LEJOG - Day 9 Update! All done!!!!!

Finished! Well, you didn't think I wasn't going to.. Did you? So it
rained nearly all day, which involved riding through cloud, battling strong
cross and headwinds, but that wasn't going to stop me. I was now armed to
teeth with enough chocolate and other sugar substitutes to fuel a brewery.
AND.. it was that thought that enabled me to happily reach the end. Now I
have a marathon train journey to survive... See you all soon!
~GC

Team Cooper Gareth: VICTORY

Cooper Gareth has cycled his way to the other End (JOG) of the End to End ride. WOO HOO.

Thus bringing to an end this epic journey by one man going solo, an amazing test of the human spirit. Unfortunately our attempts to reach Team Cooper Gareth have not come to fruition. They planned to provide their regular, incisive and insightful commentary on his achievement, but we received only a tweet that "champagne arrived early for the air audax weekend mission and celebrations have begun, CHAPEAUX, CHAPEAUX, CHAPEAUX!!!". Sounds like some serious celebrating will be continuing in the Team Cooper Gareth camp today.

Team: Cooper Communique #4

Ladies and Gentlemen, it's all happening today. Forget the Tour de Dauphine, Evans didn't win anyway, our very own ANZA cyclist, Cooper Gareth is still out there, with well over 1200km's of cycling completed, he is absolutely cranking along with only today left to ride his way into John O Groats (the other End). The weather has come at all angles, enduring a severe storm over the highest mountain climb on the route, but in true ANZA spirit he has pushed through and is now pedaling his way toward his last day of riding. We have once again the esteemed Team Cooper Gareth to share some insights on how the lad is going to get through the final day.

Manager Silk: No doubt by now, that beer is calling. It's like coming back into Singapore after a 300km ride and you know Brewerkz is not that far away. He'll be charging through his final day. It doesn't matter how tired you are on the final day of an epic ride of this nature, the human soul is still able to dig into it's depths and find a newfound drive to get you across the finish line. This will be a tremendous achievement for Gareth and shows he is well out there in front in preparations for PBP 2011. A few team members may need to start to step up their training! The team wishes him all the best on his final day, he has ridden an outstanding ride, there is absolutely no doubt he will make it to John O Groats now. The team, although far away in Singapore, will help celebrate this victorious moment.

Super Domestique Callan (the Flunky with a chip on both shoulders ;-):
Yes well, it seems like, against all the odds, the Boss might just make it.....never one to bear a grudge (well, not for long) I am prepared to mutter a muted "Chapeau" when (if) he crosses the line in JOG. His most recent reports from Scotland have taken on a curiously spiritual (perhaps even romantic) tone though. Perhaps it is the thin air up there in the highlands of Scotland, or the effects of the Scottish Whiskey which he will have been imbibing copiously to protect against the elements - or perhaps he found amour in Gretna Green - but he now appears to be more focused on the scenery and nature of things up there, than he is on the road.
This has always been a problem with Cooper....without a wheel to follow, and a continuous stream of instructions in his ear, his mind tends to wander. Do not be surprised if is reports today tells stories of having stopped to pick a bunch of flowers or heathers, or to paint a quick a quick water-colour of some nostalgic scene (he brought his paint-by-numbers kit along just in case)......the real question now is not whether he will have the legs and strength to make it to JOG - but rather, whether he can stay interested and focused enough to stay on the bike, instead of joining a back-to-nature hippy commune in the highlands....;-)

Ah, more humbling tales from his team mates. But today is in fact D-day, the finale, the other End of the End to End, everyone is on the edge of their seats. Stay tuned for the final update tomorrow.

LEJOG - Day 8 Update!!!!!

I'm losing count! A cracking ride through the Great Glen and passed Loch
Ness. Now having dinner in glorious sunshine. When it shines up here
there is some truly splendid countryside to admire - if it rains tomorrow,
then I might change my mind! Last day tomorrow, so looking forward to
finishing it off and then celebrating down pub.. :-)
~GC

LEJOG - Day 7 Update!

The scorecard reads: Rain - 1, Gareth - 2, as our boy from the warm stuff
battled against the elements to victory! The forecast was so poor it
contained local Severe Weather Warnings - a storm on top of the UK's
highest mountain is serious stuff. Regardless of getting soaked early
on,the short route over the mountains was taken and it proved to be a
winner into Fort William. Now we have good weather as we head towards
Tain. Tomorrow looks like a shocker!!!
~GC

Team: Cooper Comunique #3

The drama continued to unfold over the weekend, Team Cooper Gareth surviving a horrid torrential storm on the 300km route causing 8 riders to abandon at about 230km mark. Cooper Gareth on the other hand is continuing his ride where he has now entered the very ancient, regal and proud country they call Scotland. A dried off team Cooper are here now to talk us through the weekend riding by the fearless young lad.

Super Domestique Callan (the Flunky with a chip on both shoulders ;-)

Fearless?? As we have seen from his updates, Cooper is already having to come to the terms with getting over the hills - unassisted. This will indeed be a new experience for him.....with no willing Flunky to sacrifice himself on the slopes for The Man, and no possibility for a "sticky bottle" to help the momentum ;-).
We heard from Soigneur Kragelund last week, that Cooper fitted a triple chainset at the last minute. Actually, such is his confidence in his own invincibility, it was not easy to convince him to do that. What is NOT so well known is that he also had a 28T "dinner plate" fitted to his cassette. This is a snippet of gearing news which The Boss prefers to keep secret - but I believe that his loyal followers have the right to know. And, even with practically a 1:1 ratio, we can see from his reports that he is having "fun" on the hills. Hope you are enjoying the experience Boss.

Soigneur Kragelund:
Too true, Peter! His gear ratio range is worthy of any RSL bingo caller. There is everything on his bike from Legs Eleven, Baker’s Dozen and the Duck and a Crutch to Droopy Drawers, Snakes Alive and two Fat Ladies. I was on a Kranji ride a few weeks ago with Cooper G when all of a sudden I heard him yell out “Clickety Clicks”. I knew instantly that his front chainring was in the 42 and his rear was in 17. It is such attention to detail and perfection that has me believing Mr Gareth will pull through with flying colours.

Talking Gear, I just wish to point out the most unusual feature of his bike. I hope Denise can supply us with the photo here. He’s riding with a large… no let me rephrase that, GINORMOUS rear rack. Fully loaded this veritable Beast of Burden actually prevents Mr G from starting his rides in anything BUT the high gear ratios, as a low ratio such as the Legs Eleven or Two Little Duckies would see him pop spectacular wheelies.

As he’s now north of the Scottish Border, he’s on the home stretch. Legs would be toned and there would be a slight stubble on his rosy cheeks. I’ve heard that Scottish Highland Lassies can find that combo very irresistible? My only hope is that he’s got a Zefal ZX4 frame mounted pump, as it extends to a full metre and as such can give a good whack over the snout of any canine that dares to prevent our young adventurer form completing this epic undertaking.

Manager Silk

Well speaking of Gareth's rack, it is a beauty. But with the rain clouds looming let's see how impressive it is and whether it manages to keep his gear dry!! The reports in have been a bit sketchy in terms of his distance, but we are estimating he has done about 925km to date. He's covered the flat terrain like a man on mission, the hills are now calling and so is the stirring sounds of the bagpipes as he transcends the hills of Scotland. But should any form of tartan appear as kit on route, that would be a style infringement level 5, with a yellow bike, clearly a big NO-NO. We can only hope he also remember to pack a razor and isn't starting to look like something out of braveheart, otherwise we fear panniers may be next. Long distance riding is one thing, but you still need to look good out there.

And so the battle continues with the hills insight and the clouds opening up, there appears nothing that will stop this fella from pushing through. Stay tuned for more End to End coverage.

LEJOG - Day 6 Update!

Good news and bad news... Good news was that we are now in Scotland. Bad
news is that it is raining and Monday is set to rain all day. Had a bit of
a drama trying to find somoewhere to stay so ended up a little off course
and an hour shy of original destination. Weather is so bad today that will
ahve to detour and stick to the lower, but longer, coastal roads. Fort
Williams or bust today!!!
~GC