pushing the pedals: The end is near

Ok so I'm a week into my last month out here in Brittany, France. With the short time I have left here I thought I'd take some time to write a blog to talk of the places I've visited,what's happened since I arrived and how it's been made possible.

Accommodation-
Of course the most important thing when you come to a foreign country to race is having somewhere to live. My living arrangements were sorted by my team and they were very nice too. The second day after I arrived in February I was taken to my new home, bikes out, bags out, "here is where you'll be staying young English man" said My Team President as we walked up the unfinished, perishingly cold garden path. My first impressions were, "well its certainly going to quiet", for a lad who lives in Northern Terraced street this was quite the opposite, the nearest house several hundred meters away, big garden, trees all around and a river a short walk down the road.

My view on a wet February Morning

I was introduced to my Land lady, Marie Noel, a very nice French lady who thankfully spoke English, after a short tour and chat about finances and other boring stuff like washing machines Sebastien left me to it. It was strange at first living in somebody else's home, okay I've lived away for two previous years in Belgium but that was in a shared house with other cycling lads, not an individual, it's a completely different feeling. However it's not like I was here alone the two lads from the team were only living a short distance away across town and we have the Mills family an hours ride away in the village of Baud. But I'll speak of them later, trust me they deserve a whole paragraph.

Come June, the garden was landscaped a very peaceful place to have a BBQ

Places to visit-

Of course most of the places I've visited since coming to Brittany have been via pedal power but the odd time they have been in the car. For those of you not aware, Brittany is on the North Western part of France and most of the regions borders are the ocean, with this abundance of coastline your never far from a great beach, walled coastal towns or a mouth watering seafood restaurant. But it doesn't haver to be a long ride or drive away, sometimes a short wander into the town for a coffee or a relax by the river is enough for me.

People-

Now all of the above and all my other blog content "i.e" racing out here would not be possible for me if it wasn't for the support of The Dave Rayner Fund. Up until November 2012 I had no idea where or what I was going to be doing this year. As soon as I got that confirmation email from Keith Lambert I had funding I could start to think realistically where I might go. For those of you not aware of the Dave Rayner its a Non Profit Organisation which raises money each year for a number of riders both male and female to go abroad and race in the country of their choice to better themselves and succeed. Reasons for the Funds set up are rather sad as Dave was an extremely talented young rider from Yorkshire who went to Italy to ply his trade but sadly not only his pro career but his life was cut short with a violent ending in Bradford, where Dave was from and so today the fund supports riders with his ambition. There are several ways in which the fund raises money. All three of which I have been part of for several years.

The Etape du Dales is a cyclo sportive held in my back yard "The Yorkshire Dales" a gruelling 112 mile route taking in every climb worth riding in the National Park. Why not give it a go..... http://www.daveraynerfund.co.uk/etapedudales

I had a go in 2009, got a silver certificate you know.....

The Fred Whitton Challenge is another leg breaking sportive held in the Lake District "my back yard also on a big day!!" Which gives a considerable amount to the fund .... http://www.fredwhittonchallenge.org.uk/

And finally at the end of the year in November the Fund hosts it's own dinner and auction in Bradfords Hilton Hotel. The dinner always comprises of 2-3 special guests "cyclists" an auction of world Tour signed jerseys and other goodies from the years season.

So now I had the finances, where to go and how. Well through sheer fluke a friend by the name of Daniel Patten "also a funded rider" mentioned the name "Mr Tony Mills" and just by luck he's a friend of my Mums Husband. Doug and Tony raced together hundreds of years ago and hadn't been in contact with each other since the turn of the last century, Tony Lives out in France with his family, and I mean his family.... His wife Barbara, 3 sons Tony "Junior", Nick and Tim along with Tims Wife and 2 children, its a real Southern Commune, so of course when I arrived a translator was drafted in to help out with the chit chat.

Tony, thats young Tony sorted me out a team with in matter of days over the Christmas/ New Year period and I was good to go. Nick met me, George and Josh at Portsmouth and brought us over.

I would really like to thank the whole family for welcoming me in and for doing everything they have. Not so bad after all aren't them Southerners......

Other English out here include.......

This guys aero...

This guys sore.....

This guys half dressed

and this guys HOT!! I mean over heating

Aside from our own Little Britain Out here, I've met many lovely people and despite the language barrier, which I'm pleased to say has improvement no end since I came I've managed to chat and get on with so many people.