Support Crew Staff hard at work again!!!!!

Day 5 – Comfortably Numb

135 Miles
Average speed 15mph
time on the road 11.5 hours

With apologies to Pepsi circa 1970

Earlyleavinggearcrunchinggoochrubbingderaillersderaillingsunburningtempersflaringhillsrisingdivas yingtyrespoppingbikesbrakingdeerschasingridersridingmurlifallingeveretttattooingfredpainingsleights stroppingmurpheatingditchdivingburgermunchinglatefinishingleadersleadinggaryfixingbiscuitsburning petedirectingrichardcorrectingmarshallmarshallingstuartsufferingtrollploddingstuartsupporting jamiecruisingbigsbystormingwayneshoutingandyservingdieselmelting                 AWESOME FINISHING

Rider of the day was Stuart, well done from everyone.

The Supprt Crew Doing an Excellent job with Dame Shirley Bassey!!!!

Yet another excellent Lunch stop by the Support Crew, what would we do without you!!!!

Quick water stop in hot conditions!!!!

Twin Towns Challenge – Day 2 009-07-26  

Day one pictures now posted – apologies for the delay.

We boarded the ferry in Portsmouth close to 11pm on Saturday night, the objective, for us all, was to get to sleep as quick as possible – docking time in Caen was scheduled to be 6.30am and we were told that we would be woken 2hrs before docking!!  We all made mad scrambles for the best bunks – most of us were in shoe cupboard sized 4 bed rooms and as far as I know, most of us were asleep before our heads hit the pillows!  Of course there are always exceptions – especially when the bar is open!

Fortunately we weren’t woken 2hrs before arrival – actually, it was 30 mins before arrival, leaving us 30 mins to dress and breakfast and get off the ferry.  By 7.30 we were rolling but by 7.32, we were already lost – 3 laps of Caen later and after walking across a busy dual carriageway, carrying our bikes over the barriers in the central reservation, we were on our way to the famous Pegasus bridge, site of the famous WW2 Allied victory.

Although the sun was out, the temperature meant that jackets and arm warmers were order of the day.  Our route today took us through some beautiful villages including Falaise and Fresnay sur Sarthe.

On paper, today’s route didn’t look too difficult but unfortunately, paper doesn’t always present the reality – as was the case today, today was full of rolling hills! By 9.30am, the jackets were off and the sun did its best to grind us down. We don’t know the actual temp but estimates were high 20’s (28?).

The support crew did a stirling job and lunch was superb – great view, great baguettes but they did let the side down when they decided to leave us stranded, without water – as they were simply, dying for an ice-cream!!  They even took pictures of themselves gorging on the stuff so they could show us later in the evening!

We rolled into Le Mans, famous for its 24hr motor race after 7hrs and 30mins of actual riding, covering 174km/108miles.  Special mention to Jaime, riding his longest ever distance, he was also in the bar until 2.30am!!!

Everyone tucked into their Rego (post ride recovery drink) and then quickly swapped drinks for cool Kronenbourg whilst watching our hero Mark Cavendish win his sixth and the final stage of the Tour De France.  Fred did his usual job of beating us up, sorry, massaging our tired limbs in a conference room by the hotel reception – the screams could be heard over the Tour commentary!

The hotel couldn’t cope with preparing our team meal so it was a short walk to a great local restaurant where huge salads, steak and chips and crème brule or profiteroles were the order of the day washed down with medicinal beer and wine.

Breakfast is scheduled for 7am tmrw and departure is 8am.  (177km/110miles tmrw as we head to Poitier.

As the song goes, ‘All my bags are packed I’m ready to go’, well almost! Its Monday morning and the bike is in its box anyway, the rest of my stuff is in a growing pile awaiting final selection – packing for this trip is not easy as I want to travel as light as possible but I have the ride plus some time either side to think about and the weather isn’t the same as here – by a long shot!

Watching the Tour over the last few days has given me a glimpse of what may lay ahead.  Barcelona looked decidedly unpleasant (Barcelona – July!!) we are used to rain here in Singers but when its rains and its 30+ degrees it’s a lot different to a cold, wet, windy Europe! So the ‘pile’ gets bigger with stuff I haven’t used for 2 years, a rain jacket, arm warmers, overshoes, long sleeved top….

I was traveling (and entertaining) this week but managed three good rides Fri, Sat and Sunday but after much advice, the bike is packed and I’m resting up.  I was due to be traveling in Jakarta Tue and Wed but due to the latest developments, that has now been called off.

Fri 17th July   Joyriders Fri                    51km   1.49hrs  28kmh

Sat 18th July  Mandai, Changi, Kranji     163km 5.19hrs    31kmh

Sun 19^th July  Joyriders club run             75km  2.38hrs   29kmh

My training log shows 97 individual rides since my tng started at Christmas, a total of 274hrs, 7,815km and 189,000 Kcal! I had a medical just after Christmas and another one just recently – during this time I’ve lost 9kg.  I feel great – bring it on!

Keep reading the blog as we provide team updates during the ride itself.

Chris

 For those who don’t already know, I completed the very tough course in 12 hours and 4 mins coming in at 22nd place. Split times were 1hr and 19mins for 4K swim, 5hrs and 58mins for 180K bike and 4hrs and 35mins for 42.2K run.

Come Saturday evening I was starting to wish I had not entered the Forestman course (12th July) as from around 4pm the rain did not stop until about 4am the following day. I decided to take my 2 boys round the bike course on the Saturday evening to see how the 3 lap course planned out. This resulted in a 1 hour and 10 min drive.  I had heard that it was quite hilly and technical. The course was infact very technical and hilly, which made it even worse cycling in wet conditions especially having to contend with about 7 cattle grids each loop, not to mention the horses and cows as well.

I decided not to tell Camilla how difficult the course would be once I got back from doing a reccie of the course. I just put the boys down to bed, decided to double check my kit bags, have a glass of red wine for luck and went to bed at about 10pm.

With the rain coming down so hard it was difficult to sleep, the alarm went of at 3:20am, still the rain kept coming down. Was not sure whether to go back to bed or put the kettle on, decided on the latter with a bowl of meatballs and spaghetti for breakfast. The time was 3:55am and it was time to leave and catch the bus to take me of to the lake!!!.  It was still dark as I left, but at least the rain had decided enough was enough. Anyway, I boarded the packed out coach at Sandy Balls with virtually everyone else competing.

We arrived at the lake about 75 minutes before the swim start which was 5.30am, this seemed to go really quickly and before you knew it, it was time to head down to the lake for our briefing. The water temperature was good, which made it easier getting into the water. We all lined up and then the hooter went of for the start of long day. During the swim I felt really good had plenty of space between me and the other competitors so I could just concentrate on my own swimming, which took me to a time of 1hr and 19 mins not bad for a novice swimmer.

I probably spent about 4 mins from getting out of the water before I turned my 1st pedal, as the transition was quite long from changing to getting on the main road (400m). The roads were still wet through from the rain, but I started of very well overtaking a good 40 people on lap 1. Lap 2 and 3 were a bit lonely not seeing many competitors as there was only a handful in front of me at this time. It was difficult cycling in the wet conditions made worse by having to contend with about 7 cattle grids each loop, not to mention the horses and cows as well, plus the wind.

But to my surprise I had completed 112 miles in less than 6 hours and was feeling quite fresh. I saw my wife and 2 boys for the 1st time as I came into T2, which was a nice boost.

T2 took about 4 1/2 mins and then I was off to run my first ever marathon and what a marathon it was!!!. The 1^st part of the run was all up hill, until we turned of to go into the New Forest. I decided to stop at the food and drink station and take on some more fluids and gels, which I was glad of because then the real hard work started. For the next 23 miles there were no flats, just rolling terrain and steep hills and I mean hills!.

I decided that I should just walk the hills and run everything else, to make matters worse the ground conditions were not the best, we were running on stones for 23 miles!. Anyway, I can say that I completed the marathon in 4hours and 35 mins, which turned out to be quite a good time, as only 20 people went under 4 1/2 hours.

My wife and two boys were waiting for me at the finish. I have to say what made the day for me was running across the finish line with  Louis and Jenson.

Now I have 2 weeks recovery before setting of for the TTC only 1000 miles in 8 days!!!

A very special thanks to Peter, Rene and Denise  who generously donated $400 to the TTC coffers during our 200K ride in Singapore last weekend.

Thanks guys, very much appreciated.

Peter, Rene and Denise after the 200K. Are they smiling because the ride is over or because they are in the bar??

Chris & Murli

Well that was more difficult than I thought.

It takes ages, uses loads of blades and is very fiddley – just how do you shave the back of your knees and where do you stop?

There are so many things to consider – and waxing is definately not an option.
Do you use your hair clippers to give the legs a number 1 then use Veet cream to finish the job (other hair removal creams are available)
Do you shave then Veet to get the bits you missed
Or do you just go straight to Veet?

Lets face it 24 hours ago I would have throught Veet was some sort of organic veg to be eaten with yoghurt whilst wearing tie dye.

I went for the shave then Veet option and I can say that my legs are a bit more lumpy than I thought – it looks like the shins have been through a hard time or two.

My legs were not the hairiest but I can say that the operation took 3 weeks worth of blades – funny that the Mach 3 blades dont seem to do legs too easily yet chins are a breeze.

So now the big question – how long before the hairs grow back? and will it be itchy?

Onto the cycling – 2 rides this weekend one early cold and wet the other much nicer, but both windy. Sundays was a 50 mile jaunt round the usual route in 3 hours – so I am happy with the pace.

Its the last week of training now with thoughts moving to kit lists and logistics more than miles and food intake.

Two weeks today we will be well on the way into France.