Tucking into a hearty breakfast, we make last minute checks to our bikes before we depart on a 187 kilometre journey, which promises to be tough. Under the watchful eye of the University's curious staff, Alan give us a short briefing followed by a blessing from Fr. Pierre. The latter generates more curiosity but no one disrupts the proceedings showing the levels of the courtesy shown towards us till now. Blessing over, final touches are made and with the final word of warning about keeping our timings we set off in the same teams as yesterday.
Listening attentively during Alan's briefing
Resetting my GPS in preparation for today's journey
Being a long day, I decide that I will focus on getting from one checkpoint to another, attempting to channel my energy in such a way that I will be able to complete today, hopefully on time. Our first checkpoint will be in the village of Karamvezzinuer - a long name that I can barely pronounce but which is easy to identify when looking at road signs. The route takes us through rolling countryside, giant fields of green and yellow, where the next harvest promises to yield large amounts of wheat and where thousands of sunflowers, looking up towards the sun were planted. Tony and I instantaneously started humming Fields of Gold, to which I commented that my progress in cycling shows from the fact that I don't require CPR if I attempt to sing and cycle at the same time.
Flat tyres seem to be the order of the day, with my first flat for the day happening within the first hour. My fellow cyclists stop to give assistance as does Alan who had just passed by in the backup vehicle. Shirley starts urging us to take note of our timing and hints that no-one should stop for each other especially for something as trivial as a flat but we don't take head. We want to cycle together as a team as much as possible.
The road to the first checkpoint is undulating, but the inclines are not too harsh. My knees start to give me a twinge of pain here and there but I try to ignore it. I have ten more days to go and I cannot let them disrupt my focus. Some Biofreeze gel and a good massage from the physio at the next check point will do miracles. The scenery at the first Checkpoint is lovely and I manage to quickly cross the road to absorb the beautify of a nearby lake for a few seconds.
The not-too-harsh inclines are short lived when we have to tackle a 12% incline, which yet again was not indicated on the route cards. The lactic acid starts building up, even though I am trying my best to breathe properly to ensure that enough oxygen is distributed. The incline at one point increases to 16% or so my GPS is showing. Having said that the effort feels like I am going up a mountain not a bumpy Turkish road in the middle of nowhere!
Always a welcome sign!Leaving our checkpoint in Ugoluk, we proceed ahead, looking forward to the 40K flat road which would allow us a glimpse of the Black Sea. Robert, Lenny, Nick, Nicholas, Luke, Tony, Ian and I start drafting. The wind is against us and what should have been an easy road proves to be a tough endeavour. Drafting helps although the group splits up at one point. The Black sea on our left, we catch a glimpse of the water's edge. Although rough, it is inviting but we cannot stop, we are still far from our second checkpoint and we can ill afford to lose precious time. Suddenly I realise that I have another flat tyre. Robert quickly stops to assist me. He has changed so many flat tyres in the last twenty four hours that he is becoming a pro, similar to the Formula 1 pit stops, changing the tyre with effortless ease. Ian having cycled quite far ahead suddenly realises that the troupe is not behind him so, concerned, he cycles back to meet us.
The long, never ending road, where we had to battle strong windsPicking up a steady pace on the side of the road, I get the feeling I am being followed. It is actually the case. We are being escorted by a police car, who are driving slowly behind us giving us a 'cover' ensuring that we are given a wide berth by vehicles travelling in our direction. The wind is really slowing us down. We are all getting tired and looking forward to the next checkpoint. Some respite. A friendly face. A bit of food to give us more energy.
Our staple diet throughout Lifecycle
Stopping at the Opet service station we find Space, Carolyn, Hulya and Edward to greet us. Unfortunately we learn that Paul has withdrawn from cycling the challenge. It is sad when someone has to call it a day but there is always a valid reason and a difficult choice. Whatever the reason, I think that even just making it to Istanbul commands respect for the cyclists. Handing me my favourite blue Powerade, Carolyn sits me down and massages my knees with Biofreeze. I have to admit that the pain is increasing and I am worried. I still have far to go. Carolyn reassures me telling me that it is normal to feel such pain. Each checkpoint I have to make sure that I get some physio done. My energy levels, although I have been eating, are depleting. I decide to try out one of the vials that my friend and sports doctor Kirill recommended. I don't know what exactly is in them but the taste is foul smelling, a cross between a herbal concoction and bad cough medicine. I let out a gasp which makes everybody turn round to see what happened. Snatching another Powerade from Hulya, I drink it in one gulp making sure that the bitter taste is gone. I am quite sceptical when it comes to these energy drinks, bars and gels but I have nothing to lose and I have full faith in what Kirill recommended.
The start of the killer climb. We did not know what was in store for us
Time up and we soon head off. The route card tells us that we are to face some hills, approximately 6k at 5% - not too bad. The first signs featuring Zonguldak indicate that we have around 87kms to go. As we keep on following these signs and the Lifecycle route signs, we start going uphill. A winding road, that keeps on twisting and turning into a never ending bend. My GPS is indicating inclines of 12%, had it not been for the yellow fluorescent Route sign I would have been worried that I got the wrong road. It is quite easy to miss a sign, it could have either been removed as a joke or even been hidden by a parked vehicle. But not in this case. This hill was for real. Going up I keep a slow but steady pace. I should have attempted to honk, but I did not want to risk something going wrong and losing the momentum.
It is Nicholas' turn to get a flat tyre. Robert urges me to continue and stops to help him. The backup vehicle has caught up with us. Hulya and Carolyn encouraging us. Space jokingly comments about the content of the vial as I am doing very well in this hill. His comment is very encouraging as I must admit that prior to seeing the backup van, I had so much pain in my legs that I felt like turning back, going to the checkpoint, throwing my bike on the ground and saying "I've had enough, this was not on the route card, I am fed up, I give up".
In such circumstances, when you find yourself cycling on your own you get a million and one thoughts. Yes giving up comes to mind many a time. It's like having an imaginary Angel on your right shoulder and an imaginary Devil on your left. The Angel is reminding you of the effort that you have put in till now, so giving up should not be an option, whilst the Devil is enticing you with the comfort of sitting in a van, laughing and chatting and not suffering the lactic acid build up in your leg muscles. I decide to listen to my guardian Angel and keep on cycling until I get to a flat surface. My joy is short lived as I realise I have another flat tyre. The last thing that I feel like. I start to change the wheel but Nicky, Tony and Robert catchup with me and help me - they are definitely much faster, in changing a flat, than I am.
Deep concentration, trying to take heed of my Guardian Angel rather than the Devil
The conquering of that day's hill was such a motivator. We all felt that since we had not stopped once then there was hope for all of us. Darkness is rapidly approaching. The signs towards Zonguldak are appearing at more regular intervals, and the distance is decreasing consistently. 40kms away from Zonguldak we are given some respite, enjoying some nice downhills. Ideal for recovery. 10kms away from our accommodation we encounter our first tunnels. Whilst some people do not like tunnels, I don't mind them. A tunnel means that we have probably avoided some nasty uphill and to be honest right now the tunnel is much appreciated, as is the light that is showing me the way, from the backup vehicle driven by Mario and Soner.
Found bang in the hear of Turkey's main coal district, Zonguldak is not the most appealing stop over choice, but Lifecycle is not about appeal. It is about getting from one location to another, finding appropriate accommodation and getting on with it.
Our accommodation in Zonguldak
Reaching the accommodation, I find Alan and Tim waiting to clock us in. My timing hasn't improved much but Alan tells me that today's average speed has been modified due to the very strong winds that we encountered on the coast. Mario takes my bike and together we walk up to the gym where we will be spending the night. The University gym is equipped with clean showers and warm water which are very welcome after such a hard day. Therese and her team have prepared a delicious pasta and as a treat we find we have ice-cold Coca Cola! Robert, Tony, Nicky and Nicholas arrive shortly after me and don't wait to dress for dinner but immediately tuck into their supper.
Carolyn does some physiotherapy before I make a quick phone call home. It is hard for the loved ones at home to wait for a message or call. They are oblivious to what is happening and can only try to imagine what is happening, hoping for the best. Fr. Pierre calls us in for mass., half way through an exhausted Simon arrives. He is not very well today, so we are very pleased to see him walk in on two legs, albeit very tired.
Day 2 is over. I remove today's route card and fix Day 3 on the lanyard. Writing some brief notes into my diary I know that there is still a long way to go but I am determined to, slowly slowly, get to the final checkpoint in Damascus.
All photos, unless otherwise stated, courtesy of Shirley Cefai
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