Once we get to Aberaeron we can get on the BANG...Another coast2coast training adventure.

29.11.08 Llandysul-Aberaeron-Synod Inn-Llandysul Loop 50 miles (and bloody freezing too)

The Coast2Coast squad took on another mighty training challenge today with it has to be said, a few more hills than the last full team outing (They don't call it Brynmawr for nothing). This was predominantly down to the fact that Poppy (Gareth)`The Figure Head` Evans (Pen Cala - to his friends) had nothing to do with the route...although being local he was able to provide us with the advance warning that some of the hills on the route were not of the normal sort but, `short sharp, deep burn f**kers and you can blog me on the quote with that` he has such a way with words....

We had all agreed to meet `really early` at the Porth Hotel In Llandysul (the land of the fingerless glove) so we could complete the ride and all get back to watch the match (Wales V's Australia) in good time. Anyway...after a light fuel stop for some quality nutrition at Mcdonald's, the Carmarthen based element arrived at `The Porth` around 8.30am where the leader (Gareth Fabian-Glittersparkle) predictably hadn't put the kettle on or prepared the hot bacon sandwiches.

After a quick chat while awaiting the arrival of - THE ONE (Richard `Keanu` Belcher) the team set off from the Arctic tundra that is Llandysul in minus 3 Celsius towards the coast at Aberaeron where we were promised "it will be warmer there butt with less ice"

The team for this trip had undergone some personnel changes and started out as a sixsome (in the non sexual sense) including two newcomers (Mr Andrew `the tache` James of The Porth Hotel and a slightly plump but attractive ladyboy from www.morfabay.com (Mr Retro Lloyd-Hughes)

Following his dismal performance in the recent Cardiff - Brynmawr - Cardiff One Day Classic, Mr Henry-Magners-Meltwater-Jones was substituted for this challenge by his Brother-in-Law the aforementioned and slightly effeminate Laugharne 2nd's Centre (and as it turned out equally dismal), Rhys `The Failure` Lloyd Hughes.

`The Failure` who often talks a good ride and promised much it has to be said, performed well for the first 25 miles amid constant whinging about his bits getting cold. However, following an unplanned toast and milky coffee stop/binge in Aberaeron brought on by the distant and light whimpering of his mentor, Andy `the thighs` Edwardakis about his wonky little left finger getting chilly on the downhills, spectacularly BONKED or as he said in his own words "was beasted" by the climbs towards Ffos-y-ffin and Synod Inn.

`The Leader` who seemed unaffected by the low temperatures and continues to drop the rest of the peleton and dazzle with his inexplicably improved performances of late (chemically induced???) was heard to shout on several occasions while CYCLO - AIR DRUMING to the rock beats of Shania Twain from his IPOD ` come on Boys let pick it up and time trial it back to base`.

The author also has to confess to having suffered on todays' outing following a nasty bout of manboob flu this week. Although I was heartened by the fact that even I managed to get home a full 5 minutes before THE FAILURE....

Our No.6 and tail gunner - Mr Andrew `the tache` James who we have been advised has a history of `going walkabout`, was forced to turned back after 6 minutes riding this morning with a severe case of `cramp of the hair` hadn't made it back to base by our return some 3 hours later and worryingly remains MIA. He is believed to be being held against his will in an enemy public house near Gorrig.... the family are not too concerned.....

Happy riding

Phil

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ECLIPSED BY A FAT UNCLE

The Fat Cyclists Gig - The New Three Mariners Laugharne 21.11.08

Last night the good people of Laugharne were `entertained` and relieved of £184 and 50 Krona of their hard earned by 5 musicians some of whom came from Norway (and you could never tell by the knit wear!), a human beat box who wasn't and a fat bloke who came all the way from Cornelly...North Cornelly not South (they're poof's down there).

The coast2coast X factor duo of Andy and Phil churned out the usual stuff for the first couple of hours accompanied on a few choice tunes by Phil's big gay fat uncle Lyndon (only joking Lyndon).

Later the Norweigian's who turned out to be very accomplished joined big fat gay uncle Lyndon and a bloke who turned out to be a human beat box who we all thought was from Norway as well, but when asked in the usual way we all do when speaking to foreigners nice, loud and clearly `WHERE ARE YOU FROM` replied `Laugharne, I live opposite the Mariners`.

This impromtu combo played some great tunes including Very Superstitious by Stevie Wonder which went down a treat with all. Towards the end of the evening after packing away most of the gear, Lyndon who had impressed all and one very attentive bloke in particular was offered £50 for 10 minutes....After clarifying with the young man what he was expected to do for the £50 / 10 mins, Lyndon treated the crowd to another complete set of great singalongs with more cash being raised for each song over the extra 10 minutes.

A great night and I can't wait to be eclipsed again by members of my own family and others playing my kit, perhaps I should become a roadie.......

Phil
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www.coast2coast-usa.org
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Polar Bear Swim - Pendine

Sunday, Dec 21st - the villagers of Pendine in cold, wooly West Wales will be braving the Atlantic Sea. Sponsorship Forms can be downloaded. Please click here. Forms also available from Gilbert's Creative Cafe, Pendine Online or Morfa Bay Adventure.

We raised over £500 last year and would love to repeat that donation again. All sponsor forms returned on the Dec 21st with more than £20 will receive a 'lovely' commemorative tee shirt.

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Roy Noble Show - Radio Wales

Going Live on Radio Wales with Roy Noble on December 3rd. Gareth and Andy will be interviewed by the most listened to radio presenter in the Principality between 2 and 4 in the afternoon.

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The Story of a Coast 2 Coast Team training ride ( 60 miles Gwent Valleys - Cardiff to Brynmawr

..They don't call it Brynmawr (BIG HILL) for nothing - its ALL up hill after the first 10 Butttt...

Had a great rideout today as a fivesome on a challenging training route set for us by Ricardo EPO ..Poppy.. Cavendish (Gareth). Billed as "one hell of a climb" the organiser promised constant gradient after the opening 10 miles of flat.

After 10, 20 and even 30 miles many were still looking for the first pull of the day but I noted several, I guess they must of just missed them and were too busy taking in the numerous beautiful veiws.

Personally I very much enjoyed the x 3 hors D.. categories climbs. Others I felt thought the route may make an ideal time trial loop.

For me the days stand out ascents would have to include the challenging and much misunderstood ..Mount Risca.., The awesome & picturesque ..Col du Aberbeeg.. (including the ..hump de Aldi.. - where on the return leg Mr H Jones after a substantial night on the juice bonked (got very tired) for a 3rd time on his prototype ninkinonk cellotape fused racing Battaglin) and the days biggest challenge, the mist shrouded, fearsome and menacing but often overlooked ..MONT D' GALIBITILLERY...

Once at the summit, the leader (Gareth) shouted at us between a few bars of N.E.R.D or Oasis and above the maximum volume of his iPOD (ITS ON SHUFFLE BUTT YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOUR GONNA GET NEXT IT COULD BE SHERYL CROW THOUGH) "we're going to hammer it across the top to Brynmawr and then we turn round and start the descent...."

Apart from the all the other magnificent scenes that seem to catch ones breath on such a sojourn, I have to confess that never before have I come across such a concentration of ..women?.. at a TESCO Extra with handlebar moustaches. The Lower Gwent Valleys for me often rival the stunning natural beauty of somewhere such as Port Talbot and its majestic CORUS steel plant domininated skyline.

The day very nearly ended with Myself and Rich who had dropped off from the lead group in the final 3 miles being run off the road by a few of Gareth's traveller neighbours with their donkey powered traps.

Fortunately all survived unharmed and made it back to base for a bowl of Pasta and to be left with final orders from Stormin Norman (Gareth) to do another Turbo sesh later that day.

Can't wait to go on the next ..Poppy.. (Gareth) ride I hope its as good as this one.....

Phil
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www.coast2coast-usa.org
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Buying A Mile

Ladies and Gents,

Please can you help us promote this challenge and the charity by circulating this email to your friends and colleagues.

I am one of four guys cycling across the USA in March 2009. We are cycling from Los Angeles, California to St. Augustine, Florida. 3000 Miles in under 2 weeks. We will also be raising much needed money for the Noahs Ark Appeal and the Childrens Hospital for Wales.

Can you please show your support by visiting our ebay account, and purchasing a mile. Each mile is set at £2.50 - Any other donations will also be gratefully appreciated. You can find the 'miles' by searching 'Coast2Coast-USA Challenge Mile' on the ebay search engine.

We have 3000 miles on sale, one for each mile we will cover during the challenge.
Once you buy a mile and leave a message of support, your name and message will be placed on our 'donations wall' - which can be found on our website.
If you do not have an ebay account, please contact us via our website for more info on how to sponsor us.
Can you also please forward this email to your contacts list and encourage them to do the same.

For more information on the challenge, please visit out website - www.coast2coast-usa.org

Many Thanks

Coast2Coast-USA Team

----------------

Boneddigion a Boneddigesau

A fyddwch yn garedig i helpu ni hysbysebu'r her uchod, gan anfon yr ebost yma ich ffrindiau

Rwy'n un o pedwar person sydd yn seiclo ar draws America yn mis Mawrth 2009. Rydym yn seiclo o Los Angeles, California i St. Agustine, Florida, dros 3000 o filltiroedd mewn llai na pythefnos. Wrth i ni cwbwlhau'r her, byddwn hefyd yn godi arian i Apel Arch Noa, a Ysbytu Plant Cymru.

A gallwch chi ddangos eich cefnogaeth gan brynu 'milltir' ar ein tudalen ar ebay. Pris pob milltir ydy £2.50 - byddwn yn gwerthfawrogi unrhyw fath o gyfraniad. Gallwch dod ar draws y 'milltiroedd' gan rhoi 'coast2coast-usa challenge mile' ar wefan ebay.

Mae ganddom dros 3000 o filltiroedd i werthi, un am bob milltir ar draws y daith. Unwaith i chi brynu milltir ar y gwefan, byddwn yn rhoi eich enw, ac unbrhyw neges o gefnogaeth ar 'wal gyfraniadau' ar ein wefan - www.coast2coast-usa.org
Os nag oes ganddoch cyfrif ebay - gallwch cysylltu ni trwy'r wefan uchod i ofyn am ragor o wybodaeth.

A fyddwch chi'n fodlon anfon yr ebost yma ymlaen atoch ffrindiau a chyd-weithwyr.

Am fwy o wybodaeth, ewch i'r gwefan - www.coast2coast-usa.org

Diolch am eich amser

Garfan Coast2Coast-USA.
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Training for the Cycle

Last night Phil and Andy hit Pendine hill - a short, sharp session as it's getting so cold and dark early! The 20% hill means that you suffer - 6 x 4 minute climbs with a return to the bottom as rest meant not far off 500 calories expended in 1/2 an hour. Roll on the next session. Both felt ok after the session but there's a definite need to do more!

Visiting the Hospital in Cardiff

Lyn Jones, a founding trustee and the Chairman of the Noah's Ark Appeal, is taking our team on a tour of the Children's Hospital for Wales on the 15th November.

A ward manager will be showing the team around the hospital so we can see what we're working for.
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THE ROUTE AT THIS MOMENT

DATE	FROM	TO	DISTANCE
20-Mar	OCEANSIDE	TWENTYNINE PALMS	160
21-Mar	TWENTYNINE PALMS	KINGMAN	229
22-Mar	KINGMAN	TUSAYAN	197
23-Mar	TUSAYAN	MEXICAN HAT	203
24-Mar	MEXICAN HAT	DULCE	219
25-Mar	DULCE	TAOS	129
26-Mar	TAOS	MELROSE	240
27-Mar	MELROSE	SWEETWATER	250
28-Mar	SWEETWATER	LEANDER	241
29-Mar	DEL VALLE	FREEPORT/SURFSIDE	196
30-Mar	HIGH ISLAND	NEW ORLEANS	301
31-Mar	PEARLINGTON	MOBILE	103
01-Apr	MOBILE	SPANISH FORT	156
01-Apr	MOBILE	SPANISH FORT	156
02-Apr	PANAMA CITY BEACH	LIVE OAK	201
03-Apr	LIVE OAK	ST AUGUSTINE BEACH	116

TOTAL 2941
DAILY AVERAGE 196.07
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If You're Near Cardiff, Come Join us for a Group Training Ride

We're meeting up Saturday, November 15, 2008 for 120 miles, Cardiff to Newport and back x 6, meeting at 07:30 am and we'd love company!

What is this?!

We're a team of cyclists from the United Kingdom who will be cycling across the United States in March 2009, from the Pacific coast at Santa Monica, California, to the eastern Florida coast at St Augustine, to raise money for the Children's Children's Hospital of Wales, in March 2009.

This is the first and currently only children's hospital in Wales. All funds raised through this cross-continental challenge will be donated to the Noah's Ark Appeal, which was created to raise funds to make the Children's Hospital a reality, to provide a hospital dedicated to the care of children and the support of their families.

The members of our team are fathers, brothers, uncles and friends of the children in our lives and we're looking to raise £50,000 on our two-week ride across the southern US. We need help. We need people to pledge donations on our web site and we need people along our route to hold fundraising events to help us make this trip a success. We're also looking for a caravan or RV to use on the trip, to house the team and double as our medical station and places to sleep along the way.

Team members will track our adventure on this blog.

If you can, please make a donation, help us raise money along the way or at least follow along with us here and tell other people about us.

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www.coast2coast-usa.org
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