The start of the Coast to Coast

The alarm goes off at 03.45.  Riding in the Gulf requires early starts to beat the heat but also to get the km’s in whilst the roads are quieter.  Two cups of tea before Nick is up, last nights’ curry to deal with, shower, then something to eat.  Yoghurt with sliced banana and some nuts – an established start to the day.  Out of the house at 04.30 to ride to the Lime Tree Cafe and the start.  Nick’s great idea five hours earlier, and the same number of beers beforehand, was to add an extra 25km to the day to meet the strava BMC challenge.  Ahh, strava.  I must get in touch with the guys who set it up.  The segments have added much needed excitement to the otherwise now mundane rides in the sandpit.

Bags are deposited into the support cars to meet us in Fujairah, 200km away.  I check that it is Wolfi’s car as I chuckle to myself as I remember someone’s haste last year: arriving late and a little flustered, a disorientated and sleepy guy approached a car and asked the driver to take his bag assuming the car was part of the convoy leaving with the 150 plus riders.  The driver followed for 40km to the first stop having tried to tell the rider he wasn’t anything to do with the event!  Elsewhere, would the driver have done a U turn, never to be seen again with the unexpected gift?  Living in the Gulf has brought trust of others, but also a little complacency.

Still dark at 05.30 as the peloton departs.  I realise it is not the place for an epileptic following the multitude of flashing rear lights.

Best without the sound...