Day 2 - Up the Hills to the Finish

Photo 19: Paul cooling Ian down with his battery powered water pistol!

Photo 20: Ian fueled up and ready for another ride

Photo 21: A well earned drink at the end of day 2

The fourth round of rides was hills, hills and more hills!!. Long hard pushes up and then fast descents. Paul started our fifth round at 14:53 with 141 miles on the clock. He had another hard hot climb and I then took over with some more up as well as some welcome down. Kevin then went next and took us to within 30 miles from home. Ian then went out for the last of the fifth round rides and took another "Lift Off" drink to help him on his way.

With 20 miles left to go we started a sixth round of rides, but we shortened them to 20 minutes each to keep people going. Ian hopped on for what we thought was the last of the sixth round and we set the sat nav up and found there was actually 11 miles left. Ian did the first 6 on his own, then I hopped up my bike with 5 miles to go and we cycled the last bit in together. Day 2 was done, it was the longest day, but it had been fun and the scenery spectacular. Just one more day to go!

Day 2 - (Continued)

Photo 16: Paul cycling through a quiet French village on day 2

Photo 17: Stuart Mason-Elliott and his wife on their unusual two person bike

Photo 18: Ian coasting to a change over at the end of another ride

A lot of the early miles for day 2 were close to the river so it was fairly flat. The open stretches had a good headwind so it was nice to find a group of riders to share the front of the pack with and take it in turns battling against the wind. We grabbed some rolls and pastries from one of the little towns we went through which made a nice change from energy bars and bananas. A couple of teams stopped to have a coffee and I caught up with one of their riders who was getting tired having been on the bike for an hour. He slip-streamed behind me for 10 minutes to get a bit of a break and finally his van re-appeared!

As I finished my third ride we'd clocked up 97 miles and were over half way through the 2011 Challenge. That's always a great feeling although we knew the bigger climbs were still ahead of us and with the sun starting to get really hot again so it was going to be a tough afternoon.

Day 2 - Saumur to Limoges (193 miles)

Photo 14: The sun coming up on day 2 of the Challenge

Photo 14: First view of the Chrome Domes double-decker bike

Photo 15: Still not sure how they got on and off safely!

The end of day 1 had one last twist which was finding the accommodation!. We were staying at a holiday camp by a golf course and finding it in the dark turned out to be harder than everyone imagined. In the end there were dozens of vans driving up and down dark lanes with the sat nav and Googlemaps saying we were there, but no sign of the camp. Eventually we saw some local French people who gave us directions. We didn't even have to say where we were going they just pointed us round the corner and over a crossing so they must have directed a few people that night!

Day 2 started early with alarms going off at 5:30 am. Breakfast had to be staggered in shifts as the restaurant at the camp was pretty small and we were lucky and had one of the earlier slots at 6:20. As soon as breakfast was done we set Paul off so we were underway by about 6:50. It was a cold dark start as we made our way out of Saumur. The signs were few and far between and although the route was straight, once you'd been cycling for 10 minutes without seeing a sign you started to wonder if you were still heading the right way.

We were clocking up the miles pretty quickly, but needed to get some petrol to make sure we had enough for the mountains at the end of the day. We finally saw a garage and left Kevin on for a bit of extra time while we filled up the van. After filling up we drove off quickly and caught Kevin back-up and then shot ahead 5 minutes to get ready for a change. As we did that we caught up with one of the Chrome Domes cycling their double-decker bike. It was amusing to see the reaction he got as he cycled through the towns. People doing a double take and then cheering him on. He really was an usual sight!

Day 1 - The last push!

Photo 11: Paul cycling on his own in a welcome stretch of shade!

Photo 12: Ian ready to go after a "Lift-Off" energy drink...

Photo 13: Dinner in the Ackerman Caves in Saumur

Kevin and Ian wrapped up the 4th round of rides. Towards the end of the ride the heat and hills caught up with Kevin and his legs started to cramp so Ian made him one of his special muscle re-energizing drinks!

Paul started the fifth round with about 40 miles left to go to the end of day 1. With 40 miles to go if we all cycled 10 miles in our 30 min slot we'd only have one last ride each. However, there were a few hills to come yet, and even though it was now late in the afternoon it was still very hot. We pushed hard for the last stretch of the day and I think each of us was happy when we finished. When the last round of rides finished there were still 10 miles left so Paul did the first 5 miles and Ian and I then rode in together on the final 5 miles and we finally got off our bikes just after 7pm.

Dinner was in the Ackerman Caves near to the finish line which was an unusual venue, but was nice and cool after the heat of the day. Day 1 was done, we just had to find the hotel and get some sleep ready for an early start for day 2.

Day 1 - (Continued)

Photo 8: Ian singing to the music as he cycled along

Photo 9: Kevin coming to the end of another hot ride.

Photo 10: More fancy dress - pink helmet brushes and leg warmers!

The next round followed the same sequence again with each of our team taking their turn at riding, then resting, then driving, then navigating and back to riding again. By the time Paul started his third ride we'd clocked up 78 miles and based on the mileage completed we estimated we'd probably need to do five or six rides each on the first day depending on how hot and hilly it got. The heat was definitely beginning to kick in and we were all drinking lots to rehydrate. Ian had the most complicated system of energy powders and re-hydration drinks. At breakfast he had Formula 1 Sport, then just before he got on the bike he had Amino Acids and Lift Off, while he was doing a ride he had a herbal life hydrate and after a ride he had Prolong, a Protein Bar and two Guarana tablets. With all the powders and tablets in his bag we were just glad we weren't stopped at customs!

We passed the 100 mile mark on Kevin's third ride just after 2pm local time with five and a half hours on the clock. Just another 81 miles to go to the day 1 finish!

Day 1: St Malo to Saumur (181 miles)

Photo 5: Team Far Canal setting-up a welcome drink for riders at the Portsmouth Ferry Terminal

Photo 6: The Dream Team dressed as French Maids getting ready for the start

Photo 7: Arriving in St Malo as the sun-rises on day 1 of the Challenge.

The ferry ride from Portsmouth to St Malo all went smoothly. Team Far Canal set-up a table at the check-in with some Flack Manor beer on tap and it was good to see some old faces from previous challenges in the crowd.

The evening on the boat passed quickly, the on board cabaret seemed to clear the bar very effectively so a group of us stood on the deck outside to watch the English coastline disappear into the darkness. Day 1 started at 6:30 local time and we all piled into the restaurant for a cooked breakfast. Soon it was time to head to the van. The ferry arrived at St Malo and we pulled the van over just after customs unloaded the first bike and Paul headed off. All the vans were unloading riders so there were lots of bikes on the road and care was needed to weave through the crowds with the van. We caught a glimpse of the Chrome Domes on their double-decker bike and after getting a little lost with the arrows in the old town we were soon heading out into the countryside.

I set-off next after Paul and had a good long flat ride to stretch the legs out, Kevin then went next and Ian finished up the first round of rides just as we started to get into the rolling hills! First round of rides done and with 34 miles on the clock Paul started us off again on the second round. The day was beginning to really hot up already and it was only 11.00 local time. It was going to be a long hard day.

The Route

A couple of people have asked for more details on the route so here it is!

We'll be starting early tomorrow morning (Thursday) under the historic walls of St Malo on the French coast. We'll then cycle from Brittany into Normandy and head south over the Loire to spend the first night in the home of Saumur. The next day we then, follow river valleys that climb into the foothills of the Massif Central, and spend the second night on the outskirts of the city of Limoges. The third day we then ride on south towards the headwaters of the Dordogne. The Challenge finish line is a 14th century medieval bridge over the river Lot at Cahors, apparently home to the “black wine” revered by Tzars, Popes and Princes!. The organizers described the route as "beautiful Normandy scenery, a ride along the Loire and Creuse rivers lulling you into a false sense of security before a lumpy and spectacular run to Limoges and Cahors."

It's always hard to tell how hard the terrain will be before you get there, however this year we've been given the profiles as well and day 3 does indeed look a little "lumpy"....!

Photo 4: Day 3 Profile Limoges to Cahors