PROPS Bristol 2 Bordeaux Bike Ride

Stats for the Ride

2010-06-02T06:48:00.003+01:00

Here are the Garmin maps from my bike:

And go here for the Picasa Picture Map.

Norm's Back

2010-05-31T10:12:00.001+01:00

Norman returns after a ransome is paid.

Exhibits mild Stockholm syndrome and doesn't want to talk.

Till next time.

In order to understand the motives for his captors I analyse this video sent to me just before his release.

WARNING: Those of a Norman loving disposition may find this disturbing.

YouTube Video

Thank You!

2010-05-30T17:51:00.000+01:00

Keeping warm

2010-05-30T17:29:00.000+01:00

In a novel way...

Dordogne

2010-05-30T17:03:00.000+01:00

Lunch Day 4

2010-05-30T17:02:00.000+01:00

Great food again peeps, just another 30 miles.

Bordeaux in sight

2010-05-30T10:41:00.000+01:00

And it has stopped raining, for a while.

Day 4 Begins

2010-05-30T07:28:00.000+01:00

This way to Bordeaux!!

The Rain Gang

2010-05-29T18:35:00.002+01:00

First finishers for Day 3 - amazing riding in today's conditions.
Driving rain for 7 hours and a blistering wind.

Everybody else comes in shortly afterwords in what is an amazing achievement. I for one haven't cycled in such horrendous conditions for so long. Well done.

Lunch comes just at the right time

2010-05-29T14:18:00.000+01:00

Lunch is really good to see after the wind and rain lashes down in biblical porportions. Well quite a bit.

YouTube Video

Beer O'clock

2010-05-29T11:49:00.000+01:00

Coffee shop to hide from the rain.

YouTube Video

The Rain Stop

2010-05-29T11:46:00.000+01:00

The rain stops breifly for us to have our second stop... It's gonna be tough today if the wind picks up.

What a contrast to yesterday, it's a good job we have suncream applied!!!!

YouTube Video

No rain yet

2010-05-29T10:30:00.000+01:00

But the clouds are looming...

YouTube Video

Bike maintenance at the first stop

2010-05-29T09:07:00.000+01:00

And a cheesy grin!

And just some of the peeps doing a grand job of supported the ride. Blinding.

Ferry cross the mmm-river

2010-05-29T08:17:00.000+01:00

Short ferry journey across a muddy river. I think it might rain soon.

YouTube Video

Day 3 go

2010-05-29T07:41:00.000+01:00

Breakfast Day 3

2010-05-29T06:59:00.000+01:00

People, including moi, are a little sleepy but look rearing to go. Kinda.

YouTube Video

Breakfast Day 3

2010-05-29T06:22:00.000+01:00

Everbody is ok, but probably still asleep - it's a long 128miles today.

YouTube Video

Post ride beer

2010-05-29T00:27:00.000+01:00

Take that last pint away from Magoo...

Location:Boulevard Marcel Paul,Saint-Herblain,France

Day 2 Guess the legs

2010-05-29T00:26:00.001+01:00

Who's are today's mystery legs...?

They have def seen some sun.

Location:Boulevard Marcel Paul,Saint-Herblain,France

Jinxy enjoys a massage

2010-05-29T00:23:00.000+01:00

We are at the hotel and Mr Jenkins has his glutes released.... Ahhhhhh

YouTube Video

Location:Boulevard Marcel Paul,Saint-Herblain,France

Simpson Clouds

2010-05-29T00:19:00.000+01:00

100 miles in and everybody is doing amazing. No falls today, well except from Jinxy that is...

I think he likes it...

2010-05-28T21:12:00.000+01:00

Yes he does!

Bon Voyage

2010-05-28T18:30:00.000+01:00

And who is that? Water stop at 90 miles in to day 2.

Lunch Day 2

2010-05-28T14:45:00.000+01:00

And the riding has been amazing, clear roads, blue sky and smooth
tarmac.

Nice sarnies!

YouTube Video

And great location.

Windy Miller installation

2010-05-28T14:00:00.000+01:00

Location:Boulevard Marcel Paul,Saint-Herblain,France

Cafe o'clock

2010-05-28T12:51:00.000+01:00

Thanks Mrs Jelly Bean

2010-05-28T11:08:00.001+01:00

Or rather thanks Jelly Bean for the sponsorship of the beans!

Beautiful!

2010-05-28T10:45:00.000+01:00

Day 2 Start

2010-05-28T09:27:00.000+01:00

La Snore Fest

2010-05-28T06:34:00.000+01:00

Well, what a first day. Thanks to allthe amazing preparation work and
support staff we left on time and everybody remained intact and
completed the British leg of our epic.

I write this whilst watching the sun come up over the English Channel
in anticipation of what the next days riding will entail during a
particularly noisey outbreak of snoring from our reclining seat
'neighbors'. It's been an interesting voyage.

Looking forward to getting some sleep on the bike this morning. Lucky
Norman managed to get some shut eye in my holdall but now I think it's
time for him to also wake.

Speak soon.

P.s. What's that smell?

The helmet is awarded

2010-05-27T22:31:00.000+01:00

To Jason!

Dinner on the ferry

2010-05-27T21:45:00.000+01:00

Oooooo that's better, very nice.

Ready to roll

2010-05-27T19:22:00.001+01:00

The bikes are packed - thanks guys - and we are all showered an ready
to board the ferry.

Jinxy arrives

2010-05-27T17:44:00.000+01:00

After goin to the Isle of White terminal... 15 miles out of the way!!!

YouTube Video

Location:Wharf Rd,Portsmouth,United Kingdom

More people arrive

2010-05-27T17:18:00.000+01:00

Well done everybody.

Day 1 Guess the legs comp

2010-05-27T17:11:00.000+01:00

Guess who?

War wounds

2010-05-27T17:05:00.001+01:00

The anonymous person named Jason arrives with a few grazes after his
fall -70 miles away.

He seems ok and let's hope his pride is still in tact. Bike is fine.

Advanced party

2010-05-27T16:27:00.001+01:00

Reach the ferry terminal with time to spare.

Road block

2010-05-27T14:52:00.000+01:00

One sat nav and a lorry and a low bridge!

Jelly Bean anyone?

2010-05-27T14:27:00.000+01:00

Next Stop - Portsmouth

2010-05-27T14:15:00.000+01:00

Maybe?! But there is 80miles on the clock.

Tally ho!

2010-05-27T14:12:00.001+01:00

YouTube Video

Norm enjoys the soup!

2010-05-27T12:02:00.000+01:00

Oi that's Brians soup.

Lunch stop - day one

2010-05-27T11:47:00.000+01:00

Great Wishford - The Royal OakEverybody in fine spirit and ready to tuck in. Just a few punctures
and a couple of falls but everybody is ok.

YouTube Video

Portsmouth this way

2010-05-27T11:02:00.000+01:00

First flat

2010-05-27T09:56:00.000+01:00

First Stop!

2010-05-27T08:59:00.001+01:00

Bananas at Combe Down.

Go go go!

2010-05-27T07:38:00.001+01:00

We are off!

2010-05-27T07:26:00.001+01:00

Good luck everybody!

PROPS calander shot no 1

2010-05-27T07:11:00.001+01:00

Live on BBC Radio Bristol

2010-05-27T06:38:00.000+01:00

Chris Miller and Reevesy on BBC radio !

YouTube Video

Hungry?

2010-05-27T06:30:00.000+01:00

At the start

2010-05-27T06:26:00.001+01:00

Everybody is starting to arrive!

The cat is in the bag

2010-05-26T18:46:00.001+01:00

And ready to roll...

Location:Warminster Rd,Limpley Stoke,United Kingdom

Pick up Cat [check]

2010-05-26T14:41:00.001+01:00

Norman takes on the carbs and caffine ready for the trip.

Location:Riverside Rd,Bath,United Kingdom

The Last Flat

2010-05-25T19:59:00.004+01:00

Currently mid prep for Thursday and just spotted a flat in my rear
tyre, arrrg!

Hopefully this won't be the start of many.

YouTube Video

And just tested the video upload capabilities of the mobile blogging app.

By the way, you can sponsor me and Norman here, if you like. Speak soon and I'll leave you tonight with the stats of my last training ride:

Location:Warminster Rd,Limpley Stoke,United Kingdom

Final few days of Preparation

2010-05-24T19:01:00.010+01:00

Well, the time is really starting to fly.

Anybody who has been on holiday (probably everybody) will no doubt agree that the final few days at work (and at home) tend to disappear quicker than Dave Reeves on a bike after being told where the pub is, and that is pretty darn quick. Add to that the fact that I have 2 jobs and it's not really a holiday but a bike ride with full on bike prep.

At least it keeps me occupied rather than thinking about the amount of Vaseline to pack.

No major rides at the weekend, just a last minute 40 miles to test the bike after it's service and fixing after "dog gate". Well there wasn't strictly a gate because if the gate was closed (grrrrr!) I wouldn't have hit the bike hating fat border collie. Anyway, it's all over now and the scars on the bike and my legs are starting to heal.

So today this blog is now the official blog for the ride - yeah. Which will hopefully mean we'll have more and more followers as the days count down to the start and ride begins.

If you're new to PROPS be sure to check out the Pedal for PROPS site and of course the charity site to learn about what we do. Then just sit back and enjoy our ride from the comfort of your PC/mobile.

Will update soon with ride essentials and route. Cheerio for now.

Introduction

2010-05-23T08:00:00.004+01:00

Welcome to my blog.

Once again this space will be used to record the journey of a charity bike ride that I will be taking part in in just a few days. This time it's for PROPS once again.

Anybody who has spent the last 6 months in the UK will know that we have had a good old traditional winter and spring. Snow, ice, wind, rain, snow, wind, fog snow & sunshine.

This tests your dedication to training for events like this. One of my distinct memories is actually having to stop on the bike to allow the blood to get back into our hands so that we could feel the handlebars again. Brrr. Then of course the sunburn 4 weeks ago traveling from Lands End to Bath - I still have an awesome T-shirt tan.

But, as always, it's when it gets to this time (just a few days before we leave for sunny Bordeaux!) then it all seems very worthwhile. And when it's for such a great charity then it's even better. I've known Dave Reeves for a few years now and the strength of his (and his teams) dedication and commitment to the school continue to grow. So it's nice to be able to do something to help them continue to PROvide the Opportunities and Support to all that dearly need it.

Enjoy the sunshine and speak soon.

In the mean time think of Jon McGee, one of the fellow PROPS riders, who decided to do just a few more miles. Please support him if you can. Well done Jon and see you soon.