Day 2 - The 2 Mile High Club

It takes us about 7.5 minutes on average to climb Donegore Hill, which was our primary training hill at home. On day 2 here we climbed for over 20 times that with no let up. Altogether we climbed for over 2 miles vertical. Scenery is unbelievable.

Glad we have disk brakes as some of the folks on rim brakes are having blowouts as their rims are overheating and melting their tyres!! Some big crashes. The downhills are incredible.

The day would not have been complete without flying in the face of common sense, so spare ribs, chips and ice cream chased down the biker pasta, which is becoming sickening. Maybe we will have a beer tonight too.

No bother so far (ahem), other than we are totally knackered beyond belief, and there are a few more dents in the camera!

Greetings from Davy to all the Thales folks. Wish you were here - instead of us, boom boom, etc, etc. To our loved ones - we are being extremely careful, so stop worrying. To Mikey, you are a cheeky git, but keep it coming - all good crack!!

Just about to tackle a 1200m vertical climb in 15 minutes, so over and out!!!

Day 1 - Fussin' in Fussen

9:30 pm, and both of the housemates are completely knackered!!

Got the bikes up and running last night in Fussen. I was interviewed by a young lady from the local press who entitled me "Mr Big Bag", seemingly on account of my oversize luggage.

Ate ice cream, strolled the town. Slept for a while in the ice rink before bedding down for the night on the tennis courts (we are very sporty you know).

Up this morning for the RACE!!! Kicked off to AC/DC Highway to Hell at 11am. Hills unbelievable!! Lots of climbing climbing climbing. Hit the finish after five and a half hours pedalling, totally knackered.

LOTS of interest in the bikes, lots of interest in On One. Brant, if you are listening, we met someone who knows someone you know!

Good grief, this is dull, but we are both knackered.

For those of you affiliated with Andy Ruck, he sends UBER love from Austria.

Munchin' in München

Travelled to Munich today with fellow Irish dudes Simon and Rowan (Team MTB Rider). A mix-up on hotels means we are not actually in the Munich Four Seasons, and we have had to settle for renting rooms by the hour beside a strip club!

The other chaps from Newry and Mourne travelled Easyjet - out of 6 bikes travelling, 4 of them were badly damaged. Needless to say they HATE Easyjet.

All fed and watered in the local boulangerie, and heading for a Chinese and a beer now. Weather is roasting. Off by train to Füssen tomorrow to register for the Transalp Challenge 2006.

Stay tuned for the next exciting installment!! Tallyho!!

And Finally...

We will be updating the blog from the event itself, but this is our final post before we fly to Germany. We owe a MASSIVE thanks to some folks for their support in our Transalp Challenge efforts to date. Our genuine thanks to:

Diane and Ann, our beloved wives. Thanks for all the support and patience over the past 6 months (and the previous decade or so).

Brant Richards at On One - the big lad has been generous way beyond any of our hopes, by supplying us with InBred 456 frames, Mary bars, 456 stems, Twelfty seatposts, riding clothes & hawaiian shirts for the event, all on the basis of a speculative email to him out of the blue in February. Brant, you are a man of your word, and arguably as mad as a snake.

Bike Dock in Belfast - Derek, Andy, Simon, Paul and the team have been extremely helpful and generous in helping us afford all the foreseen and unforeseen things we have had to fork out for - your patient assistance is much appreciated.

Crazy Ken at CK Works - Ken has kept us going when our ailing bikes have been reduced to mere rubble. And then when Brant did the business and sent over boxes of stuff from On One, Ken built up our 456's in record time. He has them running like the dream-bikes they are, and even as we speak he is lubing our gussets before we head off for the race.

Our donors to NICHSA - Many many thanks to all of you who have supported the NI Chest Heart & Stroke Association with your donations. ALL of your donation goes directly to NICHSA.

Toodlepip!

(IF, BY SOME MIRACLE, YOU WANT MORE OF THIS RUBBISH, VISIT THE ARCHIVES UP ON THE TOP LEFT OF THE SITE, JUST UNDER THE MENU).

Tango & Cash Celebrated on Official Transalp Challenge Web Site

Well, they stuck up a link to our blog, anyway.

One of 3 only blogs in English - a proud moment (sniff).

See the link to our child: http://www.transalpchallenge.com/challenger/blogs.php?lang=en

I Have a Dream!

Only a week to go until the race - strange dream last night. After the first 200 yards, The 2006 Transalp Challenge was being led by a pig wearing mascara with a frog on her handlebars. Tango was there of course, far left.

Guns 'N' Roses (Well, Guns 'N' Rhododhendrons)

The inaugural shotgun duel between Tango and Cash. In the absence of buckshot, a jousting charge and five 3-minute rounds of Greco-Roman wrestling decided the match.

Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary

When we got our new On One 456 bikes, we were excited at the prospect of trying out the strange but true Mary bars.

When you first try them, you feel you should be riding side-saddle with a basket of bread on the front of the bike, but they really are terrific! Very comfy and much more natural hand/wrist position. We are both going to run them for the Transalp Challenge.

BUY THEM FROM ON ONE HERE!

Where the Mountains of Mourne Sweep Down to the Sea

Good old Percy French, eh?!

Great day Sunday a week ago with the Newry & Mourne Transalp Challenge chaps. Many thanks to Eddie, Kookie, Brendan and Andy for dragging us up the hills and making us feel very welcome to 'Transalp Challenge Team Ireland". See you in 10 days.

Da Nah!!!!

Suited and booted On One! (Hanged if I know why the photos keep going on their edges like this - and no, smart-arse, they are not like that in the graphics package!) The final image is Tango lubing his gusset (in case you were wondering)!