The early excitement seemed a distant memory - the weather was turning and the wind faced the team square on. With again, over a kilometre of climb, this time within 40 miles, the head wind sapped energy and morale alike!Average speed fell by more than 2 mph, and the 107 mile ride seemed daunting from the first pedal revolution. All helped each other, and we were treated to elevenses with tea by the support team of Margaret Oakley, Alan Bretherton and Brookesey.
The last named continued his attempted urban guerilla driving tactics - managing to coat the spare bike in mud as he wheel-span a 4x4 - no easy feat!
Eales continued to prove problematic - first in a phantom 'puncture' to cut a long climb short, then in some al fresco toilet habits in the woods curtaining the champage vines, then in stopping and talking to a hedgehog that had just overtaken him!
Lunch left a further 55 miles - ground out by determination: the wind still annoying, though the terrain was more forgiving.
Finally, after some 8 hours in the saddle and 11 hours on the road, we reached Joigny - and a welcome shandy in by far the most luxurious hotel to date.
A fine feast ensued - foie gras, asparagus, cote de boeuf, guinea fowl: all just on Oakley's plate! Wine - red and white - beers and even a kir for the effeminate Irishman, topped up by 5 courses led to heavy eyes.
Team spirit good, the realisation that tomorrow the hills start less good.
Please leave comments or text us your support - we'll need cheering up.
282 miles gone, barely more than a third completed - help!!
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ReplyDeleteAre you blokes corrupting my man, Breno? I've noticed a big change for the worse in the effing and blinding department since he started associating with you lot and I am not best pleased. Please return him as noble and unsullied as you found him.
ReplyDeleteI'm a little confused by the "eight hours in the saddle and eleven on the road". Do you mean you stood up in your pedals for THREE HOURS?
Good luck with the coleens, I mean colines, tomorrow.
PS, I think you should be nicer to David, you'll be old yourself one day
Yes i can feel your pain from here.
ReplyDeleteI too am worried about corruption of the mind. "speed fell by more than..." - did i miss something or a meeting somewhere, but when did doing an impression of the abominable Brown Statto machine become compulsory?
As to getting old - Don't worry about that if i were you Bren, you still look as though butter wouldn't melt......
Heading down your way tomorrow will waive as we pass (at x thousand feet mind you)
The Whitehouse has just said that the oil leak in the gulf of Mexico is the biggest environmental disaster ... clearly they have no experience of you lot and your wind propelled cycling exploits, leaving a waive of contamination behind everywhere you go!
ReplyDeleteSo pleased to see my man had the correct pair of glasses on when reading the map! He has had 40 years of me saying 'go left' and he always goes right (my navigation skills at fault here), just hope he knows his 'a gauche' from his 'a droite'.
ReplyDeleteClearly Alan benefits from wearing two pairs of glasses at last he has found a use for his extra set of eyes
ReplyDeleteHas anyone mentioned the Caledonian Challenge yet?
ReplyDeleteKeep spinning - Louse
Message to The Kaiser: Michael Ballack out of World Cup. Pride of mighty glorious nation of Germany now resting solely on your shoulders. Viel Gluck!
ReplyDeleteMessage to the boys: If he begins to tire, feed him a bratwurst and a glass of warm milk. He'll be right as rain in no time.
Christian
well done guys.Clearly you need to move on to the 10 course taster menu to keep those sugar levels up as the 5 course is not enough.
ReplyDeleteHow is the Garmin working Graham?
Best
Jon