Coram

I've had a few questions;

MIPIM is a property industry fair in Cannes on the French Riviera.

And more about Coram here Coram

Nutcracker Sportive

Ah the Sportive. Not supposed to be a race, but a 'timed event' - an opportunity to practice riding with others, test levels of fitness and gear in wet, cold, windy conditions.

The 50 mile Newmarket "Nutcracker" provided it all in buckets...

It all worked. Came 20th out of 270 with 40m head winds. Let's hope the northern plains of France are kinder and the wind blows from the North. I'm told its either that or the South in March. 

Eccles Cake and Adoption

My favourite ride from Ipswich is out to Orford and the best bakery in the East (or perhaps the UK), the Pump Street Bakery. Run by Joe, her husband Simon and father it is great destination and surrounded by wonderful roads.

Cycling gives one time to think... I explained to my young daughters that I was raising money for Coram (no one has been spared) and told them about their work with adoption. My girls needed time to understand how and why. It made me realise just how important this work is and how much we take for granted. The ordered lives we enjoy are a great privilege.

Here I am (looking a little concerned) in the sun out the front of the bakery enjoying the best coffee and Eccles cake you will get anywhere.

I have been riding between 50 and 100 miles a week and alternating intensive weeks and easy weeks. The body needs time to recover. I seem to be stuck on doing 17-18 miles a hour no matter whether I am in flat Suffolk or bumpy Surrey. 

Introduction

Welcome!

This blog will trace my training and Cycle to MiPiM.

Some history...  I was infected with the cycling bug by Steve, my brother in law. The infection has been quite severe, but has come at a time when my knees won't let me run anymore and frankly sailing in Suffolk in winter is grim. As it happens, so is cycling but it's a matter of degrees.

My training started last year in France with the Velo Cub Bar du Commerce in Bargemon, a cycling club that Steve and I quite literally stumbled into on holiday. These fit men of Bargemon were my introduction to the joys of cycling France's beautiful roads and big mountains.

The photo below shows us on the Route Napoleon heading South. The knowing among you will notice that I am cycling behind a very tall man - drafting reduces the effort and the bigger the rider the bigger the effect! I have pulled away to take a photo (don't try this at home), but normal position is 4 inches from his rear wheel.

Here Steve and Paddy lead a group up a climb in the Sussex Downs 100m event with me in the orange top.... and a group who followed us for some time (rude).