Cycling, you either love it or hate it!
Since I was small and my grandfather bought me my first bicycle I have been interested in cycling. I cycled everywhere as a kid, to school and back, round the block, to go and play football - literally everywhere, I just could not get enough time in the saddle.
I have been very privileged to meet some great friends through cycling and cycled through so many beautiful countries taking in the scenery and the local culture. I’ve cycled down under including a fully supported cycling event across Australia in 1993 for Cancer research, which I am pleased to say was exhausting but a fantastic experience.
Another charity ride in 1996 from Calais to Disney Land Paris for Macmillan Cancer research would also prove to be a great three days in the saddle, guiding over 60 other riders to the final destination at Disney Land Paris in time to watch the European Cup final and see France steal the glory from the Italians in the closing minutes. Some of these riders had not been on a bike for years, some riders left sick relatives at home and sadly some relatives were lost while the event was in progress. All these people in my book deserve a medal for sheer determination , effort and sheer bloody mindedness alone in getting to the Disney land Paris in 3 days.
My riding days now are just more for pleasure than anything else but I still love to head off and tear up and down the odd hill in the country side, one of my favourite and all year round riding spots is the Mendip Hills in Somerset just 10 miles North of Taunton – the combe riding there is just superb!
The Tour of Provence and the climb up Mount Ventoux is now complete, pictures are on line.
Pictures of us all on the climb up Ventoux can be found at www.sport photo.fr where you can see Ken on page 24. The rest of you are further on but I can't see myself, maybe I was going too quick!
Check out the Nove Colli routes we have just completed, the results are now on line and so are the pictures. Same again for 2008?
