Last Training ride now complete

Yesterday, being Sunday the 5th August, saw a group of us travel up to the Sunday Sportive event at Woodcote near Reading, a quick 122km Road based blast around some beautiful English country side. Sleeveless T shirt on and raring to go, what a day 80 plus degrees not a cloud in the sky, bring on the sun tan. Completed the ride in around 5 hours excluding a couple of pit stops on the way, a few near misses with other road users and some very loose gravel, but we both made it without a hitch. Brian was also donning a very nice colourful sleeveless top as well trying to get the most of the sunny weather.

This week will be the chance to rest and recover ready for the big day on Sunday 12th. Maybe a visit to the gym for a swim and a bit of cross training and a few brisk walks with the dog. Hopefully we will get a chance to get a taster of the conditions and the altitude on Friday and Saturday when we get to explore around Panorama before the race.

Again I must thank everybody for their generosity and support up to this point. A big big thank you to my wife for her undivided support in putting up with me over the last 8 months during the training I can not wait to meeting her and Olivia at the finish line.

I will try and keep you updated during the event technology permitting.

See you all in a couple of weeks

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......