Tomorrow sees me doing the first edition of Velothon Wales. 15,000 people will set off tomorrow to race 140km around a closed road circuit of South Wales. I'm a little nervous of the big climb heading up to Abergavenny: Ostensibly I'll be doing it with Dan Palmer, but he has an earlier start time and should be quicker than me. Whilst I beat his time during the Tour of Berkshire, I'm certain that he's determined to set the record straight and this time he won't still be recovering from a chest infection! I'm a little nervous, but have a fair amount of hope that with the sheer numbers I'll be able to drift behind plenty of people to conserve energy and hope to be able to get up The Tumble. Once I'm up there I should be fine for the remainder. I've done these distances before, so really shouldn't be suffering from butterflies but nevertheless I am! If nothing else, it should give me a good bit of practise before I hit the Pyrenees in the Summer.
Saturday, 13 June 2015
Velothon Wales 2015
Tomorrow sees me doing the first edition of Velothon Wales. 15,000 people will set off tomorrow to race 140km around a closed road circuit of South Wales. I'm a little nervous of the big climb heading up to Abergavenny: Ostensibly I'll be doing it with Dan Palmer, but he has an earlier start time and should be quicker than me. Whilst I beat his time during the Tour of Berkshire, I'm certain that he's determined to set the record straight and this time he won't still be recovering from a chest infection! I'm a little nervous, but have a fair amount of hope that with the sheer numbers I'll be able to drift behind plenty of people to conserve energy and hope to be able to get up The Tumble. Once I'm up there I should be fine for the remainder. I've done these distances before, so really shouldn't be suffering from butterflies but nevertheless I am! If nothing else, it should give me a good bit of practise before I hit the Pyrenees in the Summer.
Tuesday, 19 May 2015
How small we've made the world
Travelling at 180mph in comfort with our luggage, with the Eurostar making a mockery of our efforts, I'm struck by how big the world really is.
I guess part of the luxury of doing rides like this is the time you get to spend with your thoughts and contemplating things. I remember last time being constantly reminded of our place in nature. We spend so little time in our surroundings that we are entirely divorced from them.
When you are on your bike and on a multi day journey with only whatever you have brought with you to hand, your exposure to the elements and your awareness of the landscape (climbing hill after hill does that to you!) start to connect you to nature a little bit more. Now clearly, I'm still stating this from a perspective where every night we had a lovely warm, dry hotel room to check in to. A hot shower and comfortable beds to sleep in. So it's hardly a position of real hardship. More the ramblings of a very lucky human.
On our walk back to the hotel last night we passed dozens and dozens of homeless people, living in tents under an underpass. As well as the luxuries already stated, we had a fair amount of security in knowing that we had the pick of our choice when it came to what and where we wanted to eat. This morning I didn't have to worry IF I was going to eat today, I chose exactly what I wanted.
I'm returning home to my very lovely wife and my four healthy and adorable kids and we all live in comfort. What incredible luck!!
So here I am travelling at 180mph home. The thought that hits me his time is how small we've made this world. When it takes an hour to travel what took us 3 days to cycle, it's hard to miss the comparison. It really wasn't that long ago that travelling even at the pace we just spent the last 4 days doing was pretty much your only option. It limits what you can carry and it limits where you go.
Has the pace of life increased with our ability to travel fast, to get information instantaneously in almost any location?
How are these two thoughts linked? I think our modern conveniences are simply incredible, I'm not advocating somehow turning back time. But we all need to find the time to slow down, to think more. I wish that more people had what I have. I mean that on a global level, the gap between my level of security and comfort compared with billions of others is not right. I mean it on a very local level too, you don't need to look outside of your local community to find others who aren't as lucky as you. We can help both.
Deep thoughts for a light-hearted blog!
Monday, 18 May 2015
It is done!!
Wow!!! It has finally came to an end. I would be lying if I said I'm pain free. "My Knee, My Knee" is all Adam heard today. It was hurting from start to finish, my whole body was saying Why?? Not another day of punishment. But when we made it to Paris all the pain was over shadowed by a sense of achievement. It has been a great experience never yo be forgotten. We have loads of videos and photos to look at to remind us of the fun times and hard times. A massive thanks to Adam for his help and I hope who ever has been following has enjoyed our experience and perhaps if you haven't already done so make a donation to Adams charity link.
Thanks
Tom
We made it!!!!!
We are here! I just had a go around the Arc d'Triumph, which is always crazy and let's you know you are alive!!
Just about to head down Champs Élysées to Place de la Concord then on to the Eifel Tower, then we're DONE!
Stopped for a little rest
So to placate him we've stopped for a banana and a pain au chocolat in a shady little bench by the side of the road.
Sorry for not posting the location sooner, the brain isn't firing on all cylinders - I'm quite tired.
Not long to Paris now...only another 50km or so!
Hi ho! Hi ho! It's off to work you go!
As you head off to work or school this morning, spare a thought for the two of us aching in places you forgot you had places, a little sunburned and more than a little tired. Whilst we procrastinate, in a while we will be getting back on the bikes in spite of the protestations our bodies will make, putting our backpacks on to sore shoulders and heading off to Paris, climbing close to 1000m in total over 50 miles.
Now almost on any other day, if you asked me if I fancied a quick 50 mile ride to Paris, I'd have bitten your arm off! But today lying here aching, tired and sore...I'd rather just go back to bed and sleep!
So I'm sure you might be thinking "Oh its alright for them! Swanning off on a nice cycling 'holiday', getting to hang out around Paris..." But you'd only be half right! :-)
Day 4 - Beauvais to Paris
View this route in more detail on
plotaroute.com
Click here for a more detailed overview of the nasty bits (the hills!)
Sunday, 17 May 2015
Who am I kidding?
Day 3 over and done. Well what can I say but it's hard work. Even if I wasn't sick at all I know I would have struggled. The hill!! What a battle, I feel I got a bit stronger on them as we went along but I will always hate them. It was great having Adam leading the way and giving advice. I wouldn't have even dream of a London 2 Paris without someone who hasn't don't it. If you were to ask me would I do it again right now I'll say "No ways!!" Because of the pain my ass and legs are in, but give it a week and I'll know I'll probably say yes. Tomorrow is going to be great as its a shorter ride but still going to be painful, but getting to the finish line will be FANTASTIC!! Followed by a slap up dinner at one of the most expensive restaurants in Paris. (Adams treat) he so good!!!
Some shopping for family then train home the next day. Well done Ads for a great trip so far and all your help and support. Cheers.
Day 3...done!
Today was a grand day out. Compared to yesterday where it was cold, wet, windy and I thought Tom was going to die in a French hospital (or a taxi) then having to complete the majority on my lonesome - today was warm, sunny and full of great companionship!
We started later than all other days (10am) in reasonably warm weather. Neither of us really fancied anything big for breakfast so we set off with a couple of chocolate chip brioche in our bellies.
The cycling was good from the off. I couldn't really remember much of this day from 2009, but having reviewed our blog posts it seemed that after the previous day's cycling we decided to try and stick to main roads...well what a mistake that was! The ride today was fantastic. Beautiful scenery, quite roads and a great combination of challenging climbs rewarded with some nice downhills. I think even Tom enjoyed it!
We tried to stop in Grandvilliers for a baguette, but the only shops open were patisserie so we pressed on with the food we had on us and it sufficed us both.
After my attempts to cheer up Tom and take his mind off his abdominal pains yesterday by singing New New York and the Theme from Annie ("The sun'll come out tomorrow!") accompanied by Spotify, we continued with the background music in a couple of places today and had a good sing along!
It's amazing how much easier cycling these sorts of distances is with good companionship, the kilometres melted away today. In some ways it's a shame that the adventure ends tomorrow. Although my body will thank me. This morning I could have perfectly happily laid in bed all day. So whilst today was some of the best cycling this year, it took tremendous effort to get back on my bike and put the straps for my bag back on my shoulders (oh for a support rider!!).
Tonight I looked on Trip advisor for somewhere to eat and came up with nothing. There looked to be a very nice restaurant down the road, but two problems - I don't think they'd have accepted us in wearing my polka dot tshirt and shorts and more immediately it was closed! So we ended up at KFC!
Tomorrow is shaping up to be a warm one. On reflection, we should have used some sun screen today and we'll definitely need it tomorrow. My quads took a full hit today and as you might have seen in an earlier post are looking a little red, but I'm keeping to "the rules" specifically we've done very well with the first 10:
http://www.velominati.com/the-rules/
What did get on my nerves no end today was that I appear to have picked up a slow puncture. After repairing it on Day 1, we had to pump it up at the start of Day 2 - I put that down to having used CO2 which generally leaks quicker than air. Thankfully it got me to Abbeville, I couldn't have contemplated doing what I did today in the grim weather yesterday.
Just as we set off this morning I noticed it was more or less flat! Well that wasn't the first time it needed pumping up, I had to pump it up 5 times in total. If we had a track pump that wouldn't have been an issue, but using a mini pump where you need about 300 pumps (yes I counted!) to get it to a reasonable level, it got boring and tiring very quickly.
Paris tomorrow and with great weather too - I'm excited! Hope you can all keep following and supporting from afar.
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