the prolgue

some of my posts didn't reach the blog from Poland. They got as far as the host and stayed there!
Here is the prologue write up:

Prologue

Last night at fast asleep o'clock we found out that the fire station is next door to our hotel! The alarm, an air raid siren that has to be loud enough wake the part time fire fighters from the whole town, was sounded four times to make sure! Within a minute most of the male population of the town, wearing only their boxer shorts, are running past our window to the station.
Before sign on we have to go to the next town to buy new tyres for Jane. We set off with a non English speaking taxi driver to find a bike shop. He parked up and led us around the town to each bike shop where we shouted Hutchinson and they said nie! We bought some Panaracers because Jane has used them before. Today's stage: this was novel and Gregorsz is quite proud that his race is the only mtb stage race that has one. Effectively a 3.5km two person uphill team time trial. The teams start at 1 min intervals, with the results used to grid the start of stage 1. Skidmarks had the psychological advantage of starting 2 minutes after the Sunday Riders. The idea being that it's easier to catch someone if you have the chance to see them ahead Tactics for those being chased include: increasing the pace when out of line of sight of the pursuers ie rounding a bend. This is very demoralising because at the next sighting the gap has increased. Another tactic is to pedal like fook! :)
Our time was about 12.30ish and Skidmarks 12.00ish. They pedalled more like fook than we did:)Well done Facer and Jim. Tomorrow is the longest stage.

Ramonek