£23,223
GREG SIM'S JOURNEY
Greg Sim is one of the magnificent seven who is taking part in the Dallaglio Cycle Slam alongside Lawrence Dallaglio - all five stages of it! Greg is a huge supporter of DebRA, the the national charity working on behalf of people in the UK with the genetic skin blistering condition Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB). DebRA is one of the charities benefitting from the Dallaglio Foundation. And he's been pulling strings at the highest levels to get support for this amazing charity event.
Since Greg has been known to frequent the odd drinking hole in and around Richmond when he's in England [which is where we first came upon him], we thought it only right to follow this mad Scotsman's journey in some detail.
So whenever Greg can flex his fingers enough to send over an update from wherever he is on the crazy trail the cyclists are blazing from Rome to Edinburgh, we'll be posting up the latest trials and tribulations that the gang are suffering...
"When my good friend Lawrence Dallaglio called me and said 'Do you fancy coming on a bike run with me for my new Foundation and Sport Relief?' I should have known what was to follow was going to be tough, painful, fun and for a great cause. I was spot on. The best part was when he gave me the news that he wanted DebRA to benefit from the event which he knew was close to my heart (and his). The worst part was when he mentions that it is on condition that I personally cycle the whole journey - just under 3000 Kilometers!!. It was a little while before I fully digested this and converted it into old currency and quickly realised that given the route and distance I might have bitten of more than my little legs could chew!
But any of you who know Lawrence and have seen him in action will be well aware that not pushing yourself, physically, mentally and emotionally to the limit is just not on his radar.
Having purchased my 'you can beat Lance on this' bike, commenced my training programme, (including being overtaken by Granny's with their cats in the front basket) bought myself a turbo (stationary cycle that sits in my living room for those evenings when I might want to watch a bit of TV), gone through three saddles (that really hurts!); lugged my bike to and from Miami to London with my friends from Virgin Atlantic ( who have kindly sponsored my flight) and generally become the mad Scotsman of the Florida roads I am less sure of the certainty of my brilliant idea!
But when the going gets tough (and it does..... even cycling the Miami Oceanside with all its scenery!), I get out my pictures of Maisy (see my photos) and re-watch the video of Claudia (see video link) and remember why I am doing all this. My sore posterior, throbbing legs and stiff neck are nothing in comparison to their constant pain - and where as my blisters will heal theirs, often, will not.
Our other big benefit from Lawrence for DebRA is that he has given us another 18 riders' places covering the 5 stages of the Cycle Slam - so I had great pleasure in recruiting some of my closest friends, colleagues and some great DebRA supporters to help our mission."
25 FEBRUARY 2010
Apologies for not giving you an update sooner but as you can imagine the conditions are not the best to be emailing every day. We are up at 6 every morning and on average do 8 to 9 hours of cycling with a 10 minute stop in the morning and 20 minutes for lunch.
Italy was really tough in the mountains but beautiful when we had nice weather. After the blizzards in Rome we headed North West to Lake Bolsena and then on to San Gimignani in Tuscany. After passing through miles of vineyards to the Coastal mountains around Portofino where some of the climbs should have had a ski lift!
It was a fantastic journey although one of the days was 180km in harsh conditions.
I teamed up with my dear friend Hugh McHardy, fondly known to all who know him as Huge Bacardi. We had lots of laughs and pulled each other through the tough times. We even managed a Seafood Linguini with a nice glass of Chianti lunch in Portifino one day and a Chinese lunch next day much to the consternation of the rest of the cyclists who were taking things far too seriously in our book!
I had taken Hugh in tow as he managed to get lost the first day in blizzards. One of the girls had come over from Washington DC to cycle for one of the main sponsors Blenheim. She had never been in Europe before or had cycled. So not only did this poor girl end up lost in a blizzard but laid her hopes of rescue with Huge! To give you an idea we were all kitted out in as much layers of warm weather gear as possible and Huge had a pair of pink tights and a bright green poncho! She told us later that he kept telling her stories of his rugby days some of which left her a bit traumatised I think.
This tactic of me taking over backfired the first morning. Huge was banned from even looking at the map and we set off together under my instructions. Out of the hotel, turn right for 3km turn right again and a really tough climb for 5km to a junction then left or so Greg thought! After a great very long twisting downhill freewheel, passing tractors and calls of Buon Giorno to the locals we came to a roundabout turned left and were met by looks of bewilderment and much hilarity from the rest of the guys at the hotel start line!
But a beautiful day awaited us as well as stopping in Pisa for a few minutes of photos.
After an overnight stop in Sanremo we headed over the border to Mougins where we had a dinner hosted for us by one of the sponsors in a beautiful villa overlooking the Mediterranean.
Then our Stage 1 riders left for home including Peter Maher and Kevin Stables our own DebRA riders. My sincere thanks to them for raising some great sponsorship.
And of course to Hugh who gave me and the rest some great memories.
We welcomed our stage 2 have a go heroes!!
Thursday we set out from Nice and the Côte D' Azur in near perfect conditions, cold but beautiful sunshine. This time the vineyards of Provence provided our route and we passed some of the best. 170km later we had finished our day and our Stage 2 cyclists had begun to think this was a little easier than expected!
The next day reality set in for us all. It was freezing cold and torrential rain from the start. We had 139kms to do.
Within an hour my hands and feet were wet and numb and stayed that way for the next 8 hours. Then the wind increased to gale force and it was like cycling in sand for the last 60km. We had 7 riders crash including Lawrence who I was with. He did a spectacular somersault over the handle bars after hitting a pot hole. Suffice it to say he has been through a lot worse and said later it would normally be followed by 10 guys wanting to stamp on his head!!
It was brutal though; I had 3 punctures and some of the riders did not make it. We arrived in Saint Etienne our next stop very tired and very sore.
We have had a lot of injuries and pains mostly in knees, calves and thighs.
Our head physio is Rooster who is the head physio for the England cricket team. A real funny northerner and excellent at his job. My first encounter with him one morning with an aching achiles turned into advice of 'I recommend you go cycle 150kms and come see me later if it still hurts'!!
I did go see him later and ended up sitting in an ice bath for 5 minutes under his instructions. If anyone has done this then you will know it is pretty horrific. Things disappear in there and I don't mean your plastic duck!!
Day 3 was a mere 120km and apart from some rain and more light snow and another few crashes we made it into Nevers for the night.
Obviously we have lots of rugby guys on the trip and this stage in particular. They are seasoned tourists and bed time is really not on their radar even with a brutal day ahead. So the small hotel turned into a very rowdy singing session at 1am! The lady owner in very polite French asked the boys to be quiet but to no avail. Her final plea in a more exasperated voice was ‘please Messieurs be quiet or the police’. She was then succumbed to a full on chorus of ‘Roxanne’. The French sometimes just do not get the funny side!!
Day 4 was started in a little mist which of course was created from the previous evenings shenanigans but a beautiful day awaited our penultimate stage 2 cycle. 140km through the beautiful countryside and passing many of the finest villages, canals and chateaus France could offer. One of the towns we passed through was decked in fresh flowers all along the streets, every house had some beautiful arrangement hanging outside or in the trees. It was a great example of how a small town can pull together and show their pride and social values through flowers we so rarely see nowadays.
So, we arrived, and where you might ask? No other than the town of Chablis for our overnight stop. Many of the townspeople lining the streets to greet us as we wind to a halt in front of the wonderful Hotel Bergerand, and Madame Nicole de Mertuil the owner. She welcomes us like lost sons and tells us to make ourselves at home. She has laid on an evening of meeting the Mayor as well as wine tasting in her cellars. As I mentioned, before we have many seasoned party boys here who just might not be too sophisticated in the finer points of French fine wine. Oh dear! I wonder if she will appreciate a rendition of ‘Roxanne’ at 3am!!
Tomorrow is full speed to Paris, I cannot believe it we are nearly there.
After arriving we say goodbye to our stage 2 cyclists including DebRA riders Charlie and Philippe (thank you) and welcome our Stage 3 newcomers!!
Bonne Chance I say!
06 MARCH 2010
Since my last email you will be pleased to know I am still alive (only just!). Picking up emails or indeed time to do them was a big problem all through France and indeed up to now.
Following on from my last ending we very much managed to destroy the
wine cellar of Madame de Mertuil in Chablis and I think that's the last time she will go to bed without locking the cellar door!
After a very poignant service at the Somme memorial we faced a hugely difficult 170 kms in wind and rain.
Then to beautiful Paris and the finish at the Eiffel Tower where the local bar awaited us and a beer at 9 euros each that's $15!! You have to love those French!
Paris to Calais was about 70 kms (we got lost again!) and the first time anyone has cycled on to the Eurotunnel train so we had lots of media covering it.
40 minutes later we arrive in the South Coast of England I would like to say sunny England but it was pouring rain, freezing cold and windy. A further 50 kms finished off a long long day.
We arrived in Twickenham Rugby Stadium in London next day (after a stop by my group courtesy of Michael McGee for a bottle of champagne in Knightsbridge). Prince Harry was there to greet us as well as the media and we said goodbye to our team that night at a party held for us.
My thanks go to DebRA riders Andrew, Stevie, Mark, Phillip, Michael and Jonathan who made a formidable group with many many laughs as well as fantastic team spirit.
A very well earned day off on Saturday was spent eating about 6 meals and quality time with Lucie, my daughter, but we did watch England get beat by the Irish so London was a sea of shamrock that night.
Sunday and lots of people at Twickenham to see us off including Lucie to see her dad lead out our new team of Tom, Leigh, Elizabeth, James and Paul all cycling for DebRA. Also joining us were Michelle, Matt and Freddie Flintoff who was more keen to be part of the lunch stops that have become legendary started by Huge Bacardi and myself in Italy.
It turned out to the most fun group in the entire trip where most of the time we were doubled up in laughter. The weather was in our favour too so
the lunch stops were stepping up a gear! The Welsh hills provided us with one of the toughest days we have had. In one day we climbed in total over 3000 meters of hills. The girls did incredibly well as lots of guys had to stop or walk up hills. Lots of tears of emotion and achievement at the end from them and a lot of respect from the guys.
The last day, we get lost again (I really need to attach that Garmin on the right way round). It meant a mad dash into Fishguard where the Stena Ferry was about to leave in 1 minute. After hugs and tears to Tom, Leigh, Michelle, Matt and Elizabeth, Freddie and I are run on to the ship still in our gear much to the amusement of the local press and crew.
Ireland and stage 5...the final challenge!!!!
Thanks to all of you who have helped me edge closer to my target and I will
get round to thanking you personally when I finish next week.
The Dallaglio Foundation has pledged to help DebRA, as well as other charities, through this ride - so for those of you who know little about the charity and its cause....,
DebRA is the only charity to provide services and support to children and families who suffer from EB (Epidermolysis Bullosa), at the same time as co-ordinating and providing funds for the research (all over the world) to find treatments and ultimately a cure. EB Research has had some major breakthroughs in recent years and even months, and it is now at a point where, for some types of EB, it is moving from laboratory work to clinical trials - at last, for some of those affected by EB, we are just starting to see the benefits of 15 years of hard work in the labs.
But clinical research is very expensive - several times more expensive than lab research; services still need to be provided while we wait for the day DebRA can close up shop! And all this has come at a time when funding has become more of a challenge.
I hope you feel able to dig deep and give generously. Watch the video by clicking the Living With EB link, then......please sponsor me!
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