Eilidh Joyce and Rhona Malcolm were part of Le Tour Pour Ali which was a cycling event which was run last Sunday for Cancer Research. To go back to the very beginning....
On January 5th 2014 Tracey sent me this message on facebook.
This idea grew and grew as the year went on. Eilidh officially became our Directeur Sportive and set about calling meetings and giving us all tasks to do. Before long Rhona had been talked into doing the first 20 miles of the ride in memory of her Dad. Initially the thought was that a few of Tracey's cycling buddies would take part and raise a bit of cash for Cancer Research. But gradually word got around and we ended up with 15 people saying they would take part and serious training began to take shape!
So after several meetings we were ready to go. We had Alpine Bikes on board to give us technical support and a kettle and Jo Turbitt (Mrs Masterchef) was on board to provide the after race yummy stuff. Eilidh, Rhona and I were to bake and had a special task to bake Stephen a gluten free birthday cake! Suddenly it was the week of the big sportive. Tracey and Eilidh were running around doing the last minute organising, with me and Rhona baking and printing out numbers for Tracey. Tracey isn't prone to showing excitement but I do believe I saw a little glimmer of excitement and nerves about the big day. Hazel arrived Saturday lunchtime with her bike in tow equally nervous and ready for the ride.
There was lots of chatter on facebook about the bike ride, nerves were building I suspect.
So early on Sunday morning (for the moment I am up early all the time - thanks Kobi) up and ready for sportive day. Got to Tracey's house and Eilidh had the kettle and the bacon rolls ready. Once everyone was munching and the pre-race chatter building Eilidh registered everyone and gave them their race numbers. Meanwhile Tracey's garden began to fill with bikes.
Once Eilidh had organised everyone with their race numbers and gave everyone their directions it was time for Tracey to give the race briefing.
Everyone listened intently, including Hazel who announced that she would have to go with someone as she had no idea where she was going!
With everyone briefed it was time to get the bikes ready for the off. Outside for a photo shoot for the Inaugural Le Tour Pour Ali. Rhona modelled Alistair's walking hat which has now become the thing we take with us wherever we go. It has mud from Keilder on it and badges from all our trips since November 2013. He was with us in spirit, hats and bikes.
Once everyone was on their bike and ready for the off Eilidh got her clip board and stopwatch out and we started off the various waves of riders.
Last group to leave were my Fetchie buddies. And in true Fetchie style (not taking life too seriously) one of them go to the end of the street and said "which way do we go" - with 77 miles to go it didn't bode well that they couldn't find their way out of the street! Go Fetchies....
Once everyone was away Eilidh and I counted up the donations and at that point we had £340. I filled the flasks with hot water and said cheerio to Eilidh. I had taken the maps off the wall and took them with me. I headed out towards the A7 and off in search of the first support stop.
Eventually found my stop on the map and parked up at the side of the road. Got the goodies all sorted out and waited on my first customers...
First cyclists arrived shortly after I got there. Stuart and his mate were the first ones back and then Douglas, Chris and Hazel and Ali's bike came next.
Gradually my support stop was getting busy and all the goodies were getting munched.
Then down the hill shouting "weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee" came Rhona and Tracey. Rhona had clocked up 20 hilly miles and was ready for a seat and some yummy food. Tracey unfortunately had to carry on as she was doing the full 77 miles.
Quick tidy up and hot foot it over the hills to the next support stop. Tracey's pal Carol and her family were all set up when Rhona and I got there. I gave them the pop up tenty thing just in time for the rain to come on. The cyclists began to wheel up tired but still in good spirits. The second leg had been windy and tough but still sunny. Lots of food was devoured, broken spokes were fixed and lots of water drunk. Before they set off for the last leg of the ride. Up into the Granite hills.
Rhona had decided that she might find the 9 mile cycle up hill into the Granite hills might be a bit too tough for her and that she would meet up with Tracey at the last support stop and cycle the last 20 miles back. So we packed up the car and headed off up the valley passing the cyclists as they climbed slowly up the hill. We passed Liz, Derek, Alastair, Hazel, Douglas and Chris. It looked very tough and by this point there was heavy rain and hailstones for a bit. Rhona and I headed down to the last support stop and waited on the cyclists arriving. We had missed the first three cyclists but caught up with the rest. As each cyclists reached us it was evident that the climb had been really hard work. Tracey even refused to go up another hill until she had a lie down on the ground. Poor Mary looked like she hated her bike at that point. However, a wee hurl up the hill in my car, some food and she was soon back on her bike with her posse. Well done Mary.
So that was the last of our cyclists heading for home. Just 19 miles to go at this point! I whizzed on past the last group and headed back to base where Eilidh was waiting to check everyone in with their time and Jo was waiting to feed hungry cyclists with delicious food.
Happy 50th Birthday Stephen.
I can only speak about the sportive from my perspective of support person, but I know from all the comments that everyone enjoyed their day despite the horrible climbs and hailstones. And in the end I think there was approximately £500 raised for Team Ali.
What we need to remember is that two remarkable young women, Eilidh and Rhona were key to this day. They are both nearly 16 and in the middle of their National Five exams and both gave up a precious study time to selflessly organise and take part in an event to remember Alistair. Eilidh did a fantastic job organising everything and everyone and Rhona was amazing completing 40 miles in memory of her Dad. He would have been immensely proud of both of them for what they have done. I can't begin to say how proud I am of them.
Oh and lets not forget the remarkable "slightly older" people - all of you cyclists. You were amazing and a total inspiration. Thank you so much for remembering my wonderful husband in this way.
So who's up for it next year????
don't worry, be happy
For anyone who hasn't already donated and feels truly inspired please think about donating to
http://www.justgiving.com/TeamAli
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