I’d like to clear up a bit of a mystery to begin with. I had a few communications from people following my progress on the Cycle Slam Live Tracking who were impressed that my maximum speed touched 106 kph yesterday. I have to admit that at that point I had been taken off to complete a challenge or three with Freddie Flintoff and my bike was actually on top of a car when those speeds were recorded.
I have also been told that there were two of me at times today, and that I set a new personal best of 108 kph! Actually, I was given a new Tracker today as it was thought the other would have no battery left. Unfortunately the battery lasted longer than expected, and somebody forgot to switch it off.
Yesterday we cycled from St Moritz to Chur and I was cycling with Freddie and core rider Mike Elsom in the morning until we got to the first of the big climbs which took us to the highest point of the Cycle Slam over the Albulapass at 2,315 metres.
The scenery was spectacular with the snow-capped mountains. While the ride was also spectacularly slow, from my point of view, but it was enjoyable with my two companions.
When we got to the top we had some pictures taken and then we descended to our lunch spot. From there we were taken by car for a little surprise Lawrence Dallaglio had arranged for us. We were driven up a gorge at which point we were told to get out and put on wetsuits, lifejackets, helmets, boots, gloves and other equipment. By this time we were ridiculously hot and things got even warmer when we were told we would be abseiling off the bridge 120 metres down to the ravine below.
At this point I pointed out that I had signed up for a Cycle Challenge and tried to make a hasty retreat, but it didn’t work. Lawrence had set Freddie the challenge to get him back for making him row 15 km across Lake Garda with James Cracknell and I had made the mistake of saying ‘Yes’ when Freddie invited me to join him, before we knew exactly what was involved.
There was a fair amount of nervous talk as we were waiting. Freddie was pretty calm, he has done plenty of adventurous things like this before. I was OK, but anxious, and poor Mike was almost apoplectic.
The only time I had done anything like that was when I was probably 14 years old at St Helier Boys School in Jersey and abseiled down a rockface in an old quarry on St Saviour’s Hill.
So I called upon all my experience and went first. Climbing over the parapet and then going over the edge was a little daunting but then I really enjoyed what was an amazing experience.
Mike also made it, which was brilliant, although he said if it hadn’t been for Freddie and me he wouldn’t have done it.
After that we were grateful for the wet suits as we entered the five degree water to enjoy some canyoning. That is where you swim or let the current carry you down the river. Sometimes you had to get out, to avoid the bigger rapids, and then jump back in further down. On a couple of occasions I was dragged under, a bit like being wiped out in the surf and pulled under, and was taken a bit out of my comfort zone. It also felt very cold. We eventually emerged, like three very soggy creatures from the deep.
Just when we thought it was safe to stay out of the water, we were driven to another point on the river to do white water rafting.
We ended up doing four big challenges in one day and by the white water rafting we had suffered something of a sense of humour failure. We were tired but we managed to steer our way, with me at the helm, down some quite choppy water with our guide trying his best to capsize us by sending us through the most active areas.
We got grounded at one point, which was not my fault (Freddie and Mike aren’t the smallest guys) and we were a bit like a beached whale. Our efforts to get off the stony river bed must have looked hilarious. I was pushing with the oar while Freddie and Mike were going through some rather strange thrusting motions to try and get us moving.
I am sure I have never heard my name shouted so much as we kept going sideways or backwards down the river but, in my defence, it would have been much easier if they had used the paddles they had been given to help keep us pointing in the right direction rather than leaving it all to the helm (me).
I am suffering from white water rafter’s shoulder today, while Mike and Freddie are absolutely fine. I think that says everything about who was doing the work yesterday.
It took so long to finish our three challenges that we didn’t get back to the hotel until 8.30. My plan was to take the bikes back to where we had stopped so we could complete the last 25 km, but it was just too late. I will make up that 25 km over the next six days.
The rest of the Cycle Slam crew waited for us to get back before they had dinner. We were just shattered physically and emotionally and I could have gone straight to bed. Lawrence was quite pleased with himself, but at least the guys from Discovery Channel who dreamed up the challenges were fined for destroying us. And we were allowed to sneak away early.
I wasn’t so happy with Freddie for asking me to go along with him so I was delighted to hand him back to his wife, Rachael, as she has rejoined the Cycle Slam for Stage 4. That was a big responsibility lifted from my aching shoulders.
I had another of those really deep and heavy sleeps you get when you are exhausted and awoke to a 137 km ride from Chur to Horgen. It was a glorious, day, according to the Garmin it was 35 degrees in the sun and we had 1,430 metres of climbing.
We had one 12 km uphill slog in the hottest part of the day that would have taken its toll on a lot of people. I got to know most of my new Group today and then just left them behind on the hills. It really is every man for himself on the climbs and I was pleased to complete it in 46 minutes.
At the end of the ride we had a couple of professional riders with us in a group of six. One of them has ridden in the Tour de France four times and he is having a week off, riding with us!
I have this weird feeling that I am still a long way from home, but in reality there are only six more rides to go. I am really looking forward to seeing my family.
