Not wishing to waste the training from the Lands End ride, Flame and Julian - together with Hywel the Welshman - are entered into two of the open sections of this year's Tour de France.
With the star this year in London, there is an organised run of one of the sections in Kent - the UK Etape. From Greenwich through to Canterbury, 6000+ riders will take part in this celebartion 120 mile event.
We are starting at 6.30 next Sunday 1st July morning, and hope to take under 9 hours to complete this section. This is the prelude!
On July 16th, we join 8497 other riders in the Pyrennean section from Foix to Loudenvielle. Billed as the toughest stage of this year's Tour, the professionals will benefit from a rest day following 6 hours and 196km of up and down 5 major Cols. Two category 2 climbs, 2 category one and one 'hors categoire clims with well over 4100 metres of ascent. The longest at 19.2 km averaging 6.2%, but as steep as 11.1%. These figures may not seem to bad, but after 2 hours of relentless uphill, the slightest incline is leg burning.
We have to do the ride within 12 hours, less the delay in starting at 7547 in such a large field (starts are in pens of 1000!).
I went with Hywel last week to recce the route - it is as hard as I thought and then some. We did the ride over 2 hard days, and think it is do-able - but the threat of a timed sweep wagon picking you up at a late stage in the ride will be in our minds the full way.
More to come - here's a photo of Brendan, Hywel and a frienly Pyrennean on the op of the Peyresourde.
Help!!!!!!!!
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Hi my name is Rory Nelson im really thinking about doing the John'o'Groats to Lands end ride but i dont know if i need experiene first should i do smaller rides first ?
i'l also need o know what sort of bike to use? im buying a bike worth quite alot but also what will i need ? please write back RORY !
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