest in coffee. I enrolled in the Qualified Barista Award course
at the Dublin Barista School. Last weekend in a fun and in a practical
environment I learnt about coffee. From botany to brewing, espresso, milk,
machine maintenance and latte art. I’ve discovered that my taste buds are now
expanding, and a small americano may be my new companion.
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| latte art by LoveVelo |
In
a previous life I worked in a coffee shop on Rose Street in Edinburgh, it was
my first job in the city when I arrived in ’97. Making coffee, sandwiches,
bacon butties and scones flavoured with banana, cheese or fruit is what I did
from 7am – 2pm each day. I did a bit of study at night and then partied on the
weekend and that is what life was all about back then. I never drank coffee,
brought up in a house of tea (Lyons) drinkers it wasn’t something I ever
thought about trying, l liked the smell of it, would eat a coffee slice, but
drink it, god no, I was happy drinking tea.
Fast
forward to last year and it’s one of the things I notice on a leisure spin, the
coffee stop. My second club spin to Russborough House, Co Wicklow, was on a
dull day. That hazy rain was in the air and everywhere looked asleep and the
sky was grey. Dying for a cup of tea I noticed I was the only one drinking it.
Everyone else was drinking americano, cappuccino or flat white. New to the
club, I cradled my warm cup of tea for comfort as I felt anxious sitting
outside my comfort zone.
A
year later from my first group spin and I’m in Sierra Nevada, Spain on my first
group cycling holiday. One of the girls from the club Sinead Kennedy, Physical
Therapy, Pilates and Yoga runs a cycling and yoga winter training camp every
March with Cycle Sierra Nevada and she suggested I give it ago. A little
apprehensive, I go and it becomes one of the best holidays I’ve ever
had. Climbing the Sierra Nevada mountains for a week you are awarded with
stunning vistas.
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| Cycling in Sierra Nevada, Spain |
During this trip, even though it was only a week, I forgot
about work and for the first time I am cycling back to back. The climbs are long and the descents are technical but super. The exhilaration I feel when on descent, it's almost addictive. The odd morning, I
woke up tired but once I got going on the bike I was grand, a sense of
solitude, gratefulness and reflection just hits you. After my week of cycling
in the sun I took it gentle for a few days and then hit the hills of Wicklow. I
was so surprised to feel and see the difference in what a week of hill climbing
can do to the body and the mindset. That said, I was cycling my new Ridley, my
first carbon and I had also kept the cycling up throughout the winter months.
So, I guess, it all paid off and the results are evident on my Strava.
It
was in the picturesque village, Vélez de Benaudalla situated at the foothills
of the Sierra Nevada mountains where I fell in love instantly with my first
café con leche which was served in a small cup. Sadly, I haven’t had a café con
leche since, I will have to return to this authentic Spanish village. Now, for me I feel lattes are too milky,
cappuccinos are too foamy, however the flat white, a small distant cousin of
the latte is currently ticking the boxes, but only when it is served in a small
cup. Fussy much?!
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| Drinking tea in the conservatory, Laragh |
For
me one of the best parts of cycling is the coffee stop. Take a typical spin to
Laragh in Wicklow, there’s two choices, the coffee shop at the triangle where
you are served coffee in a paper cup sitting outside or the
conservatory next door; welcoming, comfortable, pretty and the smell of
homemade scones lingering throughout the air. Coffee is served in a coffee pot
and warm milk if requested, is never a problem.
You could say, I’ve started
to take this coffee business seriously. In fact, when planning a long spin,
it’s the second thing to consider, the first being hills. Another great spot is
Mount Usher Gardens in Ashford, a bit of choice and the perfect setting on a
bright day. A short spin, or as I like to call them my joie de vivre
spins, the Glencree visitors centre is ideal and they love cyclists. Whether
you’re a coffee, tea or herbal tea drinker, one thing is for sure, cycling brings
people together especially over a cuppa. So, when you are out on your
bike be sure to say hi!
LoveVelo
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