http://posseecosse1.blogspot.com/
The site is under construction but as one blog closes another one gets started!!!
See you on the other side.
Monday 5 April 2010
............ and a celebration of a year of experience
Many have asked me the question - was it all worth it?
One year ago, my previous employer and I decided it was time to part company. The Epic Caper gave me a focus to train for a life experience should new employment not come my way in early course.
I was fortunate that new employment did come my way ( but not before a month cycling in the French Alps) and so the challenge of fitting training in with work and family commitments along with other stuff became an extra challenge.
The Epic Caper brought friends together frequently to enjoy the cycling experience and share 'war stories'.
Our 'victory send off' party turns out to have had more in common with Ally's Tartan Army Epic Caper than perhaps we had planned. Like the Scotland team of that era, you could say we left the Cape Epic undefeated!
But a lot of people had a great night and we raised almost £2000 for Aberlour Child Care Trust in doing it.
At the international party on the Friday night in Cape Town many participants were pleased to meet the Scottish contenders and the camaraderie amongst all competitors was fantastic.
The night after the crash, I would be taking spin too far to say I was anything other than severely disappointed, partially for everyone who had helped us on our journey. But accidents happen. The individual ( a Belgian) was very apologetic. It was after all an accident. Some might say the Scots were a serious threat and there was a plot to stop them winning at all costs. However this would too far a stretch for even a Jason Bourne assignment. It was an accident.
On reflection the next day, we were in South Africa, in the heart of the wine region, in 30 degrees plus. What is there to bemoan!
By the end of the week we had climbed a huge pass and cycled the route of the Argus Cycle race in cluding Marshalls Peak above, visited the end of Africa - the Cape of Good Hope, and seen some stunning scenery.
And so to the question - was it all worth it?
Most definitely.
Would I do it again - not a chance!
I hope to see all 2269 blog followers on the new site - Around the world in 80 (Satur) days, coming to a sceen near you
A Sad Farewell to the Epic Caper
It's just over a year since Bigman and I were fortunate to gain entry in the 'toughest mountain bike race in the world' and what a year it has been.
This will be my last post on the Epic Caper site (except for one more to send a link to the new blog site that we are about to start!) and I suppose that I wanted to reflect a little on what the year has meant to me personally.
It has been a year that I will remember and I have a terrible memory. From the first shout of excitement as Moonwalker won our entry to the disappointment of the crash and ultimately to the realisation that this wasn't about the Cape Epic as a race it was about us as people.
I have learned so much about myself during this past year. All the events I've done have been long distance solo efforts without a team mate. This race was the first I've done with a race partner. He may say with 12 months of experience that I should stick to the solo races!! The year also wasn't just about the 2 of us doing the race. In reality it could of been any 2 of the Posse travelling.
It's not all about the guys cycling. Our support crew with Wingman at the helm have been immense. Nothing too much trouble and wise council when required. The support and friendship that I personally have found around the group that I'm proud to call my friends has made the experience one of the best. You all know who you are and you are top people.
The experience of working as a team has really helped me in life. I have learned so much from the guys and girls who supported us riding out in the sun, rain, wind, hot (not often), cold (more often) and dark taught me about playing a team game and learning to hopefully be a better person as I move on. Time will tell on that one I suppose.
Bigman was a top team mate and great to be around. We gained an intuative knowledge during the year when to speed up or slow down based on how each other is feeling. It is interesting but you definitely have good and bad days on the bike - some days the legs are lead and others when preparation has been exactly the same are dreadful. So we worked together at the pace of the slowest with the Bigman dropping back to my pace or vice versa.
The encouragement of knowing that someone is watching for you is great and I think it's something that we have in the posse.
So on to a new challenge. There will be another blog with hopefully more contributors from the posse and something that we can all enjoy and take part in. I'll leave it to the Bigman to explain the detail and I'll do the techy bits and set up the Blog......
Link to follow.
Thank you all - it's been a blast!
John
This will be my last post on the Epic Caper site (except for one more to send a link to the new blog site that we are about to start!) and I suppose that I wanted to reflect a little on what the year has meant to me personally.
It has been a year that I will remember and I have a terrible memory. From the first shout of excitement as Moonwalker won our entry to the disappointment of the crash and ultimately to the realisation that this wasn't about the Cape Epic as a race it was about us as people.
I have learned so much about myself during this past year. All the events I've done have been long distance solo efforts without a team mate. This race was the first I've done with a race partner. He may say with 12 months of experience that I should stick to the solo races!! The year also wasn't just about the 2 of us doing the race. In reality it could of been any 2 of the Posse travelling.
It's not all about the guys cycling. Our support crew with Wingman at the helm have been immense. Nothing too much trouble and wise council when required. The support and friendship that I personally have found around the group that I'm proud to call my friends has made the experience one of the best. You all know who you are and you are top people.
The experience of working as a team has really helped me in life. I have learned so much from the guys and girls who supported us riding out in the sun, rain, wind, hot (not often), cold (more often) and dark taught me about playing a team game and learning to hopefully be a better person as I move on. Time will tell on that one I suppose.
Bigman was a top team mate and great to be around. We gained an intuative knowledge during the year when to speed up or slow down based on how each other is feeling. It is interesting but you definitely have good and bad days on the bike - some days the legs are lead and others when preparation has been exactly the same are dreadful. So we worked together at the pace of the slowest with the Bigman dropping back to my pace or vice versa.
The encouragement of knowing that someone is watching for you is great and I think it's something that we have in the posse.
So on to a new challenge. There will be another blog with hopefully more contributors from the posse and something that we can all enjoy and take part in. I'll leave it to the Bigman to explain the detail and I'll do the techy bits and set up the Blog......
Link to follow.
Thank you all - it's been a blast!
John
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