RAW 2011

So, following a 2009 RAW attempt which failed due to mainly inexperience and a bit of bad luck, and then crewing for Paul Carpenter in 2010 (RAAM attempt), we finally made it to RAW 2011, and succeeded.

The crew consisted of 2 original members, Mark Turner (Brother) and Dave Sutton, and Paul C and Clive Rooney, the sole Sotogrande crew representative. It is always great seeing the before and after shots of the race, as everyone looks so fresh here, raring to go. Two days later everybody ended up crashing out at 1630 in the afternoon and sleeping on through to the following morning-so much for endurance!

This RAAM was tinted with sadness following the premature death of Jure Robic, and several more pro cyclists taking an early exit to the velodrome in the hereafter. But the show goes on, and as I have stated in earlier blogs, we bear it in mind but it doesn't stop us doing what we do. I have to say that I felt at times, that this race was a bit scary. The road from Flagstaff to Tuba City stands out to me as having too much traffic, and at times, too little road margin. Even my own crew's RV strayed a little too close for comfort with the strong winds.

This race is done now and out of my system for a while. I aim to do RAAM in my 50th year, but for the next two years, the aim is to do the Lands End to John O Groat's with Dave Sutton for his 60th birthday year next year, and then Paris Brest Paris in 2013. Dave is a great photographer, with a good eye for detail, and I thought some of the landscapes were superb. Hence:

The witch has bought it!

I am going to pass the 500 photos round on a disc for those who are interested. Dave already has most of them but I am sure he will appreciate photos that others took along the way. I'll add the few I took, as I was a tad busy turning and burning most of the way!

Finally, sincere thanks to the crew this time, and last time in 09. It's good to know that along with those that mind the fort and keep the interest flowing, and put up with the long hours of absence, there is also a bunch of people willing to make personal sacrifices of time and energy to assist someone with a personal challenge to overcome. Thanks therefore to:

Dave Sutton, Mark Turner, Paul Carpenter, Clive Rooney, JJ, Helen McGrory, Pete Jamshedi for crewing for RAW, and to my wife Irene for bearing the brunt of the prep, and my folks, sister Kathy and all my friends who put so much effort into staying involved via Facebook, email and text-all your support meant so much when it got a bit tough out there, and it did after Montezuma Creek.

Best wishes

Tim

La Sufrida 30/04/2011

No updates since Sebring so time for a quick one. Training for RAW has been going well, with the mileage fine, but some long rides over 200 miles needed to get the legs truly accustomed. Planning to do these after our R.N. reunion at BRNC Dartmouth with the Captain, Andy Hancock on the 14th May. This is a piccy of Chris Williams and myself at La Sufrida in Ronda on Saturday. Weather was awful-worst I've ridden in. At the top of the mountain we only had a few metres visability with rain and fog lashing in. The decents were not fun. My bike computer shows a maximum speed of 77 miles per hour but I don't believe it even though I was absolutely flat out at one point.

Next stop is The Race Across the West in the US in 6 weeks time. Need to lose a few pounds so I will be working on that, and upping the mileage for the next few weeks. All the planning is pretty well done. Let's hope the rain stops in Spain-it doesn't fall on the plain, it falls on the Coast, having been diverted from England for Easter!

Looking forward to seeing the Crew, made up of Mark Turner (brother), Paul Carpenter, Dave Sutton and Clive Rooney. Time to make amends. Will do another after Dartmouth. Cheers Tim.

So this is what it is like after 201 miles around Sebring in 84 degrees of heat, and calling it a day. Sebring is a great launching pad for training for events later in the year, and with Race Across the West looming in June, I needed some big miles in. A nasty cough and cold set me back from doing the 24 so I opted to do 12 hours which was probably sensible. Well done to Kurt and the other guys who put in the full performance.

The first 100 miles averaged just short of 20mph so not bad, the second much slower but 11 hours 20 minutes for the distance was ok. 100 miles is known as the cyclists marathon so 200 miles is a back to back marathon and some of these guys went on to do an effective 4.5 marathons in a day-mad!

Having braved Sebring, Harry Potter was next which was heaving. The money that must be made there beggar's belief. The butter beer queue alone went round the block. The new ride is a laugh though, but the other rides are just the old duelling dragons updated. Queuing takes longer.

So, shake off this lurgy, crack out some work, get some miles in the saddle then head off to New Zealand to go to Stuart and Robbie's wedding, and see some hobbits!

Then it is on to serious training for RAW when I get back. No wimping out this year. Weight loss is the key this time I think.

Good to see all the guys at Sebring, and as looking forward to the next trip.

Keep on getting it!

Tim

Training again.

I am not convinced that this is the right garb for a serious cyclist, but when in Egypt.....?



This was Egyptian night on our Nile cruise with Paul and Ann, and we made sure we got in the swing of things-could have done with some Madness though (Doesn't seem to care, no more wind in his hair as he reaches the last half mile!)

So, apart from the Dehli belly, which has also now afflicted the Commonwealth Games, a fantastic trip all round-one worth doing again-probably the Lake Nasser one next. Now time to get back in training, and this week has seen two weights sessions and 250 miles on the road so far. I have signed up for Sebring again next year in Feb, and of course will be doing RAW again in June. I still hope to have a crack at RAAM in 2012, but a lot will depend on exactly how much training I can get in over the next 21 months.



Six weeks on from the third operation this year, I am well on the mend. I am now sporting two metal plates, 19 screws and three excellent scars. Fortunately my left leg is healing well. Some people argue that cycling these distances is lunacy and accidents are bound to happen. I have read through all the US studies on this and the fact is that the physical benefits of cycling far outweigh the potential risks. Either way, I take all the precautions possible and hope that I make it to a decent age. Don't forget, life is dangerous. In the West, we take our comfort and safety somewhat for granted, but after a trip to Luxor, you can soon see how different the lives of the Africans are.



In any event, my thoughts go out to the friends and family of Jure Robic, who pushed maybe just a tad too hard on a mountain bike training run, and was tragically killed, far too young. But if you'd interviewed him and asked would he have changed his lifestyle, I very much doubt it would have stopped him. In the billions of years that surround our proportionately tiny existence, it is surely better to have lived life to the full, rather than drift through it, potential unfulfilled. Life itself is not an endurance event-it is a voyage of discovery of our own limitations.



This picture of Jure was taken by my brother Mark, last year. I'd say he lived a happy life, so job done. RIP Jure, and as my friend Big Jay would say-'keep on gettin it!'

So, onwards to Sebring, then RAW, then the RTTC 24 hours where I hope to give a better account of myself in 2011.


Onwards and upwards everyone!

I'll update this again when I have something worth saying. Bye for now. Tim

Two steps forward, staggering back....

Not all things go according to plan, and sometimes it feels if things really do come along in threes-I'll explain:

See the broken collar bone on my left? Well it took until two weeks ago to get that signed off as ok to start sport again. 14 weeks of slow recovery, and only two weeks after getting the pins removed from my left elbow.

Well, the staples were taken out on the Thursday and I went straight out on the bike, two weeks ago yesterday (staples don't look as good as stitches do they, but surgeons cannot sew anymore by the looks of it).

Training went well for a whole 6 days, then on a minor training ride a few metres from where the dog took me out in January, a truck pulled out of a beach access without looking left and I hit him hard. Broke my left collar bone again, and did a rib plus smashed in my cycle helmet. Hours of fun!

So, what is next? All I can do is rest up, make the best of a bad job and try and stay out of harms way for at least a quarter or two. I am still crewing for Paul Carpenter on the 6th of June, so let's see how that goes then assess in July. I have promised to do the Loch Ness Monster Duathlon in September with JJ, Alexander and Giulian so that is the next target. Glutton for punishment, or merely losing too many brain cells cumulatively to be sensible enough to know when to give in! Target is still RAW 2011 and RAAM 2012.

What was the third thing? Never try this at home-I did and it hurts:

Take a piece of Stilton Cheese which is sticky enough to stick on the new special cheese knife that appeared in our cutlery draw. Make some sandwiches. See stick yStilton on knife and decide to lick crumbs off. Realise to late that knife is scalpel sharp and an amazing gash appears in cheek. Blood pours out and won't stop and it is in one's mouth so no plaster effective. I won't say how I stopped the bleeding but Rambo did it and it works!

Back to the drawing board.....and check out the new paint job on the GTR:-

RAAM and RAW logo either side.

I'll update the blog after the RAAM in June. Everyone can follow the RAAM website for an update.

ATB all.

Tim

Sponsor our crew for 2010!!

Right guys and gals..

Since I have now thrown myself in the deep end to crew for Paul Carpenter (a Brit!) in the Race Across America (RAAM) for June, I feel it is incumbent on me to start raising cash towards the trip for Paul's monstrous endeavour!

If any of you are approaching 50 years young and feel that your sporting life is nearing a close, look closely at the world of Ultracyclists, of which Paul is a leading exponent and participant. His achievements to date are testament to what can be done if you put your mind to it, and what he intends to do in the RAAM. The race is expensive, and these Ultracyclists do what they can to raise the cash to race. Whilst I will be funding my own trip, anything that can be donated towards Paul's mission will help. In the meantime, I will do my very best to raise sponsorship for the Lance Armstrong Foundation, which I meant to do before my accident in January.

Paul's website is www.ultraracer.net where you can read about his challenge. I urge you to have a look at what it takes to do this, and assist in anyway you can-even if it is just buying a T-Shirt.

My aim is to follow in Paul's footsteps and do RAW again next year and the RAAM in 2012. For those of you who do not know much of this event, Sir Steve Redgrave Has a team in this years RAAM, so it will be worth following on the internet just for that.

You can also read about what Lance Armstrong is all about on www.livestrong.org and I will be posting a justgiving site for this when I enter for the 24 hour race on Merseyside to qualify for RAAM in July, fitness willing.

I cannot emphasise enough about how much help you have all been over the years to the charities that I have chosen to race for, and I thank you all heartily for the donations when times are not always easy.

Best wishes to you all.

Tim

Back in training-staples out

So, the staples are out and the plaster is off. The wire and other bits of metal holding my deformed elbow together are staying put. Despite the grim features though, I am back in training having done two days on the spinning bike and elevated 12% treadmill-140 minutes so far and back to being a hamster!

Looks like we have a new team member-I'm just confirming with him, but I have discovered (Dave - you were right), that we need a smaller car as the follow vehicle, so I needed another driver-job sorted.

Next up, I would like to sponsor the Lance Armstrong foundation this year, so assistance on sorting this would be helpful.

Finally-thanks for following and putting up with the tales of woe, and keep the ski slopes clear in March!

Cheers

Tim