Alex1
Reged: 12/05/2008
Posts: 269
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This was a 2-day sportif leaving from Abergavenny, with 25, 50 and 100 mile options each day. We turned it into camping (  ) trip with the family and my husband rode the Sat and I did the Sunday. Camping is not my thing but the weather held and I grinned and bore it.
It was worth it for the ride, even allowing for the mishap I shall come to in a bit. The field each day was quite small, maybe 100+, so everyone begins together at 9, and for the first hour or so it's like a fun fast club ride. Both days included the monster Iron Mountain, aka The Tumble, several kilometres long and steep. The scenery was stunning - esp the beautiful smooth and slight descent for the few miles before Tintern Abbey, now my favourite stretch of road. Plentiful food at the numerous feed stops.
It being Wales, it did, however, start to pour in the second half of my ride. I skidded and crashed, mashing rear mech and scraping a lot of skin off thigh, at 80 miles. The couple manning the last feed stop were incredibly kind to me, gave me tea, food, a deckchair and a coat, and would have taken me back to the start if I hadn't been picked up.
ALSO: The sportif is part of the Abergavenny Festival of Cycling. They organised a great kids' race track round the park. This was not some rubbish half-baked circular job, but a long and twisty track through trees and over ramps. The races were properly long (5 to 7 laps), and free. One of my boys had a go and really enjoyed it, although he didn't stand a chance against the serious Welsh boy- and girl- racers, with clip in shoes and club shirts. One of them, no older than 7, was seen warming up before the race by spinning on a bike with the back wheel lifted off the ground by a pair of stabilisers. Who needs a turbo? 
The organisers are called Bill and Brenda, and they do it every year, so thanks to both of you. We will certainly go back next year. The National Elite RR championships are happening there this weekend, which should be a very good show over a beautiful course, finishing with 10 laps of the town. The locals, many of whom are no doubt moaning about road closures, don't know how lucky they are.
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El_Cid
Reged: 02/08/2007
Posts: 1905
Loc: Ilkley, Yorks
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Sorry to hear about your crash, Alex1. But glad to note you are made of sterner stuff than that wimp Cacophony.
Hope it does nt affect your Etape du Tour training, I'm expecting you to lead me out for the first 85miles - GertAlex1 Steegmans.
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"TODAY, WE RIDE"
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Alex1
Reged: 12/05/2008
Posts: 269
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I think I recall that only a week or so ago you offered to work for me, an offer that I am certainly not too proud to accept.
As it happens, this evening I received a message from a friend and training partner who rode up Ventoux today on a recce trip. This was in response to me texting him to to ask how it had gone. I thought I'd share it with you.
"If you take the hardest thing you've ever done, multiply it by a factor of 100, it still won't compare to the f*****g horror of that mountain. I threw my bike off the top."
Weren't you offering drugs as well?
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wuverley
Reged: 16/05/2008
Posts: 5055
Loc: Man of Kent on Kentish Lane
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Quote:
I thought I'd share it with you.
"If you take the hardest thing you've ever done, multiply it by a factor of 100, it still won't compare to the f*****g horror of that mountain. I threw my bike off the top."
Weren't you offering drugs as well?
I thought you had kids, Alex1. Men just exaggerate.
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Invicta
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Alex1
Reged: 12/05/2008
Posts: 269
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Yes, I know what boys are like.
I'm still scared.
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wuverley
Reged: 16/05/2008
Posts: 5055
Loc: Man of Kent on Kentish Lane
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I've said this elsewhere today, it's just a bike ride, what could pssibly go wrong?
You'll be fine.
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Invicta
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fizban
Reged: 15/09/2007
Posts: 1491
Loc: South Georgia
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Alex1,
Remember, he didn't have the advantage of a couple of thousand other cyclists to help pull him up it.
Look on the bright side regarding Elsie, he among others has confidence you'll be fine and can do it.
Also, drugs aren't the answer unless the question is why are Schumacher and Ricco ejits?
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i before e except in Leipheimer
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tvrbird
Reged: 21/06/2008
Posts: 1687
Loc: slumped over the keyboard
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Alex1 - Your friend is just celebrating getting to the top by making a big old fuss. He's a man, that's what they do. No-one would be impressed if he just said 'yeah, it was OK actually.' I have a [male] friend who rode up each of the 3 ways in one day [it's called 'The Summit of the Fools'...]. He's a good cyclist, but not that great. He anticipated horror, but in the end it wasn't as bad as he'd thought.
When it comes down to it, of course the Ventoux will be hard, otherwise, what's the point?
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--__o
_\ <_
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El_Cid
Reged: 02/08/2007
Posts: 1905
Loc: Ilkley, Yorks
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Quote:
I think I recall that only a week or so ago you offered to work for me, an offer that I am certainly not too proud to accept.
As it happens, this evening I received a message from a friend and training partner who rode up Ventoux today on a recce trip. This was in response to me texting him to to ask how it had gone. I thought I'd share it with you.
"If you take the hardest thing you've ever done, multiply it by a factor of 100, it still won't compare to the f*****g horror of that mountain. I threw my bike off the top."
Weren't you offering drugs as well?
Oh, go on then - I will do a short tap on the front.
Remarkably my blood doping programme has had a disappointingly low response. I'm having to re-think the whole business plan. I've asked my agent to contact Rob Hayles directly, but even with his giant haematocrit, I cant seem to interest him.
On the plus side, Mrs Cid is a whole new woman. This morning she has already been for a power walk up the moor. She is now showered, sitting naked on the side of the bath chewing her toe nails and spitting the bits into the bin. Next she is planning to roller skate to the post office to collect her pension.
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"TODAY, WE RIDE"
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