How did I (as you know a biker of six months) come to an ungainly stop in front of Steve Parrish (MotoGP commentator) and Marc Potter (MCN editor) and end up training with Si Pavey (5 times Dakar winner) in Wales at the suggestion of Ross Noble (very funny man) in order to ride over the Pyrenees with Chris Evans (not of Radio 2)?
The pressure is on and I'm training with Si Pavey 8 times Dakar competitor at the BMW offroad school in Wales this weekend. Mr T is home alone with the girls. I have to admit, I'm freaking out ever so slightly - well I'm nervous anyways. Got a lovely new camelback today (to carry drinks) from Martin and Donna and am sitting here wondering whether water will be strong enough to calm said nerves. I'll be riding a BMW G 650 GS , the biggest bike I've ever ridden is hubby's KTM 400 XC!
You may remember, I came to a rather ungainly stop in the gravel car park of The Queen Adelaide pub in Cambridgeshire. This particular piece of rather inadequate bike handling was in front of not only Steve Parrish (the MotoGP commentator), but also Ross Noble (top comedian and biker), Marc Potter(editor of MotorcycleNews), Billy Ward, working on the Big Africa project with Charley Boorman and many other good and great of the biking world.
Unable to be beamed up in embarrassment or spontaneously combust, I parked up without a spill (just) and was tempted to keep my helmet on!
It was then that Ross Noble quietly suggested that some time with Si Pavey for some serious off road training might be a top idea. So when the opportunity presented itself, I panicked mildly and took it!
As an executive coach, I understand the need to harness both one’s confidence and positivity with technical/ professional expertise and capability. Confidence alone will only get one so far in any environment, be it leading a world class organisation or riding a bike. And my skills and capability on an off road bike are currently still lacking. As Ross Noble will testify!
The reason for all this, as you know, is to be able to ride over the Pyrenees with Chris Evans who works with Cyril Despres, one of the top enduro riders on the planet to raise £7500 for Great Ormond Street Hospital and KidsCo.
Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) will always be important after our eldest daughter was admitted for a benign lipoma in 2005.
Yippee! Little update; we have raised just shy of £3500 through kind donations and also sponsors of logos on the bikes, including Royston-based, GB Racing, Special Little People, a company specialising in aromatherapy for children, Esse Retail and Spa in Melbourn, Torque Racing and Stevenage-based Werx and ZeroNineMX . Support has also been given by OceanOne boutiques in the West Country, DawsonVAServices in Newcastle and Eagle Performance.
The fundraising auction for this challenge is on 30th July at the Queen Adelaide in Croydon. Thanks Michelle for so kindly hosting it. We now have some fab signed childrens books, The Tygrine Cat series by Inbali Iserles.
The next blog after two intensive days of training will either be elation or the polar opposite. I may need to lie in a darkened room for an hour or two and probably may have one or two tender spots!
Sorry to be a pedant, have been following your progress for a while, but I must correct you on Si Pavey's Dakar history. I'm sure he'd be very glad to have been thought of as a Dakar winner and let's face it if you finish I'm sure it feels very much like you have won, however he's more likely a 5 time finisher.
ReplyDeleteAll the best with your preparations, I myself will be on the start line for the Ryedale 2 day rally in July, with a lot less prep than you.