“Sawi proba” is an expression that crops up in Agatha Christie-Mallowan’s “Come, Tell Me How You Live”. According to the book, it means “make trial”; and was a favorite saying of one of the drivers who worked for Max Mallowan while he was conducting archaeological work in Syria.

Isn’t “sawi proba” what we cyclists do all the time? If we want to improve our speed, we might try interval work. If we have our sights set on a century, we try longer and longer rides to get our bodies ready. We try different food and drink on the bike, so we’ll know what agrees with us; and will be suitable for a long event.

It could also pertain to girding one’s self up to go out and ride in foul weather. That’s a trial, all right, as is braving cold and wind to get in some miles. Since we’re only a week into December, there are at least three more months of it ahead of us!

“Sawi proba” + bicycles of course brings to mind the time trial. That event even has its own special kind of bicycle! Sometimes when I’m out riding, I hear a peculiar whirring sound coming up from behind; and it turns out to be somebody riding a bicycle with one of those disc wheels.

Gosh, will I ever get around to doing another century? Well … sawi proba.