Cycle Slam Stage 5 Day 1

Good first night in Nancy & the best bit was finding out that I'm cycling with my twitter buddies, some other guys who we'll get to know plus Freddie & Rachael Flintoff - result!!

The alarm came early at 5am & after a quick shower the daily routine began with an early breakfast - not easy eating alot at 5:30am - get the bike ready; fill up the drinks bottles; set up the tracker & then wait around for abit until it's time to go!

We began our stage at 7:05 in the dry, not really knowing what either this day or the days ahead would bring. Pretty soon we hit a head wind which never lightened for the whole day but it was a good first stint to the snack break - only dampened by my first bit of knee trouble. A session with Andy the Physio eased my concerns but unfortunately both knees were to trouble me for the whole week which was both frustrating and painful - especially as I'd covered 1,200 miles this year with no issues at all!

We motored on, interrupted by Terry's one & only puncture, across the rolling hills with our leader David Butler soon arranging us into a rolling peleton which got slicker & slicker as the week went on. After the lunch break & some more physio the weather started to turn & the headwind got stronger & we had the pleasure of rain, hail & the occasional clap of thunder to contend with!! Indeed when the headwind became a crosswind, i was struggling to keep my front wheel from turning! Freddie had the best plan, as he & Lawrence were frequently being filmed by Discovery Channel & for a long stretch he rode up close to the camera van, which gave him amble shelter from the elements - not sure Rachael was quite as pleased with him though!!

Having covered just over 100 miles, we reached Chalons & we're all very happy!!

After some more physio of my left knee we headed off to our hotels - disappointingly there was no bath in mine, so i had to have a cold shower & hose my legs with cold water, before doing the afternoon ritual of legs in the air up the wall - I'm sure it did help!!

Back on the buses in the evening for a trip to The Bollinger House which has never before been opened to mere mortals such as a bunch of amateur cyclists - it's ordinarily left to wine experts & aficionados! The evening was great & after the facinating tour we had a excellent meal and a drop or 2 of champagne!