Team Si The Movie

The finish of 100 miles in the London-Surrey 100

One Amazing Weekend! One Epic Challenge! One Brill Team Effort.

It hurt, it burnt & it made me cry. But this challenge is one we are immensely proud of. We came, we saw, we conquered. See you next year Surrey, Leith Hill 2014 Team Si will conquer you again! 

Move over Wiggo Team Si have arrived! 

Inaugural London 100 Cycle Ride Done!  

Simply Epic!

Good old paper sponsors

Along with the 'online' techno savvy donations we also received a shed load more from those less inclined to fire up the olde pc but still just as generous to dig deep and support us heart and soul. So to make sure they are all thanked (really hope we have got all names) we have listed them all below.

Australian supporters,
Eosin Sheehan, Steve Skinner, Jason Moore, Fred McGovern, Darryl Rowley, Andrew Welnt, Pete Simpson, Matt Skofield, Wayne Clarke, Chris Wilson, Gaz Lume, Baby D, Raun Sam, Andy Greenwood, Robert Ryan, Eoin Diamond, Justin French, Brad Primrose, Brendon Latham, Daniel Desai, Phil Ruediger, Jason Cox, Patrick Maguire, Hans Peter, Ten, Mui, Asa Hughes, Dave Hynes, Anthony Hill, Matty Tyson, Ste Owen, Andre David's, Trev Youngberg, Elliot Phillips, Frank Szabo, Tamati Vercoe, Sophie Adams, Gavin Lemhan, Aidan Currin, Marty Blingo, Thalia Codfley, Andy Greenwood, Paul Finney, Scott Redpath, Barry Johnson, Joe Dixon, Ben Cosin, Paul Featonby, Cody Dunsmore.

Uk supporters
Pam Marchant, Rhyl Povey, Alan Povey, Sian Jones, Awen Haf Jones, Jean Smith, Stuart Smith, Diana Smith, Sharon Riley, Sarah Sparrow, Shirley Lunn, Gayna Roberts, Jane & Alan Ware, Chris Benson, Sarah Bowyer, Ben Hearth, Gary Akerst, Jaqui Thrasher &the Greenacres team, Stu Hughes, Ross Tennet, Jon Williams, Darren Andrews, Steve Leather, Gwyn Jones, Huw Evans, Steve Miller, Brian Smith, Tom Lockley, Lyndon Oxadrian, Jane Wadding, Sian Lloyd, Steve Sinclair, Adeian Caveill.

BIG massive HUGE thank you to all xxxxxx

Our official numbers

What a team, Team Si will continue, who is up for it next year? Oh if anyone spots Matty helmet 12605 on a train let us know, he lost it in Crewe. 

£3000 +

A massive thanks to everyone who has helped us raise over £3000, we will be giving 110% tomorrow. I was less nervous when getting married to my beautiful wife Kati who I am so proud of. She has given 110% everyday training.

Last Bike Check

Final check of bikes today ready for the train journey to London this afternoon. The last thing we want is the bikes to fail. Don't understand why we won't have a skoda following us with a couple of spare bikes on the roof.

Final Week

Posted by Kati

As we are finally into the final week everything is winding down training wise (no more evil 70 milers that make me cry) just a few 10/20/30 ones to keep the legs moving! Matty is home and we have had a few training sessions as 'Team Si' which has been great - well except now I have two super fit feisty men to contend with on the day instead of just the one! (on one trip out they were leisurely chatting about how to keep ME going as the weakest as I was killing myself at the front! Neither may I add broke a sweat while I was quietly dying)  gguuurrrrr..... however we are nearly there and none of it could have been possible without the support/sponserships/hint & tips we have had.... Your all superstars and you have done us proud. We will keep you all updated but with the total now well over £2000 we are genuinely humbled. Now we have to do our bit! Ouch! See you in London or if you can't make it check out bbc1 on Sunday for live coverage...... 

Much love 

Team Si xxxxx 

Just a few of the supportive gestures we have received in the last few months

Team Si in our Hearts and on our Bikes

Training is winding down this week, only 30 miles today. Then put our Team Si decals on our bikes. Wish we could be putting them on Simons bike. Feel so proud to be riding the London 100 in his memory.

70 Miles in a Mankini

70 mile cycle toady, Dyserth to Chester and back in my cycling Mankini. No wonder Kati was crying at the end of it. The last long training ride until the big day on the 4th. Going to spend the next two weeks trying to cure Kati's back ache and my dress sense. Even the cat can't look at me.

"Why Didn't You Just Do A Raffle?"

Bumped into a friend (Badge aka Badge Makes Art - very talented chap, look him up) that we haven't seen for a while as we were doing the 60 mile training this morning. He took one look at us both and simply asked, " why didn't you do a raffle like normal people?" 

First Time For Everything!

Having spent 14 years with this man I honestly believed he was allergic to a scrubbing brush...... Therefore shocked to find him outside not covered in hives & with a full understanding of how to work it! 

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner (well chicken legs)

Whit wooooo........Gary kitted out and ready to go! 

Sooooo Much to Learn!

Posted by Kati

Just to give you a little insight into how much there is to this cycling. Having just done a 12 mile hill climb to 'train' for the joys that are Leith Hill, Box Hill and some other evil hill sent to try me along the route, I have endured the following pearls of wisdom from behind me......... Sit down, change gear, stand up, sit down change gear, stand up, sit down, change gear, change gear, little circles, little circles, high knees, littles circles, change gear, stand up, sit down, change gear, don't wobble, DON'T WOBBLE, change gear, stand up......... I could go on! (this is genuinely not me whining, Gary's doing an ace job of training my sorry ass & without him & his encouraging words I would be passed out on the side of the road at the first little bump, I just never knew how much there was to it!) 

My gorgeous trainer...... 

Just a photo I love of myself, Matty & Simon I thought I'd share xxxxx 

This cycling malarkey could finish me off!

Posted by Kati

To give you a quick update.... Firstly apologies for not write for a while we have been busy training none stop (well we we're until we took a little break to visit Matty and Asia for three week aka a cheeky holiday) but now we're back and raring to go! (this is a bit of an exaggeration - raring for this torment to end more like!) 

So first trip out after our hols pretty much killed me & saddle sore returned with a vengance! I was really down hearted as it felt all the training was wasted... However the next two have been some of my best/progressive rides, so the hope of managing this epic challenge is starting to look like I have a chance. Despite Gary getting a flat tyre (kind of fancied him a little bit more when he got all manly & fixed it in a flash) we did a 12 mile hill training session (evil beyond evil) climbing 170m in a mile & 1/2 with Gary shouting climbing technique instructions behind me as we headed into a tough head wind and the day before completing my fasted trip to date averaging 14 mph with hill climbs & roads. 

The week is finally finishing on a positive!  

Team Si Photo at Angkor Wat

Posted by Gary

Met up with Matty and we cycled around Angkor Wat in Cambodia and managed to catch the sunrise behind the temple. A fantastic place to have our team photo. We came back from our 3 weeks in Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand yesterday. We have got to get back into some serious training, I think we may have put on a few pounds. We might use these bikes for the London 100.

Cheeky Cheeky

Posted by Kati

Just made me chuckle ;)

Snowdon & Everest

Posted by Gary

We decided right from the start that we would cycle the 100 miles together and finish together as it was not about personal achievement but raising money together for the epilepsy society in memory of Simon. My key job was to get non sporty iPad loving Kati fit enough to finish around the 7 hour mark.
Yesterday we both linked heart monitors to our iPhones and did 15 miles at the same pace. In the picture my reading is on the left and Kati's on the right. I thought I would see how much effort she was putting in and see if I was working her hard enough. Wow,after comparing the results (22bpm difference) I realised that doing the months of training and the 100 miles together is like me climbing Snowdon and Kati Climbing Everest. I just thought I would let you know who will have made a massive achievement and will deserve all the praise when we cross the line on August 4th. I am so proud of her already.

 

2 min clip of our daily 15 mile route

Posted by Gary

Thank You 98 Days to Go

Posted by Gary

98 days until the big day, if Kati had moaned this much leading up to our other big day I would never have married her. But seriously I wouldn't change a thing because of the support we have had from friends and family, not just donating money, but encouraging gifts arriving in the post such water bottles, puncture repair kits and cycling inspired jewellery creations from creative friends. We have friends who have given up their weekends to cycle with us and so many who have already booked hotels in London so they can support us on the day.
We have raised £962 (excluding gift aid) which is fantastic considering we have over 3 months to go. Another £38 and we are in to quadruple figures, If we could get there this weekend it would be amazing. Once again a massive thank you for all your support and donations so far.

My Bike Hates Me

Posted by Kati (well what's left of her)


It's official. There I was cycling away, turning slowly and the next minute off it chucks me. My arm went out (ouch) and my knee went down. Evil little bike. So while I'm 'whimpering' on the side of the path (thank god no one was around) Gary aka my hero finds the whole thing slightly amusing (he was smirking while trying to cox me up, I know him well enough to know that once he had established I hadn't actually broke anything his sympathy dissolved). So here's my injury. Evil bike I always knew it hated me! (I suspect the emotional scars will be ever lasting).......

Biking with some Besties

Posted by Kati

Just a little thank you for a perfect weekend cycle with some of our nearest and dearest. Despite the fact we only had old bikes spare (Bec's came from my nan with painful seat to boot, Carly spent the first three miles with the brake permanently on and Dan's was possibly the heaviest I've ever come across) Always better to cycle with friends (it helps they encourage with gin and champagne at the end) Ace weekend and if anyone else fancies a day on a bike, the encouragement was a treat! Thanks guys much appreciated.

Fly Eating...... Not the Diet Supplement I Envisaged

Posted by Kati

Is this normal? Am I abnormal? I have discovered that not only do I sleep with my mouth open (I have mastered the art of doing this without looking like a complete tool when sharing a room with friends/anyone other than Gary by simply leaving a 'little gap' between my lips - clever huh!) However I have discovered I also cycle with my mouth open! I didn't realise I did this prior to the onset of Spring (not sure it's quite here yet even though it's well over due!) Basically Spring/warmer weather seems to bring flying bugs that gravitate towards my mouth! I suspect these poor unsuspecting creatures tend to fly around like I cycle, all effort and no co-ordination.

It's a bit gross and I'm unsure of a cure (I tried closing my mouth but while a simple solution I realised its necessary for me to breath!) So any thought on this, proven cures etc would be a great help.....

Matt Bradley Lance Tour de France Taylor

Posted by Gary

Matt has decided to extend his name to Matt Bradley Lance Tour de France Taylor. I think he has been having too many barbies and tinnies whilst working in Australia. He would be better spending his time blogging. (haha, this should get a reaction)

Clip me on Baby!

Posted by Kati

As Gary has bought me some new cycling 'clip me on and hope for the best' shoes, this evening was the time of reckoning to test them out (After a day over at Caernarfon and the joy that is the A55 roadworks, all I wanted was a gentle cycle and a bath). Still off we went and apart from a bit of a wobble at the roundabout I pretty much coped & was grateful for the power in my feet and of the distraction they bought. Its been a rough few days and I've found cycling has opened up a whole new side of losing Simon. I can pretty much cope on a daily basis by thinking as little as possible & imagining he's just moved & a bit busy. I know it's odd but it keeps me working and able to function. However all these miles of cycling with no distractions and it's really hard not to over think & that's more painful than anything that's going on with my thighs, bum & back. I would cycle a million miles every day for the rest of my life if I could change things (with or without clips!)

Long mile cycles - is what my weekend have become!

Posted by Kati

Thought I'd write a little update about how everything's going. Basically this week along with our usual 10 milers in the week we did a 30 mile coastal cycle (with hills, that pretty much killed me). I'm feeling proud of this as I did with last weeks 35 miles. I know it's not 100 miles or even 50 but I do think it's getting slightly easier (well I am recovering faster if this means the same thing?) That's not to say it feels it while we're out! With Gary encouraging words of wisdom (at one point he actually shouted over his shoulder, "come on you t*t") and the not so encouraging wind (why oh why is it always against us on the way back when I need it the most?) but I'm getting there! My bike is working like a dream, thoughts of divorcing my trainer are getting less frequent & the saddle sore bum is taking longer to appear!

Spoilt Myself

Posted by Gary

Training went well this week, it helped that the weather is getting better and we can go out after work now the nights are lighter. Culminated in a 30 miler on Saturday. I also treated myself to some second hand brakes and carbon forks off eBay. The forks are so much lighter than the aluminium ones, now Kati wants some for her bike because she thinks I have an unfair advantage. I have to carry the water bottles now to keep her quiet, oh the joys of cycling with your wife.

Upped to 35 miles

Posted by Gary

We upped our weekend cycle to 35 miles. We felt good after 12.5 miles so we thought we should do another 5 miles before we turned back. I wish we didnt live on a mountain, because we finish with climbs all the time. And I realised we felt good half way because we had the wind behind us, so not only did we have the climbs on the way back but a head wind as well. Of course this wiped the smile off Kati's face. Kati made a video of our own version of Box Hill on the coastal path. She decided to do a bit of narration with it, I dont know why but she seemed to be narrating it for the under 5's, have a look.

Two Training Sessions in One Day

Just thought I'd update you as I'm mighty proud of my little self. As its International Epilepsy Awareness Day I have completed two training sessions today! A good hour this morning on the evil rollers before work & then another 50 minutes 10 mile cycle this evening (may I add in a head wind surrounded by snow!) impressed? You should be, I am! Maybe even, some would say all the effort is  worth a bonus donation?? ;) 

Cooling Down After Training

Posted by Kati

Hard morning cycling, I just needed to cool down

Cycling on Ice

Posted by Gary

Nothing can stop me training. Cycling on ice, sounds like it could be a hit TV show.

Ordered business Cards

Posted by Gary

Ordered business cards today, thay sould be with us in a week. We will post some to Matty, then we really can start spreading the word. I hope the photos of us don't put people off.

Rolling on the Rollers

Posted by Kati

Thought I'd update you on my progress. Feeling slightly better about the whole cycling malarkey. I have 'upped' the miles I'm doing in the week and after 50 minutes spinning on the rollers after work this evening I actually feel fine! Still the whole 100 miles seems extremely daunting at this point but the support we have received so far has kept me going and inspiring me to push a little more each day. Saying that I am dreading the snow predicted weather this weekend but when Simon decided he was going to get fit I watched him go out in all weathers for many hours so guess I have no excuse not to make him proud. I hope he is xx

Old Photo

Posted by Gary

Came across an old photo from 17 years ago when I used to cycle a bit. I am far right. I don't look any older now, haha

The 100 Mile Route

Posted by Gary

We had quite an easy 10 miles training today, It must have been easy Kati didn't cry, might have to get on the rollers for 40 mins tonight.
Just so you can see the route we will be taking on the 4th Aug I have posted the map (red & red/blue). And watch out for some blogs off Matty who is working down under, he has bought a bike today.