H\Blog
March 2008

C2C Day 6 - Aix en Provence to Cannes Date added 12.03.08 by Greg Moss Publication Well it’s all over. Spent the first 130km of the day making my lungs burn flinging myself up and down some big, big hills – completely knackering but exhilarating. The last stage was the official roll-in to Cannes. So the London to Cannes contingent was joined by the parallel timed Barcelona to Cannes ride and we snaked our way down into Cannes for a lap of the Croisette, riders’ medals and the obligatory photocall. It will be strange to get back to real life (although I don’t think MIPIM could ever be described as that), real clothing and normal eating habits. Thoroughly enjoyed the whole thing and very happy with getting through 1500km without mishap! …And we had sunshine today. Today’s Distance count = 188km Posterior Comfort Status = steady. Hill Count = Consistent.

C2C Day 5 - Chanas to Aix en Provence Date added 11.03.08 by Greg Moss Publication Yet again up and out with le morning coques. Today was hotly touted to be dreadful weather wise and we weren’t let down. The morning was initially okay, but then steadily deteriorated in persistent drabness. It felt a lot more like Pembrokeshire than Provence (albeit with vineyards). Having said that, the stages were still very good, rolling roads, steady climbs and swooping descents. Last stage a little grim though, the collected rain in my shoes turned steadily colder meaning I couldn’t feel my feet by the end. Big day tomorrow, fast ride to Cannes… Today’s Distance count = A liberal 251km Posterior Comfort Status = A little jarring to the coxix, but the heavy embrocation of two moving parts is a beautiful thing. Hill Count = Some tough ‘uns, especially if you’re doing them at full pelt.

a. C2C Day 4 - Dijon to Chanas Date added 10.03.08 by Greg Moss Publication Out again first thing. After a couple of fairly nice flatish stages, we were hit square in the handlebars with a vicious headwind, which was the defining feature of the rest of the day. Apart from the fact it slows everything down, the noise of it howling round your ears also starts to get to you after a while. The group dynamic has definitely formed now, along with a clear playground rivalry between the three teams (although Orange is most definitely a superior ride). Life on the road has also devolved to an existence of eating whatever you can, as quickly as you can, combined with liberal and indiscriminate urination at selected points all across rural France. We’re in the southern half of the country now, and you can palpably see the landscape start to change, rather than the mistletoe on the poplars of the north, we’re now whizzing by vines and the odd cypress tree. All we need now is the sun to shine… Today’s Distance count = A steady 228km Posterior Comfort Status = Remarkably, now worse than yesterday, which is an achievement. Hill Count = Good last stage though, with two really long climbs. There was a bit of racing up the first for some, which was good.

b. C2C Day 3 - Reims To Dijon Date added 10.03.08 by Greg Moss Publication Tres freezing setting out at 6 this morning. A bit hesitant during the first hour was foggy, dark and about minus two. Managed to get a puncture towards the end of the first stage which was my first technical mishap. Overall, another days of 5 out of 6 stages, meaning about 10 hours dans le saddle. Distance count slightly shorter than stage 2 at about 235km. Nice to see the countryside getting a bit more interesting, there’s only so much arable farming you need see in a day. Team HB all in good spirits. Posterior Comfort Status = Thank the Lord for Assos Cream Hill Count = A bit up and down and then a few really good sections of proper steady climbing (with equally good speedy descents).

c. C2C Day 2 - Calais to Reims Date added 10.03.08 by Greg Moss Publication Out bright (or rather dark) and early today. The first day proper was all about people finding their rhythm and getting themselves organised. Left Calais at 6am and got to Reims about 13 hours later. I was feeling pretty good today, so I rode five of the six legs in all, about 260km - expending in excess of 7000 calories as I went. Hence, my second major preoccupation of the day, after keeping on the bike and myself off the tarmac has been trying to satisfy a ravenous appetite. All good stuff though, looking forward tomorrow, when the countryside will hopefully get a little more interesting. Posterior Comfort Status = Still pretty good, all things considered Hill Count = The odd one, nothing very serious

C2C Day 1 - Short and Sweet Date added 07.03.08 by Greg Moss Publication Well, today was le grand depart. Complex packing completed, I got myself down to Greenwich Park for 7am along with the 130 odd other riders. By 9.30am, we were finally off, out of London through the remnants of the rush hour and spinning for Folkestone. The sight of ‘le peleton’ was quite something, riding in pairs it was easily a quarter of a mile long. Today’s ride was divided into 3 stages and was really only a warm up for the much longer French legs over the next five days. With only 100km ish to cover, the majority of people rode the lot. Moral is high in Team HB, all pleased with our dapper yellow and black HB strip. Anthony in particular setting the sartorial stakes high amongst the pack. …..Currently on the Chunnel heading for our overnight stop-over in Calais and then beyond….. Posterior Comfort Status = A-Okay Hill Count = Negligible

C2C - Pre Departe Date added 05.03.08 by Greg Moss Publication On Thursday 6th March, a five strong Hawkins\Brown team will set off in this year’s Cycles To Cannes Ride. Resplendent in very expensive lycra, the team comprising Roger Hawkins, Anthony Petrilli, Harbinder Birdi, Alberta Matin and myself will leave Greenwich Park at 8.30am on Thursday with the hope of arriving in a considerably warmer Cannes at 2.30pm on Tuesday 11th March, some 1500km later. We’re going to be riding for six days with 130 other riders, all professionals in development, architecture or planning and all making for the MIPIM property fair, Cannes’ most suit friendly festival. It’s the closest any of us will ever get to being a professional cyclist – there’s a full rolling road block, lead car, motorcycle outriders, mechanics and masseurs accompanying us all the way. Each day powered by several thousands of calories worth of energy bars, bananas and baguettes, C2C isn’t a race but a challenge of endurance. We’re planning to update the blog as we go, so check back over the next few days for daily ride reports and action photos…. See www.cycle2cannes.org/ for more info. ....or check out BD's blog at www.bdonline.co.uk/cycletocannes.org/