Get To France: From Interlude to Intervals.

Since we last posted our training and fund raising has continued at pace with each team member securing donations and sponsorship whilst promoting Prostate Cancer UK, none more so than our team captain John Malcolm. John has attended and spoken at nine Burns Suppers this year, eight of which resulted in donations, some considerable.

John said: “Not only is it great that we are getting donations and sponsorship towards this great charity the fact that Prostate Cancer awareness has been raised and highlighted at Burns Suppers means a lot, especially given the age of those in attendance, these guys need to know that help and support is out there should they ever need it.”

Two standout contributions came from, Ayr Roundtable who donated a whooping £1000.00 and Bishopton Loyal Rangers Supporters Club who kindly collected £365.00 at their Burns Supper.

We would like to thank all of those who have taken time to read this blog and of course everyone who has made donations towards the cause. I have been really surprised by the amount of people who have been affected by Prostate Cancer.

For example, John Carruthers a Scots lad who’s a director at Skyelume. John said “We have been following your Get to France Blog and we’re very impressed. I have spoken to my fellow Directors here and on behalf of all at Skyelume we would like to offer you £500 sponsorship. Fighting prostate cancer is a cause close to our hearts.”

Skyelume are a quality and luxury lighting specialist based in Dubai, UAE and we are very pleased to have them as a corporate sponsor. Thanks guys!

As a team we all felt that it was necessary to concentrate on our fund raising efforts at this time of year, so that we may be able to spend more time on our bikes as the London to Paris event approaches. That said we’ve not been sitting on our laurels and the base fitness training has continued.

John headed off to Lanzarote on holiday, although he told us it was a winter training camp, however when questioned by his team mates John protested “Contrary to popular belief I did not have gin in my water bottle” and “I did more than work on my tan, I hired a bike and spun my legs along the coast”.

The rest of us have continued with regular attendance at spin classes, with most of us taking part in 2 or 3 classes a week. A particular highlight is the class on a Thursday night at Ralston, where our instructor Ricky puts us through our paces and then some. Everyone taking part leaves looking jelly legged and exhausted, whilst grinning at surviving.

The jury was out on Johns “Training Camp” until our team training ride on Sunday the 3rd of March, when James, John, Robert and myself met early at the Red Smiddy roundabout, Inchinnan and set off along the Georgetown Road towards Houston. We got into a mini chain gang and got our legs spinning briskly on this grey cold morning. The road surfaces were really greasy and damp with the usual assortment of winter grime, salt and diesel oil, so we had to have our wits about us concentrating on our line, road position and of course the traffic.

It was great to see so many other cyclists out on the road and we got a big cheer from a group of Glasgow Couriers Cycling Club who were heading in the opposite direction at pace. Just as we were getting our chain gang going at a good old clip I heard a loud click, I didn’t realise what it was it the time but John had just gone up through his gears and the next thing I knew he had broken ranks and was sprinting for the 30mph sign. Robert stuck to his back wheel like a “snotter”, both leaving me and James for dead, John was in the virtual green “sprinters” jersey for the day and he loved it.

Once we regained our composure and discipline we continued from Houston to Bridge of Weir working on our group riding with each rider taking their turn on the front, driving the team on and keeping the pace constant. Each rider is becoming more comfortable with their team mates and their abilities on the bike. That said Robert who has just fitted SPD pedals to his bike for the first time did forget to clip out on a couple of occasions when he came to a stop. This provided a few giggles for the rest of us even though we’ve all been there!

Robert said: “I’m still getting used to my new pedals and I’v got the skinned shin to prove it, I need to learn to clip out when I stop so that I don’t keep falling over.”

Our route then ascended the Torr Road and onto the Kilmacolm to Lochwinnoch Road, where James was setting the pace and climbing well, Robert was showing he was no slouch and put in a more than convincing interval all the way to the top, he was evidently enjoying being out on his new road bike.

On this steep climb John showed his true colours, he climbed with a conviction and confidence that only someone who has put in the effort and miles over the winter can, his pace would have shamed guys half his age, not even taking into account that this guy is continuing the fight against cancer. John was showing why he’s provided his team mates with inspiration to get to France. Top effort!!

Once at the top we continued over the rolling terrain passing another couple of cyclists who were out spinning their legs, we were all going well when typically John got a rear wheel puncture due to the shocking state of the road surface which slowed our excellent progress. We hoped this would provide a wee bit of recovery prior to our next section of intervals, but the weather had other ideas and as the rain tipped down in stair rods which was painful on exposed skin (read bald heads under vented helmets) as we descended into Lochwinnoch.

From Lochwinnoch we turned north on cycle route 7 and worked as a team getting up to a decent threshold speed. This cycle track is relatively flat and is of course traffic free apart from other cyclists and those walking, it’s surface is tarmac and in much better condition than the roads, which allowed us to concentrate on our cycling form and pace and gave us a good measure of our current levels of fitness.

We arrived in Kilmacolm and met Ewan who had cycled from Bishopton over the West Glen, this seemed like the perfect time for a team meeting (ie: coffee and cake).

Ewan was suffering due to his consumption of a libation or two the previous evening, however there was no letting up and we continued at pace, retracing our route to Bridge of Weir, then Houston before heading along the Barrochan Road to Bishopton and home.

Everyone was pleased with the day’s efforts. John said: “Today's run proves that our fitness levels are good for this time of year. Riding at an average of 21mph from Kilmacolm to Bridge of Weir is great stuff”.

Siempre Bicycle Cafe

On Friday the 8^th of March we held a charity night at Siempre Bicycle Cafe, Dumbarton Road, in Partick. The owners Kirsteen and Cal couldn’t have done more for us. They were fabulous hosts. We about 60 people turn up on the night and support “Get To France” for Prostate Cancer UK. We hope you all enjoyed your buffet and beer!

My highlight of the evening was cheering everyone on as they had a blast on our static spin bike, sprinting for 30 seconds to see who could go the furthest. A very well done to Lauren and Bob who won the competition, both with some ease!! (More training needed by the team eh lads...)

We have to give a special thanks to Garry Hay of Kilmarnock Football Club who donated one of his away shirts which he had signed by the current first team squad, as well as Sir Chris Hoy who donated a signed Olympic team t-shirt. Both were auctioned raising much needed funds. Thanks guys, you’re both true professional sportsmen supporting our amateur endeavour.

The evening boosted our fund raising coffers by £1,200, wow, we were all really overwhelmed by all the support we’ve received.

Any cyclists who are in the area please drop into the cafe which is next to Kelvinhall underground station. You bring your bike inside and rack it near to your table, where you’ll find a selection of cake, coffee and healthy food stuffs as you relax with the chilled vibe. The cafe extends into the shop offering repairs and quality cycling products for sale, it’s well worth a visit.

Thanks for your continued support and if you can please donated on our just giving page:

http://www.justgiving.com/teams/gettofrance

Next up on our Blog Ewan’s view... stay tuned.