tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29812143669371296502024-02-20T17:56:36.040-08:00My Journey from Fat Lad to Alpine CyclistAndrew Stroudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15861568581975349926noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2981214366937129650.post-12851690604386309602019-07-05T11:31:00.001-07:002020-04-04T23:44:03.164-07:00Parents to Paris 2019I'd been looking forward to this day since I finished last year's fundraising ride with the diabetes dads. So this year we wanted branch out & invite Mums & Dads to join us. We ended up with 3 mums - another 2 had to withdraw unfortunately through illness - and also had Jack, son of Andrew & Kate, both riding, a young person living with type 1 diabetes.<p>
</p><p dir="ltr">It hadn't been an entirely stress-free experience in the lead up - trying to get people who would commit, booking ferries & trains, getting sponsorship, planning routes & hotels, worrying about fitness levels, worrying about their bikes & their ability to fix a puncture...Luckily we had Kev as Le Patron, a veteran of 3 previous rides, who took on all of the hotel booking & route planning, even though he was supposed to be taking a back seat this year, and did an absolutely fantastic job. All the rest of us had to do was turn up, load up the panniers & ride!</p><p dir="ltr">This fundraising all started a few years ago after I met some other parents in a facebook support group for parents of children living with Type 1 Diabetes, with a shared love of cycling. Initially we cycled Nightrider together as a grouo of Dads, then upped the ante to do London to Paris last year, before inviting Mums this time!</p><p dir="ltr">Over the years we've raised close to £50,000 for JDRF, the UK's only charity dedicated to funding research into a cure for type 1, so while none of us want to be in this position, it's been a great opportunity to raise funds & awareness of this relentless condition.<br></p><p>
</p><p dir="ltr">There had been plenty of banter in our what's app group and on the facebook page, and it was good to finally meet up with people on the Wednesday night in the local 'spoons in Penge - the ladies joining us felt a bit like they were on a blind date; even though we'd all known each other virtually for months, this was the first time we were meeting IRL! So I was pleased that they weren't put off and came back for a second date the next morning at the Grand Depart in Beckenham - shaving off a good 10 miles from last year's start at the JDRF offices, and a whole lot of stressful traffic!</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ_byJyReFCdXymeam3ES6c3JZsbncchDVKIf5YfRiVg7hT2SvWPk3wA7T4Z63joiyXs8bYLe_k7iybAbiyA20p3PoRf5uJhNUejADOGJyEFn33VdLId-_ZV8u3LhCsICPpFRHJltlKNQ/s1600/pub.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ_byJyReFCdXymeam3ES6c3JZsbncchDVKIf5YfRiVg7hT2SvWPk3wA7T4Z63joiyXs8bYLe_k7iybAbiyA20p3PoRf5uJhNUejADOGJyEFn33VdLId-_ZV8u3LhCsICPpFRHJltlKNQ/s320/pub.jpg" width="320" height="239" data-original-width="1440" data-original-height="1076"></a></p><p>Throughout the trip Kev was recording short videos for our JDRF instagram takeover on Sunday, and you can see some of them & others, on our facebook page here: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ukdiabetesfamilies">https://www.facebook.com/ukdiabetesfamilies</a></p><p>
</p><p dir="ltr"><b>Day 1 - 86km, 1000m (53 miles, 3277 feet)</b></p>
<p dir="ltr">We gathered from 10 at my place for last minute packing / unpacking / bacon rolls, and set off around 1115, waved off by various neighbours, partners, children, as well as Amy from JDRF who had popped over to see us off. 11 parents and 1 teen with T1D. We got out of London and into the lanes without incident (other than going along a cycle path which turned out to be overgrown with nettles & brambles & led to the uncomfortable choice of cycling though one or the other!) and really enjoyed cycling through the beautiful rolling countryside of Kent & Sussex on a day which was warming up, but not yet too hot to ride. Stopping occasionally to regroup and fill up our water whenever possible, we made good progress to East Grinstead, where the sneaky hill up into the town always catches you unawares. But soon we all gathered in the salubrious surroundings of the Sainsbury’s car park, to grab a quick lunch, more water, ice cream, and have a bit of a break before cracking on.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Whereas the same route last year had been miserably wet & ridden in persistent rain, this year was absolutely glorious - maybe the extra month helped. Straight after our lunch break, we were up a hill towards Turners Hill, then had a long & rolling stretch to the top of another hill into West Hoathly. By this time we had established that young Jack was a big fan of the hills, and was powering up all of them – often turning round to come back & do it again! While we waited for everyone to catch up, an ice cream van stopped at the junction, and in a master class of Yorkshire brassneckery, Vince asked him for some free ice cream in lieu of a charity donation. Much to our surprise, the nice chap from Venice Ices pulled over, and proceeded to hand out lollies to all of us – asking us to make a donation ourselves, which we all subsequently did!</p>
<p dir="ltr">Onwards towards Newhaven, and we had an extended break at the now traditional level crossing stop in Cooksbridge before pressing on into Lewes and then down the valley into Newhaven. Halfway along this road Jack started to wobble aound a bit, and we realised he was having a hypo so stopped by the side of the road in a driveway. The lady whose driveway it was arrived back from work a few minutes later, insisted on bringing Jack into the house & sitting him down, giving him time to get his BG back up again & to recover. While the others pressed on, I stayed with Jack & his parents, and the delightful Penny looked after us all. The kindness of strangers. After about 40 minutes or so, we were able to continue and carried on to complete the last 5 miles to Newhaven, in the late afternoon sunshine, with no further incident.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Following dinner & beer in the pub we made our way down to the port & managed again to get past the cars in the queue to check in. We had a chat to the drivers of a support van for some lunatics who had cycled down from Edinburgh, and were riding a much more direct route in the following day. In the waiting room we chatted to others, also aiming to complete the ride in 24 hours - as opposed to our leisurely 4 days - one of whom very kindly gave us a fiver for the cause. Then it was onto the boat, into the cabin, quick shower & bed (or drink then bed) to try & catch a few ZZZs before the ferry docked a few hours later.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><b>Day 2 - 115km, 492m (71 miles, 1614 feet)</b></p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrkfGTYHwYC_tSub-3m6A10CPO2_VUu7WzYbaGcGSA65o6Xhy2VC7k3A5eujR_QK0IEK7LvNzKdKi0fRlJt6qqC2T0vqVpFxHLzNrPBLrbFnj4GupSVvOZ9ynXjbLH8c_KCwFD_GQ2Hdw/s1600/20190628_051612.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrkfGTYHwYC_tSub-3m6A10CPO2_VUu7WzYbaGcGSA65o6Xhy2VC7k3A5eujR_QK0IEK7LvNzKdKi0fRlJt6qqC2T0vqVpFxHLzNrPBLrbFnj4GupSVvOZ9ynXjbLH8c_KCwFD_GQ2Hdw/s320/20190628_051612.jpg" width="180" height="320" data-original-width="900" data-original-height="1600"></a></p><p>
</p><p dir="ltr">The dulcet tones of the announcer dragged us from our fitful sleep at 0330, 0430 local time, and we were off the ferry & on our way by 0530. What a difference a year and a month makes. Last year we rolled off the ferry still in our soaking gear from the previous day & set off through the mist, which didn't burn off until late morning. This year the sun was rising, there wasn't a cloud on the sky & we could see our surroundings - it was well worth it.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWV_sZXKdD0x_LVu0SP9ahR77Z7_F4sC5llIaR-vbg69QY3xgWvr2t4hjjwiAhGULhucxa-EbszokOFXVRExySbxeI76SgxEEgco5fkOGKqhOGteIc3npaaj2iN7XmqbY10NhQpwzYRPY/s1600/FB_IMG_1561721364281.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWV_sZXKdD0x_LVu0SP9ahR77Z7_F4sC5llIaR-vbg69QY3xgWvr2t4hjjwiAhGULhucxa-EbszokOFXVRExySbxeI76SgxEEgco5fkOGKqhOGteIc3npaaj2iN7XmqbY10NhQpwzYRPY/s320/FB_IMG_1561721364281.jpg" width="320" height="320" data-original-width="1080" data-original-height="1080"></a>
</p><p>
</p><p dir="ltr">The route out of Dieppe takes you along the Avenue Verte, a long cycle path which cuts across Normandy towards Paris. It's been extended in the last year, so there's even more off road. We rolled along at a nice pace with the sun appearing over the top of the hills, until the inevitable puncture - the first one of the trip going to Svenia & her tubeless tyres, courtesy of a broken bottle on the cycle path. Matt fixed it eventually - took 3 goes - and we carried on a few more km until Megan also had one, which was also swiftly dispatched.</p><p>As last year, we were aiming for Neufchatel en Bray for Breakfast, and we went back to the same place, only to find the chef wasn't there yet! Fortunately, someone who could rustle up some omlettes arrived, so we had those, a couple of folk had the now traditional cheeky 9am stella - essentially a lunchtime drink, given we'd been on the move since 5am - and on we went.</p><p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2_TKhM9PL1ch4q3RJ7PHiAqiEevZikN_mvt4iYfZQPcxvIBnk1wbnp_tDbqytfvzfU0PxnWMMjDCjxumRZdSgmn71H3cCyhKntLrJKeWM1nEvA9U-faVuAqcjlGsv7P8BsgwxzTh2OG4/s1600/stella.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2_TKhM9PL1ch4q3RJ7PHiAqiEevZikN_mvt4iYfZQPcxvIBnk1wbnp_tDbqytfvzfU0PxnWMMjDCjxumRZdSgmn71H3cCyhKntLrJKeWM1nEvA9U-faVuAqcjlGsv7P8BsgwxzTh2OG4/s320/stella.jpg" width="320" height="320" data-original-width="960" data-original-height="960"></a>
</p><p>One of the local cafe owners took great amusement in the Brits lathering themselves with suntan lotion at 9am in the morning, but hey, an opportunity for meme's an opportunity for a meme in any language, right?</p><p>After a brief stop at a sports shop for more tubes, we pressed on, still on the Avenue Verte, towards the Super-U at Serquex for supplies...mainly water as it was heating up. Then we were off the cycle paths and into the quiet rural rolling roads towards Gournay - lovely to be out in the open with sweeping vistas, but with the sun getting higher, we were glad of any shade when we got it.</p><p></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggu1pCpjBo2ripmlLzo11paa11QExGbTrfrkdUZyYe5RYVZSZVylYmeYf_TOmtXk2vzTDf4JiISl7TQxsWr03seb5_-ViLn5lUkOGLINDt7daM5Ua1HIgcEI_C5O6f4KDVSpdPuNVYKHs/s1600/20190628_073657.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggu1pCpjBo2ripmlLzo11paa11QExGbTrfrkdUZyYe5RYVZSZVylYmeYf_TOmtXk2vzTDf4JiISl7TQxsWr03seb5_-ViLn5lUkOGLINDt7daM5Ua1HIgcEI_C5O6f4KDVSpdPuNVYKHs/s320/20190628_073657.jpg" width="320" height="240" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1200"></a></p><p>
We arrived in Gournay & decided against buying a picnic to eat in the car park, and retired to the McDonalds for some air-con & blessed relief from the sun. However, we also had some mechanicals to deal with at this point, a broken wheel rim & a broken spoke, which meant that Andrew & Steve couldn't carry on, as well as some likely lads with a white van, overheard discussing which bikes they were going to take, so it all got a bit fraught for a few minutes while we tried to sort it all out.</p><p>
</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilGXuHSUZF9xH56WTd1tYBKWTm7WiDzcs1mgE8e7NGpC2zAoDNEVCQVsHBQdeKnJ5X6L19eyHoW5odkrXKSi_X6Tygs1ApOoFPAqmmPm5pwetHMl1BEJ8lx0ZU_w25z7UnfpYxblWmMiQ/s1600/20190628_162519.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilGXuHSUZF9xH56WTd1tYBKWTm7WiDzcs1mgE8e7NGpC2zAoDNEVCQVsHBQdeKnJ5X6L19eyHoW5odkrXKSi_X6Tygs1ApOoFPAqmmPm5pwetHMl1BEJ8lx0ZU_w25z7UnfpYxblWmMiQ/s320/20190628_162519.jpg" width="320" height="240" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1200"></a></p><p>
On the map, Beauvais is just a straight 20 miles away, so of course there was no train, and no taxis anywhere locally who were close enough / willing enough to help out. So with a last throw of the dice we went to a car mechanic place, and the very helpful guy there was able to help us to get a taxi to come from Beauvais to pick up Steve & Andrew, and their bikes, and take them to the Decathlon in Beauvais to fix everything.</p><p>The rest of us carried on, and after a brief bit on the road, we hit another section of shaded cycle track through the forest for most of the way to Beauvais! It was wonderful - but even with the shade & the breeze, I was still dousing myself with water to try & keep cool. A couple of hours later we popped out into the mid-afternoon furnace of Beauvais, but it wasn't for long and we were soon at our hotel on the outskirts.</p><p>
</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC3hBOkMmeMS_5t9zSY9blWja4jksNA3M7j6PMTVFfIrC9gQ4_L6cZvW_vqCkxiuDbYcjG8yG21TVDNgudspZ8hgPeuCXU8XE7lX8V6BFesdg0WBoyLKpC8H0o8dSIUbfG8CHnTOb0hgs/s1600/20190628_151331.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC3hBOkMmeMS_5t9zSY9blWja4jksNA3M7j6PMTVFfIrC9gQ4_L6cZvW_vqCkxiuDbYcjG8yG21TVDNgudspZ8hgPeuCXU8XE7lX8V6BFesdg0WBoyLKpC8H0o8dSIUbfG8CHnTOb0hgs/s320/20190628_151331.jpg" width="240" height="320" data-original-width="1200" data-original-height="1600"></a>
</p><p>Cold showers, cold beers, power naps followed, until we met again at a surprisingly good all you can eat & drink buffet, Crocodile (bizarrely themed as a railway station, given the name), nearby for a nice meal, before heading back for the night.</p><p>
<br>
<b>Day 3 - 77km, 610m (48 miles, 2000 feet)</b></p>Even though the hotel had some form of rudimentary aircon and it was at the end of 2 very long days. I don't thing anyone slept particularly well, so it was a relief when the alarm went off at 6 and we could officially start getting ready for the day. This was supposed to be the hottest one, with the weather due to break that evening, and it didn't let us down.<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTdHd7Gsum7hZPdL7biuAlMUApbMMWhztl7q0GEAxM7yc2V1R1I0LfhY2vGvtjInXfY7nsxA6JiRQIBBM0HkE39YCGQSYdkbQc5W3dV4AEg1oKKKS1rZ-zFC4X0sShG5HozmVTsfX_w90/s1600/20190629_074116.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTdHd7Gsum7hZPdL7biuAlMUApbMMWhztl7q0GEAxM7yc2V1R1I0LfhY2vGvtjInXfY7nsxA6JiRQIBBM0HkE39YCGQSYdkbQc5W3dV4AEg1oKKKS1rZ-zFC4X0sShG5HozmVTsfX_w90/s320/20190629_074116.jpg" width="240" height="320" data-original-width="1200" data-original-height="1600"></a>
</p><p>The first part of the ride was lovely though, out through a pretty village, up quite a long drag to be rewarded with glorious views, then down and back up a longer drag before we stepped on it and set a good pace across and down to Meru where we stopped for breakfast. Well, I say breakfast, but it was actually just some vienoisserie from the boulangerie and a coffee from the cafe, as apparently no one needs to eat at the weekend in rural France, so the chef wasn't working! Tant pis for us!</p><p>
</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ2ATPExjA3LHo00qLsliJfs50W8rtUXSpBGp1gj6NktpAHs3jpBFOK4aKndC4QuSWTR69mxDtPJ2DtNRJ7ACOh_AfnRv-Qqk1vHaDax3iAWKacRuZ1AqFMnOtLt6UySXyEMY3anG2opo/s1600/20190629_074623.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ2ATPExjA3LHo00qLsliJfs50W8rtUXSpBGp1gj6NktpAHs3jpBFOK4aKndC4QuSWTR69mxDtPJ2DtNRJ7ACOh_AfnRv-Qqk1vHaDax3iAWKacRuZ1AqFMnOtLt6UySXyEMY3anG2opo/s320/20190629_074623.jpg" width="320" height="240" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1200"></a>
</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDwkBf7zKOZhhI32t-PsbLzw2_tm7nKQbjuZ5dRt1FKAO-1368AbF5NV3tgbT47zkMJ9msmXQqspavOogsUyEZ3HQU15cKM3F2KpeAhp4q0CEJkU_jBLP52hWCpy6YIm3e1m4rjVADdV0/s1600/20190629_092341.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDwkBf7zKOZhhI32t-PsbLzw2_tm7nKQbjuZ5dRt1FKAO-1368AbF5NV3tgbT47zkMJ9msmXQqspavOogsUyEZ3HQU15cKM3F2KpeAhp4q0CEJkU_jBLP52hWCpy6YIm3e1m4rjVADdV0/s320/20190629_092341.jpg" width="320" height="240" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1200"></a>
</p><p>After our breakfast we pressed on towards Van Gogh territory, through ever more beautiful countryside, and forgiving roads. Not too many hills, though I did get a bit of flint in my tyre on the off-road section which caused the 3rd puncture of the trip - a pretty good record really. Once that was changed, and with it getting hotter all the time, and having squirted my sticky energy drink over myself instead of the water by mistake, it was nice to have some smooth roads down towards the Oise, and we stopped in a village where the lady in the Mairie filled up all of our bottles. Kev was very keen for us to see some culture, or to get in his Van Gogh joke, and the route out of the village took us up such a sharp hill that young Jack decided to turn around and do 2 more reps of it! The lunacy!</p><p>
</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBMN9KQAGZPmQkYAb2dG9T0r6MkvtVLXriELgQa5zxqb6YjFBmKi6F5pxH6hlPPI-yTpvYA5XQXTwMYjTgjDlNB3LNcKVZ7qko5bEN4uvW3CzYl73lMHKQqjl-4Ev-v6ZA0fi7usvefsQ/s1600/20190629_103246.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBMN9KQAGZPmQkYAb2dG9T0r6MkvtVLXriELgQa5zxqb6YjFBmKi6F5pxH6hlPPI-yTpvYA5XQXTwMYjTgjDlNB3LNcKVZ7qko5bEN4uvW3CzYl73lMHKQqjl-4Ev-v6ZA0fi7usvefsQ/s320/20190629_103246.jpg" width="320" height="240" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1200"></a>
</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtGdtKJGqeSJ02keFt8rTgJc7KG9PC1FDyaj1oFpdePfc9I44Cmvh8omYHMX2YWAymglBLLUCYtmT4mJbMghN8TDIvpDHgZFXAwZ-EfBTmUxJKawhUagdcydtVM7TYp6eLlLEjPQU_qto/s1600/20190629_103346.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtGdtKJGqeSJ02keFt8rTgJc7KG9PC1FDyaj1oFpdePfc9I44Cmvh8omYHMX2YWAymglBLLUCYtmT4mJbMghN8TDIvpDHgZFXAwZ-EfBTmUxJKawhUagdcydtVM7TYp6eLlLEjPQU_qto/s320/20190629_103346.jpg" width="320" height="240" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1200"></a>
</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghDJQJsoqtCqilaG8vH7nPLRQ2dfgao2UH9xCabW6Td4KfVyBR0rwOZY5cyfsoqB43rYVYcPogwXis2vZfbDrJC7cP0a0XTxY9T8SiDcaBFKSR9mcPZVP3bY9CO87jQrX9lz7EO7oW-uk/s1600/20190629_121315.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghDJQJsoqtCqilaG8vH7nPLRQ2dfgao2UH9xCabW6Td4KfVyBR0rwOZY5cyfsoqB43rYVYcPogwXis2vZfbDrJC7cP0a0XTxY9T8SiDcaBFKSR9mcPZVP3bY9CO87jQrX9lz7EO7oW-uk/s320/20190629_121315.jpg" width="320" height="240" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1200"></a>
</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ER3VZBF0Shz3auu1Vn9-EXv2_f54KQJGCsgSdHXOhFxg7RbIOTXM2nNTbGdyTYORWuyfs5M4KaywCP2z7KTTcBT0lZXpGIiGrtxW4G5y5MRPcivyAqehp9eEaC62tzu93LhBvriGl9U/s1600/20190629_121525.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ER3VZBF0Shz3auu1Vn9-EXv2_f54KQJGCsgSdHXOhFxg7RbIOTXM2nNTbGdyTYORWuyfs5M4KaywCP2z7KTTcBT0lZXpGIiGrtxW4G5y5MRPcivyAqehp9eEaC62tzu93LhBvriGl9U/s320/20190629_121525.jpg" width="320" height="240" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1200"></a>
</p><p>It was now getting towards late morning and was seriously hot! We still had about 30km to go, but stopped in Auvers-sur-Oise to buy some lunch (and stand next to the freezers for a bit), and then went to eat it in a shady spot on the banks of the Oise. It was hard to tear ourselves away, but we had been trying to avoid the heat of the day, and having failed miserably to do that, just wanted to get there.</p><p>
</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfpyM0xY-wMvHvH8cdGuu4la2seGeHhonX9a2qr43QbShO1CcsZ-w8VhpsSmdxkTh1H3xlHh08aPFMraD9QJlAlEO3pVL8VzO4UUQei-6c1zW3-g21TWIpi4M2jVPu5gsLPRKhmGnOLhc/s1600/20190629_121659.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfpyM0xY-wMvHvH8cdGuu4la2seGeHhonX9a2qr43QbShO1CcsZ-w8VhpsSmdxkTh1H3xlHh08aPFMraD9QJlAlEO3pVL8VzO4UUQei-6c1zW3-g21TWIpi4M2jVPu5gsLPRKhmGnOLhc/s320/20190629_121659.jpg" width="240" height="320" data-original-width="1200" data-original-height="1600"></a>
</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLPMoLrm6YD2HXK4CXe1sM7zj0K4cjQRnVk1m6_PIcpEA19IXQKAepX317pxZmwqNyEYidhea9VlX21kPJg0CG38rSd7LyKvGam5aD5ATSLp2CJMbA35LNtOC65PlZVsOB4KMUOcm_5bs/s1600/20190629_124755.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLPMoLrm6YD2HXK4CXe1sM7zj0K4cjQRnVk1m6_PIcpEA19IXQKAepX317pxZmwqNyEYidhea9VlX21kPJg0CG38rSd7LyKvGam5aD5ATSLp2CJMbA35LNtOC65PlZVsOB4KMUOcm_5bs/s320/20190629_124755.jpg" width="240" height="320" data-original-width="1200" data-original-height="1600"></a>
</p><p>At this stage, which the temperature over 100 in the hottest June heatwave recorded in France, heat exhaustion wasn't far away. Most of the water was going over our heads every few minutes, and whenever we weren't cycling into the hair dryer breeze, the heat as we waited at lights was searing. At one point we came around a corner to the rare sight of an open bar, and piled in to fill up the water, have ice cream (some cheeky stella too), and shelter for a few minutes before pressing on. It's a real shame that the heat was so brutal, as it was a really lovely route along the banks of the Oise, past some beautiful grand houses, and we really weren't in much of a mood to appreciate it! You can't control the weather though, so we just got our heads down and pushed on. There were a couple more energy sapping hills before we arrived at the hotel at around 4pm.</p><p>Phew, what a scorcher it had been. And better yet, this hotel didn't have any aircon at all - though they did have fans which we could use. I waited with Jack in the relative cool of reception for his folks & Kev to arrive, and the others stood in cold showers and lay under wet towels and did whatever was needed to recover - but blimey it was hot!</p><p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUNKD-IdgE7j0UMJ_bq5RMhzLipROEG7HboOk_J6ztCSzDLeuHRxY1XC3WrhhCYGjQGTZhQtn2pw2IMgYoXQAAVuLRtFAXpE5kcDmmgEnuGZSXUROXSdKfkV0s37fNxqHi03qY0_sDW34/s1600/heatwave.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUNKD-IdgE7j0UMJ_bq5RMhzLipROEG7HboOk_J6ztCSzDLeuHRxY1XC3WrhhCYGjQGTZhQtn2pw2IMgYoXQAAVuLRtFAXpE5kcDmmgEnuGZSXUROXSdKfkV0s37fNxqHi03qY0_sDW34/s320/heatwave.jpg" width="180" height="320" data-original-width="540" data-original-height="960"></a>
</p><p>
Later, after refreshments in the Carrefour, we all went to the Bureau, an English themed pub & restaurant, whose main attraction was the cocktail menu including "le brexit" - naturally we all had one, and surprisingly they weren't that bad! They certainly weren't as bad as all the hilarious puns anyway. We presented Jack with a t-shirt for his supreme riding for the previous 3 days, and after a meal and some more drinks, we headed back to the hotel & to bed, for another hot & sticky restless night.</p><p>
</p><p dir="ltr"><b>Day 4 - 46km 353m (29 miles, 1158 feet) </b></p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_2nH9q0pv573OfFgsVdPQ3y4istmlFSH16oromY4pN8DAkIe5vlp4jx1Y7_Dse1tRlobHmF-9uBjzUcFIM5KdUCwCZb7OxTS18nAAYVuFSIOr_TG1Bnx_SKB21-TwX6ewQt8m0CItjpc/s1600/20190630_075350.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_2nH9q0pv573OfFgsVdPQ3y4istmlFSH16oromY4pN8DAkIe5vlp4jx1Y7_Dse1tRlobHmF-9uBjzUcFIM5KdUCwCZb7OxTS18nAAYVuFSIOr_TG1Bnx_SKB21-TwX6ewQt8m0CItjpc/s320/20190630_075350.jpg" width="320" height="240" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1200"></a><div>It was another early start, but the heat had definitely broken and there were even some clouds about. Nevertheless, we had to push on as we wanted time in Versailles for breakfast & enough time at the Trocadero to enjoy it before we had to go.</div><div><br></div><div>The route was through the woods to Versailles first, with another long drag to get us warmed up. Last year I'd had a broken spoke & Vince had fallen off on tjis stretch, but we all survived unscathed and headed for Versailles.<br><p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWQ8ljH4YJdHVGdpFHJspOavtZ-QCv-8RIkKqUd8kRqKXpfNQVuH7C6L1dO2TzdXlSWNRi25qYOmcbBl20P4pqxyERKdB1_UciIqp5nJrZbVBGRZdShLlFNTf0_LLWDi8OhRpR4QlGggA/s1600/20190630_075353.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWQ8ljH4YJdHVGdpFHJspOavtZ-QCv-8RIkKqUd8kRqKXpfNQVuH7C6L1dO2TzdXlSWNRi25qYOmcbBl20P4pqxyERKdB1_UciIqp5nJrZbVBGRZdShLlFNTf0_LLWDi8OhRpR4QlGggA/s320/20190630_075353.jpg" width="240" height="320" data-original-width="1200" data-original-height="1600"></a></p><p>After a quick photocall outside the palace, we stopped for a quick breakfast of cake & then carried on through the town, up the hill on the other side, then through the fantastic St Cloud park until suddenly there it was. Paris. The Eiffel Tower. The end of the road. Ian managed to fall off his bike on the excitement to get going & Svenia had a close encounter with a bus in Versailles, but we were otherwise unscathed.</p><p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6EWIr0uPZEZMFCk0FSSMRiXVKaHtbkdosBzzlYcjonwimcnpfqr9ZlKyVXsrKV6zsayXxp9Z2-8g8DD5vk_HrcughEYirpcH3OGxP8iQUDyaKxvHU6wqAzte0tCjd_JX2DPLO6Wv2eoA/s1600/20190630_100854.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6EWIr0uPZEZMFCk0FSSMRiXVKaHtbkdosBzzlYcjonwimcnpfqr9ZlKyVXsrKV6zsayXxp9Z2-8g8DD5vk_HrcughEYirpcH3OGxP8iQUDyaKxvHU6wqAzte0tCjd_JX2DPLO6Wv2eoA/s320/20190630_100854.jpg" width="320" height="240" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1200"></a></p><p>It's a really special feeling to arrive in another European capital having got there under your own steam, carrying your own stuff, with no support vehicle to help, and throuh the hottest June temperatures France has ever seen. But we had made it, and the last few celebratory miles through the streets & along the river were infused with excitement. All thoughts of tiredness were gone.</p><p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPGd-3QuT48A1bBF5rDjk8MGQpbA_BRSvc2YnM0aS__lISOW-rPBOcMUC-M_sto8DLEJLBJEz4LoB4r0UoX-eoGqGc-YdEhNLiorZI7rlGfs5NN8Sfc_tmhWITrhzGpJ33YR52U8YcDNw/s1600/20190630_103846.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPGd-3QuT48A1bBF5rDjk8MGQpbA_BRSvc2YnM0aS__lISOW-rPBOcMUC-M_sto8DLEJLBJEz4LoB4r0UoX-eoGqGc-YdEhNLiorZI7rlGfs5NN8Sfc_tmhWITrhzGpJ33YR52U8YcDNw/s320/20190630_103846.jpg" width="240" height="320" data-original-width="1200" data-original-height="1600"></a></p><p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk9uZYLNcJPEqDrzpxIjCxCa8zTWXJdOLsYsV2I-INP-gvPrTZgheAmaohXb-qF762NXNV5-4hQ1JNAl2gYVx468c6JV3KkPRH-91hn3RBw-IWR5-RnJq5W9yoUJNhPnxDYI0frM4YOOo/s1600/20190630_104314.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk9uZYLNcJPEqDrzpxIjCxCa8zTWXJdOLsYsV2I-INP-gvPrTZgheAmaohXb-qF762NXNV5-4hQ1JNAl2gYVx468c6JV3KkPRH-91hn3RBw-IWR5-RnJq5W9yoUJNhPnxDYI0frM4YOOo/s320/20190630_104314.jpg" width="320" height="240" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1200"></a></p><p>It was lovely to arrive together, and to see Steve's wife Sam & their 2 girls waiting for us. Cue balloons, hugs, handshakes, some warm fizz & the usual photos of the finish. What a thrill. </p><p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMAAyvCVibZfDhKLsmUv3y-YcUVfyd_K0aNrsTy65gu3NACtfrEiIVuIpIT0nC-t30tIDLIehDdOV10my-LbJZj-fiyq0oNBC2IjFjOj8Wv05di7IB6R-i3MoA3hyphenhypheny2rXjsmP5V3sHZU0/s1600/20190630_111817.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMAAyvCVibZfDhKLsmUv3y-YcUVfyd_K0aNrsTy65gu3NACtfrEiIVuIpIT0nC-t30tIDLIehDdOV10my-LbJZj-fiyq0oNBC2IjFjOj8Wv05di7IB6R-i3MoA3hyphenhypheny2rXjsmP5V3sHZU0/s320/20190630_111817.jpg" width="240" height="320" data-original-width="1200" data-original-height="1600"></a></p><p>
</p><p>After spending some time at the Trocadero we had to get going - firstly because we had a train to catch, secondly because we needed to get a picnic before the shops shut, but mainly because the route to the station took us around the Arc de Triomphe a few times & down the Champs d'Elysees! Yes, the Champs d'Elysees. And around the Place de la Concorde, not quite channelling Renshaw leading out Cav but enjoying the memory.</p><p>At this point, and with impeccable timing, Jack had his second hypo of the trip, fortunately next to a supermarket, so we were able to get our lunch & he was able to recover. The power of Android APS looping!</p><p>It was only a mile from the end now, at the Gare du Nord, where we found our way to the baggage dispatch area, got the bikes loaded up, then went to check in & start the picnic. The much anticipated shoelace to open a bottle of wine trick didn't really deliver on its early promise, so it was the old push the cork in job instead.</p><p>Once on the train, Vincent made the mistake of dozing off & paid the price. It also later transpired that his achy wrist caused by a crash on the day before we started was actually fractured, so it was an epic effort from him.</p><p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJrs8uDE4lOYIFPoyk2JdU_dN4ZbMjW3xkpklAAsmrP5DommR0wtpBc0RN8kfD-V5jXDok1StVBtuFWfKDMdeP4kRs5IM4hwPu9nQq_dT5yhfABlBwsJExpXyHUQeG6ZgWy8izmHuWDY0/s1600/vince.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJrs8uDE4lOYIFPoyk2JdU_dN4ZbMjW3xkpklAAsmrP5DommR0wtpBc0RN8kfD-V5jXDok1StVBtuFWfKDMdeP4kRs5IM4hwPu9nQq_dT5yhfABlBwsJExpXyHUQeG6ZgWy8izmHuWDY0/s320/vince.jpg" width="240" height="320" data-original-width="720" data-original-height="960"></a>
</p><p>Once back at St Pancras, we picked up our bikes and said our goodbyes, heading our separate ways after 4 fantastic, brutal but unmissable days. 12 people brought together by our association with type 1 diabetes, and everyone a hero - Kate, who hadn't ridden over 50 miles before & certainly not in the heat, Andrew & Jack, just 16 & so strong throughout, Svenia & Lewis who both only started riding this year, Megan, le Patron Kev with all the organisation, Steve, Vince, Matt, Ian - all of whom made my job of riding at the front following Kev's superb navigation to the Eiffel Tower so much easier.</p><p>
So thanks to all of them, and thanks to all our supporters - we've raised over £11,000 for JDRF now, but please continue to give generously.</p><p>
<a href="http://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/parents2paris2019">www.justgiving.com/fundraising/parents2paris2019</a></p><p>
Merci for reading!</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUTYVgbvNcmO0P3r98v5xGb9rejQKDWVVUISJt_RQT96e3bHjTkwKZnbY5QD8HpdymIyt0hHl9TZZJyaSTlJY4hLjiysWS2zgnNHyaaiqqIdjw7ravYGeMfdPKBL8YhEO1SnrWAzuE6UQ/s1600/FB_IMG_1561920169176.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUTYVgbvNcmO0P3r98v5xGb9rejQKDWVVUISJt_RQT96e3bHjTkwKZnbY5QD8HpdymIyt0hHl9TZZJyaSTlJY4hLjiysWS2zgnNHyaaiqqIdjw7ravYGeMfdPKBL8YhEO1SnrWAzuE6UQ/s320/FB_IMG_1561920169176.jpg" width="320" height="240" data-original-width="1281" data-original-height="960"></a></p><p>
</p></div>Andrew Stroudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15861568581975349926noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2981214366937129650.post-27507365375396816412019-04-09T14:14:00.000-07:002019-04-10T09:53:13.338-07:00Penge goes to Flanders - a view from the back<b>Help! De Ronde...</b><p><p dir="ltr">Flanders is flat. Everyone knows it. Everyone said it was flat when I told them what I was planning to do. And they were almost right. Even the grizzled old chap in one of many Gent chippies told me. "Flanders is flat. Apart from the hills." So what brought me to Gent on the first weekend of April, with a slightly sprained wrist - not ideal for the challenge ahead!
<p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQAP6qV8Yd9gmvwFg5g1lYlXLuqf7NCyc2V5WrHuHb9I5F_WFf-4NqMg8tT5OFpi8VvuLxMOjZ3DZOPY4EMwDw6VlN8XAAb9qVipVFBlZIxFy_kjYPw2ZGBEoFAkzSvOrcZ1z2FxEfaro/s1600/WhatsApp+Image+2019-04-05+at+10.10.02+%25281%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQAP6qV8Yd9gmvwFg5g1lYlXLuqf7NCyc2V5WrHuHb9I5F_WFf-4NqMg8tT5OFpi8VvuLxMOjZ3DZOPY4EMwDw6VlN8XAAb9qVipVFBlZIxFy_kjYPw2ZGBEoFAkzSvOrcZ1z2FxEfaro/s320/WhatsApp+Image+2019-04-05+at+10.10.02+%25281%2529.jpeg" width="180" height="320" data-original-width="900" data-original-height="1600" /></a>
<p>
Last year I signed up to join a trip to De Ronde Van Vlaanderen with Penge Cycle Club, Pride of SE London, with 59 others. The fantastic organiser David said it was open to anyone, so I decided to go. I'm no athlete, I ride for fun & cake, usually pretty slowly, and take the more sedate rides out occasionally. I knew I probably wouldn't be able to train that much or lose that much weight, but I'd give it a go. Because I knew very well that Flanders was *not* flat & that riding the Tour of Flanders sportive, then watching the pros do it the next day, was an absolute bucket list cycling experience. </p>
<p dir="ltr">What is this Tour of Flanders, some of you may be wondering. It's one of the 5 monuments of cycling. Just like tennis isn't all about Wimbledon, neither is cycling all about the Tour de France. There are many kinds of races - the big 3 week grand tours - Italy, France, Spain. Shorter stage races like Paris - Nice. One day classics. And the Monuments - also contested over one day but steeped in tradition & history. Paris-Roubaix - the Hell of the North, Liege-Bastogne-Liege, Milan - San Remo, Lombardia and Flanders. These are the big five. Just as some cyclists specialise in the grand tours, others as climbers or sprinters, a whole breed also exist to put themselves through the unremitting pain & suffering of the classics. They're all incredibly tough, but Flanders is the one. Flanders is the toughest. Because not only does it have cobbles - lots of them,  it also has bergs - hills. And not only does it have bergs, it has cobbled bergs! These aren't nice smooth hills zig-zagging up the side of a mountain at manageable gradients. These are tiny lanes, barely wide enough for a tractor, which go straight up whatever is in front of them! </p>
<p dir="ltr">Cobbles makes it sound quaint, doesn't it? But these cobbles are not nice & smooth & uniform. They are jagged & bumpy & uneven. God help you if they are wet! Did I mention how steep some of these bergs are? Even the pros sometimes end up walking, to hoots of derision from the hundreds of thousands of Flandriens lining the route, especially if they slip or someone falls...once you have unclipped, it's very hard to clip back in & continue. Anyway. Enough build-up.</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnlmsUl4oV3EnbfQElHfwSQoqL2o4MVG8OEKTf-RokiEhVOElDhOMo9mcf1_L2mIkLiBOsZtqye-FRgLWbpPHV4cHM_3QUQkaJn2qboM7A-lkmBEopbVKVz5nB7OAKXLMMGzooTEuuQeU/s1600/WhatsApp+Image+2019-04-05+at+16.56.53.jpeg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnlmsUl4oV3EnbfQElHfwSQoqL2o4MVG8OEKTf-RokiEhVOElDhOMo9mcf1_L2mIkLiBOsZtqye-FRgLWbpPHV4cHM_3QUQkaJn2qboM7A-lkmBEopbVKVz5nB7OAKXLMMGzooTEuuQeU/s320/WhatsApp+Image+2019-04-05+at+16.56.53.jpeg" width="180" height="320" data-original-width="900" data-original-height="1600" /></a><p>
<p dir="ltr">On Friday we all gathered in Sydenham with our gear & boarded the coach to Gent. The journey passed without particular incident & we got to Oudenaarde in the late afternoon to sign on. Due a combination of factors & a soupçon of fatalism, I'd decided a few weeks previously to do the 74km ride. Other distances were available, but I had decided the 74km was better suited to my shite level of fitness & preparation, and also gave me the best shout of getting to the hills without too many crowds & a fighting chance to get up then unimpeded by anything other than my own lack of ability! Oddly, we had to pay for our medal in advance - usually they dish them out as you finish - but I obviously had to get one. </p>
<p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfAzi8SMutIRSQhWrxXM6Gyk4taTE1dUYcvhziz8DBLjHxTUpARgmEIEv-KsiC_w2fUrr6DgApOSBlQ4CWpZVGOnlzDsL1qmdHCVBmhlfNz7MimS5btkkBBjm-1os1rQuE4yF70gdaQM0/s1600/WhatsApp+Image+2019-04-05+at+16.26.25.jpeg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfAzi8SMutIRSQhWrxXM6Gyk4taTE1dUYcvhziz8DBLjHxTUpARgmEIEv-KsiC_w2fUrr6DgApOSBlQ4CWpZVGOnlzDsL1qmdHCVBmhlfNz7MimS5btkkBBjm-1os1rQuE4yF70gdaQM0/s320/WhatsApp+Image+2019-04-05+at+16.26.25.jpeg" width="180" height="320" data-original-width="729" data-original-height="1296" /></a>
<p>
<p dir="ltr">Then it was back to the bus for the short journey to Gent to our hostel. We were all bunking up with others - sorry about the snoring lads - and after a pasta meal together & a potter around the town in search of frites, we retired to bed. </p>
<p dir="ltr">At 5am the alarms all started going off and we dragged ourselves downstairs - to find the door to the reception area where our bikes were being kept was locked! Mild panic swept the hostel until "le patron" David found we could access the room from the other side - panic over! </p>
<p dir="ltr">Strangely & unusually for me I wasn't in a state of anxiety or having the sweats. I'm not sure why. Before the epic fail of the Etape 8 years ago I was crippled with nerves the night before. Maybe it's because I had decided that this was going to be a ride for me. I wasn't going to fundraise off the back of it - that'll be later in the year - I just wanted, for once, to do it for myself, without the extra pressure, just because it was there. I'm so glad I did.</p>
<p dir="ltr">We gathered outside the hotel ready for a Grand Depart of 0545 for Oudenaarde - 20 miles away along the canal. We were supposed to try & ride together, a 60 strong peloton of Penge's finest, and me. This was the plan, and as usual with plans, it disintegrated almost immediately! Several people slipped on the tram tracks and came off. Traffic lights caused a split - as did the ferocious pace at the front! Never mind, it all settled down as we made our way out past the broken glass & drunkards coming home, then we hit the beautifully tranquil canal paths, with the dawn still a while away, and the birds getting into the swing of things. We shot along at a fair old lick, the only other signs of life being an occasional jogger and a couple of barges - one of which had such bright headlights that it was like Close Encounters. (one for the teenagers there!). After about 12 miles we turned off the canal path & took the more direct route along the main road to the outskirts of Oudenaarde & to the unpreposessing industrial estate start.</p>
<p dir="ltr">There were 5 of us who had decided to do the 74km distance - Fran, Loren, Jonathan, James & me - and we'd also decided to try & ride it together if we could. Out on the road a 6th rider was to join Team 74, Jonathan C. We set off together but soon found that many of our fellow riders suffered from a strange malady known as Dickitis. Symptoms included going through spaces which weren't there, on either side of you, shouting at you to move out of their way - as they obviously had more right to that bit of road than you, and not taking turns on the front when riding in groups. The first rule of life ignored - don't be a dick. To be honest though, annoying & dickish as some were, there were plenty of cyclists behaving normally,  plenty of that masochistic black humour you get when you're all suffering the same, and the dicks did not rule the day. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Off we went, initially along the canal then over a bridge & back down the other side. It was good cycling weather - overcast & cool - which maybe didn't show Flanders in all its glory, or maybe it did exactly that! We sped along nice smooth quiet roads, knowing what was to come but enjoying the phoney war while it lasted. We stopped briefly at a feed stop to get some breakfast & had a quick chat with a lunatic doing it on a single speed bike...seriously mad! He had calf muscles the size of actual baby cows though, so who can say...all I know is that I rode past him on the Koppenberg, and he was pushing! </p>
<p dir="ltr">As we rolled along after the food stop it became apparent that the hill which had appeared from nowhere was the Koppenberg, and was approaching rapidly. I took a quick FB live video of the run in, only to be scolded by a watching Winnie, so got back to the task at hand. The Koppenberg is one of the fabled climbs in the Tour of Flanders. It used to be in such terrible condition that the pros complained & it was removed until they fixed it. As it was, we could see it rising sharply away to our left as we approached the right angled turn & got our first teeth rattling taste of the cobbles. You could see the whole thing snaking away through the trees & even from the bottom the steep ramps & walkers were already evident. </p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYze9BzfjqpcO2rqrB0iLwnrsipWmuPoxMY0Uze3irlWNHpy5CxFYBm1p9uKQ4oJjZ5gSfntItvUmisNpQeO0J2HBXMEf9gMhRKAGssq3BSfb4nktEvc5_crBvoDSovmM6sM3QeIxcuh0/s1600/WhatsApp+Image+2019-04-07+at+17.51.18.jpeg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYze9BzfjqpcO2rqrB0iLwnrsipWmuPoxMY0Uze3irlWNHpy5CxFYBm1p9uKQ4oJjZ5gSfntItvUmisNpQeO0J2HBXMEf9gMhRKAGssq3BSfb4nktEvc5_crBvoDSovmM6sM3QeIxcuh0/s320/WhatsApp+Image+2019-04-07+at+17.51.18.jpeg" width="246" height="320" data-original-width="230" data-original-height="299" /></a>
<p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEishHNWUlIpJRZBmZp-iNXo-DF4PHydC6Gz_xH-CkBB6xXgMGE6sW34DpyMZMha01MP7rmsdzCcOo8ZNnoM3Hvl-EfJJ8TGNbsu44Gq8hYPG_do14gWSprkKUhXC6Q-i4PexN8lQAJMjYk/s1600/148631658.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEishHNWUlIpJRZBmZp-iNXo-DF4PHydC6Gz_xH-CkBB6xXgMGE6sW34DpyMZMha01MP7rmsdzCcOo8ZNnoM3Hvl-EfJJ8TGNbsu44Gq8hYPG_do14gWSprkKUhXC6Q-i4PexN8lQAJMjYk/s320/148631658.jpg" width="213" height="320" data-original-width="800" data-original-height="1200" /></a>
<p>
<p dir="ltr">As we were early in the day (later riders had to queue at the bottom before being let on), it was relatively sparse, so up we went. I'm not much of a climber - being a fat knacker isn't conducive to flying up hills - but I can be quite stubborn when I want to be & I was determined to get over this first climb. Even if all others were flops, I wanted the bragging rights of getting over at least one of the big boys! I ground up it in my lowest gear, jumping around on the bumpy cobbles, trying not to think about my slightly sprained bandaged wrist, or the folk cutting past at speed on both sides, or the riders who were walking. I just wanted to grind it out, especially with shouts of encouragement ringing in my ears. Up we went, and it got steeper & steeper. Eventually I had to stop for a breather, at which point the bike started to roll backwards. It was that steep. After a few seconds respite I had another go & somehow managed to get moving & clip back in. More of the same until I needed a second breather & then I pushed on to the top! Jeez I felt sick from the exertion. Like I said, I'm not very fit. However, I wasn't as sick as an English lad leaning up against the portaloos & throwing up his breakfast, but still pretty rough. Took a good few mins & a lovely sweeping downhill to recover! </p>
<p dir="ltr">One down, one of the hardest bergs, with a mere 9 to go. We had a sticker on the crossbar & we were mentally ticking them off as we went. The organisers had also kindly put up signs telling us how far we had to the next one was as we finished each of them! </p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL2ZxA0-3cCFW3HSlrgHYmd0js_ufdxKcmj_fOsOGIkAD5_LxacJdpMxsGwLDOHYffum_CPRiTvH2wrhFkvhDMmC7D6J9yJVPvA7ffuu7c5SGm0rqtlQYCbnDYpHVmBfzK6JMFE4aVJh8/s1600/148582603.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL2ZxA0-3cCFW3HSlrgHYmd0js_ufdxKcmj_fOsOGIkAD5_LxacJdpMxsGwLDOHYffum_CPRiTvH2wrhFkvhDMmC7D6J9yJVPvA7ffuu7c5SGm0rqtlQYCbnDYpHVmBfzK6JMFE4aVJh8/s320/148582603.jpg" width="320" height="213" data-original-width="1200" data-original-height="799" /></a><p>
<p dir="ltr">The next challenge was another go at the cobbles along Mariaborrestraat, then up Steenbeekdries. This just seemed absolutely relentless - flattish through a small hamlet then up the hill & down the other side, cobbled all the way. The relief when we got back to a smooth surface was palpable! How they do it I have no idea - going fast seemed to help but I have no idea how they did that when we were just struggling to control the bike as it bounced around the cobbles, rattling everything! Downhill was worse. Still, all good things must come to an end, and so do cobbles. </p>
<p dir="ltr">After a brief pause to laugh our heads off at the insanity of it all, Team 74 forged onwards. The organisers were sneaking in some definite hilly bits without advertising them, the swine, but the next one on our list was Taaienberg - not too long or too steep but plenty of cobbles to keep us interested, and a bunch of folk at the top cheering us on. This is always very helpful! 3 down, 7 to go. I don't remember the next one, but the one after was Kanarieberg, steep but cobble free - and also the halfway point - happy days! Even happier was that there were food trucks at the top, so we stopped for a bit of lunch. Yes, it was fried. I almost had to quit at this point, such was my devastation that the  bratwurst truck had electrical problems & was unable to provide sausage, so it was a bitte-ballen sandwich instead. I rallied & we pushed on, spirits high & ready for the second half.</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2-vdhBnU79zgCSYS3uvo_QcAN_mai-HgWq6DLEwo28p04lBA79Yv9cKDAUVMNHOjjvEVo89rv9QgD83vr4ODrcC3-OGeC83lme7_T0Fecdng9PQpmWjh-wwrmt-3qvbMF2wBBnSIQf5w/s1600/20190406_102432.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2-vdhBnU79zgCSYS3uvo_QcAN_mai-HgWq6DLEwo28p04lBA79Yv9cKDAUVMNHOjjvEVo89rv9QgD83vr4ODrcC3-OGeC83lme7_T0Fecdng9PQpmWjh-wwrmt-3qvbMF2wBBnSIQf5w/s320/20190406_102432.jpg" width="320" height="240" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1200" /></a>
<p>
<p dir="ltr">This started with a quick water stop in the main square of Ronse, which had been turned into a feed station & massive outdoor disco pumping out what can only be described as oompah techno! We tore ourselves away before Plastic Bertrand came on, and up the next 2 hills towards Karnemelkbeekstraat, which was a long but manageable drag up through the woods. At the top we got talking to a local lad who gave us some insight about what was coming up with our last 2 climbs - short version, nothing good! We also met one of the original club founders, Pete, riding with VCL.</p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRh339pGCT6m9VXXpJItIXoVfOi52A11yu6PghG5nxWAKO4lq91D4C0bbNXgelzjx0VmpT3G9a6_V8GADScY_IpyHa9C863R5EOTHC7m5WVhYjWm6PVu2cg22haSeqOVWzJy-d9_qqdf4/s1600/148535052.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRh339pGCT6m9VXXpJItIXoVfOi52A11yu6PghG5nxWAKO4lq91D4C0bbNXgelzjx0VmpT3G9a6_V8GADScY_IpyHa9C863R5EOTHC7m5WVhYjWm6PVu2cg22haSeqOVWzJy-d9_qqdf4/s320/148535052.jpg" width="320" height="212" data-original-width="1200" data-original-height="796" /></a>
<p>
<p dir="ltr">Next was Kwaremont - the longest stretch of cobbles, going on for what felt like an extremely long 2km, uphill all the way. We came back here the next day to watch the pro riders bouncing & bumping over the very same cobbles at significantly greater speeds! There were lots of people cheering us on in the middle, some even mendaciously telling us the worst was over - spoiler alert, it wasn't! Our old friend Jamie from the Koppenberg went past us at the top, still battling on. We had one left. The Paterberg... </p>
<p dir="ltr">As we came along the top of the ridge, around the corner & down the hill, we could see a line of caravans & flags across the valley, at a curious angle...marking the final berg of the day, and I think the steepest one. At least the ramp in the middle felt steeper than anything else, and judging by the amount of people walking, they felt the same way! I decided my best chance here was not to look at it, and fix my gaze resolutely on the front wheel & the cobbles immediately in front of them. And this was a good plan, but like all plans, as we have established, it fell apart once we hit the steepest part of the climb. I got slower & slower & eventually ground to a halt. There were too many bikes to get going again, so it was the walk of shame for me, exchanging witty bantz with the locals about the flatness of Flanders. Still, as Meat Loaf once said, 9.5 out of 10 ain't bad.</p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCUdBjt4sGNvsV9ZEWKHju1siFs4yX2yFv8XH_Md_jJbglDQW14rZxWDJTcG_Xe9EbZrlQvE3OCZ2dB2oQ_E6YXITnWiTsnff4ScCBJgz7YqpdfbEo69EBdUg0BsYXu32JcdeZY88GGyw/s1600/148452848.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCUdBjt4sGNvsV9ZEWKHju1siFs4yX2yFv8XH_Md_jJbglDQW14rZxWDJTcG_Xe9EbZrlQvE3OCZ2dB2oQ_E6YXITnWiTsnff4ScCBJgz7YqpdfbEo69EBdUg0BsYXu32JcdeZY88GGyw/s320/148452848.jpg" width="320" height="213" data-original-width="1200" data-original-height="798" /></a><p>
<p dir="ltr">After a brief pause for the all important FB live for our adoring fan(s?), it was downhill all the way to the finish. Apart from the final 6km along the flat into the wind, which got a bit dull. I was feeling chivalrous so decided to take the wind for a few km to give some of my Team 74 pals a rest. When I stopped at the 1km to go mark to regroup, a French chap nipped past with a cheerful merci! </p>
<p dir="ltr">With all 6 of us still together, James wanted to ride over the finish in formation...but some mug ruined it by accepting the lead out then sprinting past for the win! I slowed down to try & reform the group but it was too little too late! Sorry team. I won't do it next year! But finish together we did and what a great feeling that was. To survive one of the toughest sportives out there, and to do so in the company of your friends & club mates. Everyone had dark moments, particularly on the cobbles, but we stuck together & got each other through. Penge Cycle Club, truly the Pride of SE London. </p><p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhahyObcaKbKfLPEJtKu8Ak3cOnqbNZ333msff4xeARX4dOCV8nsToGhRBkwlNQRkHwOw19kaLojQQGXLbU0De6KWT5UvYNt70FdTrRW9jXDnyFUTcn-zKZioU0rBUoCk9OgM8JHcUP0CY/s1600/FB_IMG_1554824375116.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhahyObcaKbKfLPEJtKu8Ak3cOnqbNZ333msff4xeARX4dOCV8nsToGhRBkwlNQRkHwOw19kaLojQQGXLbU0De6KWT5UvYNt70FdTrRW9jXDnyFUTcn-zKZioU0rBUoCk9OgM8JHcUP0CY/s320/FB_IMG_1554824375116.jpg" width="320" height="240" data-original-width="1280" data-original-height="960" /></a><p>
<p dir="ltr">We found a space in front of a cafe & got  food & beer & waited for others to come in. This club has some fantastic athletes & there were some stunning performances from them - Kate was the second fastest woman, Tash was 12th. Phenomenal. After a while we decided to head back to Gent, and the final great plan of the day - to ride back - duly went awry as the wind picked up & we got tired. But it turned the day into an 87 miler, so every cloud! The rest of the weekend was fantastic too - watching the pro men & women go past us on the Kwaremont was thrilling, enjoyed with beer, currywurst & great company, then the ride into Bruges on Monday morning, when the amazing Tash saw that I was struggling with the pace & eased up a bit & sat in front taking the wind & chatting away. Her price? A beer. Absolute class. </p>
<p dir="ltr">I loved it all. Getting to know people you nod hello to outside the shop. Riding with stronger riders & learning from them. People being generous with their time & patient with Wahoo questions. The support for everyone from everyone else. This club has built a really great ethos, and I feel privileged to be a part of it. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Thanks to everyone - but especially David for organising a wonderful trip, Emily & James M for the encouragement, all the riders in Team 74 on Saturday & Team Tash into Bruges. And Gareth for the soundtrack & the title of this write up!</p><P><iframe src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/user/garethw/playlist/1u7Y8IHvXdZLs4pRTktGVN" width="300" height="380" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe><p>
<p dir="ltr">Roll on next year! </p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0D0Wxd7Ks8r9f_ja62KH9LG3E43hx9BocdvKN98_n7ptm7lpCEPOsqk7mbhq-Ge2cvvCK9yesqrOItsR3WN2kkEeaL-b8t7ktjvCG4Uala08rodzPCkIkYoR8SUJM8-5uRTNyTLtGAyM/s1600/20190406_133827.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0D0Wxd7Ks8r9f_ja62KH9LG3E43hx9BocdvKN98_n7ptm7lpCEPOsqk7mbhq-Ge2cvvCK9yesqrOItsR3WN2kkEeaL-b8t7ktjvCG4Uala08rodzPCkIkYoR8SUJM8-5uRTNyTLtGAyM/s320/20190406_133827.jpg" width="240" height="320" data-original-width="1200" data-original-height="1600" /></a>Andrew Stroudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15861568581975349926noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2981214366937129650.post-55544119474587064312017-05-01T15:31:00.004-07:002017-09-19T10:00:32.837-07:00A & B to BrightonEarlier this year I received an email from Adam from the Bigfoot Cycling Club. Every year they have an annual club trip to the seaside, and every year they open their doors to members of other clubs and members of none. Adam organises a series of training rides of increasing distances to help people who want to give it a go get ready. Knowing that he also ran these for families, I asked my 11 year old daughter if she would like to do it, and she foolishly said yes!<p>
Typically, we had managed to organise other things for the weekends of the first 2 rides, so our first official ride was the 25 miler - at that time about 8 miles further than Bia had ridden previously. We had done a bit of training, cycling to Greenwich & back, along a very flat route & detouring to find any hills we could. Here's us on our first ride to the Cutty Sark.<p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXuYPfQWDrF7_O_c50Rz85S1U2RDg06c1WRBKvBjVYz4TPBbEilVo1FZyH-5qOuryhFQtvzzck1UwQFSJfpuWEZT5Rs71cd9TEiqdnvbjKoqT0QL_U68LlsbA3xdct0gvI4AAsls-GrWo/s1600/sark.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXuYPfQWDrF7_O_c50Rz85S1U2RDg06c1WRBKvBjVYz4TPBbEilVo1FZyH-5qOuryhFQtvzzck1UwQFSJfpuWEZT5Rs71cd9TEiqdnvbjKoqT0QL_U68LlsbA3xdct0gvI4AAsls-GrWo/s320/sark.jpg" width="320" height="180" /></a>
<p>
Cycling is not really Bia's thing, she only had a mountain bike which she had won in a competition from JDRF & the type 1 diabetic cycling team, Novo Norodisk. She was going to Go Ride with Penge CC on a Saturday morning, and the coaches there suggested I put some smooth tyres on it to make her life a bit easier! So when she informed me after the 25 miles we did to Eynsford with Adam and the family group that she didn't really like hills, I wasn't sure how to tell her that the subsequent rides weren't going to be any easier! Especially as the next one included locally renowned beast, Hogstrough Hill, the Hog - or as it became known as she was grinding up it shouting at me "This is Hogrid"! Still, it was a beautiful day, she had made friends with another girl, and they battled on together. <p>
<iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fandrew.stroud.501%2Fvideos%2F10155157405704747%2F&show_text=0&width=400" width="400" height="400" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe><p>
It took a long time though, we had several long breaks in the warm sunshine - no one really wanted the ride to finish! Nevertheless, I was starting to wonder how long it would take to do almost twice the distance if the 30 miler was the best part of 7 hours! I needn't have worried, as Adam had it all in hand...<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEYcInACEH9akBLDisVgXkiljrr9C6WmN2MZ0vQKRskqXt-ht1YZ07D_tHPmk2a6YDK02toHWoduLaRjfNbIBHw8jnMXWWNMmAzME_DZ9Vzli94O-VCCV9k8jMhVJTOuEm3uc_ykDs6_8/s1600/jdrf+shirts.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEYcInACEH9akBLDisVgXkiljrr9C6WmN2MZ0vQKRskqXt-ht1YZ07D_tHPmk2a6YDK02toHWoduLaRjfNbIBHw8jnMXWWNMmAzME_DZ9Vzli94O-VCCV9k8jMhVJTOuEm3uc_ykDs6_8/s320/jdrf+shirts.jpg" width="320" height="240" /></a><p>
We didn't get much riding in over Easter in Northumberland, as we had a failed cannula on our one day out which left her with very high blood sugar levels, feeling crap, and unable to continue - so we were rescued from Blyth after 10km. <p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBTUFm0BjKVzvv_EdhZQ4yPHtMSKoujoUjJwXYqlNwNRLNnTlZpwCyNlj4gNsknRmNOe3JYVyo5XlNUV8brpmTn76T6DXiMae7TXc0wRyyutW9apHKlPdcJKtDS9p89n0P08EU2Z8BdFg/s1600/beach+hits.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBTUFm0BjKVzvv_EdhZQ4yPHtMSKoujoUjJwXYqlNwNRLNnTlZpwCyNlj4gNsknRmNOe3JYVyo5XlNUV8brpmTn76T6DXiMae7TXc0wRyyutW9apHKlPdcJKtDS9p89n0P08EU2Z8BdFg/s320/beach+hits.jpg" width="320" height="240" /></a>
<p>
The week of the 35 mile training ride, Bia was running a high temperature, so we decided that discretion being the better part of valour, we would save ourselves for the big one the following week. All week I was worried that she'd be unwell again, or that her diabetes wouldn't behave. She's been running high quite a lot recently, so I was keen to avoid this. I was also aware that 10 hours of exercise could well be problematic, so I sought the advice of some experts on Twitter & in real life - the consensus was to cut the background insulin by half for the duration, eat jelly babies regularly, and give a smaller proportion of insulin for any food. So I was delighted when she woke up on a solid 10.5 in the morning - this boded well!<p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzaHbl5r-uCFbcgpGn-xhyphenhyphenkRYpeEwikZUdAMtvF6u4yaw3dhZ_h_ZPtt1JYK0lqVaOLofhe6FQy9ls1wj5-QRoQfYBEvpiXO68A_tE_BhgJ3lW8QwPdj6vO7CmnZYLreWcBEHSnMWaE7w/s1600/breakfast.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzaHbl5r-uCFbcgpGn-xhyphenhyphenkRYpeEwikZUdAMtvF6u4yaw3dhZ_h_ZPtt1JYK0lqVaOLofhe6FQy9ls1wj5-QRoQfYBEvpiXO68A_tE_BhgJ3lW8QwPdj6vO7CmnZYLreWcBEHSnMWaE7w/s320/breakfast.jpg" width="238" height="320" /></a><p>
After forcing down some porridge, Gaby & H drove us to Hayes for the start of the ride. Not being proud, I had fitted a basket to the front of my hybrid for the "spotty bag", which holds all of Bia's diabetes stuff, and also the jelly baby supply. On the back I had more food as well as the rain jackets - we were going to be out all day.<p>We got off to an easy start, out through Keston then up to Layhams and along past the White Bear towards Warlingham. The bluebells were out, and it was a lovely morning. There were 14 of us in our group initially, including a seven year old who was going to cycle to the first stop, 20 miles in.<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbBu60pfqN0gxSWkZC_HK6oAfhmunqmSiiOpvZ5CPXCxj7gw3GBxYEj3upwf_HLdzOPOWfhzY3nObd9wr5w4ipen4TbFMM1hiXdbXybaneEAz7lub6aQmxjbH2jv95v4SFQw_hStNKow0/s1600/woldingham.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbBu60pfqN0gxSWkZC_HK6oAfhmunqmSiiOpvZ5CPXCxj7gw3GBxYEj3upwf_HLdzOPOWfhzY3nObd9wr5w4ipen4TbFMM1hiXdbXybaneEAz7lub6aQmxjbH2jv95v4SFQw_hStNKow0/s320/woldingham.jpg" width="238" height="320" /></a><p>
My friends Henry & Chris & their boys dropped by at the first stop to cheer us on, which was lovely. The interest and support we have had throughout the training process, and then on the ride itself has been phenomenal. I'm not as knackered as I look in this picture, though I may be as fat ;-)<p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlG1PlAHlXFp3Ns0vlMIwyejgPn988CxVGZm5uIVPg6rkGGo5SWmOYsj3nKu7jW-fCoxI0dzSrAFs1OlhlRHli3nk2ypehCVni0eiwjYeF6a-Jb-eXfU8_AzAh-cD-dyMQJyymZcr0sPE/s1600/pub.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlG1PlAHlXFp3Ns0vlMIwyejgPn988CxVGZm5uIVPg6rkGGo5SWmOYsj3nKu7jW-fCoxI0dzSrAFs1OlhlRHli3nk2ypehCVni0eiwjYeF6a-Jb-eXfU8_AzAh-cD-dyMQJyymZcr0sPE/s320/pub.jpg" width="240" height="320" /></a><p>
After a half hour stop for coffee we carried on, the main challenge of the next third of the ride being Turner's Hill, up to Worth. It's a long drag, though not hugely steep, and by this time (it was midday), Bia was starting to feel the affects of rapidly dropping blood sugar. This made her feel pretty rough, so we stopped on a grass verge, did a test, reduced the background insulin even more, had some more jelly babies (though by now she was getting a bit fed up with them), and a bit of a sit down. After a few minutes, she felt well enough to carry on. <p>The rest of the group were waiting at the top and gave us a lovely welcome. This was a feature throughout the day, everyone supporting everyone else, encouraging each other and it makes a difference when those little legs are tired. After 15 minutes or so resting and enjoying the views back the way we had come, we set off with more beautiful views all around and nothing nasty in the hill department towards the second stop at Staplefield, where there were chips waiting for us, as well as Gaby, H & Giulia; and a momentary change in atmospheric conditions!<p>Before the ride, I had shared my story & plan with Alicia at the Queen of the Mountains cycling clothing brand for women. She found it very inspirational and very generously sent Bia a jersey & some arm warmers. B swapped both jerseys throughout the training & on the ride itself - here she is at Staplefield, 2/3 of the way to Brighton & still smiling. Rather appropriately she also had it on as she got over Devil's Dyke, as you can see below.<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisfhk-FZewoybRw7U4oSUi_vEBB55wxqqVeVQ3JatbbvsndP0mUabKDeEIzaI3f_R6qwtYww9mN8dXx72FXQoH7QjL8YSG4zTauacrRzOYf6Ih2ms3bb6G0KDSCxZH9NDZgsrSxOXRciE/s1600/qotm.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisfhk-FZewoybRw7U4oSUi_vEBB55wxqqVeVQ3JatbbvsndP0mUabKDeEIzaI3f_R6qwtYww9mN8dXx72FXQoH7QjL8YSG4zTauacrRzOYf6Ih2ms3bb6G0KDSCxZH9NDZgsrSxOXRciE/s320/qotm.jpg" width="238" height="320" /></a><p>It was now starting to rain, which we had been expecting, but were hoping wouldn't happen, so out came the raincoats and on we went. Bia was now well past the furthest she had ever gone before, and her legs were starting to go. All the hills were troubling her, but no matter how steep it was, she was determined to finish each hill on her bike - even if she had to walk up part of it. As the rain got heavier, the final challenge grew closer - Devil's Dyke. As a surprise, my brother David came down to support us with his family, to the great delight of Bia, and he also brought his mountain bike along so that we could ride some of the way together. Without him there to help encourage Bia, and to give her a guiding hand up the worst parts of Devil's Dyke, I think she would have walked a lot more, but as it was she rode nearly all of it! Gaby & the support team arrived just as we reached the top, so were there to see her conquer the biggest hill of the course.<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVbdOt4NZuBJzPXABfNQlNIqVvSPXL8KszHttszsbeX-FoSAGZ_P6WAnjwypGn5w2RK1SJrfCvujQ_5WKKQys4DuPs7PVyUsaJ1htg4N2e3W2wdxcYdukiE42hnQvg9xV2WWRZ0ZFZd3Q/s1600/devil+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVbdOt4NZuBJzPXABfNQlNIqVvSPXL8KszHttszsbeX-FoSAGZ_P6WAnjwypGn5w2RK1SJrfCvujQ_5WKKQys4DuPs7PVyUsaJ1htg4N2e3W2wdxcYdukiE42hnQvg9xV2WWRZ0ZFZd3Q/s320/devil+2.jpg" width="238" height="320" /></a><p>The top of Devil's Dyke is the symbolic end really, it's all downhill after this, there are no more hills, so the sense of achievement for all the kids, and the adults, was immense. And Bia had done all of this while her blood sugar was fluctuating, and her legs had gone. Whenever I offered her the chance to bail, she was most indignant - she was going to finish, no matter what, so I couldn't have been more thrilled for her to get the top of the final hill. I don't think she could quite believe what she was doing for much of the day, but she was an absolute trooper, not a whisper of complaint - she just got on with it, walked when she felt she had to - after asking if it would be ok to do so first and apologising!!<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuNpR1FwFeNSAisCuEtP-2HETl3FvFnzZ_qR3sIUDgZbDYc9ymIZxjsyoJdfWlppjWJ19J7NU-0CT94d_LxuCx8yufnbVDh8ku3Gc_dxZQ3_C1nKKJj0UwOiNsfv9c43rWqIbpCmw3Uz4/s1600/devil.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuNpR1FwFeNSAisCuEtP-2HETl3FvFnzZ_qR3sIUDgZbDYc9ymIZxjsyoJdfWlppjWJ19J7NU-0CT94d_LxuCx8yufnbVDh8ku3Gc_dxZQ3_C1nKKJj0UwOiNsfv9c43rWqIbpCmw3Uz4/s320/devil.jpg" width="217" height="320" /></a><p>At this point my phone battery, and the spare battery, finally died, so I couldn't update people on where we were until after we had finished! However, we knew where we were, and that was a 6 mile, 40 minute ride downhill to the seafront. We enjoyed this part, but by this stage Bia was looking more tired than I have ever seen her, and was absolutely exhausted. She could get herself down the hill, but with nothing in her legs just couldn't catch up with the others in front! It didn't matter because we all regrouped at the lights and on the seafront and finished together!<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCvGGBU6fYWD8WFERk13Wn1S96nruUMKrmD_kOqWrqNSamHdJyjSYcb1-cGyiIER3si7_Ga6korrWSn50rqiC4-R_JANvgCIXmYsYd8BAsxgNlVPEkeo-e0J53nU8FyGEm_V1kY-GayZQ/s1600/beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCvGGBU6fYWD8WFERk13Wn1S96nruUMKrmD_kOqWrqNSamHdJyjSYcb1-cGyiIER3si7_Ga6korrWSn50rqiC4-R_JANvgCIXmYsYd8BAsxgNlVPEkeo-e0J53nU8FyGEm_V1kY-GayZQ/s320/beach.jpg" width="320" height="244" /></a><p>Hugs, high fives, handshakes & photos all round, and then we said our goodbyes and went our separate ways. It was cold, windy & wet down on the beach, typical bracing bank holiday weekend weather, not very conducive to hanging around, and certainly not for the ice-cream I had been looking forward to! One of my local friends had come down with her family to cheer us in, and also had a JDRF banner, which was then employed in a couple of photos, before we loaded up the cars and went for fish & chips. Never was a meal more deserved!<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPyB9MBN_oBbV4txmPSS2CR2hQeqOcrVLMfGCMBbu1F0pvMmCWMnaXiUVbDZQzNzJxg1Af1c3P8k01IzpF9_QELUKby2KeCoFDSV3tkP2F4qii_RBF3IZi7Pic-0o1B8smqDpvkxx7Mic/s1600/chips.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPyB9MBN_oBbV4txmPSS2CR2hQeqOcrVLMfGCMBbu1F0pvMmCWMnaXiUVbDZQzNzJxg1Af1c3P8k01IzpF9_QELUKby2KeCoFDSV3tkP2F4qii_RBF3IZi7Pic-0o1B8smqDpvkxx7Mic/s320/chips.jpg" width="240" height="320" /></a><p>What a day! Bia had made it. She had battled her fluctuating blood sugar, and the hills, and the lack of power in her legs, but she had prevailed. She had ridden 54 miles from Hayes to Brighton. When I asked her the worst thing about the ride, she said it was going up Devil's Dyke. The best thing about the ride? Getting to the top! I don't have the words to say how proud we are of her. There were other kids riding too, some younger,
but all had more experience. She had ridden 2 official training rides, 2 rides to Greenwich and .... er....that was it!<p> When she agreed to do it, we thought it would be a good way to mark the end of primary school, and so we thought we would set up a <a href="http://www.justgiving.com/aandb2brighton">sponsorship page</a>, starting with a target of £250, and see what happened. Well, to our absolute delight & amazement, over £14000 raised for JDRF is what happened - an absolutely surreal amount of money for an 11 year old to raise, but I think many people took inspiration from this, including some newly diagnosed families, showing that that this juggernaut which has crashed unwelcome into their lives can be used as a force for good, and does not mean that everything has to change. Six years into this journey, being able to give people whose lives have been turned upside down by this diagnosis some hope makes any achy legs more than worthwhile!<p>So, to the stats! Her diabetes had even generally behaved itself, apart from a wobble about 4 hours in. I was happy for her to be slightly higher than we'd usually like for the day, to cover every eventuality, and it worked out ok. I had the libre scanner to keep an eye on the trends, and that wobbled about a bit, rather like the profile of the ride, but also meant we didn't have to do too many finger prick tests! The medical numbers?<p>
<ul>
<li>Reduction of background insulin to 60%, then 30% for the duration of the ride and a few hours afterwards to - this to prevent any nighttime lows once the exercise was finished.
<li>Starting BG of 10.5
<li>12.9 at 0930
<li>9.0 at 1140 and then 7.4 at 1300, when she started to feel quite rough – I suspect because, although she was eating, her blood sugar was dropping quickly. Some jelly babies and a sandwich perked her up (as well as a rest) and she went back up to 12 at 1415
<li>14.5 at the finish at 1800 </ul>
<p>The other numbers<p>
<ul>
<li>54 miles ridden
<li>9 hours in the saddle - as many breaks as were needed, but nothing longer than 40 minutes. Adam really wanted his fish & chips this year!
<li>1 adult group overtaken on the road (to huge cheers!)
<li>1.5 packets of jelly babies (H had the other half!)
<li>An inestimable amount of parental pride and love for this incredible girl.
<li>A final and completely mind-blowing total of £14,030 raised for JDRF
</ul>
<p>Massive thanks to:<p><ul><li>Gaby for trusting me to take our daughter on this challenge, on public but largely quiet roads despite her concerns about traffic
<li>All at Bigfoot who organise this ride every year and invite others to join them, in particular Adam, the stalwart organiser and leader of the younger family ride, a man with the patience of a saint.
<li>Penge Go Ride for giving Bia the confidence that she could do this, and giving her the skills to do it safely
<li>The family & friends who came out to support us
<li>Every one who donated money, sent messages, liked Facebook statuses, tweeted, & otherwise got involved
<li>The hero of the hour, my amazing daughter, for agreeing to embark on this madcap plan and never ever giving up. I am so so proud of her.
</ul>
Thanks for reading!Andrew Stroudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15861568581975349926noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2981214366937129650.post-32227994883469883202016-06-10T16:57:00.000-07:002016-06-10T18:01:17.125-07:00Nightrider 2016<p dir="ltr">I had been looking forward to Nightrider this year for some time. I have done it twice before, fundraising for JDRF both times but riding on my own the first time and with my friend Mike last year. This time would be different.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Kev, one of the Dads in a facebook support group for parents of children with Type 1 Diabetes, and a keen cyclist, had suggested to the Dads group that we should get a team together to ride as the Diabetes Dads. There was a lot of interest, from people like me who do plenty of cycling, albeit at a leisurely pace, to those like Vincent & Jason who didn't even have bikes when they agreed to do it. In the end, our team was 25 - mainly dads but also some friends who also wanted to show their support for the daily & relentless struggle by helping us raise awareness and funds for JDRF.</p>
<p dir="ltr">We met up around 7pm on Saturday and most of the group headed off to the Lahore Kebab House in Whitechapel for a pre-ride curry in one of London's oldest and largest Punjabi restaurants. Many of us were meeting people we had known on facebook for a long time for the first time in real life, and it was a really nice occasion.</p><p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZBGZjzgaqOlpAoUrmzge4DCs8stPxa2SIdSSJK4emuF2zDZtGV5BXGX5XOnTNzhy7zLIXQ6obj1edC8uXIA9uuH3kmtOFxf0pD5XBt5b-QfDhxXYPhS65mQqGMJev8Kr1EohQlOOS-Pc/s1600/FB_IMG_1465071225227.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZBGZjzgaqOlpAoUrmzge4DCs8stPxa2SIdSSJK4emuF2zDZtGV5BXGX5XOnTNzhy7zLIXQ6obj1edC8uXIA9uuH3kmtOFxf0pD5XBt5b-QfDhxXYPhS65mQqGMJev8Kr1EohQlOOS-Pc/s640/FB_IMG_1465071225227.jpg"> </a> </div><p>
<p dir="ltr">Here's a pic of me enjoying the lamb chops. Protein. Rice & naan also have carbs, so we were nutritionally on solid ground...</p><p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM9QblmDxojAgScTRJcEOH4QsBQ7V68hkfK2FPFdHfF7BlPSGRmjWStE5EGoGo6CScEXIxFbtNkENKl6hu8hVo2n9AfXh1GI0zOdydQDrYK39GXKV8jtRaPipKfRTu2Oi0CI_8xKByxKY/s1600/FB_IMG_1465598975158.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM9QblmDxojAgScTRJcEOH4QsBQ7V68hkfK2FPFdHfF7BlPSGRmjWStE5EGoGo6CScEXIxFbtNkENKl6hu8hVo2n9AfXh1GI0zOdydQDrYK39GXKV8jtRaPipKfRTu2Oi0CI_8xKByxKY/s640/FB_IMG_1465598975158.jpg"> </a> </div><p>
<p dir="ltr">Following this, and starting to run a bit late but very relaxed about it, we headed back to Stratford International Car Park to change and get the bikes ready. Typically, after weeks of procrastination, my bloody wheel light didn't fit properly so I was rather gutted not to have the same fantastic images Kev had prepared whizzing round my back wheel. Next year. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Once we eventually left the car park to ride up to the start at the Velodrome, it was properly dark, and we cycled through the one bit of the route with no street lights, which I remembered from last year. </p>
<p dir="ltr">For reasons best known to themselves, Nightrider had decided to start everyone from the Velodrome, instead of the split starts of previous years on opposite sides of London - Crystal Palace was great for me...not to mention a mere 10 minute ride from home. What this led to was big queues to sign in at the start, then big queues at most of the rest stops, so I am not sure they would consider it an unqualified success, but it wasn't as big a balls ache as I had thought it would be (apart from the hour it took me to get 2 miles on the Blackwall Tunnel approach).</p>
<p dir="ltr">Luckily for us, Daniel's wife Julie was on hand at the start and worked some magic for us all to skip the queues to get signed in, so it was only about 25 minutes after the scheduled start that we took a team photo and rolled off to the start. There was a bit of faffing while the organisers held us back to try and let the AC/DC fans leaving the concert at the Olympic Stadium clear, then we were off - around the outdoor cycling track, back onto the road and away into the mysteries of North East London...</p><p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixTIfDgUjSvZwdNJsJvIfig3wxlq4_yhtrVIgFMiqz3u8ocUmMS55QL8iWNWW5uKiscEtVIlBJcAM-gzmVRFggf_e8iL9ZJj-v0-olffhxTTzuWywBqet5rdWY-WitkKkWx80AHan1Pf4/s1600/FB_IMG_1465114282469.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixTIfDgUjSvZwdNJsJvIfig3wxlq4_yhtrVIgFMiqz3u8ocUmMS55QL8iWNWW5uKiscEtVIlBJcAM-gzmVRFggf_e8iL9ZJj-v0-olffhxTTzuWywBqet5rdWY-WitkKkWx80AHan1Pf4/s640/FB_IMG_1465114282469.jpg"> </a> </div><p>
<p dir="ltr">The route was very different this year, and not in a bad way. Ally Pally was gone but we still had a stiff climb up to Highgate via Dartmouth Park Road, once we had eventually found it...hilarious drunken folk moved a couple of the signs so we got a bit lost once or twice!</p>
<p dir="ltr">As usual, all sorts of people were out on all sorts of bikes - bromptons, tandems, fixies, baskets on the front, mountain bikes - as always a very different atmosphere to a sportive, with a very different crowd.</p>
<p dir="ltr">While the Diabetes Dads group had wanted to stay together as much as we could, traffic lights & junctions rather swiftly put paid to that, but we were never far from a bike with flashing wheels, and the groups formed and reformed into fluid groups, with plenty of chat, encouragement and high spirits.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The first break point was at the top of Highgate and we all reformed here before heading on up Hampstead Heath. This was the worst I felt all night - curry repeating on me, feeling a bit sick, but it passed and on we went. Spoiler alert - there is a sorry lack of misery & suffering in this blog this year - I have lost a lot of weight, had done some decent training rides, and felt reasonably fit all night!</p><p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinkpoSjeG6Lcz5jE3bEVkItS-C0WruydRpFygTY7JD4APp0rlj-Qk8k0H10kysIs0YDNygznaZhGekV0XncjX6YCyjZJ9AX2VbNz2FH7ziDWlfP0tLi3sZYyNWOetZ2AwhP5bDlRYutnU/s1600/FB_IMG_1465598913569.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinkpoSjeG6Lcz5jE3bEVkItS-C0WruydRpFygTY7JD4APp0rlj-Qk8k0H10kysIs0YDNygznaZhGekV0XncjX6YCyjZJ9AX2VbNz2FH7ziDWlfP0tLi3sZYyNWOetZ2AwhP5bDlRYutnU/s640/FB_IMG_1465598913569.jpg"> </a> </div><p>
<p dir="ltr">From Hampstead it was down towards St John's Wood and then we turned along the road past Little Venice - "you won't want to miss this" said the organisers...but it was dark! Doh! At the lights we met some other JDRF riders who turned out to be the 7 strong Zara's Zoomers, riding the 60km route. It was great to chat about our tweenie ten year olds for a while until the traffic lights did their thing again.</p>
<p dir="ltr">This was a change to the previous routes and we cycled up past Holland Park to Notting Hill, then down to Kensington, along past the Royal Albert Hall, past the museums, Sloane Square, Chelsea Barracks, and along Millbank to do a big loop south of the river which was mainly to bring us back over Westminster Bridge and off down Birdcage Walk, up the Mall and round to the ridiculously busy Piccadilly Circus! As usual, traffic jams, people everywhere, mad atmosphere! But the group managed to get split again...</p>
<p dir="ltr">It was now sometime after 3, and we were about halfway. The next section into the slowly lightening sky, was through Rotherhithe, Bermondsey and along to Greenwich. Some pissheads in a taxi gave us some abuse, the only time in 3 years I can remember anything. "Bike virgins" apparently. I laughed so hard my glasses fell off and had to be retrieved from under a car!</p>
<p dir="ltr">Feeling quite cold and stiffening up with every prolonged break, the group, which was now a manageable 6 of Darran, Luc, Daniel, Rory, Jason and myself, decided not to hang around and ride the remaining 30 or so kilometres to the end together. Dawn was breaking as we cycled along to Greenwich, though it was misty and quite chilly. The route took us all the way along to the O2 and then the penultimate bit of misery - Vanbrugh Hill up to Blackheath - which had the decency at least to be short and sharp!</p>
<p dir="ltr">From here it was across the heath then along to Lewisham, past the end of Rory's road in Ladywell and up the long long drag to Crystal Palace via Honor Oak Park and Sydenham Hill. Not easy at 5am after 5.5 hours on the road though.</p><p dir="ltr">Being 10 minutes from home had a certain irony, with 15 miles still to go, but we belted down College Road to a welcome pitstop in Dulwich College. A quick coffee and selfie later, we were back on the road, 12 miles left, sense of purpose renewed. </p><p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji7P30yNpi_yUpgq79SU42SS0r5xclLXBXyVzZuEXUtmiIyrIgtEvNqet1ydKv6fioJq8E0zrTKnlNHsuQ-SLfZ3Nhpywm4tpL8NeTYhFJYMWyEEq9cejTMRhjGsWTdMPSBvuYIYp84AA/s1600/20160605_051258.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji7P30yNpi_yUpgq79SU42SS0r5xclLXBXyVzZuEXUtmiIyrIgtEvNqet1ydKv6fioJq8E0zrTKnlNHsuQ-SLfZ3Nhpywm4tpL8NeTYhFJYMWyEEq9cejTMRhjGsWTdMPSBvuYIYp84AA/s640/20160605_051258.jpg"> </a> </div><p><p dir="ltr">The ride back into town was punctuated with an attempted intervention for a lad who was passed out hammered on the pavement outside his house. He woke up and staggered off, tired & confused - we chuckled at the thought of him having flashbacks later to these blue and white angels offering him water! But with him behind us, it was back to Tower Bridge, through the cobbled streets of Wapping - an enjoyably sadistic touch, then near to our curry house and back to Olympic Park, passing the almost suitably named Pancras Close on the way. Then, not long after 6am, we were finished!</p><p dir="ltr">Through the finish line and we posed for a picture - at which point the photographer clocked the JDRF tops, told us he was type 1 himself, and thanked us for doing it. Like Dan & Julie's daughter, who had emotionally waved us off earlier, he really appreciated our efforts - even though o<span style="font-family: sans-serif;">ne night without kip to raise money for a cure for what our kids put up with 24/7/365 isn't so bad!</span> I think I take it for granted sometimes that because I have a good support network, others do too - but it isn't always the case, and a lot of folk - both adults and kids - don't know anyone else with Type 1, so occasions like this mean a lot to them. I am just glad to be able to my bit and try to make a small difference to their lives.</p><p dir="ltr"><p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYDJZJxxbS8Hnj4GZ1RHdZAdCZUsQwidOhrXBGVdwNtinhCWwX7MH_0Gl7axrgss2WarY1IgU9qnzaJrB9DOxfS2gVPjS7txUjZQyLWfTkrUubeZqjYlmjOUdviy2DcGmKc6VUPF-CksA/s1600/FB_IMG_1465114095907.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYDJZJxxbS8Hnj4GZ1RHdZAdCZUsQwidOhrXBGVdwNtinhCWwX7MH_0Gl7axrgss2WarY1IgU9qnzaJrB9DOxfS2gVPjS7txUjZQyLWfTkrUubeZqjYlmjOUdviy2DcGmKc6VUPF-CksA/s640/FB_IMG_1465114095907.jpg"> </a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxo_uadOUBd4Biry5xprV83KKzPGCLc-mWTxT3TluMheYYkTwPPsGE1i5KW9Y1mL1BER_joIEa8lfo4ZOtMLUxUulXv-l_eAlb0N0V7RT11gf0mYnxGIhodrda13LyjYN5ryfuWAW_eMc/s1600/FB_IMG_1465114085698.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxo_uadOUBd4Biry5xprV83KKzPGCLc-mWTxT3TluMheYYkTwPPsGE1i5KW9Y1mL1BER_joIEa8lfo4ZOtMLUxUulXv-l_eAlb0N0V7RT11gf0mYnxGIhodrda13LyjYN5ryfuWAW_eMc/s640/FB_IMG_1465114085698.jpg"> </a> </div><p>Photos done for now, we met some of the others who had finished and got in the queue for the deliciously welcome bacon sarnie and brew. Marvellous! Over the next 45 minutes the rest of the Diabetes Dads came over the line, to cheers & more photos. We all exchanged tall tales of our antics and eventually made our farewells and dragged ourselves away to go home. One last climb up to the 5th floor of the garage and we packed the cars, said goodbye again, and went our separate ways, already planning our next adventure...Paris!</p><p dir="ltr">I had a lovely welcome back at home and after a shower, parked the kids in front of the telly and attempted to sleep. Truth is though that I was still buzzing, as was my phone from all the updates in the CWD group on facebook! I managed a bit of sleep before H brought me back to earth, requiring my bum wiping services! Eventually gave up at about 1pm and took the kids to buy some supplies. Even caught the end of the Tour de Penge in the park, not having got back in time to ride it.</p><p dir="ltr">What a great night, with a great bunch of people. Huge shout outs to all the Diabetes Dads, and Zara's Zoomers, everyone doing it for JDRF, but special mention in particular to:</p>
<p dir="ltr"><b>Kev</b>, for organising us all to do this, running the fundraising page, the wheel lights, Lahore - and for rising from his sick bed of 4 days to make the journey to London from the South Coast to ride with us all. Legend.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><b>Paul</b>, for whom 100km overnight wasn't enough, so he also cycled to London from the Midlands over 2 days, just to up the ante. Legend.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><b>Vincent</b>, for his endless supply of bacon memes, good humour, doing it on a £70 bike from Tesco - and Baconnaise. Legend.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><b>Luc </b>& <b>Jason </b>who pretty much doubled their previous longest rides on the night itself. Legends.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The chap who fell off 3 times at lights, then once more for luck as he crossed the finish - damn those cleats! You shall remain nameless but schadenfreude prevents me from not mentioning it...the cycling equivalent of the banana skin, and hopefully you weren't too bruised! You have to see the funny side ;-) Legend.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Huge thanks to all the team, everyone I rode with on the night, all the sponsorship & support. It is really appreciated - and currently at a fabulous £14,500! Adding in Zara's Zoomers, nearly £20,000! Just wow.</p><p>Sponsorship page is <a href="https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/CWDUK-Dads-2016">here </a>if you missed it! <p>
<p dir="ltr">Until next year, hope is in a cure - and here's that man again:</p>
<p dir="ltr"><b>Upon Westminster Bridge, Wordsworth</b></p>
<p dir="ltr">EARTH has not anything to show more fair; <br>
Dull would he be of soul who could pass by<br>
A sight so touching in its majesty. <br>
This city now doth like a garment wear <br>
The beauty of the morning: silent, bare, <br>
Ships, towers, domes, theatres, and temples lie <br>
Open unto the fields, and to the sky,— <br>
All bright and glittering in the smokeless air. <br>
Never did sun more beautifully steep <br>
In his first splendour valley, rock, or hill; <br>
Ne'er saw I, never felt, a calm so deep! <br>
The river glideth at his own sweet will: <br>
Dear God! the very houses seem asleep; <br>
And all that mighty heart is lying still! </p>Andrew Stroudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15861568581975349926noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2981214366937129650.post-27745066953307695522016-02-16T14:18:00.001-08:002016-02-16T14:24:12.039-08:00One year on the pump<p dir="ltr">The pump has been a life changer; instead of eight injections a day i have one every three days and I just type in the carbs every time I eat instead of putting them in AND having an injection. <br><br></p>
<p dir="ltr">I really like the pump and I don't mind having to have it on me but the cannula gets in the way when I badly need the toilet. </p>
<p dir="ltr">So far I have had three different pumps - the first time was when my pump ran out of battery without warning and I was without insulin for hours and this made me super high. The second time I was at diving when my pump started beeping and it wouldn't stop and I had to go onto injections until Saturday, which felt really weird. Both of these happened in December.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Once in July my brother had a party and I was having a carb free meal (when I eat a meal of no carbs and 7 grams of protein and I can't eat anything 4 hours before or 4 hours after) but before the meal I had a bath and I was low. (When you are above 14 or below 4 the testing stops and you can eat carbs normally) I went downstairs and I had a ginormous bowl of pasta and a HUGE cupcake. When my mum and dad tested me in the night the result was HI (this is bad as it's off the scale!), and we realised that I had forgotten to put my pump on after the bath, so I didn't get any of the insulin for all that food!!!!!<br>
 <br>
Also on Christmas Day between 2:00am and 3:40am I was first high and my ketones were 1.9 and an hour later my ketones where 2.4. Super luckily when my dad called the out of hours it was my doctor so I didn't have to go to the hospital on Christmas Day </p>
<p dir="ltr">I absolutely love the pump and I can't believe it's already been a year that I've had it!!!!!</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-9LtpHPMRSakTFwkOFJBSIIUM42n29k4Q9p4ez96jsP0qlqKVm_Y-IAwnMVgOKWkD01aSrAr1M_DqHuIJBjHLL_aIlrsIpmEZt8RvSmrwvOODzO8348Q9s7YFBHlP7rFnjQ0FqW3Y9h8/s1600/FB_IMG_1443299195290.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-9LtpHPMRSakTFwkOFJBSIIUM42n29k4Q9p4ez96jsP0qlqKVm_Y-IAwnMVgOKWkD01aSrAr1M_DqHuIJBjHLL_aIlrsIpmEZt8RvSmrwvOODzO8348Q9s7YFBHlP7rFnjQ0FqW3Y9h8/s640/FB_IMG_1443299195290.jpg"> </a> </div>Andrew Stroudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15861568581975349926noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2981214366937129650.post-54809054899666393272015-06-08T14:35:00.003-07:002016-06-10T15:43:26.571-07:00Nightrider 2015Last week, probably on Monday or Tuesday night, I fell asleep on the sofa. Happens most days to be honest, but this time by Wednesday I could hardly move - my back was very painful and I was hobbling around the place. As if the recurrence of an familiar old injury wasn't bad enough, I was planning to ride the London Nightrider on Saturday night - 100km through the night with my old friend Mike. This was my favourite ride last year, and I really wanted to do it again, as I was raising money for JDRF, and didn't want to let Mike down.<p>
3 days of alternating painkillers and anti-inflammatories brought us to Saturday evening. Typically, it had been a busy day so I hadn't had much chance to relax. Such is life with a young family. But by 10pm I was as ready as I was ever going to be, so I got dressed and set off. Although the start is only 15 mins from home, I decided to go by train to save my back. 2 stops, I'd meet Mike at the station, and we'd go to the park. What could possibly go wrong? </p><p>Foolish boy, I heard Captain Manwaring say in my head, this was Southern Rail on a Saturday night...the train got to the first stop and stayed there. After several minutes and a series of announcements, the driver advised us to seek an alternative means of transport...! I had the bike of course, but I was also on the wrong side of Crystal Palace and needed to cycle up the steeper side of the hill to get there. Score One for laziness...</p><p>
I got to the station where I met Mike and a chap called Adam who Mike had met on the train & was riding alone. So we merry three went off to the start, signed in and set off at 11pm. This year the organisers had remembered to talk to the park, so the exit we were using was unchained and we could ride through. It was all very jolly, but there was a person in the group with crappy pop pumping out of some hidden speakers (some dreadful Jessie J number which my daughter had been playing all day). Not only that, but they weren't even dressed as a cheerleader with the music coming out of comedy breasts, like the chap on the Ride London last year. We rode past them and escaped down the hill.</p><p>
The route to Greenwich was the same as last year. Mike put in a few bursts on the hills but I was conscious of leaving *his* new mate behind so I rode with him. As it turned out, Adam was more than capable of keeping up, and proved to be a good ride companion. </p><p>
After Greenwich it was the backstreets of Bermondsey & Rotherhithe before we hit Borough (in the shadow of the gargantuan Shard), through the market past Southwark Cathedral and along to Tower Bridge, stopping at the break stop on the way.</p><p>
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1hYJUggTUxDkHlNDFhmRhftU90qXL6zkHDKKv0uVu7H6ovAWGwcHZQE7d5Z32_S2Cbcvt5fxKu70dAZhYrTUTCJHUa0J9pfgGEigUGiROvnGCM8ojzGDq687bsM8xfnRUNR_qnYzvNjc/s1600/20150607_002229.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1hYJUggTUxDkHlNDFhmRhftU90qXL6zkHDKKv0uVu7H6ovAWGwcHZQE7d5Z32_S2Cbcvt5fxKu70dAZhYrTUTCJHUa0J9pfgGEigUGiROvnGCM8ojzGDq687bsM8xfnRUNR_qnYzvNjc/s640/20150607_002229.jpg"> </a> </div><p>
Though it was after midnight, there was still plenty of traffic, but I was already noting that it wasn't as busy as the previous year, because we were about 45 mins later. To be perfectly honest, I wasn't really feeling it yet but as time went by I started to get more and more into it. I think the new energy drink I had prepared (breaking the cardinal rule of never trying a new product on your main ride) was making me feel a bit sick too, so I binned it and stuck to the water. I have to admit I was eyeing railway stations, thinking about my back and considering whether to stop and go home, but never <i>that</i> seriously...! <p>The route was slightly different in parts than last year, but it was a bit more direct. Through the city, then over Southwark Bridge, wiggle, back over Blackfriars Bridge, up to St Paul's, and back toward the Tower before striking out east. The cobbles of Wapping were tantalisingly close to the delicious grub of Whitechapel, but we were starting to outlast opening hours of the better establishments, so on we went through the utterly deserted and faintly dystopian Canary Wharf, towards Poplar, Bow and then Stratford.</p><p>There was a section of about 150m on the road up to the velodrome without any street lighting, so we briefly had some proper darkness. It didn't last long and we had our second break in the shadow of the Velodrome, where the articulated lorries of international broadcasters were already lined up ahead of Wiggo's successful attempt on the hour record, later that day. I was getting quite cold now, only having one long sleeved layer on and two short-sleeved ones, so was keen to get going again, having stocked up on crisps & cereal bars.</p><p>The next bit was also unfamiliar to Mike - through Hackney, Stoke Newington & other achingly trendy North London postcodes towards Alexandra Palace. There were still plenty of "revellers" out and about, though being later than last year, traffic was lighter. People were interested in what we were doing...next year I should take a donations bucket along or something, maybe hand out printed cards with the sponsorship url...</p><p>Progress was good, but I hadn't quite remembered how far Ally Pally was! Once we turned onto the access road, Mike told us that we were now heading south again - albeit briefly as we turned again to go west up the hill. I had been happily telling anyone who would listen to prepare for half an hour of misery, for the bottom of Ally Pally to the top of Hampstead involves quite a lot of up and not much down</p><p>Last year I had bonked badly going up to Hampstead, but this year there was another break stop 3/4 of the way there in Highgate. I was also surprised to find myself "flying" up Ally Pally, and rolling pretty smoothly up Wood Vale. That's when I remembered that my gears were recently upgraded to 32 from 28 on the back, which, it turns out, makes some difference!</p><p>I was also amused to see that though I had remembered the climb up Wood Vale, I hadn't remembered that once it finishes, there's even more climbing up to Highgate! Oh how we all laughed! Fortunately, the break stop was in exactly the right place, and we refuelled while the first glimmering of dawn broke. It was about 0315.</p><p>
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With the onset of dawn and the lightening of the skies, it started to get quieter. There were still people out and about, but we were getting towards the time where people were also going out on their way to early jobs, the airport etc. The ride up to the top of Hampstead Heath was fine, no bonking this year (thanks to the cereal bars), and then we began the glorious descent down from North London to the West End, through quiet neighbourhoods with lovely houses, past Lord's and Regents Park Mosque, then down Baker Street, around Grosvenor Square and up to Piccadilly Circus.<p>
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNdLUpk6L-kKF1AtBZwx59igDKsaTbCoj7Kga6x6w6NBxOP7ygwp2VVOUCdcnLdPslBoQ2AE-uf1Fxey93EjnqGb-N7QcOMdLwxk4LzTGDnB061yjS1Sc25V4oEnTOrZmh80LQRP8RYoA/s1600/20150607_041103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNdLUpk6L-kKF1AtBZwx59igDKsaTbCoj7Kga6x6w6NBxOP7ygwp2VVOUCdcnLdPslBoQ2AE-uf1Fxey93EjnqGb-N7QcOMdLwxk4LzTGDnB061yjS1Sc25V4oEnTOrZmh80LQRP8RYoA/s640/20150607_041103.jpg"> </a> </div>
<p>
Last year this stretch had been solid with traffic and people staggering out of the pubs & clubs, but it was now well past 4am and it was much quieter. There was still a bit of a jam on Shaftesbury Avenue, caused by a delivery lorry, but we swept past and then on through Covent Garden, past the pissed lads doing skids on Boris Bikes, and over Waterloo Bridge, with this marvellous view:</p><p>
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWiNVdXeC7Nwn2JbP_WBJ8imNQ3qzj2zEj1V2DqwM6RJaUL_SPDg7-u9Lbt_rfa7cUep6CXaMUMFYtn0vYvekOejB0A6REcrjkewhZxoyHwksP5NxL0TB5jb8Akq2q8zJ_PgeX9JuB3_c/s1600/20150607_041946.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWiNVdXeC7Nwn2JbP_WBJ8imNQ3qzj2zEj1V2DqwM6RJaUL_SPDg7-u9Lbt_rfa7cUep6CXaMUMFYtn0vYvekOejB0A6REcrjkewhZxoyHwksP5NxL0TB5jb8Akq2q8zJ_PgeX9JuB3_c/s640/20150607_041946.jpg"> </a> </div>
<p>A quick stop at the Imperial War Museum, then it was back over Westminster Bridge, past Big Ben, then along to Trafalgar Square and down Whitehall towards Victoria.</p><p>Look at our guns!<p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcr2_D-WH__A3zifVM3XiEiDFp2N2n9G1c8MbQ4m9Q7kyJQZFbZeMveOsdgqjSyiNV7MzIZvc_0aEXVvVB1X3vb9lT91cFZt5UhJIilW9Fq8_PezFRgf3xE9xFWw9FTWyk87-gEDzBFGM/s1600/2015-06-07+04.28.21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcr2_D-WH__A3zifVM3XiEiDFp2N2n9G1c8MbQ4m9Q7kyJQZFbZeMveOsdgqjSyiNV7MzIZvc_0aEXVvVB1X3vb9lT91cFZt5UhJIilW9Fq8_PezFRgf3xE9xFWw9FTWyk87-gEDzBFGM/s320/2015-06-07+04.28.21.jpg" /></a><p>Westminster Bridge & the Palace of Westminster, 0440<p>
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuNO2uoVvEeypquvfjhUJ98Aeo8XrdUFcB66-dCpqGfFyEtPFsr-43_HpZUdDFoY_RzSCk5toz1W5oBf2EktZgFVgJdkgSKgXEJzcUwKicwLfZZuNC00nrR9MVemWu3dB4JrK2L-7xyAE/s1600/20150607_044032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuNO2uoVvEeypquvfjhUJ98Aeo8XrdUFcB66-dCpqGfFyEtPFsr-43_HpZUdDFoY_RzSCk5toz1W5oBf2EktZgFVgJdkgSKgXEJzcUwKicwLfZZuNC00nrR9MVemWu3dB4JrK2L-7xyAE/s640/20150607_044032.jpg"> </a> </div>
<p>Nelson on his column</p><p>
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLCWdVCA03-KlV931POk0Ar5Q8x9QDBP-y8pC0hnWGE6lcHg0spLVq9izfK8kf4rpruoo8FvP4KRbV-uLqQdJheDaZsyd4hf1Po_JRmSbA0oRE_V_dGQBEnrdugGpni4V0-EHA9ogkL9A/s1600/20150607_044452.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLCWdVCA03-KlV931POk0Ar5Q8x9QDBP-y8pC0hnWGE6lcHg0spLVq9izfK8kf4rpruoo8FvP4KRbV-uLqQdJheDaZsyd4hf1Po_JRmSbA0oRE_V_dGQBEnrdugGpni4V0-EHA9ogkL9A/s640/20150607_044452.jpg"> </a> </div><p>
The boys were starting to struggle a bit now. My knee had been giving me gip for a while (ironically the back was ok, but it may have been referred pain), but I could still ride. Mike & Adam were getting very tired, but I still felt fresh - I reckon this was because as the dad of a kid with Type 1, I probably haven't had a proper night's kip for about 4 years, so an all night bike ride presented no problems!</p><p>
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGC1XdXnmOhUDaMuNn-B4_MYZKVWocDMZ7SaC59b1ifq1-S3DKncR0tMyu8S6cxH7AxWVTXzAQNxTKXypELJiFvJMAUVcuhcUrBL7lLFh8bLBHfD289ML40tGwxattg8Gfv5lnFIoUNZU/s1600/20150607_045538.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGC1XdXnmOhUDaMuNn-B4_MYZKVWocDMZ7SaC59b1ifq1-S3DKncR0tMyu8S6cxH7AxWVTXzAQNxTKXypELJiFvJMAUVcuhcUrBL7lLFh8bLBHfD289ML40tGwxattg8Gfv5lnFIoUNZU/s640/20150607_045538.jpg"> </a> </div>
<p>The sunrise from Lambeth Bridge cheered us up, and we struck out for home, past the Oval, up towards Brixton then through the deserted streets of Herne Hill, leafy Dulwich and up College Road to Crystal Palace. I have done this climb many times - it is the easiest route up to Crystal Palace, though still has its moments, and I chatted to people on the way up and tried to offer encouragement. The end was nigh!</p><p>Then, after coming round a final bend and up a final ramp, we reached the top and there were just a few 100 metres to go to the finish. It was better organised this year, we had something to ride under before being presented with our finishing medals. </p><p>Here's me at the finish, shortly before the rubbish bacon sarnie and weak tea, both of which tasted like ambrosia!</p><p>
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWRIKJU9WYAGdXhfkWjgUAZtT_tBHQ8qiV3cTUGQWQ9LItgNYoB2cm26oN1WMv8cf1Btr4JBZ8LdwGgT_hXbCS-e8SzjfoN96MpqODkwHTHOYyMD01ODp-Z4sH6RSeomj8fhdM2nX59fo/s1600/20150607_053959.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWRIKJU9WYAGdXhfkWjgUAZtT_tBHQ8qiV3cTUGQWQ9LItgNYoB2cm26oN1WMv8cf1Btr4JBZ8LdwGgT_hXbCS-e8SzjfoN96MpqODkwHTHOYyMD01ODp-Z4sH6RSeomj8fhdM2nX59fo/s640/20150607_053959.jpg"> </a> </div><p>
We stood in the sun and chatted for half an hour, before going our separate ways. It was lovely to see so many people relaxing on the grass, some popping bottles of fizz, others stretching, all feeling quietly satisfied that they had done it. I said goodbye to Mike & Adam and went off down the hill for home. It was now after 0630, and I had promised to take the kids on the Tour de Penge at 9am, so I was planning to tough it out and stay awake. Initially I was so cold that I just undressed and got into bed to warm up - but after a few minutes, decided a better plan would be to have as hot a shower as I could, then go to bed. I duly did, and got a whopping 90 mins before the kids woke me up, and I got dressed again, ready for another bike ride. Madness, pure unadulterated madness - but they had a great time, and it was worth it!</p>
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<p>I finally had a bit of a power nap at 1630, from which I was woken to be fed a couple of hours later, but by then I was feeling so rough that I went back to bed as soon as I'd put away a huge pizza and was probably asleep by 9pm...I'd like to say I slept the sleep of the virtuous until morning, but T1 parents don't get much sleep and I was up from 2am-3am dealing with a hyper!</p><p> The best thing about Nightrider is that it's very democratic - as it is mainly a charity ride there are all sorts of people in all sorts of kit on all sorts of bikes at all sorts of speeds, and a very different atmosphere to a testosterone fuelled sportive. I ended up really enjoying this year's ride. It was good to do it with friends, and it was good to know the route - even if I might have gone on a bit about the differences between the 2 years! I have so far raised £500 for JDRF - please think about donating if you haven't already! It's at <a href="http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fatladonabike">uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fatladonabike</a> - THANK YOU!</p><p>
The key difference between the two years though was what I felt I had missed last year, and that was the peace of the early morning. I used this poem on that blog then, and it still resonates. </p><p>Roll on 2016.</p><p>
<b>Upon Westminster Bridge, Wordsworth </b></p><p>
EARTH has not anything to show more fair; <br>
Dull would he be of soul who could pass by<br>
A sight so touching in its majesty. <br>
This city now doth like a garment wear <br>
The beauty of the morning: silent, bare, <br>
Ships, towers, domes, theatres, and temples lie <br>
Open unto the fields, and to the sky,— <br>
All bright and glittering in the smokeless air. <br>
Never did sun more beautifully steep <br>
In his first splendour valley, rock, or hill; <br>
Ne'er saw I, never felt, a calm so deep! <br>
The river glideth at his own sweet will: <br>
Dear God! the very houses seem asleep; <br>
And all that mighty heart is lying still! <br>
</p>Andrew Stroudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15861568581975349926noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2981214366937129650.post-69224098928628410752014-08-10T23:22:00.001-07:002014-08-10T23:54:12.057-07:00Ride London 2014"Four hours riding around in the rain - fun in a sick kind of way" - this is how Chris Boardman described the Ride London today, and I'd have to agree, albeit with a slightly more than 6 hours proviso!<p>It started well enough - it was pretty clear this morning when I got dropped off at the O2, so I did wonder whether it was all a bit of a storm in a teacup...Off we went through the Blackwall Tunnel then up some side streets to the start - unlike last year, as they were using both sides of the A12. In a taste of what we were to see repeated throughout the day, there were already people fixing punctures by the side of the road- the first one I saw was on the way to the start, the last one was at Waterloo!<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq0_LaoX9Md0jaLcELphXsYb7lRf3mflRBDiHPgKO_Elx7CHkBRvcrF4HNzs9E1RFoV6r_6GI9GdEVJNqkZ3cgFvKE0Y1ToyQtS97jRVnygY8RZCTkkiVSbqrRQLHtYvRZNcCjCw-Z_q4/s1600/start.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq0_LaoX9Md0jaLcELphXsYb7lRf3mflRBDiHPgKO_Elx7CHkBRvcrF4HNzs9E1RFoV6r_6GI9GdEVJNqkZ3cgFvKE0Y1ToyQtS97jRVnygY8RZCTkkiVSbqrRQLHtYvRZNcCjCw-Z_q4/s320/start.jpg" /></a><p>I had timed it a bit better this year, and once I had dropped the bag with some dry clothes off (I forgot the dry shoes though!), I made my way to the load zone, with about half an hour to wait around. We were right by the Orbit & Olympic Park, and I soon got chatting to some of the other folk around me. There were a lot more women this year, and I got talking to Christine who had never done an event without her husband, and was quite nervous about it, so I offered to ride with her for a while.<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkR2S3wL4CrX2-n6_pvMzcRG0BozdesndVaodcVe6-vJ0k7pOhNZtf2Yl2MuUSC261DlZ5NKlw3g_FY8cM8KUpLSt2cu6ViDCIpVVc4u2aPmMZFbVxxz1dsfzkU7IOyVqq-HQ5yut3raU/s1600/orbit.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkR2S3wL4CrX2-n6_pvMzcRG0BozdesndVaodcVe6-vJ0k7pOhNZtf2Yl2MuUSC261DlZ5NKlw3g_FY8cM8KUpLSt2cu6ViDCIpVVc4u2aPmMZFbVxxz1dsfzkU7IOyVqq-HQ5yut3raU/s320/orbit.jpg" /></a><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8UjnRq95R7EX3vx4kbJ9bBPvaBztIoZVaTBEPMVLK3_VYrWJzuEgvxg1ahxW5-JndB9cfbGbvo8H_41ck3mom8NmeEilb2Du3XOl1t2O33O6loeC8wsAQvjWz_bfC01pW8yAN1qre4s4/s1600/park.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8UjnRq95R7EX3vx4kbJ9bBPvaBztIoZVaTBEPMVLK3_VYrWJzuEgvxg1ahxW5-JndB9cfbGbvo8H_41ck3mom8NmeEilb2Du3XOl1t2O33O6loeC8wsAQvjWz_bfC01pW8yAN1qre4s4/s320/park.jpg" /></a><p>The rumour that Leith Hill & Box Hill were cancelled went around, and was quickly confirmed - to be honest, I wasn't that bothered - the descents are bad enough when it's dry, let alone in the remnants of a hurricane - but it would have been disappointing for those folk who had trained hard to ride 100 miles and now would "only" be going 86, so I did feel for them. Before too long it had started to drizzle - not enough for me to put my windproof jacket back on, but as we got going, appropriately to the sound of Dizzee Rascal telling us we were bonkers, it started to get heavier. <p>Christine and I rode along at a good pace, chatting away about nothing and everything, past the chap in the cheerleader's costume riding with musical breasts, and before we knew it we were in Richmond Park, where we saw our first casualty - someone had come off and smashed his face into the road. Despite the weather, there were still plenty of idiots belting along and not paying enough attention to the conditions or the people around them.<p>Into Kingston, and we met our first JDRF rider of the day, while we saw the front of the race going back in the other direction, with one of the elite JDRF riders in the pack - he went on to win on the Mall, which was great, and should raise awareness of the charity. More on that victory <a href="http://www.prudentialridelondon.co.uk/News/Newsroom/Rees_rides_to_dream_finish_at_the_Prudential_RideLondon-Surrey_100_s1_p19856.htm?featured=1">here</a>.<p>As we went along past Hampton Court, the sky got a lot darker very quickly, and the rain started to get heavier as well. By the time I decided to stop and put my jacket on, sheltering under someone's golf umbrella, I was already soaked to the skin - and the real rain hadn't even started yet! This is what it was like a bit later in Walton:<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCvLmsI5TEDgjYVvupsTEGKc3Q-FqctmU_OuRhgti9Ap8dYIwkwNs3QgrVLjbUaICLUpQmP8rZNqtxfZLl-Ck93go2gjBRtULCaBlfFx5Cou8IgTUbfJ5WsNoH04HNWkBdTDyUNRoHeE0/s1600/RAIN.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCvLmsI5TEDgjYVvupsTEGKc3Q-FqctmU_OuRhgti9Ap8dYIwkwNs3QgrVLjbUaICLUpQmP8rZNqtxfZLl-Ck93go2gjBRtULCaBlfFx5Cou8IgTUbfJ5WsNoH04HNWkBdTDyUNRoHeE0/s320/RAIN.jpg" /></a><p>Around Weybridge the rain got laughably heavy - it was like hail at some points it was throwing it down so hard - thank goodness it was warm rain - so apart from the inconvenience & potential danger of it all, it wasn't particularly unpleasant to ride in - dare I say it was actually quite fun? Drains were overflowing, streams were running down hills, huge puddles were forming - I didn't have overshoes on (they remind me of old ladies' galoshes) so the water was bubbling out of my shoes whenever I flexed my feet. Will I get some now? No, as they still remind me of old ladies' galoshes...<p>As we came into one village, I heard what sounded to be an inspired choice from the live band playing - Credence Clearwater Revival, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gu2pVPWGYMQ">Have you ever seen the rain</a>. Impressed with this stroke of genius, this song then stuck in my head for the rest of the ride - not <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngosk2ynSWM">I can't stand the rain</a> (Eruption), <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xJpgBHT-Wc">It's Raining</a> (Darts), <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3DgAJwVeVU">Rain </a>(The Cult), <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ag8XcMG1EX4">Weather with you</a> (Crowded House), or even <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5aZJBLAu1E">It's Raining Men</a>. Nope, just Credence. The fact that the band was actually playing Pretty Woman is neither here nor there.<p>The next thing which suddenly occurred to me was that the people waiting in the bus stops were actually spectators! I'd been wondering where they'd wanted to go on such a day, and then remembered that there wouldn't be any buses any time soon, as the roads were closed. The proper fans were getting wet, cheering us on, and leaving the bus shelters for those people fixing punctures - and there were loads of them!<p>By now, after 2 months of very little bike riding, due to injury & a bit of torpor, my back was starting to act up, and I knew it was only a matter of time before the knee went. I suggested to Christine that she go on, but we were still going at a reasonable pace, so she stayed with me. As we got into the lanes, the flooding got worse, and the pace slowed, and the inevitable happened - about 30 miles sooner than it had last year, and in the other knee, just for variety! However, it was just as painful and just as hard going, and I insisted that my new friend left me to it.<p> Newlands Corner, now the longest hill on the route, was just not possible, so I had to walk up it. At the top I headed for the first aid tent, where they gave me paracetamol and ibuprofen, and the family phoned me to find out how it was going. There was a moment of dust when the kids came on, but I recovered my composure, took my pills and ventured outside again. There was a woman from Durham in the tent under a load of blankets but still looking absolutely frozen and possibly hypothermic - it surprised me a bit, as the rain wasn't cold, and it hadn't been that windy, but she was really suffering.<p>I grabbed a quick snack and some bags of sweets then set off down the descent towards Dorking - people were taking it quite easy luckily, and there were no accidents that I saw. The route to Dorking rolled a bit but was otherwise ok, and once we were through the town centre it was off to Leatherhead. I was a bit disappointed that the JDRF cheer squad weren't there, but I later found out that they'd been on Box Hill and were trying to get back to the course somewhere else! I briefly considered hopping on a train, but the thought of my daughter and all other type 1 diabetics having to plough on with finger prick tests & insulin injections all the time, regardless of how they feel about it, made me push on - even though I had now been overtaken by a bloke on a Brompton! I later found out that the track was flooded anyway, so I really had no choice but to push on!<p>By the time we got to Leatherhead, there were only about 25 miles left, lots of support on the streets shouting encouragement, and another lump in my throat. I thought it was better to keep going while the painkillers were weaving their magic, rather than risk a stop. There was nearly a high-fiving incident when I went along a line of people then nearly flattened the woman handing out Garmin water bottles just past them, but she jumped out of the way in time, leaving us to dodge the discarded bottles further up the road - I tell you, some of these cyclists are a bloody menace - THROW IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD!<p>The route to Kingston was easier than last year, and the sun had come out as well, so things were definitely looking up! A tunnel under the road in Thames Ditton was flooded, so some went on the dry pavement, but I just went through the middle. I caught the guy on the Brompton and we rode through Kingston together (past one lonely JDRF supporter) before he slipped away from me going up past Norbiton. It was warm enough now to take off the jacket, though I typically injured myself trying to shove it into my back pocket!<p>Onwards & Upwards to the final climb of the day, the Cote de Wimbledon, up to the village. There were some JDRF supporters halfway up, shouting encouragement and telling us how far it was to the top, and then I saw a JDRF rider I'd been chatting to earlier on, Danny, and we fell into an easy distracting conversation and the last 10 miles flew by at a decent lick, in much less of a blur than last year. The kids hadn't come out this year, so there was no Parliament Square action (they were at home baking cakes for my triumphant return, which was clearly far more important).<p>Once we got down to the Mall, I couldn't resist giving it a bit of the old sprint finish, more successfully this year as everything was wedged in my pocket by the jacket, so nothing flew out, and last vestiges of painkiller were just about still there, and then, suddenly, that was it! <p>We went past the couple who had got married at Pembroke Lodge on their way around being showered in glitter, collected our medals, Danny took a picture of me, I collected the bag of crap (coconut water instead of chocolate milk, no salad cream (imagine my despair), gels, sweets, and, random item of the day, a pot of multivitamins for the over 50s!!), my dry gear (I had already dried off, so it was redundant now), and went up the the JDRF zone to meet JDRF Elizabeth and some other riders. Elizabeth had been there since 9am and must have got as wet standing under those trees than the rest of us had out on the road, so it was a sterling effort from her. We chatted for a while and I met Mossy, the oldest friend of one of my best friends, having last seen him at Ian's wedding 9 years ago! The rain came again and broke everything up - this shower was colder than the ones on the road - and I headed off with him to Waterloo and the train home.<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzyyX_yUD8vJfaBTKgZCMCIVmBHhGfgm7mD4ARGE-MxbYvylzONBy1Wr2WG0MPefVVuoE6QMd6UYwPVGFbkaFTXvRkk40tHiabh3NKu-5oOhagqXiSeaMhj6scPpxm9DECLM1ZaEFH8bQ/s1600/finish.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzyyX_yUD8vJfaBTKgZCMCIVmBHhGfgm7mD4ARGE-MxbYvylzONBy1Wr2WG0MPefVVuoE6QMd6UYwPVGFbkaFTXvRkk40tHiabh3NKu-5oOhagqXiSeaMhj6scPpxm9DECLM1ZaEFH8bQ/s320/finish.jpg" /></a><p>What a day - I was faster than last year, albeit with the worst 14 miles missing. The painkillers definitely helped me get through the knee pain of the second half, as did the sense that we were all in this together with the weather, and the excellent & encouraging support from the side of the road in atrocious conditions. Christine, Danny & Brompton Man all played a part as well in getting me to the end, just by giving me the chance to chat, rather than listen to Credence in my head and think about my knee. Danny reckoned it sounded like sciatica, so I shall explore this avenue with the osteopath! The sun came out for the last 20 miles, so we had the chance to dry off just in time to get soaked again by the shower, and I must say I did enjoy the bloke who had liderally just changed in Green Park getting soaked by the shower 30 seconds later - the price you pay for flashing your meat and two veg in a public park, if you ask me.<p>Despite the lack of the 2 biggest hills (which I wouldn't have got over anyway with my knee problem), it was still 86 miles! I was more relaxed going into it than I was last year, and had a less traumatic time, but I was annoyed that my core fitness, which had been fine in the early part of the season, had got to me again. Maybe I really will work on this for next year!<p>But first, CAKE!<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizy_pN1lk2MfOIG4tt4mT6XUsXPlIG_EDT8cflFLCX9JmhGKd8_voIBouC8om5axuXmA0NZDdACFJPRnmZiu_DOqNYPRS6AS9bejVvnamJHeGNVeIwOvh6JncIJWb3Q1DlCM7_0tkOrk0/s1600/cake.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizy_pN1lk2MfOIG4tt4mT6XUsXPlIG_EDT8cflFLCX9JmhGKd8_voIBouC8om5axuXmA0NZDdACFJPRnmZiu_DOqNYPRS6AS9bejVvnamJHeGNVeIwOvh6JncIJWb3Q1DlCM7_0tkOrk0/s320/cake.jpg" /></a>Andrew Stroudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15861568581975349926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2981214366937129650.post-6986423727979038492014-06-09T15:41:00.001-07:002014-06-10T09:37:00.863-07:00London Nightrider 2014I'd been really looking forward to the Nightrider. It was my main charity fundraising ride of the year (cheeky plug - you can still <a href="http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fatladonabike">sponsor</a> me here!), which I was doing for JDRF again, and there had been a lot of banter on the JDRF cycling page in the build up. I didn't really know what to expect. The last time I'd ridden (sober) at night I was 16 and I went with a few mates into the Kentish countryside to look for the house where his sister was having a sleepover!<p>What I wasn't expecting was to get bitten by a mosquito, and for the mechanic checking my bike to snap my front mech gear cable, and take 20 mins in ever worsening light to fix it (only cost £3 though) before I'd even started. But once I had got through this trauma, I met up with JDRF Elizabeth, and we went to meet the other JDRF riders - several of whom recognised me from my sweaty selfies on the facebook page. It was a really lovely atmosphere as we prepared ourselves to go, took some pictures, cracked jokes, and all very relaxed considering what lay ahead.<p>Thanks to John for the photo of the team below:<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLc4r-zuxfFoEpc0RRidkSQnQZbBHkqplbMngo39c3yiyRuNpr5zXgHQjYEpZ_-SyEFasXpg9Fh1DEeiLVsJFe-b0qr_uOcAiRdQTaDXPekeOHpTohDQSZQaD41Fg4ZSfiHWo3mKVYDJM/s1600/team+JDRF.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLc4r-zuxfFoEpc0RRidkSQnQZbBHkqplbMngo39c3yiyRuNpr5zXgHQjYEpZ_-SyEFasXpg9Fh1DEeiLVsJFe-b0qr_uOcAiRdQTaDXPekeOHpTohDQSZQaD41Fg4ZSfiHWo3mKVYDJM/s320/team+JDRF.jpg" /></a><p>We were due to start at 2235 in the second wave, but it was slightly chaotic at the start, so we all set off with the first wave. As we waited to go, the lights of all the riders ahead of us disappearing up the road was all very romantic, but the romance passed soon enough as we rolled forwards to find that we were delayed because someone hadn't spoken to the park wardens and got them to leave the gates out of the car park unlocked! We wiggled out one at a time through a gap and were away.<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCru8qOZp6uVMQeISNe_NK1Kqz6bTaf7hrTBsNWqZ1EDITe57tNsRr8JkrGO5-m93ru3CQQuE35eI3BRdU5LSWAszt4M_w8C4RaAsyhrT6ldLkNglxDKPPqCPqc8qRfsf6rcCR_M3eHDU/s1600/off+we+go.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCru8qOZp6uVMQeISNe_NK1Kqz6bTaf7hrTBsNWqZ1EDITe57tNsRr8JkrGO5-m93ru3CQQuE35eI3BRdU5LSWAszt4M_w8C4RaAsyhrT6ldLkNglxDKPPqCPqc8qRfsf6rcCR_M3eHDU/s320/off+we+go.jpg" /></a><p>The first bit was a nice downhill around the park, with the lights twinkling ahead, and then across to Sydenham after which we headed for Greenwich. I was chatting to some people as we went, but it was all a bit stop start with the lights and the traffic, and as you quickly lost people, I just decided to get on with it. Each time I caught the next group, I asked them if we were the front - but we never seemed to be!<p>I was pretty surprised at how busy the route was - I'm not sure I would have chosen to go along the South Circular - I thought initially that as we were starting early there was still plenty of traffic about, but I was later disabused of that notion. Over Blackheath, belted down Maze Hill into Greenwich, losing & retrieving a backlight in the process, and then a bit of a wiggly route along through Rotherhithe towards Tower Bridge. Somewhere along here we got ourselves a bit lost, and missed a rest stop (DISASTER!), but ended up in the right place, Tower Bridge!<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb6Pg7ZGC2QFdAczLrsOq6v3Wii5JhOxUWJJnf0_QMekXJ4LPcHO-LP0Xd01sb0DKzDLCI9yi5DOkEYvAAG6HkKJNQeyJVXavgWnKHkNqJtTk54wTnDMo3BpyXS-acPpohufe9b_pr5ks/s1600/tower.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb6Pg7ZGC2QFdAczLrsOq6v3Wii5JhOxUWJJnf0_QMekXJ4LPcHO-LP0Xd01sb0DKzDLCI9yi5DOkEYvAAG6HkKJNQeyJVXavgWnKHkNqJtTk54wTnDMo3BpyXS-acPpohufe9b_pr5ks/s320/tower.jpg" /></a><p>Even though it was now Sunday, it was busy! Lots of traffic, lots of people out and about - less drunk and more touristy at the tower than they were Up West later. While waiting at some lights, we struck up a conversation with a chap in a taxi who was interested in what we were up to - this happened several times. There was some wiggling around through the city, and after a while we were heading back out again towards Wapping and the Isle of Dogs. By this time I had made friends with a couple of chaps who were riding together and were going at a similar pace, so we tried to stick together. (Larry & David. yes, really.) <p>Although we were going at a reasonably fast pace, the lights and weight of traffic were slowing us down. Plus the signage was a bit erratic - often only seeing the sign as you were right on top of it, and if a bus was in the way then you were in trouble. We largely got around most of the course without too many alarms though - the basic rule of thumb seemed to be stick to the busiest available road!<p>Wapping High Street with its cobbles came and went mercifully quickly, and after a couple of laps of Canary Wharf it was off towards Olympic Park for our first stop outside the Velodrome. It was about 25 miles in, and after a quick sugar intake, we cracked on.<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHPtVEie4WrnX33DXiX_KwNRV6gPeibmQX-_Zs8e36NY6ICwxXtiO8fYHLpHk7-OqUB_Scf70NOnqaLos6Z8u-wVtJogrrjW_SaM60NOR1Y06mGHs-0BktFDulPlFDW606mMiVn0eVAAA/s1600/velo+selfie.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHPtVEie4WrnX33DXiX_KwNRV6gPeibmQX-_Zs8e36NY6ICwxXtiO8fYHLpHk7-OqUB_Scf70NOnqaLos6Z8u-wVtJogrrjW_SaM60NOR1Y06mGHs-0BktFDulPlFDW606mMiVn0eVAAA/s320/velo+selfie.jpg" /></a><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNrjlhwydPvLhL2S3BkIQ3hesl3mGOO4hC1-1BcldUA8hp6mrq81E3zkGvz2LsEOYhZZbYdxqhUlH4NB2uSYHTmz4iu7PIcA0sEjuXRoJZKcEdJE0bWiCQUMrShwKvyP-ZkNwSDVjOivQ/s1600/velo+rest.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNrjlhwydPvLhL2S3BkIQ3hesl3mGOO4hC1-1BcldUA8hp6mrq81E3zkGvz2LsEOYhZZbYdxqhUlH4NB2uSYHTmz4iu7PIcA0sEjuXRoJZKcEdJE0bWiCQUMrShwKvyP-ZkNwSDVjOivQ/s320/velo+rest.jpg" /></a><p>As we left the Velodrome, we went past a lady who was doing 60km on a handbike accompanied by her dog - very inspiring. In fact, there was room on the ride for all sorts of bikes,and it made a welcome change from the usual chiselled whippets on carbon bling - as did being able to keep up and even do a bit of overtaking...!<p>From there it was on into the mysterious lands of North London - Hackney, Stoke Newington (both packed & achingly hip, natch), past a bloke who'd just got out of his cab to throw up, Wood Green (where my Dad grew up) and on towards Ally Pally. By this time it had become clear that Larry's mate Dave was struggling on each and every incline, and Larry had already tried to send me on. By the top of Ally Pally, which was stiff but not unmanageable, he was walking, and he kindly sent us on without him. So, without stopping for cake in case he changed his mind, on we went!<p>I liked the road up to Ally Pally - there were loads of kids parking up and gathering to chat, or smoke or drink,or just be teenagers. It reminded me of going up to the hills behind Folkestone to look at the view, have a cheeky beer & smoke, listen to Transformer & plan how to persuade to get a girl to go along...<p>Back in the real world, it was just 2am, and we had done the first 35 miles in 3.5 hours. There was a nice fast run down the hill, then we went up a residential street which turned out to be a long old climb up through Highgate to Hampstead Heath. It wasn't enormously steep, and it wasn't KGB hour either, but they do say the darkest hour is before Dawn, and even though it was only just post 2am, first light was only about an hour away. Larry was chatting away oblivious as I had a bit of a wobble, which quickly passed, but I felt rough for a bit. Once we started going down the other side, and I'd had a banana, and I knew there were no other hills of note until the end, I was a lot happier. <p>Unfortunately, my back trouble from last week proved to be an omen, and the same knee pain I'd had last year came back somewhere between Olympic park & Ally Pally. Time for a visit to the osteopath, and to do some bloody core work :-( On the night,it seemed the best plan was to keep going, and once we were over the penultimate hill, we seemed to get faster - I think we both secretly wanted to get back before it got light!<p>The pace was now really rapid, and a little group formed as we swept down towards Swiss Cottage, Abbey Road - probably the only time of day to "do" the zebra crossing without incurring the wrath of the taxi drivers, then Lord's and back round to Baker Street via Regent's Park - the first red light we jumped - if you can't jump a light at 0230 with nothing about and no street lights, then when can you?! There were still people about, but it was nothing compared to the hordes around Piccadilly! Big queues of people waiting to get in to places I've read about in the gossip columns, traffic jams, lots of revelry, very busy - and it was now past 0230, and there was no sign of it dying down. Somewhere in Covent Garden we went past a tired and emotional chap who just wanted to know what all the bikes were doing as he'd seen them all night. We went back across the river for more wiggling before coming back over Westminster Bridge, past Parliament, off up Whitehall, through the "as busy as daytime" Trafalgar Square, then down the Mall.<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFc_kiIGZEEHNntnQTqHeibELkdhsv_oyKOPM7H6NF3vevSCIaQL-oGVgtNql1YzRIgg_ZapFY6PUXuIdyxKtUtRA68AEgV6ngKmcTNNqkbH2-1FKk4kTTuMFIlSefXHYbClAp8HoBy7g/s1600/big+ben.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFc_kiIGZEEHNntnQTqHeibELkdhsv_oyKOPM7H6NF3vevSCIaQL-oGVgtNql1YzRIgg_ZapFY6PUXuIdyxKtUtRA68AEgV6ngKmcTNNqkbH2-1FKk4kTTuMFIlSefXHYbClAp8HoBy7g/s320/big+ben.jpg" /></a><p>Suddenly it was dark & deserted again, as we rode down the big wide road, around the corner and back up Birdcage Walk into Parliament Square again - meaning we had missed a turning somewhere as we were supposed to be in Victoria, rather than about to set off for a second lap of Whitehall. We found our way eventually and got to Lambeth Bridge in time to see the dawn start to appear - by now it was a bit after 3am but it was still very early / late...<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyn3z8azsf1zXR0tCT2bc9S5gUDe5d9gAWPHaM-VbCw8D3HZH7pJBOj_IEjnLg56fwAteRYt7Sv5L3QRqZM9yX_MQaXT5QMhhJBjuJK2wrD9NY0KPtBaULjqPqDZMunIYKCGzqUSrOMqE/s1600/dawn+breaks.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyn3z8azsf1zXR0tCT2bc9S5gUDe5d9gAWPHaM-VbCw8D3HZH7pJBOj_IEjnLg56fwAteRYt7Sv5L3QRqZM9yX_MQaXT5QMhhJBjuJK2wrD9NY0KPtBaULjqPqDZMunIYKCGzqUSrOMqE/s320/dawn+breaks.jpg" /></a><p>Then it was an increasingly fast ride back to Crystal Palace under the ever lightening sky, through Brixton, past Herne Hill Velodrome, lapping a few late starters from Ally Pally along the way. Larry described it as the beasts heading for the water hole, such was the sense of urgency. We crossed the by now very quiet South Circular and the fast group we were in split up a bit on the long drag up College Road, but we got to the top with no great drama. My knee was really protesting now, so it was slow going, but then it was an easy roll down to the finish. Here's my road buddy Larry with me at the finish:<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFfkqp0m7FaSel2Ea6zaDUNoaJaPGVEsaXR9pZ2ADV94dLdR3zFbdDioSAZIUxWD4ZhZmv9B6C6hipWe4WhB03XynRgO0YJzbBmj2Gx3pElZKkFSffOpeEm8e2Csf8IMpQzR74XlW1-W8/s1600/buddies.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFfkqp0m7FaSel2Ea6zaDUNoaJaPGVEsaXR9pZ2ADV94dLdR3zFbdDioSAZIUxWD4ZhZmv9B6C6hipWe4WhB03XynRgO0YJzbBmj2Gx3pElZKkFSffOpeEm8e2Csf8IMpQzR74XlW1-W8/s320/buddies.jpg" /></a><p>The finish was a bit disappointing really - there was no obvious end - just a banner in the car park but people weren't riding under it and they were handing out the medals before you got there anyway - all a bit low key. We then had what I'd have to rank as the worst bacon sandwich of all time (which didn't stop me from eating it), and we rode around the park looking for an exit near to where Larry had parked. We had done the bit from Ally Pally to Crystal Palace, about 30 miles, with all the traffic jams & carnage of the West End, in bang on 2 hours, which was very pleasing! After bidding him farewell, and thanking him for sticking with me as I got slower on the hills, I took a picture of the sunrise and went home, waving at the poor buggers setting off from Crystal Palace with halfway to go as I did.<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8AtKiK1UaSbJhW-GIOfuSsNoFytxsu6SD-KIPpfMGcNcLIWMv3lpyB72F6kjGqhw1kakat7FVoh19qCdaR1SQBF_6vc37oZc5gtNilCdx9ZsqNiYDPwhTZNIvl1_tk-znibM6RmmnRDE/s1600/sunrise.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8AtKiK1UaSbJhW-GIOfuSsNoFytxsu6SD-KIPpfMGcNcLIWMv3lpyB72F6kjGqhw1kakat7FVoh19qCdaR1SQBF_6vc37oZc5gtNilCdx9ZsqNiYDPwhTZNIvl1_tk-znibM6RmmnRDE/s320/sunrise.jpg" /></a><p>It was a great ride, not too hard so that it turned miserable, a really wide range of ability & bikes, people riding to raise money for a host of worthy charities, all chosen for their own reasons - in my case my 8 year old daughter who has type 1. Another JDRF team rider was doing it to raise money as her nephew has it, for example. The atmosphere was great all the way around. <p>I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to anyone - the faster folk can have fun whizzing around the quieter streets in the dead of night, the steadier riders can build themselves up to the challenge of 100km - none of the hills are TOO bad, and if they are then you can just walk anyway!<p>Things that surprised me? That really wide range of people & bikes, the all pervading smell of ganja in many of the built up areas, the lovely curry smells coming from some one's house in the East End, the number of people who were still out and about at 3am. I must be getting old.<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXFHTUAQeIq3e-Ge04PlhYisNv9Meyuoh6gYnTD7Kkmn5HWBKGTyZZ99n4mZvKL_aHpUQ2kowviIixqEwZPAvL4c3_D0R9UVRLIvZLI3GP8R622hyphenhyphenwjFZvjCVpU1PVlxuehmmsljnbilA/s1600/medal.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXFHTUAQeIq3e-Ge04PlhYisNv9Meyuoh6gYnTD7Kkmn5HWBKGTyZZ99n4mZvKL_aHpUQ2kowviIixqEwZPAvL4c3_D0R9UVRLIvZLI3GP8R622hyphenhyphenwjFZvjCVpU1PVlxuehmmsljnbilA/s320/medal.jpg" /></a><p>I imagine it would have been quieter and calmer later on, and I've seen some great photos of London as it got light, but I was pleased to be done and dusted and home in bed by 0530 - the joys of living 3 miles from the start! <p>I'll leave the last word to William Wordsworth - I didn't know this poem before today, I saw the first line in another post about views of London, and looked it up. It perfectly describes what I thought the ride would be like, but in fact,the mixture of chaos & calm made it a lot of fun. Take it away Billy:
<p>
<b>Upon Westminster Bridge, Wordsworth</b>
<p>
EARTH has not anything to show more fair; <br>
Dull would he be of soul who could pass by <br>
A sight so touching in its majesty. <br>
This city now doth like a garment wear <br>
The beauty of the morning: silent, bare, <br>
Ships, towers, domes, theatres, and temples lie <br>
Open unto the fields, and to the sky,— <br>
All bright and glittering in the smokeless air. <br>
Never did sun more beautifully steep <br>
In his first splendour valley, rock, or hill; <br>
Ne'er saw I, never felt, a calm so deep! <br>
The river glideth at his own sweet will: <br>
Dear God! the very houses seem asleep; <br>
And all that mighty heart is lying still! <br>Andrew Stroudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15861568581975349926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2981214366937129650.post-66183693932783391182014-05-18T13:44:00.004-07:002014-05-18T14:00:39.575-07:00Tour de Penge 2014Sunday 18th May was a glorious sunny day, so perfect for the 8th edition of the Tour de Penge. Families and riders gathered in the park from about 10, and by the time I turned up with my peloton of 16 people, the place was heaving. We signed on and joined the 300 or so others for Le Grand Depart!<p>Unlike last year, the local police hadn't turned out to close the roads for us, but with marshalling help from Bromley Cyclists & the adult section Penge Cycle Club, we managed fine. The ride rolled off down Maple Road, then along the high street, with passers by taking pictures of the enormous Peloton, and gathered again in Cator Park to form into smaller groups, with a marshall leading the way, and another bringing up the rear.<p>From there it was 8 miles along the Waterlink way via Catford, Ladywell, Lewisham and Deptford to Greenwich. The pace was languid, targetted at letting the kids keep up, or set the pace, so there was none of the usual misery today. The only slight concerns were making sure that the tan-lines were straight, and having enough money for ice cream.<p>Groups formed, splintered, reformed again, and there was a great atmosphere as we made our way gradually along the quiet paths to Greenwich for our picnic. Just as some of the little ones (and a few of the grown ups) were beginning to grumble, we came around the corner & the masts of the Cutty Sark hoved into view! Phew!<p>On arriving in the park in front of the Greenwich Mean Time brewery, there were loads of other riders having their picnics in the shade, and, given we were picnicking in front of the brewery, it would have been rude not to sample a bit of the product...<p>The kids all seemed to be re-energised by some food, and were really happy running around in the sun until it was time to go back. This time we went in one big group, and the children were all looking forward to ice-cream in Ladywell Fields, and a splash in the river. It was such a warm afternoon that I was also tempted to join them...but I resisted. It was lovely to see new friendships being formed, old ones being rekindled (my daughter was really happy to see a girl she'd met on last year's ride,and they played together in the creek), as well having some time to chat to people you usually see ahead of you on rides!<p>After an hour or so lazing in the sunshine, we headed off, over the curly wurly bridge,and back along the waterlink way to Cator Park, where Conrad, John & Helen, Liam, John & Jane were waiting to welcome us back, then it was back to ours for some refreshing beers.<p>It was a great day out - brilliantly organised by Penge CC, well marshalled by Penge CC & Bromley cyclists, and most importantly wonderfully supported by the community. There were bikes being ridden by people who may not be out on those bikes until the same time next year, loads of kids - and hopefully all those casual cyclists will have enjoyed it enough to do another one - be it Breeze, sky ride, or just doing the same route again in the holidays.<p>Thanks to all the organisers, the marshalls, all the riders, and roll on next year. I imagine there'll be a lot of kids sleeping the sleep of the righteous tonight!<p>PS - you'll be pleased to hear the lycra top did its job, and the sunburn is nicely symmetrical!Andrew Stroudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15861568581975349926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2981214366937129650.post-53743181704575666822014-05-04T15:04:00.002-07:002014-05-04T22:31:21.928-07:00Beckenham to Brighton, May 4th 2014So today I finally broke the Brighton duck - I've been trying to cycle there for a few years,and today was the day! I went on an organised run with Bigfoot Bikes, based nearby in Hayes. Here's the <a href="http://ridewithgps.com/routes/4440768">route.</a>, and here's the profile:<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_v3GqWZwb_r7NzYqmYtNyL1KEzNRjdI6G-EbXo94Af5pSdBAxrvKOdJ6tT_qyON1EjIFFDt47vXiVaPKkMAoIL4WBzXF9R8_XueQPRRsWEjpYk1p9ivKMTjLu6e62jfqIK86htBhmFb0/s1600/profile.PNG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_v3GqWZwb_r7NzYqmYtNyL1KEzNRjdI6G-EbXo94Af5pSdBAxrvKOdJ6tT_qyON1EjIFFDt47vXiVaPKkMAoIL4WBzXF9R8_XueQPRRsWEjpYk1p9ivKMTjLu6e62jfqIK86htBhmFb0/s400/profile.PNG" /></a><p>The main club set off slightly earlier, many planning to ride back afterwards, and I was waiting with the families - where kids from 8 years old were going to ride down! They were split into groups and the faster kids were nipping at our heels all day - usually arriving at the feed stops as we were leaving, with exhausted parents in their wake.<p>I was joined by Martin from the club, and an old floor-mate since University, Jon "Bunny" Bunn, and we joined a group of 16 others, supposedly in the 12mph group, thinking it would a nice sedate ride down...I was going to change the name to "FAT LADS ON BIKES", but Bunny has lost so much weight his lycra was baggy, so that wouldn't be fair.<p>The route took us along some familiar lanes before we started following some roads I hadn't seen before, and some of the scenery was beautiful - bluebells everywhere, the sun trying to warm us up, then whizzing down the Haliloo Valley (no, me neither), before we went along what felt like a secret road which took us through the middle of Woldingham School (or Wolditz as it used to be known when Bunny's lovely wife went here a few years back), then out the other side and down to Godstone. <p>We were on the busy A25 for a bit but soon got back onto the quiet roads around Bletchingley, as we headed to our first feed stop at the Bell Inn in Outwood. The aforementioned Kate was there with emergency supplies - bacon sandwiches, cereal bars & support - it being their local boozer! Also saw Andy who was waiting with his youngest for his wife and 2 boys to come through on the family ride.<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWiZM53iecaBinmeiIoRDnl6n9Mec1IDm2Rnccq2llmva4gVwxBcYH7JDRSbG9kpLjKOkp3KT_bwYh35M2QvOmSKg3DNMpDpQl6-XmBejb6Gd4dYU_IARwYPFUCaq2EOpLu7ZWnll7kyA/s1600/bell.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWiZM53iecaBinmeiIoRDnl6n9Mec1IDm2Rnccq2llmva4gVwxBcYH7JDRSbG9kpLjKOkp3KT_bwYh35M2QvOmSKg3DNMpDpQl6-XmBejb6Gd4dYU_IARwYPFUCaq2EOpLu7ZWnll7kyA/s400/bell.jpg" /></a><p>
I'll be honest, at this point of the ride I'd decided this was going to be a pretty short post - pretty much "rode to Brighton, it was a sunny day, no alarms". Needless to say, hubris was to get the better of me eventually, but not just yet! It almost did as we swept down a fast downhill just after the first feedstop: as the road went around to the right, the corner was a bit sharper than I'd thought, I was going a bit too fast, and I had a brief vision of catapulting over the hedge Jonny Hoogerland style...<p>The pace was fine, and I was particularly enjoying not being overtaken on all the hills, which is my usual MO...Having gone past Mrs Bunn's fomer alma mater, we later went past another of the Bunn family schools at Worth, with amazing views across the Sussex countryside- not really done justice by this photo:<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJuWv0HolscZv1vqOJ1o_RgINT5ujmJLYA-Vsu2TBTI5lcNo4fZsk6DgKdOGmXVNJQzuh9rxgULioGcoDm7evBaXheVmNf1E3VS4zXREIuykxtJs8M_Ywok4ccWMPET-SHJVzJuq2BtkA/s1600/country+view.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJuWv0HolscZv1vqOJ1o_RgINT5ujmJLYA-Vsu2TBTI5lcNo4fZsk6DgKdOGmXVNJQzuh9rxgULioGcoDm7evBaXheVmNf1E3VS4zXREIuykxtJs8M_Ywok4ccWMPET-SHJVzJuq2BtkA/s400/country+view.jpg" /></a><p>Our next stop couldn't have been more quintessentially English - country pub on a village green, cricket match taking place, vintage transport aficionados standing by the side of the road waiting for the vintage commercial vehicle rally to pass by on their way to Brighton from London.<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPqgVmI4QdLWTvw4u4UGVZUCERnJe-jPH2nHFjvtMCmGueY4rerqPP4zIY8pgqQ9YjS8Q-JasbBdJzqXr7HnnEjKa7c-4KewaRe5mz7PdK-O6g7DpRXGc6TG4uLCCIatGUhjaCi-wqsD4/s1600/pub.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPqgVmI4QdLWTvw4u4UGVZUCERnJe-jPH2nHFjvtMCmGueY4rerqPP4zIY8pgqQ9YjS8Q-JasbBdJzqXr7HnnEjKa7c-4KewaRe5mz7PdK-O6g7DpRXGc6TG4uLCCIatGUhjaCi-wqsD4/s400/pub.jpg" /></a><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio-Q1g3nypj7lwiK6deBzXOrrtNl_UTzIz_ZTevRfCYv-h_M3xo7y_jGYKAh7kKpcGK1aiEpygnLZrkqNsJllLqss7OqPZ42OoDnZR8tHKKZY5goQpnC0To2ZMnJzhKjdQ7e-xPYaR6j0/s1600/creekit.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio-Q1g3nypj7lwiK6deBzXOrrtNl_UTzIz_ZTevRfCYv-h_M3xo7y_jGYKAh7kKpcGK1aiEpygnLZrkqNsJllLqss7OqPZ42OoDnZR8tHKKZY5goQpnC0To2ZMnJzhKjdQ7e-xPYaR6j0/s400/creekit.jpg" /></a><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjykS4ioQnscbKhcxMtYKy01MDyetUPZufU1FRyg5_YoBKixQRZ5mZxICbAPXGDw5LC7Dnn43E-YMexXbb6zxTSkttlN_kCZgrkqKY6OmIjM9Gsm3uey5xPx61UFDpd7a9smgBKrz4AEYs/s1600/vintage+car.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjykS4ioQnscbKhcxMtYKy01MDyetUPZufU1FRyg5_YoBKixQRZ5mZxICbAPXGDw5LC7Dnn43E-YMexXbb6zxTSkttlN_kCZgrkqKY6OmIjM9Gsm3uey5xPx61UFDpd7a9smgBKrz4AEYs/s400/vintage+car.jpg" /></a><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo116Wt_K0R25YAU6weke77gLzRxVDb4_Dz7gX99P8UUfpoJuxgd1zg_5Xi1xgjPz3sbfhX0d33KfhJbZXMoPZUrIoaf3Kde10KctgCoZpwtJsVFBnpvlCbJqaj1bZ6aQ236fD1ARap08/s1600/vintage+FE.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo116Wt_K0R25YAU6weke77gLzRxVDb4_Dz7gX99P8UUfpoJuxgd1zg_5Xi1xgjPz3sbfhX0d33KfhJbZXMoPZUrIoaf3Kde10KctgCoZpwtJsVFBnpvlCbJqaj1bZ6aQ236fD1ARap08/s400/vintage+FE.jpg" /></a><p>Quick pitstop to top up on water / flapjacks / sausage rolls, followed by the now obligatory pic of the boys outside another pub, and then we set off again before we completely seized up. The one problem with riding in such a big group was we inevitably needed to have longer stops at the feed stations than you would otherwise, but it was fun to be in a big group and have people to talk to, target on the hills, support etc.<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihO636MBASxEVotAqm4KRt1k1iAQKUM28RGSi9V8EueooIo8Shoh0aQJbPbisjm7DU1AT198QkzckfAudULlPACubhpo5CsC7JZbS1moZAcbGceoE_OE_R53ANeQuWko1YQyM5uj1eoJc/s1600/staplefield.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihO636MBASxEVotAqm4KRt1k1iAQKUM28RGSi9V8EueooIo8Shoh0aQJbPbisjm7DU1AT198QkzckfAudULlPACubhpo5CsC7JZbS1moZAcbGceoE_OE_R53ANeQuWko1YQyM5uj1eoJc/s400/staplefield.jpg" /></a><p>
We knew that the last bit of the ride would be the toughest, and it took a while to warm up again after the stop. Bunny cramped up at the top of a hill, but there were a couple of salt tablets to hand and, with some electrolyte drink, this seemed to do the trick. There wasn't quite as much sprinting up the hills as there had been earlier in the day! Then we saw the South Downs looming ahead of us, and the ominous Devil's Dyke in the distance. Suddenly, the banter died down (apart from Martin who was quoting the miserable bits from last week's blog back at me), and people started concentrating on getting over what was ahead. Here I am looking up at it - it's off camera, because you obviously can't look directly at it.<p>Mr Hubris, I've been expecting you.<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiylfUIseG4X4C-jAdxHveOLVcpDu1RIBbR3VKW7PTKgr_CLquVYldDeqjbvxvAOycct7lvgVyKRLaZp9y0TTEcV3WfJ_1Q2Lpm4Xt9Tr1659rYhzB-UuEc5IW-h2OUTsceOmzDBaxnHKg/s1600/looking+at+the+devil.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiylfUIseG4X4C-jAdxHveOLVcpDu1RIBbR3VKW7PTKgr_CLquVYldDeqjbvxvAOycct7lvgVyKRLaZp9y0TTEcV3WfJ_1Q2Lpm4Xt9Tr1659rYhzB-UuEc5IW-h2OUTsceOmzDBaxnHKg/s400/looking+at+the+devil.jpg" /></a><p>We got to a roundabout and started the climb. It wasn't that steep to start with, but you knew it was going to get worse, so it was a case of grinding up. We annoyingly lost some height before it ramped up, and we had to stagger into the middle of the road and turn right for a further ramp and on to the top. There were some strugglers and a few people got off to push - someone on front of me dismounted with a loud "No, that's enough" - but I carried on, and it flattened out towards the top. We went over the summit and collapsed onto a grass bank next to the golf club to bask in the achievement and the sunshine, and look at the sea!<p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-EU3EYx5iHLRqP4ZUQ3MAJ09xX7_MmF0O-0b6SDgg30ord8z-hwEy-_iXjVMwc9gpE2n4JTq8cPohJDSJze1oawslxlCj9WCVE6MfDoZBzCpNK-q1SEPJE_2TPWIJYrDdX9CRDqACzSY/s1600/view+from+top.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-EU3EYx5iHLRqP4ZUQ3MAJ09xX7_MmF0O-0b6SDgg30ord8z-hwEy-_iXjVMwc9gpE2n4JTq8cPohJDSJze1oawslxlCj9WCVE6MfDoZBzCpNK-q1SEPJE_2TPWIJYrDdX9CRDqACzSY/s400/view+from+top.jpg" /></a><p>Here's Martin, King of the Mountains, surveying his domain from his grassy throne!<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbsiJ2p9c4eHWA4WHtxxlqHHzz3rYQNglrxxZA18g37KUEnFTxVdslAklwnVMxY11pcW0MIrN6L18CWRV_uyRHXS7ErZOHGFr2uUAFU80gMsyYY_Nkz1Ay7ppkPm_5jw7xtHWfrZPpz_s/s1600/martin.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbsiJ2p9c4eHWA4WHtxxlqHHzz3rYQNglrxxZA18g37KUEnFTxVdslAklwnVMxY11pcW0MIrN6L18CWRV_uyRHXS7ErZOHGFr2uUAFU80gMsyYY_Nkz1Ay7ppkPm_5jw7xtHWfrZPpz_s/s400/martin.jpg" /></a><p>
Conquering Devil's Dyke had a reinvigorating effect - all the stress of the last hour was gone, the jokes were back, it was time for another selfie, and then to drag ourselves off our sunny grass bank and set off for the last 5 miles down the other side to Brighton.<p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0HPtn4O2wzo1xmSzfYB7tURQz6d7HAZw7_OgFBDBtpkrBEc5dGVP8rGwJdjcN0Waf7x0YcmPcKKd1ecBV6aELWa6_kwKzscidTyos3OS7SI-YeUL7ZezQSZAdPUXgq7z2WSkU83uTgro/s1600/devil+selfie.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0HPtn4O2wzo1xmSzfYB7tURQz6d7HAZw7_OgFBDBtpkrBEc5dGVP8rGwJdjcN0Waf7x0YcmPcKKd1ecBV6aELWa6_kwKzscidTyos3OS7SI-YeUL7ZezQSZAdPUXgq7z2WSkU83uTgro/s400/devil+selfie.jpg" /></a><p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggsmYgyonXYXQk-7W3M8qjyd6kh8xKKfWQ4MIxLVYVKOrDGzMp97Mn-58oMpiw8Oope-lusgVidQ94Ps6sT7-1Haza6_a-_T487Cqx5JLG0ZL-mAoPYeHTCWGHOcsJ1JeOWxvYrjNc_uM/s1600/down+the+devil.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggsmYgyonXYXQk-7W3M8qjyd6kh8xKKfWQ4MIxLVYVKOrDGzMp97Mn-58oMpiw8Oope-lusgVidQ94Ps6sT7-1Haza6_a-_T487Cqx5JLG0ZL-mAoPYeHTCWGHOcsJ1JeOWxvYrjNc_uM/s400/down+the+devil.jpg" /></a><p>
By this time we were seeing groups of riders riding back to London - odd, given there was a perfectly good train service - and Martin, who had been talking about riding back all day, made a snap decision and went for it. So he missed the interesting route we took down to the beach,and the cheer that went up as we rounded the final corner!<p>It was over surprisingly quickly - we thanked the lead rider, who then went off to be with some friends, others were met by families, and that was that! A quick brew and an ice-cream was our recovery food, then a smaller group of us headed for the station to catch a train back.<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5cxceGi6rfgb-ESY5rHUmhJcgHY3XiFy_KTqVOcSgnmxeHS41qxhvGxcahtGXoHp3Uc6s3YA2kUlVVKBV1eJ8mEOj6tvM14PavDq-gOQFTkBiL4cAb7x0pVP6gtPrsjbkXvbSEC99xNE/s1600/hove.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5cxceGi6rfgb-ESY5rHUmhJcgHY3XiFy_KTqVOcSgnmxeHS41qxhvGxcahtGXoHp3Uc6s3YA2kUlVVKBV1eJ8mEOj6tvM14PavDq-gOQFTkBiL4cAb7x0pVP6gtPrsjbkXvbSEC99xNE/s400/hove.jpg" /></a><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwY82VfrByAWoVNAvT7mqb-TqDR9FvEUUbUEBIwqqhc9Gt2gk-Wfp6TI-CVqe40XzFdfql8fAjaiVtZZzOI77IrXtTvgNP29HpY1x4i24mufNoa2VwXLwfJgT18jWkmOOHPagCMEVi094/s1600/ice+cream.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwY82VfrByAWoVNAvT7mqb-TqDR9FvEUUbUEBIwqqhc9Gt2gk-Wfp6TI-CVqe40XzFdfql8fAjaiVtZZzOI77IrXtTvgNP29HpY1x4i24mufNoa2VwXLwfJgT18jWkmOOHPagCMEVi094/s400/ice+cream.jpg" /></a><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJhUPhTpft6CWsa_XmoNh-EjTwsJ237bWACtBDQx2qqlL8La5DkKklAh9jUyo_u7tJlUB0CTbe8USInQsAqbm6YKHDimse36D02_hy0u55l0OHkcQJs9nkRdk8ymQPN38BnbgAijNuZ24/s1600/seaside.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJhUPhTpft6CWsa_XmoNh-EjTwsJ237bWACtBDQx2qqlL8La5DkKklAh9jUyo_u7tJlUB0CTbe8USInQsAqbm6YKHDimse36D02_hy0u55l0OHkcQJs9nkRdk8ymQPN38BnbgAijNuZ24/s400/seaside.jpg" /></a><p>It had been an excellent ride - thanks to Bigfoot for organising it, and throwing their doors open to everyone - it was a really good route, well organised feed stops, well led, a perfect pace (for me, at least), great weather, no misery - apart from a teeny bit on Devil's Dyke. Well done to the youngsters too - the first group of whom made it to the coast not long after us,and looked like they could go straight back again!<p>By the time I got home, cycling back with a few others from East Croydon, I'd ridden 110km at an average speed of 22kmh, with a max of 56kmh - probably going around Hoogerland Corner! It was great to ride with my old mate Bunny, and it seemed apposite in Skidrow-on-Sea to have a couple of tinnies on the station forecourt before we headed for home. It was also his longest ride, so he did really well, especially conquering the cramp. <p>We're riding again next week, with more hills, as we're building up the the ridiculous Chiltern 100 at the end of the month - something I'm NOT looking forward to! I'm sure there'll be a miserable story to tell though!Andrew Stroudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15861568581975349926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2981214366937129650.post-77617137395704804932014-04-28T10:23:00.002-07:002014-04-29T01:24:19.679-07:00The Inaugural Penge ContinentalSunday 27th April, 22:49<P>
Just got back from France, where I've been with 11 other from the Penge Cycling Club for the first edition of what I hope will be many Penge Continentals. This was the 3rd ride of my summer of 8 organised rides (not including the Sunday club runs), several of which I'm doing to raise money for JDRF (<a href="http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fatladonabike">Read more here</a>)<p>This one was a 100km around the Pas de Calais, organised by John, taking in 60 miles of bucolic French scenery, including several stiff climbs, apparently linked by flattish roads...this is <a href="http://ridewithgps.com/routes/4107691">the route!</a><p>
And here's the profile - flat bits at the start & mercifully the finish, not so much in the middle:<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjANnhGRLHS-z0pDTpk1NuhlU6ghXDihWG7DWDvwzhWDVFRh-Hq-3BNvbi9a26yNJ7ePGJyOziXovlDwswDDu1zO0R22FR5Amxs79HjsZxtTBWt4-Tyf0YLDPBegsbDQdcNN2M6ZORCQE/s1600/profile+penge.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjANnhGRLHS-z0pDTpk1NuhlU6ghXDihWG7DWDvwzhWDVFRh-Hq-3BNvbi9a26yNJ7ePGJyOziXovlDwswDDu1zO0R22FR5Amxs79HjsZxtTBWt4-Tyf0YLDPBegsbDQdcNN2M6ZORCQE/s400/profile+penge.jpg" /></a><p>
The 12 of us assembled at the travel centre in Dover at 8ish then followed the red cyclists line round to the ferry. As cyclists we were allowed to embark first, and because many had just bought coffee, water bottles were temporarily replaced with costa cups, which fitted really well, and we took on the first climb of the day to get onboard. Bike racks were provided, and we all piled up to the cafe and watched on with interest as some tugs shifted a container ship which had run aground in the inner harbour. Once we got going the chat & banter increased as the continent got closer and we could see our first proper climb looming into view. I had clearly overdone it on the food front and even had some dry clothes in my bag, which was already heavy and quickly became a burden once we started riding - already investigating saddle bags for next time!<p>
We rode out of the port and along towards Sangatte on the coast road, straight past the refugee camp, and continued to make our way through the outskirts, already noticing that drivers were giving us a respectfully wide berth, and there were even some encouraging toots of the horn. There were some envious glances from me at the people queuing up for €6.50 roast chicken from a van by the side of the road, but there was no time for such fripperies as lunch, so on we went!
<p>There was a decent tailwind, so we made good progress to the base of the climb up to Cap Blanc Nez, then pedalled up that at our own pace, under the watchful lens of Martin who had his camera out at the top for those all important “this climb isn’t bothering me at all” shots as we approached the top!<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSc1_gyfcpsR2_FG84Z9WR3nOyyUcTY6sb0SgkTBfO8FLvf9xzUmCC8L0eE67O4s4wl75mmzAOAzaPxjpvLWEsE5YmTskMSxlua7zIJL4e_LzwX2MALrWFnjM4odGQjIV6Q3oOphbpZXw/s1600/griz.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSc1_gyfcpsR2_FG84Z9WR3nOyyUcTY6sb0SgkTBfO8FLvf9xzUmCC8L0eE67O4s4wl75mmzAOAzaPxjpvLWEsE5YmTskMSxlua7zIJL4e_LzwX2MALrWFnjM4odGQjIV6Q3oOphbpZXw/s400/griz.jpg" /></a><p>We waited for everyone to arrive, took some pics, looked back at the impressive height we’d gained, then set off down the fast sweeping road on the other side of the cap and turned inland onto the tiny, largely traffic-free roads which were to characterise most of the ride. It was here we got the first "Courage" from a random old lady, but there was banter with other cyclists, as well as the occasional hilarious "pedal" joke from a car when we were going up hill...<p>It was lovely to ride up these empty roads in between rolling hills, then get to the top and see the magnificent views across the channel or back to Calais, or on to the next set of rolling hills on our route...<p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoxbS_FPjfftGOqlh6O1ep-NoFQ1i7nR8iLYWXUkoxb3zEpeT-PxvTPwbI1dkv1GOPXOUzBfIGl2oPVmGTFdvoXox4SvkbRYxw5UwPDma5ZbNUJ4Z3bC975cdYWt-pNWHNU6-LdOjV7uk/s1600/WP_20140427_005.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoxbS_FPjfftGOqlh6O1ep-NoFQ1i7nR8iLYWXUkoxb3zEpeT-PxvTPwbI1dkv1GOPXOUzBfIGl2oPVmGTFdvoXox4SvkbRYxw5UwPDma5ZbNUJ4Z3bC975cdYWt-pNWHNU6-LdOjV7uk/s400/WP_20140427_005.jpg" /></a><p>
After a long descent into another hamlet on good surfaces apart from the slippery gravelly bit in the middle of the lane, we went up another valley and came across our first car - apparently being driven by a child sitting on its mother's lap! The road surfaces were generally very good, and we were going through some very bucolic looking & smelling scenery - big piles of natural fertiliser on the edges of many of the fields, some enormous looking farmhouses, a few of which had been converted to gites, and may have been a good option for a holiday - if it wasn't so close to home with the same weather! Eventually we got to a village called La Slack, and the photo opportunity was too good to miss!<P><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr0lbvfTq-cIT-HNHoZkV2oVVeAYInJZN3aEsyMzqU3Ws9TYovedJ2ZHNnsYy1S9NlGdsFlrNrAJep2nPBYpWfTDuy2uzOYYehgj6zfdLzpKYvKzwAdbpN2ra-g-4Ih4fs5SOtMGxwAkY/s1600/slcack.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr0lbvfTq-cIT-HNHoZkV2oVVeAYInJZN3aEsyMzqU3Ws9TYovedJ2ZHNnsYy1S9NlGdsFlrNrAJep2nPBYpWfTDuy2uzOYYehgj6zfdLzpKYvKzwAdbpN2ra-g-4Ih4fs5SOtMGxwAkY/s400/slcack.jpg" /></a><p>Not long after this I started to struggle - I had been fine all day, but with the dark clouds looming, the weight of my rucksack starting to give me gip and the rain starting to spit I started to feel rough and needed to stop for some food. I ate some bread & salami from my bag while John & Sophie waited, then we shared a very bizarre tasting energy bar, and the three of us carried on until we met up with the others at the cafe stop about 10 miles on.<p>The next 45 mins or so were miserable - as miserable as I'd been on a bike for a long time. All of those black thoughts start going through your head - I started remembering my last bike ride in France, the epic fail of the Etape in 2011 (described <a href="http://fatladonabike.blogspot.co.uk/2011/07/letape-du-tour-11th-july-2011.html">here</a>), I decided I would throw my bike off the first available cliff and give up all the riding I have lined up for the rest of the summer, why was I doing this, the weight I had lost didn't seem to be making me any faster, what was the point etc etc. John stopped to take a call, and I confided in Sophie that knowing that the only way out of it was to keep going as there was no chance of bottling out and calling for rescue was a bit demoralising. While she agreed, she also said it would be good discipline to crack on, and not that we had any choice in the matter, that's what we did, if not a massively cracking pace!<p>
There was a long drag up to Boursin, which didn't seem to the one of Cheese fame, and then a stiff climb out of town on one of the last 3 hills of the day - we went up to a crucifix appropriately, praying for deliverance from these hills, then branched left, and the road ramped up around the corner to the top. By this time it was hosing it down, which paradoxically made me feel much better and I started enjoying myself again! I was wondering why I had been struggling quite so much up the hill - <i>could it have been the phantom mechanical?!</i> - so I got off at the top and found both the mudguard & rear brake blocks were rubbing against the back wheel rim. A twiddle from John sorted the brakes and a kick from me sorted the mudguard and on we went.<p>Here's a picture from the bottom of the hill - we have to get to the top. It may not look steep, but why don't you try riding up it?!<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhec-QmIMdOB2Y3o67HYd8G0PgbTGCd8ALyf8CDnmOUiIx0eVcw42Cx9Dyamz6X8LSG_KOmQef_MtTwCPtDBa9DUf2g5ColvVnO7HL5DOAQKuQSoG1aOeqGSv0SNpxIZLdAAcbkNSZwUUI/s1600/boursin.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhec-QmIMdOB2Y3o67HYd8G0PgbTGCd8ALyf8CDnmOUiIx0eVcw42Cx9Dyamz6X8LSG_KOmQef_MtTwCPtDBa9DUf2g5ColvVnO7HL5DOAQKuQSoG1aOeqGSv0SNpxIZLdAAcbkNSZwUUI/s400/boursin.jpg" /></a><p>Down the other side and past the bemused farmer in his tractor, then through another village and out the other side to see a wall ahead of us, our penultimate climb, and the one with the hairpins. As we approached it and could see where we had to go it was quite daunting, but once you got into the hairpinny bit, it wasn't too bad - though by this time I was utterly soaked and could hardly see a thing. I got to the top, parked my bike against a house, chatted to the locals about the weather and waited for John & Sophie to arrive, which they duly did, and we carried on down to the next village and the long awaited cafe stop!<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN4s99ZJQSSGSqZ1KBv0bfibbwhzawHu72gHYU4HxLv-fBSvZ0oHvx1AMXYTQEuIOY33J6GGHoCpv9z3Mlxmg06kpcCxXDOKqK38sTQpTRso1mkVuchW72N2-phMgR-IuewW5w36ijxU8/s1600/WP_20140427_009.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN4s99ZJQSSGSqZ1KBv0bfibbwhzawHu72gHYU4HxLv-fBSvZ0oHvx1AMXYTQEuIOY33J6GGHoCpv9z3Mlxmg06kpcCxXDOKqK38sTQpTRso1mkVuchW72N2-phMgR-IuewW5w36ijxU8/s400/WP_20140427_009.jpg" /></a><p>When we arrived triumphant at the hilariously named cafe, a big cheer went up from inside, and we went in to warm up a bit, dry off a little, and shed some of the weight in my bag by eating a few rolls and some cashew nuts. The rest of the rolls stayed behind and only the malt loaf and the remaining cashew nuts continued the journey. We would have liked to have had some frites, but some other cyclists had been in earlier and apparently polished them off!<p>After watching the end of the LBL race on telly with the owner, who turned out to be Monsieur Boulanger, who claimed to be two-time French National Cyclo-Cross champion, with the pictures on the wall to prove it, we carried on. <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTorRmoyL1Nu5xkfzsWWkeHQsRQ6QRtOUz9QpgQ0dy2mBE77HKvATfeawq9H49N_eU4EjDkfCc0F7xFtofoGFhz5V6tteh-dHlPtosqWX265IC8vYonN0UigUzUmsXry3wIQCBWZUTl8g/s1600/WP_20140427_013.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTorRmoyL1Nu5xkfzsWWkeHQsRQ6QRtOUz9QpgQ0dy2mBE77HKvATfeawq9H49N_eU4EjDkfCc0F7xFtofoGFhz5V6tteh-dHlPtosqWX265IC8vYonN0UigUzUmsXry3wIQCBWZUTl8g/s400/WP_20140427_013.jpg" /></a><p>The final hill, le Cote du Mat, was straight up the side of the escarpment, but wasn't that long, and after a break at the top for more photos, we struck out for home. This is the view back down it.<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxvJGatvTShyphenhyphenqPtZ_pNmex4i6Q2O3ASbToA7eCtBXJy1q0xAbBvVm7i99VA_FC_Lrq2L4dEO9APtVaWwXwqRQMau1Mo3oM1Bww2yniUCoIJ54uUgqhQrFOvyEP37PbTjficlAvb9ytoSo/s1600/WP_20140427_019.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxvJGatvTShyphenhyphenqPtZ_pNmex4i6Q2O3ASbToA7eCtBXJy1q0xAbBvVm7i99VA_FC_Lrq2L4dEO9APtVaWwXwqRQMau1Mo3oM1Bww2yniUCoIJ54uUgqhQrFOvyEP37PbTjficlAvb9ytoSo/s400/WP_20140427_019.jpg" /></a><p>The first section was a long downhill, which was great and very fast, then quite a long tiring stretch into the wind, which kind of mitigated against it being flat, then a stretch along the canal into Calais - some of which was the worst surface we'd been on all day. The sun had come out, and the mood lifted even more when the roadsigns started showing Calais again. We had an enforced pitstop because Liam had cramp, but then we finished the last few miles to the port, and after a false start trying to go in via the lorry entrance and a quick escape back down the one way entrance ramp the wrong way, we found our way to the right part of the port and, after passing through the border controls, made our way to the front of the line and relaxed. Out came the malt loaf, down went the malt loaf with a hefty thump, and eventually we were allowed to embark, after the lorries but before the cars, and trying to break the strava segment time for sprinting up the ramp.<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikz6YHnl1Lt_YSjVib_Tz6GrpfL0HcLTBHiVt7iWlZJCsibztdF5wAmdb0J170idyq90eRIJ-NsmhP3K7v7aLhNQn_zh4SYrBu19hljmDZ2pCO3ddpnaxfu01PTBIA6WenxDmOAEMIbAk/s1600/malt.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikz6YHnl1Lt_YSjVib_Tz6GrpfL0HcLTBHiVt7iWlZJCsibztdF5wAmdb0J170idyq90eRIJ-NsmhP3K7v7aLhNQn_zh4SYrBu19hljmDZ2pCO3ddpnaxfu01PTBIA6WenxDmOAEMIbAk/s400/malt.jpg" /></a><p>Bikes stowed, we headed for the bar and a well deserved drink. Really well deserved! So well deserved that we had another one, then one more just to make sure.<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhSi0nmSde2EuXiXSyB4218A8rjL_7IIDCMKHmHeN_KPRuas3RNjpCLIfq-pUvDQ7sEdH-gU-NQWtOivFzlZfBgNMCGIXinAnbhkPzzrJylkirK1RXxWke0_5mrj83k06ciT7ZsLa6N4w/s1600/WP_20140427_020.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhSi0nmSde2EuXiXSyB4218A8rjL_7IIDCMKHmHeN_KPRuas3RNjpCLIfq-pUvDQ7sEdH-gU-NQWtOivFzlZfBgNMCGIXinAnbhkPzzrJylkirK1RXxWke0_5mrj83k06ciT7ZsLa6N4w/s400/WP_20140427_020.jpg" /></a><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqqHNBVZxdZNY0GN3T91yyXziO2cJgxJo8CF2d0Q7CcU-dpHoZXhvaBTZypgIEXQRlxLY5Eyvptd-xkRKQdCqWT_JKdC06Q8JLA7WWp1UtGipB8Yx0eQgqFp-oAvI_OEkX8x0jRI-1jW8/s1600/WP_20140427_021.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqqHNBVZxdZNY0GN3T91yyXziO2cJgxJo8CF2d0Q7CcU-dpHoZXhvaBTZypgIEXQRlxLY5Eyvptd-xkRKQdCqWT_JKdC06Q8JLA7WWp1UtGipB8Yx0eQgqFp-oAvI_OEkX8x0jRI-1jW8/s400/WP_20140427_021.jpg" /></a><p><p>Once we'd disembarked, we were pleased to be able to follow the red line again out of the port, and not encounter any more lorries (until the bit when the red line bizarrely went straight across the main exit route, but luckily the lorries stopped to let us go), and we headed for the car-park, loaded the bikes, said our farewells and headed home. Thanks to Martin for stepping in at the eleventh hour and giving me a lift there and back, and for his excellent company.<p> It was a fantastique day out, brilliantly organised by John Haile, who rode along at the back all day, and helped those of us who were there, for however long we were there, get through the rough patches and over the hills. Without that kind of encouragement and support when you're out, riding can be very lonely, so I want to thank John & everyone else who made the ride such a great experience.<p>Can't wait for the next one! A tout a l'heure!<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXPNPDnF395Gug-tsphPm8kTTKFACWdYquxrQv7yEyKGDgPDP9AjPMa-MrbcpHB34rZCPb7FrrkVdJKw9ucWp-wGOR7GrMQVP7TcTwrjOkgARumr6XiCB_BGuQbYTJfZvHx1msH1p8b9Y/s1600/WP_20140427_027.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXPNPDnF395Gug-tsphPm8kTTKFACWdYquxrQv7yEyKGDgPDP9AjPMa-MrbcpHB34rZCPb7FrrkVdJKw9ucWp-wGOR7GrMQVP7TcTwrjOkgARumr6XiCB_BGuQbYTJfZvHx1msH1p8b9Y/s400/WP_20140427_027.jpg" /></a><p>
PS - thanks to Martin & John for some of the photos.Andrew Stroudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15861568581975349926noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2981214366937129650.post-11348322403503923992014-02-17T13:24:00.000-08:002014-02-17T23:14:33.606-08:00My Hell!<p dir="ltr">The Hell of the Ashdown is a local cyclosportive, run every year by the Catford Cycle Club. It starts in Biggin Hill and heads out up and down 104km of lanes in Kent & East Sussex to the Ashdown Forest & back. It's pretty popular too - always sells out, 1500 riders. They use the same route each year, only altering it for road closures or ice. The only real variable is the weather - this year it was bright & warm & sunny. Last year it was below zero & very cold.</p>
<p dir="ltr">I tried to go to Hell about 4 years ago, but had an elbow injury which didn't lend itself to riding up & down bumpy roads. I decided to give it another go this year, and signed up along with about 15 others from Penge Cycle Club.<p>Here's the "before" shot...<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6w0mnqwRq2_fBUE7IC08Og4KGpU3o-M5RVmTllIruLXXe30aic0R2I89Oh2nxOxib8hw_vSILACKeA_uMMpaBYq1HNeGGKFbuc_BHd7WqDvEmEMd0VcX-47e_H5ju6n6hTfG6Ecp2JBU/s1600/2014-02-16+08.50.25.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6w0mnqwRq2_fBUE7IC08Og4KGpU3o-M5RVmTllIruLXXe30aic0R2I89Oh2nxOxib8hw_vSILACKeA_uMMpaBYq1HNeGGKFbuc_BHd7WqDvEmEMd0VcX-47e_H5ju6n6hTfG6Ecp2JBU/s320/2014-02-16+08.50.25.jpg" /></a><p> </p>
<p dir="ltr">Last week we went out on a training run which was to cover some of the route, including the last 2 hills, and I struggled - it was very windy and I didn't eat enough. Halfway up Ide Hill I bonked / cracked / lost it, got off the bike, sat on the verge and called home for a rescue. I then pushed the bike up the hill until Andy came back to look for me & helped me get over the top. So I spent most of the build up fretting about the hills - which, as you can see from the profile below, come thick & fast all day long! Click on the pic to see it better!
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQCmjWJCwyPGh-ByeuqTw1jKb0krqwBa3VK3aAsNw1OjK1crUH4sN_v_YMPUxMe4bBpJTpiywUUdiRNrlXEi8Nw8M9VmfyPyQupNlWjeqy-ksubJ9A-n9XVnKyUNx7tKW0kKBPcfDb3Dw/s1600/profile+-+hills.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQCmjWJCwyPGh-ByeuqTw1jKb0krqwBa3VK3aAsNw1OjK1crUH4sN_v_YMPUxMe4bBpJTpiywUUdiRNrlXEi8Nw8M9VmfyPyQupNlWjeqy-ksubJ9A-n9XVnKyUNx7tKW0kKBPcfDb3Dw/s640/profile+-+hills.png" /></a></div>
<p><p dir="ltr">The Biblical weather of Friday had faded away by Sunday, which was beautifully calm and sunny. Unfortunately ideal conditions! I got a lift to the start, picked the all important timing chip, route card & the mysterious yellow band (apparently it was so you could get food, not that it was ever checked), and met up with some of the others from the club before our scheduled start time of 9.15. </p>
<p dir="ltr">As we were waiting, phone calls were coming in from the marshalls on the course about treacherous conditions with black ice on the first couple of hills - we were allowed to go but advised to proceed with caution. </p>
<p dir="ltr">I had done some parts of the route before, so was prepared for the first shock,  about 2 miles in, of Cudham Test Hill - still, no matter how well prepared you are, a short climb which is 25% at the top (1 in 4 in old money) is still hard, and this was the first time in 3 attempts I'd got to the top and stayed on the bike! My heartrate was through the roof, so it took me a while to recover. I caught up with Winston, who owns the bike shop & unofficial clubhouse, who was on the verge of pulling out as he'd been up all night with sick kids. A bit later he belted past me going down Hogstrough Hill, so I guess he'd recovered! </p>
<p dir="ltr">Hogstrough was the first downhill - it's a narrow lane & is usually very fast, but because of the aforementioned black ice, everyone was going down it full on the brakes. Then there was another patch of black ice as we came into Brasted at the bottom, where we just got off and walked through. I met up with some others from the club, and we paired off with people of a similar level.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6WtuuevhUkr4WF8dYy3Ypd2i5KEblDH2wXA-iSxtaPckLQwqDd50fRkurbbrUR2SGP-1hs1hoxwqrC_y5pRtOaUDfZGf6uzbMuY1CbLMSY31Aho6LA1i9EAzfZjPnZ-obEsIc8B4DCgU/s1600/ashdown2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6WtuuevhUkr4WF8dYy3Ypd2i5KEblDH2wXA-iSxtaPckLQwqDd50fRkurbbrUR2SGP-1hs1hoxwqrC_y5pRtOaUDfZGf6uzbMuY1CbLMSY31Aho6LA1i9EAzfZjPnZ-obEsIc8B4DCgU/s320/ashdown2.jpg" /></a></div>
<p dir="ltr">Toys Hill was long but straightforward - with a surprising number of people turning back because of the black ice. By this time it was getting on for 10am, so the worst of it had melted away. I was riding with Conrad, and we got off towards the top with some others, but as there was no ice we got back on again after a few minutes and carried on.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Because of the focus on the big local celebrities,  Ide, Toys, Star & "the wall", you could be forgiven for not realising that other hills are also available - and the route did its (un)level best to take us over all of them! Once you had gone down one it was around a corner and up another. There was little respite and hardly any flat bits,such as the road out of Hever, the long drag up Forest Row to the top but we were all in the same boat & the camaraderie was great. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1EmnPYG7xvI4ZprQREIefaQOFgyebmpMhaVphhOG_TkHeBk1CGls8K5B4rzP9N0kSr-5Re6e13SM_DITw0Rt45Pa0k1WpZOKx-WlZjfs4dX0pmWY-da2Qtn4hv0ZOJEZ3uGziH5k3-T0/s1600/ashdown1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1EmnPYG7xvI4ZprQREIefaQOFgyebmpMhaVphhOG_TkHeBk1CGls8K5B4rzP9N0kSr-5Re6e13SM_DITw0Rt45Pa0k1WpZOKx-WlZjfs4dX0pmWY-da2Qtn4hv0ZOJEZ3uGziH5k3-T0/s320/ashdown1.jpg" /></a></div><p>
<p dir="ltr">We had a brief stop after 16 miles in Cowden for a banana and debrief, but then it was on to the first control & feed stop at the top of the Ashdown Forest,  where we scoffed cake, jaffa cakes,  drank tea & girded our loins for the infamous Wall. Before we got to the climb there was a wonderful downhill stretch with amazing views across the downs, but then it was round the corner by the pub (I'd had lunch there the last time I tackled the wall - and unsurprisingly failed), down the hill then up! <p>This is the view on the approach taken on a sunny autumn day, but it was remarkably similar yesterday.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-N3IClXAZRC9EtxwmX1n210ScBbz6fRTgDiEQpM8zwofbJ9jEhF9xztKgBnMhKIyPOt_G0q_2LOMkZr2RZSIKs35Ojik_OHKbIeYx8XkGjSC3bZKr7qUGxCGMT_QiroHUdVu0-TaC3nI/s1600/foretv+view.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-N3IClXAZRC9EtxwmX1n210ScBbz6fRTgDiEQpM8zwofbJ9jEhF9xztKgBnMhKIyPOt_G0q_2LOMkZr2RZSIKs35Ojik_OHKbIeYx8XkGjSC3bZKr7qUGxCGMT_QiroHUdVu0-TaC3nI/s400/foretv+view.jpg" /></a></div><p>
<p dir="ltr">It's not called The Wall for nothing, but if you sit in the lowest gear you have and focus on landmarks rather than the top, it is do-able. At one point I veered off into the forest but no harm was done & I carried on. Then, out of the blue, disaster struck! I was almost at the top when m chain snapped and fell off. Luckily I wasn't standing at the time, so there were no crushed balls to go with the disappointment of not quite making it - even though, with only yards to go, it was in the bag!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiyjvIn_YCspOV-PU_rBTCu-0lDxN7pbDBaRA1Tk_XF-Dq-vKdsRwamcdXSa7AbdCrN3crcXp_3MhUGNpHncAfF8niBSsa46c62sd21wojf5rAo8odx-St3w7FO0Rz3o3Hgc3TV2dYFvw/s1600/2014-02-16+12.45.32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiyjvIn_YCspOV-PU_rBTCu-0lDxN7pbDBaRA1Tk_XF-Dq-vKdsRwamcdXSa7AbdCrN3crcXp_3MhUGNpHncAfF8niBSsa46c62sd21wojf5rAo8odx-St3w7FO0Rz3o3Hgc3TV2dYFvw/s320/2014-02-16+12.45.32.jpg" /></a></div>
<p dir="ltr">Up ahead I could see another Penge rider with his bike on his shoulder, and when I got to the top it turned out to be Andy whose rear gear mech had snapped off. His race was over, and mine would have been too, had there not been a friendly guy who stopped to help,  who had the right sized link to replace my broken one. Andy had a chain tool and duly replaced my link, so on I went.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The next bit was a long descent to Groombridge - punctuated with a couple of sneaky climbs. Halfway down I looked back to see where my buddy Conrad was, and as I turned back I somehow managed to ride off the road and fall off into the muddy grass. No harm done,  and onwards to Groombridge. </p>
<p dir="ltr">As we came up the Nouvelle Col de Groombridge back into Kent,  Conrad started to struggle with cramp. My front mech also got stuck, so I had to stop at the bottom of the next hill and drop it to the lower cog by hand. I got to the top and found that I was on my own, then a few minutes later someone came past and told me my friend had sent a message that I should leave him and go on. I couldn't do that - do unto others as you hope they would do unto you and all that, especially as we were only 2/3 of the way home, and there was plenty to go. He caught up and on we rode, past the Bough Beech reservoir to Ide Hill.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Last week I'd had a complete meltdown on Ide Hill and given up - a combination of exhaustion, lack of energy,  shame... I just wanted to get past where I'd cracked the previous week, but couldn't remember where it was, so I kept going. There was also a chap in front of me who was in more trouble than me, so I sat on his wheel, yelling at him when he started to veer across into oncoming traffic. We made it to the top unscathed, and went into the village hall for a well deserved cup of tea, some cake, and a quick call home for a progress update.They also fixed my gears.</p>
<p dir="ltr">After a good rest we carried on - now only 13 miles away, with one brutal hill to come. The light was beginning to fade as the evening drew in, but it was still beautifully sunny. There was a fast bumpy downhill section, then a flattish bit alongside the M25 before turning left and heading up Star Hill. It's another long climb, one I've done once before and not managed. Again I focussed on the small targets  - a bus stop, a funny shaped hedge,  a red sign, a "slow" warning painted on the road - not that I could have gone much slower.  By breaking it down into chunks I made it to the top and allowed myself a Henmanesque fist pump. The worst was now over.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ObLX2FS6rn7XbIwEMIsBWeogd1Vx43FVolCtOm1WX63-78ML0XZJTTji_79QUL108hxYEvR4-_XWMkYE1ZmNpUSa8x5YdJ5WY14OGnoALq1P3B28UPsx204XEHDBOthyT4T751BdjiA/s1600/before+star.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ObLX2FS6rn7XbIwEMIsBWeogd1Vx43FVolCtOm1WX63-78ML0XZJTTji_79QUL108hxYEvR4-_XWMkYE1ZmNpUSa8x5YdJ5WY14OGnoALq1P3B28UPsx204XEHDBOthyT4T751BdjiA/s320/before+star.jpg" /></a></div>
<p dir="ltr">Poor Conrad had been struck by cramp again, but he made it too and we made our way through the ever darkening lanes towards Biggin Hill and the finish. We didn't go the most direct route, annoyingly, but with Conrad now calling out how far we had to go every half a mile we made good progress and were suddenly at the finish. They were just packing away the finish line, but we crossed it together to be met by Andy, who had been waiting for us.</p>
<p dir="ltr">What a great feeling that was - I'd been to Hell & back & lived to tell the tale. I hadn't walked up any hills. I'd toughed it out and had a certificate to prove it! Who cares about the time (7.20 since you ask), it's not about the time, it's about finishing,  and somehow,  despite my doubts, my back had held out, my knees hadn't given way and I had made it. <b>WE</b> had made it,  as I couldn't swear I would have been as determined to plough on if I'd been alone and not wanting to desert my comrade in arms, Conrad.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNbrN79gvuHKlqPvoSA1w8a-tSU6vFSbGWKYrvKua_kdB-mvdFVVB9p7H2HNnzZfTrTT9-yi3QCytKurUvHO8THtsPq1ebdoE_5_ujezynqf5FxvusHTQuJF-BNJ8ErKu8iE4Vw9TmjZI/s1600/2014-02-16+16.51.59.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNbrN79gvuHKlqPvoSA1w8a-tSU6vFSbGWKYrvKua_kdB-mvdFVVB9p7H2HNnzZfTrTT9-yi3QCytKurUvHO8THtsPq1ebdoE_5_ujezynqf5FxvusHTQuJF-BNJ8ErKu8iE4Vw9TmjZI/s320/2014-02-16+16.51.59.jpg" /></a></div>
<p dir="ltr">We went inside, collected our certificates with the irrelevant times on them, then had a well deserved hot chocolate & fried eggs on toast. Winston had been rescued on the course following a fall (he's ok), so all of Penge CC were accounted for. The Gabster arrived with the kids and it was home for a long soak in the bath, this lovely picture they'd done for me to welcome me home, followed by the inevitable 4 hour nap on the sofa.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiriNbfh4WFeb8bof-_PVs_WEGxMQhyXoPCmUIjAchF46JsQ_78avDgU4qVigU9lMbDeUBkPTNwqENLUPsrTsQzfLD92dVWs4_9erDn6TLhdNXsjVMFW7sGXMsM9SypqScLCLfnMG4qxrk/s1600/door.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiriNbfh4WFeb8bof-_PVs_WEGxMQhyXoPCmUIjAchF46JsQ_78avDgU4qVigU9lMbDeUBkPTNwqENLUPsrTsQzfLD92dVWs4_9erDn6TLhdNXsjVMFW7sGXMsM9SypqScLCLfnMG4qxrk/s400/door.jpg" /></a></div>
<p dir="ltr">It was a great day out - a long one, but the weather was great, the company was great, the solidarity on the road was fantastic, the marshalling was friendly & efficient, the route was very challenging but not impossible - even though I had thought it would be beyond me. I decided, once I knew that I was going to make it, that I could cross it off my list now and never do it again, but as I write, with my tired legs and painful left hand, I find myself looking forward to doing it again next year - I always said cycling was a masochistic pursuit!</p>
<p dir="ltr">You can sign up to do it yourself sometime in November at <a href="www.hell.gb.com">www.hell.gb.com</a> </p>Andrew Stroudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15861568581975349926noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2981214366937129650.post-59971395131366895302014-01-10T04:36:00.000-08:002016-05-11T00:13:05.532-07:00Living with Type 1 DiabetesFor World Diabetes Day last year, I wrote an insight into a day in the life of a child with T1:
<p>
<b>1) night testing
</b>
<p>
0145, give her a nightime blood test. Levels a bit high but decide not to correct as experience tells me the numbers fall away quickly as morning approaches and I don't want her to go low. Last night they were a bit low so gave her a snack - biscuit & milk. She has no memory of being sat up in bed & fed. No 2 nights are the same.
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<b>2) Breakfast</b>
<p>
We do the blood test to see her morning levels, and if there's a correction to do, we do it before she eats. Change the needles on the long & slow acting insulin pens. Today we had to change the long acting insulin as well.
<p>
What's the difference? The long acting levemir provides the basal dose, and this ticks away in the background all day, doing normal pancreas stuff.
<p>
The fast acting novorapid handles the food intake. But in order to give the right amount, we have to work out the carbohydrate content of everything B eats, type that into the meter, which then tells us how much insulin to inject. This is the bolus dose.
<p>
Carb counting: Most foods have a carb content per 100g on the back, so we weigh her cereal, add the measured milk. Toast is easier as they have a per slice count on the bread packet. Some people add a bit on for the toasting as well but we don't. Add on a few grams for the honey, or weigh it onto the buttered toast.
<p>
I hate carb counting, it sucks the spontaneity out of food, but it's also absolutely essential. When we let it slide or get it wrong, B can get too much or too little insulin, and end up too high (hyperglycaemia) or too low (hypoglycaemia) - both of which will make her feel shit and both of which could get nasty if not treated immediately with correctional insulin or fast acting sugar.
<p>
There are apps & books to help, but sometimes the food isn't in there, so you have to guess.
<p>
So, 1 test, 2 needles changed, 2 or 3 injections (depending on whether she's decided what she's having to eat), food weighed & measured, carbs calculated. Now she can eat! Every morning...
<p>
<b>3) School </b>
<p>
B doesn't let her diabetes get in the way of her doing anything, and nor do we. She does everything at school that the others do. We are very lucky to have a supportive school, and an amazing TA who takes care of B at lunchtime and makes sure she has the right injections. Carb counting is not so onerous, as most of the time the school catering companies can give you an idea of the carb content of the meals.
<p>
During the day, B will test herself if she's feeling unwell, and the teachers may keep an eye on her too, but I understand that it's not easy for them and they have 29 other kids as well. As she's getting older, she, we and they want her to become more independent, but you do still need trained adults around who know the signs. In very unusual cases, some parents get a statement, which means their child can have 1 to 1 care - but these are definitely the exception and not the rule.
<p>
She'll usually need a snack before or after PE, and this may cause some envy from her classmates, who just see her eating biscuits during lessons. She used to have to be taken to the medical room for tests, but we insisted they keep her test kit in the classroom - if she's hypo, she needs to be tested right away and shouldn't be walking halfway across school, or going down stairs etc.
<p>
We're not sure how any residential school trips will be handled, as she does need to be checked and potentially treated at night, and this is usually a big area of concern for parents - we don't want our kids to miss out, and legally the school can't exclude them, but some schools make it very difficult. I hope this will not be our case.
<p>
BG levels can be very different during the school day than at weekends, and can vary day to day depending on what they are doing. Concentrating can cause the levels to go down more quickly as the brain also burns up the carbs.
<p>
She'll come home in a couple of hours, and may well be bordering on low - she usually fades after lunch, so we need to think about whether the carb ratios are right at lunchtime or not, and change them if necessary.
<p>
<b>4) Bath & bedtime</b>
<p>
So the evening meal is much like breakfast, with all the food being weighed and the carbs calculated. We have to be careful with certain foods - fatty things like pizza take a long time to release, so we give the insulin after she's eaten it. We also have to watch out that what we calculate is what she eats - otherwise we might end up giving her too much.
<p>
She might have a treat from her sweetie box (which we carb count and add to the meter), or if she's been to a party she might have the cake. She's incredibly disciplined about waiting until an appropriate time to eat her sweets or cake - much more than I am.
<P>
At bathtime, she might suddenly feel funny in the bath or shower - this is because hot water can accelerate the absorbtion of insulin, so this is another thing we have to look out for. I imagine she'll be pretty pissed off when she's older and suddenly feels low when she's covered in soap or shampoo!
<p>
Before she can go to be she has to be tested again, and given a second dose of the long acting levemir to get her through the night. If her numbers are below 7 then she'll need a small snack - a couple of biscuits or a glass of milk - something to bump her up a bit and keep her from going low in the night. This is the nightmare of many T1 parents, and why we test at night, as you just don't know whether they will wake up once they go low or not. The other day, she did, at 0530, so we were able to give her some OJ and get her back up again. Other times she may not. It's a worry.
<p>
When she eventually goes to bed, we can put our feet up until we go to bed, but we should expect to test her a couple of times in the night, and be prepared to feed her again if we need to - or indeed administer a correction. We can usually tell if we'll need to correct her as we'll hear her padding around upstairs going to the loo frequently - one of the signs of high blood sugar.
<p>
Just another day in the life of a child with Type 1 - and this was an easy day without any additional complications like being ill!
<p>
<b>5) the stats</b>
<p>
B's numbers today: 5.2 at breakfast, 6.1 at lunch, 4.1 after school, then a biscuit-frenzy induced 13.2 at teatime. Apart from the 13.2, these are excellent numbers! I just know that tomorrow we could do exactly the same, she could eat the same, and they'd be different - higher or lower - such is the roller-coaster of type 1 diabetes!<p>
Thanks for your patience in reading these updates about what it's like managing & living with Type 1 diabetes. I hope you've gained some awareness into what is a relentless but manageable condition - she'll have it for life, or until there is a cure, but it needn't be a life sentence.<p>
Type 1 is auto-immune, it is not caused by obesity or poor lifestyle choices or too many sweets - not that you'd know that from the way the media uses the blanket term "diabetes". I'm not sure I knew there were several different types before it affected me, or what they were, so I try to raise awareness rather than be judgmental!<p>
With B the signs were rapid weight loss, extreme unquenchable thirst, going to the loo all the time & general listlessness. We were lucky that the GP did a blood test and sent us to Paediatrics at Lewisham in an ambulance, where we have a lovely team helping us manage this disease.<p>
It is a daily struggle, but we do our best to keep everything as normal as possible, and things like carb counting are becoming part of the routine. She can eat the same as everyone else can, there's nothing we have to avoid - we just have to calculate how it's going to affect her and account for it with insulin.<p>
One of the reasons we're able to cope is partly because we have no choice, but mainly because B takes it all in her stride with such courage that she leaves us humbled.<p>
Here she is with her equally incredible Mum who does most of the work, saving the best bits (weekends and nights) for me!<p>
If you want to help find a cure, then you can make a donation to JDRF, or sponsor me for one of my crazy bike rides - it'll get to the same source, and will be used to find a cure.<p>
Thanks for reading.Andrew Stroudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15861568581975349926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2981214366937129650.post-59304121520533642642013-08-05T08:25:00.002-07:002013-08-11T02:08:45.539-07:00RideLondon 100<p dir="ltr">So, the day was finally here. I had done a reasonable amount of training- plenty of short 30-40km rides, 1 x 75km, 1 x 100km, so I had some mileage in my legs at least. I'd also lost about 5kg, which was very pleasing.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDL_O7BW8eXv3w3ZDx6BgYGLu4e36suj2edEkf4wyLrhqqXBCZKmGAZG8PxSoCB5XUWb42x_gymfpSbvc3tOUau6plHoOmETdOx7BQQNdcJcWzEhOsnlUyxOBWiFRXESQ5kd_RPSrGi-U/s1600/sugar.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDL_O7BW8eXv3w3ZDx6BgYGLu4e36suj2edEkf4wyLrhqqXBCZKmGAZG8PxSoCB5XUWb42x_gymfpSbvc3tOUau6plHoOmETdOx7BQQNdcJcWzEhOsnlUyxOBWiFRXESQ5kd_RPSrGi-U/s320/sugar.jpg"></a></p><p>The week began with a bike fitting, as I had been getting a lot of lower back pain. This was a detailed process - nearly 3 hours assessing my position on the bike, changing around various bits & pieces, learning a new pedalling style, and the next day I rode to work and felt a bit faster! However the back pain was still lingering, and I couldn't decide whether it was the new fit causing it, or it was left over from the weekend, or it was because I was nervous about the ride! </p>
<p dir="ltr">On Friday I went up to the ExCel to collect my starting pack, and to meet the lovely JDRF team in person. There was also a massage area, so I decided to let them have a go at my back, and it helped. I avoided the sofa for the next 2 days, which probably also helped! On Saturday we pottered around - I ate plenty of protein at a barbie, but in the evening I didn't really feel like eating - the nerves were starting to kick in, though I forced some risotto down, searched the house top and bottom for one of my lucky training socks which had gone missing, and eventually packed it up, got some other perfectly acceptable socks out of the drawer, prepared the rest of my kit and went to bed. </p>
<p dir="ltr">The night before the Etape du Tour in 2011 (a stage of the Tour de France going over 2 alpine passes and finishing on Alpe De Huez,) had been terrible - I'd lain awake devising a foolproof plan to hide in the woods behind the chalet until they all went - and I started that ride on a bit of a hiding to nothing with shattered confidence, dehydrated, and nothing in my legs. I got over one alp then was caught by the broom wagon. This time I slept pretty well, apart from being woken at bladder o'clock a few times, although I did wonder at one point if I should accidentally leave the garage door open to facilitate the theft of my bike... </p>
<p dir="ltr">After my experience in 2011, only a few months after my daughter was diagnosed, I felt like I had a bit of unfinished business with long distance sportives, and to really tempt fate, I decided if I were going to beat the demons, I would wear my etape t-shirt under my kit to get that closure. The lucky socks would have really pressed home my advantage, as well as the very generous cut off times, so I felt like I had a good chance, if my creaking back could hold together. </p>
<p dir="ltr">I was wide awake by 4am, got up and had some porridge Gaby had prepared the night before. Mum was staying (so we didn't have to take the kids along), and she woke up too, read through the riders' instructions and worried whether I had everything (I did!).I stuffed my jersey pockets with dried fruit, jelly babies, homemade flapjacks, and got the bike in the car, and off we went. </p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVGgoOKHorAw4YsUb5zOHpfzOG9prPpXAKRyq_nURgdXDdHggN2pqgwF7sQO3mGvFb1hJ8LcySVwhewnOBUZHyznyRSLBajw3I3joS882D1B131DNeZEKhO5Hi_GIzhtAgUXdViTy6kmk/s1600/the+start.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVGgoOKHorAw4YsUb5zOHpfzOG9prPpXAKRyq_nURgdXDdHggN2pqgwF7sQO3mGvFb1hJ8LcySVwhewnOBUZHyznyRSLBajw3I3joS882D1B131DNeZEKhO5Hi_GIzhtAgUXdViTy6kmk/s320/the+start.jpg"></a><p>
</p><p dir="ltr">There were a few other cars on the road with bikes, and there were knowing glances between the drivers. We were all heading for the O2 carpark, where the bikes were unloaded, checked for the last time, wives were kissed goodbye (the event was about 75% MAMIL), and off we cycled through the closed tunnel. This was fun in itself - I have ridden through a closed tunnel once before in Rio, when the roads were impassable due to mudslides, but on that occasion there were diggers in the opposite bore making a terrible racket.<p> This time, it was just the whirring of pedals, and it was quite tranquil. Out the other side and along the road down to Stratford. I ran into Steve, another JDRF rider I knew, and we arrived at Olympic Park way too early, about an hour and a quarter before our start time. Didn't do much - queued for the loo, met some other riders, got cold, went through to the start pen, queued for the loo again, chatted a bit, lost my buddy, found a broken pair of Oakley shades which I repaired by clicking the lens back in, waited around, ate flapjacks, tried not to think about what was ahead... The hilarious PA man wasn't quite as tiresome as the one in the Etape, but he didn't need to be waffling on quite as much as he did at that time of the morning. (I wonder if they ever think to play calming classical music instead of pumping hi-energy pop?!) </p>
<p dir="ltr"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJLxxa_O9MAO4lOJGiP6snZ1b34_aCbnBqywgIuiT5ZFSOOtB_s22bOOX0LPG3XuHuMR1bwRdrNiRMouzvsxAqYHQNJrzhJ00c7ooRnMHs7zeg40fI_7oeh5G0pABGFxX-aErYSdn6ygQ/s1600/olympic+park.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJLxxa_O9MAO4lOJGiP6snZ1b34_aCbnBqywgIuiT5ZFSOOtB_s22bOOX0LPG3XuHuMR1bwRdrNiRMouzvsxAqYHQNJrzhJ00c7ooRnMHs7zeg40fI_7oeh5G0pABGFxX-aErYSdn6ygQ/s320/olympic+park.jpg"></a></p><p>And then we were off, about 5 mins ahead of schedule. There were a couple of miles until we officially started, and I just rode off at my own pace. There were a few bunches of people together, but no one riding in a properly formed group. There were chain gangs of good club riders who came through from time to time, but they were too fast for me to get on a wheel. There were all sorts of different shapes & sizes- from Boris Johnson's chiselled whippet to some very large people, and on different kinds of bikes - mainly road, but some hybrids, a few tandems and some bloke on a Brompton - no idea how he got on! Once we were over the start mat, we had a lovely run down the A13 with great views of the Canary Wharf area in the early morning light. Then it was down into the Limehouse Link for a while, until we popped out, somewhere along from the Tower. This is also where we saw out first spectators on the road, and I was momentarily overwhelmed by this, stifling a couple of sobs, glad of the protective shades. I had anticipated pain & suffering, but not emotion. It was going to be a dusty day, by the look of it. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Around the tower a large group appeared on my shoulder and swept past - Laura Trott & her team mates, minders and hangers on. They weren't going hugely fast and I was close enough to see them drop out by The Ritz - even telling another rider that whatever else happened, we had beaten Laura.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The route took us along the A4 then over Chiswick Bridge, through Sheen & up into Richmond Park. I wasn't riding in a group as such, but seemed to be sticking with the same people. There was a bloke with cow horns on his helmet for some reason, and I was glad once I had dropped him because he was annoying me! Cow horns! After the park it was Kingston, past the JDRF support on the bridge, Hampton Court then out towards Surrey via Walton, Weybridge and other places. The pace was good - 30kmh average - but it was windy. </p>
<p dir="ltr">The 10 mile posts came & went, and I was telling myself 10% done, 20% done etc. The 20-30 seemed to take longer than expected, and I didn't see the 40 mile sign. I had decided not to stop until the 45 mile mark, which was at the top of Newlands Corner. The ride up is quite sharp, but not that bad, and I was a bit surprised to see some folk already walking up, pushing their bikes. There was food & water at the top (bananas, crisps, gels) but I didn't feel like anything. I phoned home (more dust, what was happening to me??), let them know where I was, and though Leith Hill & Box Hill were up next, I was going much faster than I thought I would be.</p>
<p dir="ltr">I was quite amused as we headed down from Newlands towards Leith Hill to hear people around me mistaking the straightforward hill we had just been up with the brute still to come. On the way we went past the 50 miles down - the halfway point. There was a sorry lack of festivities at this point, but I commented on it to the bloke next to me at the time, who just grunted and carried on. Once we reached the foot of Leith Hill, it was as bad as expected and seemed longer too. It was hard to get into a steady rhythm as the road was very narrow, and once it ramped up to 17%, that slow lane became the walker's lane as people got off / got in the wrong gear & fell off. I wasn't quick enough to go in the middle bit, so, (secretly not that disappointed), I got off too! It flattened out towards the top so I got back on, rode off the road into the wood, tried again & managed to get moving again!</p>
<p dir="ltr">Once over the top there was a fast descent back to the A25, and I later heard that I'd narrowly missed a pile up behind me. Given the way some folk were hitting the descent, I wasn't that surprised. Anyway, as it had all been going brilliantly so far, there had to be a spanner somewhere, and the first spanner was that I got stung on the shin by a bloody wasp! This was painful but not debilitating - however, the St John's ambulance people in Dorking had no antihistamines, so it started to swell a bit. As I went through Dorking I saw the JDRF supporters zone, who cheered me on, and we shared high fives, then my friends Kate & Pat who had caught a train down to see me. I was so far ahead of the anticipated schedule that they had cut out the first place they'd planned to go and gone straight to Dorking. It was so good to see some friendly, familiar faces - the roadside support was fantastic, but there's nothing like seeing friends & family to put a spring in your step. Now I know what a difference it makes, I am resolved to go and support the marathon runners next year.<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmb74c4dOMVIfGMn7H2PJIc3fuavmExJs1JW5izgZdaUZN1J8PuND4KbuG9YUrSGwTSeBK1SSYvSeRxVH3NQAKfAMamFmI1yJUz-5kPcdI8-D0nhG5ZBhHHnBMXhxsMCmLzSRkEP9AkWE/s1600/dorking.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmb74c4dOMVIfGMn7H2PJIc3fuavmExJs1JW5izgZdaUZN1J8PuND4KbuG9YUrSGwTSeBK1SSYvSeRxVH3NQAKfAMamFmI1yJUz-5kPcdI8-D0nhG5ZBhHHnBMXhxsMCmLzSRkEP9AkWE/s320/dorking.jpg"></a></p><p>And so to the "mythical Box Hill" - I'm not really sure why it is so mythical, as it is a very gradual climb, 3-4%, lovely surface, no problem going up. No walkers here, so no problems with rhythm, though the wag at the bottom who said there was free beer at the top was a lying dog! I was at the top by 1210, about 4 hours 20 after setting off, and with only about 35 miles to go, I was looking good for a great time...what could possibly go wrong now?! </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9-1ftyrKUFIa01ncs135vgIV4iQPfOogfFxD6u1suqRWxYCKnLONX4FBXGYdy3IFdyokSP2SOhQgOMzYtPpH18eDLO1ezGAGTyqrYYzpcZVnvzrwDKvFMKKtuSH50IH6EUW9F0rJyRCg/s1600/box.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9-1ftyrKUFIa01ncs135vgIV4iQPfOogfFxD6u1suqRWxYCKnLONX4FBXGYdy3IFdyokSP2SOhQgOMzYtPpH18eDLO1ezGAGTyqrYYzpcZVnvzrwDKvFMKKtuSH50IH6EUW9F0rJyRCg/s320/box.jpg"></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp8qLqGnUVwUNFKuVgS4JQ3cYPUSAgXoV2SlUjrdYh7STt5sn0hNjKS9obm_aLdH8fdrdq2SHG8LNAzA1_P4kPAkCim5lHsrUzu2JVV2gDr5sdSDT4Z2Pjd6LSwntUC84TM7ILj7Kvczc/s1600/top+of+box.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp8qLqGnUVwUNFKuVgS4JQ3cYPUSAgXoV2SlUjrdYh7STt5sn0hNjKS9obm_aLdH8fdrdq2SHG8LNAzA1_P4kPAkCim5lHsrUzu2JVV2gDr5sdSDT4Z2Pjd6LSwntUC84TM7ILj7Kvczc/s320/top+of+box.jpg"></a></p><p>Even to entertain such thoughts was to produce the other spanner, which was that my right knee packed up a few miles later, and it suddenly became very painful to put any pressure on it - so any bit of road which went uphill became a real struggle and I started going backwards. I got as far as the next hub at Leatherhead, and hobbled into the St John's Ambulance tent, where they initially advised me to stop riding. That was never going to happen, and as all they could do was provide an ice-pack, I just took a few minutes to sit in the shade & massage my knees (specifically the IT band, which was causing the pain) with tiger balm, which I had brought along for my back! After a while I pushed on, and, while going backwards on any slopes, I was ok on the flat.</p><p>Some of my family were going to meet me in Wimbledon, so I let them know where I was from Kingston and carried on. All the way from Leatherhead I was wondering how I was going to get up that last hill, whether I would have to walk, whether my nephew would run alongside etc. I hadn't forgotten the penultimate hill along Coombe Lane, but there was a lot of support out by now, and so I was spurred onwards & upwards.</p><p>As I was riding up from Raynes Park, I got chatting to a Scottish bloke whose legs had also gone, and we resolved to nurse each other through to the end - but then someone swerved in front of me, I lost a bit of rhythm, and the Scottish bloke was gone. I wasn't going to catch up with anyone at this point. I got to the corner, and there were the family cheering me on, "Come on Andrew, only 10 miles to go, you're nearly there!" shouted Anna. I wanted to stop, but knew that if I did, I'd struggle to get moving again, and would have probably burst into tears, so I gave them a wave and turned the corner & started up the hill. The surge of "you're nearly there now" emotion carried me up the hill somehow, as well as all the support, which was really encouraging, and after one last stop for water (they had just run out of new knees, the guy told me), it was off along familiar roads towards Putney.</p><p>Halfway along the common, there was an old boy with a sign reading "pain is just weakness leaving the body", which made me laugh. My knee was just about tolerating the position I had got myself into, but when I tried anything else, like sitting up, or standing up, or taking my hands off the handlebars, it made its feelings clear very quickly and I was back down again. I coasted along past Tibbet's corner (not worrying about oncoming traffic was a nice change!) and on down Putney Hill, where we had to stop to let an ambulance cross the course. This was annoying, as valuable downhill momentum was lost and we had to start up again. It may not seem much, but 95 miles in when you're knackered, it's a real effort! <p>I don't remember much of the next 4 miles, but suddenly I was back on the Thames & heading along towards Parliament Square, where Gaby, the kids, Mum, Giules, Kate & Pat were waiting. I wasn't sure whether they were expecting me to stop & chat, but I just carried on past them (partly because I couldn't have stopped at this point), high fives all round, and carried on up Whitehall to the final corner.
</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6-h0yN-LN-tW5AABU-AcjatqAre7JR2IVznqZT35r7qG23GUumjYecUQDovxukndGcbv71goqHeFU2N9n3fS7vY23cSVTLb79bnOyiWkPMPF6mfEURRLnjH4-e5J0762uWePDvTFAPvU/s1600/parliament.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6-h0yN-LN-tW5AABU-AcjatqAre7JR2IVznqZT35r7qG23GUumjYecUQDovxukndGcbv71goqHeFU2N9n3fS7vY23cSVTLb79bnOyiWkPMPF6mfEURRLnjH4-e5J0762uWePDvTFAPvU/s320/parliament.jpg"></a></p><p>Somehow, I got round it & through Admiralty Arch, even getting a bit of a sprint on as I went onto the Mall, then coasting over the line as there was a big group finishing together denying me my moment of Cav, and the feeling that the sudden injection of pace meant all the crap in my pockets was going to fly out...however, finish I did, about 12000 down (which doesn't mean anything as people started at different times), but according to the announcer, well conditioned to be finishing in a decent time with decent fitness. He clearly had no idea about my knee!<p> 7 hours 10 in the end, which included a lengthy injury stop and a very slow final third - if only I'd found that other lucky sock! </p></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqJAOJrK_wlqsikSvB7aTDNsgqQOzRRk6-tF1t8HRmcKpyflB-AdO61tN1dLXnr0sgk2AG7g0mgSxm6dehyphenhyphen2tDLGXbRirKAOZ-qXlr0vx7I5MJQq5Htc5tOv3ISfIDl05Pz-EFWsTuJ2Y/s1600/head+down+sprint.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqJAOJrK_wlqsikSvB7aTDNsgqQOzRRk6-tF1t8HRmcKpyflB-AdO61tN1dLXnr0sgk2AG7g0mgSxm6dehyphenhyphen2tDLGXbRirKAOZ-qXlr0vx7I5MJQq5Htc5tOv3ISfIDl05Pz-EFWsTuJ2Y/s320/head+down+sprint.jpg"></a></p><p>We were then asked to dismount, given a nice heavy medal, given a goody bag full of junk - a milk drink, a cranberry juice, a bottle of water, some gels, a tube of toothpaste, a sachet of salad cream...all really useful. A cheese roll would have been much better. I made my way through to the park, found a space on the grass, sat myself down, had a chat with my brother who had finished in 4.5 hours(!!!) then got mobbed as the support team arrived!</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMhiu8mZ22rDsawzeU3Rt4UTlVLwMjVCTwJGjqauF2Z0AI27YgNyHJw-wZjgXUhXHL0JeM_lryA2Hl_2fm6dxYI1yQ4rHMlpf1dJMQem9zX8mzC3fnYkm7QBFryyPGxqQtH1WF5FqCbjo/s1600/fans.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMhiu8mZ22rDsawzeU3Rt4UTlVLwMjVCTwJGjqauF2Z0AI27YgNyHJw-wZjgXUhXHL0JeM_lryA2Hl_2fm6dxYI1yQ4rHMlpf1dJMQem9zX8mzC3fnYkm7QBFryyPGxqQtH1WF5FqCbjo/s320/fans.jpg"></a></p><p>It was great to see them, and they were so pleased for me too - I don't think I had fully appreciated how others had looked on this whole venture - because I had done 100 miles the previous summer with a couple of neighbours, albeit in about 5 more hours, I never felt that I wouldn't finish. But 100 miles is a long way, and I had only been training since June. I had failed to finish the Etape, (you can read about that episode <a href="http://fatladonabike.blogspot.co.uk/2011/07/letape-du-tour-11th-july-2011.html">here</a>), so definitely had some unfinished business. I also felt, as I rode along in a blur from Fulham, that I could cross the mid-life crisis off my list. And whenever it got tough, I tried to remember why I was doing it.<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj2SjSQ1es2a2RZKDAwhJpK8rUREc_vgwIEypPFYKbNNhJszRhYzL4Dxnw78gjhVmXqeYMP0mQx2oLg2s_Tp9YosLF3d8rlBdTvT0MuUR28RUX3C_iwXW32Sa58asORUgzcqKFkjGN3sM/s1600/544782_10151619286174608_249789894_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj2SjSQ1es2a2RZKDAwhJpK8rUREc_vgwIEypPFYKbNNhJszRhYzL4Dxnw78gjhVmXqeYMP0mQx2oLg2s_Tp9YosLF3d8rlBdTvT0MuUR28RUX3C_iwXW32Sa58asORUgzcqKFkjGN3sM/s320/544782_10151619286174608_249789894_n.jpg" /></a><p>After a decent sit down, we went up to see Elizabeth & the JDRF team, then we walked gently back towards Charing Cross, fuelled by chips & hot-dogs, and looking forward to a milkshake from Maccy D's! The knee stiffened up in the evening, but an ice pack and some voltarol meant I could just about get upstairs at bedtime and slept the deep & dreamless sleep of the virtuous - what a day!<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIpzBcbhJIni4kguy1R2VO83wSriKWwS-_4PONiBMTAlktRmKsIaUYQiL6nkvoxQkvjGFwcK-q_jgzmM3VJqWt79qedjSWvGP9cLcOhbjkJfp3Tfy3Py4XgZuedGYixyd90oT1Ccpd4nU/s1600/bike.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIpzBcbhJIni4kguy1R2VO83wSriKWwS-_4PONiBMTAlktRmKsIaUYQiL6nkvoxQkvjGFwcK-q_jgzmM3VJqWt79qedjSWvGP9cLcOhbjkJfp3Tfy3Py4XgZuedGYixyd90oT1Ccpd4nU/s320/bike.jpg"></a></p><p>This morning, having sworn that was it yesterday, and now that the knees are working after a fashion again (if anyone has any tips for sorting out femoral tibial band issues, let me know!), I'm already thinking about the next one - Tour de Type 1 anyone?<p>You can still sponsor me <a href="http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fatladonabike">here!</a>Andrew Stroudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15861568581975349926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2981214366937129650.post-74219686699466411902013-06-28T05:56:00.001-07:002013-06-28T05:56:45.063-07:00Grand ToursSo, before I ride out on my 100 miler in August, the pros will have completed the Giro d'Italia, and the Tour de France - those doing both will have ridden over 5000 miles - I've got stiff legs after a 20 mile ride yesterday! Admittedly it is their job, and they do little else, but still, that's a phenomenal amount of riding to complete in 2 separate 3 week races.
<p>
Cycle races at a pro level are made up from one day classics, usually in the spring - races such as the 300 km Milan-San Remo, or Paris-Roubaix, which is famous for its mud & cobbles. You then have the shorter stage races, up to a week long, and then the big boys of Italy, France & Spain. La Vuelta is where Chris Froome came to prominence a couple of years ago, when poor tactics from Sky caused him to miss out on the win by a few seconds.
<p>
The one we've all heard of is the Tour de France of course, raced in July, with a huge global audience, and a 3 week tourist advert, with those amazing bucolic shots of the mountains, chateaus, fields of sunflowers...and it starts tomorrow!Andrew Stroudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15861568581975349926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2981214366937129650.post-9683413171832464182013-05-09T00:01:00.001-07:002013-06-28T05:54:49.382-07:0096.85
<p dir=ltr>One whole kilogram! That's like 2 bags of sugar just evaporated from my gut! In little over a week! Must be the salad I forced down for lunch yesterday.</p>
<p dir=ltr>In training terms there have been 3 turbo sessions,  a 35km ride, a bit of walking and the ridiculous & frankly terrifying experience of carrying H up and down the spiral staircase  (311 steps) of the Monument. This spiral staircase, illustrated below, could almost be some kind of "metaphor" for my "journey" to fitness.</p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Gk2J4A2xdRZ_Tu9bNsXVPWoJHxVg_QxbFyOxQdxRd95fXXdlPPdCkStQd2HDA3edZCHtNtBaVHuAVEbm6q3qReJJWO9pmWyrurLhsjqBArmWXy12yV89OKRNo0gL4neefzC9ZA3xiLs/s1600/2013-05-04+11.30.42.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Gk2J4A2xdRZ_Tu9bNsXVPWoJHxVg_QxbFyOxQdxRd95fXXdlPPdCkStQd2HDA3edZCHtNtBaVHuAVEbm6q3qReJJWO9pmWyrurLhsjqBArmWXy12yV89OKRNo0gL4neefzC9ZA3xiLs/s320/2013-05-04+11.30.42.jpg" /></a>
<p dir=ltr>In perspective news, il Giro has started, which will be excellent this year, over a tougher course than le Tour, albeit with a nice time trial to attract Wiggo. He's made no secret of his desire to win it, so it will be interesting to see whether the other riders, either individually,  collectively as teams, or by alliances formed on the road, can shove a proverbial stick through the well drilled spokes of Team Sky. 200+ km daily stages, up and down some brutally unforgiving terrain...while the measly 160km of the London-Surrey will mainly be riding on nice wide a-roads, and with Wimbledon Hill in the top 5 climbs of the day...!</p>
<p dir=ltr>Richmond Park tonight if anyone's interested - 1815 by Ham Gate for a couple of laps then The Roebuck! </p>
Andrew Stroudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15861568581975349926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2981214366937129650.post-55667752924443100722013-05-06T01:12:00.001-07:002013-05-06T01:12:12.811-07:00fundraisingFundraising has been made a lot easier these days, with the advent of online giving sites, and I'm lucky to have very generous friends & family. I'm still a bit unsure about what ELSE I can do. B is going to help by having a cake sale at her school, and I'm going to put the info into the school newsletter. I'd like to do a quiz night, but we only just had one, which wasn't very well attended, so I'm not sure if the school would want to do another one so soon. Does anyone have any good fundraising ideas?
To read more about why I'm doing this, and hopefully to sponsor me if you are able, click here:
<a href="http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fatladonabike">http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fatladonabike</a>Andrew Stroudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15861568581975349926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2981214366937129650.post-75063172359527572352013-04-30T00:15:00.001-07:002013-04-30T02:21:44.289-07:0097.85<p dir=ltr>No, this is not Donald Bradman's revised batting average. It's my weight this morning, with just over 3 months to go until the London Surrey 100 miles, as the title of this blog becomes relevant again. I'd like to say I was shocked, but I've been avoiding midriff height mirrors for a while now, so it wasn't a complete surprise.</p>
<p dir=ltr>I will be trying not to obsess too much about this, unlike l'etape when I went a bit mad (see below! ), but will be making a big effort to lose weight and get fit. I rode 150km last autumn with my neighbours, with no training,  and long breaks, so I know I can do the distance. There is a time limit to this event as well, but there are no alps around so it <i>should</i> be more straightforward - I'd obviously never say anything like that, as that would invoke the mockers. Hopefully the thought of a triumphant sprint home on the Mall on Sunday 4th August will sustain me! </p>
<p dir=ltr>My current training plan is a bit vague - try to do an hour on the road in the evening most days, take the bike to work once a week and cycle around Richmond Park, go for a longer ride at the weekend...play it by ear. I'm lucky to live near some challenging urban hills and 20 mins ride from open countryside, and with the evenings getting longer I have no excuses!</p>
<p dir=ltr>Quite a lot will be happening in the meantime - becoming an uncle again, lobbying MPs in parliament on behalf of Diabetes Voices, work, fund raising for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), not to mention normal family life with 2 young kids and a patient wife. I'm very much looking forward to the challenge - stay tuned!</p>
Andrew Stroudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15861568581975349926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2981214366937129650.post-40677014273960444972011-07-19T01:18:00.000-07:002019-04-09T22:15:13.731-07:00L'etape du Tour, 11th July 2011<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIRlZC8JoqdWLZpr_LF9hOpvWBHr1Wp4RC7q2fQMuANeeSEN7QSWA15qDnjvRAQlaGaNQs58WjDOotYgO3q17d7n0PclypfbTkY3pEZu0LimkhWpn1yg2lNP4RO6QV-FiDMphRWe70MUA/s1600/20110713_7.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 239px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630978466820422482" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIRlZC8JoqdWLZpr_LF9hOpvWBHr1Wp4RC7q2fQMuANeeSEN7QSWA15qDnjvRAQlaGaNQs58WjDOotYgO3q17d7n0PclypfbTkY3pEZu0LimkhWpn1yg2lNP4RO6QV-FiDMphRWe70MUA/s320/20110713_7.JPG"></a><br /><br />This time last week was my wedding anniversary. 13 glorious years with the Gabster. So what was I doing waking up from one of the worst night’s sleep I’ve ever had, in France, in a little Alpine village called Lanslebourg-Val Cenis, on a sofa, sweating like a dog outside a butcher’s shop on a summer’s day?<br /><br />The bloody Etape du Tour, that's what,an actual stage of the Tour de France, opened up to 10,000 lucky amateurs, cycled on closed roads a week or so before the pros come through and show us all how it should be done. It had been an obsession for months, ever since I saw the route of the tour announced and hoped that they'd be picking the Alpe de Huez stage. But now, as the moment of truth was upon us, I'd changed my mind and I wasn’t going to do it. Oh no, I had decided umpteen times throughout the night, on my trips to the loo whenever the cramps took hold and woke me up, as I lay tossing & turning, convinced I had sunstroke, or flu, or something, anything, that there was no way I could do it. How could I? I wasn’t fit enough, I wasn’t light enough, I wasn’t very good at eating at the right times, I hadn’t done enough training, I was scared of cycling in big bunches, I was terrified of going downhill in big bunches, I knew I was going to fail – what was the point?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWNj4b73FbwGAquYTXrWTg6qnjtC5HHoVOdjhB3uEs29DjDaBzYVhKurnZCyOoOFonK33-VXGzdygtFA1mX8prDzZCj96n8ivy_oK6WGPAOcrp6LmLQLG9CB17Kj8tnjHIyCM6Mqj-kdQ/s1600/imaging.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 182px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630990695329933666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWNj4b73FbwGAquYTXrWTg6qnjtC5HHoVOdjhB3uEs29DjDaBzYVhKurnZCyOoOFonK33-VXGzdygtFA1mX8prDzZCj96n8ivy_oK6WGPAOcrp6LmLQLG9CB17Kj8tnjHIyCM6Mqj-kdQ/s320/imaging.jpg"></a><br /><br /><br />Needless to say,sitting around the breakfast table with 4 sleepy guys at 5am, my plaintive looks & sighing & woeful expression were roundly ignored. No one was going to give me any sympathy or even respond to my pathetic attempts to get out of it, so I decided I’d just have to go. On very little sleep and let’s say somewhat drained from my nocturnal challenges. And not 45 minutes later, I found myself in the van, heading down to Modane. This year, we were to go up 3 Alpine passes, finishing at the top of the almost mythical Alpe De Huez. And as if all that weren’t already bad enough, there was a time limit which we had to worry about as well, the so-called broom wagon, chasing after us, sweeping us up if we were too slow, putting us out of our misery.<br /><br />With so many people taking part, the organisers had turned the centre of the small town of Modane into a giant holding pen for MAMILs with their varying levels of fancy bikes, eying each other’s gear, reacting or not, relaxed or feigning it, but mainly waiting. Waiting inside one of the twelve starting pens to be released and get started on the 109km that lay in front of us. Waiting to see whether all those months of training would pay off. Waiting to see whether the adrenaline would carry them through. Waiting to see when rather than if the Broom would catch them. (I may of course just be projecting here!)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix2ZgM8Yz1RBGy4PwUKviUdeVMLqBEggCQfxp3GEc1jdEs4J_A6omDv_OmNnVu6YhEZlLGUYAxQVhxA99fGgva0ZV4l1JJVJQxV5nNe6axQz_J1oAw6AiiGx0_7ndiQZ6T26p2BsUB4mk/s1600/20110713_20+%2528800x598%2529.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 239px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630979350618879794" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix2ZgM8Yz1RBGy4PwUKviUdeVMLqBEggCQfxp3GEc1jdEs4J_A6omDv_OmNnVu6YhEZlLGUYAxQVhxA99fGgva0ZV4l1JJVJQxV5nNe6axQz_J1oAw6AiiGx0_7ndiQZ6T26p2BsUB4mk/s320/20110713_20+%2528800x598%2529.jpg"></a><br /><br />It’s hard to prepare for the Alps in the South East of England. It’s not that we don’t have hills, we do – lots of them, far more than you realise until you start riding around on a bike seeking them out. But the hills we do have tend to be shorter & steeper. A typical Col will go on for about 8-10 miles, steadily uphill all the time, gradient changing frequently, usually hovering somewhere between 7% and 9%. Relentless. Add the mid-summer heat to the equation and you get some kind of idea of what it’s like. On Telegraphe, the climb is mainly wooded, and you try and cling to whatever shade you can like a limpet, even at 9am in the morning. Once you get down to the start of Galibier, 18km or so of climbing, there isn’t any shade, and you can certainly forget it on the Alpe as well, where, all being well, you’ll be arriving at around 2pm to start the 14km, 22 hairpin climb, in the blazing heat.<br /><br />I had tried to prepare, but it’s not been an easy year, not least because my 5 year old daughter was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes in April – so what guilt I already had for sloping off on a Saturday for a few hours was exacerbated. I couldn’t have done it without the support of my amazing wife, who was happy for me to go out and get fitter and try to lose weight, and wouldn’t let me get out of it, no matter how much I tried. Deciding to raise money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) was another motivating factor, and my incredibly generous friends & family have helped me to raise over £600!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH92JNq4nXnS99AYBrIz6Rf_J54C3MX2gErZusXn7cXfp6EyaNA1E9bHaUBj4z72XnNK8ASu4flmsDLPkRj7nJlnNTSctGpLiGkBsktkwPsb5A-jF9pNRJL_qlpg1utmbCe8TvD4jMIVA/s1600/beanie.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 206px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630989736492135778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH92JNq4nXnS99AYBrIz6Rf_J54C3MX2gErZusXn7cXfp6EyaNA1E9bHaUBj4z72XnNK8ASu4flmsDLPkRj7nJlnNTSctGpLiGkBsktkwPsb5A-jF9pNRJL_qlpg1utmbCe8TvD4jMIVA/s320/beanie.jpg"></a><br /><br />As time went by I did several long rides in the hills around Kent & Surrey, a couple of 80km runs with my friend & cycling mentor Ian, who was very encouraging & supportive as a coach, as well as being able to provide helpful tips on the route, having done it himself a couple of times on an even madder challenge called Le Marmotte. I also did an 80km sportive, my first, at the start of June, with Tom, a fellow sF rider, in absolutely filthy weather – steady, heavy rain throughout, headwinds, cold, miserable & perversely enjoyable.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivrAaZUQU0j3U5o9QP67jeNwFsOwvGqj7kSOKrRRkGw1OIJJ_bggXzhV2mQcHUGqfUV0GpTlutzW-S5Iqhja5seBko5JQtvoEOsKWc3cwS_gP4Oltjski__PomtfnuErVsYSB23yJMzmI/s1600/sportif.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630975272856303794" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivrAaZUQU0j3U5o9QP67jeNwFsOwvGqj7kSOKrRRkGw1OIJJ_bggXzhV2mQcHUGqfUV0GpTlutzW-S5Iqhja5seBko5JQtvoEOsKWc3cwS_gP4Oltjski__PomtfnuErVsYSB23yJMzmI/s320/sportif.jpg"></a><br /><br />However, I was also having knee problems, so wasn’t able to do as much training in the week as I’d wanted to – I did ride to work a few times, but it’s a 60km round trip on fairly busy , crappy suburban streets so wasn’t that enjoyable. My last training ride, the 100km North Kent Bikeathon, foreshadowed what would happen the following weekend, when for the first time I started to get backache. I’ve long had back problems, but hadn’t had a problem on the bike. I tried to ride it off, but with a week before the main event, and discretion being the better part of valour, I retired at the first place I got to with a railway station – which ended up being 2/3 of the way around the course!<br /><br />And so on Sunday we found ourselves in France, resplendent in our company sponsored gear, cycling the 30km or so down the valley to Modane to sign in for the main event the next day. We got the new timing sheet which just showed that despite the numbers, they hadn’t really changed anything. The broom was going to start at 8am, and as it turned out, 3 out of the 4 of us doing it hadn’t started by then, so the clock was against us from the start! Nevertheless, we tried, unsuccessfully in my case, not to obsess about the broom wagon, and ate spaghetti, bread & had an early night. An early night which would prove, as I mentioned above, one of the longest & most uncomfortable I’ve had for a very long time.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYNI9wCfTLg87KZXVIJeH3YZA_30AgKr5swwDmFFHyLrI1DQkn4jLPQEpu490JQp6Fj6gu9p_Bus52lcdzgrLJYxdWBT8DBQ8oO_I3OFKy7FnnlJ7rUQkEJDsPIYGyYMXBY6VUgUDC0Uo/s1600/the+teAM+%2528573x436%2529.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 243px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYNI9wCfTLg87KZXVIJeH3YZA_30AgKr5swwDmFFHyLrI1DQkn4jLPQEpu490JQp6Fj6gu9p_Bus52lcdzgrLJYxdWBT8DBQ8oO_I3OFKy7FnnlJ7rUQkEJDsPIYGyYMXBY6VUgUDC0Uo/s320/the+teAM+%2528573x436%2529.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630995771901467202"></a><br /><br />Having miserably failed to conquer the nerves and execute my foolproof plan formulated in my midnight delirium to get up early and hide somewhere until the others had left, I found myself in the starting pen at 6.30, as ready as I was going to be, trying to feign confidence. We listened to the increasingly tiresome announcer waffling inanities, interviewing Alain Prost, doing his 10th Etape, then singing happy birthday to some 70 year old man. As the wry Aussie alongside Alister & me noted, this was probably a gift from his kids trying to get their hands on their inheritance early. Eventually, around 8.05, we started shuffling forwards, then the sound of the cleats clicking into the pedals filled the air, and then we were rolling.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_7XxWng9kllqFPgkVJkOe8a2TSFwa3YG_XD56TJ0Dw_igjEPYyItQaPz8GUBXAkqv-lcT65vn86QR48HO7CjbX4I8zMYb1Fn5nvZEwOUlSWqgV279z00rT0bhry92J1z-SEQExoDbhbM/s1600/20110713_24+%2528800x598%2529.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 239px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630979349493072226" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_7XxWng9kllqFPgkVJkOe8a2TSFwa3YG_XD56TJ0Dw_igjEPYyItQaPz8GUBXAkqv-lcT65vn86QR48HO7CjbX4I8zMYb1Fn5nvZEwOUlSWqgV279z00rT0bhry92J1z-SEQExoDbhbM/s320/20110713_24+%2528800x598%2529.jpg"></a><br /><br />The good people of Modane had turned out to see us off in some numbers, and the first few miles of the roads out of town were lined with people cheering us on, jangling cowbells, and generally making a racket. It was quite emotional, and I was glad of my shades! The road down to the bottom of the first climb was long, wide and fast – I found myself topping 60kph without realising it – snaking down the valley between the soaring mountains to St Jean de Maurienne where we suddenly turned a corner, crossed a bridge and started climbing.<br /><br />Even though I knew it was coming it still seemed to be upon us before I was ready for it, and there was no build up – it just started. Suddenly everyone was bunched up again, heading up the mountain road, 6 or 7 abreast, peeling off layers, going at different speeds. There was an air of excitement, people were talking about just getting to the first elimination point. It was a bit manic. I tried to climb at my own pace, but there were so many people that you either found yourself behind someone going too slowly, or in front of someone going too fast. It was quite difficult at the bottom to get into your own rhythm, but once it started to thin out as we got higher it was easier. It wasn’t long before my back started to ache, and combined with the energy loss & dehydration from the night before, I was struggling. I wanted to get as far as I could, but I was revising my ambitions downwards quite rapidly.<br /><br />Then I did something I hadn’t done on any of my training rides – I stopped. I stopped for a rest, got off the bike and sat down in the shade for a while. I probably didn’t need to, I could have gone on, but I think I had convinced myself by this time that my day was going to be a short one. I tried to stretch the back a bit, but it wasn’t until a chap with one leg cycled past that I pulled myself together, hopped back on the bike and carried on up the road. Not long after this I heard a bellowed “Come on sparesFinder” from behind – I didn’t turn back to see who it was for fear of cycling over the edge and into the forest, but a few minutes later, Tom appeared next to me, and proceeded to nurse me up the next few kilometres, talking about anything other than what we were doing, pointing out the local botany, lifting my spirits. I’d like to have been able to talk back but I was pretty knackered by this stage, and after a while I dropped back a bit and let him go on. And had another rest.<br /><br />About 3km from the top there was a village, and some local people had come out to cheer us on, but by this time the numbers had thinned so much that there was little noise – just the birds, the whirr of the pedals, the steady sound of your own breathing. It was very tranquil and I sat down again just to enjoy it. And because I was a wimp. The tranquillity was broken by the distant sound of motorised vehicles and a motorbike pulled up alongside me, pointing back to a car about 150m away down the hill, informing me that I was at the end of the race and had to get a move on if I didn’t want to be eliminated. Despite everything that had happened, and my subconscious acceptance of the inevitability of the broom (not so subconscious really!), I really didn’t want to get eliminated before the top of the first mountain. I leaped back on and got up the last mile as fast as I could and made it ahead of the broom – though not ahead of the van taking down all the signage!<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEZo5MTERQ6FeYrhDYI-77Q2QUr4rViNaAQbuoiREWF-1XHD0QaT_gofANDJuVXih7-MBODStj_4IwRoUI0piGh5r2qI6nla7-IziBYoOmyI_uqGXC8BdgPWHCMZ6aV4rmb5JhZTJy_Y4/s1600/20110713_25+%2528800x598%2529.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 239px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630981869703688402" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEZo5MTERQ6FeYrhDYI-77Q2QUr4rViNaAQbuoiREWF-1XHD0QaT_gofANDJuVXih7-MBODStj_4IwRoUI0piGh5r2qI6nla7-IziBYoOmyI_uqGXC8BdgPWHCMZ6aV4rmb5JhZTJy_Y4/s320/20110713_25+%2528800x598%2529.jpg"></a><br /><br />After a quick picture, I jumped back on and enjoyed the 5km descent into the charming ski village of Valloire, where the first feed station was and the climb to Galibier started. There was a welcoming committee in the village cheering us through, even the “lanternes rouges” like myself, and the proximity of the broom added a further frisson of excitement to the day.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCYRSbI2lztncvUvnQbv3ipmBeY5iBoxzU2N4w1FBfyhX8p2drGDRt2Y6Y1ERhwN8ejm1o0UOv9syLGwaykCb9LY-PrpDTxSeTdt3KH2Pb79yC029rXvK4E81KNedaWotUlsT2ZQanhtc/s1600/20110713_31+%2528598x800%2529.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 239px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630987838574488354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCYRSbI2lztncvUvnQbv3ipmBeY5iBoxzU2N4w1FBfyhX8p2drGDRt2Y6Y1ERhwN8ejm1o0UOv9syLGwaykCb9LY-PrpDTxSeTdt3KH2Pb79yC029rXvK4E81KNedaWotUlsT2ZQanhtc/s320/20110713_31+%2528598x800%2529.jpg"></a><br /><br />However, I knew my ride was over when I saw the road up out of Valloire, and there were other people there falling off bikes with exhaustion or claiming altitude sickness, and being a curious fellow, I hung around a bit to see what was going on with the broom. I just can’t resist a bit of gossip! The broom came and were very nice – I had no intention of getting in the bus, so they put a red cross through my number, cancelled my time on the race computer and left me to it sitting in the shade by the side of the road, watching the end of the race go by. I gave my wife a call to tell her what had happened, allowed the pent up emotions to flood out, then called up Mark and arranged for him to come & collect me. After a nice lunch, we then drove up and cycled down the rest of the route as far as the bottom of Alpe De Huez, where we met the others.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4D0T-ySCDLEIC8w5134ZO4t0Ft-UcEHbqM-UIQ-uWuDZ5jBYDKVVZPCmfVseIWo2BXs5EL_YZv1SxTC9kXQ-a6355tP5-PUTZtFxUogLMQy5t21HAx3qFzlHG21F7y16VdDvAcUTSX8k/s1600/20110713_93+%2528800x598%2529.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 239px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630983878501237154" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4D0T-ySCDLEIC8w5134ZO4t0Ft-UcEHbqM-UIQ-uWuDZ5jBYDKVVZPCmfVseIWo2BXs5EL_YZv1SxTC9kXQ-a6355tP5-PUTZtFxUogLMQy5t21HAx3qFzlHG21F7y16VdDvAcUTSX8k/s320/20110713_93+%2528800x598%2529.jpg"></a><br /><br />My race was run. I had cycled around 900km in preparation for this, somewhere between a third & a half of what was required by some accounts, and managed about 33km on the day before retiring. I was upset that I hadn’t been able to do more, upset that I hadn’t managed to conquer the nerves, upset that my back had let me down. My legs were fine. I didn’t feel tired. I just couldn’t continue. Then I started to remember a few things: this is a stage of the Tour de France – it isn’t supposed to be easy, it’s one of the hardest cyclosportives out there! I had given it a go and got over 1 mountain, despite my physical limitations. I hadn’t done anything competitive for years, since school, maybe since ever, and I’d certainly never done anything remotely like this. I’d never done any sport that required endurance. And I’d raised over £600 for Diabetes Research. I did feel a bit of a fraud for not feeling physically tired anywhere apart from my back, but there was nothing I could do about this – other than get fitter and try again another year.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdfVHSLGcVQ5eCTIVSnBJttGYztiFERulhTOd9QDJEziGfKEEFfTU1hUSWpuBb6IvYWbO8YpyRvh6q687i3Iwe-bncKbDJaE7e14KcELhUdfSeTvA-zI_8tNm4oRyzOJfUzQqSYUTreKg/s1600/20110713_103+%2528640x480%2529.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630982858416416194" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdfVHSLGcVQ5eCTIVSnBJttGYztiFERulhTOd9QDJEziGfKEEFfTU1hUSWpuBb6IvYWbO8YpyRvh6q687i3Iwe-bncKbDJaE7e14KcELhUdfSeTvA-zI_8tNm4oRyzOJfUzQqSYUTreKg/s320/20110713_103+%2528640x480%2529.jpg"></a><br /><br />The next day I proved to myself that I wasn’t a complete no hoper by going out on a morning ride up an alp behind the hotel not dissimilar from the one I’d got over, albeit slightly shorter. And I made it. Without the pressure of the broom, without the nerves, without the razzamatazz of the big event. In some ways the relative ease with which I was able to do this was even more annoying than the nerves of the previous day but it showed me that I was heading in the right direction, I was capable, I could do it – “all” I need to do is drop several kilos, get to work on the core fitness, train longer and hope against hope that the next time I’ll be able to cope with the nerves. And I really hope there will be a next time!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhujwTi0m0cyOnuuzAVWVdHGJ_d7ta1HnBfr8PlXuX9NxD6wTBWMfoj7YCQfZ2MjGu6a-ca-4LZxCn35U9rhNMLU3WxJc8jmGxCqypVJXMqq6aDEcMzGtA9GXUJRDEDgViCWIkCGMVVYik/s1600/20110713_101+%2528800x598%2529.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 239px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630982545002792626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhujwTi0m0cyOnuuzAVWVdHGJ_d7ta1HnBfr8PlXuX9NxD6wTBWMfoj7YCQfZ2MjGu6a-ca-4LZxCn35U9rhNMLU3WxJc8jmGxCqypVJXMqq6aDEcMzGtA9GXUJRDEDgViCWIkCGMVVYik/s320/20110713_101+%2528800x598%2529.jpg"></a><br /><br />My friends also had mixed success – Tom, who started 15 minutes after the rest of us, was eliminated on the lower slopes of the Alpe, devastatingly. Alister managed to beat the broom despite having 20% less gears than the rest of us – performance of the day without question, and David, with 3 etapes & 2 marmottes worth of experience as well as several other crazy rides to call on, unsurprisingly breezed home in a mite over 6 hours. Meanwhile our sterling driver Mark cycled down the Col du Glandon, so even he got a taste of the action.<br /><br />As for me, my journey from fat lad on a bike has only got as far as slightly less fat lad on a bike, rather than svelte alpine cyclist just yet. There’s always next year - though I may opt to spend that wedding anniversary with my dearly beloved, especially if I want to get to the following one!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi41-trTuQFE-wGbaHcE-2SCZvWOwZr-wKE9dFz8qo-q9kL69R9p1aXdyQS89EUbfIOqU4YHwIaQr8oAJfyC5z67ln76_rHuhpt0ZsDjQm9-Hx3bAvLQM-KPZWMswQQTpm-0rJIBjdruzI/s1600/20110713_98+%2528800x598%2529.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 239px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630991287767325506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi41-trTuQFE-wGbaHcE-2SCZvWOwZr-wKE9dFz8qo-q9kL69R9p1aXdyQS89EUbfIOqU4YHwIaQr8oAJfyC5z67ln76_rHuhpt0ZsDjQm9-Hx3bAvLQM-KPZWMswQQTpm-0rJIBjdruzI/s320/20110713_98+%2528800x598%2529.jpg"></a>Andrew Stroudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15861568581975349926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2981214366937129650.post-87989135320354707292010-11-17T05:25:00.000-08:002010-11-17T05:26:18.277-08:00Yesterday I signed up to the Etape du Tour.Andrew Stroudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15861568581975349926noreply@blogger.com0