Packing, Packing, more packing

Still, at least it windy and wet out to make not cycling a little more bearable!

N

Fantasy Tour de France

The continuing adventures of Team Milky Milky Milram (lactofree) in...

After stage 8... things do not look good for the plucky 'blue cows'.

Lads you've let me down...

TEAM PERFORMANCE after stage 8:

Main Competition: 1789 (Rank 954)

Green Jersey: 231 (Rank 2493)

Mountains Jersey: 23 (Rank 5069)

Jens, great ride today, inspirational and brave - now go out an get me some points!

Jannez, janni, Janni... stop blaming Lance!

Linus - German cycling needs you - now stop doing your hair and GET A STAGE WIN!

Eddie & Tony, bide your time, it will come, you will strike, we will win, I will celebrate!

Lance... err, awful crash (x3) on stage 7. Brave ride. Go for stage wins, please, pretty please.

Sparticus, just FAB!

Cav, c'mon, like, y'know. two stage wins... mate, y'know, that's pants. C'mon, y'know!

Gentelmen...

Tomorrow, we fly!

N

London-2-Paris 2010 Team Kit

Oh dear... I suppose I must!

Team 'Cycling Buddies! Action Medical Research'

Rich Boon, Nigel Walsh, Gary Lane, Paul Shelley, Marc Harris & me (Team leader - going for the Lantern Rouge Classification, possible the Voitre Balai too!), Oh, and almost 590 other riders on 5 routes - just wait to see the Champs Elysée in sat 24th at 3pm - 4pm!

Here's the Kit...

Day 1: Shutt Velo Rapide Bespoke: Black-on-black-on-black. Modelled by Rich 'Zoolander' Boon (Ladies, Richard is available for major European Shows!)

Uber-thanks to Peter rex-Bragg at ShutVR. super chap and all round good guy.

But this is the pic you've all waited to see - Blue Steel!

People of the internet... I am so sorry.

Day 2: Rapha GB Country Jersey and, for me, cap.

Day 3: Action Medical Research Kit.

Now, to lose about 20kg in a week!

chapeau!

N

London-2-Paris 2010

The team has spoken...

The big event is almost upon us: London-to-Paris by bike for Action Medical Research.

For the fourth year running I am raising money for Action Medical Research, a great charity that funds pioneering medical research.

http://www.action.org.uk/sponsor/nkdeyl2p10

For nearly 60 years it has been involved with numerous breakthroughs such as ultrasound in pregnancy, the polio vaccine and the hip replacement operation.

They fund many research projects each year which will lead to a healthier future for everyone. They are currently campaigning for the UK Government to put more money into research in to premature birth. Action Medical Research have funded over £4 million of research in this area but more research is required to understand why this remains the biggest killer of under ones.

With your help we can achieve even more medical breakthroughs.

http://www.action.org.uk/sponsor/nkdeyl2p10

Here's a rough guide to the cycling that I'll be doing:

Day 1: London (Blackheath) – Dover (Calais)... A very early (uncivilised IMHO!) start from Blackheath will allow us to avoid the morning traffic as we pass through the outskirts of London onto quieter roads. It won't be long before we are among the fields and villages of rural Kent, passing orchards and traditional oast houses where hops are stored. We continue our journey along the hilly North Downs Way and small country roads to Dover and the coast. We then take the short ferry crossing over to Calais. A journey of about 160 km = 100 miles.

Day 2: Calais - Amiens... After a hearty breakfast we head out of Calais and south for Thiepval, and in particular the First World War memorial site on the Somme, which was constructed in 1932. I hope to visit the museum before heading back on track for Amiens. Another 100 mile day, a journey of over 160 km.

Day 3: Amiens - Paris... Leaving Amiens, our final day’s cycling takes us to Paris. Another crushingly early start should see us arrive in good time to reach Paris and cycle down the Champs-Elysées with Parisians cheering wildly as we sprint in our final stretch to the Eiffel Tower. The adrenalin will be pumping as we cycle as fast as we can down the Champs-Elysées and across the Seine. To mark our achievement we all gather, in style, at the Eiffel Tower for a group photo. Yet another 100 mile + day.

The three days of cycling should see me ride a total of apporximatley 350 miles.

If you don't already then you must listen to... The Velo-Cast.

A highly entertaining, informative and simply very, very good window on the world of all things cycling.

In their words.... The weeks' road, urban & mountain biking news lightly sprinkled with discussion and opinion.

I should add that during the Tour de France S&J will be podcasting daily.

Where else could you hear such gems as "there's not enough fat in the peloton to fry a chip."

Chapeau to Scott & John.

NB... Available via iTunes HERE.

N

The BIG Plan

If I write it then it will, it must, happen!

Today...

1. Finish packing all I can - TODAY!

2. Phone the Council Tax for the 50th time to try to get them to understand that Germany isn't in the UK!

3. Get out in the bike.

Tomorrow...

3. 6 AM cycle ride on Wednesday 14th. 4 hours.

4. Drive to Mum's for the fare-thee-well (and some proper food!)

Thursday...

5. Collect the Spinning bike from Ormskirk (for Mum!)

6. Pretend to test the Spinning bike but really get in a training session in front of the TV.

Friday...

7. Go for a long Lancastrian ride - Stoney Lane (Parbold Hill)... you shall be MINE!

8. Collect Nadja from Manchester Airport.

9. Get ignored for two days as Nadja and Mum chat all weekend!

Saturday...

10. Do whatever I'm told to do!

Sunday...

11. as 10!

12. Drive back to London.

Monday...

13. Early morning ride

14. Pub lunch with friends who really only want to chat to Nadja.

15. eBay bed collection - part 3!

16. Final, last minute, desperate pack - Not forgetting to leave the important stuff for the car (bike, cycling kit, track pump, change of ....)

Tuesday...

17. Full check of bike and kit in preparation for the Action Medical Research London to Paris Cycle challange.

18... Quality time with Nadja,

Wednesday...

19. A very early drop-off at stansted for Nadja,

20. Pack Car for London-to-Paris.

21. Collect Paul Shelley and bike.

22. Drove to Blackheath, London.

23. register for event. hand over bike (see you soon, baby).

24. Eat, sleep, eat again!

Thursday...

25. Day 1: 110 miles from London to Calais.

Friday...

26. Day 2: 120 Miles from Calais to Amiens.

Saturday.

27. Day 3: 100 miles from Amiens to Paris.

Sunday...

28. Watch the Tour de France finish in Paris. Cav's nth stage win!

29. Don't be late again for the Eurostar!

Monday...

30. Removal company arrive for collection of all my worldly goods.

Tuesday...

31. End of Tennancy cleaning company arrive at 8 am.

32. Nadja flies into Stansted.

Wednesday.

33. FAREWELL to the UK! We drive to Germany to begin our new life together!

Thursday 29th July, 2010....

Collect the keys to our very first house.

Phew.

N

A Happy Moving Moment...

Southern-Electric are STARS

Especially Gina.

A call was placed, the date of move given and the payments over the last 18 months checked; all was well. A gas check found that was in credit. All jolly so far. The electricity was checked...

I owed almost £1000!

Eeek! Visions of a new set of tubeless wheels vanishing like smoke passed before my eyes.

But, a Scottish superstar at Southern electric came to my rescue... Gina, we the people of, well, me, salute and thank you!

A handful of very pleasant calls, several meter checks and I'm now in credit with the electricity too.

Chapeau to Gina and Southern Electric.

Customer service at it's finest.

N

Fahrrad-Cast: The Blog Mission...

Fahrrad-Cast: The Blog Mission...: "Wilkommen In a rush but here goes... 1. to chronicle my move and new life, with Nadja, in Germany. 2. Cycling stuff, lots and lots of cyclin..."

The Blog Mission...

Wilkommen

In a rush but here goes...

1. to chronicle my move and new life, with Nadja, in Germany.

2. Cycling stuff, lots and lots of cycling stuff.

3. Science, maths and education.

4. AOB!

The first post soon.