The Westcountry guys are limbering up to join the ride next week.....

....and here we are on the beach at Budleigh, South Devon half way round a 90km ride that wacked us........

An important word from the Boss........

Guys (and a few girls)

Don’t panic!

I am getting some feedback that some of you are feeling:

a) unfit and heavy owing to the fact that it has snowed for two weeks and you haven’t ventured to the newsagents let alone embark on a 40 mile warm up!

b) Worried that you’ll look like a ‘rhino with a hang over’ up the first hill if you embark on the ‘qualification’ ride on the 28^th Feb

Let me reassure you ...

- even the fit chaps (you know the ones with all the gear and those foot pedal things) are struggling at present

- No one has been outside the door for the past 2-3 weeks so we are all unfit at present

The ride on the 28^th is going ahead and I would encourage you to give it a go to see what it feels like to do a long ride ..

However, please be aware that for the 28^th and indeed for the L2Paris ride itself, the majority of us will be doing a steady pace with regular stops and dare I say it, just occasionally stopping to admire the view .... I also intend to have a few beers and a glass of wine at the end of each day on the London2Pairs ride and a nice meal!

In our determination to give you every minute planning detail in our registration blurb, I think we may have over cooked the serious bit (the gels and creams) and undercooked the fun bit .. be reassured – this will be fun ...

Further, whilst you’ll have to be fit and the three times a week training schedule is a good guide (although it doesn’t have to be three rides), there is an A, B and a C team! The hare and the tortoise springs to mind – team 3 will get to Dover – they may be on the late boat but they’ll get to Calais...(team A will be playing their fifth game of backgammon when some of us arrive!).

So, do not be deterred ..... spring is on its way.. the roads are getting easier and cycling is becoming a pleasure!

On the 28^th, we’ll have teams and if you want to be in the slow team with me, then that is fine (we’ll get there – just give allow yourself some time!)...

Finally, please get your registration forms off to me as soon as possible – it is great motivator to getting fit!

Kind regards

Richard ‘rhino with a hangover’

South West contingent doubles in size......to two....

...and here's Robert and Mike's new bike :) :) on the beach at Exmouth halfway round a loosening up training ride around Exeter this afternoon.

...and my training this weekend has been......

watching the rugby.
Does that count?

How is the preparation going for the qualifying ride at the end of February?

I admit I am struggling somewhat....because I don't have my own bike :(

It's a long story which includes "snow in Italy sir", "deliveries are slow from Italy sir" and finally a "they don't import that model to the UK sir". So...I've got another bike on order and now await the wheels of my employer to turn so I can purchase it under the Cycle scheme. In the meantime all I can do is look at the pictures. Will that prepare me for our ride on Feb 28th? Will it arrive in time ????

Why not set up a sponsorship web page for yourself?

Why not set up a web page to collect your sponsorship. It's easy enough for Rich to have done it by himself.
Follow these simple instructions.....

Go to the 'Justgiving' web site : www.justgiving.com

In the box that says ‘Find a charity’ type in Educational Frontier Trust and then press Go
Click on Educational Frontier Trust
Click on ‘raise money for this charity’

We are not yet registered as an ‘event’ so when it says
‘not involved in any of these events? Please tell us what you are doing'
follow the guidance ie click I am raising money for a sporting event etc.,
Then press the CONTINUE button

When asked
'What sort of event are you doing?'
In the drop down menu – select ‘cycling’

When asked
'When is it'
Type :23rd May 2009-02-02

When asked
'Can’t find your event?
In the box put “London to Paris Bike ride for Kisima”

When asked
'Is this an overseas event?'
in the drop down menu chose No and then press the CONTINUE button

Put in your email address
Chose “I haven’t got an account” and press 'CONTINUE using our secure server' button

It is very easy to subscribe and to load up a picture.

Have a go yourself

In the bit where it invites you to put a message you should perhaps make clear that the
Just Giving web site takes a 5% administration fee…which for some may put them off