The Big Ride Blog: Part 2
Discovery’s competition winner Andrew Moore tells us what it’s like to ride on Cycle Slam.
Discovery’s competition winner Andrew Moore tells us what it’s like to ride on Cycle Slam.
On Day 1 proper of the ride Andrew gets to speak to Freddie and finally the riders are off and pedalling…
28th April 2012. Day 1: Bari to Foggia
Despite my best intentions, I got to bed last night later than I had intended. I’d arrived earlier than the rest of my fellow Stage 2 riders and so had a chance to meet some of the core riders before the horde descended.
Chatting over dinner with Freddie Flintoff was a surreal experience but he, and all the other riders, put me at ease.
The morning started early with breakfast where I stuffed as much food down as my nervous stomach would allow. After packing my suitcase and day-bag, it was down to the car park where the bikes had been unloaded and the trusty Halfords mechanics were making a few last-minute tweaks.
My trusty Specialized Secteur and I were humbled by an endless parade of carbon and titanium dream-machines which did little to calm my mounting anxiety. By this stage, I was desperate to get rolling so I was relieved to meet up with the five guys who would be my companions during the next five days of suffering.
Before long we were easing our way through the Bari streets and picking up speed as we eased out of the city and away from her traffic lights. Mike and Les were the core-riders in our group. Seasoned campaigners both, they soon had us spinning along in a double paceline as though we’d been riding together for years.
Today was a comparatively short, flat blast – 80 miles north and along the coast to Barletta before sloping inland to Foggia. Mike had a fire in his belly today and the average speed was much higher than I’m used to on my casual club-runs back home.
Still, the legs held out and I kept up easily – we even delighted in passing Lawrence Dallaglio’s group with only a few kms to go!
The only hitch for me was a touch of cramp near to the end so tomorrow I’ll be sure to pack an extra sachet of electrolyte powder in my day bag. So far so good…
Related Links:
Flintoff and Dallaglio's Big Ride
Link to donate
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