At last!!!

Well girls and boys, the moment most of you have been waiting for. This is a bittersweet moment for me as it means this is pretty much the end of the blog. We've exceeded what we set out to do -
We raised over £3000 for the Cardiomyopathy Association, even getting famous along the way

http://www.cardiomyopathy.org/Mountain-challenge-in-memory-of-Nathan.html

We paid Nathan the best tribute. We had 20 (I think) of Nathan's Flyers in the Alps for the big event with everyone making a huge effort to get there for Nathan because they wanted to be there for him. We've already heard about the ride and below you can find the videos I promised. I didn't really want to take much out so it ended up as 2 videos but please watch them. I think they capture the whole thing quite well - the happiness, the sadness, the physical agony and the ecstasy. If you have a fast connection try and watch them by clicking on the high quality link on the right hand side as the normal one is a bit blurred sometimes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PeOfn314tA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwWxMjhQ_oY



Although the Nathan Evington Memorial Ride is a completed success, I hope that Nathan will live on with all of you. When you ride your bike you might remember him cheering you on, when you see the mountains you might think of him on turn 7 laughing at the cyclists struggle by or when the music starts at a party you might imagine him getting up to start the dancing.

Love you all

Damian xxxx

Confessions of a cycling addict

Okay, okay - it's true! I have been to France before on cycling escapades - cycling the first time, tour watching the second and a bit of both the third! Luckily I have no evidence of the first Alpine cycling adventure back in about 1992, otherwise you'd be howling at haircuts - mine somewhat mushroom-like , Big Bruv beponytailed, and the crasher with hair! However, here's a little photo montage from the other times...


The second escapade was captured on film, which I think was 1995 - well at least the Ev Brothers were, haircut, oakleys and all! As if preparing us for the Croix de Fer it dared to be about a million degrees on this particular day whilst we sat for 4 fours on the Champs Elysee waiting for a miniscule glimpse of the pros razzing by! Big Mig won the Tour that day, along with coca-cola, hat sales and nearly some dodgy guy at the Parisian portaloo... He was maybe just a few years too early though??? You can see from the attached, Nat was in particularly good form that day... It was commonly believed that at this tender age travel outwith the boundaries of Hull didn't agree with him!


By the time I made my third escapade in 2000 you can see that Nat had clearly overcome his "out of Hull condition" and was in top form! In fact he slept so soundly in the hostel we're pictured in below that the other 4 guys we shared a dorm with (plus another 4 the second night) had the pleasure of his sonorous and anti-soporiphic tones all night. Two nights. Two very long nights... We only ended up in a hostel because of a bomb scare at the tourist info that prevented us getting sorted with a hotel.

Anyway, just like the recent Alpine adventure, this one also consisted of going up...

And coming back down again!
I think Nat does a particulary good job in the "going up" picci of hiding the absolute disgust of being made to walk up not just one tier of the Eiffel tower, but two... just to save 20minutes of queing by the ice-cream stall for the lifts! Coming down was much more fun. That particular July there was still heaps of snow up at the top of the mountains. This snow was at the top of the Col D'Iseran, just up the road from the famous Val D'Isere ski resort where we'd had lunch in the poshest ski-resort cafe in France - both of us in shorts!

There was some cycling done that trip - with I think it being the one and only time I've beaten Dez to the top of a climb on account of him taking a tumble on a wet bend on the way down from the chalet. I have no photos of the cycling - presumably because I was trying to blot the pain of those climbs out of my head...

Well, no cycling since getting back from the most recent escapade. I've promised myself a weekend off and then spent most of it twitching and fidgetting. Road again next Sunday I reckon!

Anyway, better go 'cos I still need to sort the video out!

Cheerio,

Col.

The Gadget data!

Well back in Paris since yesterday, Millie and the Chalet Maid family (Thanks again xx!) packed off this morning. Still not ridden bike since Thursday's race. It's not a bad last bike ride, racing up the famous Alpe d'huez. Still it'll have to be broken at some point and replaced with, countryside to the west of Paris....Anyway, that's for another day/week.
Today, I managed to get the data off the Garmin for the Big Ride. As I noticed on the day for some reason it was 700meters too high on the Altitude but looking at it, it has remained constant - it's 700m out all day! Bit of a pain but at least I noticed straightaway as I knew we started at 911m in Embrun. Still very useful on the day as I knew how much was left of each climb so could impart that knowledge to those around me, sometimes it went down well (only 100m of climbing left as we hit the 12% on the Galibier), sometimes it didn't (telling TGMM there was still 600m to go as the Croix de Fer steepened again out of the last town).

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/510336

So, it says we did over 5000 meters of climbing!! That'll be why the legs hurt on Monday, and Tuesday, and Wednesday...... Distance and speed might be a little different from the other guys as I did a few loops here and there looking for people on the Croix de Fer and the Alpe but Jeez, nearly 10 hours riding time. Crikey.

Still can't believe we did it and it all went so well - no punctures, no crashes, no wrong turns (apart from me!). Perfect.

So boys, there can only ever be one Nathan Evington Memorial Bike Ride (and you've got the shirt to prove you were there!) but what I want to know is - what we doing next year?

The young supporters who stayed at home.....

Miss T.G 6 weeks
Mst T.G 19 Months

Congratulations to all the riders for completing such an incredible challenge! And a massive well done to all the support group for making it possible. We are very proud of all of you. xx

Perspective from the Seatpin

Okay... just about got my breath back, so time for the lowdown. Here's how the ride went from my perspective.

1st Col of the day - Cote de Sainte Marguerite:

Pretty straight forward this one. Sat nicely on Dez's wheel admiring nice new racing jersey! Seemed to be over fairly quickly. Knees knocking a bit at this point, but teeth gritted so rode through this. Temperature and tempo bearable. I reckon I've done bigger climbs in training.

2nd Col of the Day - Col de Lauteret:

Bit of a head wind through up a valley that seems to go on for ever! We were holding back a bit on this one, me kidding myself that I'd love to be going faster when really energy conservation was the name of the game. Seemed to take all day to get to the top at 2067m! Felt pretty good though when we did, which was lucky, 'cos the top of this is the bottom of...

3rd Col of the Day - Col de Galibier:

First proper climb of the day. They say this is the easy side of the climb, and I kind of agreed right up to the last 2 clicks when suddenly the road goes vertical and the guys in front must have taken whatever spare oxygen there was out of the air before I got to it! Still, I was expecting to be proper caned up here and was only 150 yards or so off Big Bruv and TGMM at the top! If I'd known they hit 182bpm on this bit I'd have given it all to stay with them, but given my pulse hadn't been below 178 all the way from the bottom I figured I ought not to push my luck... View from the top was amazing. Decent even better! Quite technical at the top, which meant lots of opportunity for flying past cars and motor bikes! Excellent! Halfway down the descent was the lunch stop in Valloire. Oxygen had returned to the air, but unfortunately so had the heat! Didn't bode well... Left from lunch straight onto...

4th Col of the Day - Col de telegraphe:

From the side we hit this it's fairly straight forward. I say that... If I hit this climb in Scotland I'd be pretty cheesed off; but in the Alpes anything that's only a couple of miles and barely breaks 5% is just a warm up. Group stayed together up this - great sight seeing the 4 jerseys together, especially given we then got the formation flight down the descent to the lowest point of the day (altitude wise) in the valley through Saint Julien Monts Denis. It was proper scorching down here! Despite the fact that I was pretty much free wheeling along the sweat running in my eyes was totally blinding me through the valley! Felt like my eyeballs were on fire. And then things got much, much, much worse...

5th Col of the Day - Col de Croix de Fer

Croix de Feu would be a better name (cross of fire!). The first few km of this climb are insane! The gradient's up and down so I never got a rhythm going, the temperature's well over 30, there's no shade at all and the road winds out in front of you laughing at you for being so massively under-prepared for its hellishness! We regrouped about 4km up this, by which point I was a couple of hundred meters down on the lead 2, but when I stopped I was practically passing out from the heat. Luckily our roadside angel arrived with water which was promptly poured straight over the head!

The middle bit of the climb was okay-ish apart from that niggle in the back of your head telling you that it's only the middle bit. When I got onto the last 8mile slog and saw my speedo barely registering 6mph I knew I was in for a very, very tough afternoon! All in all it took about 3 hours to get to the top from the valley. Two stops - one at the top of the inferno section at the beginning and one just out of the last village, where just like on the Galibier, the road builders saw fit to put a couple of vertical sections in! Buggers! There's a pretty long straight near the top where one of the cars stopped twice to ask if I wanted a lift! Apparently I wasn't looking my best... I was begging for Nathan to pop out and give me a push at this point, but instead he blew a head wind right into my face! I can hear him now, "what kind of a wuss are you? Armstrong would be in his big ring up here... Ciappucci would be wheelying and bunny-hopping..."

It was nearly 7pm by the time I got to the top of here. I was starving and feeling pretty sick from taking too much energy drink and not enough solid food. 100miles done though at this point and I knew I only had another 9miles of climbing to do.

The descent from the Croix de Fer was absolutely amazing! Long meandering roads tucked in at 45+ mph. I had a bit of a hairy moment when I got a speed wobble at 53mph which felt like a front tyre blow-out, but that aside the descent was great! Was cool to have Doug back with us as well and have the full compliment of Nathan's flyers tearing down the valley together and onward to our final ascent!

6th and last Col of the Day - Alpe D'Huez (okay, not strictly a Col as it doen't come down again...)

I felt there was a huge sense of anticipation as we rode the final valley through to the Alpe. Not just 'cos it's such a mecca for all cyclists, but because this was the where we'd pay proper tribute to the big fella. His ashes are scattered there at Bungo bend (hairpin 7) but his spirit is in every name written on the road all the way up - every one of them a cycling story that would have been wittily recalled. I felt we all wanted to ride this one well despite the miles in our legs. I felt at the top that we'd all ridden it well - we'd all given it everything we had and left a piece of ourselves on the mountain to keep Nat company.

Concentration and rhythm are everything on the Alpe - the gradient's much more constant than the Croix de Fer so despite being steeper, if you can keep a rhythm going you give yourself a fighting chance! After clinging onto TGMM's wheel for the first 3 hairpins I had no choice but to let them go, find my rhythm and ride this one alone as I had the Croix de Fer. I had to stop for water a couple of times to avoid the knock setting in, but made it to the top just as the last of the daylight disappeared.

The last km of the Alpe is fantastic! It dips down ever so slightly so I managed to get it in the big ring, and as I came round on to the final uphill straight I felt like I was flying to the finish, such was the rush from finishing! It ended pretty abruptly mind when I crossed the finish line and realised that, 132.8 miles from Embrun, I could finally stop pedalling, lie on the floor and weep!

Average speed for the ride was 13mph. TGMM did 13.4, which means in total I'd lost 18 minutes between last the two climbs - if someone had told me in January after I cracked on a 23mile flat route that I'd have been anything like this close I'd have laughed in their face!

Prior to the ride I'd had this crazy idea that we ought to be able to do it without support cars. Just for the record - this was clearly an insane notion! Without the support we'd never have finished it in the day - so big thanks are due to all those who followed us round! You were our back winds and you brought us home safely. Many thanks to you all!

Seems strange that it's over now after being so focused on getting through it for the last 7 months. I guess this is pretty much it for the blog too... I'll probably have one or two more posts with pictures and then it'll be cheerio for good. For now though it's just TTFN.

Col.

Another £20 for chariddy

Fatsprinter said he'd give £20 if I did the weekly race up Alpe d'huez. Well, I did, and it hurt like hell!! Got to the finish in 55mins 40 secs which is fairly whipping along until you realise the winner did it in 43.55! He was about 15 years old and 2 stone - not that I'm making excuses or anything. Official results show I was 17th out of 61 starters but I was aiming for top 10 as it was another £30 from the boy but it was also another 4 mins quicker too which I don't think I had in me. You'll be pleased to know I didn't top up the tan as it piddled it down - I didn't think I'd ever get wheelspin up Alpe d'huez but you touch all that paint out the saddle and it's change of shorts time believe me! Got to the start abit late (organisation a bit weak) so had to hold my race number in my hand all the way - Liz is sure it cost me the race but I'm not so sure.... maybe 2 seconds.

Also managed to get the Garmin data off (can't get the big ride as the connection is too slow - it's a near 10 hour ride!) so here is Alpe d'huez at my speed.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/510397

Got some brilliant pictures too, having a REALLY big one of the last one made up as I look great even if I do say so myself.

http://www.photobreton.com/c/227/p/c7f1bb1896f8bd94b09a65f5ff8f4ad1/ALPE-D-HUEZ-AOUT-2008-7-AOUT-08.html

No more bike for a while, tired now.....

Big Bruv's side of the story

We aimed to be out the door of the chalet at 6am and were only 5 mins late - not bad for 5 cyclists and 4 other sleepy people! The 2 cars were packed the night before including the emergency bike rack we had to source on saturday. The drive to Embrun is a scenic one but not quick progress, Holly and the support were behind the 'race car' and we got a call soon to slow down but we were practising our cornering for the mountains!
We were ready to roll at about 8.30am and surprised Millie with the Nathan's Flyers kit that Seatpin had organised (Thanks from us all, I think we looked great!). The first hour was almost flat with a cross/headwind and we were still making good progress to the foot of the first climb, a Category 3. TGMM, Seatpin and I rode up at a cautious pace together, followed a little bit later by Fatsprinter. I stopped for a comfort break and paced Col back on. I'm sure TG and Seatpin weren't freewheeling as it took quite an effort!!!
Up through Briancon saw us thin out a bit but we were soon back together for the Col du Lautaret. Although not steep, it does go on forever and after I'd won the hotspot sprint in Moutier les Bains it got a bit tougher and Fatsprinter trailled off a little. We regrouped at the top and after a short rest we onto the second highest road in France - the Col du Galibier.
My word, there is NO oxygen at the top of there! TGMM and I were fighting it out at the front, closely followed by Seatpin. We got some great pictures there (They're in the post boys!). TG and I had the same max pulse on the steepest section (182) and when we stopped we felt a bit dizzy to say the least.
After a short break to put something warm on, TGMM flew down the descent passing the other motorbikes, with me hanging on for dear life! Boy that man can fly! We got to the planned lunch stop ahead of the support teams as they can't go as fast as we can! Ham and our favourite swiss cheese (in joke) and something to drink. A chance to sit down together with everyone and share stories of the day so far.
Fatsprinter felt better after his coffee (or two!) and led us up the Col du Telegraphe at his speed but little did he know we didn't want to go any quicker anyway! Another roaring descent where we all made a little error or two ;-) but always safely and onto the valley road. We got paced along there by a local cyclist and when I asked if he was going our way he say no, it was too hard.
Probably the hardest climb for most of us was next, the Col de la Croix de Fer. It didn't help that it was about 30 degrees at the bottom and it ramps up steep straight away. There is no shade at the bottom and we were literaly cooking as we tackled the first 4km. A few strategic stops for cooling down and then we continued. There's a short descent and then another torturous 4 or 5km at 9% before some tunnels. TG and I stocked up on water and food (we'd been on the climb for nearly an hour already) and rode the next false flat section at a steadier pace. I think what makes the climb hard is the uneveness of it - there are steep sections, easy sections, flat sections and downhill - all in the space of 30km. Into a town and then BANG!! it gets steep again. It's exposed too so you get hot again and I think we all struggled up from there to the top, a savage climb on a hot day.
The descent of the Croix de Fer is probably one of the best we've cycled. There are a couple of nasty uphill sections to clamber over but the rest of it is all smooth tarmac with a good mix of hairpins and sweeping bends. We all recorded over 50mph down there and it was perfect. A little more valley to the foot of the Alpe d'huez and we were nearly there, 122miles done, another 8miles to go. I don't know how but TG and I blew up there in about 1hr 9mins, passed Nathan's ashes on turn 7, cheering us on all the way.
It was a wonderful, emotional, memorable and epic day. It was all perfect, cycling along with my new brothers in the most brilliant surroundings supported by the best support team in their team issue gear too (they have pro contracts for next year).

Finally thanks to everyone for doing the ride, whether that was pedaling with me, cheering from the support cars, cooking something at the end, stood at the finish line or watching for text messages at home. We love you all. x

WE MADE IT!

Hi Everyone

Well, after much preparation, planning, pain and perserverence, we completed all 130 miles of the ride! Here's a little video taster.... I'm sure all the guys will come on here soon when they get home and give their side of the story and I'll do mine soon!



I'm sure all the riders want to say "Thankyou" all so much for your support, sponsorship, patience and assistance - we couldn't have done it without the support teams and donations xxxx

8 hours and counting....

Have just spoken to Mr T.G the legs are shaved and he is raring to go! The flyers have been sorting out logistics today, getting ready for tomorrows big event. Part of this was driving round France trying to find a bike rack... they succeeded. No doubt with charm, wit, charisma and "fluent" French! It's up at 5am for them all tomorrow, to leave at 6. Then it's a two hour drive to the start of the ride. Here's hoping that they all get a decent amount of kip. I know that you will join me in wishing them all the best for this mammoth task. A huge dedication to a much loved Nathan. I know he is watching you all, feeling so proud of your preparation and determination.

Up, Up, Up

Mrs T.G x

Ready as I'll ever be

Arrived Saturday in Austria after a pretty miserable journey. Three days in the car, big traffic jams thanks to lots of German road works and a yukky hotel in Nuremberg with bust air-conditiong. So it was not the best of preparation that I lined up the very next day for a 10km hill climb up the Egger Alm after a crit loop round the town. Legs felt like lead, and I failed to match my pb, coming in 4 minutes slower at 1h and 3 minutes. To put that into context the fastest man on the day came in in 33 mins!

But better news later in the week. I rested Monday and then did a 160km ride yesterday taking in 5 mountains, riding from Austria into Italy and back into Austria lower down the valley. I was joined by three Dutch guys. The pace was fairly slow at times, but then it was planned that way, and very slow on the 18% bits. I was pleased as I kept up on the climbs, even though the others were thinner and more acclimatised than I. And I wasn't so done in that I wasn't able to tow them back over the final, flat 35km, which we did in under an hour. I even got told 'rustig aan' and 'niet te gek' - otherwise 'slow down!' 11 hours later we arrived back at the campsite. I didn't feel too bad, and that surprised me. So maybe the fatsprinter is doing better than I thought.

So now its rest, rest, rest. Maybe a short leg spinner, but decided not to go to the spnning session at the gym tonight.

See you all very soon.

Grit and determination...

Well, that's it. We leave these sunny shores for Austria tomorrow, where I will do my last minute altitude training to acclimatise ready for the big day. Sunday I will be taking part in the annual Radclassic - a 'hill' climb up the Egger Alm, which is basically straight up a mountain with 10-12% average gradiant (16% in places). I'll be aiming to beat my pb of 59 minutes from the town to the top. To warm up, there is crit lap of the town and then it's pain, pain, pain all the way. Included in the race entry is free pasta and beer at the top (well they are Austrians after all). On this occasion I'll be riding for Team Schluga with skinny, lanky Dutch colleagues/campers. Maybe I'll add a training loop in after.

Then I'll fit in one or two 4-6 hour mountain bike rides with Norbert Schluga and yet more skinny, lanky Dutch friends. Hopefully then I be ready. Ready as I'll ever be.

Unfortunately training lately has consisted of painting, laying flooring, looking for cars, hospital visits (poorly Mum and Mrs Fat Sprinter - who is neither fat nor sprints - had car accident and wrote hers off). But no excuses. I'll be there and I will finish. Grit and determination. And most importantly I will have Nathan and bro Wayne willing me on, fantastic team mates and a brilliant support team.

See you all there very soon.

Go Nathan's Flyers. Good luck guys.

Ready.... 1st Group

"BRING IT ON!"

I'm so excited packed ready to go, consisting of Nathan (the star of the show), yellow sunglasses, yellow shoes, yellow earphones, nat's ipod, Nathans Flyers t.shirt x2 ,to hell with the rest. Also a few euros for a lemonade to toast both my brave beautiful boys. Nat would say "Mum make a show of meee" - (East is East) eyebrows raised.

The rest of the support group follow on Thursday, Jay ,Rich ,Steve, James and Claire. And as Jay would say "Living the dream Nath, Living the dream".

As for the riders i have avidly watched your progress on the blog, a mammoth challenge. I was always certain you would meet it and you have.

I don't have to thank you pip for the love of a brother, we can go forward with him in our hearts and our minds always. Thank you, you are the light of my life.

All that's left is to do it!

IT DIDN'T RAIN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

For the first ride in a very long time it didn't rain today ! Its been that bad that I had to take the seat off my bike and pour the rain water out yesterday !

Can't believe I will be in France in just over a week with the rest of the Flyers and support team, it seems to have come round really quick and I think I'm almost ready !

I did my first 100 mile ride a couple of weeks ago into the North Yorkshire Moors which was great until 50 miles from home the heavens opened and then at 80 miles I ran out of food and water ! so I thought I'd stop at one of those oh so convenient open all hrs village shops ! Unfortunately in the east Riding we don't have any of those so just fresh air to keep me going !

Today it was nice and warm with the ever present wind blowing just shy of a gale for a change which was nice , I set off to do my usual 80 mile ride over some really steep but short hills , I was a bit tired from training ride on sat but warmed up towards the end , No village shops for me, home to get a bite to eat and fill my bottles at 4hr 30 min 80 miles, a kiss for my two girls as Ollie was at nursery and back out for some more ! The motor bike was firing well after the re-fuel and on the way back a rider came past me and the old race instincts kicked in ! straight on the wheel as we crossed over the Humber Bridge he had me in the wind against the barrier ! so I went to the front to do my turn then he sprinted by me (obviously didn't want to ride with TG) this just encouraged me more ! so at 100 miles there I am sprinting to beat this guy to the end of the bridge !

Stats for today: 104 miles 17.6 av 6hrs feeling great

Cant wait to see the Tour tomorrow its the stage we're all riding on ITV4 from 12pm its live !

I'll be studying the route assessing the best possible point to launch the killer attack to be the first to the finish or maybe to make sure I'm not the last !

Mountain Profiles

For those that haven't seen them, here's the mountain profiles that we have to go over in a week's time. The route looks like this:
The first climb is about 12mile in, the Cote de Sainte Marguerite, but apparently this is too small for anyone to publish a profile of. It's only about twice the size of anything around Hull... The first climb-proper is the Col De Lautaret, which officially starts near Briancon after 26 miles. This is fairly gently climb for the first 11miles before starting to kick up over the last 6.
The Col de Lautaret wouldn't be too bad were it not for the fact that the top of this climb is the bottom of the next - the Col de Galibier. Apparently we do this from the easy side, but as you can see below, there is no easy bits (green bits) and it has a particularly nasty sting in its tail, with a 1:8 section right at the top... If my form in Hull a few weeks ago is anything to go by then the top of the Lautaret is about where I crack and TGMM whizzes off into the distance. Dez meanwhile will meander by, Tortoise and Hare style... We'll have been going uphill non-stop for 22 miles at the top of the Galibier. Luckily, 21 of the next 24 miles are downhill. Yippee!
Unfortunately, the downhill has to end somewhere, and for us it does so at the foot of the Col de la Croix de Fer - the Iron Cross in English, so named because apparently it feels like you're hauling one of the these up behind you when you ride it... Although this has a couple of slight downhill sections (the green bits), this just means that the "ups" are that bit steeper. The last 4 miles are particularly savage. My monies on a nice steady ascent of this all round. We'll have 97 miles in our legs when we hit the top; the reality of the day will have well and truly kicked in and we'll all know we need to keep a tad back for the grand finale... Croix de Fer is another 16 miles going uphill, total so far 38miles.

Another 17miles mostly downhill to recover before the last 7 miles through to Bourg D'Oisan and the bottom of the final 9 mile climb - Alpe D'Huez. Although this is a fair bit shorter than the other climbs , we will have covered 121 miles when we hit the bottom of this, and as you can see below, Alpe D'Huez is no pussy cat! It's designed to break you right at the bottom with the first mile averaging over 1:10. It then only backs off to 1:12 and pretty much stays at that all the way to the top! You can see there's only two short sections were it eases off marginally. Again based on Hull form, the first of these is where I'm off of there's an ounce of energy left in my legs and the section is where I crack big style and Mr Motor bike cruises off... Or, if I've learned anything over the last couple of weeks, the first is where I cling to TG's back wheel , and the second is where I stay clinging to TG's wheel!
Well, hope this gives you a good feel for the punishment we face in two weeks time (just under now!)... Can't wait.

Cheers,

Col.

Slacking off...

Today was supposed to be another big ride, but whatever I did to my knee last weekend is still niggling me... 10 miles in today and it was already sore. Can't afford an injury right now so I bailed out and was home with just 28 miles, on top of the 32 I did on Friday... that's it for the week. Will rest again this week and see if I can get it in shape for one last ride next Friday. Anyway, the unsung heroine of my training (Mrs S) was pretty pleased to have me home for the day. Can't say I was too upset at missing grovelling for the other 90 miles into 25mph winds! It was freezing here today too. I'd set of with full length arm and leg warmers on and I was still cold!

So I sat and watched the tour live this afternoon. It looked like it was blowing a gale at the top of the first mountain which is bad news... I've been telling myself that at least the wind doesn't blow in the Alps and so I wouldn't have that to put up with. Hmmmm... Still, was watching the bit were the favourites were playing with each other up the final climb - I like those bits were they all slow down waiting to see who's going to jump next! They look like good bits - I think we should have plenty of those slowing down bits! Thought it was very decent of the Pros to make the climbs look so easy today as well - it would have been pretty demoralising for them to be suffering when that's all they do for a living.

Well, one last week of work to get through before setting off for France. Better go and get on with it.

Cheers for now.

Col.

And now I'd have to ride Alpe d'Huez.....

Today I did 119 miles and instead of coming in and lying on the floor comatosed like I did today, in 2 weeks I'll then have to cycle up 8 miles of one of the most famous climbs in the world. And I'll have 2 other huge climbs in the legs too. When you look at it like that, we must be mad, indeed I think we are mad. Nevertheless it's all for an excellent charity and in honour of a fantastic man and I'm sure we'll all be spurred on to complete this ultimate challenge.

I have to say it's pretty impressive that we're all mostly able to do 100 mile training rides, what are we going to do after it I wonder?! I'm going to try and keep fit I think, maybe do some other big rides in the future like the classics or something like that. Some big challenges, that's what I need now I don't race anymore.

Glad to be back from South Africa, I like the place/people/work but it's always best to be home with Holly eating homemade lasagne ;-). Got a little bit done in the gym and rode a different bike in there and it had a 'mountain' setting so I did that quite a few times. Did 45mins of those and that was very hard. I used it on level 16 - there are only 16 levels ;-) - and one time after I got off this other guy got on and he couldn't pedal it. So he looked at me, warming down on the cross trainer, drenched in sweat and didn't understand my comment to him 'I've got to keep up with a Ducati you know'

Anyway, that's probably my last big ride before the main event, got to drive there next weekend and then it'll be too close to go out flogging myself but I think I'm there or thereabouts fitness wise.

Data from todays ride for those who read it (ie Seatpin)

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/387602

If only they did Arsenal Strips with full length zips...

Well, it was only forecast at 16degC today but I reckon it might have broken 20 in some of the sheltered wooded areas I went through today. Typically these were all on the climbs and so the old zipper was pretty much all the way down. My biggest worry about France is how I'll cope with the heat. Aberdeen might be good prep for the last km of the climb when it might well be approaching sub zero temperatures, but it's no prep for the 30+ valleys...

The last time I was in France was with Nat. We took a drive over the Col D'Iseran one day out of the back of Val D'Isere. When we got to the top we found snow lining the road and managed to snap the car's thermometer at -1degC! Naturally, the car was stopped whilst we engaged in a spot of skiing. Nat's pumps were the ideal launching pad for getting about one meter into a skid before he promptly fell on his @rse and slid the remainder thus. Naturally he was in shorts... Even when we went to the top of Monte Bianco (yes, we were on the Italian side...) he still refused steadfastly to put trousers on, and lambasted Dez, Sarah and I for having "wimped out" and gone for the jeans. Hmmmmm.... it was freezing up there though... On the way back from the Col D'Iseran we followed the route of that year's Tour (I think over the top of the Col du Columbiere?), picked up a souvenir yellow route marker (after a very quick stop...) and just about made it through the road closures to the Chalet half way up Courcheval... The next day we didn't get past the Gendarme, despite me even managing to slip "Alors" and "merde" into a pigeon French conversation with said policeman... apparently these are not too rude. Well, not rude enough to get me locked up anyway. Nat of course did he best to help by laughing loudly at my Hull-come-French accent. Not even he could crack a smile from the policeman though...

Enough reminiscing... I managed to get out in the hills today even if no one else appears to... Memory Map let me down for the first time this week, and my planned 120mile route turned out to be just 116miles. Climbing somewhere around 3000m - for a profile just look at last weeks and replace anything vaguely resembling a flat spot with a hill. My legs weren't in the best of shape today. I rode my 25mTT course on Friday and took 3mins of my season best (1:08:45, still no tri-bars...). I slacked on the stretching though, so 5miles into today's ride my legs ached and my knees ached. Not good when you're expecting another 115miles before getting home...

I'd put the 27t sprocket on for today to try it out pre-France. Made a big difference on the steep hills. I climbed Cairn O'Mount today in 16:25, nearly a minute faster than last week. Despite this, the 7hrs in the saddle (plus ~45mins of stops to get liquid in and out) took its toll and I averaged 16.6mph - half an mph slower than last week. The last 20miles where torture too. My left knee had totally seized, and the left foot was going dead in my shoe... I guess this is why I need to do 7hr training rides - so I find these things out now and not in France when it's too late to do anything about it. I put new gel/cork bar tape on after my hands started giving me electric shocks last week - hands were a lot better this week.

Well, only 2 more long rides left before I set off for France. It's getting very close now... Can't wait to get there!

See you all soon, those that are going.

Seatpin.

Winter Training!

Hello Boys and Girls

Quick note from the other side of the world. As I left the airport here on Monday morning I realised something. It's the middle of winter here! In a mad rush Sunday I of course forgot to pack a jacket so I'm a little cold in the mornings and evenings. Oh well, keeping warm burns extra calories so I like to think I'm shivering myself thinner ;-)

Managed to get to the Gym last night and didn't feel too bad, a cheeky little hour of sweat and heavy breathing. I thought to myself though that in a few weeks all that effort might get me 2/3rds the way up one of these mountains and then I'd have to do it again, and again, and again....... That's an awful lot of sweat and heavy breathing - yak!!!

TTFN

Getting slower and slower

Not what you need now we're within a month of the big ride but I seem to be slower and feeling worse on these bike rides :-(. Today I managed 110 miles at 18mph but it was flat compared to Seatpins ride although it was decidedly windy - I must've brought that back with me from last week. My pulse just wouldn't go up and once I got over 170bpm I was really struggling. I felt much better in May, think I did 2 rides over 100 that month and felt ok at the end of them. Maybe it's all the travelling (off again tonight for 2 weeks) that tires you out? It's definately not all the riding I've done! I've only got one more ride before we leave for the Alps on the Sunday after I come back - I'll try and get a long one in but normally I'm a bit knackered after a long flight. Anyway got to pack and find something to eat so I can leave for the airport....

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/305942

We've got sponsorship forms getting pushed under peoples noses so hopefully we can just get over that finish line too.

ps. is it just me having nightmares about 10hours on the bike? ;-)

A lesson on pace...

On reflection, here's how last weekend went. I cracked 2/3rds of the way up the climbs, I was broken 2/3rds of the way round and we covered less than 2/3rds of the distance we have to in the alps... I figured I needed to try pacing myself a bit better! I also figured that it was probably time to try and work out how to translate braining myself for 80 miles into making it to the finish, whatever the speed, over 130miles...

Friday I had a bit of a warm up - 42 miles home from work the long route on an unseasonably good day in Aberdeen. Ave 18.4. Not a bad start to the weekend...

Today I decided I needed to go for a long one, so I plotted a hilly 110miler, with 2800m of climbing according to memory map (600m more than my previous max, and more than twice what was done in Hull last weekend...). The weather was pretty much as good as it could have been today, light northerly winds, and low cloud keeping the temp around 16degC. Given the distance I decided I'd better ease off on the pace, and duly engaged the 25 sprocket at the bottom of just about every climb. What a difference!

With 90 miles done I'd reached the top of the last big climb of the day and still had a bit left in the legs. Normally I'm weeping at that stage! So, head down for the last 20, I managed to haul the average speed up to a fairly respectable 17.1mph. So, that's 85% of the distance we do in France, without cracking - I even mustered up a sprint for the Aberdeen sign and broke 30 on the flat (just!). (I know, the other Col's probably thinking that barely counts as a sprint but trust me, for me breaking 30 in a sprint is like TG having a bad hair day, or Haley's comet passing...) All I need to do now is be able to double the amount of climbing and double the temperature and add another 20miles and I'm sorted! The Alps should be a walk in the park...

Route profile below for anyone interested.


I see we've had another flurry of sponsorship! Many thanks to all the generous donors. It's a good incentive having all your hard earned donations to live up to! With the offline donations as well there's just £500 left to go before we beat our target.

Cheerio,

Col.

Tour de 'Ull

Hey - said with a French accent, 'Ull sounds just like it sounds with a local accent. Clearly it's fate then that our illustrious Leader (aka Big Bruv) now sun's himself in Paris???

Having had the bonus of checking out the form this weekend, I would add this to Damian's commentary:

• That I have now had a 4hr reccie of TG's slipstream - wind will not be a problem for me in France!
• That when it comes to the "first 50 meters of the steepest climb of the day" competition - climbing form is nothing! Sprinting is all that counts. Nunburnholme proved it. I guess the next 28,950 meters is just a bit of a jolly with that success under your belt.
• That cracking 2/3rds of the way up a hill, my speciality on Saturday, means thousands of meters of Alpine grovelling rather than hundreds! The tortoise did not beat the hare by accident!
• That borrowed bikes have intolerably uncomfortable saddles - never trust the man in the bike shop when he tries to convince you otherwise!
  

I measured Saturday at 83.5miles, 17.7 mph and 4300' of climbing. A good start for the final run in... Looking forward to it now! My longest ride for a while.

Route profile below for info. The big lump in the middle is Birdsall Brow followed by the peaks of Nunburnholme and South Cave.


Cheers,

Col.

Different bikes

One of the guys turned up on his motorbike (TG), two of us had to do with borrowed bikes (Seatpin and I) and Sprinter had a bike with creaky spokes ;-) but for the first time in a long time (maybe ever seen as Seatpin wasn't in Hull for Uni) we rode together on Saturday and it was great. Well, I say great, I think TG enjoyed it but the other 3 of us probably had mixed feelings. Such is the way when you're not at the front....or 100m off it like TG was on the climbs! I say TG had a motorbike based on the fact that his went alot faster than ours and I never caught him breathing hard.

I found myself chuckling a few times. On the train over I'd been thinking about how people would be on the ride. One by one my thoughts turned to reality - I smiled as Sprinter went for every sprint point he could but then faded when we went up, Seatpin went fast on the climbs and had 2 foot of seatpin showing, TG got a little bit competitive and made sure he got to the top first and me.....? I just enjoyed myself, dazzled the boys with my power (NOT!) and complained about all the headwind. We don't have that over here!

It was good to get out together because you can't compare the different rides we're doing. We all have different terrain, different weather and ride different distances. On Saturday it was the same for everyone (TG's Yamaha excluded) and I guess the guys would agree with me that everyone is about where they probably expected to be, fitness wise. Poor Sprinter lives life at 1,000,000mph (making training difficult to squeeze in!) and had just moved the day before so he struggled on the hills a bit, Seatpin Col was good on the hills - behind TG but ahead of me, TG was the best full stop and the guys found out that it's not me doing these 18mph rides I post - it must be someone else!

I'm hoping the competitiveness remains under control a little longer in August otherwise we're not all going to make it and the one's that do won't know what day it is when they finish. Keep watching to find out in August - Can TG ride like a madman up mountains (probably) - Can Seatpin stay with him (maybe) - Can Sprinter suffer enough to complete it (hope so) - Can I ride any worse than Saturday (please no!).

Here's the ride route by the way... 84 miles, 17.4mph

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/277236

Only another 46miles and twice the climbing boys ;-(

Training Ride 28/06/08

Big Boy, The Big Bruv, Seatpin, TG

THEN THERE WAS TWO !

For those of you who don't know Myself and Mrs TG took delivery on 13/06/08 of a beautiful baby girl Abigail May Moss at 4am, 8lb 6oz and she's fantastic, this is our second child, Oliver being only 18 months old so for the last month or so we've had our hands full to say the least !

Although time for riding the bike has been tight i haven't slacked ! I've been getting some good rides in don't you know ? Even on the day we were booked into the hospital for the planned birth I was out the door at 7.30am and got a good 63 miles in, quick shower and shave and at the hospital for 1pm with my catcher mitts on !

This weekend, the UK based Nathans Flyer's are all getting together for a ride on Sat, which will be great as we haven't all ridden together as group for over a decade ! It will be interesting to see who's fit and who's not ? I'll be happy if I can just get round ! (not competitive at all me !) I shall keep you all posted on what goes on and might even throw a couple of pictures in of the motley crew ! nothing quite as flash as Mr & Mrs Evingtons video which I think you'll all agree is inspirational (read my comment) .

Finally a big thank you to all those people who have donated to the Cardiomyopathy charity it is really appreciated and will go along way to helping us hit our reach our fund raising target.

look out for all the action from saturdays ride on the blog !

Movie star!

Hi

Tried to make a video from the Alps footage, let me know what you think!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Re6nsnxc8Ac

Cracked in the Alps

We had another weekend in the Alps and it was very useful as we learnt many things.
1. Close by places take a long time to get too, even in a car
2. Check your back wheel doesn't fall to pieces before you leave Paris
3. Be thankful you took a spare but don't expect a bike shop to fit a new cassette (gears) until after they've had lunch for 2 hours
4. Never return to said cycle shop at the agreed time, your bike will not be ready
5. Starting a planned 80m ride at 3pm is NEVER a good idea
6. Driving up/down mountains in a large people carrier is not advised, smaller cars needed
7. You can't find anywhere open to eat food at 9.30pm on the Col de la Croix Fer
8. Going to bed without dinner makes you really frickin' hungry the next day......
9. Doing another ride in 35 degrees the next day is carnage, you're going to stop sooner or later!

So, we had an eventful Saturday morning but after negotiations in the bike shop I got underway at 3pm. Good in a way because it wasn't getting any hotter (it was 32 degrees at that point) but bad in almost any other way. I started in Bourg d'Oisans (the town at the bottom of Alpe D'Huez) and planned to cycle along the (assumed flat) valley, up the Lauteret, over the Galibier and then onto the Croix Fer where I'd stop somewhere after it when I got to 80 miles. Well, I got the route right but it was not what I bargained for. I, like you, had looked at those profiles Sprinter put on and they looked ok, 5-6% maybe average. The problem is, what you see on this computer screen and what you feel on the actual road are not the same.

Firstly, the valley road is not flat. Within a mile or 2 I was down to 10mph. There were some points that went downhill or flat even but they finished quickly. 'I'm not even on a mountain yet' I thought to myself as I reached for the easier gears again and again. The bike shop only had a 28 sprocket cassette which I really didn't want to take but when I started the real climbing I was glad for it (for those of you who haven't bought something similar, go get one!). The Lauteret wasn't too bad but at the top you turn onto the bottom of the Galibier. I didn't stop for a breather so got straight into it. It wasn't long before I was cycling with snow at the side of the road. You can just about tell from the Garmin data that on the Lauteret I was managing 8/9mph then there's a flat section near the top where I got upto 16mph! After that I was on the Galibier and doing 7, sometimes 6mph. It's probably only a little bit steeper but I guess it's the accumulation of everything. To make it more fun the road steepens to 12% to the top. When I stopped at the top I felt really dizzy, a combination I suppose of the onsets of the bonk (when you run out of energy) and the lack of oxygen up there. I had some popcorn and water. I looked at the computer. I'd done 29miles at average of a little over 10mph and I was not taking it easy boys believe me! there is nothing at the top but a parking space so we'll need to take lunch somewhere else...

The descent was excellent, as they all are, but over way too soon. You even get another mountain thrown in for free, the Telegraph as it's on the way down. It's not hard tackled from this direction and pretty short. There was a longish flat section which of course was all headwind before I hit the Croix Fer. It's 30km long and starts off pretty steep and then you have a descent for a couple of hairpins and then back up again. I first thought about stopping when the Garmin kept showing 9/10/11%, corner after corner without the occasional 5/6/7%'s like I'd seen earlier in the day. I got to some tunnels and it was flattish there so I kept going but I when the road kicked on again I'd had enough. I pulled over to the side of the road and stopped. Packed half way up, couldn't go on......

so, what else did we learn?
10. Do not treat the little climbs on the valley lightly, saving the girly 28 for later, select bottom gear and take it steady
11. Even if the profile says 5-6% it's because the flats and downhills are included - most of the time you're cycling up 8/9% gradients
12. Take alot more food than you think, what you use for a normal 80m ride it not enough!
13. Even if we average the same speed as I did on Saturday, it's going to take more than 10hours riding time
14. We need to start early to finish in daylight!

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/234614

The Route

Hello boys and girls. This weekend we're off to the Alps for a bit of a reconnaissance. I'm going to ride 2 of the climbs, Galibier and the Croix de Fer on Saturday just to see how much fun they really are. Also to get an idea of where we might be able to stop off at around halfway to have a chance for everyone (cyclists and support teams!) to meet up and have a bit of lunch. I'm not riding anymore of the stage for a few reasons. 1) It's a flippin long way on your lonesome 2) I want to ride again the next day 3) Want to save the Alpe d'huez for when we all get there, make it special.

Browsing the map I bought I've noticed something bad. The first 42km are along the N94. This will mean nothing to you so let me tell you that means it's the equivalent of our A roads. Looking on the t'interweb (Google maps) I can see it's a main road. It doesn't let me zoom in quite enough but there is a chance it's dual carriageway. I've checked and it's perfectly legal to ride our bikes on there but it could be busy. Now I have ridden on a few miles of dual carriageway before here in France and there was a cycle lane there so that would be fine. Not sure if that's the case across the board but I hope so! If not, we can always ride single file, blow off the cobwebs with a bit of through and off to start the ride!

Tune in over the weekend for some updates!

128 miles in a week... only 2 shy!

I hear voices too! It shouts BANG!BANG!BANG!BANG! about 180 times every minute when I get to the top of the hills... Well it did this Friday. I hit 180bpm 7 times in the first 40 miles at the top of all the big hills. Mostly I was grinding away in the 23 sprocket, aside from climb 5 which is a bit shallower. I had to big ring it over the top of this one to get the pulse going. Of course, by climb 7 I was a broken man. It's a 1:9 climb averaged over the fist 1/2 mile, which I limped up in the 25. If I'd had a 27 (or 37) I'd have used it! Climb 8 wasn't so steep luckily - just long, being the highest climb of the day up to 294m (~900'). I only managed to get the heart upto 172 on these last two climbs. Didn't have the legs to get it any higher. My hamstrings were in knots and still are. I did get 178bpm on the last little climb on the run in to Aberdeen. Anyway, I didn't have time for a tun, just 64 hilly miles coming in at 17.4mph. 1675m of climbing. I was heartened by the fact that I wasn't a complete wreck at the end, given I did less than half the distance we need to do in about 7 weeks time! Route profile below for those interested.
Sunday I was on call so had to be within an hour of the office, so I sneaked out and redid the 25 mile TT I did a few weeks ago. I was 14 secs slower today which I put down to a.) my hamstrings being in pieces from Friday's climbing, and b.) an erratic blustery northerly wind which felt like a headwind both ways. Anyway, still just a touch under 21mph with no tri-bars.

Add this to 3 commutes to work makes 128miles for the week. Now only 2 shy of what we have to do in 7 weeks... I broke a spoke in the back wheel of my commuter bike again on Thursday, which was only the third day I'd ridden it since the last one got replaced. Time for a new wheel I reckon.

I was mulling over on Friday the last time I was in France, which was a week's holiday with Nat back in 2000. As it went, he won the intelligence test; quickly realising that me forgetting my driving licence and leaving my credit card in a payphone was not going to get us very far... I won the fitness test, being a good flight ahead of him by the time I'd dragged him two tiers up the Eiffel Tower. One all then... As it happens Dez and I were one all on the road too. I won the Courcheval stage (after Dez took tumble on the first decent of the day and ended up with a punnet of plums on his thigh...) and Dez won the later Les Arc stage after I bonked big style two miles up the last climb back to the chalet. Good we've got a chance for an Alpine decider. Not sure I've got quite the legs I had back in 2000. I cracked out a 26mph 10 that year, which was the last year I rode semi-seriously.

Just a quick nod to the fund raising before I go. I've been totally amazed by the generosity of my work colleagues this week. In three days then posted about£800 of donations, all of which I should be able to get matched by the company. Great news for the Cardiomyopathy Association! A big thanks to all our sponsors!

Cheerio.

The Seatpin.

I hear Voices....

It's probably just me but whenever I ride a race bike it talks to me. Previous ones used to whisper 'Go faster, push harder' but ever since I've had this Litespeed it's different. When the going gets tough, the road steepens, you turn into the wind or you finish the descent, the Litespeed is like the Pepperami advert -shouting 'FASTER, HARDER, NOW!' It's difficult to ignore as whenever you do stamp on the pedals you can feel the extra speed immediately, like no other bike I've ridden, it's a buzz, makes you feel good. The bike never gives in but unfortunately the heart and legs aren't made out of titanium too so they give in. It used to be they gave in straight away 'No chance' they'd shout back 'sit down, slow down, it's uphill you monkey!' As I get a bit fitter I'm listening to the bike more, pushing what I think is the limit and finding I make it to the top of the climb without the body giving in. Today, I listened as long as I could. 70 miles it lasted.

Boy it was good :-)

First climb of the day starts by the Seine and is 10% gradient until it levels off for a while to then kick up at 14% towards the top. It's where I record my max heart rate on every ride I do that includes it. Normally I pedal the 39x21 (bottom gear) up the first bit otherwise I do 4mph when I get to the steep section. As I hit it this morning on 39x18 and it started to get difficult, I heard the voice 'STAY OUT THE SADDLE, STAY IN THAT GEAR!'. Go on then, I thought, I'll give it a try..... pounded up the first few hundred meters, then as it steepens to 10% round the bend, I'm still out the saddle pushing hard. Maybe I can make the flat bit, I catch a jogger reduced to walking up, I can hear 'Allez!' over the iPod, can't give in now, there made it, rest. Recovered enough to tackle the steepest section at the normal speed. That happened every time I went up something difficult today. I went up 2 climbs that had reduced me to 8mph in January on the big ring today. Like I say, it lasted 70 miles. As I was 1/4 of the way up the longest climb of the day, again on the 18 instead of the 21, I got serious cramp in the left calf, same as the other week. I selected bottom gear, pedaled a bit quicker and made it to the top no problem. Nursed the calf home but it didn't trouble me too much, I just had to stop listening to the Litespeed....

The 2 weeks off the bike hasn't hindered me too much. I did 102m and 1929m of climbing in 5hr 30. 15 mins quicker than last time and with a little more climbing. Very happy with that, I'm going to listen more often from now on......

The other voice is always there, he tells me jokes, sings badly to the iPod and gives me grief when I take it easy........it's the same voice who, when I came back from my accident in 2002 and sat on the start line of my first race said, 'A Year ago you couldn't walk, I'm proud of you'.......... I'm listening Terry!

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/198154

Can't wait to ride a real bike......

Over these 12 days in Joburg I've got to know one of the bikes in the gym pretty well, we've shared about 6 hours together. The saddle is bigger than my head, it points to the left a bit so you feel crooked on the bike, the pedals are too wide apart so it feels like riding a horse, you can't get out the saddle as you fall off, and all of the readings (speed, pulse, cadence) are completely random! It was very scary the first time when you know you're trying hard and your pulse is about 168 (much higher for me at altitude is anaerobic) and suddenly the stupid machine shows 180!! I only see that at the top of very steep climbs, so halfway through a session is bad news. It got worse, then I saw 185, 190... I thought to myself, wait a minute, I don't feel that bad.... aha! maybe I'm getting fitter and can push myself.... then I look at the reading again. 165. Wow, look at that recovery I thought, pretty good. 210!!! What?!?!?! I'm going to die, take it easy, take it easy... keep breathing, nice and deep. 164. Better. 130. Hang on I thought to myself, these readings are nonsense. Ignore. Once I came to that conclusion the bike never scared the living daylights out of me again as I stopped using the pulse facility. Anyway, the saddle on my Litespeed is straight, the Garmin never gets my pulse wrong, six hours of thrashing myself actually gets me somewhere and when I get out the saddle I really fly.

Nathan's flyer.

I'm looking forward to riding it again on Sunday ;-)

Wanted - second wind!

Well, clearly May did me no favours 'cos I feel like I've gone backwards form-wise... not only did I get next to bugger all proper training in through the second half of the month but I've also picked up this niggle on my knee which I haven't yet shaken. Fortunately I've managed to get out on the bike three times this week trying to make amends, but I'm almst a mile an hour down on pace compared to a month ago. Hey ho!

Anyway, a summary of the week:

Wednesday I was out at Ballater in the middle of the highlands - I managed to sneak out for an hour after work and get 17 miles in. I did a loop which went up a 200m climb - I thought it was going to be a real killer, but it turned out to be mainly drags with a series of very short steep bits, short enough to sprint up. Descent was cool though - I pulled skid number 2 for the season after getting caught by a massive change in gradient coming into a tight right-hander. I definitely won't be winning the race down the hills...

Thursday aftie I rode back from Ballater to Aberdeen, taking in a couple of long climbs (circa 3 miles each). Unfortunately they only average about 3.5%, but still they were could for getting settled into a climbing rhythm. 45 miles in total, 17.3mph. Despite the earlier forecast it turned out to be a head wind all the way back.

Sunday I've been out for a 79 miler. After a desperate slog home I managed to scrape in at 17 mph dead. Suppose this wasn't too bad as I'd picked the hardest hills I could find today. Route profiles below (click to enlarge). The main climbs are at 11 miles (1:9), 17 miles (1:12), 38 miles (Cairn O'Mount, 1:12 ave with 1:6 at the bottom and 1:7 at the top), 48 miles (~1:20) and 54 miles (1:9). There were 3 or 4 other 100' plus climbs including a 1:8, but all fairly short. I have to say that on the run in, other than the dodgy knee the leg muscles didn't feel too bad, but my arms and back were in agony from all the out the saddle climbing.

Today's first for the season was getting sunburned - proof indeed that even in Aberdeen the sun can shine. Clearly though it happens so rarely the thought of putting sun cream on never even occurred to me. Before you get too excited... it broke 18degC today, so hardly full on Alpine acclimatisation weather, but a welcome change from last weeks pouring rain none the less.

Next week I'm on call so might struggle to get a long ride in unless I can get someone to cover for me. Hopefully I should be able to Fri and get out for a bash then. The Sunday I'll probably go out for another 25m TT to see weather my form really has deserted me. I've been tweaking the bike position and the cleats today, and checking out stretching exercises, so hopefully the knee troubles will start to ease off...

Back in Hull/Tickton for the last Sat and Sun of the Month if anyone's around (esp. Sun) and fancies getting some miles in). We can also discuss tactics for keeping Dez the Bez at the front and under 15 mph when we get to France...

Better go 'cos the we'en has awoken and decided he wants to help me type... Cheerio,

Creakin' Col.

3 hours and got nowhere!

hi y'all! as you know I'm in sunny south Africa for 2 weeks with work. so far I've managed to finish work at 8, 9, 11, and midnight so Saturday was the first trip to the gym. I did 30 mins on the cross trainer to warm up then 20 mins intervals on the bike and then 20 mins at 70 rpm on a hard gear to simulate hills. there was someone I work with there and she asked if I was ok - I must've been going hard! did similar today but 30 mins of hill training and I was dying for the last 10 mins. the colleague tried to make arrangements to meet but I couldn't talk so she just told me where and when! right must dash, a tour of Soweto awaits!

Embrun L'Alpe-d'Huez

210.5km or 130.5 miles is the distance of the stage form Embrun to L'Alpe-d'Huez. Below is link to the stage from the LeTour website:

http://www.letour.fr/2008/TDF/COURSE/us/1700/etape_par_etape.html

Estimated speed is between 34 and 38 kmh for the professionals!!!!!!!!! They should do it in around 5 1/2 - 6 hours. Well, there is only 3 real climbs.

1. Col du Galibier
2. Col de la Croix de Fer
3. Alp D'Huez

Thats two Cols - one each! The first two cols should be easy compar to Huez - 89.6ave.

Km 79,0 - Col du Galibier - 20,9 km climb to 5,6%
Km 156,0 - Col de la Croix-de-Fer - 29,2 km climb to 5,2%
Km 210,0 - L’Alpe-d’Huez - 13,3 km climb to 8,6%

Anyway, I have a pair of cone spanners with me that I will bring along for anyone who looks a bit fast!! A bit of melted lead down the seat tube may also be necessary too!!

Looks a great stage!! Alpe D'Huez profile below: (only 1071m of climbing)
http://www.climbbybike.com/climb.asp?Col=Alpe-dHuez&qryMountainID=5

Look at this for a profile:
http://www.climbbybike.com/profile.asp?Climbprofile=Alpe-dHuez&MountainID=5

After the first 2km its all easy (I'd have said downhill all the way - but didn't sound quite right!)

Ready for the timing gates from the bottom to the top?

I read with some relief that Dez was off to SA again today and so won't be posting any more epic rides for a while. When I read t'other Col's, epic though the distances and gradients are, I'm heartened by a more human sounding pace and feel like I still have a sporting chance of keeping up (at least on the uphills...), and with TGMM and DJ Clarky MIA and last posted doing half the distances we should at least all be 4th cat-esque together. But Mr Evington, it sound like there should be reference to a motor strapped to the back wheel when I read about the 'whizzing round park' antics in gay Paris! Short of there being some miraculous food bug on your travels which gives you the runs AND makes you pile the pounds on at the same time then you'll definately be the one at the front with the tow rope round the seatpin!!!

I can't say I'm overly happy reading about all the miles that have been going in over the last couple of weeks 'cos my training's gone down the pan... if poker and whiskey could get me to the top of Alp D'Huez then I know I'd have you all quaking in your boots, but sadly the only place they'll be getting me is in the gutter at the bottom of said Alp. Still, at least there are still 8 Sundays of grovelling to try and make amends...

Since my last Sunday out I think I've managed 2 rides to work and back (one of which I dawdled through with a sore knee), an hour of hill-climb interval training (5 x 4:30 reps), and 40 miles today in the p*ss*ng rain to ease myself back in. Not good for two weeks, and I really can't say I enjoyed today at all since the weather her is so utterly miserable. I did find a new climb to train on today though with a half mile 1:9 section - I thought I'd gone mad when I hit it 'cos I was expecting something less steep, and then all of a sudden I was barely moving and wondering if someone had sneaked up and slammed the back brake on! That was the last of 3 climbs in today's 40 - the steepest of the 3 but not quite the longest...

I'm out of town for a night this week so hoping I can get a lift out with the bike and get a sneaky mid-week ride in back to Abz, should get me about 50 miles through some decent hills. Otherwise there'll be no more proper miles 'till next Sunday when I'll be out for another 80 or so... Am going to try tweaking the cleats to see if I can sort my knee out, but if anyone else has other top tips for curing it I'll give 'em a try - I'm particularly having trouble with the tendon on the outside behind my right knee.

On a more positive note... I did finally manage to get the Just Giving page emailed out. I see a few folk have signed a few pounds away, which is a great result for anyone else facing the condition Nathan had. I've also printed off paper forms etc from the CMA website - I think I got over half my sponsorship this way when I did the Great North Run as I found people at work were quite happy to take a note out of their wallet but often too busy to get onto the website. Should be worth a try - will give you an update next week so we can add it to the total on the Just Giving page.

That's all for now.

Cheers,

Soaking Simpson.

OK, I'll admit it...

My legs are pretty sore today! My left calf especially was a bit painful right from the first time I got on the bike. It started yesterday after about 70m and I thought it was just because it was a hard ride. Anyway, I get to give it 2 weeks rest now as I fly out tonight for another 2 weeks 'Altitude training' in South Africa.

Wanted to do 2 hours today but the legs were having non of it so when I ending up by myself again after 1.30 I decided to come home.

Got there a little later today so all the speed freaks had gone (or at least I didn't see them) so did a good 12miles on my tod before getting caught. That got a bit exciting for a while, there were a few digs but I went with one of them and it was just me and this other guy doing through and off and then after half a lap he went home! Waited for the group to catch me again but they were a bit more wary of me now so I ended up just riding at the front all the time with them sat behind me. Eventually I realised I was by myself again and it's not as much fun having painful legs when there isn't someone (or a group of 10!) suffering on your wheel so I did a few laps easy but never saw them again, got bored, came home.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/138763

Anyway, must pack a suitcase and get to the airport. Hope seat 3E on flight AF995 has a special button marked 'fall into coma type sleep' - I need it!

Minor update

Just a quick update. Last weekend I did a mere 30 miles on Saturday, 40 on Sunday and 70 on Monday, so that is a just140 for the weekend. Monday was very hard in the wind and after going up White Horse bank on the Monday my legs were shot - it is 25% in places. Decided I was tired and went for a slightly flatter (but not flat) route home. The decent of Sutton bank was FAST. Very nice. New dual compound brake blocks slow my considerable mass where necessary, not that I used them (much). A slight wrong turn meant the 55 ish mile ride turned into a 70miler. Was very tired and not quite right for rest of the week. Indeed, not felt right since the Etape du Dales.

This weekend resulted in just a brisk ride today around my Kirby Overblow circuit. 40 miles at 19mph on my hilly circuit which I was quite pleased with considering I'm a fat sprinter. Day off the bike tomorrow as Amy is archerying and I'm looking after Lukas. She has more carbon on her bow now than I have on my bike.

Plans for this week are to ride into work and back a couple of days, probably Tuesday and Friday. Although weather forecast not great for Tuesday. We'll see. Need to rest and recover though as it is another big one next weekend. 120 miles in the White Rose Classic. Want to be healthy and feeling good for that one.

Congratulations on Hull going up to the Premiership and also to Donny Rovers for stuffing Leeds and going up. Wayhey!! Amy says congratulations to Aldershot for getting promotion too.

6hrs!!

Did my first 6 hour ride in a very, very, very long time today. Even when i was racing I probably didn't do that far in a day. Anyway, kept to a similar route to last weeks ton but climbed another 3 climbs I think so ended up riding 109m at 18.1mph - longer and a bit quicker than last week so that's good progress. Broke through the 2000m of climbing barrier but that's still less than half of what we need to do in August. I did a rough calculation and I thought it was about 4500m in the Alps that we have to do!!

Felt pretty good today, a few of the regular climbs were dispatched on a harder gear than before, even had the energy to catch a motorbike 2 miles from home - granted he was only doing 23mph but he was a bit surprised to see me in his mirror! Tomorrow I'll do something shorter obviously but I'll see how I feel when I wake up as to what that will be - guess anything between 5 miles and 40!

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/137297

Fast spin and more climbing than the Alps!

2 rides this weekend. First was the fast spin round the park, 47 miles in less than 2 hours! Faster than last time and I included the amble there too (16.7 ave for the first 4 miles). I saw the fast group go past as I arrived but by the time I got on the route they were 100m away. You can see from the pulse that I tried to catch them for 3 miles at 180 bpm but then they got past some stragglers before the narrow section whereas I caught them in it. Had to wait for them to come round again. When they did, boy was it fast ;-) I've done slower races. After about an hour I got myself near the front just as 2 nutters decided to crank it up. I was 3rd wheel and as we got halfway up the false flat I thought, I best take it out the 53x14 otherwise I'll die - that only lasted 10 seconds as I realised I couldn't keep up on the 15!! Suffice to say, it was a group of 15 at the bottom and a group of 3 at the top, they kept looking at me to help out but I was still waiting for my pulse to get below 175 so there was no chance of that. They took it 'easy' for a while but it still took the group 2 laps to catch us. Very very fast, think I did over 35mph at one point and it's flat!

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/111975


Today, spurred on by all you madmen riding 100+ miles I thought I best get a long one in as so far I've done a few 80's. Last Saturday in the Alps has helped as it hurt. I like to stretch myself every now and again as I feel it helps me move to the next level. So, high on the prospect of Premiership football next year and 3 pints (so I was very drunk for me!) I set off. I adjusted my cleats as my left leg and right knee hurt yesterday and it did the trick. I averaged 17.8mph - a similar average to what I normally manage around here for 60/70 miles but today I did over 1800m climbing and 102 miles in 5hr 40. I deliberately went up every climb I knew and they all felt that bit easier after last weekend. On one, I'd actually just cycled down it and saw lots of cyclists come up it on their bottom gear on some sort of organised ride so when I got to the bottom I turned round and saw how many I could catch. I caned it up on 39x16/17, breathing out of my ears and most of them that I caught were on expensive bikes and shaved legs so they weren't messing about. Stopped and had popcorn for lunch and 1.5 lt of water to top up the bottles. Did a climb immediately after lunch that was 15%!! that hurt the legs. Felt strong all the way round today, no flagging and but for all the traffic lights and stopping near the end, I might've averaged 18mph. I'm very pleased with this one especially as I had debated avoiding the hills after lunch but I kept to the route and still did some tough climbs in the latter half. More rest this week......

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/117061

A few Alps pictures

Here are a few pictures from the Alps. They are a bit blurred, as Sarah points out the camera is rubbish but anyway - proof I was there (not that you can always tell it's me ;-)