Well what a week it has been. A lot has been going on behind the scenes for CyclingForHarry. We can safely announce our sponsors for our event who are making sure we (the riders) are getting looked after over the two days.
The sponsors are as follows:-* Hollywood Monster - Hollywood Monster are one of the UK's leading signage and digitally printed graphics experts based in Birmingham. Tim Andrews MD of Hollywood Monster, is taking part in the cycle for the first day. Unfortunately he can't do both days due to the companies involvement in #Walkforharry. To add to the list, they are also main sponsors of the The Harry Moseley Ball which our pal @brummie_pj is running with @edjames hosting the event.
* Sytner Birmingham- Central Birmingham's Authorised BMW Dealer covering local towns. Our very own @davejbrady works with this company as you've seen from some of the blog pictures.
* Larkandlarks- Online Kitchen and Bathroom Specialists. Three of of our riders are involved in this company. Two of them own the company. Steve Larkin & Michael Larkin are the big boss men with Will Coyne helping them with the tea etc. lol. Check them out if you need a new kitchen.
Platinum Live- Design,Print & Entertainment Company based in the West Midlands and covering the whole of the UK. Ian Rogers the MD of Platinum and a good friend of mine is cycling the whole event.
ShowPax- Work all over the UK, Showpax are experienced suppliers of Executive Limo Hire, VIP Coach Hire and Chauffeur Hire. They do a bit of everything.
Without the generosity and commitment off the companies above our event would not be able to take place. So let me take this opportunity to thank them all from the @CyclingForHarry team. You are truly #helpingharryhelpothers.
First a MASSIVE GET WELL SOON to @icemanblueboy who is recovering after a Hernia operation, and whilst still in hospital, begging @jodiemarsh to retweet @CyclingForHarry in exchange for him buying her a protein drink. What a smooth talker.
In between all the background activities a few of the cyclists have been managing to get out on there bikes over the course of the week. @IANROGERS has been fighting man flu whilst getting up at silly o'clock to get some miles in on his bike before a busy day at Platinium HQ. Fair play. @davejbrady might have to watch out for his 'early bird' title. The Rogers is after that one buddy. The battle of the sponsors. Hahaha. Game on!!
Also my next door neighbour Neil Howkins (the man with NO twitter STILL) has managed to get out around his manic shifts. Him being well up for it and a Paramedic will definitely be handy, the way our training has been going so far. @melcastle69 popped out again after Sunday's ride to spin out yet another 24.94 mile ride. Which I'm sure you will all agree is a fine effort after a 30 miler. But she got more stick than encouragement off the team for falling 0.06 mile short of 25 mile. So when you come to think of it, she could have tried harder. Haha. Get your bottom round the block next time @melcastle69 YOU SLACKER!! #justkiddinglazyass
@jonsarno is managing to fit a few miles in as well during his busy schedule to. Now that's why we call him 'Magic Johnson'.
So the usual plan was to go for a cycle on Sunday morning. But on the Saturday whilst at a wedding I had a picture message sent through to me off @davespittle.
Dave has been very busy of late organising his wedding and drinking lots of beer on his stag do. So he hasn't been able to get out with us much. (ball and chain). Anyway, he expressed his concern at cycling in this weather as he doesn't want to get a cold just in time for his big day next week. So already under the thumb and under his future wife's orders he was to go to the gym instead. @davespittle texts me suggesting his wife's idea. He said that he had phoned up Virgin gym and explained what we are doing for #HHHO and they agreed to let us come along. Spot on.
I thought why not. I've cycled in the rain before and it's not fun to say the least.
My next phone call was to the moaner @brunone1. I told him that we didn't fancy going out in the down pour and that we had got a pass at this top gym for the afternoon. @brunone1 refused out right. Saying "I want to go out on my bike. A little rain won't hurt. I don't want to go to a gym. I DON'T DO GYM'S!"
Well we can all tell that @brunone1. Haha. After a good 15 minutes of me calling him a baby and telling him that he's a big scary baby who don't like gym's. I realised he wasn't going to change his scared little baby mind and phoned @bblackwell77 to tell him the change of plan. @bblackwell77 jumped at the chance. I had to text @davespittle to ask him what I need to wear. I'm 34 years old and have never been to a gym before (hard to believe I know). He replied shorts, t-shirt, socks, trainers and a towel because we are going to use the sauna etc. MINT!!!!!
By the time I packed up my towel and thongs @davespittle was here to pick me up. On the way out grabbing our #HHHO vest. I love a plug ;-)
We then pick up @bblackwell. A quick introduction as these two had always missed each other on previous rides and only know each other through facebook. Chatting away as you do we get 2 mile up the road and realise @bblackwell hasn't got a towel with him. About turn and back to his we head. @davespittle is telling us all about this Virgin gym we are heading to and it sounds like its right out my league. Saunas, Jacuzzis, Steam Room, Swimming Pools, TV screens so you can watch the footy whilst working out etc. I thought "wow, this sounds amazing. I'm going to stand out like a fart in a phone box"
One quick stop to Tescos super store so @davespittle can get a pair of sports socks. @bblackwell77 & myself seized this opportunity to grab some energy drinks. I figured it would be well cheaper by the sound of this place we are going. Haha
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| @davespittle |
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| @bblackwell77 |
We finally get there after an hour of leaving my house. As you can tell from previous blogs. Everything we do is hard work. Lol. We park up and walk into reception. We are greeted by a lovely lady called Becky. Now when I say lovely, I mean lovely. Not as lovely as my lovely wife. But still lovely (I pulled that back when then I thought). @davespittle introduces himself as "the chap on the phone who's doing the @cyclingforharry event" love the plug Dave. She recalls the phone call and let's us in. I accidentally leave her 3 posters to display in the staff room. I just happened to have them in my bag, what can I say?
As we walk up the stairs and through part of the gym towards the changing rooms I feel like a right tubby turnip. We hit the changing rooms and the #HHHO vests are applied. We head straight for the bikes. We normally do 30/35 miles out on the road so I'm thinking this will be a breeze. How wrong could I have been. It's totally different than being out on the road because your constantly pedalling. Chatting away about the event and @davespittle's upcoming wedding a few miles tick over. I then realise that I'm sweating like a 'fat man at a disco'. This is not like road cycling at all. I'm hurting and I've only done 6 mile. At that point a gym instructor also by the name of Becky comes over for a chat. Thinking she was attracted to us as 3 sweaty burning hunks of love. She quickly says "what's the deal with the cancer research vests?" (I'm a wishful thinker)
But then she notices the HELP HARRY HELP OTHERS on the front. I try my best to explain about our event, but it's so hard when you can't breath. Hahaha. We end up having a lengthy conversation and true to form @bblackwell ends up taking one of his #HHHO bracelets off in exchange for Becky's £1. I tell you what, that guy is lethal. We manage to hit 10 mile on the bike and give it a rest. That was really hard work. Taking a breather we get another gym instructor (I can't remember his name, sox) to take our photo with the lovely Becky.
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| Our Lovely Becky With Her #HHHO Bracelet |
After a 5 minute break we hit the other exercise bike thing. The one where the pedals are in front of you. Lol. We decide on 5 miles on these. Only because the 10 mile on the other bikes nearly killed us. Pedalling away and watching the football highlights I really feel that my legs are hurting and it's getting harder to pedal. I take my earphones out and ask the other two if they are the same. They seem to be fine. So I put my earphones back in and try to carry on. But then I noticed that @bblackwell77 & @davespittle are giggling there heads off. Then I realise that @davespittle had been turning up the level difficulty on my bike whilst I was watching the footy without me knowing. hahaha
We hit the 5 miles and had another rest. Them two started walking over to the running machines. I had never been on one of these in my life. All I could think about is those TV clips on 'You've Been Framed' where the bloke goes flying across the room. @bblackwell77 gets straight on and before you know it is running at a decent speed. I choose the safe option and go for the brisk walk. I start to gain a little confidence and start a little jog. After a minute or so I receive a text off my wife Emma. Thank god for that. An excuse to stop. I'm under orders to get back for 2pm as we are off to the in-laws for dinner. Happy days. Today is turning out smashing.
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| @davespittle |
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| @bcfcboz & @bblackwell77 |
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| @bblackwell77 |
It's then decided its time to hit the sauna. Off we pop to have a quick obligatory rinse off. Now this is the second time I've been in one of those. The first was on my honeymoon whilst looking at my wife in her bikini. Somehow I knew this was going to be different sharing it with @bblackwell77 & @davespittle but hay ho, I'll try anything once. It gets warm in those things, don't it? I must admit it felt good after a nice workout and we was chatting away and having a laugh at the same time. @davespittle then tells us about the outside log sauna with the dipping pool. He goes on to explain that its hotter than this one and after a period of time your supposed to leave the outside sauna and jump into this freezing cold dipping pool. Well, I love a good challenge me. Haha. Off we went. @davespittle told us we needed another quick obligatory rinse of before heading outside. We get into this weird shower area and @davespittle points me towards the shower. I didn't realise there was a bucket of cold water above my head. I soon did after he pulled the chain and it covered me. Everyone in the jacuzzi looked over in disgust as I screamed like a girl. That's twice he's got me now!!!!!
We head to the log sauna. A few other people are already in there. Proper pro sauna users. I'm asking the lads why people do this kind of thing, and what's the point in jumping into freezing cold pool afterwards. The pro users start laughing because I'm a novice and our conversation. I'm sure they was holding out for me to jump into that dipping pool. So who was I to disappoint. I plucked up the courage and went for it. I couldn't back out because they were all watching. I went for the don't think about it approach. I walked out of the
Log sauna and walked straight up to the dipping pool and stopped. Lol. I said to myself. After three. 1,2,3 - I couldn't do it. Lol. I tried again. 1,2 and in I went. Oy my days, it was freezing. Then I had a chuckle to myself at the fact I tried to trick myself by jumping in after 2. Haha. Back to the sauna after 2 ish minutes in the pool as recommended. The lads were laughing. But @bblackwell was next. He walked out and straight in he went. As he walked back in I warned everyone to watch out for @bblackwelll77's nipples. They could have cut glass.
Time was up and we had to go. Out we went for another shower. I've never been so clean. What a great gym!! We all walked out feeling fresh. It's a shame I spoilt it by eating a massive meal and washed it down with 4 bottles of pear cider. But I'm afraid that's the way I roll. Haha
Thanks for a top day @davespittle & Virgin Gym.
Hats off to you for letting us use your facilities and contributing to us #makingithappen. The two Becky's made us feel really welcome.
Tune in to find out what we are up to this week. Now the promo starts ;-)
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