At the height of summer, the temperature is still cold at 4am, making me fish out my arm warmers and wearing them as soon as I leave our accommodation for breakfast. The breakfast area is a hive of activity. Checkpoint signs loaded into the first vehicle. Tyres checked for the appropriate air pressure and supplies loaded in boxes ensuring we have enough food for all the four checkpoints.
As the sun starts to rise over the horizon I wrap my hands around my coffee mug, taking warming sips of the sweet liquid which warms me up in the cold early morning air. The novelty called peanut butter is wearing off and I reluctantly slather the butter on my piece of fresh bread, which I thank Therese and her team for, since they would have been up much earlier than we to prepare such a spread. 
Although the run has risen, the early morning chill can be felt as , Rob, Tony, Simon and I leave first. Following the signs, I decide to try an experiment today. I will not refer to the route card and see how it goes. After all I should not be on my own as we are all cycling in a group and I put my faith in Soner and Steph who are usually the ones who put up the signs. Nevertheless I carry it in my back pocket just in case.
Leaving the accommodation and taking a left turn to Ankara, we end up taking a wrong turning and ending up in a coal works factory, of which we were very unceremoniously escorted out. Back on the road we are caught up by Willie and his ladies, who very easily overtake us. I keep in mind Tatyana's words about taking it easy especially in the first kilometres. My knees are giving me a hint of trouble so much so that Carolyn has decided to strap them for me. Inclines are felt from the very start, although at 5% they are mild, it is still not a cycle in Central Park and I focus on my cadence, posture and breathing. I also focus on giving myself enough fuel. The energy bars are proving to be a good investment but they are not something I like. I am only eating them to ensure that I have the right nutrition.
Cycling on the highway was not as bad as I thought it would be. Heavy traffic did not bother me, as all drivers kept a safe and respectful distance from us. However it seemed that we would be dogged with tyre problems, with Nicky (Kola) being the first victim to stop with a flat tire. Robert urges me, Tony and Lenny to keep on cycling while he stops to help Kola. We keep on going up the 8% incline, getting some respite when the roads starts to undulate.
At 46km, we stop for our first checkpoint and Robert is nowhere to be seen. I want to wait for him as we had agreed we would cycle together. I am in a quandary really, as I know Robert is good enough to catchup with me but at the same time I feel I would be letting him down if i keep on going. My dilemma is soon solved as I see Robert checking in!. Kola and Simon are on the way but he cycled fast to catch up with us. I admire his stamina and the positive approach he as to all of this adventure. Quite an inspiration I must say.
Tackling each day from checkpoint to checkpoint I find the second stretch as quite tough. My knees are seriously hurting me now, and I am very much aware that they could be my downfall although I try not to think about them. Most of the roads are straight main roads, quite boring really but as we head towards the village of Cerkes we know that we are getting closer to nicer countryside and more importantly the second checkpoint. As is normally the case the checkpoint is found at a Petrol station, which is usually welcome as there are clean toilet facilities. As Carolyn is doing physio on my knees, Steph gives me an anti-inflammatory pill as my left knee has started to become inflamed. To try to keep my mood light, I joke with the backup that the route card is incorrect as it states “CHECKPOINT 2 – Petrol station with horse and cart” - I look around and the cart is there but where is the horse? Since we started Lifecycle I have seen countless dogs and cows but no horses and that makes me miss my horse, Daffyd, even more. We did see village women working on freshly shorn raw wool, a sight we city people do not have the luxury to experience in our every day lives.
Mario, Ray, Carolyn and Hulya pass by in the back up van, giving us encouragement and promising us that a good downhill will soon follow. They were right! Robert and Lenny speed off. I can try to imagine their speed as I am clocking 68kms per hour and they are nowhere to be seen. Speeding down the winding road, my smile is soon swept off my face when a van decides to overtake a truck in a treacherous bend, nearly hitting me. To avoid the van, I nearly end up in a ditch. Luckily I don't and keep on cycling but I am in shock and burst into tears when I meet the rest of the guys at the junction leading towards Ankara.
A checkpoint is always welcome and this was no exception. Still shaken after my close encounter with the van, Stephanie gives me a cup of Chai (Tea) which was supposed to be enjoyed by Fr. Pierre. At the time she felt my need was greater than his!. Suddenly as she was checking my knees, we hear a cry of despair! Nick Valenzia in tears, looking at his damaged bike. Inadvertently left in front of a backup van, Alan did not notice it and drove off, damaging the shaft in the process.
Fatigue and stress, and Space's over zealous nature, did not really help the situation. Nick saw his Lifecycle dreams almost vanish as the bike was seriously damaged. With Alan, Rob, Space and Nick consulting over what could be done, it was decided that Nick takes Kola's bike for the day and in the meantime Space and Alan would see how the damage could be repaired. Robert as always calmly gives some valid suggestions which see Nick looking more positively at the situation.
Soon after we all ride out of the petrol station, Nick, Lenny and Luke feel a surge of energy and just push ahead, leaving Robert, Tony and myself to cycle together. Our synergy is good and we all encourage each other, pacing to ensure that we optimise our energy. Yet again we are faced with up hills and an off-road piece which I do not enjoy especially since it has a lot of gravel which makes controlling the bike even harder work. Avoiding a car, whose driver decided to drive closely to me, saw me twisting my left ankle slightly. Nothing serious but it is annoying me.
Reaching the fourth checkpoint in the middle of nowhere, we find Nick, Lenny and Luke leaving the checkpoint while Ray greets us with a smile. He tells us that there is a mistake on the route card and we only have 220kms rather than the estimated 240. We are elated. It has been a long day and some respite is always welcome. Biofreeze and physio on my knees have become the order of the day but now we have to include my ankle which is slightly swollen, but nothing can dampen my spirits now that I know 'home' is closer than expected.
Setting off, singing songs ranging from Fields of Gold to Bicycle race, we meet up with Nick and company who have stopped to repair yet another flat tyre. Seeing that they do not need our assistance we keep on going. There are no signs and we do feel a bit uneasy as the last thing we want is to take a wrong road and cover unnecessary mileage, however when we hear the backup van driving behind us we all breath a silent sigh of relief!
Night is falling quickly, and our motivation is to get to the accommodation as soon as possible It has been a long day. I am so tired that I fail to look where I am going when crossing a junction. Luckily for me no cars were passing at that time when I look back I see a very pale looking Ray staring at my kamikaze crossing.
It is completely dark when we get to the accommodation Therese and Jennifer welcome us with open arms, someone takes my bike, I am so tired that I don't' recall who it was. Suddenly I start feeling very cold. My sugar levels have gone down and I am famished. Jennifer quickly hands me a Powerade and a plate of rice with bolognaise sauce. I just wolf the food down and ask for seconds almost immediately. The cooking team are excellent. Warm, hearty and tasty meals always await us and it a motivating factor for us.
Exhausted, I drag myself, limping all the way, to a building across the road from our accommodation to have a shower. It is the last thing I feel like doing but after accumulating so much dust and grease it is a necessity and in reality I always feel better after.
Sleep does not come easily. I am too tired to close my eyes. The snoring and variety of other noises, that echo in the gym, do not help.
I don't know what time it is but once it arrives sleep is very welcome.
Photos courtesy of Ray Pace
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