Paul reflecting on the reason for this challenge.
Welcome to the last Polaroid Eyewear cycle challenge update before the big event itself this Saturday. The training has stopped, the over-eating has started, and the final preparations were agreed tonight.
Its all gotten a little technical recently, with the focus moving to glycogen stores, complex carbs and optimum hydration rates, minimum intake of 400 calories per hour not including meals….not very 1962.
For the day itself here are the best laid plans:
- Leg 1 start: 0400 rise, breakfast of porridge and fruit, 0445 on the bike for the first leg from Glenbrittle to Armadale for the ferry – 47 miles 3000 feet of climbs. Need to be at the first ferry of the day to the mainland by 0830. Breakfast #2 on the ferry of hot soup and bread rolls.
- Leg 2: 0920 leave ferry at Mallaig and cycle 42 miles, 2400 feet ascent to Fort William. Est arrive 1230, pasta and chicken salad lunch
- Leg 3: Fort William to Tyndrum through Glencoe and Rannoch, 50 miles and 4400 feet of climbs! (ouch) Est arrive Tyndrum 1730 for a dinner of jam and rice pudding.
- Leg 4: the one that killed the cobbler’s wife; 55 miles home to Glasgow. Estimated arrival 2200?
Apparently top cyclists have a little print out on their handlebars of their route and elevation so they can focus on their effort and timing for the stage. I’m thinking of little picture of what’s to eat at the next stop as a far better motivator.
I always knew this was a bit mad but seeing it laid out again has confirmed it. It’s also very exciting, and I have butterflies in my stomach thinking about it. I can’t wait to get started.
Finally, it’s not been all eating; I actually did some training as well, clocking about 150 miles last week. In fact as I wrote last week’s blog I had an idea to recreate the black and white photo of my dad in Callander, so after work last Wednesday I made the 70 mile round trip to Ancaster square and asked a passer by to take this pic.
Thanks for reading.