So, I have meant to create an online blog for some time now, and finally, I put virtual pen to virtual paper.
Some key facts, Age - 49, weight 93kg, current fitness level - lowish, aspiration - lose weight, get fitter, and grow old gracefully
It started in 2007, Gaz and I were sat at the bar in the Crowne Plaza, discussing important things over a beer, when the idea of taking up cycling and doing the Etape du Tour was thrown into the pool, and rapidly agreed. Neither Gaz or I owned a road bike, and I hadn't ridden a road bike since the age of 17/18. Thus are dreams born
In Hobart, where I grew up, I lived in Taroona. I bought a Porsche road bike, black and gold if I remember correctly, and I used to cycle from Taroona over Bonnet Hill to Kingston, and Blackman's Bay, and also to Hobart Matriculation College in North Hobart. The first time I did that I was quite impressively sick, the ride was about 12-14 miles (from memory) and there was a head wind, by the time I got to HMC I was physically exhausted. But, in very short time, I was zooming along, and Mars Bar consumption rose accordingly. Then, at age 18, cars and motor bikes took over and push bikes were ignored for the next 29 years..
Back to 2007, and the reason for attempting the Etape du Tour. In 2005 I bought a Kona Caldera mountain bike, and rode on Sunday's with a group of lads from Burnham-on-Sea, distances set at a massive 10 miles with obligatory stop for beans on toast and a drink. Several bike tours happened in the next couple of years, with distances now stretching out to 40-45 miles. I noticed that leg muscles were working again, and that my fitness was improving, so, on the 28 Oct 2007, I threw the mountain bike in the back of the car and drove to Bovey Tracy for the 100km Dartmoor Devil. I had my camelbak, and my OS map, so I was prepared! I could not have picked a tougher 100km ride if I had tried...
Turning up in Bovey Tracy, I noticed with some surprise, that no other mountain bikes were there, and when I stretched out my OS map in the pub, there were a lot of smiles and wry looks. I put the map away, signed in for the ride and stood outside with a tiny sheet of instructions awaiting the 8am start. I was off the bike within 5 minutes as the ride wound up a very steep little street, then back on and headed off following the other cyclists. By the time I got to the first feed station I was tired, and cold. The weather across Dartmoor was dreadful, very windy and foggy and by the time I got to Princetown I had walked quite a bit already. After a good helping of beans and eggs, I headed back, only 30km to the finish, with the wind behind me. As I approached the finish, I saw a fantastic road climbing up and up, this was Widdicombe Hill, and I managed 4 pedal strokes up the hill, before getting off. Finally, at the top, it was a lovely flat finish into Manaton, and a time of 8 hours, 28 minutes was recorded. I could barely move, and needed a lift from the Pub back to my car, but this ride represented my foray into the world of road cycling, fast forward to the Crown plaza and that beer with Gaz...
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