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Designed and Hosted by Saltire Hosting anprent@nospam.com (Prentice Events) anprent@nospam.com (Prentice Events) Mon, 06 Sep 2010 20:08:17 -0500 Mon, 06 Sep 2010 20:08:17 -0500 http://backend.userland.com/rss e107 (http://e107.org) 60 http://www.prenticeevents.com/news.php?item.81.3 DAY 4
The day started at 8am with some having had less sleep than others but all were keen to get to Paris.
There have only been 2 punctures between 20 on the trip so no delays. The peloton stopped at Marly-le-ville after hill of death for lunch and then were well on the way to Paris with only 13 miles to go under police escort. With impeccable timing, Graeme decided to get haircut, just 10 minutes before the escort started to help him with his speed.
Unfortunately the police escort advised that the peloton’s support buses could not be part of the cavalcade due to road works and one of buses then got lost and stuck in traffic....
So the peloton arrived at the Avenue des Champs-Élyséeswith no pressies or medals but decided to head to the British Embassy for tea to pass time. Medals were handed out much later....
THE DAY AFTER
Most of the peloton went off sight seeing on the Seine etc – boat instead of bike. A few went to the Scots Kirk to give thanks for a safe journey. The day ended in a pub where it was discovered that pints now cost 11 Euros – some of the peloton were straight back on their bikes at that!
At the Arc de Triumph, to the amazement of the peloton, .the French Canadian legion flag bearer was there waiting to parade across the Champs-Élysées to the eternal flame for the service of remembrance along with some 40 other flag standard bearers and friends . So Hugh and Allan were invited to lead the flag bearers and stood at the front of the parade party!! The trumpeter opened the Ceremony followed by all singing the French national anthem and then Hugh on the pipes with a lament. Hugh then played a few more tunes and finally we departed with promises to return next year.
We were pleased and proud to stand with the French war heroes of the Second World War, the Free French and the Resistance members as they honoured the Unknown Soldier.
And that’s it for another year folks....
The Blogger!]]> eilidh.prentice@nospam.com (daveilidh) Mon, 06 Sep 2010 03:16:16 -0500 http://www.prenticeevents.com/news.php?item.81.3 http://www.prenticeevents.com/news.php?item.80.3 DAY 3 UPDATE
The peloton started at Peronne this morning with a simple ceremony at the military cemetery near their hotel. Hugh the Piper played the Flowers of the Forest followed by a minute's silence. Official pictures were then taken at Peronne war museum.

The peloton then set off in brilliant sunshine to Compiegne (a trip of 50 miles) which includes (dun dun duunnnn) the hill of death. But what goes up must come down!!! The peloton arrived at the armistice carriage and unknown to them, MI6... err sorry, wrong law enforcement.... the local police were looking for them so the peloton had an escort and reception in the local HQ. At Compiegne, the peloton were presented with a gift of a clock mounted on plinth with cyclist. Lovely and very gratefully received.

Tomorrow its on to Paris.

The ebike has been great but was only second up hill of death as it was beaten by Andrew. Go Andrew!

...stop press...stop press...stop press...stop press...stop press...stop press...stop press...stop press
.dog bites Hugh the piper .....the piper is ok ....don't know about dog.....he wasn't playing at time

The Blogger
]]> eilidh.prentice@nospam.com (daveilidh) Sat, 04 Sep 2010 03:57:54 -0500 http://www.prenticeevents.com/news.php?item.80.3 http://www.prenticeevents.com/news.php?item.79.3 DAY 2 continued....
The team had only 5 hours sleep (this is a social stamina event as well as a cycle stamina event!) then were u and off by 7.30 to Lille police HQ for breakfast with the boys in blue, renewing old friendships.

The peloton set off at 9am with the director of police and our friend Christopher (see previous events) in tow and Vicentent who cycled the first thirty kilometres with the peloton and a police escort.

The Peloton are en route to Peronne on day 2 and had further escorts from 2 local cycle clubs. Day 2 is a very long day and the peloton complete over 60 miles. The peloton, for fun, are divided into two teams – this year called the Hares and the Pussycats. The hares ran at about 14 mph (wasn’t there a fable about hares and tortoises?!?!) and the pussycats did about 11.5 mph but all the peloton were assisted by a rear wind and great smooth roads with no potholes, little traffic and beaucoup du soleil!! A moment’s thought for Pussycat Sharon whose bike has a few problems but hopefully it’ll be sorted soon. A thought also for Pussycat Ann (Hi Mum!!) who has problem with her right knee and is on pain killers but all are enjoying themselves.
Thanks to Angela Constantine for her letter to the mayor which was warmly received.
The other Pussycats (Babs and Ian) have been great (both are well into happy retirement) .and haven’t done 60 miles per day for two days before . They are finding it very easy and enjoyable! So come on all you senior citizens, get on your bikes !

The ebike is also doing well and is just starting the second battery. It seems to the Blogger that Electroman Tom is having too easy a time!! The peloton let the Director of police in the north region of France try the bike and he loved it! So perhaps French police will be seen riding a Scottish ebike before long – watch this space! Alex Linkston, the outgoing Chief Exec of West Lothian Council also tried it and wants one! As does the Lord Provost of Edinburgh ! Go to www.alienocean.co.uk and have a look. Sorry Bob Watson and Rory McLeod – the peloton want to keep the bike!

But first back to last night which ended in a small restaurant in beautiful Peronne with members of the local cycle club, the Somme pipe band and the Mayor’s staff and councillors. A great night of music and laughter! Thanks to the Uphall pipe band for the gifts to the Somme pipe band (they will be in touch).

More later...

The Blogger]]> eilidh.prentice@nospam.com (daveilidh) Fri, 03 Sep 2010 03:11:18 -0500 http://www.prenticeevents.com/news.php?item.79.3 http://www.prenticeevents.com/news.php?item.78.3
We have been slightly delayed in getting this blog to you for technical reasons so today is a bumper issue!!

TUESDAY 31 AUGUST
The team left from the Scottish Parliament today, full of cycle joys and sunshine! There was lots of publicity at the Parliament and if you were there and have any pictures, please send them in!
In attendance to see the team off was Lord Provost Grubb, the Scottish Consul for Malawi, Colin Cameron and SNP MSP Angela Constantine from Livingston.
The electric bike with Tom MacInally on board (who is a recently retired inspector from Lothian and Borders Police) attracted a lot of interest. Tom is no stranger to bikes and, ahem, speed, as last year rode he took his BMW motorbike around world in aid of Capability Scotland. The sponsor of the electric bike, ebikescotland ( www.Alienocean.co.uk), was represented by Rory McLeod.
Even the Lord Provost had a go going electric. ....and now aims to be on the ride to Paris soon!!!
Meanwhile the two advance groups of cyclists (Alex Linkston and his team and Graeme Bruce and his companion!) were nearing Hull and later reported their arrival (before the main body of cyclists were anywhere close!). It is rumoured that some of the advance teams opted to refuel at a well-known Mcburger joint... Just making the load heavier lads!
All of the cyclists were to meet up on ferry at night for a well-deserved meal and few drinks. The hard work would start the next day at 9am with the pelaton en route to Lille!

WEDNESDAY 1 SEPTEMBER
The team had a great time on the boat, thoroughly enjoying a team meal ....well done P&O!
The peloton disembarked early at Zeebrugge and set off about 9.30 helped along by guidance from the Garmins.
Tom, Electroman!, started the day on Tom power, the route being flat and the day very warm with little wind. The bikes were festooned with tartan ribbons from Lindsay Cross, Livingston to invoke the spirit of West Lothian and the peloton had saltires flying. The French would not know what had hit them! Importantly, the peloton stopped for coffee after 15 miles (and for lots of pictures).
The next stop was lunch at Torhout and then the peloton was off down to Menin to meet the police escort. En route the ebike worked well with Tom using both pedal assist and motor (the rest of the peloton are secretly attached to the ebike for that extra assistance!!!). Meanwhile, the promotions team (Hi Christine and Sophia!) had gone to Lille tourist office and gave away lots of Tunnocks teacakes and wafers, Scotts porridge oats, Nairns oatcakes, Irn Bru , Walkers biscuits and information about Scotland . The public loved the pipes and the girls in tartan!
The peloton arrived under escort at Lille HQ and then went to meet French friends from previous Auld Alliance events. A reception was held later at the town ball and then a great meal in a local restaurant.
But there were a few technical hitches.... Keys were locked in the minibus, the wrong hotel booked so the peloton had an additional blues and twos high speed dash through rush hour traffic to get to where they needed to go! Every cloud has a silver lining... the escort was a great experience. ..Just first class!!

THURSDAY 2 SEPTEMBER
This morning the peloton were off to Police HQ for breakfast... more on their exploits later.
The Blogger]]> eilidh.prentice@nospam.com (daveilidh) Thu, 02 Sep 2010 03:53:08 -0500 http://www.prenticeevents.com/news.php?item.78.3 http://www.prenticeevents.com/news.php?item.77.3 web@nospam.com (Prentice Events) Tue, 31 Aug 2010 00:13:23 -0500 http://www.prenticeevents.com/news.php?item.77.3 http://www.prenticeevents.com/news.php?item.76.3 web@nospam.com (Prentice Events) Sun, 29 Aug 2010 07:07:10 -0500 http://www.prenticeevents.com/news.php?item.76.3 http://www.prenticeevents.com/news.php?item.75.3 web@nospam.com (Prentice Events) Sat, 28 Aug 2010 13:59:14 -0500 http://www.prenticeevents.com/news.php?item.75.3 http://www.prenticeevents.com/news.php?item.74.3 web@nospam.com (Prentice Events) Fri, 27 Aug 2010 17:15:09 -0500 http://www.prenticeevents.com/news.php?item.74.3 http://www.prenticeevents.com/news.php?item.73.3 web@nospam.com (Prentice Events) Fri, 27 Aug 2010 16:52:37 -0500 http://www.prenticeevents.com/news.php?item.73.3