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Coopers are on their bikes

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End of day one on the bike and we’ve only got 1454 miles to go! Scorchio today. 40 degrees, no punctures but very, very hot feet on metal pedals. Hadn’t reckoned on that. Barbara reckons the wind feels like a hairdryer. Now on Greek coast at Brinia.

In the race for the start at the Ancient Olympic site between Medway and KCC (Robin works for Medway Council and Barbara for KCC) you can clearly see Medway are the winners although KCC claimed a false start. Bad losers some would say. Dinner beckons. That will be er,,,,,,, Greek salad.

Coopers day1
Coopers day 1 of 2

 

The Coopers have arrived in Greece – and it’s hot

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Having started at 3.15am today Robin and Barbara (otherwise known as the Spartan Lites or the advance party) arrived at Archai Olympia at 7pm having taken 3 taxis, a plane and a 4 hour coach journey.

Our last helpful taxi driver who appeared to be 10 years of age just put the two boxes containing the bikes into the boot, leaving them sticking out precariously and held together with one piece of cord.
I am sure it had all been properly risk assessed as were the two rather overweight motorcyclists driving down the main road at about 70 with all the weekly shopping perched on the front handlebars and no crash helmets. Again fully risk assessed.

Starting cycling from olympia tomorrow. Like today forecast is scorchio – 40 degrees. Piece of advice out here especially after the footie – don’t mention the Germans. Barbara did once but I think we got away with it. R and B

The Coopers head for Greece

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Well that’s it – training all finished, hotels and ferry booked; new bike shorts bought, bikes packed up, pannier filled – ready for the off to Greece.
 
Back last year when Robin first mentioned this trip I never, ever thought I would really get to be going. Having never cycled for more than 3 days on the trot this trip (to me at least) is of epic proportions. I’ve cycled weekly, I’ve spun twice a week, I’ve gone to pilates and yoga and even taken on a personal trainer. Will it make a jot of difference – only time will tell.
 
I am excited and scared in equal measures – mostly because I have no idea how painful it will be and how I will react to that pain. Will I fold and search out the nearest train? I have no doubt that there will be low points but hopefully more that counterbalanced by high points and brilliant experiences. It sounds soppy but I know Robin will keep me safe (even if we are bound to have a massive argument somewhere on the route!).
 
So Saturday we fly out to Athens, somehow we will get across to Archai Olympia and then start cycling on Sunday. 
 
We’ll be publishing regular updates on progress so keep checking in to find out how they’re getting on.

Bishop “to be” on a bike

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Many congratulations to Canon Ed Condry, one of the lead organisers of the ride, on his nomination earlier this week to the Suffragan See of Ramsbury, in the Diocese of Salisbury, We are desperately sad to be losing Ed to Salisbury but make sure we enjoy our time with him on this trip and no doubt he’ll be plotting some rides for us in the future that take in his new home territory.

Last Minute Testing

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I have just completed my second fitness test. The worse thing about it was the saddle and I messed up the last segment by forgetting to stay seated! I am awaiting the results but the headline news is that I have improved – both in weight and fitness level. Yippee! It’s a relief to know those many hours of training have paid off.
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Am I still anxious? Yes! Until we start pedalling in Greece I will continue to be a nervous wreck.
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The next goal is to have a  surge in donations after my fundraising efforts this weekend. Velia

Follow us on GPS

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You can follow our progress in real time once the ride starts. We will be using a Spot GPS system which sends our location every few minutes to a map on our website www.o2o2012.org. At the moment it only shows my back garden but on June 30th it will show the trek beginning Greece. I see the temperature in Greece was 29 today – that’s OK. Let’s hope it doesn’t get any hotter. Ed

Ladies on tour

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Here are some of the ladies taking part in the epic ride this summer. We’ll doubtless be more glamourous come the evenings…

Pictured L-R: Celia Glynn-Williams, Maggie Carnegie, Velia Coffey, Tina Downie, Barbara Cooper.

Final rides – gulp

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Last Saturday saw one of the final rides as the different departure dates approach.  The Coopers set off for their three week epic journey in just 10 days now. We’ve all been getting fitter but is it enough to get us up those mountains?  Hopefully the weather will be kinder than the gloomy Kent skies have offered in recent weeks.

Blog from Velia

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Just three weeks to go! I am now feeling really apprehensive and am having doubts about whether I have done enough training and lost enough weight. On the plus side I am looking forward to riding on and showing off my my nearly new white rimmed wheels (thanks Cliff!) And the fundraising is beginning to take off. Velia.