I have to complete a questionnaire for the Etape organisers that will help them decide what bib number they will give me. I am assuming this will go out to all entrants so if you get one too please let me know (I've seen Rob got the same message but we are with the same tour company).
So they basically want to know my cycling background. Assuming the lower numbers start first then I will lose points (get a bigger bib number) for:
- Being a first timer
- Not competing in the Marmotte
- Not yet belonging to a cycling club (although I intend to rectify that soon)
But can gain points for:
- Putting an honest good weekly mileage in
- Doing some tough sportives pre Etape
- Putting in an ambitious finishing time - shall I say 7 hours ;-)
- Writing a strong justification statement
On the last one, I'm thinking that a good sob story would go down well here? Some kind of tragedy and the Etape is my way to fight back? No, I'm keen, but not going to stoop that low. Maybe like a Miss World contestant I could have a grand(iose) mission: World peace, save the children, save the planet (eco themes are hot these days), save Cashley & Cheryl's marriage...nothing too trivial. You never know, instead of getting bib #9000 I might get #8999.
I'm looking forward to the Etape but I find all this a bit OTT. A bit Kafkaesque. Getting a place wasn't easy, then the medical certificate, then all the fears about bonking or breaking down. I mean, it's just riding a bicycle up a hill isn't it? Years ago they would do twice the distance and be on a fixed gear. The broom wagon is now entering my dreams; I've punctured and as I'm crap at fixing them I'm panicking and can't inflate the tube and I can see the broom wagon coming over the hill and it's going to sweep me up...
I'd say I felt like Patrick McGoohan in The Prisoner being followed by that balloon thing but he was #6 and that ain't going to be my number I know that much.
Hi Andrew,
ReplyDeletegot one of those as well and having just been off the bike for a week due to chest infection I too saw broom wagons.Only the French could come up with an idea of a cut off time based on the first people crossing the start line.I mean relistically these are nearly all going to finish.Karen said that last year the highest bib numbers only got going at 7.30 and that the cut off was 7.40pm.Anyway im back on the bike tomorrow chest infection is gone so hopefully havent lost too much fittnest will probably just do and easy 40 tomorrow.
Hey Mark, glad you are feeling better. You'll get back into it OK for sure. It all seems rather strange to me but I will go along with the questionnaire response anyway. When we get our times on the Etape does everyone start at the same time but in reality you could be 30-40 mins before going through the start? So much to learn but I'm still excited about it.
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