The Hurt Box Haircut - By Georgina

Dragging myself up a mountain in Lake Annecy 5 months into my cycling, I was riding with a woman who was noticeably sturdy as she paced herself up the climb. Me on the other hand, well eyebrows were raised. 

Later, over a croissant she told me she trained with The Hurt Box. Ouch. 

Seed planted. Really, she had me at croissant. I left France to hike 235kms solo in the Swiss mountains. A fan of distance shall we say. 

On my return home I found a remote endurance coach. I ticked off Three Peaks and grand fondos. Training weeks tallied 450kms and serious climbing. I was fit, and tired. 

Juggling 4 teenagers, shift work and life, I considered ditching the kids to make the distance a breeze. A mother can dream right? I loved riding but sustaining these hours became unmanageable. Reminded of the woman in France I intrepidly contacted The Hurt Box. 

Picture French patisserie, autumn sunshine and a tall, lean fella, Steggles, the man who is The Hurt Box. Mention his name and there are looks of horror and statements like you know that’s serious training? Err, is there anything else? 

And yet, he is calm and measured, like the climber I met on the mountain. Such equilibrium. 

His first inquiry is how my family are going with all the hours I’m on my bike. Boom, to the point. I mean don’t hold back Coach. He talks with me about another way to train, very much describing balance.  

Rather doggedly I declared myself an endurance cyclist, just in case me racing ever crosses his mind. With one raised eyebrow and a smile, he replies, “we’ll see.”

Intimidated and 15 months into cycling, I took to the road with the notorious Hurt Box. 

My second bunch ride just before the Mt Gambier Classic was a mix of horrendous wind and solid rain. Barrelling along I hung on for dear life whilst questioning my sanity. At coffee, Steggles said he didn’t think the weather would be like that, and asked if I was okay? 

Covered in grit and wet to my bones, I could only nod whilst shoving an almond croissant down to soothe both my internal terror and delight. 

I was in. 

Of course, that training ride was an exception, the weather I mean. I still hang on for life sometimes. 

The Hurt Box manages to hold a varied group of men and women, of all ages and abilities in their bunch rides. Steggles has this knack for knowing exactly where you’re at and what the training edge is for that day. I can confirm I visit the edge often but equally important is recovery and rest, all factored into my program. Almond croissants, well that’s a personal choice. 

I ride less kilometres now but with more focus. I don’t go hard or far every time to get results. Did I just say that? Without blowing up and we all know that feeling, I’ve hit PB’s time after time. My aim now is to ride to the equilibrium I’ve come to know and trust.

My biggest hurdle? Confidence. Wiling to be the beginner in all of this, I continue to turn up to learn, and those days where I doubt, coach reminds me of how far I’ve come. 

Honestly, I’m often the slower one in the group, but no one ever gets dropped. For perspective I remind myself I’m the slower one…… in The Hurt Box group. That I think is an achievement in itself. 

And you guessed it, The Hurt Box has coached me rather tentatively at first into the world of racing. You know that saying? You hang around the barber’s shop long enough you’re sure to get a haircut.

I now not only have taken to almond croissants but have followed the other The Hurt Box women to the start line. 

Way outside my comfort zone coach says if I can stay on a bunch ride, I can step up to a race. To my surprise, I’ve ditched long endurance rides as a goal and taken to racing. Give me an ITT, TTT or a long open or closed road race, and I’m there. I love it. 

Quite frankly I think I’m riding with some legends. Just damn good people. Community and family orientated. Loyal. Funny, the bunch and coffee banter are the best. Competitive and driven, many are familiar with podium finishes. And I watch them, see them succeed and/or win and where I once thought no way, I now believe it’s possible for myself.

Steggles has delivered many fine moments of coaching and wisdom. The biggest piece of gold came at an early morning session at the track. The group was smashed, and he wanted us to do one more lap, all out. Someone said, “but coach we’ve got nothing.” He paused, and then he said, “then I want to you find something in that nothing.” 

That’s the edge. That’s The Hurt Box. And that’s a fair haircut.