Today was to be the first outing of as many of the S2P group as we could muster, but in the final hours we were down to Me, Captain Turdseye, Paul M, Gareth, Gary, Mark Q - the new addition, Nathan and Tim.
Due to bad organisation and the drop outs nothing was properly arranged, until heard on the grapevine there was an 85 mile ride to the Severn Bridge and back being organised by a few of the guys doing the Ironman in Switzerland - as me, Mark and Turdseye are all doing it, we were keen to do this so we arranged for the two groups to combine and make a big ride of it.
Last night at swimming, I overheard that it was in fact going to be 110 miles not the 85 previously teased so let Turdseye know so he could relay the info to the others (i'm almost certain he didn't!!)
I've been having bike issues because Richard Bransons henchmen manhandle "Willy" on my flight home this week so I was back on Scott, however Friday whilst riding my pedal came off because being a girl i had crossed hte thread so had to cycle 5 miles home with just one leg! Turdseye gave me his Specialised to try out but even though he's a shortass it looked too big for me, and I didn't want to risk it on a long ride so Mark managed to sort out my pedals and i decided to ride Scott - not ideal but better than not riding at all, even if he does hurt my legs.
The plan was to meet at 7am at the lake, most of us had the sense to drive out, except Turdseye and the other S2P guys, Nathan had come the furthest and already done 15 miles before we'd even left! SO 15 of us set off into the brilliant sunshine, the S2P guys had on their new cycling kit - all but me cos i'm too fat for it at the moment! (plus i wanted to optimise tanning with a vest)
We started off pretty up together, then after about 10 miles, i dropped off the back, Tom waited for me for a bit to catch up, but i kept lagging behind. During this time, my spare inner tube kept spewing out of the bottle i'd stuffed it in so Mark took it for me, the tube however was stopping the tools inside from rattling, so all that could be heard of me was an annoying rattle. over pot holes they flew out so Turdseye took one an di put the other in my bike bag. there was still rattling though!
Despite being helped along by Andy for much of it the first 40 miles i felt like shit, I wanted to throw scott into the bushes, i felt like i was holding everyone up, like i shouldn't be there and totally useless. They were all really great and waited for me to catch up, ut this made me feel worse because i felt i was ruining their ride.
Mark fucked up the GPS and went the wrong way, but luckily Andy was waiting back with me and also had Garmin so we went the right way and got to rest while they found us again. When we reached the Severn bridge it was an impressive sight, i foolishly believed Andy when he asked if i had money for the toll!!
When we got across the bridge, we stopped to get some water and snacks, Tim, Paul and Nathan headed home - i think they were sick of Miss Slowcoach holding them back.
The rest of the day was looong and very hot. The hills were equally looooong! But banter was high, there were a few mishaps.. Gary went ass over tit up a big hill - luckily both bike and rider are in one piece!
Mark got knocked off by me.... no idea what he was doing! and Peter fell over at nothing too exposing his ass to us!
I seemed to pick up strength in the last 3rd of the ride, maybe the combination of managing to keep with the pack to draft and having eaten a substantial amount!
All the guys doing the S2P (and Ironman) showed massive strength as riders and i'm really worried now i'm going to either not keep up or piss them off being so slow.
All in all a great day another century ride in the bag (125 for the guys who cycled to the lake!!) and a bit of a tan too! :) Thanks to Andy for letting us gatecrash and a personal thanks for everyone supporting me in my time of shitness - hopefully i'll get my act together by the 9th!
Sunday 23 May 2010
Thursday 13 May 2010
Fundraising....
Mark suggested a group target of £10,000 for the fundraising element of the trip with two charities receiving the sponsorship raise.
First is Prospect Hospice is a local charity which cares for terminally ill patients. I personally have witnessed their amazing work first hand and am proud to be helping raise money and awareness for the charity.
Details of the Prospect Hospice can be found at http://www.prospect-hospice.net/
The second charity which will be receiving sponsorshop is MAG (Mine Advisory Group) which is an organisation which deal in clearing warzones of remnants of conflict.
Can be found at http://www.maginternational.net/
Several of us have set up justgiving pages which are doing pretty well so far - here area a few links
www.justgiving.com/Anna-Buckingham
www.justgiving.com/certeco-swindon2paris2
www.justgiving.com/certeco-swindon2paris
http://www.justgiving.com/Dean-Fouracre
The total raised so far is £2,219.03 - we still have a way to go, so all sponsorship will be greatly appreciated.
First is Prospect Hospice is a local charity which cares for terminally ill patients. I personally have witnessed their amazing work first hand and am proud to be helping raise money and awareness for the charity.
Details of the Prospect Hospice can be found at http://www.prospect-hospice.net/
The second charity which will be receiving sponsorshop is MAG (Mine Advisory Group) which is an organisation which deal in clearing warzones of remnants of conflict.
Can be found at http://www.maginternational.net/
Several of us have set up justgiving pages which are doing pretty well so far - here area a few links
www.justgiving.com/Anna-Buckingham
www.justgiving.com/certeco-swindon2paris2
www.justgiving.com/certeco-swindon2paris
http://www.justgiving.com/Dean-Fouracre
Tuesday 11 May 2010
Captain Turds'eye's Bike Maintenance Masterclass
Today I was half thinking of joining the Sunday ride out with Paul etc but I needed to run this morning so did that and planned to ride out with Mark this avo, when he text me to tell me what he had planned
"3-4 hours, alternating 20 mins hard(ish) 20 mins easy" and not to be put off by his tri bars... how this had gone from the original 3 hour easy ride I have no idea!! So I thought I'd stick my tri bars on too as I need to get used to them for a couple of events coming up.
Was a bit cooler than yesterday (thankfully as I caught the sun a tad yesterday) so I set off on the 8 mile ride to Marks (not M & S) and immediately into strong headwinds, I had a little go on the bars, but the wind made me all jittery and scaredy so left it til I got to Marks (not M & S) arrived and straight away started complaining about the wind, boo hooo! what a girl. I had told mark earlier that I was a bit whacked and not to expect my best, but had already suspected that I was going to come home hating him today.
I told Mark I didnt want any hills as my knee was still a bit tight and he assured me flatty flatness.So we headed out towards Ashton Keynes with the wind behind us now, just as well as I'd ridden hard into it all the way there. When we got near Ashton Mark said we were going to pick it up for 20 mins and get down on the tri bars, at first I was a bit of a chicken, but it soon became much more comfortable and dare I say "easier" in that postition even though now we were going back into the wind, when we reached Cirencester the 20 mins was up and time for 20 mins "easy" - phew! We turned towards Stow straight into a really strong wind, which lasted for about 15 miles!! What was meant to be "easy" was most definitely not!
I was cursing the wind, and Mark and the rough pieces of road, and my bone shaker of a bike but we ploughed on like the tough guys that we are! We found ourselves on the Fosseway and Mark said "coast down here" (a 14% gradient hill) so was looking forward to give my legs a break. The wind totally stole this hill from us and instead of the adreneline ride down it, had to pretty much pedal down! Reaching the bottom, we stopped and Mark said "hmmm... I didnt realise that hill was there" looking ahead of us.... we were sandwiched in a valley with an equally steep and long hill that we had just come down!
"I fucking hate you Mark"
So up we went, into the wind, lots more swear words, grimacing, growling. Then we continued along this road into yet more wind, it would have been a great piece of road given how straight it was, had it not been for the relentless gale in our faces but I now hate this piece of road. I was geting really cross with it and now heading ot towards Cheltenham, finally we turned off in the hope of getting back towards Cirencester. I had no idea where we were and had assumed Mark did, til he got out his GPS to find out how to get back!
Finally we were out of the headwind after cycling 30 miles into it, surely this would mean the whole way back is to be tailwinds!!? hurrah!
Carrying on, we stumbled across a gorgeous little village with babbling brooks, but what we also found were nasty steep hills that sprung from nowhere! I hit one in the wrong gear and had to make a timely dismount nd walked a few metres to the top. Down a hill, through a village, round a corner and "smack" another even bigger hill, I managed to drop my gear quick enough to keep going, but it was fricking steep, I heard a grind of gears up ahead from Mark, and a big "Cerlunk!"
"Wooops!"
I thought it was his chain, but when I got to him and looked down, it seemed that the whole rear derailier had dropped into the rear wheel. (that'll teach him for buying a cheap bike and dont get me started on those pikey wheels!)
On first look it seemed like it was pretty much game over for the ride, so Mark rang his wife to come and collect him. He then had a fiddle (as boys do) and started to assess the damage, I found a piece of metal on he floor which turned out to be the bracket that holds the rear mechanism in place, which had sheered right off - I had warned him to stay off the chips. A couple of spokes had been mangled and a few chips of paint had come off he frame - by now Mark was a snivelling wreck. "not the paintwork!" he sobbed.
After finally getting him to stop crying, we walked up round the corned out of the blind corner we'd stopped on and out came the trusty multitool, I told him a can opener wouldn't do a great deal in this situation so he got out the chain puller apart thingamy so he could get all the broken bits off... this is when he had the brain wave of shortening the chain, and making it into a fixed wheel! (Of course - why the hell not??)
Obvioulsy with my vast bike maintenance I helped in every way I could "don't take the pin right out of the chain or it'll be a bugg...." too late.
"told you so..."
"lets pull that gear cable right out, it's fucked anyway"
"hang, on, I want a picture of that...."
"I'm glad I wrapped up warm today"
"you've fucked your cleats walking up that hill"
"water ain't gonna get that oil off your hands - dickhead"
"oh look your new seats, all oily"
It went on like that for about half an hour (Paris is going to be a long way!)
When he'd finally finished making a meal of it, he'd put the chain back together - minus about a foot of it, taken the derailier off totally, whinged about his broken bits. his shiny carbon competition bike, was now a fixie!!
We walked most of the way up the hill (which went on for aaaages!) and finally we got back on, and made the way to the to of the hill, which was probably still a good half mile, with Mark stuck in a carefully selected gear - not well suited to hill climbing!
When we'd finally made it up, we found ourselves on the best bit of road of the day, flat, tail wind and straight! Perfect for getting our heads down - well it would be, if Captain Turdseye's legs werent spinning round at 200 rpm!
After about 5 miles we met Marks wife Michelle who had kindly come to collect us and save us from a further 30 miles getting home like that... as comedic as it was to watch - I wanted to get back before dark and had had enough of his company by now.
I'm glad i didnt' ask for a hilly ride today or god knows where we'd have gone! in hindsight i shouldve gone out with the others!!
Fair play though for him "fixing" it up and carrying on, but we all know what a stubborn sod he is so it's hardly surprising!!
"3-4 hours, alternating 20 mins hard(ish) 20 mins easy" and not to be put off by his tri bars... how this had gone from the original 3 hour easy ride I have no idea!! So I thought I'd stick my tri bars on too as I need to get used to them for a couple of events coming up.
Was a bit cooler than yesterday (thankfully as I caught the sun a tad yesterday) so I set off on the 8 mile ride to Marks (not M & S) and immediately into strong headwinds, I had a little go on the bars, but the wind made me all jittery and scaredy so left it til I got to Marks (not M & S) arrived and straight away started complaining about the wind, boo hooo! what a girl. I had told mark earlier that I was a bit whacked and not to expect my best, but had already suspected that I was going to come home hating him today.
I told Mark I didnt want any hills as my knee was still a bit tight and he assured me flatty flatness.So we headed out towards Ashton Keynes with the wind behind us now, just as well as I'd ridden hard into it all the way there. When we got near Ashton Mark said we were going to pick it up for 20 mins and get down on the tri bars, at first I was a bit of a chicken, but it soon became much more comfortable and dare I say "easier" in that postition even though now we were going back into the wind, when we reached Cirencester the 20 mins was up and time for 20 mins "easy" - phew! We turned towards Stow straight into a really strong wind, which lasted for about 15 miles!! What was meant to be "easy" was most definitely not!
I was cursing the wind, and Mark and the rough pieces of road, and my bone shaker of a bike but we ploughed on like the tough guys that we are! We found ourselves on the Fosseway and Mark said "coast down here" (a 14% gradient hill) so was looking forward to give my legs a break. The wind totally stole this hill from us and instead of the adreneline ride down it, had to pretty much pedal down! Reaching the bottom, we stopped and Mark said "hmmm... I didnt realise that hill was there" looking ahead of us.... we were sandwiched in a valley with an equally steep and long hill that we had just come down!
"I fucking hate you Mark"
So up we went, into the wind, lots more swear words, grimacing, growling. Then we continued along this road into yet more wind, it would have been a great piece of road given how straight it was, had it not been for the relentless gale in our faces but I now hate this piece of road. I was geting really cross with it and now heading ot towards Cheltenham, finally we turned off in the hope of getting back towards Cirencester. I had no idea where we were and had assumed Mark did, til he got out his GPS to find out how to get back!
Finally we were out of the headwind after cycling 30 miles into it, surely this would mean the whole way back is to be tailwinds!!? hurrah!
Carrying on, we stumbled across a gorgeous little village with babbling brooks, but what we also found were nasty steep hills that sprung from nowhere! I hit one in the wrong gear and had to make a timely dismount nd walked a few metres to the top. Down a hill, through a village, round a corner and "smack" another even bigger hill, I managed to drop my gear quick enough to keep going, but it was fricking steep, I heard a grind of gears up ahead from Mark, and a big "Cerlunk!"
"Wooops!"
I thought it was his chain, but when I got to him and looked down, it seemed that the whole rear derailier had dropped into the rear wheel. (that'll teach him for buying a cheap bike and dont get me started on those pikey wheels!)
On first look it seemed like it was pretty much game over for the ride, so Mark rang his wife to come and collect him. He then had a fiddle (as boys do) and started to assess the damage, I found a piece of metal on he floor which turned out to be the bracket that holds the rear mechanism in place, which had sheered right off - I had warned him to stay off the chips. A couple of spokes had been mangled and a few chips of paint had come off he frame - by now Mark was a snivelling wreck. "not the paintwork!" he sobbed.
After finally getting him to stop crying, we walked up round the corned out of the blind corner we'd stopped on and out came the trusty multitool, I told him a can opener wouldn't do a great deal in this situation so he got out the chain puller apart thingamy so he could get all the broken bits off... this is when he had the brain wave of shortening the chain, and making it into a fixed wheel! (Of course - why the hell not??)
Obvioulsy with my vast bike maintenance I helped in every way I could "don't take the pin right out of the chain or it'll be a bugg...." too late.
"told you so..."
"lets pull that gear cable right out, it's fucked anyway"
"hang, on, I want a picture of that...."
"I'm glad I wrapped up warm today"
"you've fucked your cleats walking up that hill"
"water ain't gonna get that oil off your hands - dickhead"
"oh look your new seats, all oily"
It went on like that for about half an hour (Paris is going to be a long way!)
When he'd finally finished making a meal of it, he'd put the chain back together - minus about a foot of it, taken the derailier off totally, whinged about his broken bits. his shiny carbon competition bike, was now a fixie!!
We walked most of the way up the hill (which went on for aaaages!) and finally we got back on, and made the way to the to of the hill, which was probably still a good half mile, with Mark stuck in a carefully selected gear - not well suited to hill climbing!
When we'd finally made it up, we found ourselves on the best bit of road of the day, flat, tail wind and straight! Perfect for getting our heads down - well it would be, if Captain Turdseye's legs werent spinning round at 200 rpm!
After about 5 miles we met Marks wife Michelle who had kindly come to collect us and save us from a further 30 miles getting home like that... as comedic as it was to watch - I wanted to get back before dark and had had enough of his company by now.
I'm glad i didnt' ask for a hilly ride today or god knows where we'd have gone! in hindsight i shouldve gone out with the others!!
Fair play though for him "fixing" it up and carrying on, but we all know what a stubborn sod he is so it's hardly surprising!!
Good friday Fifty/Easter Sunday Funday..... and a few of Team S2P MIA
(written 4th April via Swindon to Paris Facebook group)
Well Paul had planned a nice 50 mile route for a group of us for Good Friday, but for various reasons it didnt go ahead....
1) Paul, Nathan and Gareth crashing last week, hence Paul has had a bad back and buckled wheel, and Gareth has various injuries and a pretty impressive bruise he's showing around, and last I heard he'd gotten himself a warning from the Police for indecent exposure (this is only hearsay, so I'd like to state that off the record)
2) I had a crash the previous week too (2 in fact) when I say crash, my friend pushed me off and have a hip flexor issue... also I piled a few too many miles into my knee I suspect and it's been complaining ever since.
3) the weather was shocking! (not that we're fair weather cyclists you understand)
It later transpired Dean and Gary had got out and "Manned the F*** Up".
So Paul changed the ride to be today, I'd been out yesterday and didnt want to do any more than 50 today.
When Paul and I met, the sky looked ominous, so I pulled on my rain jacket - which matched my super cool funky "new" cycling shoes - I say "new" loosely, because they're possibly dated from 1982, and they're damned sexy! By the time we'd ridden the 8 or so miles to where we were meeting Gary and possibly Nathan, the sun had come out, and the jacket was coming back off.
Nathan apparently had better things to do - like have a lie in eating easter eggs lke most normal folk on Easter Sunday. Not us - we're dedicated to the cause!
Paul had just had his new gears installed on the Mad One and was making clickety clack noises so took a moment to fiddle with his nobs before we set off again. I was whining a bit about my knee and not wanting to do any hills, and Paul wasnt that up for hills either with his back, so we set off on a flat route out through Cricklade towards Lechlade and Faringdon. Wisely avoiding the spot where Paul last week came a pearla.
Despite the route being flat, it was hard work, every direction we were heading the wind seemed to be in our faces, at about 30 miles, I totally bonked, I'd left it too long before jizzing it up with some gels, we had a look for a coffee shop, but being easter sunday, most folk had better things to be doing than opening up shop (like lie in bed eating easter eggs)! So we stopped on the roadside for a bit for a refuel - and for Paul to fiddle with his nobs once more (he just couldnt leave them alone)! He was also concerned about the angle of the dangle on his hoods and Gary had the genius idea of rather than moving the hoods, rotating the handlebars!! (obviously I'd thought of that, but didnt want to steal his thunder)
After Paul was satisfied with his position we headed off in the direction of home (which was stilll a good 25 miles away) into hideous headwinds.... that made me yell at it and made my face go all sad and troutish. We spotted a sign saying "Tea rooms, open" and whipped in before you could say "one lump or two" and found a really lovely coffee shop with great cake and not so great coffee (as Paul put it - coffee flavoured water) - still, I'd go back. After refuelling once more we had to go back into the wind, the only saving grace was that it was lovely and sunny or I would have definitely cried.... Paul and Gary were perfect gents though and protected me from the wind as best they could.
Paul's gears were still making clickety clack noises for the journey home, so once more, we pulled over so he could have a fiddle. The clickety clack seemed to stop, but it then became "screek, squeak" and I pointed out it was like the little kid on the tricycle from The Shining, all it needed was Paul to say "Red Rum... Red Rum..." not as Gary suggested his head to spin round and vomit (that was The Exorcist)
The last 5 miles I bonked the whole way back (not in a good way either) Gary carried on up broad town and beyond, Paul went to collect a life sized man shaped punchbag (don't ask) and I slumped down the hill and fell through my front door into the bath.
In other news.....
I have just been on the mn4fitness website and had a look at the list of participants... so far the turn out has been slack... apart from the few I've ridden with so far, i've not met all the members, I met Tim briefly in TBAS this week, where he promptly embarrassed me (cheers Tim) and there's a few on the list who've been suspiciously quiet... where are you all?!!
Well Paul had planned a nice 50 mile route for a group of us for Good Friday, but for various reasons it didnt go ahead....
1) Paul, Nathan and Gareth crashing last week, hence Paul has had a bad back and buckled wheel, and Gareth has various injuries and a pretty impressive bruise he's showing around, and last I heard he'd gotten himself a warning from the Police for indecent exposure (this is only hearsay, so I'd like to state that off the record)
2) I had a crash the previous week too (2 in fact) when I say crash, my friend pushed me off and have a hip flexor issue... also I piled a few too many miles into my knee I suspect and it's been complaining ever since.
3) the weather was shocking! (not that we're fair weather cyclists you understand)
It later transpired Dean and Gary had got out and "Manned the F*** Up".
So Paul changed the ride to be today, I'd been out yesterday and didnt want to do any more than 50 today.
When Paul and I met, the sky looked ominous, so I pulled on my rain jacket - which matched my super cool funky "new" cycling shoes - I say "new" loosely, because they're possibly dated from 1982, and they're damned sexy! By the time we'd ridden the 8 or so miles to where we were meeting Gary and possibly Nathan, the sun had come out, and the jacket was coming back off. Despite the route being flat, it was hard work, every direction we were heading the wind seemed to be in our faces, at about 30 miles, I totally bonked, I'd left it too long before jizzing it up with some gels, we had a look for a coffee shop, but being easter sunday, most folk had better things to be doing than opening up shop (like lie in bed eating easter eggs)! So we stopped on the roadside for a bit for a refuel - and for Paul to fiddle with his nobs once more (he just couldnt leave them alone)! He was also concerned about the angle of the dangle on his hoods and Gary had the genius idea of rather than moving the hoods, rotating the handlebars!! (obviously I'd thought of that, but didnt want to steal his thunder)
After Paul was satisfied with his position we headed off in the direction of home (which was stilll a good 25 miles away) into hideous headwinds.... that made me yell at it and made my face go all sad and troutish. We spotted a sign saying "Tea rooms, open" and whipped in before you could say "one lump or two" and found a really lovely coffee shop with great cake and not so great coffee (as Paul put it - coffee flavoured water) - still, I'd go back. After refuelling once more we had to go back into the wind, the only saving grace was that it was lovely and sunny or I would have definitely cried.... Paul and Gary were perfect gents though and protected me from the wind as best they could.
Paul's gears were still making clickety clack noises for the journey home, so once more, we pulled over so he could have a fiddle. The clickety clack seemed to stop, but it then became "screek, squeak" and I pointed out it was like the little kid on the tricycle from The Shining, all it needed was Paul to say "Red Rum... Red Rum..." not as Gary suggested his head to spin round and vomit (that was The Exorcist)
The last 5 miles I bonked the whole way back (not in a good way either) Gary carried on up broad town and beyond, Paul went to collect a life sized man shaped punchbag (don't ask) and I slumped down the hill and fell through my front door into the bath.
In other news.....
I have just been on the mn4fitness website and had a look at the list of participants... so far the turn out has been slack... apart from the few I've ridden with so far, i've not met all the members, I met Tim briefly in TBAS this week, where he promptly embarrassed me (cheers Tim) and there's a few on the list who've been suspiciously quiet... where are you all?!!
Paul's Cencherry (March 27th)
Paul, a bit put out by our previous week's century ride planned to pop his century cherry a week after.
He'd planned a lovely route from Wootton Bassett to Purton/ Blunsdon/Hannington/ Kempsford/ Fairford/ Cirencester/ Malmesbury... "and more"
Thankfully I was away taking part in the "Cheshire Twat Sportive" but Paul, Gareth and Nathan set about on their epic journey around Wiltshire, Gloucestershire and beyond. They got as far as 25 miles before disaster struck... in the form of a 3 Man pile up.
Here's Pauls account of the ordeal....
"So....25 miles in and my first proper crash. We nearly missed missed a left turn whilst riding very close and Nathan slammed on the anchors. I (just) managed to stop but Gareth didn't and went into the back of me. He's at A&E getting his wrist checked out (and he really, really, smacked his head too). I pushed on for 3...0 miles but now my back is siezing up so have sacked if off and will not be back on the road for a few days. Nathan is still out there somewhere.........!
I need a cuppa t."
He'd planned a lovely route from Wootton Bassett to Purton/ Blunsdon/Hannington/ Kempsford/ Fairford/ Cirencester/ Malmesbury... "and more"
Thankfully I was away taking part in the "Cheshire Twat Sportive" but Paul, Gareth and Nathan set about on their epic journey around Wiltshire, Gloucestershire and beyond. They got as far as 25 miles before disaster struck... in the form of a 3 Man pile up.
Here's Pauls account of the ordeal....
"So....25 miles in and my first proper crash. We nearly missed missed a left turn whilst riding very close and Nathan slammed on the anchors. I (just) managed to stop but Gareth didn't and went into the back of me. He's at A&E getting his wrist checked out (and he really, really, smacked his head too). I pushed on for 3...0 miles but now my back is siezing up so have sacked if off and will not be back on the road for a few days. Nathan is still out there somewhere.........!BIG thanks to Lucy for being our rescue driver.
Hope Gareth is OK.
Mark Take's another "Snap Hill Virginity" and Anna's Birthday ride
(Written March 20th 2010 via Swindon2Paris Facebook group)
Yesterday marked several momentus milestones for me;
1) turning 21 (again)
2) more cake than one girl could wish for
3) the most swear words said in a day
4) the most hills climbed (ever in history!)
5) my first (almost) century ride.
I met Gary, Mark and Gareth at "8am" - for a change I was there first and we pondered the route we were going to take given we were meeting Nathan at 9, so tossed up between going up Salthrop or Broad town hill to start. Neither of them gentle starts to the ride. Broad town won, well we conquered it - so i think we won.
Then we got a nice decent into wroughton, I even let go of the brakes a couple of times! ;) got to the bottom after seeing Gareth and Gary disappear down the hill like bobsleighers - Gareth topping 43mph - nutter. Mark was somewhere behind making the first of many many wee stops (it's his age)!
We then went on to meet Nathan who timed it just right that we almost reached the top of croft hill before he whizzed down the other side! Shortly after Nathan's arrival, Gary had to leave us due to back problems, which he'd been concerned fromt he beginning and got worse going up Broad town.
Then up another feisty hill - Brimble hill, on through chisledon and out towards "Snap" this was Gareth's first time up it, Mark had taken Nathan and I separately up it a few weeks ago....we could see another cyclist in the distance about to start the ascent, and Mark and I had a silly idea to try and catch him - as if! I tried to get a head start so raced off a bit - you'd think being the lightest i'd have a weight advantage and get up the hills first!? You'd be wrong. It starts gradual and before you know it you're in your lowest gear spinning your legs through treacle with a wall of tarmac in front of you. The guys had all past me by now, Gareth just a few yards ahead, Mark way off up the hill, zig zagging across the road like a drunk! I couldnt see a fucking thing as my glasses had steamed up from my gasping of air so they came off - I preferred the foggy specsc and not seeing!!
Finally we all reached the top with Hi-5's and whoops followed by slumping over the handlebars! "Again?" I said.... :D The reward for the climb was a cool descent back down into Aldbourne?? I think... out towards Wanborough? I don't recall too much of the journey as it was blurred by hills and sweat and tears!
I'd requested that my favourite piece of road be included (as it was my birthday n'all!) and Mark didnt disappoint. The piece of road is just awesome, its a clear stretch of road through a beautiful valley into Lambourne that if the wind is just right you can just fly through at 25 mph for miles and miles. Today wasn't as fast as the wind wasnt quite right but it always makes me smile going through there.
After this there were more hills, a massive one into Ashbury that my chain flew off at the opportune moment! Mark showing off coming back down it to do an extra lap! Tsk.
When we reached the Newbury turning, Nathan parted company with us as he had to be back for 1 (I think this was buillshit personally, he knew something we didn't) so he went off and we carried on towards Newbury, where Mark made a special effort to find every single hill he could!
Just when we were discussing how long we'd need to stop for in order to get home before 3 there was this hissing noise of air coming from Gareth's bike - cue the siliest comment of the day "What's that??" umm, just a guess, but think it might be a puncture?? :P
So after watching Mark and G set about fixing the tyre (I obviously offered to help, but they didn't want showing up by a girl) and make helpful comments and laugh at how inappropriate it all looked with mark and Gareth bother bent over a wheel pumping air into it in, obviously the innuendo's were flying!
Cheers dooods!! We 'king Rock!!! :)
Yesterday marked several momentus milestones for me;
1) turning 21 (again)
2) more cake than one girl could wish for
3) the most swear words said in a day
4) the most hills climbed (ever in history!)
5) my first (almost) century ride.
I met Gary, Mark and Gareth at "8am" - for a change I was there first and we pondered the route we were going to take given we were meeting Nathan at 9, so tossed up between going up Salthrop or Broad town hill to start. Neither of them gentle starts to the ride. Broad town won, well we conquered it - so i think we won.
Then we got a nice decent into wroughton, I even let go of the brakes a couple of times! ;) got to the bottom after seeing Gareth and Gary disappear down the hill like bobsleighers - Gareth topping 43mph - nutter. Mark was somewhere behind making the first of many many wee stops (it's his age)!
We then went on to meet Nathan who timed it just right that we almost reached the top of croft hill before he whizzed down the other side! Shortly after Nathan's arrival, Gary had to leave us due to back problems, which he'd been concerned fromt he beginning and got worse going up Broad town.
Then up another feisty hill - Brimble hill, on through chisledon and out towards "Snap" this was Gareth's first time up it, Mark had taken Nathan and I separately up it a few weeks ago....we could see another cyclist in the distance about to start the ascent, and Mark and I had a silly idea to try and catch him - as if! I tried to get a head start so raced off a bit - you'd think being the lightest i'd have a weight advantage and get up the hills first!? You'd be wrong. It starts gradual and before you know it you're in your lowest gear spinning your legs through treacle with a wall of tarmac in front of you. The guys had all past me by now, Gareth just a few yards ahead, Mark way off up the hill, zig zagging across the road like a drunk! I couldnt see a fucking thing as my glasses had steamed up from my gasping of air so they came off - I preferred the foggy specsc and not seeing!!
Finally we all reached the top with Hi-5's and whoops followed by slumping over the handlebars! "Again?" I said.... :D The reward for the climb was a cool descent back down into Aldbourne?? I think... out towards Wanborough? I don't recall too much of the journey as it was blurred by hills and sweat and tears!
I'd requested that my favourite piece of road be included (as it was my birthday n'all!) and Mark didnt disappoint. The piece of road is just awesome, its a clear stretch of road through a beautiful valley into Lambourne that if the wind is just right you can just fly through at 25 mph for miles and miles. Today wasn't as fast as the wind wasnt quite right but it always makes me smile going through there.
After this there were more hills, a massive one into Ashbury that my chain flew off at the opportune moment! Mark showing off coming back down it to do an extra lap! Tsk.
When we reached the Newbury turning, Nathan parted company with us as he had to be back for 1 (I think this was buillshit personally, he knew something we didn't) so he went off and we carried on towards Newbury, where Mark made a special effort to find every single hill he could!
Just when we were discussing how long we'd need to stop for in order to get home before 3 there was this hissing noise of air coming from Gareth's bike - cue the siliest comment of the day "What's that??" umm, just a guess, but think it might be a puncture?? :P
So after watching Mark and G set about fixing the tyre (I obviously offered to help, but they didn't want showing up by a girl) and make helpful comments and laugh at how inappropriate it all looked with mark and Gareth bother bent over a wheel pumping air into it in, obviously the innuendo's were flying! Got G's bike back together and about to set off and more problems, his rear wheel has some how buckled, so after a bit of hodge podge, removing the rear brake we decide to carry on. What i liked best was the rain that started while we were waiting around!
After what felt like anohter 40 miles of hill we finally got to Mark's parents in law where there was a lovely fresh from the oven birthday cake waiting plus another that "Jim'll made" :) so we drank tea, ate cake and filled our boots for half an hour or so.
We got back on the bikes and started back.. the first couple of minutes back in the saddle hurt! I dont remember much of the return journey, it was raining lightly the whole way which wasnt too unpleasant to be fair, but when we got back to Swindon and Mark said "I feel as strong now as I did when we started" I could have stuck a banana in his spokes!
What better way to spend my birthday - cake, cycling, great company and I didnt even notice the rain for the last couple of hours!! Fair play to Gareth for doing the last 50 miles with only a front brake and a buckled back wheel!
Team S2P
Swindon 2 Paris Team Members:
Mark Nelson (aka Captain Turds'eye)
Anna Buckingham
Dean Fouracre
Gareth Preece
Jo Warburton
Kevin Braidford
Nathan Maysey
Paul Gregory
Paul Mason
Philip Tootell
Richard Mossman
Charlie Fosbrooke
Gary Major
Shaun Camden
Tim Hallett
Ian Preece
Kees Van Daalen
Michael Fosbrooke
Tony Godden
David Hoare (Support) - aka "Jim'll"
Giles Bennet (Support)
Lee Paines (Massage)
Fishermans Ashton Keynes* (Teacakes)
Mark Nelson (aka Captain Turds'eye)
Anna Buckingham
Dean Fouracre
Gareth Preece
Jo Warburton
Kevin Braidford
Nathan Maysey
Paul Gregory
Paul Mason
Philip Tootell
Richard Mossman
Charlie Fosbrooke
Gary Major
Shaun Camden
Tim Hallett
Ian Preece
Kees Van Daalen
Michael Fosbrooke
Tony Godden
David Hoare (Support) - aka "Jim'll"
Giles Bennet (Support)
Lee Paines (Massage)
Fishermans Ashton Keynes* (Teacakes)
Swindon 2 Paris - Event Overview
The Swindon to Paris trip has been developed by Mark Nelson who did a similar trip in 2009 with a handful of others. This year he opened it up to anyone who wanted to get involved, the result was 19 cyclists, 2 support drivers and a Sports therapist.
The trip is planned for 2010 from Wedneday 9th until Sunday 13th June, riding 350 miles over 4 days, taking in beautiful scenery, rolling hills and hopefully glorious summer weather!
The trip is planned for 2010 from Wedneday 9th until Sunday 13th June, riding 350 miles over 4 days, taking in beautiful scenery, rolling hills and hopefully glorious summer weather!
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