La Squadra

Ben Swift recently returned from the Sydney World Championships with a clutch of medals. One Gold and Two Silver !

A massive congratulations  from all at Nonnas and La Squadra. Bring on the Olympics , we wish him well.

Well Gents/Ladies what can I say it was truly an epic event.

The La Squadra wingmen and women surpassed themselves  in terms of commitment,support and getting in the true spirit of getting in the saddle.

It started with a fan fare  on the Terrace at Nonnas 2pm Sunday as The Paris -Roubaix was in full swing we started to pedal. The count down clock ticked away, the zealous La Squadra team took up their places. Every hour  on the chalked timetable was filled by a willing  member.

I stepped( pedalled should I say ) into the unknown, the first few hours whizzed by,adrenalin fuelled,well wishers a plenty. The night time revellers kept the hours ticking by with their antics.  Midnight arrives and the streets get quieter, only the hard core supporters remain. The mind games start as the rain starts to gain momentum, the only uncovered  spot on the terrace was my spot but finish how you started is my  motto.

The dark moments step up around three in the morning as a few involuntary chunder moments and burbing break the quiet of the night. My  body saying stop stuffing this food inside me ..I wanna sleep !!!

Lucy and co the guardian angels keep the spirits high  and the time forges on ,the grit of people to get up in the middle of the night and come an ride astounds me, people wanna stay on ,do more, be part of it. People who came to have a look get roped in for a stint and ended up wanting to do more.

The grey wet dawn arrives and a few espressos later from Gian -Franco our superstar Barista who worked through the night for us, and we are reading for the downhill section.

The donation pots get heavier as well wishers dig deep, the twitter system is nearly overloaded with activity, and still the pedals turn. The final few hours gain  momentum as people come back to see if  ”  he really is riding through the night “.

Mrs B joins me for the final two hours ,the first time we have ever rode together ( hope yet she may become a Rosa !).  A guest appearance from Russ Downing straight from his  second placing in the tour of Ardenses, to lead the final few km.

Then its done !

Distance …500km plus !

Calories burnt…lots , if you believe Garmins it said 18000 but I dont believe them.

Photos taken….. plenty Lucy has pictures of every rider we will post soon.

Food consumed…. 6 mini tubs Ambrosia rice pudding, pack of lentils, two nutella sarnies,half bowl of porridge, 2 cups of Barley soup, one choc ice, 10 jellie babies, 3 pkts zipvit energy sweets,one piece chocolate cake, 2 rice crispy buns (courtesy of Sara Rodgers bakery ),one banana,2 mini choc easter eggs

Drinks consumed….750ml of fluid every hour rotated from Zipvit Energy drink, Zero electrolyte tabs, regular cordial and water.   plus 2 cups tea, one tin red bull, 2 cokes ,2 capuccinos ,1 espresso, 6 glasses water, one and half litres of

chocolate  milk.

Comfort breaks .. 7 pees, no deposits. avg time for pit stop 2 mins !

Blisters…a few

To everyone who had a part in this adventure..I salute you, I was so humbled of the support, the encouragement, and the fantastic generosity of everyone….over £1500 pounds raised and still counting. You should all be proud of yourselves.

I salute you..thank you …Gian

I love this!

La Squadra corps heading back down to Nonnas after War in the peaks

On sunday 22 April we’re holding our first mass club ride of the year, one which also ties in with La Squadra membership renewals.

Meet point is Nonnas, Ecclesall Road at 9.00am for complimentary coffees and cakes ready for a 9:30am set-off in to the Peaks. The route will be announced on the morning and the ride will have a few people who know where we’re going so no one gets lost. No one will get left behind.

We’ll finish back at Nonnas for some drinks and pasta – complimentary for those who sign up to the 2012 membership. All others £5 a bowl.

There will be a membership desk set-up all day

where we’ll be taking your subs for the coming 12 month period.

MEMBERSHIP – £40 for the season

Membership runs from May 1st 2012 to April 31st 2013, irrespective of when the previous membership was purchased.

Benefits

• RAPHA 20% DISCOUNT CARD * DISCLAIMER DO NOT ABUSE

(more…)

Distance – 20 miles          Team number – 8          Our Time – 43.26          Miles per hour – 27          Winning time – 35.48          Alcohol consumed – off the chart          Average weight put on – 4kgs          Euros per hour – 55

A group of 8 La Squadra warriors shipped out to Tuscany for the Michele Bartoli TTT.  Organised by our favourite Gusto Cycling tours capo Marco Mori.  Months of hard training, new spray on kit and a dedication to the cause was all thrown out the window on the Saturday evening before the TTT on Sunday morning.  The couple of dutch courages while watching Milan San Remo turned into a frenzied of consumption, boys on tour event.  We may have come 105 out of 164 teams but in our Italian entourages minds we were all winners!  We learnt a lot about the event for next year, but most importantly we learnt a lot about each others strengths and weaknesses!  Roll on 2013, thats if swiss army mick can find his way home.

For all those of you who have not subscribbed to Rouleur and want to just buy a copy of the award winning cycle porn,

a limited amount of copies will be landing on Nonnas doorstep any day now ..to reserve a copy get in touch..GB