Cycling, of course!
In two weeks, on Saturday 30th (wind less than a gazillion mph from all directions as only constraint) a hardcore SAP cycling team led by Thomas will arrive Provence where I (and hopefully a few more) will join up for a ride up Mt Ventoux for charity!
Cycling not having changed much last hundred years - a bit more carbon and titanium involved for sure - it is still a sport of pure power and pain and capability...
So there the SAP will have a nose in front of the thingamy, no new ways of getting up there! Just grit teeth and enjoy the pain. Capability will beat potential this time :)
For you who do not know the hill here's a graph of what we're facing - note the 8 kms of about 10%! You'd have a hard time climbing such hills with your jeep with chains on a winter day to put it like that...
This will be the first of hopefully an annual event - so get out your gear and start training for the next one!
In the meantime just pop over here and give for the warchild charity - we on our side will promise to sweat profusely and do our best! Your donations will be much appreciated!
Video and photo crew will document and we'll all blog about it afterwards for your enjoyment!
Here are some earlier posts with more images:
Mont Ventoux, the echo chamber, web 2.0 and a good cause.
to the mountain top an beyond!
And a couple at Hamish' site here.
Sig,
Given that I spent last week miles away from my bike, you may have me here. What ever happens it will be painful but fun.
Thomas
Posted by: Thomas Otter | September 18, 2006 at 15:34
Thomas, I suspect I'll be wheezing nicely alongside!
Just used the eminent power/speed calculator Hamish found (http://w3.iac.net/~curta/bp/velocityMetric/velocity.html) using data from Sunday's rather leisurely ride up my local little hill - depressing results, ETA is now 2 hours 13 minutes after start ;)
(Last I did it it was 1 hour 45... seems travel and late evenings at the office takes it's toll. If only the US chaps could get up a few hours earlier I'd be in better form :D)
Posted by: sig | September 18, 2006 at 15:52
pure power pain and capability - and don't forget performance-enhancing drugs.
Posted by: James Governor | September 20, 2006 at 16:51