Skedaddle Twaddle - cycling holidays, mountain bike holidays, mountain biking holidays

Road cycling in the Costwolds - The Guardian Healthy Holidays - How to be more active

Skedaddle — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 09:37:35 +0000

Nice write up in the Guardian on Saturday by Dixe Wills and Rachel Dixon about our Costwolds Introductory road cycling weekend.

Here’s what they said

Get into road cycling, Cotswolds

Do you feel like the only one who doesn’t spend your weekends in Lycra? Getting into road cycling will change your life for the better: you’ll be fitter, thinner, better versed in Britain’s backroads, and able to join in those (at first, seemingly tedious) conversations about cadence and cleats. Saddle Skedaddle (0191-265110, skedaddle.co.uk) specialises in all holidays bike, and has a great line in beginners’ road biking weekends throughout the UK. The Cotswolds is as good a place to start as any – pretty scenery and villages will take your mind off the thigh burn, and as this is not quite geared towards the super-serious Mamil (Middle-Aged Man in Lycra), you get to stop for the odd pint.
• £255pp for three days (two nights’ B&B accommodation), hire of a lightweight road bike £55pp (skedaddle.co.uk)

New Zealand Herald write-up about our Sierras to the Sea cycling holiday in Southern Spain

Skedaddle — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 07:56:49 +0000

Nice write-up by Mick Webb that appeared today in the New Zealand Herald, all about our our Andalucian trip Sierras to the Sea, in Southern Spain. Check out what they said below:

IN THE SADDLE

Saddle Skedaddle organises guided and self-guided cycle rides on conventional and mountain bikes. Its “Sierra to the Sea” is a gently-paced, guided cycling holiday that takes you from Ronda down to Tarifa, via the scenic trails of the Alcornocales Natural Park. It costs £895 for accommodation and bike hire (£140), and also includes a post-ride massage. The next departure is 26 February.

On a chilly morning like today, some sun in Spain looks like a nice option!!

For more details of this particular cycling trip in Spain see below:
Guided cycling holiday option : Click Here
Self Guided cycling holiday option : Click Here

For a Mountain bike that is guaranteed to run and still has some space we have our Coast of Light trip that runs from 25th - 31st March 2012 - Click Here

For the full New Zealand Herald article - click here

Skedaddle to Cuba in 2012

Skedaddle — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 11:35:43 +0000

Here’s a nice story about our cycling / easy mountain bike holiday in Cuba by Gill Charlton of the Daily TelegraphSkedaddle - Cuba on Two Wheels - by Gill Charlton

It doesn’t take long to realise that Cuba and Communism are bedfellows in name only. A porter pockets a dollar bill for finding a luggage trolley, our coach is an air-conditioned Volvo, and on Havana’s oceanfront drive, among the expected 1950s Buicks and Chevvies, there is a steady stream of Mercedes and VWs. The Deauville Hotel is reassuringly dingy, though even here young women pout at potential sugar daddies. Cuba is desperate for dollars and it no longer cares how it gets them.With no Soviet subsidies and no decent market for his country’s sugar, Fidel Castro has reluctantly conceded that his only answer is to woo the tourists. Last year there were two million, a figure that is expected to treble over the next five years. Most are whisked off to Varadero, an all-inclusive clubland on a remote sandy key where Spanish and Canadian companies are building hotels are fast as the sand and cement arrive.Corralling tourists in this way makes Castro feel better. He worries about foreigners polluting his socialist revolution, turning the heads of his people. But satellite television, the internet and visits from relatives in Miami have already created a Vesuvius of frustration among younger Cubans. “The freedom to do what you want, read what you want, go where you want is everything,” a teacher in Havana tells me. “I’d clean public toilets in Mexico for the chance to be free.”

And I’d get on a bicycle to escape those all-inclusive compounds and mariachi bands belting out Guantanamera. I join a small group leaving Santiago in eastern Cuba on a journey that will take us through the countryside to places that played key roles in Castro’s guerrilla war in the late 1950s.

Revolutionary politics, and its fall-out, is a big part of Cuba’s fascination. Castro and his band of Marxists (beard and army fatigues essential) have held power for more than 40 years, pursuing the belief that people should work for the common good rather than for personal gain - and never complain. So has it worked? The chance to answer that question is part of the attraction of a holiday here.

The coast road rises and falls between the blue Caribbean sea and the crinkled foothills of the Sierra Maestra, where Castro’s rebels spent 18 months playing hide-and-seek with government forces, all the while building up support among landless peasants and left-wing intellectuals.

There is little traffic, just the odd open truck packed with people rather than goods, a few horsemen and cyclists on Chinese “Flying Pigeon” models that have to be pushed uphill. Which is why riding a 24-speed bike, with a support coach bringing up the rear, is more than a little embarrassing.

A farmer gives us a welcome shower from his irrigation hose before the final climb to a remote all-inclusive hotel on a lovely sandy beach favoured by retired Canadians.

It was near here, on December 2, 1956, that Fidel and his band of 82 men (including his brother, Raul, and the Argentinian, Che Guevara) arrived from Mexico to liberate Cuba, which had become a virtual colony of the US.

The voyage had been a disaster. They were all seasick, the navigator fell overboard, and the 60ft cabin cruiser ended up stuck in a swamp. They had to leave most of their food and ammunition behind and wade to land.

Not an auspicious start, and things did not improve. We cycle along rust-red tracks through sugarcane fields to a grove of spindly mahogany and pepper trees. Here, three days later, government troops ambushed the exhausted revolutionaries. Only 22 escaped, including Fidel (who hid under cane straw) and Che (who stumbled on a deep limestone cave nearby). Surveying this flat, deforested landscape, you conclude that their survival was a miracle.

Today, Granma province (named after the cruiser) is the heartland of Fidel’s support. “Vive Castro” is picked out in shells at the entrance to villages and writ large on hillside boulders.

It is in rural areas like these that the revolution’s successes are seen. Each family has a decent log cabin, often shaded by a mango tree, in a yard full of chickens, pigs and canna lilies; children go to school in smart uniforms and proper shoes; there are rural clinics and big hospitals in small towns. It is also evident that tractors and farm machinery rust in compounds for want of diesel and parts. The ploughing is once again done by oxen, and horse-drawn surreys and carts use the bays in bus stations. All very quaint to us, but hardly easy for the locals.

As we cycle on towards Bayamo, the provincial capital, a concrete monolith stands in a sea of sugarcane. It is miles from anywhere and on the horizon there are several more. “A high school,” says our guide. It looks in a sad state of repair, with a vast empty swimming pool and playing fields that have been turned into vegetable allotments.

An old yellow school bus full of adults pulls out in front of us. “Their parents, come to visit them.” I learn later that Castro doesn’t like young people congregating in towns; they can be troublesome. He should know: their grandfathers joined his revolutionary army as teenagers. The answer is to pack them off to rural boarding schools in the vain hope of turning out a new generation of model socialists.

Bayamo is surreal and I love it. It is as if a chic Spanish town has been transplanted into egalitarian Cuba. Everyone is in their Sunday best. Small girls, all ribbons, frills and ringlets, ride around the main square in carts pulled by goats while suckling pigs are roasted on spits and served as delicious hamburgers by chefs in white hats and aprons.

Life becomes more bizarre by the hour. A man strolls into the hotel bar wearing a white fedora, a white suit and carrying a silver-tipped cane. Local families sit down to three-course dinners at tables dragged into the streets and dressed in lace. Even the street sweepers appear to be well-to-do housewives.

What is going on? This is so bourgeois; it is all that Castro finds utterly contemptible. Apparently not. “Bayamo is the city of heroes,” someone later tells me. “We think that Castro gives them extra money so they can live like this.”

It takes us a whole day to drive from here to the Sierra del Escambray, a journey that took Che Guevara and his men six weeks on foot (the army had captured all his petrol). A “truly horrible” trek, he notes in his diary, through swamps and dodging aerial attacks. Cycling through these mountains is one of the highlights of our trip. Tall royal palms and spreading fig trees rich in orchids and epiphytes give way to pines and coffee plantations as we slowly climb to the roof of Cuba. Way below us, beyond a sea of sugarcane, lies the town of Trinidad, a Unesco World Heritage Site.

Trinidad is a stunner. Former convents, churches and the mansions of rich Spanish planters have been meticulously restored. Smaller houses have been repaired and painted in knock-out colour combinations. But the historic centre lacks the people, and the life, of a typical Cuban town. The cobbled streets have a ghostly air - until the daytrippers arrive.

Private enterprise flourishes in Trinidad as nowhere else in Cuba. Che T-shirts, lacework and bad abstract art lurk behind nearly every ornate window grille. Even in the museums, custodians point slyly to lace hankies draped over chairs. There are comfortable b & bs in private homes in the historic quarter, identified by discreet blue triangles. They are not supposed to serve food (to protect the state restaurants) but advance warning secures a feast of lobster and prawns, a welcome change from the standard diet of pork and beans.

It is in Trinidad that I realise the cult of Che Guevara is not just for tourists. His portrait has pride of place in nearly every home. Many Cubans believe that he was their “natural leader” and that had he lived (he was killed trying to bring revolution to Bolivia in 1968), he would have rescued Cuba from the isolated, penurious state it finds itself in today.

Cuban frustration is most evident in Havana. Housing may be rent-free but parts of the city resemble war-torn Beirut, ravaged by the damp, salty air. There are ration books for staple foods, but “you would starve if you had to survive on them”, a mother tells me.

For all that, Havana is a rich seam for the cultural tourist. The Spanish colonial quarter and the Italianate villas of Miramar have scrubbed up beautifully. The Fine Arts museum is world-class. The music scene is rich in new Latin sounds, and nobody likes to dance more, or does it better, than a Cuban. It is one of their few freedoms.

Gill was a guest on the Skedaddle Holiday - Cuban Revolutions

Peru - Andes, Amazon & Machu Picchu - April 2012

Skedaddle — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 12:11:05 +0000

We are pleased to announce that our holiday to Peru in April 2012 is now guaranteed.

So, if you like to plan a little ahead and Peru is on your biking holiday wish list for 2012 then don’t leave it too late.

PER12/01 - 28 April to 12 May - Guaranteed to run - 8 Places remaining

PER12/02 - 23 June to 07 July - Not yet a guaranteed departure, but it’s not going to be long!!

For some great photos - Click Here : For a detailed Tour Dossier - Click Here

Trip Overview:

This spectacular and diverse mountain biking and hiking holiday that takes us through Peru’s beautiful and verdant Sacred Valley to the incredible Amazon rainforest, and finishes with the Inca Trail trek to Machu Picchu. Biking here in the rarefied air of the high Andes around the Inca capital Cusco is a largely downhill affair.

No other country in Latin America offers the same depth of attractions - both physical and cultural, than Peru. This spectacular trip appeals to those looking for great biking, amazing culture, stunning scenery, wildlife and one of the wonders of the world.

Whilst not technically challenging, these exhilarating rides on dirt roads and tracks are through some of the world’s most dramatic landscapes and ensure one of the most exciting biking itineraries in South America. In the Sacred Valley we cycle past ancient Inca ruins and visit the artisan market of Pisac, before climbing high into the Andes, to witness a spectacular sunrise over the Amazon Basin.

Next we embark on a fantastic downhill ride, through pristine cloudforest and continue on deep into the jungle. Here we stay in a picturesque jungle lodge where we can explore surrounding trails in search of rare wildlife. Returning to Cusco, we will have a day to relax before embarking on the four-day Inca Trail. We hike along an incredibly well preserved Inca path, through awesome Andean scenery, camping in
spectacular locations and arriving on foot at the majestic ruins of Machu Picchu.

St James Park to be renamed Stadium Saddle Skedaddle

Skedaddle — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 11:58:33 +0000

Hot off the press - Newcastle United St James’ Park looks set to be renamed the Stadium Saddle Skedaddle after Sports Direct shock move last night.

Newcastle Fan and Skedaddle Big Cheese Paul Snedker commented ‘It’s a great move for Skedaddle and the Toon’, and was quick to add that ‘..Plans for a velodrome around the pitch are inevitable!’

Furthermore …

Andrew Straw … Skedaddle’s long suffering Derby County fan was quick to add ‘…whilst it isn’t the take over of Pride Park in Derby that I had strived for, I’m pleased for Skedaddle and for the fans of Newcastle United and it’s great to see a local company involved with a local footballing giant!’

Both Mike Ashley and Derek Llambias (surely a cross between a Llamaan and an Alpaca ?) of Newcastle United were unavailable for comment, though they were apparently spotted leaving the ground on new road bikes.

This above seems to negate claims in the national press that the sponsorship of the staduim would be hard to find - see The Guardian 11 11 2011

Chile and Argentina the current Skedaddle Hot Holiday Destination for 2011/2012

Skedaddle — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 15:23:00 +0000

We’ve been running tours to the Chilean and Argentinean Lake District now since 1996 and this year we’ve had our busiest season ever!!

With our October trip a full departure (it’s finishes 05 November, so look out for some new photos) and three guaranteed trips from December till March, if these beautiful countries are on your biking wish list for 2011 / 2012 you’d better hurry up!!

CLD11/04 - 21 December to 04 January 2012 - 8 Booked and maximum 14

CLD12/01 - 21 January to 04 February 2012 - 10 booked and maximum 14

CLD12/02 - 18 February to 03 March 2012 - 7 booked and maximum …you’ve guessed it 14

For more information - click here

For more photos - click here

For a lovely story - click here

For a chat - Call us on 0191 265 11 10 or 07785 973 754 if its the weekend… though we might be out on our bikes!!

Skedaddle win awards in three categories in the Guardian / Observer Travel Awards 2011

Skedaddle — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 15:05:46 +0000

We’re extremely proud - in fact chuffed to bits to have won awards in no less than three categories at the recent Guardian / Observer Travel Awards 2011

Andrew accepts the award on behalf of Skedaddle and even manages to wear a suit!!

We were the only Tour Operator to be nominated in three Catagories:

^{- first in the Best Short Break Operator,

- second in the Online Booking award

- and in the Best Small Tour Operator we came third.}^{The awards which started way back in 1986 are pretty sought after in the travel industry.
The awards which started way back in 1986 are pretty sought after in the travel industry.
A massive Skedaddle thank you to all our customers who voted for us and it just goes to show what a loyal customer following we have!
Here’s to 2012 and surely we can hit top spot again !!}

We are as pleased as punch, thank you to so many of our customers for voting….

Andrew, Paul and all at Saddle Skedaddle

For the full award details click here

Skedaddle road cycling, mountain biking and leisure cycling Christmas and New Year options

Skedaddle — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 12:57:35 +0000

Here’s a round up of the Christmas / New Year Skedaddle holiday options for 2011 / 2012. It’s not too early to start planning to get away over the festive period!!

News from Skedaddle - the UK’s premier cycling holiday company - www.skedaddle.co.uk

Here’s our round-up of Christmas and New Year holiday options


	Sardinia - Sand and Singletrack

	Spain - Trans Andaluz

	Portugal - Roman Trails

	Costa Rica - Road

	Costa Rica - MTB

	Chile / Argentina

	Chile - Patagonia and the Altiplano

	Late Availability

	Skedaddle Chit Chat

Contact Skedaddle

Sardinia - Sandy Beaches and Singletrack

Sardinia - 29 December to 05 January 2012
£1200 - Excluding flights - Grade 3-4

Head to Sardinia between Christmas and New Year and you’ll be back home on Jan 5th. This centre based trip allows you get the most out of the area’s riding on what promises to be a week of fun mountain biking. Your accommodation is a small, friendly hotel in the charming town of Pula -
a delightful place to wander around in the evening and welcome in 2012.

Flights for this trip are from Stansted to Cagliari with EasyJet

Spain - Trans Andaluz

		Spain - Trans Andaluz - 28 December to 04 January 2012 £1070 + Flights - Grade 4 With Dan’s New Year festivites a legend in the Skedaddle calander (some people simply keep coming back year after year!) This is a top trip for those looking for thrilling trails, time at the beach and some post ride ‘relaxation’ as we start in the mountains and finish at the coast. Just 6 spaces left now for this guaranteed departure. Flights to Malaga available from most UK airports

Portugal - Roman Trails

		Portugal Roman Trails - 26 December to 02 January £945 - Excluding flights - Grade 4-5 Head to Portugal on Boxing Day (well you’d only be asleep in front of the TV anyway!) and join, Antonio and Bertha for this superb place-to-place mountain biking holiday. Whilst there aren’t too many technichal sections along the way, the riding is great throughout, with food and accommodation to a very high standard. Flights to Lisbon available from most UK airports

Costa Rica - Road - Ruta de los Volcanes

		Costa Rica - 22 Dec to 03 Jan 2012 (Road Cycling Holiday) £1745 + Flights - Grade 3 Six places now remaining on this road cycling departure to a country brimming with wildlife and bursting with dramatic vistas around every corner. We begin our adventure on the shores of the Caribbean and don’t stop until we reach the Pacific coast.It’s difficult to think of a better place to spend Christmas & New Year! Guide David tells us all this trip - Click here

Costa Rica - MTB - Volcanes y Playas

		Costa Rica - 22 December to 02 January 2012 £1795 + Flights - Grade 3 If mountain biking is more your ‘cup of tea’…or maybe your cup of sweet tasting Costa Rican coffee, then this recently confirmed departure is for you. With trails not overly technichal and the coastal riding a delight, you’ll not be disappointed. Mountain Biking - Feedback and photos - Click here

Chile and Argentina - Lake District

		Chile & Argentina - Lake District - 21 Dec. to 04 Jan. 2011 £1695 + Flights - Grade 3 Looking to South America and some of the most breathtaking scenery on the planet? Then two weeks in the stunning Lake District of Chile and Argentina takes some beating. Suitable for most levels the trip offers a wonderful insight into an area few explore. Feedback, stories and photos - Click here

Chile - Patagonia and the Altiplano

Chile - Patagonia & Altiplano - 14 December to 03 January 2012
£2650 + Flights - Grade 3
True adventure in this, the jewel of the Skedaddle crown. Starting in the north of Chile we bike in the sublime beauty of the Altiplano. Next, a complete change of scenery as we head to Torres del Paine National Park for some hiking which rounds off the trip in spectacular style.

Photos from the Northern Section - Click here

Photos from the Southerrn Section - Click here

Late Spaces - Road Cycling

Late Spaces - MTB / Cycling

Cotswolds Road Weekend - 23 to 25 September

Spain - Sierra Nevada - 01 to 08 October

Morocco Road Atlas - 04 to 13 November Morocco Road Atlas - 18 to 27 November Colombia - Emerald Mountains - 03 to 14 DecNew Zealand - 17 December to 01 January

Ullswater MTB Weekend - 30 Sept to 02 October

Brecon MTB Weekend - 07 to 09 OctoberSardinia - Transardata - 07 to 16 October

Derbyshire MTB Weekend - 14 to 16 OctoberSpain - Coast of Light - 30 Oct to 05 November

Further Away:

Peru - Andes and Amazon - 24 Sept to 08 OctIndia / Sikkim - 08 to 20 October Morocco Atlas to Desert MTB - 22 to 31 October Chile / Argentina - 22 Oct to 05 November

Morocco MTB - Atlas to Atlantic - 05 to 12 Nov.Cuba - 06 to 20 November

Borneo - 12 to 26 NovemberCuba - 27 November to 11 DecemberFor all our late spaces - click here

Skedaddle Social Chit Chat

We recently altered out Facebook Page and already over 500 Skedaddlers Like Us. In order to keep up to date with the latest photos, feedback and catch up with your fellow cyclists the click here and don’t worry we won’t be posting stuff every five minutes!!

We’ve also been Tweeting away for a while now on Twitter - click here to follow us.

Fancy reading about a certain trip?, Then go to our blog Skedaddle Twaddle for the latest news and reviews.

Need to Contact Skedaddle?

If you’ve got a question about a trip or want to make a booking or just fancy having a chat then contact us on:
+44 (0)191 265 11 10 or email us at info@skedaddle.co.uk

Hope to see you soon.

Andrew, Paul, David, Adam, Lizzie, Pamela, Catherine, Andy, Sophie, Steve and the team

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Skedaddle Bespoke Tourmalet Road Cycling Tour 2011

Skedaddle — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 12:45:36 +0000

Earlier this year we did a bespoke road cycling tour for a group of 22 lovely folks, which included a ride up the legendary Tourmalet.

Here’s the thoughts of their main man Russ Cummings.

Enjoy the read and if you’ve got a group of folks or have a wacky idea for a tour, then do let us know!!

To find out about our scheduled tour in the Pyrenees - whcih includes the Tourmalet - Click Here

Tourmalet 500 Diary - www.tourmalet500.comDay -1 Friday 1st July

Day -1 Friday 1st JulyThe lamb was sizzling on the BBQ at Flowers Hill, Pangbourne as Paul O, Chris, Scott Z, Scott B and Paul B gathered on the Friday evening. After prizing Paul O and his bike box out of his 2-seater Smart car, one or two beers were sunk, but carb and protein inputs were quietly controlled! The mood was jovial, with all the talk on the week ahead. England beat Argentina 10-9 on the table football, table tennis skills were on display, but on this occasion, the only sport that really mattered was cycling. After 8 months and 2,400 miles of training, there was nothing more I could do to prepare. An early night.

Day 0 Saturday 2nd July The Prologue

A beautifully sunny morning and our garage was a hive of activity as bikes were assembled and tuned. Scott Z’s minor mechanical crisis was averted by cannibalizing Stuart’s old Specialized bike. At 11.00am the prologue began, with Paul O, Chris and Scott x 2 setting off to Portsmouth, adding 65 miles to their bragging rights. I would have joined them (ho ho!) but instead, I attended Commemoration Day at Bradfield College, proudly watching Stuart appointed Hillside’s new Head of House and Michael gathering his academic prize. Alice and I returned promptly from school to load 8 x bike boxes, 8 x luggage plus 4 assembled bikes, mostly into our hired trailer, but by this time we were joined by David Butler and his dad, Robin who helped share the load. After a last minute fitness check on Stuart’s back (and packing an extra sack of pain killers!) Alice and Robin drove us to Portsmouth. As the 19 members of the T500 gathered, Mike ‘Chappers’ Chapplow negotiated patiently with Brittany Ferries who couldn’t decide whether we were foot passengers or cyclists (apparently you can’t be both!). Problem solved when half of us took the entire luggage, whilst the rest wheeled two bikes each. The cabins were comfortable – The Rod Stewart impersonation act was dreadful. Easy decision – another early night. Nervous sleep.

Day 1 - Sunday 3rd July
St Malo to Saint Quentin-les-Anges 90.2 miles 4,307 ft 14.2mph

At 8.00am, we were met on the French side by our Saddle Skedaddle crew: David, Imogen & Vanessa. Welcoming and professional, they quickly got us rolling through the town. David drew the short straw and was in the support van, fully stocked with bananas, energy bars and electrolyte. With a peloton of 21 dressed smartly in our custom made gold T500 jerseys, there were some awkward moments and I took the honour of the first ‘spill’. Clip in pedals and traffic lights – not a great combination!! As soon as we were out into the countryside, the pace quickened and the group got a little strung out. After a coffee stop in Combourg, the terrain was a little more undulating than I’d expected but I did exactly what I promised I wouldn’t do, that was to try to keep up with the front runners. I wasn’t the only one – Stuart’s legs cramped up (he’d done slightly less than 2,400 miles in training, imagining cricket used similar muscles!), but Imogen provided some tender loving care and rode with him into lunch at Vitre. A litre or two of coke and he was fit to ride again. The pace in the afternoon was more measured allowing us to enjoy the views of the apple orchards and fields of sunflowers. After a tough and long first day, we arrived at our little hotel to the news that a number of the twin rooms were in fact double beds! Tensions were eased by a complimentary beer, whilst the Skedaddle crew smoothed things over and managed to negotiate some extra rooms, whilst gallantly offering to sleep with the bikes. After a nice meal washed down with local cider, sleep was very welcome ….. until the combine harvesters kicked in at sunrise!!

Day 2 Monday 4th July
Saint Quentin-les-Anges to Cholet 62.0 miles 3,090 ft 15.1mph

Kikki led the morning stretches to much hilarity and sarcastic wit, but quietly, we knew that if we were to survive the week intact, we would need all the medical support we could get. Skedaddle-David gently suggested we might want to get ourselves organised a bit, so we shuffled into the fast, medium and slow groups. Stuart and I took the middle option which still felt like a decent pace, typically cruising at 15-16 mph. We merged with the faster group as we all cycled in together for our lunch stop at Le Pin-en-Mauges. Just 17 miles were left to cover in the hot afternoon with the temperature of 32degC. We could not have received a warmer welcome at our hotel, which on the previous night, had been occupied by the Tour de France’s Radio Shack team. We had a relaxing afternoon, watching the sprint finish on TV. Before dinner, I sought help from Kikki, our sports therapist, to massage my calves – preventative at this stage, as I had not recurrence of my foot injury that had plagued the final weeks of my training.

Day 3 Tuesday 5th July
Cholet to Saint Hilaire-de-Villefranche 100.2 miles 5,261 ft 13.1 mph

We knew this was a big day – our first “ton”, so the medium group, this time including Kikki, Aussie Paul and Jon set off in a more organised fashion, trying out our peloton skills - switching the lead and taking turns to draft in the slipstream. We were slaves to the GPS, so rather than following the verbal instructions to keep to the main road, we found ourselves cutting through a school and having to climb over some locked gates! A few miles later and we’d strayed off the route again, but seeing it reappear on my Garmin screen, I confidently sped off – but no one followed! My phone rang and it was pointed out I was headed north, back the way we’d come. Unnecessary mileage weighed heavily on my mind, knowing 100 was enough of a target (later I discovered other groups had clocked up 110!). We regrouped for lunch after 64 miles – as always, Skedaddle had laid on a wonderful spread of salads, meats and cheese, with my favourite “tarte tatin“ to refuel. As the mileage clicked by in the afternoon, confidence levels grew and unbelievably, Stuart and Aussie Paul were racing each other up hills – what a pair of kids! Kikki and Govind were nursing a sore knee and tired legs, but we stuck together, knowing that Chateau de Laleard lay ahead. As we approached, it appeared like an oasis. Not only did it have a swimming pool and tennis court (of course we were far too tired to enjoy any of the facilities!) but it appeared to have a kebab van in garden! Was I hallucinating? I took part in Kikki’s warm-down stretches but as someone had thrust a beer in my hand, I suspect I didn’t get the full benefit! David Bennett and Paul D-G with their steady pace and shorter breaks rolled in. Rumours circulated that they had a time machine. I washed my kit and hung it out to dry, leaving my window open during dinner. When I turned in, I discovered I was sharing a room with a friendly mosquito. Each time I was about to nod off it buzzed – so I’m not convinced I slept much!

Day 4 Wednesday 6th July
Saint Hilaire-de-Villefranche to Bordeaux 94.4 miles 3,546 ft 12.9 mph

With the medium and fast groups held back, to give the slow group a head start, the heavens opened. There was a massive downpour as we helped Skedaddle-David pack the van. No need for sun cream today then!? After a short delay we set off together but the weather soon brightened up and the tarmac dried out, allowing the pace to resume. Riding threw the village of Pons, there was the sound of a rifle shot from the back of the group. Stuart’s tyre had burst, with a spectacular 2cm split sending a 100 psi blast of air up his backside! Although we had loads of spare tubes, we needed a new tyre and whilst we awaited Skedaddle David’s van, I ran a mercy mission to the local patisserie to keep everyone happy. Just 25 miles later and we had a minor prang on a steep hill out of Montendre. Charles clipped a kerb and toppled onto Stuart, leaving both a tangled mess of bikes and bodies on the road. Thankfully, this wasn’t at full Tour de France speed, so the injury count was limited to a bruised ankle, a grazed elbow and buckled wheel. To our amusement, an ambulance had been following immediately behind, allowing more dramatic photographs of the paramedic crew tending the incident than was really merited. Skedaddle-David came to the rescue, tightening a few spokes and straightening up the wheel. Stuart and Charles proved they are made of strong stuff and climbed back into the saddle and pressed on to lunch, where a pizza and salad spread was laid on in the woods. The last 30 miles into Bordeaux was delightful. I promised to return to the vineyards when I had more time (Côtes de Bourg on the banks of the Dordogne stuck in the mind!). We gathered on the edge of Bordeaux, riding in together through port district and over bridge right up to the door of the Hotel Continental, in the heart of the city. Whilst bags were unloaded, we found a bar serving chips. My body told me I needed multiple bowls, caked in salt and ketchup, so on this occasion, I listened to my body!! By this stage, I also realised it had been sunny all day and regretted the lack of suntan lotion. I slept like a log (in between 1am when the plaza revellers went to bed and 5am when the dustbins were emptied).

Day 5 Thursday 7th July
Bordeaux to Castets 101.4 miles 1,431 ft 14.5 mph

After a slow group ride out of Bordeaux city centre, we divided into our groups, knowing we had another long day in the saddle. That said, the roads were flat, so as the fast group flew past, Jon and I took my opportunity to tag along. It was a fantastic experience and in the 55 mins before coffee in Salles, I experienced cycling as a team sport. Sucked along by this slick machine of a peloton, I could not believe I was part of this train, averaging a shade over 20 mph (something I’d only read about in cycling books, called “evens”). It felt really efficient, but I was unsure whether I could have sustained this all day, so I re-joined my rightful group and we tried to replicate the techniques with some success – hence what I consider to be an impressive 14.5 mph average pace achieved over the 100 miles. We stopped for lunch at the side of the lake near Mimizan. However, there was a temporary loss of sense of humour when this added 5 miles to the route - on this occasion, we would have been happy to eat by the side of the road. However, for the chicken salad and with Kikki on hand to massage a few muscles back to life, it was all worthwhile. With the bulk of the ride behind us, the final run into Castets was a blast. Skedaddle-David rode with us through a wooded section; once again, I comfortably maintained a 20 mph cruising speed. I like flat roads! The oddly branded Hippopotamus restaurant had a celebratory mood that night. David Bennett (by now referred to simply as the Time Lord) was a little late for dinner, rumoured to be polishing his tardis. With nearly 450 miles under our belts, we knew we were going to make it, so a small locally sourced cognac seemed appropriate!

Day 6 Friday 8th July
Castets to Biarritz 46.9 miles 1,221 ft 14.5 mph

A short ride to knock off before lunch! The group was less disciplined. Some people stopped for an ice cream at the beach resort of Capbreton, whilst we steamed through. A nasty little 6% climb into the town of Tarnos served as a warning of things to come, but couldn’t spoil the mood. Govind, Jon, Stuart, James and I waited for rest to catch up at the muster point 8 miles north of Biarritz, then we all cycled in together. Simone was at our hotel, waiting to greet us. An original member of the T500 group, she had broken her collar bone in her last training ride the week before departure, so it was great to that she was fit enough to fly out. A few quick photographs and Twitter messages were sent back home, then it was straight to the pool for to relax and sleep. However, we couldn’t unwind fully as our minds turned to the Col du Tourmalet. The patio area became an impromptu bike workshop as the racers swapped or removed components to save weight or change gear ratios. Odds were discussed and the smart money seemed to be on either Chris or David. Would experience overcome youth? Reminiscent of Tim Moore’s book, French Revolutions (compulsory pre-tour reading) 4-5 of the group shaved their legs – the sign, allegedly, of a true cyclist. Although billed as a free evening, when folks could do their own thing, many again chose to eat together – a sign the group enjoyed each other’s company. After dinner in a Basque restaurant, 6 of us including Skedaddle-David and Imogen strolled down to the beach, which became a gentle paddle – then for Scott B and me a full blown swim in the surf! An absolutely fantastic feeling. I temporarily forgot about the Col du Tourmalet.

Day 7 Saturday 9th July
Luz-Saint-Sauveur to Col du Tourmalet 11.8 miles 4,552 ft 4.5 mph

Thanks to James, we were all presented with customised “King of the Mountain” jerseys for the big day. So in our striking red polka dot jerseys, we boarded the bus to the Col du Tourmalet. The reputation of this “most feared mountain” was having its effect and nerves were visible. Some shut themselves away listening to iPods, others released energy with banter. I was simply scared - I never expected to take part in this “optional” section, yet somehow I’d been swept along. Kikki led the stretching session in the car park as we awaited delivery of our bikes, much to the amusement of passing French cyclists – all of whom looked frighteningly professional. What on earth was I doing here!?. We were then given a choice of an 18 Km or 3 Km warm up, along the gorge (“just” a 3-4% gradient). I’ll leave you to guess which one I chose! “Just take the left turn at the village of Luz-Saint-Sauveur and keep going up” was our instructions. Gulp!! Nothing had prepared me for this and as soon as I started, my training felt woefully inadequate. I am not built as a climber – just another 20 Kg to loose then. Any plans to take it steady and keep my heart rate in a “safe zone” went out of the window, as my pulse rose from 140, through 150 to 160 bpm, despite crawling along at 4-5 mph in my lowest possible gear (my Scott Addict R3 Triple has 30 gears – I needed more!). It was constantly, relentlessly, unendingly uphill; it never flattened out so there was no chance to recover. I’m not ashamed to admit that I stopped on occasions. I had to. With 1 Km to go (apologies for the switch in currency, but there are signs every 1 Km) the route had a sting in its tail as the average 7% gradient appeared to notch up still further. With 800m to go I think I had a minor cyclists “bonk” – my body was devoid of all sources of energy and started shutting down. I felt really cold and doubt crept in that I would actually make it. With 100m to go, I could see David Bennett urging me over the line, but I couldn’t get there. But after another lengthy pause, I final called on all my reserves to lurch over the line. “I feel sick” was all I could say as I unclipped, abandoned my bike and sought refuge in the hut at the top. Thankfully, they had seen people like me before, so a mug of chocolat chaud à l’orange and a bowl of pasta bolognaise restored some balance. I was told afterwards that my time was 2 hours 37 minutes. That didn’t matter to me. What mattered was that I was still alive and yes, I’d done it!! The rest of the team were congratulating David Butler (a remarkable 1 hour 35 minutes), Chris & Scott B for their podium finishes. Meanwhile, I was quietly proud of Stuart finishing ahead of me. Of the T500, 1 did not start, 1 did not finish but 17 of the 19 made it. They had waited for me but were now ready to move on, so we quickly put on extra layers of clothing ready for descent. Col du Tourmalet to Sainte Marie-de-Campan 10.4 miles (3,995) ft 22.7 mph

Whilst Chris and David raced each other on the decent, reaching crazy speeds of 50 mph (on a bike in lycra!) I was far more cautious; gripping the brakes and doing all I could to limit my top speed to 35.3 mph. I can’t say I enjoyed it; rather I survived it, in a time of 27 minutes. The finishing line was L’Ardoisiere – a gite in the town centre owned by a bike enthusiast. It has great displays on the wall of all the Tour de France history. I half joked about selling all my bike gear on Ebay. Last man down was our Kiwi, Brian, who stole the show by running in shouting “where is the dunny!?” I slept in the minibus back to Pau.

We had a fun night out to celebrate in Pau involving the best entrecote steak in the world. We got the speeches out of the way early, thankfully before the mojito cocktails started flowing. I retired to bed at 1.45am, whilst Aussie Paul, Kiwi Brian and Stuart headed off to enjoy Pau’s nightlife.

Thanks to all who sponsored and supported us, I helped raise £2,500 for the Prince’s Trust and as a team we raised over £35,000 for a variety of charities selected by each rider.

An amazing trip and a great bunch of people to ride with.

Memories that will last a long, long time.

Russ Cummings - July 2011

Skedaddle Bikers help to raise money for Cancer Care

Skedaddle — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 11:32:36 +0000

Belated thanks to all of you that made a donation to Marie Curie in memory of Jill Graham and well done to all the Skedaddlers who took part in the Northern Rock Cyclone earlier in the year.

With all your help, we collectively raised £2,500.00 for Marie Curie Cancer Care. Details are on the website http://www.justgiving.com/skedaddlecyclone

I hadn’t known Jill that long really, but long enough to know that she was an amazing person. I think the combination of the challenging ride and the fun we had on the day, would have been right up her street, a fitting tribute to a wonderful woman.

Thanks again Paul Snedker - Director and founder Saddle Skedaddle