Where have we all been?

Phew... Finally I did some training today. Just got in from an hours five-a-side in the gym and I'm pooped. Can't believe how much flu takes it out of you. Anyway enough whinging, I'm back. I've got the bug again and need to go for a ride.

Dunno where Lee's been, not seen him for a couple of weeks but hopefully he's got his bike now and we can get our first team ride next week.

Andy's nailed a few K's last week but then cought the dreaded bug over the weekend just in time for his week away in sheep land :o( so we gotta start grafting again now.

We've seen a 100miler Lancaster to York in August but if anyone knows of any good rides going off please post on here.

Oh no, Big Brother's starting, how am I gonna fit that around training?!?!?

British Heart Foundation - Cotswold Ride

Well, Andy and I have just dispatched a pretty hefty 62k's (40 miles) through the Cotswolds this morning - in under two and a half hours. Andy's training is obviously paying off as he flew up the hills and seemed fairly comfortable throughout whereas I was feeling quite drained from my week of flu. Although the ride certainly helped clear my lungs. Whatever I was coughing up seemed to trap all of the flies I was catching!!

The ride was really well organised and we're told about 4000 were in attendance. It wasn't a race but we reckon we were in the first 100 back. Our pace is improving, just need to keep up the miles now.

Brighters New Bike - Specialized Allez Elite.

Chris is not dead

Following on from Brighters' post earlier, I have been seemingly innundated with calls, texts and emails from wellwishers the world over asking how I am. I've had to turn down lucerative sponsorship deals from American Pharmaceutical companies however, I did inform Pfizer that it was Brighters who was interested in the liquid form of Viagra.

Fans, fellow cyclists, ladies, I am OK. Well, not really "OK" but my Mum says I'll live so I guess that's OK. I must have picked something up when I was physically down and dejected at my boys being the first team to lose a cup final at new Wembley.

The bucket of snotty tissues, the grapes, the TV remote are all evident of a pretty nasty virus which has ruled out any training for me this week. I see Millerz is keeping up the good work and hopefully Brighters' exercise bike training is paying off.

I can see a few catch up sessions on the horizon...

... by the way, does benylin make you fail a drugs test?

The Hare and The Tortoise !

Dearest Christopher,

Millers and I though that we would send you a post to cheer you up whilst you are suffering influenza (Slight Sniffle !)

We have discussed your training and think that you are doing too much too soon without any proper recovery and rest. You really must train within your limits so perhaps you should scale down to a walk to the shops most days with perhaps a power walk at weekends. You can get some of those special sticks to help you along and some red socks to fold over your boots.

Now whilst we have heard before that you tend to go off too fast, it really looks as if you have pushed youreslf too far this time. Now whilst you may be the young gun you must remember that Millers and I have experience and stamina, again we here that this may be a problem for you.

Off to get you a copy of the Beano, Millers is out training tonight and I am on the Turbo again (2nd session today may I add !) so dont worry about us guys we are fine.

Just remember The Hare and The Tortoise analogy !

Your Sympathetic Buddies

Kilometer - O - Meter

Well it's the end of week 2 and I think it stands like this...

Chris
Training Rides: 4
Total Distance: 128
Andy
Training Rides: 4
Total Distance: 133
Lee
Training Rides: 0
Total Distance: 0

There's a plan to do one on Thursday before our BHF event on Sunday. Other than that I think we'll be caning the gym again at lunchtimes.

Today's Training

Got to agree with you there Coddy. That was some ride. Yeah I had some fire in my belly today and sorry for going off a bit quick. Think I had something to prove to myself, which I think I did. I'm well happy with our pace and think we'll be eating those hills for breakfast in a couple of weeks.

Couple of things you failed to mention though. It pissed it down from about half way AND you did it on a road bike with tractor tyres.




AND AND AND.... Whilst you do look a bit of a stud in this photo, eyes to the left and take a look at that gradient - 12 per cent. 12 Bloody per cent I ask you?!?!

Right we've got a bit of a break over the weekend whilst we trip down to Wembley to watch the mighty Harriers (come on you Reds!) but we'll be back gyming it next week and look to get in at least one ride before the BHF event on Sunday.

Laterzzz

Hilly Ride.....

Oh my god......todays ride was quite a tester.
The road prodigy, formally known as Chris the dirt monkey, tested my old muscles on the first half of the ride. There was definitely anger in his system that needed burning off.......
It was an excellent "Warm up" on the first section, getting the body ready for the ride home.
So...... the first 20k took us around 50mins to complete but I've got to say that it was virtually all up hill. The journey home was almost a casual ride in the park save the DEATH ride thro Bewdley and the suicidal drivers.
Back at the "boys" house, there was home made bread (still reckon it was from Sainsbury's) which certainly helped refresh our fatigued bodies.
Today, we realized that the French hill (s) may be slightly more testing than we are used to. We will continue to beast our bodies to achieve our final goal....possibly death!
Just over a week until we go to Worcester to take part in the British Heart Foundation ride where we will ride 40 odd mile just for a laugh. We are hoping that there are loads of recreational riders to make us look fairly competent!!!!!!

One For The Ladies !

Hi Guys,

Well after the other two have done my knees I feel it only appropriate to post my first blog and set the scene for the forthcoming 5 months !

I guess I have been invited along for this event by the guys because of my looks, charisma and media potential. Last year they had Lizzie (How many stories have i heard about that, slipstreaming, Lycra etc !) but this year they have me !

Now whilst they will eagerly tell you about mileage, gradients and all things technical that they have been doing, I have been doing some secret training myself, Often at weekends I heavily carbo load and prefer to vary my type of cardio exercise to suit the often varying terrain :) and I have to say I have been doing really quite well !

Got a turbo in the garage which I look at lovingly on my way out and have been cutting down on units and fags, although Chris's fond memories of Phil's efforts last year, smoking whilst riding do provide me with a different incentive, perhaps one Marlboro light per switchback would be a good target.

In all seriousness (ahem) It's good to be involved with the guys and now we have gone public with this it has given me some much neded motivation.

I do need a road bike (darkside) so if you can help me with colours and and reflectors then that would be appreciated.

This is going to be interesting !

Brighters

Come on you roadies....!

Oh how those MTB dirt boys change their minds.......it was only a short time ago when young Christopher wouldn't be seen dead in lycra and now he wears it off his bike!
When we move into the next phase of training, we shall be hitting the hills more often. I have got some serious climbs in mind to test our progress and then we shall see if the mountain bikers can cut it. The friendly banter & rivalry, i'm sure will push the team up the Alpe D'Huez. I'm am still a little concerned that at my age, I am likely to need some serious medical attention at the top........
By the way, I only went to see the Albion as my dad wanted to go....honest!

Kilometer - O - Meter

This is the bit where we total things up so far...

Chris
Training Rides: 3
Total Distance: 92
Andy
Training Rides: 2
Total Distance: 67
Lee
Training Rides: 0
Total Distance: 0
(but practising for end of ride Pi$$ Up!)

One week down, three training sessions completed

...for Chris, for Chris that should read! I've just been out on a 20 miler in and around the Forest of Dean, including a pretty hefty jaunt from the river at Biblins up to the top of the Yat rock. In one go I hasten to add :o)
And what of the other two? Well Andy had an excuse that he'd already planned to to go and watch WBA but Lee was supposed to be in attendance however I think drink has go the better of him once again. He best have bought a road bike this weekend...

In the beginning

Well, urm, I guess I should introduce myself. I'm Chris, they are Andy and Lee. Together we are the Crazy Hamster Crew. By now, you should have realised that we are doing the 2007 Alp d'Huez Challenge. 520 miles, 3 days, big hill into ski resort, used in Tour de France.

I got the idea for this blog from my mate Gordo who is doing the Vancouver Marathon this weekend and has kept a blog of their training. Good luck Gordo - Check out lostinpudding.blogspot.com to see how they get on.

So why are we here? Well, Andy and I get out on the bikes when we can and last year decided we needed a challenge. We signed up and completed the 2006 BHF London - Paris ride. It was awesome. We were really lucky enough (actaully very very lucky!) to have a team which included Liz from Regency Tea Rooms our local sarnie shop, and Phil, a chain smoking old school cyclist who started off having a fag at the start of the day, then when we went over the start line and then mastered smoking whilst riding!! The organisers faces were a sight! Smoking's bad for you kids, but Phil rocks. Anyway this is where the Crazy Hamster Crew was formed.

We decided we needed a new challenge this year but Liz didn't fancy the trip up the Alps so we've recruited Lee.

Andy is a hard core Roadie but Lee and I prefer the off road stuff. Because of the mix, our training is going to be varied. Andy and I have done two rides so far, Lee is still thinking about what colour road bike to buy. We've a plan to do a 40 mile BHF Road Ride on 20th May and a 24hr Mountian Bike Endurance event in August. In between we'll be getting out as often as we can.

We'll all be contibuting to the Blog as and when necessary but please, comment away......