Hello All,

 

I would like to thank Francesca, Paula and their Team for organizing the Coast to Coast ride.

Thanks to all the volunteers and the Sponsors for supporting the event namely

Organic Food and Café for their Healthy Bars, Active O2 Water for the energetic Water, Oasis for supplying Water, Thrifty Car Rental for the Support Cars. (Please see the attachment)

 

It was a great ride for all the participants.

 

Thank you very much.

 

This Friday we had 3 cars following our group with new signs and revolving yellow lights on top of the car.

Thanks to Thrifty Car Rental for sponsoring the lights to the group.

Francesca organized the signs. Cost of the signs for the 3 Cars was 600 Dirham total.

If you would like to contribute towards the cost of the signs we would be grateful for your support.

 

In my last E Mail I forgot to mention one great result of the South African Ironman.

Clare Mccabe from Abu Dhabi finished her second Iron Man in 12.41

Well done Clare.

 

Quote of the Week

Every Bike has a soul. If you love your bike, it will give you emotions that you can never forget!   By Mario Cipollini

 

HATTA RIDE

Before it gets too HOT, another Hatta ride is happening on Friday April 7. The ride will start at 0730 from the Hatta Fort Hotel parking lot.

 

As usual and depending on the number of riders and interests there will be 3 rides with different distances to consider. Final plans for the distances will be decided at the Hatta Fort Hotel parking lot on Friday. Remember, this will be a fun ride; ie. Not a race.

 

The most direct route is to go east from the Defense Round About (Sheikh Zayed Road and the Dusit Hotel) and follow the signs to Hatta and Oman. You will be on the Emirates Highway E44 all the way to Hatta. You can also get to E44 from the Emirates Ring Road E311. From Abu Dhabi turn off at Jebel Ali to the Emirates Ring Road and then turn on to E44 to Hatta. The Hatta Fort Hotel is at the first roundabout on the left as you come to Hatta (you cannot miss it). We can use their showers.

 

If you are interested, drop me an email: eklien@... so as to give the hotel a more accurate count of people staying for lunch. Also, if you need a ride, give me a call (050) 551 8695 or (04) 886 0691 and I will try to arrange carpooling.

Enrique

 

 

Enrique

 

 

Message from Ian Le Pelly

 

 

Hi all,

 

Thought I would check in with another group mail before I check out of the Athletes' Village tonight and head back to Dubai.

 

We had the closing ceremony last night which was in the most part ridiculously over the top and all the more enjoyable for it - the finale being 1,000 performers dressed as Dame Edna Everidge zooming about the inside of the MCG.  Bonkers.  But a great way to finish what has been an incredible experience for me.

 

Race day was also a fantastic experience.  I was actually fairly calm all morning before the race and had had a good night's sleep which was good.  Twenty minutes before the start we all got introduced to the massive crowd and made a long 5 minute walk from transition to the pier.  Most people had long intros setting out their achievements eg "Number 10 from Australia, Peter Robertson, current world champion!".  For me they just said "Number 12 from Guernsey, Ian Le Pelley!".

 

The swim start caught me a bit unaware: they said "take your marks" and then blew the hooter almost immediately.  However, the first 300-400 metres were good and I was swimming arm against arm with my mate Peter Robertson until he decided he'd had enough and swam round the back of me over my legs.  I was with the main pack for the first main buoy at 400m and thought I was with them for the second, but as I rounded the second buoy looking for some feet I saw a stretch of open water ahead and knew that I had lost them.  Bit disappointed that I had lost them so early, but in reality I had half expected it.  Swimming is a bit like cycling in that it is much easier to sit behind someone, and therefore once I had lost the pack there was no getting back to them.

 

I soon realized that I was still swimming alongside Scott Pitcher from Jersey, so eased up for a few moments and then sat on his feet for the rest of the swim which made life easier.  All in all a comfortable swim (19.26), although I was still hurting as I was running out to the bike.  I had a poor transition struggling with the wetsuit, so lost a good 10 seconds on Scott with that.

 

The main bike pack were well away by now, but after 1 lap (of 5) I had got myself into a small pack with Scott and Paul Clements from Jersey.  Whilst we didn't work together all that well (ie I was having to scream at the Jersey guys to take their turns at the front, and they were trying to get me to do more than my share) we managed to keep our lead ahead of the other Channel Island competitors and the rest of the non-professional athletes.  Not a great bike split (1.04.00), but enough.  The crowds on the bike were incredible with lots of Guernsey flags popping up all over the place.

 

I thought I was feeling ok coming off the bike, but as I started to run I realized that I was in for a good half hour of pain.  However, I quickly broke away from the two Jersey guys which was great, but it meant that I was running by myself all the way round with no-one to chase - just the fear of people catching me from behind.  At one point on the run turn I had a big cheer, and so in my pained state I screamed back at the crowd - who then erupted into the biggest roar I have heard for a long time - I don't think I will ever forget that!

 

In the end I dragged myself round in a not great run split (38.24), but enough to seal victory as first non-professional, and perhaps sweeter, first Channel Islander.   Thanks to everyone who has helped me along the way, especially Roy for being such an inspirational training partner, and Jason for his nasty training programs.  But especially Abbe for putting up with my constant and inflexible training schedule for so long.  And many thanks for all the good luck wishes etc that I have got from you guys!

 

Hopefully see you all soon!

 

Ian

 

Some articles/ pictures here:

 

http://www.thisisguernsey.com/code/showarchive.pl

 

http://editorial.gettyimages.com/source/search/FrameSet.aspx?s=ImagesSearchState%7c0%7c0%7c-1%7c28%7c0%7c0%7c0%7c1%7c%7c%7c0%7c0%7c0%7c0%7c0%7c0%7c0%7c0%7c2%7c%7cle+pelley%7c1125084063323127%7c0%7c0%7c0%7c0&p=2&tag=1

 

http://jerseytrimelbourne.blogspot.com/

 

 

Wolfi's Bike Shop is RENOVATING!

 

For the next weeks we will renovate and expand our showroom.

 

In the mean time we will be working in the back of the same building.

 

We hope to be back in our NEW BIGGER Showroom in approximately 10 weeks from now.

 

Our Opening Hours remain the same 9am – 7 pm Saturday to Thursday

 

Parking at the front of the building, as normal.

 

We apologize for any inconvenience caused.

 

See you riding

 

Wolfi and Team