82 miles, 5hrs, senior citizen blood doping and still a long way to Paris

Highlight of the day?

Making it around a decent chunk of Kent, Surrey and East Sussex without (a) falling off, (b) collapsing and (c) feeling like I could have gone further.

Lowlight of the day?

Being overtaken by a senior citizen on a bike from WW2 (leather brooks saddle, leather saddle bag, panniers) wearing tracksuit bottoms tucked into Wellington boots. In my defense, I was trying to unwrap a peanut butter sandwich without riding into oncoming traffic. In addition, blood doping is rife amongst the elderly down this way...

Thought of the day? 

If I can do 82miles and feel good at the end of the day, there's hope for further miles.However, below is a blunt reminder of the London to Paris task I'm undertaking in 8 weeks time. The little red loop below London is todays 80miles. It's clear from the map that it's going to be a long way to Paris in less than 24hrs

ps. the ride to Paris in 8wks time is for charity. I'm fundraising for children with muscular dystrophy. Please donate what ever you can and flag that it's for me. If you enjoyed reading the above, please donate here - http://www.justgiving.com/GoogleDuchenne

Half way point! Roll call of sponsor honour..!

SUCCESS! With 9 weeks to go we're half way and it wouldn't be possible without the incredibly generous support of my sponsors and fundraisers. £1K down, the tough second £1K to go..!

As ever, your donations have been gratefully received. This week we've had a lot of love from Family Abbot, big walnuts, big donations! Similarly mid week support from Family Rosenbauer and the clan Petropoulos Coupland, big hearts, big donations..!
Finally, closing out the weeks giving, thanks to one of the most handsome men I know, Damo, and to Lili, colleague and cohort for both helping out in the kindest of ways.

You're all wonderful peeps and I really appreciate your support. Thanks, Nic. 

Thoughts about cyclists and shaven legs. Brazilian calfs?

Apparently you cycle quicker if you have no leg hair. Removing hairs equals shaving seconds.

Interesting.....

Before I shave, wax, laser, sugar, epliate or IPL, I thought it prudent to do a little research and understand the broader benefits of smooth man legs before borrowing Janeywife's ladyshaver. 

Why do Pro cyclists shave their legs? 

Apparently, those daily massages conducted by professional trainers are so rigorous that leg hairs are part of the collateral masseuse damage. Literally, they're rubbed out. Simply put, no hair, no additional pain on top of the daily massage, (not yet a daily problem, but one that sounds like a good problem to have). 

On the flip side, hair removal in any shape or form means that hair will grow back. All of a sudden there's the risk of having ingrowing hairs. This sounds like no fun. Especially if its on the perineum, which presents a second question, to those cyclists that do shave their legs, where does one stop? The male equivalent of the biffins bridge? 

Similarly, does it all get shaved off or is it best to leave an on trend landing strip? A common and hotly debated point. Should the whole leg have a thigh to ankle narrow hairy landing strip down the front, like a mohican. Just enough, maybe a 10mm wide strip to cause enough turbulence to disrupt the airflow?

Furthermore, will a pair of smoothly shaven man pins be merely the first step on the slippery slope toward further male grooming....?, bringing obsessive searches for sandalwood scented chamois lotion, rather than the borrowed scoops of George and Margot's epiderm cream?

Alternatively, is it a cultural thing? 

I've not studied many male legs, like none, but I understand that the French, or in general, seasoned and experienced 'Continental' road cyclists, have not just tanned and toned calfs but they are baby-skin smooth as well.

These smooth shaven gallic pins are probably equal in part to the French national psyche of being Gauloise smoking romantic foodies. A thought, do the hairs from the mens legs migrate to under their wives arms?

Dang, cultural stereotypes are such weak and empty targets. 

Well, after not too much consideration, and a decent belly laugh at even the suggestion of a hair free pins from Janeywife, I arrived at the following conclusion. 

Yes, I am as guilty as many other middle aged men in lycra in my attempts to emulate a Pro Cyclist. I wear full lycra for the commute, I have a full carbon road bike. I wear pro-style shades. But after careful consideration I have accepted that it is going to take a lot more than half an hour hunched over the sink with a bic razor and some spandex to turn me into a professional. 

Shave me, take me to a tanning parlour, lacquer me up with oil and dress me top to toe in the finest Rapha cycling wear, but alas, I am still only going to look like Bradley Wiggins plump Southern brother. 

For this reason my razor will not stray below my neck. I look forward to riding on the Continent and my hairy legs will be my badge of Britishness. 

In answer to my earlier question about where to stop shaving I've discovered the answer is simple. 

Don't worry about where to stop, instead don't start.

Finally, if you've enjoyed above and yet to donate, here's the link!

http://www.justgiving.com/GoogleDuchenne

Please give what you can, it's much appreciated. Please flag your donation is support my ride as the page is a Google team page. Thanks! You're all great and generous peeps.