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UPDATE: Well, I've done it - just about! As we were staying a few miles away from Gaiole In Chianti, the town the race started and finished, there were a few more miles than planned on. Plus we went for a ride along part of the route the day before as a 'warm up' (not really needed when it was 26 degrees celsius!). So in total I did 96km over two days rather 75km on one day - I hope that's enough effort for those sponsoring me because I could barely walk afterwards!
I've published another picture that was taken at the top of a hill climb up to a castle - looking a bit red already and it was only an hour into the ride! Just wanted to prove I was putting in plenty of effort.
And one more thing - I haven't *quite* reached my target of £500 but I did grow a moustache of sorts so any last minute donations would be very welcome considering the funny looks me & the rest of The Quattro Formaggios got.
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Not quite sure how I ended up getting roped into this but it's only a few weeks away and I've barely started training!
UPDATE: It's actually only a few days away now and I've not managed anything close to the distance I need but what the heck, I can't back out now I've had so many generous donations can I?!
Basically, I'm going to the region of with some friends where we've entered a vintage bike event held on 4th Oct 2009 called L'Eroica. I was sold on the food, drink, vineyards and good company but now that it's only a few weeks away, the reality of doing a 75km cycle ride on a 1965-ish bike (see Photo 2!) when I've never cycled further than 20 miles (and not even that in the last couple of years!) has sunk in.
The event itself will be really interesting (see http://www.eroica.it/index_en.php and note the words 'heroic' and more importantly 'suffer'!) as it's an attempt to preserve the old traditions in that part of the world and a large portion of the event is on old white gravel roads to make it even more demanding! Wearing goggles with the vintage outfits looks authentic but is also pretty handy by all accounts once 3000 fellow cyclists set off in a cloud of white dust!
The reason I'm raising money is by accident really - I bought the Raleigh bike off eBay from St Giles Hospice so I've indirectly donated £155 for them already but when I read up what good work they do and talked to a couple of people working there who help run fundraising for the hospice I thought it was too good an opportunity to miss.
A more personal connection and why I admire what hospices do is to do with my Auntie Susan who was my mum's sister. When I was about 20 my Auntie Susan, who was only in her early 30's, was suffering from cancer in the brain and lungs and hadn't got long to live. As my parents were both nurses she was allowed to come to our home for her last few weeks because she didn't want to die in hospital. Most people don't have that option but they do want to die with dignity and hospices such as St Giles allow that as well as providing the support to their families.
On a lighter note, I promise you I need all the incentive I can get because I'm pretty unfit at the moment, I'm told there are lots of gravelly hills and I'm going with some very competitive (and much younger & fitter!) friends so the more bids I get, the more I'll feel obliged NOT to divert to a nice taverna after half an hour.
PS If you’ve bothered looking at the L’Eroica website, you’ll have noticed an awful lot of big moustaches – I’m prepared to consider growing one (or attempting to!) if the donations go past £500. I’m hoping that’s a safe bet but you never know….(UPDATE: I stopped shaving on Friday so that gives me 9 days of stubble to shape into something resembling a 'tache - but I'll shave it off if I don't get close to the target amount!! Come on, I'll publish photos taken of me looking even more ridiculous - have a look at the new photos of the vintage gear for heaven's sake!!)
Please note: I'm paying for all transport, accommodation & expenses myself so don't worry - I'm not getting my trip to Tuscany funded! Every penny donated will go straight to St Giles Hospice.
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