MarkyMark is trying his hand at tt's and was mentioned in the comic last week for being the best improver, at the same time accepting a cash reward! Does this mean he has now lost his amateur status? Will we have to pay for his guesting?
Well done Marky.
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
The TransWales
So far some good but intermittent reports from both riders and the official website.
As of yesterday Paul was lying 13th in the timed sections, 13 seconds off 12th place.
Andy and The mighty D lying seventh in the mixed.
Here are there reports via mobile text:
The mighty Dinsdale:
LOL.... Julie with a penis - disturbing, but strangely erotic...
Paul Facer:
website:here
As of yesterday Paul was lying 13th in the timed sections, 13 seconds off 12th place.
Andy and The mighty D lying seventh in the mixed.
Here are there reports via mobile text:
The mighty Dinsdale:
Weather good. 7th in the mixed gutted
we'd have got 3rd in all male vets!
I've got my patch on - growing one
now. Julian
LOL.... Julie with a penis - disturbing, but strangely erotic...
Paul Facer:
13th in the first time trial.How
unlucky can you get?we have
another tonight.It is throwing it
down at the moment.I've been
back two hours today and no Andy
or Julie yet.Hope they're ok,I've
put there tents up.Food very
limited.Are there any pictures up?
I've seen them using 3G.The guy
was clambering on and around his
van to get reception.He did settle
into a position finally.JD and A got
backthen went straight for tea and
soup in cafe.We're at Coed-y-Brenin.
I had cold stew straight from a tin
- disgusting.Pasta is now ready.
website:here
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
TransWales
The inaugural Transwales starts this weekend.
Skidmarks and Sundayriders Paul, The Mighty Dinsdale and Andy are taking part.
Paul is racing solo and Andy and the Mighty D are racing mixed together.
Good luck
I will try to post daily with updates and possibly live on the bike phone interviews.....mmm I may have to start a podcast;-)
Skidmarks and Sundayriders Paul, The Mighty Dinsdale and Andy are taking part.
Paul is racing solo and Andy and the Mighty D are racing mixed together.
Good luck
I will try to post daily with updates and possibly live on the bike phone interviews.....mmm I may have to start a podcast;-)
24twelve
The Mighty Dinsdale takes 3rd place in the solo 12 hour category.
Looking at the results, it seems she was closing in on the others and may have been leading at one point.
The race was a great success for KB.
Thursday, August 03, 2006
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
Monday, July 31, 2006
stage 4 the hot stage
Karpacz-Teplice 74km
Skidmarks - 5.15 est.
Sunday Riders - 5.24
Jane attacked again on the first climb. My heart rate monitor showed 165 - 173 for most of it. We passed a lot of the other mixed teams again.
We had our first puncture today, Jane hit a stone water bar and pinched the rear. Paul and Jim were there too, Paul had done exactly the same!
Gregorz put in the first five exclaimation mark descent today. This descent had a rope to hold on to - absolutely bonkers, but great fun :-)
Today was hot 36 plus!
Thursday, July 27, 2006
Stage 3 It's sofa king Jane!
Gluszyca-Karpacz 73km
Skidmarks - 4.38
Sunday Riders - 4.50
Today Jane was feeling better and ripped my legs off for the first hour and a half. At the bottom of the first climb a girl from another mixed team gave Jane the 'Lance glance' and the pain began.
Then she saw a sofa in the middle of nowhere, which intruiged her. So we stopped for a look and four mixed teams passed us including the girl who started it :-) Jane can be fickle:)
Later in Karpacz we met a very excited Nicky who insisted we all ride the kolorowa, a bob sleigh in a metal run on the side of the mountain! The sleigh is towed up the mountain by a chair lift, which then lets you go down a twisted, bermed metal half tube. Fantastic:-)
Skidmarks - 4.38
Sunday Riders - 4.50
Today Jane was feeling better and ripped my legs off for the first hour and a half. At the bottom of the first climb a girl from another mixed team gave Jane the 'Lance glance' and the pain began.
Then she saw a sofa in the middle of nowhere, which intruiged her. So we stopped for a look and four mixed teams passed us including the girl who started it :-) Jane can be fickle:)
Later in Karpacz we met a very excited Nicky who insisted we all ride the kolorowa, a bob sleigh in a metal run on the side of the mountain! The sleigh is towed up the mountain by a chair lift, which then lets you go down a twisted, bermed metal half tube. Fantastic:-)
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
Stage 2 the tunnel!
Police-Gluszca 75.5km
Skidmarks - 4.53
Sunday Riders - 5.30
Today was a three ! ! ! day! The descents and scary bits are preceded by a warning sign depicting from one to three exclaimation marks. Today was mostly 3's hurrah! Gregorz tries to avoid asphalt as much as possible and prefers to take us through a field than on a road. The past two days have been like the good bits of the Trans Alps squashed together with the asphalt removed.
The most exciting section today though was THE TUNNEL.
The Osowka tunnels were cut deep into the mountains during WW2 by locals enslaved by the German invading forces, to build rockets to bomb the UK.
On the approach we were waved into what looked like a wild west goldmine! The temperature suddenly dropped from the high 20's to a chilly seven degrees. It's very dark and lit by small lights on the ceiling every ten metres. It climbs gently until we reach a set of treacherous slippery wooden steps, then we ride some more and round a corner to come face to face with a twenty strong hard hat wearing tour party, who graciously stepped to one side and pointed us in the right direction:) Then we burst into sunlight and realise we're still wearing our sunglasses- doh!
Earlier in the day we passed through a forest where loggers were sitting and waving us through. Later Gregorz told us that they had demanded a litre of vodka to stop work and let the race through. He sent it ahead on one of the moto outriders.
Because I'm writing this on my mobile using predictive text some words are wrong. I meant Jane saw a slow worm not was.
Skidmarks - 4.53
Sunday Riders - 5.30
Today was a three ! ! ! day! The descents and scary bits are preceded by a warning sign depicting from one to three exclaimation marks. Today was mostly 3's hurrah! Gregorz tries to avoid asphalt as much as possible and prefers to take us through a field than on a road. The past two days have been like the good bits of the Trans Alps squashed together with the asphalt removed.
The most exciting section today though was THE TUNNEL.
The Osowka tunnels were cut deep into the mountains during WW2 by locals enslaved by the German invading forces, to build rockets to bomb the UK.
On the approach we were waved into what looked like a wild west goldmine! The temperature suddenly dropped from the high 20's to a chilly seven degrees. It's very dark and lit by small lights on the ceiling every ten metres. It climbs gently until we reach a set of treacherous slippery wooden steps, then we ride some more and round a corner to come face to face with a twenty strong hard hat wearing tour party, who graciously stepped to one side and pointed us in the right direction:) Then we burst into sunlight and realise we're still wearing our sunglasses- doh!
Earlier in the day we passed through a forest where loggers were sitting and waving us through. Later Gregorz told us that they had demanded a litre of vodka to stop work and let the race through. He sent it ahead on one of the moto outriders.
Because I'm writing this on my mobile using predictive text some words are wrong. I meant Jane saw a slow worm not was.
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
Stage 1
Duszniki - Police. 82.6km
Skidmarks 6.05
Sunday riders 6.13
Today we crossed the border to the Czech Republic twice. To allow us to do this we had our passports checked before the start of the race. The riding was good today. The course was a mix of steep climbs and swoopy, sometimes rocky, descents. Jane was storming the downs, but has yet to find her fast climbing legs. She did climb almost every hill, only getting off on the first one because the people in front walked. Paul managed to take a wrong turn on the best marked course ever! I managed to twist my knee just before the race, it's a bit sore.
Jane saw a slowworm and we went thru a water tunnel.
Skidmarks 6.05
Sunday riders 6.13
Today we crossed the border to the Czech Republic twice. To allow us to do this we had our passports checked before the start of the race. The riding was good today. The course was a mix of steep climbs and swoopy, sometimes rocky, descents. Jane was storming the downs, but has yet to find her fast climbing legs. She did climb almost every hill, only getting off on the first one because the people in front walked. Paul managed to take a wrong turn on the best marked course ever! I managed to twist my knee just before the race, it's a bit sore.
Jane saw a slowworm and we went thru a water tunnel.
Sunday, July 23, 2006
Welcome to Poland
We were met by the organiser himself, Gregorsz. Who informs us that he has ordered three pigs for the last stage feast! He then laughs and says 'but of course one is a pig of soja just for you':) we also find out that he rode four years as a pro in Belgium for Palmans Collstrop! The same team as Roger Hammond. Two hours later we arrive in the beautiful spa town of Duszniki,the area is very much like Austria with lots of chalet type hotels, but all a little threadbare and scuffed at the edges.
After reassembling the bikes Jane discovers a neat little slash on each tyre! Oh dear! Tomorrow we go to the bike shop.
After reassembling the bikes Jane discovers a neat little slash on each tyre! Oh dear! Tomorrow we go to the bike shop.
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