Good evening all
Thought it was about time I wrote on the Blog ! for those of you don't know me this is a mile stone as i don't do Modern Technology ! this is down to me having little to no understanding or patience with computers or such like ! but thankfully I have the beautiful and very patient Mrs T.G. to help with everything technical which is good for me ! how do people cope without her ?
When my good friend Damian suggested this awsome ride I jumped at the chance, I knew Nathan would have loved taking the micky out of a bunch of ex cyclists and of course his racing hero TG (me who apparently according to Damain raced last season ! but what he didn't say was that yes I raced but on most occasions I could not even keep up with the group and ended most races as a spectator ! although on one occasion I actualy got 3rd which for a man in my condition wasn't too bad ?) Any way back to the ride, I thought these guys haven't rode in 10 years ! me I'm still riding how hard can it be ? and thats where I made a mistake !
How hard can it be ? the answer my friends is very hard if my training or lack of it is anything to go by ! I've kept riding a couple of times a week since the end of last season and have found it hard to do even 15 mph for 40 miles ! but I don't think the huricaine gilbet thats been blowing since christmas has helped !
When Damian came back to England for Nathans birthday we arranged to meet up for a ride, It was really great to get back out on the bike with him as we haven't rode together for about 5 years, it was great to catch up. But what I didn't realise before the ride was that he was doing these intense training sessions with europe's finest cyclists ! Oh and did I pay ? he gave me a right pasting ! oh dear those constant years of racing and training hadn't really paid off at all !
This ride of a mear 130 miles over 5 mountains has started to dawn on me ! and panic has set in ! with me only averaging about 250 miles a month thats right a month not a week ( for those of you not familar with cycle racing ,for a ride of this magnitude you would need to be doing about 200 mile a week ! thats if you are to stand any chance of making it to the finish in one piece !!!!!!)
Turbo Turbo Turbo !!!!!
I apoligise now to the majority of the cycle community I have offended in the past for claiming that Turbo was for those of us that didn't have any friends and were actually social out casts ! I am truely sorry !
As I said I haven't been doing the miles I should for this ride ( family commitments of a 1 year old (the big guy ) a little girl due in May and of course mrs TG oh and that little thing of work !) haven't left me much time ! so I have decided to still ride on my days off but to also do turbo twice a week ! This is painful stuff guys as I am doing threshold work ( This pretty much means riding as hard as you can with your pulse at about 170 bpm then going a bit harder ! and then you get to have a really good rest for 15 seconds ! oh and you do it again and again and again until you fall off !) its not pleasant ! but if I'm to keep up with this lot I better get my finger out !
I thinks thats enough for today ! please check in again to see how we're all getting on
Hi Guys !
hope you're getting the miles in ?
TG
Nathan Evington
28/02/77 - 03/11/07
About Nathan
Nathan, was a big chap in more ways than one. He was always to be found at the centre of the action, telling it exactly as it was – loudly!
In fact, Nathan was in such a hurry to make his impact on the world, he arrived on a cold February morning 8 weeks early. He was so premature that he spent his first month in hospital, and at the time was one of the youngest babies in Hedon Road hospital to survive!
Cycling played a huge part in Nathan’s life. He loved the film American Flyers and watched it many times. In it, there is a scene where the main character does the "torture test" which involved running on a treadmill for as long as possible before ending the test by hitting the "chicken" switch. After Nathan’s diagnosis of cardiomyopathy in 2004, he was actually quite excited to discover that he would be required to do his own "torture test" and spent a good deal of time psyching himself up for a good performance. In fact, he was so determined that it was ultimately the doctor, his Mum and the technician who had to drag him off, as Nathan refused to give in himself.
Cycling also revealed Nathan’s talent for remembering facts and figures. He was our very own walking cycling encyclopaedia. He loved to test his friends and show off his knowledge, and he was always the person you would want on your pub quiz team.
Nathan was determined to live life to the full, and unbeknown to his Mum he began playing in a football team a few years ago. The cat was out of the bag when a new football trophy took pride of place on the mantelpiece one evening. Nathan was very proud of himself and his team-mates, although I am reliably informed that Nathan was valued more for his enthusiastic participation, rather than his football talents – which led to his shots on goal just missing the target – 100% of the time!
Nathan was the life and soul of any party and loved to dance. He would always take to the dance floor first, and was quite happy to dance alone. However, his infectious enthusiasm always encouraged others to join him.
Nathan was a kind man, and always generous to a fault – on the benefit of his Mum and brother. He had a very special sense of humour – one he shared with his brother – and left his mark on everyone he met.
Monday, 14 April 2008
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2 comments:
I'm getting the miles in. It was about 5600 from Paris to Joburg, does that count ;-)
Paris to Joburg only counts if you were head banging to some proper MP style D&B...
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