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You can find it here:
http://bikeshow.blogspot.com/2006/07/24-july-2006-remembering-major-taylor.html
Along with a very interesting report on Major Taylor which is well worth a listen. That's me almost done with this blog now but it'll hopefully be back for next year's Etape. I may also do a more general cycling one when I get a moment to sort it out this summer - I'm going to try my hand at criterium racing and broaden my experience a bit.
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As you may remember I was a guest on Resonance fm's Bike Show a few weeks back. On Monday 24 July 206 my report on the Etape should hopefully go out on the show. It might sound a little dated as I did it before the stage was run but I hope you enjoy it. There's a few familiar voices from my trip in there so listen out for yourself Stu and Peter, and Simon.
http://bikeshow.blogspot.com/ and http://www.resonancefm.com/ are where you can find out more about it as a podcast or live show.
« June 2006 | Main | October 2006 »
Having watched the stage on the big screen yesterday at Rapha's little soirée off Brick Lane and then watched Landis go from nailed on for winning to "I can't find him in the CG" today I've started to remember what it was about cycling and Le tour that first captivated me.
Much as I loved the sheer power that Armstrong displayed during his reign, I am a huge fan of a race as open as this and where so many different names have written themselves into the story. We may even get this one going right down to the final day's racing. I can't remember the last time that happened.
So where from here for me as a cyclist? Well I've just sent the following email to the charity I rode for this year:
"Just a quick email to say how much I enjoyed raising money for Get Kids going! by doing the Etape du Tour this year. I enjoyed it so much I am really keen to ride it again next year and, if possible, do so and raise more money for your cause. Would it be possible to get my name down early on the list for next year's team?"
So fingers crossed I'll be stronger, fitter and there'll be plenty of water. I've got a taste for these events and renewed determination to achieve a decent standard.
This year I've raise £1,153 so far. If you would still like to donate then it would be much appreciated. Next year I would like to raise a similar amount.
The strangest side effect is that, since coming back, I've suddenly feel like a smoother, faster rider. It feels like I've unlocked whatever fear it was that was holding me back - as Stu said on the cycling plus forum those hills that we used to battle with a mere pimples now.
Now the moment the road stiffens a bit I don't sit back and wait for it to swallow up my momentum. Instead I'm out of the saddle and with a quick flick of the pedals I carry on over it. Hills that previously were a bit of a battle up a kilometre or so and still work but nothing I can't get over.
When winter comes I'm investing in a turbo trainer and working on increasing my threshold level and power output. I think that's the part of my riding that is most lacking. The endurance bit I can do, the gritting of teeth and fighting through pain likewise.
If I want to be quicker up those hills I've got to develop the power to go up them. This year I think I fell into the trap of trying to do too much distance work, or at least distance pretending to be work, rather than focusing on pushing up my threshold levels. Of course I'll still be doing my club rides at weekends but I hate riding in the dark and rain so a turbo makes sense for doing those intensity workouts of an hour in measurable circumstances during the week.
This weekend I'm taking the bike up to Sheffield and will take it for a spin up into the Peak District, perhaps up Snake Pass and back on Sunday morning. Then I'm going to have a serious think about doing some racing, either at Eastway or at Hillingdon. I'd like to at least do one race at Eastway before they tear it up.
« June 2006 | Main | October 2006 »
Here's Paul Kimmage being his usual moaning, miserable self about doing the Etape:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,176-2271966,00.html
And here's my holiday snaps from the adventure:
http://homepage.mac.com/atomicecho/PhotoAlbum9.html
See if you can guess which one of me was taken at the top of the Izoard and which one at the bottom of Alpe D'Huez after failing to beat the elimination time.
« June 2006 | Main | October 2006 »
Here's my initial report as posted on my club's forum, when I have time this week I'll do some further stuff including my pictures:
"Firstly, huge congratulations to the Dynamos who made it to the top of Alpe D'Huez. I salute your efforts because that was just a plain brutal day in the saddle wherever you got to on the course.
Gap to the Izoard - Saw Richard (sorry don't know your surname) at the start as the sun rose into a clear sky that would gradually become infernal. Was out of pen 6 and flying down the road in next to no time. Was really hard to find groups to sit in on as the only things going were either moving too slow/fast or really disorganised. Every time I looked behind me I could see a long line of lazy sods sitting on my wheel and refusing to come through.
Heard a cry of "go on dynamo" and saw one of you go flying past faster than I could manage in one of the litany of fast moving pace lines. Rolled over Lac Serre Poncon in good time and felt good as I approached the first feed station at about 9:10, 30 minutes up on the time limit.
Was met by a solid wall of cyclists dismounting at the most ridiculous jam due to the feed station being stupidly placed before the roundabout rather than to one side of it. Ended up losing about 25 minutes trying to shuffle forward before i grabbed what I could and set off up the Izoard.
The Col D'Izoard - As soon as the road turned uphill through the first section there were already people walking and scattered by the roadside. Saw a couple more Dynamos go past me as I grabbed water at a fountain in one of the villages along the way as the temperature was already rising.
As the gradient kicked up I was joined by Neil Jones and together we battled our way up the seemingly endless top section, having to stop with alarming frequency just to get our heart rates back down. This was hellish and there were hundreds of people walking already. Made it to the top inside the limit of the merciless "vehicule horaire" to find there was no water left so we were forced to grab a can of coke amongst the carnage of people already suffering dehydration.
Gilets on we took off down the sharp hairpin section hoping to make back some time before Briancon. Took the first few fairly steadily but as it became apparent we were among the last to have made it off the Izoard before the gendarmes I put aside caution and followed Neil's instruction to "show these French how to descend".
We flew into Briancon with a few minutes to spare only to find the vehicule horaire practically sitting on our wheel. When they started shouting "two minutes t get away or you are eliminated" I got spooked and took off down the road with my gilet still on and as much food and water as I could grab down my jersey.
Col Du Lautaret - Belted up the vicious little brute of a climb out of Briancon and onto the road to the Lautaret. After about 5km I started wondering when it was going to kick up and where Neil had gone.
Then I realised that there were no groups left on the road, just a desolate column of riders strung out like ants of the length of the climb. Fortunately and sturdy-built English chap came past me and I sat on his wheel for as long as possible while I tried to recover and soak up some fluids.
At one of the villages they were already aware of the lack of water and had formed a long line of people at the fountain so that all I had to do was try and recover while they held my bike and filled my bottles. This was such a blessed relief as I passed groups of riders huddled in the shade of buildings and collapsed by the roadside. Heatstroke and dehydration really took their toll and I was starting to feel it.
Still, no sign of the time limit car as I put my head down and kept on turning ridiculously low gears against the imperceptible but ever-present headwind. It seemed far more physically sapping and mentally draining than the Izoard had.
Then, just as the tunnel before the summit came into sight, I heard the familiar drone of a skoda signalling the time limit car. I wasn't going to give up without a fight so as it moved alongside me I threw everything I had left at it to keep up with its 19km/h. The gorgeous french girl in the passenger seat rewarded my efforts by handing me up a small bottle of water which half went in my mouth and half in my face.
In turn I rewarded such generosity by pulling in front of it and blocking its progress - I figured that if it couldn't pass me then, according to the rules, they couldn't eliminate me. I kept up this ridiculous game until about 1km from the top when cramp overtook me and I wobbled out of its way. But I reckoned I could still get over the top and down to Bourg D'Oisans in time for the 4pm cut-off.
At the top of the Lautaret I was met by a line of gendarmes aggressively stopping riders from continuing passt the time limit car. So, with a suitably gallic shrug and while they were trying to stop someone else I shot through and took off down to Bourg D'Oisans. A little under and hour to make it but I was fairly sure that it was still possible.
The descent of the Lautaret actually achieved the impossible by being a worse surface than most of the really bad roads in the Surrey Hills. But putting aside any cautions whatsoever I slapped into the big ring for one last charge down the absolute limit of what I could manage, making full use of every inch of tarmac and the lack of other riders on the road.
The headwind up the valley meant I couldn't relax at any point and had to keep on pushing even in the Tron-like tunnel with surreal blue lights. The speedometer was clocking no less that 45km/h all the way down until it levelled out and the cramps started coming in waves.
I was nearly at the foot of Alpe D'Huez and I thought I could make it just in time to sneak through again but, as I turned into the feed station, I could see they had put a barrier across the road and the time reading 4:10pm even though the time limit car hadn't passed me on the way down. There was no way of sneaking past this time.
I handed over my transponder as they were practically ripping them off riders and slunk off to try and find some water which was yet again near impossible to find.
Then the waves of nausea washed over me and I stumbled to the nearest medic who led me to the first aid tent where they told me I was dehydrated and unsurprisingly suffering from exhaustion. After a rather emotional hour in pain I stumbled out again to face the indignity of getting on the broom wagon.
In total it seems like around 3000 riders ended up in the wagon and they were still stopping riders all the way up the Alpe. Given the heat - around 35C plus in the shade - and the lack of water it's not surprising so many didn't finish.
I'm glad that I got as far as I did and was probably one of the last to be swept up but mighty peeved I didn't get to take on the Alpe. Once again, hearty congratulations to all who did finish. I'm off to bed now to lick my wounds and plan my assault on next year's Etape."
« June 2006 | Main | October 2006 »
With much swearing, sweating and shoving I packed up the bike into the case last night before indulging in a pizza as just reward for wrestling it into the case. Luckily I had popped into Borders at lunchtime to read Cycling Plus' guide to packing a bike which was most helpful in picking up things I hadn't thought of, such as removing skewers and rear mechs.
I've filled out the space in the box with all manner of clothing and parts plus energy drink sachets and gels. There's my helmet and all my race day kit in one space, my other kit in another and lots of things secured with masking tape.
I'm really looking forward to it now and can't wait to get out there. I'm taking my cameraphone for taking snaps. I do have a decent Leica camera but it would be just one more thing to lug around when all I'm going to be doing is taking snaps. I don't want to risk carrying more than I have to and the cameraphone is idea for taking pics on the move. Ideally I'll bring back some from the ride, if I have time to take any.
Better get a wriggle on and do some of the last minute stuff I haven't done as I ahve to be at Euston to catch a coach by midday.
To everyone who has donated money: Thank you ever so much, it is deeply appreciated nd has motivated me a great deal to not disappoint you.
To everyone who has been reading: I hope you have enjoyed it, a full report when I get back, hopefully with pictures.
To everyone riding: good luck! You've put in the time, now reap the rewards. And don't forget to enjoy it. I'll see you out on the course. Remember pen 6, number 5577.
« June 2006 | Main | October 2006 »
Chris Hoy, one of Britain's top track cyclists is riding it to raise money for Children with Leukemia, according to a story here:
http://www.roadcyclinguk.com/news/article.asp?UAN=1447&v=1
So you can sponsor him or you can sponsor me, but please sponsor one of us as it is in a good cause. Now I know he's quick on the track and starting a few pens up from me (he's in four, I'm in six) but I've now pinned a vague hope on passing him or at least catching him on the road.
Ron Cutler's Etape.org.uk site (see link right) has a very good piece on strategy and how fast you need to go where to make it round. you can read it in ful here:
http://www.etape.org.uk/Strategy.htm
At some point tonight I need to crack on with washing down the bike and preparing for packing it tomorrow evening. Then lunchtime tomorrow it's one last dash round Condor for stuff I need and haven't got yet. More spending, I know.
« June 2006 | Main | October 2006 »
Sunday's ride was meant to be a tapering exercise - sit in the middle of the group, take it steady up the hills. Unfortunately it didn't work out like that as I ended up trying to lead the group with Toby. So I found myself at the front again for long stretches.
Then we had our first accident of the year (other than straightforward falling off) when Kimbers got nailed by a wing mirror as we came round a narrow bend and met a car going a bit too fast for such a narrow bend. It's the same one we came round once to be confronted by a pair of horses, one of which bolted.
Luckily Kimbers came off with only bumps and scrapes but we had to endure a tedious and long rant from the woman in the passenger seat who was adamant we were a menace and it was all our fault for riding two abreast, etc. This went on for a good 30 minutes until the police (who she had insisted her husband call) and ambulance turned up. Then another 30 minutes while statements were taken and Kimbers checked over by the ambulance crew.
I think this waiting around might be why I felt so distastrously wrecked when I got in: an hour standing in the sun meant we all got through a lot of liquid so, by the time we got to Box Hill, we were a bit dehydrated. Despite taking on plenty of fluids there, I was in utter hell by the time we struggled through Richmond Park on the way back.
By the time I got in I was all over the place and ended up slumped on the floor of the shower for quite some time. This has re-inforced in my mind the importance of keeping well fed and watered on the Etape. Even if it costs me a few minutes it's going to be worth making sure I stop at all the ravitaillements to take on as much as I can carry in both water and food.
I'm going to get some sachets of the PSP22 and Go to put in my pockets and then mix it on the weak side. I get through a lot of fluid anyway so I'll not be skimping on getting the carbs down in fluid. That teamed with powerbar energy gels and some solid food (cereal bars or jaffa cakes) should see me round.
I'm going to make sure I take some Euros in change to buy a sandwich and a can or two of Coke along the way. I think something savoury and the treat of a Coke should help break up the monotony of powdery drink and syrupy gels.
I've not started packing yet so i guess I'll need to spend the next couple of days sorting things out - a trip to Condor is needed for sachets, overshoes and knee warmers as the weather forecast isn't exactly 110% sunshine and there's a bit of a threat of cooler weather or even rain. I might even get a new waterproof, albeit a cheap one.
And then I really am going to stop spending money on cycling stuff for this year, hopefully.
I'm incredibly excited to finally be getting out there and doing this at last. And I'm also really chuffed with how the fundraising has gone so far. I had hoped to go to 2000 quid but that might have been ambitious. So far I'm up to 800 and with a bit more nagging of folks and emailing I might be able to make the 1000 before I go.