Continental Blog – Day 7

We started out from Pamplona at 08.00am just as it was getting light to ride 105 miles over a very hilly course with two first category climbs. Pamplona was full of people going to watch the Bull fighting at the local arena which was an impressive building. More importantly they also had the annual game of letting the bulls run through the streets. Some of the pictures of local people being gored by bulls in previous years adorned the walls of one of the bars that we visited.

The day started briskly until we hit the ‘El Paso’ American Bar at 24 miles !!! The group seemed incapable of restraint and stopped for a lengthy break. The building looked like a prop for an American Cowboy movie with saloon swing doors on a wood clad building (All authentic and imported from America, apparently). The group were unable to resist the temptations and had a second breakfast. At this point we heard that Stephen Pipes had not only lost his way but had found his way onto a motorway and was subsequently escorted off the motorway by the police.

Here we get to the scourge of normal mild mannered people, the ‘Mapnav’ !!! Despite Stephen’s undoubted intellectual ability he was deceived by his Garmin into going miles off course and ending up on a motorway. Lesser mortals like me rely on the numerous 10 foot by 10 foot signs saying Madrid as we kept to the same road all day !!!!!

The story of the day was that Pam, Normand and Ian Larner who waited until 12.15 at the El Paso bar for Stephen Pipes and then battling through the day to get to the Hotel before 08.00pm. It was really good to see the group hug when they eventually arrived at 08.05pm at the Hotel. Brilliant effort on a very difficult day. Pam, Normand and Ian are all really accomplished riders and it is clear that they are enjoying the ride.

At 12.15pm 35 miles further up the road the leading riders were arriving in Cintruenigo at the 58 mile point of the 105 mile run. There we all had another brilliant lunch. We are all humbled by David Lane and Hannah Rafferty’s efforts to make yet another event of lunch.

The lead group saw Joe winning the King of the Mountain prize on the first climb but being beaten by none other than Tim Frank on the second major climb of the day. But Joe retains the Polka Dot jersey. Rob and Neil were also riding really strongly in the mountains.

Lionel had another strong day but did describe the ride as boring ! This was based on the monotonous series of hills as we climbed ever higher hitting 2,000 metres for the day. Sheer pain !!! Guy, Tim Stevens, Lionel rode as a team really strongly as they have been throughout the ride.

Jamie, Pete, Scott and David Pope, Mike, Caroline and Barnaby also rode as a team and showed high fives at the finish !!! It is really interesting seeing the bonding between people when faced with serious physical challenges. Mike who organises us brilliantly had a very scaring moment today as he experienced wheel wobble coming down one of the mountains. This is a harmonics issue where the frequency of vibrations cause the bike to behave irresponsibly. Many of us have experience the harmonics and it is really scary. Mike as a tough competitor took it all in his stride.

I should not of course neglect Andy Hore who has been offered a place on the GB Olympic rowing squad but has to give up professional Rugby League. Andy is really powerful despite not having cycled much in his short life. Andy is a natural sportsman who exhibits tenacity and all the qualities of a successful professional athlete.

We are now are 629 miles and everyone is in good health and good spirits. I did wonder if Jamie had done enough preparation for the trip. He is a workaholic and had minimal time to train but his determination is clear for everyone to see and he has now passed the major challenges of the ride and is getting stronger daily. As expected Caroline is a very strong rider and is taking the mountains in her stride.

Post by Andrew Gibson