Story
<p><strong>5th July 2011 - Final Update</strong></p>
<p>We've got better photo's but not quite sorted them yet!</p>
<p><span style="color: #ff0000;"><span style="color: #000000;">Anyway,</span><strong> WE DID IT! </strong></span> Alan P got round quickest by far in 11hrs 27mins total time and 9hrs 58mins riding time. Amazing ride. I did just less than 14 hours ride time and 10hrs 16mins total time and Phil was similar. So, for those that know their cycling Alan P proudly wears the 'King of the Mountains' jersey in the picture.</p>
<p>We have lots of stories to tell including broken spokes, buckled wheels, altitude sickness hitting hard, spare wheel gearing fit for the flat not the hills and that's just Phil! But, if you want to know more just shout and we'll tell you.</p>
<p>The summary is that it was a very hard challenge in the mountains, but also incredibly enjoyable and fulfilling. The smile on Alan's face when he finished (seen it on video) alone was worth the entrance fee. In addition we have raised in excess of £3k for Cancer Research including gift aid, and had loads of positive messages about the challenge from people. We're pleased to have done it for such a great charity. We're thrilled to have done it in memory of a great fella Alan Clark. Phil and I are really pleased to have rode for Team CF and I hope to do more in the future and help that charity too. Riding with cyclists as far as you can see in font up the snaking mountain passes, and as far as you can see behind with 9000 people on the road was truly amazing.</p>
<p>On the Sunday we all went out for a ride! (Oh yes we did!!)</p>
<p>A special word to our supporters, Richard Farrar who did most of the driving, superb job, and James Scatchard who looked after the bikes and took most of the photographs. He also mounted Alp D'Huez the day before in 1hr 35mins, very respectable time, and he rasied in excess of £500 for Alzheimer's Society.</p>
<p>If you fancy seeing what we did then watch the tour de france highlights, Stage 19 on ITV4 around 7pm on Friday 22nd July for an hour. You'll see the pro's take on Telegraph, Galibier, and Alp D'Huez. 68 miles. It promises to be thrilling. We did the same except we had to do another 40 miles, and another big mountain before these called Glandon.</p>
<p>Anyway, job done, thanks for the support - amazing and never taken for granted..</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Ade, Alan, and Phil</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>2nd July 2011</p>
<p>They all managed to finish! Alan finished in 10 hours 15 mins around 8.20pm (french time). Ade and Phil finished a couple of hours later. Will let the boys add the nitty gritty details and photos later! Well done to all of them. Really hard challenge and they all did fantastically well!</p>
<p>Karen</p>
<p>28th June 2011</p>
<p>Wow! We're over the line! £2000+ raised, thanks so much. Looks like we'll be well over by the time we ride on 2nd July. Amazing support. Thank you! </p>
<p>Ade, Alan & Phil.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Please note, you can now sponsor us via text message. Text <strong>MARM99 £x</strong> (where x is the amount you want to sponsor us for - remember the space before the pound sign) to <strong>70070</strong></p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Ade</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Update 26 June 2011.</p>
<p>Less than a week to go. £1160 raised, thanks so much, please support us in our aim to get to £2000 for Cancer Research.</p>
<p>We're all just about ready, we completed the Ron Kitching Sportive yesterday, 150km and 2000m of climbing. So, effort wise it feels like we're about halfway there (worrying!!).</p>
<p>We're looking forward to it but also a little scared.</p>
<p>Follow us on facebook 'Ade, Alan, Phil Marmotte 2011' on the day (we'll need to accept you into the group so please apply asap) or by all means follow us using the offical web monitor of where we are:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.sportcommunication.info/ilovemarmotte/cartemarmotte.php?dossard=7321">http://www.sportcommunication.info/ilovemarmotte/cartemarmotte.php?dossard=7321</a></p>
<p>(Ade)</p>
<p><a href="http://www.sportcommunication.info/ilovemarmotte/cartemarmotte.php?dossard=7319">http://www.sportcommunication.info/ilovemarmotte/cartemarmotte.php?dossard=7319</a></p>
<p>(Alan)</p>
<p><a href="http://www.sportcommunication.info/ilovemarmotte/cartemarmotte.php?dossard=7335">http://www.sportcommunication.info/ilovemarmotte/cartemarmotte.php?dossard=7335</a></p>
<p>(Phil)</p>
<p>Thsi widget shows exactly where we are.</p>
<p>From a training perspective James is ready for Alp D'Huez (we'll update our FB Group on his result on Friday), Alan is on fire, and Phil and I are best described as 'slightly worried'. But. we'll do our very best for the charity and representing general mad stuborn people all round.</p>
<p>Thanks for the continued support</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Ade</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Update 12 June 2011.</p>
<p>Less than three weeks to go. We're amazed by the support so far, thanks so much.</p>
<p>Team update....</p>
<p>Alan Paterson is on fire and ready for anything, his broken finger is healing well and he's happy.</p>
<p>Phil is starting to mount his attacks now and looks ready and fit for the alps.</p>
<p>I'm getting there too. Feeling quite good on the bike finally! Around 500 miles clocked up in the last three weeks.</p>
<p>Team Kit has turned up, thanks to Chris Francis and Martin Dainty of Team CF for sorting that out, there is a photo on the site to look at. Myself and Phil are riding in these colours. Two big weekends of training to go and then we're off.</p>
<p>A few pieces of info. I've set-up a closed facebook group, look us up at Ade, Alan, Phil Marmotte 2011 and either one of us or James Scatchard will accept you and you can follow progress monitored from the team car on the day (2/7/2011).</p>
<p>Anyone fancying sponsoring a cycling team riding to raise awareness of Cystic Fibrosis then look us up on Facebook Team Cyctic Fibrosis, and contact Martin Dainty</p>
<p>Finally, James Scatchard, our main bike mechanic man, driver, and friend to the stars completed his first century with us last week, doing 115 miles! Well done James, he's riding up Alp D'Huez the day before we roll out for our little social pedal, his charity page can be found here</p>
<p><a href="http://www.justgiving.com/James-Scatchard">http://www.justgiving.com/James-Scatchard</a></p>
<p>Donations to Alzheimer's Society</p>
<p>That's it for now.</p>
<p>Thanks for the support</p>
<p>Ade, Alan, Phil</p>
<p>______________________________</p>
<p>Hi,</p>
<p>Thanks for taking the time to visit our JustGiving page.</p>
<p>First, the serious bit....</p>
<p>The charity chosen this year is Cancer Research. Many people are affected by the horrific disease including our friends and families over the years. There is one person all three of us knew very well who sadly died last year. Alan 'Sniffer' Clark who worked with us all at Jaywing was a fine young gentleman. His family lost him last year after he had suffered for some time. As well as the personal drive we all have for riding up these daft hills, we do hope we can ease the pain for future generations in some small way so their lives are not cut dramatically short like Alan's. If he were here today he'd tell us we were 'mad, crazy', and then he'd probably chuck some money at us and laugh/smile in amusement. For the cyclists reading 'Chapeau' to Sniffer, a fine yound Scottish gent. As well as for us, this ones for him.</p>
<p>The story so far is:</p>
<p>2009 - £1500 raised for Cancer Resarch, 2010 - £1100 raised for Cystic Fibrosis both through Cycling Challenges.</p>
<p>Thsi year we're taking one on to top them all. It is called 'The Marmotte'. It is apparently extremely difficult, climbing four of the big hills of the tour de france in one day. We'll be part of 7000 attempting to complete it in the day. Stats are 108 miles, 4 high mountains, 5180 Metres (or 16,945 feet) of vertical height gain. </p>
<p>All Tour de France climbs are rated in terms of difficulty with the hardest known as 'Hors Categorie' which literally means 'Beyond Clasification'. All four mountains here are Hors Categorie (I am starting to change my mind as I write!)</p>
<p>We're attempting it, I cannot promise to finish, but we will make a very brave attempt and the whole point here is it is very hard for blokes who just ride bikes, it's hard enough for proper cyclists. It will probably take us about 14 hours if we have the legs for it. It's uphill for 42 Miles with an average gradient of around 7%, peaking just under 12% (must remember the climbing ropes and crampons).</p>
<p>So, we ride on the day the Tour De France starts, and we take on some of its toughest climbs. The team this year is Alan Paterson, Phil Levell and myself. We have two people in support in James Scatchard (Driver and Mechanic) and Richard Farrar (Driver, Navigator and Entertainment). James is himself taking on one of the climbs the day before we ride out, so good luck James! We'll be with him all the way, although in the car and eating pasta while he suffers. </p>
<p>Those who read our thread last year may recall that the Team Manager of Team CF (Martin Dainty) struggled to get my team kit in time for the ride in June 2010. Well, the good news is that it is still on order and due to arrive in May 2011 (18 months after I ordered it), so I am hopeful of riding in the Team CF colours this time around (I have ordered a back up shirt just in case).</p>
<p>Keep coming back, we'll try and add more boring facts and amusement along the way, and thanks for your support.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Ade, Alan, and Phil</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.</p>
<p>So please dig deep and donate now.</p>