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

Hi all and welcome back to the Auld Alliance blog pages. It’s hard to believe that it has been a year since the last event – but it has and the cyclists are well underway!

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

Links with Linkston ...who is Alex ...well he is a guy who started at the bottom and worked his way all the way to the top job..perhaps indicating the mark of the man .

The links with PE started when i asked him if West Lothian Council would sponsor the Auld Alliance , about 18 months ago, and asked him to Cycle the SESTRAN TWO CAPITALS (Dunfermline to Edinburgh event ) .

23 miles ..never , i havnt been on a bike for 30 plus years .....but he did along with LORD PROVOST G GRUBB , who if he doesnt mind me saying so has a bus pass ...and boith throughtly enjoyed the ride to Edinburgh ..a lesson to all of you who think we cant do that ....try TWO CAPITALS next yeear a great famile event in June.

So a CBE was born ( Alex holds the CBE) ..some might think Commnader of British Empire others know it as CYCLING THE BRITISH EMPIRE - CBE )

From zero to 23 to 500 miles ( in between he did PEDAl FOR SCOTLAND )and now the world ..watch out Mark Beaumount he is after your record .

I knwo the tune walk five hundred miles should be walk , but for Alex is seems it was cycle .

So its HATS OFF TO ALEX , what a remarkable guy , thank you from PRENTICEEVENTS for your help and friendship and welome as a TRUSTEE ..,as we develop cycling in Scotland to improve health , help the environment and most of all give pleasure and asense of achievement to many

Well news from Sue on the HARS team , ( edinburgh/paris ) was good that despite sore ankle she has been able to continue , but reported heavy rain and going tough ..keep going Sue , and we hope ankle gets better ..ps it is not good to fall off bike ..that why on our rides we wear helmets ....it can happen to the best of us .

GB and Phil in the stags , have advised they were on in County Dy=urham at place called Daisy Hill ...sounds like a another story ..first Ben Nevis , then Daisy Hill...are we sure they are really on the bikes , or at a pub somewhere making it up...no I did call him and he reposrt great waetehr , but a very strong wind ..and now approaching Darlington ..well done guys ..5 miles to go .

Back to team linkston ....

Sue just reported maor hills ...but dry and windy ...so looking good ..she is not reporting any more injury probs .

Re EBIKE , it was at church with me to day , just to let the folks see it and even the minsiter had a wee ride ..and thought it great he wants one , in fact all who have tried it are really impressed ..should i give it back ..

more information on twitter ..see aulalliance09 or on my face book ...so look in

It was on up int o the Hills heading for the Border today , before stopping for the second night near NewCastle.

From telling us it wsa easier than they thought , TEAM STAGS , ended up doing 70 miles and climbed the height of BEN NEVIS.

Now Graeme we know from past experience that your naviagation skills are somewhat , well put politely , we wont trust a space shuttle with you , but how the heck were you near BEN NEVIS , thats North not South ....were you trying to avoid shipping ???

The News from TEAM HARES ( Linkston, Cook , Brady and Hutton ) was good at first , with doing Carter Bar bill at Border tough ..but good .Then a friend turned up to see them at the Border ( just to check they were really leaving and to close the gate we hope on them retruning ?/)...then later on tougher hills than carter bar ..perhaps alos heading North by mistake to BEN NEVIS ..following GB , but then Sue fell off her Bike ...and hurt her right leg ...we hope she is fine and await further news .

Meanwhile back at home base , preparations for the departure of the Team Leader of the Hares ( Craig) and the rest of the stags ( Frank , Steve and Lance and Margy ) and most importantly my Team ( Ian , Barbara , Maragerat Ann , Sharon and Sally ..not forgetting my wife Ann and our promotions team Hugh the piper and Sophia and Christine goes ahead . Our drivers will be busy washing and polishing the minibuses , and me i spent the day just enjoying the EBIKE .well someoen had to as we couldnt get STIG.
Thansk to Bob , Rory and Craig of the EBIKE team at Kinroos ..they have a great selection of bikes both E and of the noraml type, so why not drop into Kinross and try one ..or hire a ebike for a half day , you wont regret it ( ps if Bobs not looking ( he is the big owner ) I will let you have a wee shot if you are at Chruch tomorrow ..my one that is .in Touch Dunfermline ..

keep on looking in, and do competitions and follow the twitter or face book logs and tracker .... we all hope Sue is fine ..let you know tomorrow

allan

it was an early start at Balerno ( 8.30 ) but meant I was up at 5.30 to get all the other work done ..press, emails, even breakfast ..a quick special K , then off with Ann, John and Sophia in the red PRENTICEVENTS minibus to meet up with GB ( Graeme ) and PW ( phil) .

These guys are old hands , both been on at least one trip with us before , but going FULL MONTY was a new experience ( not FULL MONTY like that ...but all the way from Edinburgh to Paris )
So with family and friends and the evening news , plus a few sponsors ( including BIKECHAIN )

The guys were really pushing the pedals when they set off , they must be carrying the kitchen sinks in the panniers, so good luck ...ps they made it to Kelso so all seems well

Next to livinston , to see the first group of the HARES set off ...from LIVI Civic Centre , with the Provost and Scottish Consul for Malwai and the local MSP Angela Constantine ..Also along were a couple of my Pussy cats ( team menbers of my group ,,,,AnnMargeat Watson and her Sister Sharon Anderson ..Hello girls..see you soon ..at Parliament ) Back to the FULL MONTIES though , and i did give them a HAT each , so they could keep it on as teh song goes ,,You can keep your Hats on ..cycling type of course ..
So Hats off to Alex Linkston , Sue Cook , Adrian Brady and Andrew Hutton , as they pedal ..with some of the local school kids , who were given a few bits and bobs from our Sponsors....WALKERS < TUNNOCKS< SCOTTS PORRIDGE OATS ..all good stuff for enrgy and cycling ..thanks SPONSORS ..Also in the crowd wsa our man who made the kilts the band is wearing and also will be on the bikes , plus given to SOMME PIPE BAND in PERONNE ,,spirit of West Lothian see news on this kilt , it looks great.

Thanks to WEST LOTHAIN COUNCIL for the MINIBUSES and PRESS releases and to the Education Dpartment , you are stars for the CURRICULUM FOR EXCELLENCE MODULES ..and to the one and only Frank Connoly of transport , thanks again.

to all the schoolkids, thanks for taking part , we hope you enjoyed the taste of Scotland , and that you all take part in the FREE BIKE COMPETITION and keep pedalling and be with us some day in PARIS .

Please look at gallery of AULD ALLIANCE 2010 , and keep reading the NEWS , follow us on TWITTER ( auldalliance09 ..the first year for twitter and tell all you know to log in and TRACK via TRACKER UK , the team Linkston to Paris ..

regards

allan

Allan Prentice and Tom Mcinally along with our promotion lady Sophia Worgan made the journey to the ebikescotland centre in Kinross to get their first look at the ebike .

( see EBIKE GALLERY )
And what a machine ?

It was a joy to ride , has 7 gears so you can pedal it normally or have pedal assist or full on battery .

I have never seen a bigger smile on old Toms face ( the electro man on this trip ) as he used the bike to overtake a couple of normal roadies ...to their great surprise , but not Toms.

Rory Mcleod of ebikes ( see teh main company www.alienocean.com ) took his time to proudly show this Scottish made poroduct ..and i for one would like one for Christmas ..

Prenticevents are very pleased to announce that EBIKESCOTLAND of KINROSS are a new sponsor on the event this year ...we will have an ELECTRIC CYCLE BEING PEDALLED TO PARIS ... a world first ...and we think the longest distance a ebike will have travelled .More details to follow but please goto ebikescotlands web site ..and see the cycles...these bikes are great for commutting and for those who perhaps need a little bit of help as they keep fit ...and we are pleased to have ebikes with us .

We aso now have

BARRS IRN BRU

TUNNOCKS BISCUITS

NAIRNS OATCAKES

WALKERS SHORTBREAD

SCOTTS PORRIDGE OATS

HIGHLAND PARK WHISKY

MCSWEENS HAGGIS

AS PRODUCT SPONSORS ................ WE TAKE THESE PRODUCTS TO TOURIST OFFICES AND GIVE OUT AT RECEPTIONS ENROUTE ALON WITH VISIT SCOTLAND AND WEST LOTHIAN LEAFLETS .

WE NEED ANOTHER PROMOTIONS LADY TO WORK WITH OUR PIPER AND THE OTHER LADY a free place is available , so if you wish a week and then a weekend in Paris ..contact us asap SEND EMAIL TO ALLAN©PRENICEEVENTS.COM

WE THANK ALSO

WEST LOTHIAN COUNCIL AND SCOTTISH HYRDO ELECTIRC AS MAIN SPONSORS .


PLEASE DONATE AND SUPPORT MAMNIE MARTIN CHARITY ( GIRLS EDUCATION IN MALAWI ) WHICH IS TEH MAIN PURPOSE BEHIND AULD ALLIANCE THIS YEAR

I ALSO SUPPORT A CHARITY CALLED HOPE4CHINA CHARITY ( ABANDONED BABY GIRLS IN CHINA ) AND IF YOU WIWSH TO HLP THEM ALSO PLEASE MAKE THAT CLEAR ON ANY DONATIONS YOU MAKE .

LOOK INTO WWW.PRENTICEVENTS.COM

AND WIN A NEW BIKE AND TRACK US ( COURTESY OF TRACKER UK LTD )

AND FOLLOW US ON WEB CAM FROM 27TH AUGUST

PRENTICEEVENTS was asked by the President of the young farmers (Ms Penny Laird ) to organise a cycle ride in aid of MERCY SHIPS ( see www.Mercyships.org.uk) and we were very pleased to be able to help .

The cycle Ride started at Aviemore and we travelled up last Wednesday ( 11th August staying overnite at the youth Hostel ).

Some 45 Young Farmers started out on the Thiursday morning , with the Local MSP Fergus Ewing , and the minsiter for Argriculture Richard Lochhead ( MSP for Murray ) giving us a the send off at the start .

Helping Prenticeevents with the organisation was SANDY WALLACE of Sandy Wallace Cycles ( Inverkeithing ..you get a 10% discount if you are a Prenticevents menber and buy from Sandy ...this was Sandy's first time at helping a charity event like this ..he usually does Cycle Events ..of the competitive kind ...

and he is current BRITISH 500 METRES MASTER CHAMPION cycle track sprint and currently EUROPEAN BRONZE MEDAL WINNER AT MASTER SPRINT Level ..Sandy goes to Portugal in October for the WORLD MASTER TRACK CHAMPIONSHIPS and we wish Sandy well as he tries to bring back Gold for Scotland .( SANDY voted Scott Wison : director of Fullwood diary supplies as his top cyclist in the event..well done Scott and to you a SANDY WALLACE CYCLE TEAM TOP with our compliments )

Also assisting was Stewart Davidson , John Rogers , Bob Ireland and a young farmer called BOB "2" .....a great team .

Ps we arrived at Aviemore at 10.30 on the Wednesday nite and about 10.55 the only place willing to give us food was the Indian Resturant , in the centre ...thanks guys for allowing us to have a meal at midnight .


Back to the Ride ..Day 1 was from Aviemore to Pitlochry ..about 60 miles plus ....we had Sandy as Lead group cyclists ( a bunch of tough guys and equally tough yong lady Christeen) ..very well done lass ..you showed them a claen pair of heels if not high heels ..cycle shoes ...what are you eating to keep up and beat the boys on the first day ..again well done

We had two other groups ..both led by Stewart Davidson with John Owen ( Young farmers Chairman ) doing shot gun at rear ..no he didnt have a real shot gun ..but was certainly at the rear with ayellow vest on woth ..mianly young ladies ..so a bit of shepherding ..well done John ..you gave support to those around you when needed ..

The top group was averaging about 16 miles per hour , our middle group did aroung 12 to 14 mph whilst our tail enders pedalled along at about 10 mph ..but all made it .

The nite stop in Pitlochry was the usual quiet and refined Young farmers evening , well behaved all of you , but you do enjoy a few beers and some of the food you were taking not quite cycling standard ....but very good especially the OLD MILL in Pitlochry .

DAY 2 ...We set out for Stirling .another 60 to 70 miles ..via Dunkeld , Amulree , Crieff ( for Lunch ) , Dunblane ending at Stirling Youth Hostel ...a great trip through wonderful countryside ..the small Glen is worth a visit ....

At one point though i had gathered a small harem of ladies ...4 ..in the minibus ..as small injuires took their toil ..but they all to a man ( oops sorry ) to a lady , got out again and managed the ride to Stirling

Christeen our star lady rider , however , dropped bcak from the young bucks group at Dunkeld the morning coffee stop ..but a great effort anyway ..and maybe next year she will be in the leading group all the way .

I didnt stay overnite at Striling , beating a hasty retreat home , but to all accounts a good nite was had by all , including Stewart who stayed in the youth Hoatel and throughtly enjoyed it .

A small appology though to the Young farmers in group 2 and 3 ...my old friend Bob Ireland , thought the group 1 needed extra fuel , so he took many of your lunches to the top group , giving some of them two or three meals ....and feeding the needy in Stirling , whilst you starved in Crieff ..sorry ..but hunger makes you go faster doee it not ???.

On to Day 3 ..

Originally a small trip to Kinross Show , along the Hill foots , but Sandy changed the route to go through Fishcross , Coal Snaughton , Dollar and then to Kinross ..so a few more hills to give the farmers a bit of exercise after the nite out .

The start was 10 am , and we cycled down through Striling , and we had three more cyclists join us on the day plus ALAN BOWIE the vice president of the NUF ..on his bike , and near the finish , Mr Hugh Galloway of the Young Farmers organisation.

A special note to Laura who joined us at Striling , she brought a mountain bike with those chunky tyres ..fine for off raod and a bit of fun , but not any good for a charity cycle event on roads.....unless superfit and you want a alot of exercise .

We gave Laura a loan of a Hybred bike ..and she was a star and came in to Kinross as one of the main group , so Laura , keep it up and hope to see you again soon on the bike .

The finish was KINROSS SHOW and after a parade down Kinross main street , the cyclists were given a round of applause and a lap of Honour in the main parade ring ....well deserved ..as they strive to raise £20 k plus for Mercy ships .

The hired bikes were from Loch Leven Cycles ( thanks john ) and spares and support , including servicing and repair of bikes over night was by SANDY WALLACE CYCLES INVERKEITHING ..a special thanks to the guys at the shop for fixing the wheels etc as we neede during the event .

If you wish to donate to Mercy Ships please do so by going to www.mercyships.org.uk and goto the YOUNG FARMERS web site and donate through them ..

So to next year , we hope ...but we will be running a cycle ride from Aviemore to Stirling over a weekend next year , staying two nites , first in Aviemore and second in Pitlochry ..if interested please join Prenticeevents as a menber and send me an email .
We also have plans for a week trip to Amsterdam next year , again names to me asap ..Finally , to the Young Farmers ..well dome again ..I enjoyed your company and seeing you all doing your bit for others ...each and every one of you a star.

If you want to send me more pictures ..please do so , and if you wish to support us on AULD ALLIANCE cycle trip to Paris , we leave on 27th August ( some of us from Livingston ) and the main Group on 31st august from Scottish parliament at 9 am ..and arrive in Paris on 4th september

We have atracker on the bikes ( supplied by TRACKER UK ) and a web cam ( so you can follow us on live www..) and we have 4 modules for schools to use on the GLOW system ( if in education conatct WEST LOTHIAN COUNCIL EDUCATION DEPT) .
We have a FREE BIKE COMPETITION .so try it .

And we have a free place still for a young lady to come along as one of the promtion team ..so contact me urgentky if you wish to come along and have a free wekend in Paris with a buch of cops and others .
Our Sponsors this year are
WEST LOTHIAN COUNCIL and SCOTTISH HYDRO ELECTRIC and EBIKESCOTLAND ..,.see news item

as well as

BARRS IRN BRU

BURTONS BISCUITS

NAIRN OATCAKES

MCSWEEN HAGGIS

TUNNOCKS BISCUITS

SCOTTS PORRIDGE OATS

HIGHLAND PARK WHISKY

SANDY WALLACE CYCLES INVERKEITHING

CUSSICKS MOTORS OAKLEY AND CAIRNEYHILL FIFE .

we aim to raise cash for two Scottish Charities

HOPE4CHINA ..they support abandoned baby girls and girls in China ..with the one baby policy , some familes do not wish to have girls and they are lierally put out in buckets to die ...we support this charity as they try and save some of these girls and arrange adoptions for them if possible ...please support us

and again this year

MAMIE MARTIN CAHRITY ..supporting girls education in Malawi ..some 92% of girls dont get a education after age of 10 , we aim to make a difference by giving these girls a chance in life...why not help us

YOU CAN DONATE ON LINE BY PAY PAL >>you dont need a paypal account ..and you cna use your credit card to pay .

please help us help others ...

allan prentice

HI ALL

I have posted a few pcitures of the Porsche owners clubs ..helping 300 kids and their familes who suffer from Cancer and Leukemia ..having a fun day out at CarberryTowers Hotel ( Tranent).

The clubs had 50 cars taking the kids for a short drive to Aberlady and back ..bringing joy and happiness to a lot of kids and their familes ...then they had a great day at Carberry Towers Hotel ... .. a great place to go ....

with a picnic and barbeque and face painting, games and the usual bouncy castle and lots and lots of laughter ..KIDS FROM ALL OF US ..WE LOVED BEING WITH YOU ..YOU ARE ALL STARS ...

So let us wish all those in CCLASP .(.children with cancer , leukemia assocaition and support for the parents) all that is good ..

and if you wish to donatete to them , they support kids and families through out Scotland ..please goto to their website

Now , I am a cyclist but their is a place for the car on our roads and especially those Porsche Owners who give of their time and money to help others .
I own a old classic Porsche 1985 Carerra Super Sports Convertable ..see if you spot it ....and have been known to take bikes on the back of the Porsche and cycle instead .....ps it has only travelled 800 miles this year ..my bike does more .

....allan p