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?
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.
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2 comments:
The Garmin data doesn't really do it justuce does it??? It just looks like a pile of squiggles, much like any of your training rides. But unless your training rides were nothing like mine this was nothing like any of your training rides!
I can't believe we made it up the Croix de Fire... memories of its evilness still linger! If there is something next year, I can say categorically now IT WILL NOT INVOLVE ME GOING OVER HE CROIX DE FER AGAIN! Not next year, not ever!!!
Doesn't portray the torture, no. It's only the first time that the Croix de Fer destroys you, honest. The day of the ride was my 3rd attempt at that climb. I climbed off at halfway the first time (June), second time I weaved up it (week before) and the third time it didn't seem so bad. Guess that was relative to you poor buggers seeing it for the first time.
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