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’