With a week to go the Wayfarers Wheelers were split again. Chris had a family commitment on the Sunday so did a 42 mile ride on the Saturday in the very warm and windy conditions. The route consisted of a ride up the valley to Lambourn, up the hill at the end and then back via Hungerford and Kintbury. On Sunday, the other three; Simon, Steve and Pete went on a slightly longer 50 mile ride to Wantage and back.
Watching the Tour de France stage up to Avoriaz on the TV made worrying viewing as some big names were cracking under the strain of the climb and the heat. Tourmalet is much higher and longer and the forecast is hot!
Oh well ,we can't do anything now but rest and prepare for the big event on Sunday. The bikes leave on Thursday and we leave via EasyJet from Bristol to Toulouse on Friday morning.
Everyone has new tyres, chains and various other bits of kit. All we have to do now is get there.
Thanks to all of you who have followed our blog.
The next post will be after the event.
Monday, 12 July 2010
Sunday, 4 July 2010
Saturday 3rd July, the final big training ride - A hilly Hampshire loop
For the first time in weeks the Wayfarers Wheelers Etape quartet of Chris, Pete, Simon and Steve were together again for what will really be the last big ride before the Etape. Chris had been off time trialling in recent weekends while the others had been doing fast shorter rides.
The route had been carefully planned to take in just about every hill we knew, mostly in ascent but some to descend too! This really was a Wayfarers Wheelers "classic" having been attempted before but never finished, there had always been an excuse not to do the final few hills.
After a Hilly start up White Hill out of Kingsclere and then up to Hannington there was some fast descending and a relatively flat section before the pull up Stoke Hill out of St Mary Bourne. Steve didn't make a great start to the climb as he slipped and fell off on some loose gravel at the turn before the hill. Then there was another downhill and then fairly flat section until the long ascent to Chute Causeway started. This out of the way, the route meandered towards Shalbourne, with a brief stop to take on board water, then Ham and probably the steepest climb of the route, Ham Hill.
After this it was onto Linkenholt and then a few further climbs; up from Coombe, down to Faccombe and back up to Faccombe again, Pete was heard to say "this is masochistic" at this point! then the final climb to Ashmansworth with a fast descent to North End and home.
This took a total of 4:52, so a pace of 14.8 mph for the 72 miles and 5229 feet of climbing.
We are as ready as we will ever be for the big challenge on 18th July!
The route had been carefully planned to take in just about every hill we knew, mostly in ascent but some to descend too! This really was a Wayfarers Wheelers "classic" having been attempted before but never finished, there had always been an excuse not to do the final few hills.
After a Hilly start up White Hill out of Kingsclere and then up to Hannington there was some fast descending and a relatively flat section before the pull up Stoke Hill out of St Mary Bourne. Steve didn't make a great start to the climb as he slipped and fell off on some loose gravel at the turn before the hill. Then there was another downhill and then fairly flat section until the long ascent to Chute Causeway started. This out of the way, the route meandered towards Shalbourne, with a brief stop to take on board water, then Ham and probably the steepest climb of the route, Ham Hill.
After this it was onto Linkenholt and then a few further climbs; up from Coombe, down to Faccombe and back up to Faccombe again, Pete was heard to say "this is masochistic" at this point! then the final climb to Ashmansworth with a fast descent to North End and home.
This took a total of 4:52, so a pace of 14.8 mph for the 72 miles and 5229 feet of climbing.
We are as ready as we will ever be for the big challenge on 18th July!
Saturday 26th June - Team photo shoot with CN Sales
CN Sales of Highclere sponsor the Wayfarers Wheelers arm and leg warmers. They are likely to come in handy on the cold descents in the Pyrenees. Here are the team with Neil and Christine of CN Sales
Sunday 13th June - The Magnificat Sportive, Newbury - 127 miles
This was the big one, longer but less climbing than the Etape, only 2800m compared to 4500m!.All four of the Wayfarers Wheelers set off in the first group and covered the first 2 hours at over 17 mph. At the first feed station, Pete peeled off to complete the 81 mile ride in a very respectable time of 5:11 and Chris, Steve and Simon carried on to complete the 127 mile course.
Chris and Pete are pictured on Conholt Hill
It was tough and the guys had to "grind out the ride" over some tough climbs near Petersfield before returning to more familiar territory and finishing with climbs up to Hannington and Ashford Hill.
Steve and Simon both posted times of 8:44 and Chris trailed in at 9:08.
A tough day out for all!
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