Cycling to Cambodia?
Trip Start
May 01, 2009
1
4
17
Trip End
Ongoing
Windsor Great Park, England, United Kingdom
Monday, December 7, 2009
The Swim
Gastric irregularities and persistent ear ache have severely hampered training this week. Not even the thought of the extra publicity that an involuntary bowel movement would doubtless have caused could lure me to the municipal baths. The ear ache was almost certainly something I picked up when I retrieved my ear plugs from the bottom of the pool anyway, so best avoided for a couple of days.
I thought I'd sneak a quick dip in yesterday, on my day off, just to keep my hand in before the big event, but was horrified when I turned up to discover a pool full of children playing, screaming, laughing and having fun. I could think of nothing worse, And then realised that I was about to spend three weeks surrounded by kids playing, screaming, laughing and having fun, but all in a foreign language. I may need some last minute pre-departure therapy....
The Run
Colin's training has also been hampered by seasonal ailments, and of course the onset of The Second Great Flood. He is confident that he will complete the course, however, and anyone who knows him will agree that he is certainly stubborn enough to keep to his word, provided, that is, that he doesn't get his hair wet, or his nice shiny trainers muddy.
The Tandem Ride
We succesfully completed our tandem initiation on Friday morning at Windor Great Park. Being good Catholics we know that nothing is really worthwhile unless you have to suffer while doing it. So we thought it would be a really good idea to do this with a hangover. But even the hangover was all for the cause. Following free-flowing champagne at the Penhaligons Covent Garden Christmas Party, we had to pay a visit to the local pub to drop off a sponsorship form for their notice board.
As we arrived to the sound of booming eighties anthems, the DJ announced our arrival "the boys who are going to Cambodia". At which point the landlord appeared like the shopkeeper from Mr Benn with a pint glass stuffed full of bank notes. "Proceeds from the fish raffle", he explained. One of the regulars then topped it up with another £20 to take us over the hundred. Thank you everyone at The British Volunteer!
It would have been rude to make a sharp exit so we stayed a while, enjoyed some fine wine and an impromptu workout to the sounds of the resident DJ. Thus it was with delicate stomachs and tired limbs that we embarked on our tandem trial the following day. Thankfully the sun was out, the wind had dropped and Tony, the tandem rental man also had a hangover, and consequently plenty of empathy. He gave us a quick history of our tandem, a reconditioned frame, originally built in 1935, which cheered Colin up as it meant he wouldn't be the oldest member in our newly formed threesome. It also means, rather scarily, that team SiCol (say it fast and it sounds like....Cycle.....geddit?) has a combined age - Me, Colin and the Tandem, of some 166 years.
After a shaky start we began to get the hang of it. I took the lead position with Colin bringing up the rear. Now I have to say that for someone who likes to be in control, Colin was remarkably calm considering that 1) He couldn't see round me, so had no idea where we are going, 2) his handlebars were fixed which meant he couldn't steer and 3) I had the only brakes which obviously meant that if he wanted me to stop he had to ask very nicely. Now that would make change...Despite our sinewy litheness we are actually quite a bulk when together, making stopping rather more difficult than originally anticipated. Although I'd be lying if I said I didn't enjoying the crescendo of plaintive cries from behind as we careered downhill and I refrained from braking just a little too long...;o) Thank goodness the track around Dorney Lake is flat.
The weather forecast for Friday was dry and sunny, it is now foggy. Which, for us has its upside. From the viewing gallery, as we disappear into the gloom, none of you will be able to see if we are still on the bike, or having one of those "Little Britain" Lou and Andy moments, and sneaking off the tandem to push it round the lake when no one is looking...
Final note: Tony Houben of Pump my Ryde in Ascot deserves a big thank you as he has waived the cycle hire charge - which we will be donating to Globalteer instead, at Tony's request. Brilliant news on the fund raising too - we are now up to a staggering £1,453. The BIG £1.5k is within reach, so if anyone still wishes to donate please go to: www.justgiving.com/simonandcolin
Keeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep reading!
