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Thanks for all your help and support. Adam & Chopper
Wednesday, 24 June 2009
Day Nine
Today is a 54k ride into Cannes. By 12.30, we had already done 40k.
Pedalling out towards Valboonne we ended up on the Peleton Express with the fastest riders on the ride. 50km/hr on the flat for about 10k. Flying along like a fast red snake cooking through the Gorge. A fantastic peleton. Technically it was very hard through the turns.
In a true peleton, you take one minute at the front cutting the air for the others. After about a minute you wave your chicken wing pull to alert that you are peeling off before peeling off to the side and then dropping to the back. We ride so close that one mistake from any one of the riders will crash thewhole peleton. The Pro-rider loved it – said it was a great peleton.
A tough climb to the top. As we waited for the others to arrive a massive water fight broke out at the fountain!
We dropped into Biot and this is where we are now. Adam is having shandy and Chopper is on his second Beer.
Calling in the final blog before Cannes whilst waiting for our pizza and waiting for the final descent into Cannes...!
Adam is having a Thong pizza.
Chops has ordered chorizo.
Oh – a leggy girl is just passing and everyone is looking round – Chopper has done a full 180º!
Last night after 170km, the receptionist who greeted us was tall, skinny, leggy, beautiful and had a massive bust! It was really too much and we quickly realised that we needed to get Chopper into Cannes fast!
Chopper: “Adam is looking more & more handsome every day...”
Gotta go ...Pizza is here...
Day Eight
Quite up & down.
The Gorge is enormous! It is impossible to describe the scale. As you ride along the edge it is almost 1km deep in places. Last year we saw nothing of it as we were riding through a massive thunderstorm but this year it was perfect weather and the gorge was all there to see. There are lakes of astonishing colour on the way up - extreme cyan, extreme green... beautiful views.
We all kept singing, “because you’re gorgeous, I’ll do anything for you...” Today we were very sore and very slow and are at the back with the slower riders, helping them. We rolled them in at the end of the day; ten hours in the saddle feeling very sore and still suffering after the exhaustion of Venoux!
The Gorge is enormous! It is impossible to describe the scale. As you ride along the edge it is almost 1km deep in places. Last year we saw nothing of it as we were riding through a massive thunderstorm but this year it was perfect weather and the gorge was all there to see. There are lakes of astonishing colour on the way up - extreme cyan, extreme green... beautiful views.
We all kept singing, “because you’re gorgeous, I’ll do anything for you...” Today we were very sore and very slow and are at the back with the slower riders, helping them. We rolled them in at the end of the day; ten hours in the saddle feeling very sore and still suffering after the exhaustion of Venoux!If you climb up above Grasse, you are on a Mediterranean plain. From there, you can see all over the flower fields and the sea gleaming in the distance 20k away. Later we met up with Adrian Mote – Firefly No1. We left the girls and descended through the sunshine with the smell of the flowers all around like demons. We rolled in, grabbed a beer and jumped in the pool!
Got cleaned up and had a lovely dinner:
Chick Pea Salad
Grilled Salmon (first fish of the ride)
Chocolate Brownie
and some Rosé ...
and some more Rosé ...
and even more Rosé ...
So the blog was forgotten!
Tuesday, 23 June 2009
Day Seven: The Mighty Venoux
A very emotional day, we started full of enthusiasm for the mountain.
As we were in the fast group we were in the last six to start - the two pro riders, the two fast boys and us. In Vaisan we stopped to be filmed for the sponsors then set out on the 30km warm-up towards the mountain. We cooked along. Arriving at Bedouin at 9.55, we popped a gel and began the climb, very psyched! Chopper went off (his knees hurt if he goes too slowly) and managed to stay with the pros for 4k! Worried he would peak too early, he let the pros go. Adam followed alone.
There is a line of brick in the tarmac marking where the time starts and as you cross it the main challenge is to get a sub-two hour time. We were off!
Nearing the top of the mountain, the road splits - two routes to the same summit. But the wind was so strong it nearly pushed Adam onto the lower road despite his best efforts of leaning right over and aiming for the upper road. Woody then pulled up and ran up behind him - with a peeled banana - great! Then he spotted the summit. With 6km to go we had been advised not to go for it – but digging deep, he went for it! Woody stopped further up and chased him up the hill in his Ugg boots with a ready-peeled Mars bar.
Chopper has lost his ear plugs.
We had a good but rather daunting briefing as we were facing a 21km climb, starting at 300m it is 1900m high.
As we were in the fast group we were in the last six to start - the two pro riders, the two fast boys and us. In Vaisan we stopped to be filmed for the sponsors then set out on the 30km warm-up towards the mountain. We cooked along. Arriving at Bedouin at 9.55, we popped a gel and began the climb, very psyched! Chopper went off (his knees hurt if he goes too slowly) and managed to stay with the pros for 4k! Worried he would peak too early, he let the pros go. Adam followed alone.
There is a line of brick in the tarmac marking where the time starts and as you cross it the main challenge is to get a sub-two hour time. We were off!
We overtook many other cyclists along the way but it was very hot. At about 4k out of town the real push starts as the gradient really kicks up. Riding through the forest for 10km at an average of 9 or 10% gradient is a killer! On most Alpine roads the road flattens out on the turns giving some release but on the mighty Ventoux the turns get steeper and steeper, no flattening out in the curves, no let up. An hour passed and another gel is popped; a gel every hour; a drink every 10 minutes; eat every 20 minutes.
Still in the woods but no site of the summit. But as we emerged from the trees we finally catch site of it on the left... it is miles away! We thought we had cracked it, but it still bloody miles away! And it is totally white.
At about 1.5 hours there is a café and although a lot of people stopped we boldly carried on. Up there, you really get hit by the wind and there is no shelter. As the road changes direction the wind changes, hitting right, then your face, then left, then speeds you from behind. Adam was in bottom gear, just about moving, but as the wind hit his face and shoulders it felt like he was being stopped.
Nearing the top of the mountain, the road splits - two routes to the same summit. But the wind was so strong it nearly pushed Adam onto the lower road despite his best efforts of leaning right over and aiming for the upper road. Woody then pulled up and ran up behind him - with a peeled banana - great! Then he spotted the summit. With 6km to go we had been advised not to go for it – but digging deep, he went for it! Woody stopped further up and chased him up the hill in his Ugg boots with a ready-peeled Mars bar.
Then Adam was alone: On a mission. An emotional roller coaster. Ventoux strips you of everything and leaves you psychologically torn. All the way up he was thinking of Rosa, a little girl in his youngest son’s class who has just lost her Dad this month to leukaemia – the disease that we are here raising money to fight. He kept seeing her face, kept saying “Come on Rosa! Come on Rosa!” kept telling himself that if he could only make the sub-two hour time she would be alright...
Reaching the top he put his head on his handle bars and sat sobbing at the mighty mountain’s summit.
He had done it in an incredible 1 hours 55 minutes. Rosa would be OK! Chopper and Adam were elated! Photos were taken and tears shed. Both were chuffed to get the sub-two hour time despite the cold and wind.
Reaching the top he put his head on his handle bars and sat sobbing at the mighty mountain’s summit.
He had done it in an incredible 1 hours 55 minutes. Rosa would be OK! Chopper and Adam were elated! Photos were taken and tears shed. Both were chuffed to get the sub-two hour time despite the cold and wind.
So the final times were:
Adam: 1 hour 55
Chopper: 1 hour 45
Chopper: 1 hour 45
The Pros did it in 1 hour 15 (but they do spend more time cycling than Adam does colouring!)
We descended at the back and ate lunch in Sault – le salade.
The four musketeers reunited and embarked on a 40k ride through Provence with a tail wind, riding through the lavender. It was like heaven! Chopper reckons it was the best day’s riding he had ever had - inspired by the day’s amazing performance. The final 10k of the day saw Adam, Julian Hoff and Adrian Mote screaming together through half bends, open roads and towns. Motorcycling experience certainly came in handy as lines were changed to narrowly miss oncoming vehicles!
Finally arrived in Manosque for the night, we got cleaned up and performed our domestic chores.
Chopper has lost his ear plugs.
Legs are tanned (Chopper tried to pull the Lycra legs further up on the ride to expose more thigh!)
FRIGHTENING MOMENT: A Mangina! Stopped for a photo to behold the last sight of Mt Ventoux at which point it was spotted that Chopper had a Mangina! Continued along serenading him with Andy Williams’ ”You’re just too good to be true, can’t take my eyes off of you, you feel like heaven to…….I love you Babe….” Chopper relished the attention.
ADVANCE WARNING: The Mangina (a big success) may be reappearing in Cannes. As a fully operational female body, which Chops can wear. The mouth piece has a very clever attachment enabling him to eat ice cream and drink beer (with a straw). Care must be taken so it does not melt so frequent dips in the sea are a must. Adam will spend his time running after him with a track pump so he does not get deflated.
Reflecting (as we sit on the edge of our beds in our boxers, rubbing oil on our legs with deep thrombosis massage) that tomorrow brings 170km of cycling down the Gorge de Verdun - an enormous Gorge running south across Provence with a forecast of a westerly wind from the side – towards Grasse. We usually cycle 1.3 pages of our map per day, tomorrow it is 1.75 pages! Last year we had a rain storm but fortunately no rain is forecast.
Night, night.
Monday, 22 June 2009
Day Six
Today was the day we decided not to be at the back (and to explain we are not at the back because we are the slowest but because we are the most helpful!)
The groups set out each day in order with the slowest first and the fastest bringing up the rear, with the idea that everyone should arrive at the top of each climb around the same time.
The Muskateers set off and soon passed the slowest group, so far so good.
D – road, lovely! Then a BIG BANG!
Aramis’s inner tube exploded and blew the tyre off the rim! Athos (me) changed the tyre and Woody came to their aid with the track pump. We had now been passed by both the slowest and the fastest groups.
Back at the back, the pro-rider rode with us, cutting the wind and teaching peleton etiquette. It was a lovely peleton performance from everybody, sweet and looking good. The pro-rider was very impressed. Then Neil picked up a slow puncture. Fast pit stop/tyre change and off again! Then we managed to miss a turning and took a 20km detour! Ops!
Still with 100km to go with small cols ahead, bellies full of fromage, jambon, Coke and enthusiasm we cruised on. The wind was getting stronger and stronger but we still ploughed ahead. With The Mill power leading the group; hauling that Pà10 into a town with live music in the square where the fast group was just finishing lunch.
The Musketeers, with Tracey and Ben, decide to keep their lead and plough on after just a swift drink. We rode along the valley, where Chopper and I were having difficulties, and were in danger of bonking (see previous explanation) we stopped and emptied the contents of our pockets into our mouths including gels, flapjacks, bars, honey and sweets!
The road was lovely, narrow and winding; descending down a gorge you could smell the lavender just starting to flower – the aroma of Provence!
Alone, the brave Mill heroes motored along the valley where the duo-ton sped along fuelled by the contents of their pockets. We caught up with Neil and Dave and we all rode on together. We tore up the road for the last 26km racing to Vaison La Romaine.
Mont Ventoux’s lunar landscape looming ahead giving us a taste of what's to come. The top is treeless; it was stripped by Napoleon to build ships who wanted the best timber for his Navy. It was closed today as it has high wind speeds at the top (highest recorded is 193km/hr).
It is Midsummer today. On this night nobody can complain about music being played too loud. Live music plays in every square and we all walked to a mediaeval fort on the hill.
What about everyday life for the Mill Heroes? Well it is fromage jambon all the way! And Choppers linguistic skills have come on a long way since last year:
Charcuterie
Boulangerie
Rouge
Fromage
Mange mon Chapeau and/or Chat
Monsieur – used for both genders in place of please!
Our domestic life is perfect harmony as we both have very tidy tendencies! Only messy people have an issue with this!
We do our chores as soon as we get in to the hotel, I do the laundry and Chopper makes the beds. Heaven!
It is very windy so our laundry blew off across the lawn. Chopper is missing his best G-string -if anyone has seen it please let us know!
Mont Ventoux lies in wait, it is Lance Armstrong’s most feared climb. Tomorrow we will take it.
The groups set out each day in order with the slowest first and the fastest bringing up the rear, with the idea that everyone should arrive at the top of each climb around the same time.
The Muskateers set off and soon passed the slowest group, so far so good.
D – road, lovely! Then a BIG BANG!
Aramis’s inner tube exploded and blew the tyre off the rim! Athos (me) changed the tyre and Woody came to their aid with the track pump. We had now been passed by both the slowest and the fastest groups.
Back at the back, the pro-rider rode with us, cutting the wind and teaching peleton etiquette. It was a lovely peleton performance from everybody, sweet and looking good. The pro-rider was very impressed. Then Neil picked up a slow puncture. Fast pit stop/tyre change and off again! Then we managed to miss a turning and took a 20km detour! Ops!
Still with 100km to go with small cols ahead, bellies full of fromage, jambon, Coke and enthusiasm we cruised on. The wind was getting stronger and stronger but we still ploughed ahead. With The Mill power leading the group; hauling that Pà10 into a town with live music in the square where the fast group was just finishing lunch.
The Musketeers, with Tracey and Ben, decide to keep their lead and plough on after just a swift drink. We rode along the valley, where Chopper and I were having difficulties, and were in danger of bonking (see previous explanation) we stopped and emptied the contents of our pockets into our mouths including gels, flapjacks, bars, honey and sweets!
The road was lovely, narrow and winding; descending down a gorge you could smell the lavender just starting to flower – the aroma of Provence!
Alone, the brave Mill heroes motored along the valley where the duo-ton sped along fuelled by the contents of their pockets. We caught up with Neil and Dave and we all rode on together. We tore up the road for the last 26km racing to Vaison La Romaine.
Mont Ventoux’s lunar landscape looming ahead giving us a taste of what's to come. The top is treeless; it was stripped by Napoleon to build ships who wanted the best timber for his Navy. It was closed today as it has high wind speeds at the top (highest recorded is 193km/hr).
It is Midsummer today. On this night nobody can complain about music being played too loud. Live music plays in every square and we all walked to a mediaeval fort on the hill.
What about everyday life for the Mill Heroes? Well it is fromage jambon all the way! And Choppers linguistic skills have come on a long way since last year:
Charcuterie
Boulangerie
Rouge
Fromage
Mange mon Chapeau and/or Chat
Monsieur – used for both genders in place of please!
Our domestic life is perfect harmony as we both have very tidy tendencies! Only messy people have an issue with this!
We do our chores as soon as we get in to the hotel, I do the laundry and Chopper makes the beds. Heaven!
It is very windy so our laundry blew off across the lawn. Chopper is missing his best G-string -if anyone has seen it please let us know!
Mont Ventoux lies in wait, it is Lance Armstrong’s most feared climb. Tomorrow we will take it.
Sunday, 21 June 2009
Day Five
Back up Lauteret, nice, gentle, strong. The Four Musketeers ready for action until d'Artagnan has a slow puncture. He catches his crew up soon enough down Briançon, which is very long and a very fast descent!
We did have a NEAR MISS when Chopper over cooked a corner. A heart-in-the mouth moment followed as he narrowly missed a head on with a green van!
Climbing Isoard I went with Paul Miles from O&M – a very fast boy! Isoard on a Saturday morning is like Brands Hatch! Motorbike racing about everywhere! Lethal! It is very steep and very narrow with motorbikes coming at all angles but really stunning scenery though!
I waited at the top with Chopper in hot pursuit; once he arrived we spent some quality time together at the top. We waited in time honoured tradition for the all Fireflies to make it to the top. They sipped Orangina and Coke followed by a visit to the pick’n’mix stall to buy mad French sweets.
Once the crew reassembled we descended Isoard together. Fast, beautiful. Chopper and I and a motocross racer, whoever took them on hairpins! Chopper had a moment with some shiny tarmac as his front tyre floated at 50mph! Top speed was Paul who clocked 55mph but did not pass our boys! For the next leg the recurring theme of being at the back returned. Porthos had a pedal problem! So we all waited patiently by the bus stop whilst he picked pork from his cleat!
Down further into a head wind the peleton of Olivia, Claire, Sue, Adam, Dave, Chopper, Mareika and Neil found them returning to the back breaking wind for the girls. Neil, Cat and Mareika dropped away as Neil had a problem with his knee. We cruised on then Claire needed a wee. Not an easy affair with skin tight bib shorts of finest Lycra!
The Golden Arches appeared just in time and so our Musketeers feasted on ‘Royales with Cheese’. Not a great idea on the following hill as we were certainly weren’t ‘Lovin’ it’. This hill took us to a lake, where we stopped for a drink then passed over the lac du serre-poncon on a bridge, arriving in Gap to be greeted by a mad motorbike festival right outside the hotel door - they were pulling wheelies, endos - all very impressive. Then Dinner and Bed.
We did have a NEAR MISS when Chopper over cooked a corner. A heart-in-the mouth moment followed as he narrowly missed a head on with a green van!
Climbing Isoard I went with Paul Miles from O&M – a very fast boy! Isoard on a Saturday morning is like Brands Hatch! Motorbike racing about everywhere! Lethal! It is very steep and very narrow with motorbikes coming at all angles but really stunning scenery though!
I waited at the top with Chopper in hot pursuit; once he arrived we spent some quality time together at the top. We waited in time honoured tradition for the all Fireflies to make it to the top. They sipped Orangina and Coke followed by a visit to the pick’n’mix stall to buy mad French sweets.
Once the crew reassembled we descended Isoard together. Fast, beautiful. Chopper and I and a motocross racer, whoever took them on hairpins! Chopper had a moment with some shiny tarmac as his front tyre floated at 50mph! Top speed was Paul who clocked 55mph but did not pass our boys! For the next leg the recurring theme of being at the back returned. Porthos had a pedal problem! So we all waited patiently by the bus stop whilst he picked pork from his cleat!
Down further into a head wind the peleton of Olivia, Claire, Sue, Adam, Dave, Chopper, Mareika and Neil found them returning to the back breaking wind for the girls. Neil, Cat and Mareika dropped away as Neil had a problem with his knee. We cruised on then Claire needed a wee. Not an easy affair with skin tight bib shorts of finest Lycra!
The Golden Arches appeared just in time and so our Musketeers feasted on ‘Royales with Cheese’. Not a great idea on the following hill as we were certainly weren’t ‘Lovin’ it’. This hill took us to a lake, where we stopped for a drink then passed over the lac du serre-poncon on a bridge, arriving in Gap to be greeted by a mad motorbike festival right outside the hotel door - they were pulling wheelies, endos - all very impressive. Then Dinner and Bed.
Saturday, 20 June 2009
Day Four: Day of rest
Day of rest. Chopper felt bad. Various people had different agendas for this free day. Bike shops were visited. Bikes cleaned and fixed. Bodies are massaged.
Five or six ‘Virgins’ went off to do the legendary Alpes D’Huez as it was not on the route this year. Chopper and I set off in search of replacements for those beloved Rudy Project sunglasses! And I can happily report some were found. Replaced but not forgotten – not quite the same!
Five or six ‘Virgins’ went off to do the legendary Alpes D’Huez as it was not on the route this year. Chopper and I set off in search of replacements for those beloved Rudy Project sunglasses! And I can happily report some were found. Replaced but not forgotten – not quite the same!
We then went off to see how those virgins were doing and they were doing really well! The Virgins are really strong this year! Hmmm! Sounds good!
Here you really feeling the altitude in fact you run upstairs and you feel like you might be sickening for something then you realise everyone feels it and it is altitude. Then there was a Bar-B. Then there was Dinner.
Here you really feeling the altitude in fact you run upstairs and you feel like you might be sickening for something then you realise everyone feels it and it is altitude. Then there was a Bar-B. Then there was Dinner.
Friday, 19 June 2009
Day Three
We started later than normal on the second leg of Col d’Iseran. We dropped to the Lake and through Val d’Isère. It was so lovely and the most beautiful scenery Chopper had ever seen and we all know he has seen some scenery! Marmottes just everywhere!
It is here that the Peleton à Quatre rebrand our group as The Musketeers!
Athos – Adam
Porthos – Neil
Aramis- David
d'Artagnan- Chopper
'Tous pour un, un pour tous' does not last long as d'Artagnan kicks in and leave the Muskateers - the Marmottes rescue division to storm the mountain. Half way up Athos (me) leaves too! The descent from Iseran was amazing, fast and very long.
Great Loss Alert! Our band of loyal riders manages to lose one of their numbers. Yes somehow despite being on the same mountain, dressed in bright and distinguishable colours we lose Neil. We think he may have descended before us. At the bottom a Peleton à Sept was formed and we flew down the valley for 60km into a strong head wind to the base of Telegraphe.
Happily Neil was waiting at the bottom in a café. He had taken a slight detour and ended up on the Autoroute!!!! After 4km the support vehicle found him; he jumped the central reservation and rode back to the junction! Doing the 60km plus solo but just look what happens when he goes off on his own!
Through the valley of Iseran on the way to Telegraphe we pass a local elderly 'Tour de France' cycliste! Chopper decided to race him! The 'Tour de France cycliste' had over taken on the way down as we stopped to photograph a monastery/fort hanging off the cliff side. Chopper caught him up fast and booted past; the cycliste looked up in disgust and charged after Chopper. We all followed on into town. Chopper stopped in the town and the cycliste glared in scorn and rode past out of the saddle!
An hour later the Musketeers passed him again. The process repeated itself and a fun filled day of annoying the locals was had by all. At the bottom of Telegraphe Chopper bought some sun cream and after sun only to later realise it had cost him 40€!!!!!!!!!! (Note to self shouldn’t pick on locals).
Climbing Telegraphe which is basically a shelf on the side of Galibier, we had some nasty headwinds all the way. It is really a preamble to the massive Galibier. We did not start it until 5pm and we knew from last year that it was going to be very, very tough.
Chopper was expecting to bonk (Wikipedia: In endurance sports, particularly cycling and running, hitting the wall or ‘the bonk’ describes a condition caused by the depletion of glycogen stores in the liver and muscles, which manifests itself by precipitous fatigue and loss of energy) half way up!
So once Chopper left his wing men to save himself and his knees! Stuffing any food he had and struggling all the way. He cleverly distracted himself with games of I- Spy (Who won Chopper?) in fact playing any games to keep going including the A-Z of 80s pop stars which has always been one of his favourites!
Two thirds of the way up Galibier it started to really rain with 15 people still left out on the 2,500 foot climb! The rest of us were hiding in the van with the heaters on without our wet weather gear which was in the other van - on its way.
We were very nervous to descend in these awful conditions with the wind and rain making it very slippery. The van arrived and with it our macs so off we went. Breaking distances for corners had increased significantly and with no more than five feet visibility it was best and safest to stay in the middle of the road! We were freezing and shaking, conditions were so awful that some people had to go down in the van. The good news is nobody fell.
Everyone arrived safely! Lauteret - We knew there was a restaurant 10 km from the top so we stopped there and borrowed bath robes (see photos) drank hot chocolate and brandy and a strange biscuit that tasted of Izal Medicated! Then a drop in to La Grave through some cool tunnels and it was finally getting drier and warmer, we were the last in town - arriving at 9pm! Sadly missing the start of dinner but we had all made it. Dinner. Bar. Brandy. Bed!
It is here that the Peleton à Quatre rebrand our group as The Musketeers!
Athos – Adam
Porthos – Neil
Aramis- David
d'Artagnan- Chopper
'Tous pour un, un pour tous' does not last long as d'Artagnan kicks in and leave the Muskateers - the Marmottes rescue division to storm the mountain. Half way up Athos (me) leaves too! The descent from Iseran was amazing, fast and very long.
Great Loss Alert! Our band of loyal riders manages to lose one of their numbers. Yes somehow despite being on the same mountain, dressed in bright and distinguishable colours we lose Neil. We think he may have descended before us. At the bottom a Peleton à Sept was formed and we flew down the valley for 60km into a strong head wind to the base of Telegraphe.
Happily Neil was waiting at the bottom in a café. He had taken a slight detour and ended up on the Autoroute!!!! After 4km the support vehicle found him; he jumped the central reservation and rode back to the junction! Doing the 60km plus solo but just look what happens when he goes off on his own!
Through the valley of Iseran on the way to Telegraphe we pass a local elderly 'Tour de France' cycliste! Chopper decided to race him! The 'Tour de France cycliste' had over taken on the way down as we stopped to photograph a monastery/fort hanging off the cliff side. Chopper caught him up fast and booted past; the cycliste looked up in disgust and charged after Chopper. We all followed on into town. Chopper stopped in the town and the cycliste glared in scorn and rode past out of the saddle!
An hour later the Musketeers passed him again. The process repeated itself and a fun filled day of annoying the locals was had by all. At the bottom of Telegraphe Chopper bought some sun cream and after sun only to later realise it had cost him 40€!!!!!!!!!! (Note to self shouldn’t pick on locals).
Climbing Telegraphe which is basically a shelf on the side of Galibier, we had some nasty headwinds all the way. It is really a preamble to the massive Galibier. We did not start it until 5pm and we knew from last year that it was going to be very, very tough.
Chopper was expecting to bonk (Wikipedia: In endurance sports, particularly cycling and running, hitting the wall or ‘the bonk’ describes a condition caused by the depletion of glycogen stores in the liver and muscles, which manifests itself by precipitous fatigue and loss of energy) half way up!
So once Chopper left his wing men to save himself and his knees! Stuffing any food he had and struggling all the way. He cleverly distracted himself with games of I- Spy (Who won Chopper?) in fact playing any games to keep going including the A-Z of 80s pop stars which has always been one of his favourites!
Two thirds of the way up Galibier it started to really rain with 15 people still left out on the 2,500 foot climb! The rest of us were hiding in the van with the heaters on without our wet weather gear which was in the other van - on its way.
We were very nervous to descend in these awful conditions with the wind and rain making it very slippery. The van arrived and with it our macs so off we went. Breaking distances for corners had increased significantly and with no more than five feet visibility it was best and safest to stay in the middle of the road! We were freezing and shaking, conditions were so awful that some people had to go down in the van. The good news is nobody fell.
Everyone arrived safely! Lauteret - We knew there was a restaurant 10 km from the top so we stopped there and borrowed bath robes (see photos) drank hot chocolate and brandy and a strange biscuit that tasted of Izal Medicated! Then a drop in to La Grave through some cool tunnels and it was finally getting drier and warmer, we were the last in town - arriving at 9pm! Sadly missing the start of dinner but we had all made it. Dinner. Bar. Brandy. Bed!
Thursday, 18 June 2009
Day Two
The day started with a scam organised by Dave, we were all to come down to breakfast in our hotel bath robes! Naturally Chopper and I were the only ones that did!
Our first climb of the day was Cold de L’Aravis with Mont Blanc visible in the distance. This was a proper climb and after we descend through a beautiful gorge. Now we see the start of a new formation for Chopper and I – The Peleton à Quatre. This particular Peleton à Quatre consisted of Chopper, Neil Evely (Ogilvy), David (Cannon Ball) Hulin (of French Heritage from Le Framestore in NY) and me.
The Peleton à Quatre climbed through the shady trees of Saisies ending in the unsheltered summit at an open car park at the top. No shelter and no gear to change into.
Chopper is then subject to a very bad accident in the loss of some loved ones (or loved thing). On Saisies there is a small descent on part of the climb, during this Chopper reaches for his helmet and tragedy strikes, his £160 Rudy Project Shades (that he could not afford) fall off to skid across the road only to be hit a lorry that flattens them in real Tom & Jerry style! Only minutes earlier he had been declaring his love for them. A full memorial service was held! Chopper was very brave and overcame his tragic loss to pedal on.
Later we dropped into Beaufort and one of the riders, Max, had a broken chain so we stopped to assist. Lending Max my special tool!
Delayed by an hour we start Roselund in very hot conditions but cheered on by passing a stunning lake of Cyan, Azure, Green. The top of Roselund is very high and normally cold but today it was very hot.
The descent was very, very fast with top speeds of 45... No, 47... No 50mph (arguments break out as top speeds are claimed and immediately disputed) suffice to say it was incredibly FAST!
Later we dropped into Bourg St Maurice for a tipple where three of the Peleton à Quatre take on some beer with Adam on the Coca-Cola as they take on the first half of Iseran! It killed everyone! It is hard, brutal and dangerous. We are now totally knackered.
We reach the hotel which is the highest in the Alps and suitably named Eagles Claw in Tignes.
Our first climb of the day was Cold de L’Aravis with Mont Blanc visible in the distance. This was a proper climb and after we descend through a beautiful gorge. Now we see the start of a new formation for Chopper and I – The Peleton à Quatre. This particular Peleton à Quatre consisted of Chopper, Neil Evely (Ogilvy), David (Cannon Ball) Hulin (of French Heritage from Le Framestore in NY) and me.
The Peleton à Quatre climbed through the shady trees of Saisies ending in the unsheltered summit at an open car park at the top. No shelter and no gear to change into.
Chopper is then subject to a very bad accident in the loss of some loved ones (or loved thing). On Saisies there is a small descent on part of the climb, during this Chopper reaches for his helmet and tragedy strikes, his £160 Rudy Project Shades (that he could not afford) fall off to skid across the road only to be hit a lorry that flattens them in real Tom & Jerry style! Only minutes earlier he had been declaring his love for them. A full memorial service was held! Chopper was very brave and overcame his tragic loss to pedal on.
Later we dropped into Beaufort and one of the riders, Max, had a broken chain so we stopped to assist. Lending Max my special tool!
Delayed by an hour we start Roselund in very hot conditions but cheered on by passing a stunning lake of Cyan, Azure, Green. The top of Roselund is very high and normally cold but today it was very hot.
The descent was very, very fast with top speeds of 45... No, 47... No 50mph (arguments break out as top speeds are claimed and immediately disputed) suffice to say it was incredibly FAST!
Later we dropped into Bourg St Maurice for a tipple where three of the Peleton à Quatre take on some beer with Adam on the Coca-Cola as they take on the first half of Iseran! It killed everyone! It is hard, brutal and dangerous. We are now totally knackered.
We reach the hotel which is the highest in the Alps and suitably named Eagles Claw in Tignes.
Wednesday, 17 June 2009
Geneva and Day One
Arrival
We Arrived in Geneva and were very happy to find we were staying in a really nice hotel by the Lake in Evian. Once we were settled in we got the bikes ready and the atmosphere in the team was very calm, saying that there was an element of nerves especially amongst the firefly virgins.We had a beer in the bar outside under the canopy as there was torrential rain pour and dark clouds were forming... Was 2009 going to be a wet fireflies?
Day One
We woke up and were relieved to find the weather had turned and the sky was bright and clear. We had our first climb today, the Joux de Plane. A very tough first climb! An 1800m baptism of fire for the fireflies’ virgins! The descent was great, a little nervy as it was the first of the ride. The descents are fast but everyone arrives safely at the bottom!
Colombiere was next and it was hot about 30ºc plus and getting hotter and hotter. Last year we climbed Colombiere gently; it was the first climb of the day and it was okay. This year it is our second and this made it very different. It was SO tough!
A climb can be so different depending on where it is placed in the schedule. We descended together, all glad to be getting back but were unexpectedly faced with a cheeky little 15km climb up to the hotel. A real sting at the end of day! Happily we were greeted by a lovely 3 star hotel with a pool and a couple of beers (three large two small @ 28€!!) and a lovely meal. Finally we crashed!!!
The Mill team fly with the Fireflies 2009
The Mill is proud to have two Fireflies amongst their ranks for this year’s charity ride; Chris Batten aka Chops and Adam Scott.
This year's bike run is Adam's second and he had always dreamt of joining the Fireflies; amazingly Adam had not cycled since a child and had only began cycling again the Christmas before his first ride. He explains "Ben Hampshire (Mill LA) had lent/gave him a bike - which he described as a Christmas present this being the week before Christmas; Mr Hampshire then asked for £900 and the wheels back... the rest, is history".
Adam's first evening on the bike ride was shared with Chops who presented Adam with earplugs proudly assuring him that he has been told he snores! Although both Chops and Adam denied this! Adam was very impressed with Chop's worry for his potential lack of sleep and found the gesture very 'considerate'. He also discovered that Chops suffers from acute tidiness - which Chops happily agrees with.
Chops describes the atmosphere as 'Carry on camping comes carry on cycling'. But goes on to explain "The ride is serious and the team reach speeds of 55 MPH and nothing can prepare you for the Fireflies, it is invigorating, scary, hard work, amazingly breathtaking scenery mixed in with the most incredible camaraderie and team spirit. By the time you set up camp for the night, you eat; wash your kit and sleep. When we eat we are so ravenous there is never enough food!"
Chris describes the effort and pain of cycling uphill changing quickly to exhilaration when coming down hill. Adam agrees "it's a buzz". Both lads agree it can be dangerous, a large group of cyclists, no barriers and severe drops with stories of riders missing the hair pin and going over the side...
Both lads comment: "At the end of the race it all seems so worthwhile; with your friends and other riders clapping and cheering you on and all the riders coming in Cannes with sirens, music and cheering followed by a dip in the sea!"
The Fireflies support and ride for the charity Leuka, founded in 1982 by leukaemia patient Lester Cazin, Leuka is dedicated to raising funds to support research into the causes and team of leukaemia at London’s Hammersmith Hospital.. Their motto is 'For those who suffer we ride' and both Adam and Chops feel very passionate about the cause, Chops adds: "Sometimes while you cycling you forgot the real reason we do this, to help others that are in great pain". Adam agrees: "The pain we'll suffer going uphill helps to focus on the pain of the cancer suffers and keeps us pushing on".
Both boys raised over 2k each.
Initiated in 2000, the Fireflies gained their name during the first year, after a procession of glowing fireflies led the riders down a steep mountain in the pitch black. This same night-time ride will be completed again this year. This event has been supported strongly by RSA Films from the beginning as part of the sponsorship package.
Previous Mill Fireflies include:
Giles Cheetham
Ben Hampshire
Ant Walsham
Everyone at The Mill wishes all the Fireflies a great and safe ride.
To find out more or make a donation please visit:
http://www.leuka.org.uk/
http://www.thefirefliesride.com/home/index.html
This year's bike run is Adam's second and he had always dreamt of joining the Fireflies; amazingly Adam had not cycled since a child and had only began cycling again the Christmas before his first ride. He explains "Ben Hampshire (Mill LA) had lent/gave him a bike - which he described as a Christmas present this being the week before Christmas; Mr Hampshire then asked for £900 and the wheels back... the rest, is history".
Adam's first evening on the bike ride was shared with Chops who presented Adam with earplugs proudly assuring him that he has been told he snores! Although both Chops and Adam denied this! Adam was very impressed with Chop's worry for his potential lack of sleep and found the gesture very 'considerate'. He also discovered that Chops suffers from acute tidiness - which Chops happily agrees with.
Chops describes the atmosphere as 'Carry on camping comes carry on cycling'. But goes on to explain "The ride is serious and the team reach speeds of 55 MPH and nothing can prepare you for the Fireflies, it is invigorating, scary, hard work, amazingly breathtaking scenery mixed in with the most incredible camaraderie and team spirit. By the time you set up camp for the night, you eat; wash your kit and sleep. When we eat we are so ravenous there is never enough food!"
Chris describes the effort and pain of cycling uphill changing quickly to exhilaration when coming down hill. Adam agrees "it's a buzz". Both lads agree it can be dangerous, a large group of cyclists, no barriers and severe drops with stories of riders missing the hair pin and going over the side...
Both lads comment: "At the end of the race it all seems so worthwhile; with your friends and other riders clapping and cheering you on and all the riders coming in Cannes with sirens, music and cheering followed by a dip in the sea!"
The Fireflies support and ride for the charity Leuka, founded in 1982 by leukaemia patient Lester Cazin, Leuka is dedicated to raising funds to support research into the causes and team of leukaemia at London’s Hammersmith Hospital.. Their motto is 'For those who suffer we ride' and both Adam and Chops feel very passionate about the cause, Chops adds: "Sometimes while you cycling you forgot the real reason we do this, to help others that are in great pain". Adam agrees: "The pain we'll suffer going uphill helps to focus on the pain of the cancer suffers and keeps us pushing on".
Both boys raised over 2k each.
Initiated in 2000, the Fireflies gained their name during the first year, after a procession of glowing fireflies led the riders down a steep mountain in the pitch black. This same night-time ride will be completed again this year. This event has been supported strongly by RSA Films from the beginning as part of the sponsorship package.
Previous Mill Fireflies include:
Giles Cheetham
Ben Hampshire
Ant Walsham
Everyone at The Mill wishes all the Fireflies a great and safe ride.
To find out more or make a donation please visit:
http://www.leuka.org.uk/
http://www.thefirefliesride.com/home/index.html
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