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Raceline Reports
Day Four (Wednesday 03.09.08 Wickenburgh to Tuba City - 230 miles)
 Another early start, 5am wake up, and for those of us like Sadler with the writing to do a 2am finish leaves only 3 hours sleep. We're getting in so late we're practically shaking hands with ourselves on the way out. It could've been worse Dave Thomas invited Brocko' to share his room last night so had to endure snoring of pneumatic proportions, relieved only by the air conditioning unit firing up. Team C set off and we take the opportunity to empty the van and reorganise the load. The lads have set off using the RAM (ride across America) route and it's 25 minutes before the RV sets off. We can't find them and it's hot, we also don't know what terrain the riders are in. The Sat Nav' has taken us on a different route and Anthony is stressing, every few miles the riders normally stop for water and we can't find them. This is not going to plan and its dangerous, mobile signals are erratic and the radios are out of range, they're also on one side of Mingus mountain at Congress. In between trying to take it all in we are still aware the Team C are "missing". There are a good few in the camp suffering from the heat when riding and 4 - 5 hours sleep at night is not enough, the food also leaves something to be desired and what we are eating isn't designed with athletes in mind. There's frustration over communication, annoyance over the Sat Nav' set up and remember this team have been out there for nearly 2 hours with a lot of climbing, you have to accept there point. 
Day Five 04.09.09 (Flagstaff -Tuba City to Cortez 249 miles)
There is a freshness in the air this morning. Everybody seems to be walking round with a spring in there step, it's another warm and cloudless morning. We're up and loading it's 6.15am, breakfast at 7am. We need to make up lost time today and its clear from the body language of everyone that we are going to achieve the extra miles today and there's a refreshing buzz and much more of a team ethos developing. In our group (Teams B & C) we are led by Alan and Keith and with Anthony's assistance do a great organisational job. We're on top of things in a clean RV, the music is on, there's calm and banter along the way to our drop off points. This is the way it should be.
Team B must have had lady luck on there side because we've drawn Monument Valley it's simply sensational. Used as a backdrop in a number of films such as :-
In Forrest Gump, Forrest ends his cross-country run here. He is running north on U.S. Route 163 before he stops running. The vastness of the area is truly memorable. At every turn there's a photograph opportunity and the red sandy colours of the naturally formed rocks are surrounded by a seemingly vast ocean of sand, dust, and sparse vegetation. Cutting through it is i road 163 and we're on it, you have to pinch yourself and it's hard not to keep stopping to take it all in, you really don't want to leave the place. The route through here from West to East is a downhill run for several miles and we're at 27mph for most of it. Shelly with his helmet cam scanning the plains trying not to miss any of sites, and riding alongside us recording scenes that will remain with us all our days. Sadler and Keith make up with other photographs and Anthony with a great eye for one takes some great shots. After yesterday we couldn't have had a better tonic and both teams have had a great day.
Day Six 05.09.09 (Cortez to Alamosa 200 miles)
State Colorado
Team B Have an easier run today, though Gaz is not too impressed at the drop off point when he sees a rolling mountain climb ahead. The climb lasts for 5 miles. Gaz has a chest infection and needs a good nights sleep to go with his medicine, but he's battling on. All 3 of us ride together at a steady pace and we manage to the top. Our reward is a 15 mile downhill into Durango town (Lance Armstrong did a lot of training on the Durango Hills). We pelt down the hill at up to 45mph, going so fast you can't keep up on the pedals. Gaz and Morty fly past me, gravity clearly pulling there generous frames down much quicker.
We arrive at Chimney Rock, in Navajo reservation country and travel on to meet up with the next group. When we get on board Gaz is fast asleep on the sofa, he doesn't hear us coming in. We get a call from Yvonne, Iain on the climb to the top of the Rockies with John has had a mild asthma attack on the flat stretch at the top. Iain's inhaler has been leaking and there's not enough steroid left. Fortunately they are close to a local pharmacy, but they won't replace his inhaler unless he has a medical check up first. After a short delay Iain is back in recovery, but his riding for today is over and he'll take tomorrow off to rest.
We are in the Rio Grande National Park and will spend the night here at 9,500 feet. It's strange but when you are walking or doing any normal activity you feel part breathless. We noticed yesterday that your throat was sharp and dry in no time and in between swigs from the bottles you are struggling to breathe. That is a part effect of the altitude and it feels odd.
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Dear Friends and Supporters
I am sitting in my hotel having just completing the longest leg of our ride 270 miles from Trinidad on to be informed by the receptionist that no beer is served in this state on a Sunday !! I promised that I would not tell the Sheriff but it was a none starter so I am feeling a little sorry for myself but please enjoy the newsletter.
www.gmfundraising.co.uk
Thanks for your interest and the donate button is just up on the left.
Alan Sadler |
Remembering Frankie
To say the Ride 4 Hope is a huge challenge is self evident. A physically mixed bunch of twelve blokes of varied cycling ability plus one extraordinarily talented female cyclist in Olympic medallist Yvonne Mc Gregor are attempting to cycle over 3000 miles in just 16 days. Now leaving aside the physical challenges of heat (108 degrees Fahrenheit on day 2), altitude (11,000 feet on day 6) and exhaustion (Day 4 was a 20 hour day), as the first week on the road comes to an end a passionate debate is taking place about what the ride means.
For some it is a personal challenge such as completing 100 miles in a day or achieving at least 1000 miles during the whole trip. For others it is simply the experience of crossing America on a push bike. With so many interested parties such as family and sponsors, some of the riders are beginning to feel the pressure of meeting people's expectations. This is largely a creation of their own minds because the reality is that everyone simply wants the team to come home safe. Nevertheless after what has been a hugely traumatic week with falls, vehicle breakdowns, impossible terrain, extreme weather and despite every mile has being covered, a few are frankly just thinking too hard.
At the end of day 5 we heard of the death of a kid called Frankie. He had succumbed to his muscular dystrophy aged just 18. He was part of the Hope House family and because of his interest in the ride was a sort of de facto mascot for the team. He followed our progress and we were updated on his health. He will never know the joy of falling in love and having a family as most of the Ride 4 Hope team have. He will never experience the challenge and rewards of carving a career for himself. He will never travel the world let alone cross the high desert in California with just the sound of spinning wheels and the wind for company. That said, for a few days at least he shared our highs and lows as sadly we shared his and day 6 was dedicated to him.
As Iain, John and Yvonne climbed 4,000 feet in a little over ten miles crossing the Rockies, as close to Heaven as any rider will get on this trip, they could have been forgiven for wondering what was the Ride 4 Hope all about? As their lungs burned in the thin air with the heat sapping every last bit of moisture from their bodies, they knew that most simple of truths, the Ride 4 Hope is not about personal goals, it is note even about the team, it is for all the kids whose short lives benefit from the care and love that Hope House provides and most importantly, yesterday was for Frankie.
Dave Broxton |
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Rider Profile Dave Thomas
Dave "Vice President of the Darkside " Thomas, is Managing Director at Haffner Gb Ltd, supplier of window machinery for our industry, Dave is married to Jennie with 2 children Laura and Matthew. When asked about the ride Dave said " I was doing the ride for myself initially; but after the Hope House visit I understand why Gary Morton has devoted his time to a very worthwhile cause, I don't have any real apprehensions about the forthcoming challenge but cycling at an altitude over 10,000 feet does make me shiver.
I have very little cycling experience and I found the training hard but now we are here the team spirit is excellent and I am looking forward to conquering America." Dave has accepted his responsibility as VP of the Darkside without any problem, tempting weak individuals for a nightcap or 2 before they retire to their pits, Darth would be proud !
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Team Immac
Apparently its better for aerodynamics,massage,injury and hygiene but there is something not right when grown men shave their legs and then try to defend it !
Sean Pearce said he used to do it when he was racing but he has not raced for a few years and but it helps is legs look good when he wears his high heels.
Andrew Glover said he has done it for the Ride4Hope yeah right its common knowledge that it ladders your tights.
Iain McInnes who races regularly said he got a deal a few years ago with Ladyshave but it left him chaffed so its creams only now, but why all over Macca ????
Gents a word from the team
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Rider Profile Sean Pearce
Sean "Ivy" Pearce is Operations Director at Greystone Advertising Design Limited and is married to Helen and 2 kids, Thomas who is 7 & Ellie May who is 3. I asked Sean why he is doing the ride he said " Firstly to help the children of Hope House, secondly for a once in a lifetime opportunity"
Sean fears nothing about the ride but screams like a girl when he sees Spiders!! He gets the name "Ivy" because he like to climb or rather if there is a big set of hils to climb the riders put his name forward.
Sean was keen racing cyclist 20 years ago but some 4 stone lighter but still maintains a high standard, he is a member of Team Imac (see article) but insists having shaved legs is nothing to do with cycling it's just what they do at Wolverhampton Wanderers supporters club!
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The Route day 4 - 6
Day four clocks up a total of 259 miles covered by the team, the longest distance covered up to this point. The ride ends in Tuba City which is well known for its dinosaur tracks and its colourful canyon which has lots of hoodoos (A.K.A spikey rocks) within the local area.
Day five sees the team aiming to reach the city of Cortez which is 206 miles from Tuba City. Cortez is surrounded by monument valley and Mese Verde national park. The park is home to many ruins which were once the habitat of the ancient pueblo people. Below is a picture of monument valley.
Day six sees the team enter the Ute Mountain Indian reservation, home to the Ute Tribe of Native Americans. Another point of interest which the team will pass is the Navajo lake, which is full of salmon and trout. The day ends 207 miles from Cortez in Alamosa.
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Rider Profile John Olkiewicz
John has been married to Jane for 30 year and they have one son Josef who is 18 and studying at Staffordshire University. John is the oldest member of the team but get the name of Steve Austin because of bionic fitness and strength, he is without question the best of the "non pro" riders. On asking John about the ride he comments " The bike ride is a great opportunity to raise much needed funds for a cause that provides a vital service to those who use it, whilst at the same time, enjoying a once in a lifetime experience"
Unbelievably John said his fears were the bike refusing to go all the way up to the top of the big hills, for the record he ride up the Rockies yesterday with the Pro riders in 1 Hour 30 minutes this was some achievement. John has been cycling on and off for 3 - 4 years and once did a 250 mile, 4 day charity bike ride in 2006 from Barrow in Furness to Sheffield. The team are running a sweepstake to see when he will actually break sweat ! | |
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