Well getting the band back together was a total success. I have even managed to add a couple of new band members!!
I am so chuffed to have recruited John Grounds, who is without doubt the tallest cyclist I have ever had the pleasure of riding with and Anthony Rollinson (Munch) who is well just bonkers, in an amazing infectious way!
You will hear more about these lovely humans going forward, once our second cycling challenge is announced.
So the first challenge is now out there and it’s big one!! Brad Cole, Jason Cole, Harry Cole and Craig Llewellin are going to be taking on the biggest most famous uncategorised Climbs of The Tour De France in the Alps, via a circular route on their solo road bikes! Each will pick to either support The British Lung Foundation or The Teenage Cancer Trust.
As for Mitch and I, well what can I say we will join the guys but with a rather large twist! You see we have decided to do all the mountain accents on our 33 year old grumpy tandem Florence! There are many issues with trying to climb on Flo! Simply put, you can’t stand up (or the three of us will hit the floor!) there is little or no room for the stoker (Mitch) and simply peddling a tandem up any lengthy climb is basically hell on earth!!
Having checked the record books as best we can no one has every done what we are going to attempt! Several tandem crews have done several of the Alpine mountains, but swap out for a new stoker or captain after 1 or 2 accents. We will do all the climbs together and several each day thankfully with the other Mile Monkeys for company.
“Why?” I hear you ask “are you nuts!?” Well yes we are nuts! but nuts for a very important and personal reason.
Mitch’s partner is called Abi. She is a happy, funny, beautiful young lady who had become one of my own when the pair of them so obviously fell in love with each other.
Sadly Abi fell rather ill 6 months ago and was diagnosed as having cancer!
I couldn’t tell Abi or my son everything would be alright, as to be frank that might not have been the case! I feel and felt useless, but on talking with Abi as her health turned an important corner, I asked if us Monkeys could represent a body that was important to her and her treatment? Her reply was instantaneous “The Teenage Cancer Trust!” who support young people suffering with cancer from the age of 13 to 25 (Abi is 23)
So Mitch came up with the idea that we would try and get Florence up and around the Alps! and that our pain in doing so would be nothing to that of young cancer sufferers and their families!
However don’t for one moment think that this adventure will be one of seriousness sadness and rubbish like that!! We aim to make you laugh, smile and all the other positive reactions your body can make LOL.
There will be a second challenge that will take place close to home in the UK so as our supporters, friends and family’s can join in.
Training is in full swing now for both Mitch and I but the weather hasn’t let up enough yet to get some valuable miles on Flo. However both of us are far further forward with our cycling fitness than we would normally be at this time of year so all is good.
Catch you all again soon Monkey Nick Out.
