Those of you who read this column(hello Mum) will know that in preparation for the Alpe d'Huez triathlon I have been entering as many events as possible.
The latest opportunity to get some miles in was along with the Transitions inspired optical team which completed the 150km Halvvatern bike ride in Sweden, see the post below.
This proved a feat of food as well as physical endurance.
The team was a great bunch made up of a mixture of Transitions staff and UK optical folk. The organisation of the team was overseen by the Swedish Transitions team of Lucia Grimaldi-Ohlander and her husband Hans helped along the way by her daughter and boyfriend and a lovely cook called Anna(?).
In the team were Matt (and Natasha) Dorling business director Northern Europe of Transitions, Darren Newth, Key Account Manager Essilor, Sue Cockayne, mananging director Leightons, Andrew Spiers, training manager David Clulow, Paul Maxwell, National Sales manger at Hoya, Pavel Prokopec, key account manager Transitions, Mark Harris, senior optician at Vision Express, Kristin Manor, key account manager and Luca Conte country manager Transitions UK and Ireland.
Getting to the race was a logistical excercise in its own right.Many of the team had never ridden road bike before let alone dismantled, packed, transported then rebuilt one. They had also been supplied with the biggest bike bags I have ever seen which they had to wrestle with constantly.
The team were all drawn from the optical industry and the bikes, which were originally bought as window displays, were pressed into service -- as bikes. The idea of riding an event just took off and the Transitions guys decided why not ride the Felt window dressing in a proper race --great idea.
The lead-in time for the event was very short indeed with some of the riders having a little over a month to get used to riding the bikes and clock up a few miles in preparation. They also arrived on the start line carrying a few injuries. We had a dislocated shoulder, flu, broken feet bones, sore knees and a few others.
But they all finished, still smiling, despite not really planning the race or deciding how they would ride the event.
Shortly after the race start I hooked up with Paul Maxwell who, as a teenager, had been a keen rider.
He was clearly keen to get a good time in and, after a slow start, we got a little routine going with me taking the front and hopping from group to group sheltering from the relentless Swedish wind.
At the first food stop I pulled up to grab some water and inspect a wasp sting I had picked up along the way -- Paul carried on. I then had a useful hill sprint to catch him up. He was a steady rider so that was not an easy task.
The others were taking it more leisurely but clearly enjoying it as much as Paul and I.
The real highlight of the weekend for me was picking up the slipstream of three Bianchi-themed club riders. They passed in a blur, I said to Paul let's try and catch them, he said go for it, and that was all the encouragement I needed.
I hung on to their tail for 15 hair-raising miles streaming through the countryside and the rest of the field at a typical 27, 28mph. This was a fantastic experience and probably the closest I will ever get to riding a proper race. I didn't manage take a turn at the front and stayed out of the way as they changed leaders, but got the opportunity to thank the guys in the bar afterwards.
I managed a 4hr53 finish, my time slowed by too many stops and too many stints towing others with no help back ( must be Karma for my Bianchi banditry). Paul came in just over the 5 hours ( bad luck no plaque) so in retrospect we would have been better off sticking together.
The rest of the team came in steadily after Paul and despite the heavens opening and soaking the riders after the 6 hour mark no one gave up and they all finished to colect a medal. All in all a good day.
There were a few sore knees, backs and bums that evening as the team celebrated. Probably wost was Mark Harris of Vision Express, an accomplished endurance rider, who completed the event with a footfull of broken bones. But all in all most were satisfied with their performance. Nice Job.
Thanks to Transitons for a great ride and useful training for the Alpe d'Huez.
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