Nathan Evington

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.


Sunday, 15 June 2008

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.
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1 comment:

Damian said...

Yes Col, a big well done on the sponsorship, absolutely excellent. We've got the old fashioned paper forms in progress in Hull so hopefully we'll be passed our target before we get to the Alps for our rematch ;-)

16 June 2008 at 07:29

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