Twittering...........
Monday June 28, 2010 15:37:
Quotation - ' We do it as a hobby'
Source? A conversation after the event in the bar.
On reflection, very true.
But it still leaves me with an 'empty' feeling
145k done (shorter route) due to back problems and 1 incredible climb(!)
9hrs in the saddle (hell I did 230k last week in 9hr!)
Batteries are going flat. In Dijon now watching the dutch.
One last shop to do in St Malo(!)
laters..........................................
Monday June 28, 2010 15:30:
I hate not being able to finish things :(
I undertake 'events/challenges' which hopefully I can succeed at.
No satisfaction from this weekends 'jolly'
As a footnote the drive up and back was stunning.
Sunday June 27, 2010 15:34:
Twitter shut down................
One of the worst sportives I have done.
Not well..............
Not a challenge(!!).............
A FORM OF SURVIVAL...........
FOR AMATEURS(?)..............
Saturday June 26, 2010 19:59:
Quick 'twit' (no not me!)
Weathers hot, not meant to rain till late tomorrow (touch wood)
Game plan(?).....
1. Start where I can (probably at the back!!)
2. Let everyone go for the first 15k
3. Measure my climbs
4. Beware of the last climb (pro's have problem's!!!)
5. Enjoy the day/ride.
Some interesting players here. Semi-Pro teams (etc) hence lets go play at the back.
Went up in the mountains via cable car this p.m.
Must be one hell of a place when the snows come.
Bought themal flask (for bikes new to market) going to test tomorrow. Keeps things hot, so therefore should keep things cold (4hrs it says on the 'tin')
No twitting till tomorrow nite.....laters........................
Saturday June 26, 2010 10:17:
T Storm has gone, hot weather now, 31c.
Simple b/fast, nice.
Did first 10k of course, bloody dodgy downhill all the way.
3000 punters all fighting for a couple of tight areas.
Well make that 2999................................:)
Going to look around Aprica now.
How on earth do there get here in the winter? We're 'perched' on top of a mountain(!)
Which also means that its an uphill finish tomorrow....doh!
Friday June 25, 2010 20:19:
Arrived in Aprica (no internet access, writing as I go but up loading on Monday).
Barefoot in St Moritz, now that was some drive!
Scenery stunning, through Switzerland over the mountains and down into Italy.
Heavy work on the van, really bad 'smelling' brakes, plus a bit of smoke!
Had to stop couple of times to let them cool down.
Homer did well, albeit I was completely 'blind' as my google directions and Homer directions were shall we say a little different(!) Didn't reconise any landmarks. But made it after a couple of turn arounds.
Zurich City was a nightmare! Being re built to accommodate a tram system. Poor Homer went mad(!!) Eventually found my way out of there.
Due to the decent(s) back me thinks I'll try another way back, but not sure of that.
Registered straight away (only because I got lost and found the centre first!).
Some serious looking punters here :(
Good job I'm only here to learn.........tail end charly that's me.
Apartments good, the host sounds just like the 'godfather'(!)
Weathers gone.....thunder and lightening @ the mo....doh!
Watching Spain/Chile....why did 'Iniester' kick the corner flag (and breaking it) after scoring his goal(?).
Right laters.............................................
Friday June 25, 2010 7:12:
Nice hotel - Ibis Dijon Sud - albeit looks a little tired (but there again who doesn't?)
Good food, buffet breakfast.
Ready for the road, pleasant weather, going to be warm again on the highways and byways(!).
Laters.......................................
The 'nips' are through (!!)..............seems like all of the 'overpaid' footballers are catching the early boat home (does that say something?)
Love the French though.....home in 2nd class travel(!!)
Thursday June 24, 2010 19:51:
New twittering started.
Not sure how many 'twitters' I can get in but here goes.
Arrived Dijon 1845hrs, Homer tried to send me into the middle of a field(?).
Wondering how I can not mention the World Cup (Frances early exit) whilst in France.
Now I learn Italy have caught an early boat home(!!)
Good job I'm not going to Italy then(!)..... DOH!!!
Maybe I should go to Oz then(!).....DOH!!
Watching Den v Japs after early'ish 'T' (small but nice...not the Japs!!...the 'T'!!)
Nips go 2up!
Monday June 7, 2010 20:01:
Well back home now. No time to 'twitter', for various reasons. Very tired. List below to be 'expanded on' later.....
| Big Temperatures |
| Playing catch-up |
| Big climbs |
| Hard climbs |
| Dangerous decents |
| Big accident |
| Pulled TW out of race @ 178k |
| Recover |
| 'Lonely hot ride' |
| Massive end to 1st ride - horrible climbs.....220k |
| Beautiful scenery, Stunning..... |
| Brilliant organisation |
| What happens in the shower stays in the shower(!) |
| Pulled TW out of race completely (thankfully) |
| Injuries |
| Early starts |
| Auto Pilot....... |
| Easy 2nd day(?)....flatter but not easy |
| Winds, big winds...edge of a storm...... |
| Again stunning views and climbs...Mt Blanc to the left |
| Pacing, serious self control...no back up till later due to previous day.... |
| It gets no easier...... |
| Find group and stay with them... |
| Job done......all pace and stick together |
| Rain and more rain @ the end....thankfully none during the climbs or desents |
| Finally the last 'stamp on the card'....230k |
| TW and Dianne are @ the finish |
| They found me after 150k and helped me big style :) |
| Dry off dry cloths....back to Ibis in Bonn |
| Shower, lager, red wine, food......bed!! for 0600hrs start to St Malo |
| Read powertap info with TW b4 food.... |
| Overall thoughts(?)......still too tired....later it might sink in(!) |
Friday June 4, 2010 15:49:
Well back to a bit of 'twittering' again (albeit slightly behind time)........
Left Jersey - Thursday morning - to St Malo on board the new ferry.
Which broke down! Nothing new there then!
Arrived 1.15hr late, never mind plenty of time to travel down.
7.15hr on the TomTom to Lyon.
Bloody hell its hot (29c) outside. Air Con in the van? Only if you open the window!
Trying to stick to 70mph in order to work out what time I need to leave on monday morning (have to catch the nite boat back for work on Tuesday morning).
Thats it 'Al Fresco' in the van. If you watched James May in the Top Gear program where he was driving an Aston DB9 race car then you'll get the picture!
2 stops (fuel/coffee/food) and 9hrs (yes 9hrs) later I arrive @ the Ibis in Bonn.
No real problems, straight in really. Resturant still open (till 2230hrs).
Fish Burger and 2 Stella's 1 coffee and bed.
Sort out race details tomorrow.
Friday 04.06.10
0830 breakfast (buffet style) very nice and just what the doctor ordered.
0930 start to find Saint Priest.
1000 still looking. 3 address's which have nothing to do with the race visited.
Text TW to see if he has any further info.
Another one found (bloody french) look for that later after walkabout, shop and food.
1300 found the starting point for tomorrows race. Ghost town and no one there knows anything (nothing new there then!)
Will leave it all tilll tomorrow......
Found Parc de Parilly.......walkabout for a couple of hours, then the french open tennis till TW arrives.
1800 TW arrives.......meet and greet.......drink on the patio, then freshern up and dinner to discuss the weekends 'little ride'....tactics tactics!
Saturday May 29, 2010 20:23:
All back home now. Pleasant flight back, full but nice.
Overall work done, reason for going sorted.
Spent Friday in Soller (after spinout in the morning) lovely place to chill, sun out or in. Great area.
Now sort the gear out for thursday(!).
Thursday May 27, 2010 14:45:
Twittering just about finished.
The com's problem is not just here. Reading an article in local 'rag' about the lack of wireless internet and its unrealiability. Something for the Majorcan's to work on me thinks (and me for future trips).
Anyway rest day today. Cloudy weather :( .......Mean't to be the same tomorrow therefore early spinout (0730) for 1 hr and then b/fast and off to Soller for day :).
Wednesday May 26, 2010 17:00:
Still got com's problems :(
Did mountains again today. Had bad moment on Puig, but got over it.
32c on Puig. Hotter than last week.
1 spinout ride to go (maybe friday morning).
If not totals are as follows --
10 rides / 2490 mins (41:29:33) / 1029.75k / 41114 Kcals.
Chill tomorrow (Soller me thinks...lovely Soller).
Tuesday May 25, 2010 11:19:
Belated twitering.......spanish internet problems, today tomorrow, maybe....ok(!)
Anyway coming to the end, had bad day yeaterday in saddle, up Sa Colobra, very hard, hurt back.
Lluc today...easy route....mountains tomorrow, final test.
Rest day (hopefully thursday)...............getting bloody hot here(!)
Saturday May 22, 2010 20:56:
A boring Champion's League Final? I don't think so. The TV pundits are 'on the ball again' (not!!).
50k couple of hours done.
Rule one (1) don't change a tub without the correct equipment (doh!) and there's me thinking it'll just take a minute (bugger)..
All done though (I hope!)
Four (4) days of hard work coming up (concentration..concentration)
Saturday May 22, 2010 7:18:
Spin out today, couple of hours here and there.
2nd book.....Ian McGeechan (sorry 'SIR') Lion Man. Should be good.
Spending hangover today.......doh!
Friday May 21, 2010 21:53:
Finished Agassi's book..............could have written that on 2 A4 pages....
....Hated tennis
....Played tennis
....Took drugs
....Lied about above (opp's)
....Won matches (several, not argueing there)
....Got married (wrongly)
....Played tennis (more)
....Got divorced
....Got re-married
....Formed School
....End of.......................................................
Friday May 21, 2010 11:09:
Todays main aim(?) Finish the Agassi book....
(been shopping!)
Friday May 21, 2010 7:02:
This Floyd Landis 'thing' (now there's a man with a grudge!) makes me think of profession footballers (worldwide) who think they can 'cheat' or gain an advantage by protesting their innocence, when you have a million and one cameras around the pitch. You know you can't get away with it, so why try?
And he (FL) has not spent his own money, its donations from other people (whilst he stated he was drug free and never taken any form of drugs!)
I suppose he'll now disappear back to his home town and become a devoted Mennonites 'family'
When will professional cyclist learn(?) Well I suppose not until they are caught(?) And to the people that say cycling is a 'drug sport'....@ least their system is catching people(!!) and they are looking.
Rest day for me.....
Thursday May 20, 2010 18:21:
Interesting day (?)....
146k / 6hr 09min / 6037Kcal.....6 gels/2 bars/3 water bottles.....
Puig Major, a right bas***d of a hill, just keeps going.
The rest of the ride was Ok (if boring at some stages) not one other rider going my way(!!).
Trying to recover now, rest day friday (shopping!!)
Laters................
FYI...what's FL going on about now(?) now thats one seriously deranged person(!)
Thursday May 20, 2010 7:03:
Do or die day today.
Mountains for 150k.....1st workout for Lyon/Mt Blanc.
If no can make this one, then Lyon's going to be a long weekend!
Quiet day yesterday, no 'tweats'
Laters................................
Tuesday May 18, 2010 22:33:
People are using the gym (my gym!) the boss makes an appearance, seems happy.
Looks like mountains on Thursday (cloudy'ish day) good call, take time no rush.
Tuesday May 18, 2010 12:09:
Couple of short sharp climbs this a.m.
Looking @ doing the mountains ride tomorrow (maybe thursday, cloudy then, not sure) make decision tonite.
Another nice day (bit like home really)
Monday May 17, 2010 21:53:
Chapters 1 - 6 done (Agassi's the Open)................
Monday May 17, 2010 11:42:
Weathers on the up, 23 today (just my age).
Lluc on the reverse and then onto the 'shack' @ La Calobra.
Used the club's gym last nite (flexablity stuff) and its all new gear in there now, very nice :)
Mined you ever since I've been coming here (10yrs) the gears been a little 'questionable' shall we say.
Sunday May 16, 2010 14:39:
Tweat 2.............no joy on seat post pin. Had to wait and go down to Pollentia town to Pro Cycling. Borrowed an old fashioned clip. Fitted and worked, so off we go.
1000hrs start, Club to San Salvador (nasty little climb, 4.4k @ 6.4%) 130k 4.45hrs.
No sunshine :( .......hence this 'tweat'......
Saturday May 15, 2010 21:13:
Back breaking time has arrived. 12 rides around the Majorcan countryside (and hills!). Main aim is of course hill work (back permitting) with a view to Lyon/Mt Blanc.
So semi 'twitter time' has begun.............
Travelled from Jersey to Palma with Palmair. On time (both areas) no fuss, in flight food (??) when was that last served(?) without paying the earth for (footnote......Manx2 flight was delayed for over 3 hours, they were offered a 'meal ticket' to the value of £3.50!!......so thats a small soda and a bag of peanuts then!)
No bike charge (extra or normal) and it weighed 'a lot' trust me(!). All arrived safely in Palma (no damage, apart from me breaking the seat pin...doh!!!).
Hire car sorted. 31 mins to the 'Club' (used to be 65min when I first started coming here).
Feed and watered and ready for the shop to open tomorrow for a new seat pin (hopefully) and the 1st ride to San Salvador.