Before they were famous

Just in case anyone starts getting big headed on the back of this week's report in Optician....I happened across
some old photos during our office move.

First international man of mystery Mr Newth at the Cafe Royale with Marylin...










But best of all the Godfather with his entourage of lovelies.........

Fee's Vatternrundan race report

300Km ….. what? In a day?


Apprehensive but excited at 2am as we cycled passed the beautiful freezing cold lake, personally I was thankful it wasn’t a triathlon and hence relieved at not donning the wetsuit and jumping in!!

The carnival type atmosphere accompanied with music, cycle lights and reflectors created a unique start to any race. Paul appeared particularly nervous as not all the team had made to the start yet (10mins to go!) … he was a Greyhound waiting to be released from its trap! I wasn’t nervous as initially I was just hoping to complete the ride in one piece. We all started together with smiles and best wishes all round.

Very quickly Chris, Paul and I formed a group , we were joined by an elderly gentleman and his son and then suddenly we thumped along at tremendous speeds (considering how far we had to go!). Chris said ‘ I think we could be going too fast’ ? the road was smooth flat and more importantly ‘pot hole free’ and I said ‘this is amazing’ but also thought…….here we go!

Before we knew it Chris and I were having meat balls and mash with ‘ketch up’ and errr ‘cranberry sauce’ (?) at the breakfast stop. After downing a pint of milk we decided not to wait in the toilet Queue and pop into a bush later in the ride. We’d made great progress and I saw a look through Chris’s Transitions eyewear and soon we were back in the saddle.

We spotted an SBR Transitions jersey and some red tyres on a felt bike, it was Paul again, he was going to take the next stop for more water. Chris and I pressed on to the 150km point where the running clock recorded 5hours 2mins (inc approx 20min?stop) and I knew from that point forward we were on a mission!

We didn’t stop again until Kronenburg ( Karlsborg I think -Ed) where I wasn’t keen to stop but it was wise for water replenishment! There only appeared to be cinnamon buns and coffee that you could stand a spoon in. stupidly I donated mine to Chris whom had already downed one coffee. After a quick pee we were back on the road, Chris was possessed by caffeine??!! ….Chasing down Tandems and almost Fartlek type training whilst I maintained a steady speed taking a look and reflecting on Lake Vattern’s breath-taking scenery after having stiffened slightly post rest stop.

The last 100km was on the cards and I stupidly said ‘Its just a Saturday morning ride to go now….as we were about to find out though ……..this was the unknown section (we had not even ridden 200km before let alone another 100km!) We joined Pelotons’ and created our own. We saw frightening sights: Wheel to wheel collisions’ , people sleeping next to the bikes by the roadside but I thought it was an hallucination
……..300km in a day ….err actually 10hrs 10mins…who’d have thought it!

when I saw the priest on the side of the road and I was told by my new Peloton buddy that he was praying for us !!
In turn Chris and I appeared to feel the effect of only 4-5hours sleep in two days plus the 250km already covered. My back and shoulders ached, my knee had swollen and my arms and hands were numb with pins and needles…. I took an anti-inflam and caffeine gel which kicked my mind back into focus. I thought cramp may loom soon and I copied another rider whom ate an electrolyte tab neat. The way forward now was to stay with the group or I feared the ride (err Race??) would be over. The Transition SBR riders in question (chris and I ) and to our amazement still took the front of the peloton, although Chris spoke to me a couple of times, I saw his lips move but bizarrely I didn’t know what he was saying. A few Km left to go and in knew that staying in the group was survival. At times we still travelled +/- 24mph, I wasn’t sure where Chris was, in front or behind? I passed a Pink Brompton (one of those city fold up bikes with small wheels) and wondered if I was hallucinating again!

I could hear crowds, cheering, unclipping of cleats and beeps as timing chips registered over the mat , we’d finished!! (well I had …Chris came in 10minutes later) as he fell off the pack trying to unwrap his energy bar!
………it just shows you the difference of staying with the pack and riding alone. I asked him if he wanted me to open all his energy bars before the beginning of the next race ;-)

Keep your eyes on the road

Suffered a salutory lesson this morning on the ride into work.

While waiting at some traffic lights I noticed a women in a Range Rover engrossed in her texting. The lights changed and the van in front of me pulled away, I pulled away and looked across to see if she had noticed the lights change -- she hadn't. Ha ha, I thought typical 4x4 driver on the phone.
I looked round just in time (not) to notice that the van in fron of me had slammed its brakes on so I slammed into the back of it, chin first.
The impact was hard enough to bend my brakes and handlebars and lock the brakes but not loud enough, apparently, for the van driver to notice and he sped off while I nursed my sore chin and got my bike back in working order. Thanks Interior Design. The rest of the cars manoeuvered around me but a girl crossing the road took the time to ask me if I was OK.

Self inflicted that one, but I think I have to take responsibility for it. No major damage obvious but my jaw is a bit on the sore side.
Today's lesson - don't be a smug git, just watch the road.

Swede sucess

The bikes are packed, flights taken and embrocation thoroughly rubbed in. The Vatternrundan has been completed by the Transitions Swedish Bike Ride team and everyone finished safe and sound.
Over 22,000 people attempted the 300Km epic but many hundreds didn't complete. The SBR team was not among them.
Among the finishers are Darren,Sue and Luca pictured above. Despite their cheery expressions this is at the end of their race. Although they didn't register the best time they are the core of the team completing the whole 300km together. There were other team members finishing before and after with times ranging from 10hrs 10 to more than 16 hours but the race was not about times. It was about endurance, comradeship and enjoying the beautiful Swedish countryside.
There were a few thrills and spills along the way. Most of the team avoided crashing although Darren and Luca did get tangled up in one incident.
Despite torrential rain the day before, and after, the ride day was fine and not too hot making for perfect conditions.
The team is still collecting for Vision Aid Overseas so click on to the just giving link to make a donation
A great day was had by all.

Four Yorkshiremen with tired legs

Here's Luca looking like he is emerging from the sea. In fact he's just cycled coast to coast and is posing at Robin Hood's Bay.

Luca wrote:
Hi all, just unpacking my MTB and re-packing the road bike today. Not been out since the MK run in the rain...but it was good prep. I got rained on everyday while doing the C2C...not much fun scrambling up Black Sail Pass with a bike on my shoulders in howling wind and hail in the cloud. Fun going down to though :) ...and Walna Scar and Garburn Pass...etc etc.
This is his arrival either before or after (not sure) a pint and Fish'n'Chips.
The SBR team is all getting a bit 'Four Yorkshiremen' at the moment with emails pinging around all trying to outdo each other with tales of efforts and injury. I think Luca has the best excuse for tiredness.
As for me......... well I'm off to see the physio about my knee MRI this afternoon.

Remember that's 300kms

The SBR team has had its first casualty. Pavel, recently elevated to the illustrious heights of Transitions senior management, has had to withdraw. In a sad note to the team Pavel said:
Dear courageous SBR team,
I hope that you are all in great shapes for the Big Day … at least following the email correspondence, it looked like everybody is in a tough preparation J …
Unfortunately, after healthy evaluation of my both legs and number of hours spent in saddle this year (0), I have to withdraw from the challenge … 300K is 300 K, no way to cheat. I hope that when the things calm down a bit in my new job here in Germany, I’ll join for an other ride (or race).
In any case, I wish you all great fun, great ride, great times (for the competitive once J) … and soareless morning after.

Enjoy !!

All my regards from Germany …