The original seed of the idea was sown some time ago by Chris Lord and plan was hatched over a year ago now, with the usual dedicated travellers / beer monsters, showing immediate interest the provisional list was :-
Chris Lord
Myself
Janet
Dave
Alan
more recently added are
Paul
maybe's were Peter Justin (subject to holiday clash. I think, but I am sure I will be corrected if I am wrong on that)
Syd (Subject to : -
Money, spousal approval, current fitness, projected fitness, split ends, heart murmours, stress, aeroplane crashes, ingrowing toenails, plantar facilitis, malaria, diptheria, measles, german measles, french measles, flu, avian flu, Mad (french) cow disease, gulf war syndrome, botulism, tennis-elbow, FHM/Daily Sport readers-wrist, carpet fitters-knee, carpet munchers-chin, sunglasses wearers-nose, nausea, irritable bowel syndrome, mumps, ingrowing anal hairs, outgrowing anal hairs, shingles, risk of mild sunburn, scrotal uneveness, general malaise, allergies of the following (cats, dogs, rabbits, french people, berets, hills, baguettes, garlic, stripy shirts, onions, chateuneuf du pape, croissants, cheek kissing men and easyjet), any rash or discomfort around the helmet area, cranial leakage, diarroaeh colonic and verbal, acute and upsetting flatulism, Rabies, genital warts, gonnoraeah, pubic lice,
General soreness of the head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes and eyes and ears and mouth and nose, head shoulders, knees and toes........knees and toes.
Anyone else wishing to add themselves as a likely participant in the Marmotte should speak up now.
Anyone with a fear of beer, searing heat, mind blowing scenery, and personal suffering on a biblical scale has to get over it quickly or think of something else to occupy themselves in July !
Dan's summed upped my excuses very well, the only thing he forgot was.....
my PMA or possible lack of it. (nah I'm over that now, I'm always positive now)
Would love to, but ye' there had to be a but. At the mo' I just cannot commit.
Oh well, that explains everything now ;) Mind altering drugs and Syd go together like fish and chips !
Poor Syd, hes getting it today ! That'll teach him for using the phrase "Doing a Dan" when referring to not turning up to an event :)
Dan I can't believe you missed out the obvious...MI5 have identified a number of teenage terror cells operating in the UK...it's a bit tough to expect them to start by blowing up Hummers...Mercedes Vito's are great for practicing on..
plus he could never smuggle all his electronics through customs...has he bought aero bars yet? ....think of all that potential bar space to fill!
I can't mock...won't be joining you as my jolly next year will hopefully involve lots of white powder...back to Syds problem again! though I still think Evo-stick is the drug of choice for him
Nice to see you and Paul getting a campaign going for accurate spelling and grammar...got a feeling you may have your work cut out for you on this site!
Nice one Jonboy, we will need your vast knowledge of the region culture, plus your fluency in the local tongue will be invaluable when we need to order "Neuf Grande Biere, Sil Vous Plait" :)
I am easy on the arrangements I have never been on a Graham Baxter (Sporting Tours) organised jaunt. However, Dave has and I dont think he had a particularly good experience with them, but I am happy to go with the majority. To be honest the decision to try and go independent on this one was made by the group over a couple or three Erdingers a while back due to this reason:-
Baxters have a monopoly on the organising the Etape for UK riders. The Etape is next to impossible to get an entry for unless you are French or you are travelling with an approved organised tour company (Sporting tours) so they have you by the short and curlies on that one. Plus the fact with the Etape being a "point to point" event with the Start and Finish towns being 200 + kms from one another also justifies going with a tour company to handle the logistics of moving people/equipment about the country. As I understand it Baxters use this priveledged position as being the main authorised tour company to charge an arm and a leg.
The Marmotte as I understand is very different, it isnt as difficult to get an entry, you dont have to be on an authorised tour to get an entry, its a circular route, starting and finishing in the same place. (If you discount the 16km hill between the two places ;)
Did I mention that the Route that the Marmotte takes is sometimes referred to as "The circle of Death" I have the article if you want to read it Paul :) Nice
I think I have probably used up all my cycling jolly passes already this year with the Marmotte and a Mountain Mayhem or sleepless in the saddle event. But thanks for letting us know.
Submitted by secret mile muncher on Wed, 13/02/2008 - 4:13pm.
Wendy & I have just entered the cheshire cat on the 30th of March. I'll re-schedule the VC Melyd long ride for the weekend before.
Don't forget that I am running the South Lancs RC charity 10 mile TT on Saturday the 29th of March. It's just a few miles south of the Chesire Cat start in Knutsford, so why not book yourselve's into a hotel and make a weekend of it! Fetch the wife & family and they can cheer you on your way up mow cop.
Submitted by Paul Rutt on Thu, 14/02/2008 - 11:11am.
My Daughter is 3 that weekend and the party is on the Saturday. Some things I can get away with (like chaingang on Valentines Day) - and others I can't.
Who's up for this?
I was talking to Gary Jones last night and he quite fancied the challenge.
Of course, we can assume that Justin, Webby et al will be amongst the first volunteers...
A'donf!
The original seed of the idea was sown some time ago by Chris Lord and plan was hatched over a year ago now, with the usual dedicated travellers / beer monsters, showing immediate interest the provisional list was :-
Chris Lord
Myself
Janet
Dave
Alan
more recently added are
Paul
maybe's were
Peter
Justin (subject to holiday clash. I think, but I am sure I will be corrected if I am wrong on that)
Syd (Subject to : -
Money, spousal approval, current fitness, projected fitness, split ends, heart murmours, stress, aeroplane crashes, ingrowing toenails, plantar facilitis, malaria, diptheria, measles, german measles, french measles, flu, avian flu, Mad (french) cow disease, gulf war syndrome, botulism, tennis-elbow, FHM/Daily Sport readers-wrist, carpet fitters-knee, carpet munchers-chin, sunglasses wearers-nose, nausea, irritable bowel syndrome, mumps, ingrowing anal hairs, outgrowing anal hairs, shingles, risk of mild sunburn, scrotal uneveness, general malaise, allergies of the following (cats, dogs, rabbits, french people, berets, hills, baguettes, garlic, stripy shirts, onions, chateuneuf du pape, croissants, cheek kissing men and easyjet), any rash or discomfort around the helmet area, cranial leakage, diarroaeh colonic and verbal, acute and upsetting flatulism, Rabies, genital warts, gonnoraeah, pubic lice,
General soreness of the head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes and eyes and ears and mouth and nose, head shoulders, knees and toes........knees and toes.
Anyone else wishing to add themselves as a likely participant in the Marmotte should speak up now.
Anyone with a fear of beer, searing heat, mind blowing scenery, and personal suffering on a biblical scale has to get over it quickly or think of something else to occupy themselves in July !
Dan's summed upped my excuses very well, the only thing he forgot was.....
my PMA or possible lack of it. (nah I'm over that now, I'm always positive now)
Would love to, but ye' there had to be a but. At the mo' I just cannot commit.
!!Wot No Bar!!
PMA whats that
"Possible Marriage Abandonment"
What is PMA?
A synthetic hallucinogen. Chemically it is paramethoxyamphetamine.
Oh well, that explains everything now ;) Mind altering drugs and Syd go together like fish and chips !
Poor Syd, hes getting it today ! That'll teach him for using the phrase "Doing a Dan" when referring to not turning up to an event :)
Say now more
!!Wot No Bar!!
Now Now Now Now Now Now Now Now Now Now Now Now........
Dan I can't believe you missed out the obvious...MI5 have identified a number of teenage terror cells operating in the UK...it's a bit tough to expect them to start by blowing up Hummers...Mercedes Vito's are great for practicing on..
plus he could never smuggle all his electronics through customs...has he bought aero bars yet? ....think of all that potential bar space to fill!
I can't mock...won't be joining you as my jolly next year will hopefully involve lots of white powder...back to Syds problem again! though I still think Evo-stick is the drug of choice for him
Nice to see you and Paul getting a campaign going for accurate spelling and grammar...got a feeling you may have your work cut out for you on this site!
Got to go make a newtricious lunch now!
I,m positive he's mental!
oops woz supozed 2 b sya on mroe
!!Wot No Bar!!
...the alpine residents (no not marmottes), Lord Bamforth and his domestique, moi.
Nice one Jonboy, we will need your vast knowledge of the region culture, plus your fluency in the local tongue will be invaluable when we need to order "Neuf Grande Biere, Sil Vous Plait" :)
This itinery has just appeared on Sporting Tours website:
http://www.sportingtours.co.uk/events/marmotte.html
I know Dan favours a more self guided solution but at least it's something to whet the appetite.
Do we have a plan, do we need a meeting?
You can tell I'm doing nothing at the moment, Mr & Mrs Lee have just spotted me wandering aimlessly around Prestatyn looking for something to do...
My Car needs a wash if you are bored.
I am easy on the arrangements I have never been on a Graham Baxter (Sporting Tours) organised jaunt. However, Dave has and I dont think he had a particularly good experience with them, but I am happy to go with the majority. To be honest the decision to try and go independent on this one was made by the group over a couple or three Erdingers a while back due to this reason:-
Baxters have a monopoly on the organising the Etape for UK riders. The Etape is next to impossible to get an entry for unless you are French or you are travelling with an approved organised tour company (Sporting tours) so they have you by the short and curlies on that one. Plus the fact with the Etape being a "point to point" event with the Start and Finish towns being 200 + kms from one another also justifies going with a tour company to handle the logistics of moving people/equipment about the country. As I understand it Baxters use this priveledged position as being the main authorised tour company to charge an arm and a leg.
The Marmotte as I understand is very different, it isnt as difficult to get an entry, you dont have to be on an authorised tour to get an entry, its a circular route, starting and finishing in the same place. (If you discount the 16km hill between the two places ;)
Did I mention that the Route that the Marmotte takes is sometimes referred to as "The circle of Death" I have the article if you want to read it Paul :) Nice
Now I think this sounds interesting if a little near to La Moarmotte:
www.davelloydmegachallenge.com
Anyone fancy it?
Have you turned into a Kamakazi Cyclist
Trying to ride yourself to paradise!?!?!?!
What's wrong with a nice 30 ish L/dno and back!!
!!Wot No Bar!!
Posted with attachment for Paul:
Scanned this article from Cycling Weekly, thought it might be of interest (especially to Dan). Please do not read if you are prone to scary things!
Here is the article its about 1mb and it's a PDF; enjoy.
Me and Pete and enrolled on a Dave Lloyd training camp at "Cilco Costa Blanca" week commencing 8th March.
Cost is £345. www.ciclocostablanca.co.uk
Whilst I appreciate that Pete and I probably need to do more training I thought it good manners in the event that anyone else fancies it.
I think I have probably used up all my cycling jolly passes already this year with the Marmotte and a Mountain Mayhem or sleepless in the saddle event. But thanks for letting us know.
surely that's only a dream...:)
!!Wot No Bar!!
Guys,
To let you know I have entered the Cheshire Cat Sportive on 30th March:
http://www.kilotogo.com/cheshirecat2008.htm
I am also considering The Circuit of the Cotswolds as it is 2 weeks before La Marmotte.
http://www.circuitofthecotswolds.org/
Anybody fancying it? I don't mind doing the driving.
Of course let us not forget Andy's Mile Munching long rides on the last Sunday of each Month - they're free to members!
Wendy & I have just entered the cheshire cat on the 30th of March. I'll re-schedule the VC Melyd long ride for the weekend before.
Don't forget that I am running the South Lancs RC charity 10 mile TT on Saturday the 29th of March. It's just a few miles south of the Chesire Cat start in Knutsford, so why not book yourselve's into a hotel and make a weekend of it! Fetch the wife & family and they can cheer you on your way up mow cop.
My Daughter is 3 that weekend and the party is on the Saturday. Some things I can get away with (like chaingang on Valentines Day) - and others I can't.
Nuff said.