Last week of training is here!!!

Yes the last week of training has now arrived. Nearly 18months in the planning and 8 months in the training and preparation, getting very anxious now, making sure we have all the right equipment and back up items to take. Taking great care on all the rides not taking too many risks! Spent nearly all of last week in the saddle clocking up over 215 miles and 6,200 plus metres of climbing, that's only half the Rockies ride length and half the vertical.

I have nearly been killing all my colleagues in my spinning classes that I have been taking this year so far. I think they will be glad when I eventually go!!

This week will be pretty much it on the training front, if we are not ready now we will never be.

I have found a couple of pictures that give you an idea of the views and the terrain that we will be up against. We will bring plenty more pictures back with us.

Bring it on!!! as quoted by that awful girl in 'Big Brother' called Tracey.

A big big thanks to all of you that have been so generous with your support leading up to this event, through your kind sponsorship and help. It means so much to me and my family.

Milo would have been so proud of you all!!!

Nearly there....... Training up to next level

Wow, what a week! Brian and I have been training pretty much up at the limits now, on the bike everyday for the last week, come rain and shine. Clocking up some 250 miles and about 18,000 feet of vertical.

Getting the last bits together to take on the trip, the list seems endless. The fun bit will be getting everything we need for the week in to the issued kit bags which are only 36" x 16" x 16" big decisions are going to have to be made. Do we pack the make up bag or that extra pair of waterproof gloves??

The weather could be the big question, looking at previous years on the Challenge it seems the weather can vary from plus 35 to -2 in a matter of hours, one minute its glorious baking sun the next rain then it could be pouring with snow and sleet. Being prepared for these extremes is going to be very hard.

In the kit bags we have to fit sleeping bag and ground sheet, all the clothes for both the race and the evenings, towels, washing gear, bike spares and food for the week plus back up batteries first aid kit - the list just goes on and on.

I am having a day off today being Tuesday 24th July. Going out with some friend tonight for a curry and a beer, which I am looking forward to. Relax those poor old legs... Back to the grind tomorrow though!!

Have a good week........................

Team MILO Is Official

Yes we are now officially on the start list of the Transrockies Challenge 2007

Team 'MILO'

Team Leader: Antony Gray

Team Mate: Brain Trill

From:United Kingdom
Package Type: EPIC
(Thats no RV is you want to know.)

Catergory Men 80+
(Gosh really showing our age there!!)



Have a good weekend

Stages are announced for Transrockies

Transrockies Stages etc. 2007

Day 1 – Panorama to Invermere 51.2 kms
Paved Roads 7.9 kms, Gravel Roads 18.4 kms, Double/Single-track 24.85 kms
1345 metres climbing 1649 metres descending

Day 2 – Invermere to Nipika 63.8 kms
Paved Roads 17.41 kms, Gravel Roads 20.62 kms, Double/Single-track 25.77 kms
1439 metres climbing 1119 metres descending

Day 3 – Nipika to Whiteswan Lake 107.5 kms
Paved Roads 0 kms, Gravel Roads 68.5 kms, Double/Single-track 39 kms
1302 metres climbing 1285 metres descending

Day 4 – Whiteswan Lake to Elkford 94.48 kms
Paved Roads 1.6 kms, Gravel Roads 49.29 kms, Double/Single-track 43.60 kms
1528 metres climbing 1368 metres descending (Including the rock garden)

Day 5 – Elkford to Blairmore (Crowsnest Pass) 109 kms
Paved Roads 7 kms, Gravel Roads 62 kms, Double/Single-track 40 kms
2600 metres climbing 2612 metres descending

Day 6 – Blairmore (Crowsnest Pass) to Sparwood 77 kms
Paved Roads 10 kms, Gravel Roads 27 kms, Double/Single-track 40 kms
2000 metres climbing 2140 metres descending

Day 7 – Sparwood to Fernie 61 kms
Paved Roads 6 kms, Gravel Roads 15 kms, Double/Single-track 40 kms
1100 metres climbing 1225 metres descending

Then the beer and wine

Near miss could have lead to disaster!

Another busy training week has just flown by. I can not believe its only 3 weeks to go. Been very busy this week getting as much distance, climbs and time in the saddle as possible. Been out with Brian this week as much as possible finding the steepest hills around Boxhill to climb. Amazingly, I went up some hills I never knew were even there! Fantastic!!

Had a near miss on Wednesday over at Westcott way, went down a very tricky stony gully dropped the front wheel in to a pot hole and straight over the handle bars landing on my wrist and right leg. blood was everywhere and I was blessed with very sore wrist and knee. Luckily the bike was OK, I got back on and limped on for the rest of the ride. It caused a bit of worry on Thursday and Friday but by Saturday the bruises came out and the pain subsided. Phew!! A very close shave. I think I will have to became a bit more cautious. Brian had fun aswell over the last few rides with his new cleats, I must have seen him fall off a least six times !! Luckily no injuries just a red face moments.

We still managed to clock up 170 miles off road plus about 10,000 feet of climb over the week.

The picture above was taken by Dee's Brother on a nice sunny day a few months back. Amazingly it will be in a publication for some new flats being built in Redhill later this year. Autographed versions are available on request at £3.99 ea. Limited stock though.

Take care and I will see the guy's on Saturday 0800 usual place ........ Be there!!

Less then a month to go now!!! Big gulp!! 29 days to be exact. Getting the last minute preparations under way Insurance, spares, food energy drinks, what clothing to take the list seems endless.....

Cramming as much training in as possible, it seems I am spending my life on the saddle of the bike. I must admit I did take the weekend off what with Olivia's sports day, speech day and the Caterham School ball on Saturday. I even had two glasses of red wine on Saturday night....... admittedly I did go for a run and a quick visit to the gym on Sunday but not for long though.

The British Airways saga continues we have been told we will get a refund of £116 for the tax and charges, the rest of the fare will hopefully come from the insurance policy Markie took out. Fingers crossed it all goes smoothly. Admittedly to get that far I did spend over 2 hours on the phone to their call centre listening to tacky Spanish on hold music and some announcer going on how wonderful BA. What a load of C**P !"£?"$?

Lots of training coming up over the next week when Brian gets back for Scotland. I will update you all on that front in my next entry.

Have a good week. Enjoy the weather......

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly News!

First the bad news, my Trans Rockies partner Markie, who as you can remember had a major fall in March, breaking his humerus and dislocating his left shoulder, when we were training in Wales, has had the news from his consultant at East Surrey Hospital, that he is unable to ride for about three months and will possibly need another operation on his shoulder to correct its alignment. This was a devastating shock for him and everyone. We had held out so much hope that he would be going to Canada. I know how much this had meant to him and how grateful I was of his support from the word go. It is a real shame! On the brighter side I have said to him once he is ship shape again we will attempt some other gruelling feat a bit closer to home. We will keep you posted on that one!

To the good news!! My friend Brian Trill has very kindly offered to take Markie's place on the Trans Rockies ride and I am very honoured to have him along as my team mate. Brian lives for his mountain bike, spending many many hours in the saddle and riding all over the country at some of the best venues Britain has to offer. He recently did a fantastic ride in Peru for a charity in memory of his mother who sadly passed away, riding over 500km up through the mountains at high altitude, finishing in Machu Picchu some 2,500m above sea level. A fantastic feat. I look forward to continuing the training over the coming weeks with him.

After the devastating news about Markie a bit of ugly news this time on the ticket front. British Airways - what a disappointment. What we thought would be a simple change of the name on the ticket turned out to cost £850. The miserable sods would not transfer the ticket, into Brian's name so it now becomes null and void. Therefore, we had to buy another in Brian's name, even after explaining the reasons - The injury - the charity - no budging. Well all I can say is 'Thanks British Airways' The world's favourite airline!!! Puff to that!!!!! I will take my bookings elsewhere next time.

Had a slightly easier training week this week just recharging the batteries. We had a good road ride yesterday. Brian, Ben and I took part in a charity ride for the British heart Foundation, 45 miles of Surrey's finest countryside in the rain. Brian had a near miss as he skid off on a sharp corner on the first fast descent. He's now got a bit of a bruised butt I think!! The ride was good training and we were home in about 2 and half hours which was not bad.

At last we have also decided a team name and what could be more appropriate then

'Team Milo'

Have a good week take it easy.