The term stress test was the term that was key. What it meant to us was that we were going travel 240 miles over 'challenging' country to test out the support vehicle, the strength of Tom as the rider, the telecoms, the foods, the timings, how the foods may work and much more besides.
We started from Brize Norton, and regular readers of this blog will know that Brize is also the place where the UK's soldiers fly into and out of also the place where the dead from Afghanistan are repatriated. link to repatriation Blog
08:30 in the morning of Monday saw us collected Tom, obviously, but also supporters as well as the sports specialists. Its has been one of the many joys that has come out of their challenge, how certain people have 'stepped up' and offered their services without condition.
Two such have been Adam Dobson, specialist Sports Injury Physiotherapist. Also Carl Whitehead, personal trainer specialising in extreme endurance events and sports.
The Repatriation Memorial Garden still carry the flowers from the previous week's events, this when the bodies of six service men were returned, see the previous post regarding this.
Tom was suitably clad for the cold and, surprisingly, was quite happy to allow me to take his photo with some unusual head gear.
The first day was a calm day, some hills but not too tough, that was to come. We soon learnt of the value of having the stops in the right place, the lunch of brown pasta and tomatoes was ideal for the rider and a taste of what is to come. Each day will mean large amounts of calories will need to be taken in by the riders, importantly these need to be in a form that is slow release and concentrated, enter the pasta meal, the porridge (oats) breakfast, the banana. In addition the high energy sports drinks also containing the irons and salts lost by such extreme effort. What Tom did find was how the correct foods helped him to cover the ground well.
The first night stop was at Salisbury, and then up at 5:00 am to eat lots of porridge, banana and get on the road after more high energy drinks by dawn and after the sun was up. Cycling on busy roads at that time of the day can be dangerous so Hi Vis clothes the order of the day. The second day was tough, the road to Chard is one that seems you either going up a hill or about to. And those hills were tough but Tom did his 84 miles that day and came through it well.
The final day was more of the same but more so, more hills, more heat, (we are enjoying very un-sesonal and warm weather in the UK just now) - to finish on Plymouth Hoe looking out over the Atlantic Ocean. This when Tom had an interview with Radio Plymouth on the iPhone and the following morning at 07:00 with BBC Radio Devon.
To hear the podcast click here
A very good trip, some very useful lessons learnt for the biggie that starts in a little more than a fortnights time.
Hi Bruce and Tom! Wow, what an achievement. We thought of you today as we watched the television coverage on the news of another three young men, fathers of young children, being repatriated through the Memorial Garden. Heartbreaking, but we remain inspired by your brilliant commitment - this ride is already a major achievement and we can't wait to see what you go on to do as you redidicate yourself each day to this fantastic cause when you go on the road in the US.
ReplyDeleteTom, Bruce,
ReplyDeleteBest of luck from the Liddell household. It is a huge commitment and a tremendous cause. We will follow your closely as fellow US and UK citizens. May the wind remain at your back and the air remain in your tires!