|
 |
|
 This section will grow with time. Below you can read about training progress, other Fireflies events and news live from the ride. Consult the archive on the right to view archived messages. |
 |
| Day Two - Diary, Photos and Video On the first evening Luke Scott declared himself to be here for the food. This was a sensible declaration, for on the bike you eat. You don't necessarily care what (and we stoop pretty low at times) or when, as you long as you keep eating. However when we undertook this ride last year this same day's ride proved itself to be one of the harder days. Not only was it searingly hot but it includes one of the harder, longer climbs of the ride: the Cormet De Roseland. This 12% climb shoots straight up out of the beautiful town of Beaufort and up along a sheer cliff and beyond the tree-line. From there it teases you with a 2km decent, past an aqua-marine lake before implanting its talons once again and winding its way up to 2000m. And it's long: over 25km to be exact which takes the best part of 1.5 to 2 hours. With this plat du jour on the menu we decided last year to rest for a couple of hours in the shadow of this behemouth and pretend that it did not exist. And whilst we devoured whole sides of cattle and buckets of liquid the Roseland sat sheer and taught ready to devour the next flies that dared to move across its swollen form. From there we all suffered as the sides of beef and quantities of eggs sat in our gullets and slowed our progress. Not something that we would be repeating this year. Cut to 2pm Thursday 17 June 2004 and we were all there again and any rider who had been in the same position last year sat, nervously, waiting for the lunch to end and the climb to begin. Sensibly lunch passed rather more swiftly this year and, once Nick Livesey had accosted a local and Philip Detchmendy had eaten a steak that, just ten minutes previously had been grazing in a meadow, we were ready for the off and the climb of the Roseland. As the Fireflies peleton splintered into small groups the conversation stopped and the concentration started. It's incredible how something as mundane as turning the pedals on a bicycle can take monumental powers of concentration to keep moving forward. Eyes focus on the road just in front of the handlebars, mouths droop open and little is said other than the odd expletive or shout for water/ gel/ nuts/ apricot bars when the support team loom into sight. It is with some pride that we can say that we all climbed up the Roseland well this year. Everyone was up the climb within 2 hours and Payne the Frame and Chris were home within 1 hour 20 minutes. We were all delighted to arrive at the summit and find a huge welcoming party laying out fine breads, hams and cheeses to be consumed. Alas they were not for us but the rather dull and annoying group of Germans (who else) and Swiss hooning around the Alps in Porsche Carreras. We came across them last year and they made the climb up the Colombiere one to be forgotten. Luckily we beat them to it this year, though couldn't stretch to stealing their food. We did laugh heartily when their maps blew away in a gust of wind though. And so the descent. After climbing all day the desire to descend off a mountain at great speed is hard to resist. Typically a group of about 10 riders disappear down the road and mock typical road rules to reach the bottom as quickly as possible. It's a difficult temptation to resist for you feel it is your right to have the exhilaration of speed just as the mountain has had the satisfaction of your suffering. But what the mountain giveth the mountain taketh away. 2/3 of the way down, the first group of riders came across Barry 'I'm going to show these boys how to descend' Wallis prostrate at the side of the road having slid round a hairpin bend and off the side of the tarmac. 10 minutes later worse happened: The Ortolan hunter was down. It was a fearful sight: Luke lay on his hands and knees at the side of the road. Twenty metres further away lay his front wheel, bent beyond all use. The detritus of the incident lay strewn across the French tarmacadam, and there further still was the bicycle: forks snapped, handlebars bent and saddle twisted. Two or three Fireflies went further up the road to slow on-coming traffic (principally the Porsche Carreras) whilst the rest tended to Luke and called the support team. One benefit of this year's ride has been having a physiotherapist with us. Sarah was the picture of calm. Whilst the rest of the Fireflies screamed in anguish, hugging each other for comfort with tears streaming down their faces she tended to Luke ensuring that the Ortolan hunter could move limbs and muscles without searing pain. Luke sat upright -relief from the group around him - and for the first time during the incident THE smile broke across his face, and with the exception of a rather severe looking gash across the nose he looked as magnificent a specimen as he did before the incident. It was a warning to all of us as we continued our way along the hateful N90 toward Moutiers for food, beverages and conversation. Calls between the hospital and the main group established that Luke was OK, but had broken his nose and injured his sternum. Glasses were raised and toasts proffered to the fallen coureur. The trauma of the day was relieved somewhat when a group of Swiss riders turned up, some sporting rather pathetic, weedy moustaches. Following last year, and our introduction to The General we have all learned that if one is to ride with a moustache it must be of the handlebar variety if one is to hold any currency with the Fireflies. We did not wish to be impolite however so said hello, looked admiringly at their bicycles and asked where they were from in Switzerland. Pleasantries over we told them the football result and went to bed. Tomorrow the shapely Madelaine awaits with all her buxom charms and we shall be reunited with our fallen comrade. To Luke. Click on Link to View the Video: day2.mov      Posted by joe marcantonio on . |
|
 Your donations are important to us. There are different ways to make one. You can either fill out a form and send it out with a cheque, or you can make a donation to Leuka online. Read more first Download the donators form Make an online donation |
|
 This year we are hoping to raise a minimum of £100,000 and whilst we recognise individaaul donations as given above integral to this cause, we also consider corporate sponsorships as key to achieving this goal. Unprecedented interest in the Fireflies offers sponsors an exciting platform for promotions and branding. See who is currently sponsoring us and find out how you can become a sponsor. |
|
 The Fireflies' arrival into Cannes has generated great support from the advertising industry and culminates with a hero's welcome at the Palais des Festivals. |
The Fireflies c/o RSA Films Limited
42-44 Beak Street London W1F 9RH