Duo Normand woes

Following Grumpy Bob's 'incident' at the Icknield '10' the other week, he thought things could hardly have got worse for Team Grumpy's ride at the 2012 Duo Normand. After a few days off the bike, he's managed to get some training done, mostly on the turbo. Indeed, his shoulder is far more painful on the bike than on the turbo.

No, what's more worrying is the Brittany Ferries strike. 'Grumpy' Art has been holidaying in Normandy, with the plan of returning to the UK for a few days before returning for the Duo Normand in the guise of Team Grumpy. His return trip was badly affected by the Brittany Ferries strike and subsequent suspension of all Brittany Ferries services (involving two cancellations, then a mid-channel helicopter evacuation of a sick passenger).

Following the series of strikes which has been disrupting our services, our Board has reluctantly taken the decision to tie up the fleet and to cancel all crossings with immediate effect, until further notice. The only route which will be unaffected is the Poole-Cherbourg passenger service which is operated on our behalf by Condor Ferries.

It appears that Brittany Ferries have an arrangement with P&O for Dover-Calais, but this is distinctly suboptimal for many UK riders who've entered the Duo Normand.

Team Grumpy is monitoring the situation somewhat anxiously.  The lack of form has suddenly dropped a few notches lower in Team Grumpy's list of worry.

Oh dear! (a.k.a. Aaaargh!)

With the 2012 edition of the Duo Normand only three weeks away, Team Grumpy riders have been putting the final touches on their training, to ensure they roll of the start ramp in peak condition.

Or they should have been.

In fact both Grumpy Bob and 'Grumpy' Art have had their 2012 season beset by injury, illness and lack of time to commit to effective training. Grumpy Bob has felt the stirrings of some kind of form lately, but has continued to suffer misfortune, most recently at the hands of children arsing around on the F15/10 yesterday afternoon. This caused him to take a nasty 26 mph tumble along the tarmac.

Fortunately, no bones broken. But he's acquired a surprising level of abrasion and bruising. He hopes the bike is OK. His skinsuit and aero helmet were completely trashed in the crash.

Tennis

Rumours that Team Grumpy plan to eschew the 2013 Duo Normand in favour of seeking a Wimbledon doubles wild card entry are entirely unfounded. Team Grumpy are insufficiently coordinated for ball games.

Congratulations to Marray and Nielsen!

The clock is ticking...

Grumpy Bob returned from dragging a loaded tandem round the Outer Hebrides and north-west Scotland for 9 days to find that not only had registrations opened for the 2012 Duo Normand, but that 'Grumpy' Art Vanderlay had entered Team Grumpy!

So that's provided a bit of focus for the coming months, since neither member of Team Grumpy has thus far in 2012 shown form that could in any way be described as scintillating.

At the moment, Grumpy Bob is trying to convince his body that cycling is not about pedalling for 8 hours at 10mph but really concerns riding at >25mph for about an hour!

Picking out the positives

No, this isn't about drug cheats - though, frankly, my recent experience of racing has shown to me how tempting it must be to take something to catch up quicker than is possible naturally.

No, this is about my return to racing - well, I say racing, but it was more training on a T bike (and slow training at that). I have 'raced' three TTs in an eight day period, setting new worst times for 50, 10, and then 25 miles. Seriously, it was only the 25 mile event that was not a worst ever time for me - and that's only because a few years ago I made the mistake of entering the Ross on Wye 'hilly' (more like mountainous) 25.

Sitting in the HQ after the final one of these very public humiliations a friend said to me 'don't worry, you'll be able to pick out the positives from all of this soon enough' (thanks Les). I replied that there was not a chance that anything positive could emerge from this experience. Well, was I right or was Les's more sanguine view justified?

Frankly, I don't know - and only time will tell. But on reflection I was so ill only a month ago that I could not contemplate racing for a while yet. In fact, I entered these three events firmly in the belief that I would probably not be able to start them. I did start, I finished (though I did contemplate a DNF in each), and there has been no adverse health reaction. More importantly, I am back on the bike and still have approx. 15 weeks to build for the DUO.

I guess, then, I have been able to pick out the positives after all.

Team MK 2-up - A classic Team Grumpy disaster

Apart from foul weather and blustery winds, what could possibly go wrong for Team Grumpy in the Team MK 2-up, a regular event on their time trial calendar?

Two p*****res, that's what. Grumpy Bob can merely refer the reader to the report over at Flies&Bikes, as he really cannot bring himself to recount the circumstances around this latest Team Grumpy fiasco.  Team Grumpy had to resort to beer and Thai food for consolation.

Grumpy Bob has now ordered new tyres.

Alas, Team Grumpy is scratch

On Saturday afternoon, Team Grumpy will be lining up for their second 2-up of 2012, the Team MK 2-up.  This is a fairly regular event for Team Grumpy - either the team turns out, or Grumpy Bob rides solo. Indeed, one year, the organiser entered Team Grumpy in the 2-up section, even though only Grumpy Bob had entered.

This season sees a change: formerly the event was held over two laps of the 10 mile Astwood sporting course.  This year it was to be held on a new course, the F15/25.  Unfortunately thwarted by roadworks, the event will now be a 15 mile event.  The course, dubbed F15/15 or some such is based on the Brogborough 'cheatie' course which sees the riders start by descending a hill that that they don't need to ride back up.  Grumpy Bob is somewhat apprehensive about how apprehensive 'Grumpy' Art Vanderlay will be on the descent.

'Grumpy' Art is probably a bit more apprehensive about the general lack of fitness in Team Grumpy than in his own descending skills: both riders have been afflicted by illness and injury in recent weeks.  The Team Grumpy Manager is aware that recent performances by Grumpy Bob have been distinctly lacklustre, while 'Grumpy' Art is still recovering from his bout of viral assault.

All things considered, the title of this article is quite appropriate.