Training Update

A big thank you again to Edd for all his work on the website. By now most rider profiles are in place, along with the links to their Justgiving web page. The total sum raised so far is being updated as the sponsorship starts to roll in, and Edd has installed a countdown on the front page to remind us, as if we needed it, on how many days training we have left!

A very good 10 week training guide can be viewed at http://www.doitforcharity.com/cycling-training-guide.aspx

Nutrition is also very important and some good advice can be found at http://cycling.timeoutdoors.com/health/3MTBLMP01061401E.htm and
http://www.bottombracket.co.uk/cycling-nutrition.html.

If you are unable to read the article at the first link you can either register on the website or let me know and I will email the article to you.

With the days getting longer I have started cycling to work, a journey of 11 miles that takes in Anerley Hill at Crystal Palace. At the moment I am averaging 14mph and I hope to get that up to 17/18mph. If you are like me, hills are a real issue and when I last looked at my maps the Pyrenees are more than just hills. Anerley Hill may not be the steepest climb around but is providing me with lots of practice!!
What is interesting is that when I took the train it took me 60 minutes from door to door. By bike it is taking me 45 minutes from door to door. If you add to that the 15 minutes I need to shower and change, my journey time is identical.
My new bike, a Specialized Roubaix Expert, arrived last week but has remained in the garage as I haven't had time to set it up. That should be resolved on Friday and with the weather on Saturday set fair, watch out BigFoot bike club!

Good luck with your own training.
Mike

New bike

Along with a few other riders who are participating on this ride I have bought myself a new bike. Dreading those climbs up some of the most feared Cols on the Tour de France no expense was spared. In fact I bought two so if anyone else is in need of a replacement steed for the event contact me!! Mike

Alive and kicking

The website is alive and kicking as of February 20th. Just in time as I head of to Barcelona tomorrow in the comfort of a British Airways Boeing 737. I fancy it won't be as comfortable next time I go to Barcelona.
Many thanks to Paul Williams for his info on this month's Cycling Plus magazine. In case you missed it there is quite a good section in there about climbing those Cols, nutrition, training and includes a DVD Guide to the Sportive.
If you have any comments on the website please let me, mike@biarritz2barcelona.com or Jamie , jamie@biarritz2barcelona.com, have them. It is not quite finished with a few more rider profiles and photos required so if you haven't sent yours in yet now is the time.
Now that we have a really good, professional looking website let's start getting those sponsors onboard!
Mike

We are up and running (or is it riding)

90 days, 3 months. It doesn't matter how you say it, it's frightening how quickly the months have gone past since it was suggested, last September, that this would be a nice way to spend 7 days in the saddle raising money for the Children's Trust. At the time it seemed like a great idea. With the venture drawing ever so closer, we are beginning to question our own sanity. No going back now though. 22 riders have signed up, 3 drivers have volunteered to drive 2 vans loaded with bikes, spares, luggage and jar upon jar of Vaseline to Biarritz and accompany us along the way, accommodation has been booked along the route and the Champagne is on ice ready for our arrival in Barcelona on May 23rd.
This is the challenge of a lifetime and we are going to meet it and enjoy it.
Mike

Support us, in May 2008, on a charity bike ride from Biarritz to Barcelona raising £50,000 for The Children's Trust

A challenge of a life-time that involves breath-taking scenery, a group of road bikes and a great sense of achievement – support us on a 7 day ride through the Pyrenees, cycling over some of the most notorious climbs in Tour de France history.

The route will take us from Biarritz to Mauleon Licharre, Beost, La Mongie, Luchon, Talarn, Calaf and finally to Barcelona! It won't be easy, but it will be fun and the memory will live forever!