The West Bay and Back 200

I like this photo because of the reflection of Bill in Jamie's glasses.  Bill, Jamie and I rode together the whole way around.  Congratulations to Jamie on his first Audax.

On the way back home, in the car, we burst into song: 'Oh such a perfect day'.  Jamie would sing the chorus: 'Oh my arms and shoulders'.  It was a fantastic day out.  Lovely scenery, great weather, great company.

I received compliments on my 'little gear', 'as big as a dinner plate'.  The guy laughed, but I laughed even more, because he should see the dinner plate on my other bike!  I was grateful of this guy's good sense of humour, though.  Because I had lost mine in the Hambro Arms.  I didn't appreciate the ageist and sexist remarks of the women at the bar.  If I had been on my own, I would have been straight out of there.

At West Bay, I was pleased that LEE had insisted we'd go to the seafront after lunch.  The view is spectacular.

At the first control, I knew something was up with the tandem Things.  Emma said: "Have a good ride."  That is not something you say when you are riding yourself.  They took the precaution not to aggravate an ankle injury ahead of PBP, so turned back.  Anti-inflammatories and ice, Emma!  

Thanks to Andy and team for organising the event.  It was Andy's first as organiser and it was very well done. 

Photos are on the slideshow till the next ride (!!! that will be PBP !!) or here: Clicky

FNRttC - Newhaven - Dieppe

Previously I wrote:

"In Newhaven, we have the most fantastic breakfast cafe.  That cafe is like a negative control in an experiment.  It has no style (a cabin), no decor (white walls), no scenery (underneath a flyover).  The question in the experiment is 'how do you rate your breakfast'.  The idea being that you are not influenced by external factors.  Unfortunately this experiment will always fail when the 'subjects' are the Fridays.  When having breakfast with the Fridays after a night ride, it doesn't matter where you are or what the breakfast is like. It is always a memorable experience."

The experiment came to a conclusion.  The Pitstop Cafe closed down.

We went to the Captain's Table Cafe instead.  It is located by the sea, has decor (see picture below) and the service was excellent, even though we arrived en masse unannounced.

What's so funny?

I feel like I've been on a three week holiday.  There was a bit of a buzz about the FNRttC.  It was a recipe for adventure.  Going on a Thursday night, as opposed to Friday.  A smaller group, which means going faster.  Not knowing whether we'd be allowed into Gatwick Airport.  It wasn't looking good as we were stopped by police.  The group was like a lava lamp, with everyone slowing, silently, but the inner core moving on ahead .  The inner core did the talking and off we went for a Costa coffee.  I didn't want to be disappointed by the customer service possibly having improved on last year, so went to M&S, who now offer coffee also.  It was busy at Gatwick.  There wasn't the usual middle of the night ghostliness about it. Building work is going on, I guess in preparation for the Olympics.

Then there was the Left Legg Bandage Plot.  That was a bit like a lava lamp phenomenon also.  Gradually, you would recognise something similar about a gathering of cyclists at the Lindfield regroup.  It was a birthday treat for Mr Legg, whose trademark is a bandage around the left knee.

The 'Plotters'?

After breakfast, it was time for the next adventure, which was getting onto the ferry.  Some bikes posed as bikes, some as motor bikes and some as plain luggage.  We all got on.  I had a good snooze.

We disembarked and the group dispersed.  I went off to Evreux, which was the start of my last long ride before PBP.  The Saturday ride was planned to cover the miles and not get distracted.  That plan worked in that I took very few pictures.  I had 'adventures' though, when I found myself off road, or backtracking miles because my lovely laney route was cut off by highway fencing with no way through.  I came across a Gatwick like checkpoint also but didn't get stopped.  Les gendarmes had reason to question me though, as I was not wearing a reflective vest.  Instead, they didn't move an inch and smiled nodding as I sailed past them.

I asked for directions a couple of times.  Towards the end of the evening, I couldn't help myself anymore and asked 'Le Tour, qui a gagné?'.  I chose the right person to ask, because the guy was smoking a cigar and kept shouting at his German Shepherd dog to keep away from me.  Whilst doing both of those, he uttered something like 'Hhkariy Afhawe'.  I was ready to say 'merci', when he explained: 'L' Australien!'.

Here is the profile of the ride:

In Amiens, on the Somme, you go below sea level.  After reaching the Béthune region the profile is flat and I was flying!  Top gear all the way!  I went through Armentières, Comines, Wervik, Geluwe, Dadizele and home.  I liked that route very much. It has a special feel around Comines-Wervik.  Next year, when I don't have the need for miles (famous last words!), I might work out a fast route to the border, then meander around there early evening.   Could work as a trip from Dunkerque also.

I was pleased to have arrived home at a civilised time.  My parents were up waiting for me. We chatted, and we chatted and laughed some more the next day.  I was spoilt with the best dish of chicon au gratin and a perfect meringuetaart as desert.  We watched the final stage of  le tour and enjoyed Cav and HTC's amazing success.

I travelled back to the UK on the Eurostar, wheel in hand.  The female security officer asked: 'Où est le reste?'.  How funny, when, if I had brought the complete bike, it would have been trouble.  I laughed of course: 'Je l'ai perdu!'

What a weekend!  Three weeks worth of cycling, adventure, countries, culture, food and entertainment.

Photos are on the slideshow till the next ride, or here: Clicky

Other thoughts:

• two falls
• two thunderstorms
• two punctures
• after fields, fields, fields, coming into Rouen must have been quite dramatic way back
• going through many villages with old castles and churches, reminded me of 'La Chasse aux Trésors', with Philippe de Dieuleveult
• none of the cafes I went into showing le tour, horse racing instead
• redundant question: 'so would we do it again next year?'

FNRttC - Brighton

On top of the Beacon, Simon had encouraged people to keep going down to Brighton, rather than wait for everybody and get cold.  This had created a sense of urgency in me.  From trying not to raise my heart rate on this Genteel ride, I turned into a racer chasing down the break away.  The Pyrenees Stage 11 it was.  I could hear Chris Boardman's voice: "It is all down to how much risk you are prepared to take".   Visibility improved by looking over my glasses.  In the far distance was a blurred shimmer of red light.  That was my target.

We arrived at the Madeira soaking wet.  A proper FNRttC that was.  Loved it.

Conquering the Beacon
Photo by Martin Brice

It starts at Hyde Park Corner with magic.  We bunch up at the traffic lights, ready to hit the road en masse.  We wait for the next green light.  Simon surges on and puts his hand up to stop the oncoming traffic.  And it's like magic!  On a roundabout notorious for 'having to go with the flow'.  Going against the grain is an absolute no no. Any hesitation and you'll hear the cab drivers cursing you.  But Simon gets in the middle of the road, puts his hand up, and all traffic slows and stops as if mesmerised.  I would imagine it is mesmerising.  From the other end, you'd see this guy cycling towards you.  Behind him a group of cyclists with dazzling lights, like you've never seen before.  It's midnight, what is going on?

I couldn't get into the the ride until I had sorted out my back light.  I was on my way to the station when I realised I had left my pump at home. When you change bike and gear, you are out of routine and things like this happen.   I turned back home to pick it up.  My partner rolled her eyes.  I set off again, and noticed how my back light was quite weak. 'Oh no, I don't have spare batteries!  I turned back home to pick some up.  My partner rolled her eyes and sighed.   It was a good thing I had spare batteries, because once at Hyde Park Corner, the light wasn't good enough anymore, in my opinion.  I changed the batteries feeling smug. Only, the batteries were flat!  Oh no!  How irresponsible of me!  One should always check the state of one's spare batteries, I could hear a 'with hindsight type of devil' whisper in my ear.  Fortunately there are plenty of opportunities to buy batteries and I could relax again.

Wonderful reception at the Scouts Group

'It's the wrong turn' sounds like a line from Wallace and Grommit.   The comedy moment for me was Adrian (I think it was) pointing out the single white light amongst a sea of red.  'He's realised', Adrian said, 'You wait, gradually, the red will turn into more and more white until no red is left'.  More magic!  Simon is getting a bit of stick on the forum for this.  But if I led a group towards the coast, it would always be the 'scenic' way.

The worlds of FNRttC and audax are really mixing now.  With the three guys I happened to be seated with at the Madeira, we talked Bryan Chapman, PBP and Hummers.  Pete stated his ambition of doing a 300 for the first time this year.  It might sound like an odd question coming from me, but I asked what drives him to do a 300.  'To do an SR (Super Randonneur) series next year', he said. 'Ah, that is completely understandable then!'.

A most enjoyable moment was saying thank you and goodbye to Simon and the gang:  'See you next week'!

Photos are on the slideshow till the next ride or here: Clicky

The Yorkshire Dales 200 Perm - NPS2F

It is viaduct heaven in the Yorkshire Dales!  You'd think the image below is 'the viaduct', but the Dent Head viaduct is one of 22.  Dent Head is a minor, with 10 arches, as opposed to 'The Ribblehead Viaduct' which has 24 arches.  I can believe that the Settle-Carlisle railway line would be one of the most scenic in England.

Dent Head Viaduct

I didn't have a chance to research my cycling route beforehand.  Otherwise I would have come across two significant facts:

• Dent, where I was staying, has the highest railway station in England.
• Dent has almost four times the rainfall of London.

At least I knew from the audax entry form that 3100m climbing would be involved.  And the fact I'm doing this as an audax means rain, naturally.

Perfect PBP training then, especially after only having had three hours sleep the night before.  

And I managed to put myself under pressure again, having said to my holiday companions I would be back in Dent by 8PM.  All was fine, I was pushing it for the last hour, and even more so for the last 12 km, because I was going to make it very close to 8.  I gave it everything, as if I was in a spinning class.  After the 'last mile', I saw a signpost to Dent: 9.5 miles.  My heart and body sank.  It took me a further hour and a half to cover the last 9.5 miles.  I was soaking wet, again, of course.  My feet hurt.  I was exhausted.  

Nearly there!

That was an endless stretch of hilly road and very remote. I arrived in Dent and wondered around a little, mixing with the beer and music festival-goers. Finally, I struggled up the drive to the holiday barn, from which, fine views can be enjoyed!

My chums and I with the view in the background

I love a full day's out cycling though.  The scenery was great and varied.  There were many cyclist on the road, and off-road.  Also many walkers, cavers, climbers and 'sportsmen'.  The Yorkshire Dales are fantastic for outdoor activities.

I stopped off in a pub near Kettlewell, for a coffee.  I had seen the sign: "No muddy boots allowed".  The landlord didn't look me up and down, just down.  'Coffee please' I said, and sat down.  My overshoes might have been wet, but they were not muddy.  My feet hadn't touch the ground for the last 50 miles, there is no way they were muddy, and cycling shoes are not boots.  

Wensleydale cheese!  I had a craving for it after cycling past the 'Wensleydale Cheese visitor centre'.  Shame on me for not stopping, but cycling around with cheese in my saddlebag didn't appeal.  

Going through Burnley made me think of Fred Dibnah.  All those out of use chimneys still standing.  There are some beautiful buildings/structures around.  Here is a great fact about Burnley from the wiki site: "More Benedictine is drunk in one local working men's club, the Burnley Miners Club, than anywhere else in the world, after a local regiment stationed in Normandy during World War I brought back a taste for the drink." 

After Burnley was the lovely ride back via Clitheroe and Slaidburn, which I remembered from my LEJOG trip.  This is in Lancashire now and the Forest of Bowland - beautiful.  I stopped off at the Slaidburn Youth Hostel to fill my water bottle.

Profile of the ride - like alligator's teeth

The following day, I drove over to Settle, to the start of the CycleChat forum ride.  I made my excuses which were received with complete understanding.

CycleChat meeting point

Photos are on the slideshow till the next ride or here: Clicky

FNRttC - Whitstable

When I saw a signpost to our end destination: "Whitstable 4", I was disappointed.  I didn't want it to end.  We had a tail wind all the way, and it seemed to get stronger and stronger.  Those last 4 miles were over in a jiffy.

I loved sitting, having breakfast, on the balcony of the cafe.  The waitress recognised me from the week before: "Back for more", she said.  Sure am!

It was sunny, people were happy, chatting ... Because I had limited time, I was absorbing the atmosphere in a time-lapse manner.

The weather forecast had been expressed in inches of rain all week  To be fair to our middle of the night caterers,  Simon had set the deadline for pulling out to Thursday.  This reduced the field from 130 to 65.  Right up until midnight Friday, the weather was appalling.  My motto doesn't work in Simon's system, but normally I say "Always get to the start".  Always get to the start, and then decide whether to ride or not .  From midnight onwards, we had perfect cycling conditions.  It was warm, no rain, a little drizzle perhaps, and a tailwind all the way.

So, we benefited the advantages of a reduced field. It was like the old days.  Although, a group of 65 now appears really small.  Bunching up is much quicker, you see people more than once, shorter queues for facilities, shorter queues for food, Simon with time to chat ....

A pedestrian asked what we were doing and Simon replied "We've come to see you!".  The serious answer of "We're going to Whitstable" prompted a reply of "Ah Whitstable", with an intonation of  "I have no idea who Whitstable is".

"We've come to see you"

Just after the Rochester Andy Snacks stop, I noticed this intriguing structure.  If I didn't learn anything new about London, I learnt about Sir John Hawkins, the triangular trade, and these almshouses, still used to house Navy pensioners.

Sir John Hawkins Hospital, Kings, Chatham
John Hawkins on wiki

I have also discovered why an audax in Kent is called the Invicta:

Kent motto Invicta, on house in Milton Regis
Kent Invicta on wiki

The reason I had limited time at Whitstable is that I got to do the ride on the promise I would be back home to help out at the Hanwell Carnival Allotment Stall.  Since I am the beekeeper with honey to offer, it was only right that I would be attending my own makeshift stall.

I look tired

Photos are on the slideshow till the next ride or here: Clicky

Other thoughts:

• 12 puncture in the group
• sleeping on the train back to London, to miss every single drinks trolley
• skylarks
• tipping helmet at the Sportsman (table booked for 10th July)
• need to start planning for Newhaven - Dieppe (have ferry and Eurostar, need overnight stay and route)
• perfect ride - thank you Simon, and everybody involved 

London to Brighton 300 DIY by GPS

I made a couple of mistakes on this ride, but with hindsight, I might have done myself a favour.

The ride was London to Brighton along the east and south coast: 310km shortest distance, 350km ridden, 3100m climbing.

One of the mistakes was making this DIY hugely over distance.  I though I'd be OK.  I was going to use my racing bike, no mudguards, no saddle bag, only one bottle etc.  The route is flat-ish.  Validation was going to be by GPS, so no wasting time at control points.  Everything was in my favour, I even had some Science in Sports goodies provided by Ealing Bike Hub.

Unfortunately, these advantages were completely offset by me turning into a tourist rather than behaving like an audaxer.  I was loving the ride, by the coast, miles and miles of it.   I told myself to relax and enjoy myself.  I was on rehabilitation after the BCM.  There were plenty of sites of interest, but why did I have to take not just one photo of something, but several, at different angles, with different light settings, looking around, oh .... look over there, snap, snap.  Those minutes add up.

Best angle?
Margate Turner Gallery

The other mistake, was to overshoot a couple of landmarks in Ramsgate.   I turned back to the first, and it was a complete waste of miles and time.  The Belgian Cafe, I would not recommend as a Belgian cafe.  You can buy 'a pint of Leffe' for sure (not that Belgians would order 'pints' of Leffe).  But the decor, which was a collage of retro-posters, did not have one cycling related image.  A waitress dropped a tray.  I guess it happens.  However, the expletives used following the drop stood out in being non-Flemish / non-French .  The cakes, the typically Belgian carrot cake and lemon meringue pie (I think not!), were not presented in individual portions.  I was disappointed and not in a good mood any more (can you tell?).

The headwind started to play its part and I began to realise I no longer had a time buffer.  Inspired by my personal best on last Wednesday's 10 mile time trial and being on my racer, I was going to start pushing it a bit more.  I did long steady state stretches and I did interval type stretches.  And so, this ride might very well have become a very good PBP training ride.  All this effort against the headwind took its toll though, because when I reached Battle I was ready to pack it in (second time this year!).  Only because of encouraging tweets did I decide to carry on - thank you to my regular followers, dkhan400 and SirWobbly.  If I lost my good mood in Ramsgate,  I was now angry!  Angry for allowing the word 'packing' to enter my head, and angry for having lost even more time whilst visiting Battle train station!  I asked for directions to the train station, and the lady said 'it's a long way, it's about a mile away'.  But that wasn't enough to bring my sense of humour back.  My 30-odd miles 'pending' were a reality.

We now have the perfect PBP training ingredients: tired from the early start, tired from pushing too hard, tired from the headwind, demoralised from having done the required 300kms, but having to do the over distance kms, running out of water, getting cold, getting lost, getting very sleepy.  Now go, go and do your time trial bit, you are going to have to, if you want to finish in time!

Fortunately, I had the Science in Sports goodies, they were very handy.  Both the rehydrating powder sachets and the energy bars suited me.  Before I read their tagline, I thought to 'make them part of my ritual'.  It is the detail that makes the difference.  The energy bar wrappers tell you clearly where to 'tear down'.  And when you do tear down, the packet tears open, and all the way.  Ah! Don't laugh!  I have used sachets of drink powder before, got them in New Zealand.  Thought they would be perfect.  When I came to use them on an audax, I could not get one of them to open.  I got to know Ealing Bike Hub on one of their bike maintenance courses.  It is a perfect setup for learning about bikes whatever level you are at.

I had decided that a 600 was not necessary this weekend (had been eyeing up the Invicta 600, but only with one eye).  The cycling forums' consensus seems to be that long distance rides are no longer required at this stage of PBP preparation, but shorter rides working on speed are more beneficial.  So in conclusion, I think I did myself a favour by organising an overdistance ride, and getting myself into time limit trouble.  It meant I had to ride hard.  If  I can do 350 in 21 hours, call it 300 in 20 hours, then I can do 1200 in 80 hours (all else being equal). That is 10 full hours left for sleep!  I'm beginning to look forward to PBP again.  For a while I was looking forward to it being over.

The day after this ride was PBP registration day. You're pre-registration is completed by adding records of your qualifying rides. What a milestone!

I want to go back to Margate, Broadstairs and Deal.  And another visit to Rye is already in the calendar (scallop festival).  It is a shame I couldn't stop there, but again with hindsight, having more leisure time will be a good thing.

Photos of the ride are on the slideshow till the next ride or here: Clicky

Other thoughts:

• Learning about Cinque Ports
• Thank you to friends in Brighton for providing sleep over
• Last picture taken in Dover, tells a story
• Seeing the FNRttC Whitstable route in daylight
• Learning about GPS, tracks, routes, waypoints, tracklogs ...

Tribute to FNRttC Whitstable

The Bryan Chapman Memorial 600

I was only 85km in, when I was ready to call a friend.  I couldn't call my other half, because she would have said: "I have no sympathy!" (the 'no' said in a Jeremy Paxman way).  Neither could I call my mum, who knows I'm doing this to go to Paris in August.  She would have said: "Come home, we can go to Paris any day of the year!".

I had to talk to somebody who would understand and know what I needed to hear.  So I called my alter ego.  Here is the conversation:

swarm_catcher: Hi?
Els: Hi, it's me, I'm on the BCM

swarm_catcher: And you're calling me because it is tough going?
Els: Yes [sob]

swarm_catcher: But it's going?
Els: Yes [sniff]

swarm_catcher: Well tough it out!
Els: But I'm only 85km in and struggling.  Howard is probably in Kings YH already.

swarm_catcher: Who is Howard?
Els: He is Lance Armstrong

swarm_catcher: And does that help you?
Els: No [wail]

swarm_catcher: Think of Eddy Merckx instead.
Els: [sniff]

swarm_catcher: Call me back when you get to 200
Els: OK

swarm_catcher: Just don't call while you are driving
Els: But I'm ...

swarm_catcher: tduuuuuuuuuu

Then, hurrahhh!!!!  A serious mechanical problem happened.  My pedals stopped turning dead in their tracks.   Quick, feet out before I fall over! This is it, I would have to give up, and what an excuse! Perfect.  Before I examined the damage, and in seconds, I had plans A, B and C on what to do next.  I would walk 500 miles and pluck up courage to knock on somebody's door.

The cleaning cloth for my glasses, which I must have dropped whilst getting something out of a back pocket, got entangled in the rear dérailleur.  With a single reverse turn of the pedals, out came the cloth.  Sigh of no relief.

Soon after, Mr Sunshine Gary arrived.  He had a story to tell that got me stunned for the next 50km.  His bike had just 'snapped in half', stopped at a garage, got it welded, carried on.  Certainly an advert for steel bikes and a guy called Gary.  He cheered me up no end, not just the story, but his lively, bubbly, sunny character lifted my spirits.

Mr Sunshine Gary (coincidence Liam called him Sunshine Gary also?)

It was also great to chat with Barry, who caught up with me next.  I waited for Larry and Harry .... maybe I was the red lantern.  At least at every control, I would still see a few people.

I had a song on repeat in my head.  Lyrics from Coldplay.  'Nobody said it was easy'.  'Oh, take me back to start'.

As I saw Chillmoister at the halfway Menai control I blurted out: 'I'm packing'!   With hindsight, if I really was going to give up, maybe I wouldn't shout it out so loud.  I would quietly say: "My ride is over, see you at the finish".  Wise words of 'get inside and eat' did the trick.  As you eat and weigh up the options, you realise that the logistics of getting back to Chepstow, and the implications of not completing BCM are almost harder to deal with than carrying on, especially given the state you are in.

If my brain wasn't mush at Menai, it certainly was back at Kings YH.  When asked what breakfast I would like, I looked for the easy option.  One word, no utensils: toast.  I was pleased the volunteer didn't ask which spread I wanted. I wouldn't have been able to make a decision.  Not even honey came to mind.

My bag drop bag had been carefully organised (learning from Greenbank!).  I had a black bag for things I would need at night, and a white bag for things I would need for the second day.  Even that got scrambled.  I must have been looking for something I couldn't find.  Comfort probably.

If you are getting tired of reading about this self-inflicted misery, forgive me.  I need to document this so that I never do this ride again.  In fact, why don't I cancel my Audax membership right now? Join Liam in the knitting club.

The best thing about this ride were the people.  I hardly have any pictures to share. Fortunately, others did get some fantastic shots to show off Wales.  Links are at the end.

I don't remember any scenery myself.  The last day, the last 200km, was dominated by calculations.  How far to go, how much time left?  Keep it going, you've got to make it now.  No point conserving energy anymore.  Go for it! Don't forget it is 619km, don't forget the last 19, call it 20.  Recalculate.  Go go go.

There is a lot of shifting up and down gears to do on the last leg.  Relentless up and own.  This was causing a new type of hallucination.  Shift up, 'edit', up again, 'amend', shift down, 'cancel'.  Shift up, 'open chapter', up again, 'turn page', shift down, 'close'.  Shift up, 'person walks in', up again, 'another walks in', shift down, 'all walk out'.  It was bizarre, I kept asking questions: 'what am I editing', 'why am I reading', 'what am I reading', 'who are these people'.  Like in a dream, the answers never came.

People on fixed gear are unreal!  Simonp and Manotea (there may have been others), I admire you.

I asked for a receipt at the last Weobley control shop.  Force of audax habit and being on autopilot.  'Do you need a stamp', said the lovely person a the till. 'Yes! Yes! I do.  Let me get my card!!'

I was thankful for John Spooner's company in the last stretch.  We knew it was touch and go all the way.  Thirty minutes spare sounds plenty, but  a difficult puncture could still set you back by that much.  It was great to see more people come in before 10PM.  Jason could hardly stand, stumbling against the wall.  Well done everybody.  There are a few people who finished around the same time as John and I, and I wish I had been more with it to take note: Maidenhead Phil, Panoramix, JJ, Redlight?  Hope to be able to say hi another time.

After returning to the B&B on Sunday evening, I found this in my room:

"Congratulations on your epic journey."

I ate all of it, although falling asleep many times as I was doing so.   My stay at Afon Gwy was wonderful.  I was very well looked after.

Many thanks to Mike the organiser, all the helpers and all the riders.  Reading through the yacf thread, you can sense the mutual respect people are giving each other.  It doesn't matter whether you abandoned, finished out of time, or finished in a good time ... you were there.

Thanks for all the tweets of support.

I did find Howard's tweet very endearing for somebody who finished 12 hours earlier than me: "That was tough."

Photos are on the slideshow till the next ride, or here: Clicky.

Links to other albums are below:
Mr Bunbury
TheSloth
Zigzag

A few more thoughts:

• Meeting Gary and Barry for the first time
• Really wanted to get to know more people, but didn't have capacity
• I was not ready for a tough first 100, they normally come at the end
• Iddu, please believe me, not doing the BCM again
• Except I had a desire to maybe, use a bed in Kings YH, and still haven't
• Asking Iddu what the weather was going to do on Sunday: "It's going to be BCM weather."
• My bike sounding like a chifchaf after the rain
• Lost 1kg over the weekend
• I have qualified for PBP, it is no formality! At least not if you do it the BCM way.
• Without the weight loss over the last 5 months and 'speed' training, maybe I would not have made it.
• StevieB on yacf: "* I could tell by Ele’s light pattern coming from behind she was not just wobbling a little but all over the road… so I woke her up and she promptly took the opportunity to get some sleep – sitting on a wall, and a few km further on - leaning on a gate! Not sure what surprised me more – her ability to sleep in any position or her ability to wake up after a couple of minutes!!"