Prosecco Classico Gran Fondo 2012

I don't know if I even got that! I do have an email saying "where's yer medical certificate?" so I'll print that out.

Well you're registered then. Print what you got and you should be fine.
I'm just about to send my medical certificate then pack, so you're not the only one who's left it a bit late.

I'm not sure you lot are even going to make it to Valdobbiadene with the original van in one piece, nevermind its contents.

Ohh ye of little faith.

Hats, Stu and Al in a van.

What on earth could go wrong?

Note to self: pack snorkel.

I'm not sure you lot are even going to make it to Valdobbiadene with the original van in one piece, nevermind its contents.

This may be true, but we have BANGIN' TUNES.
And snacks.

That's the extent of my preparations thus far.

Banging tunes, snacks and now a lot of painkillers too:http://instagr.am/p/QVkn3arKxH/

I found what I thought was an Italian phrasebook but on closer inspection it was Spanish. Patata, patata.

Did some sensible packing too, I have a lot of socks. Maybe I should get some sleep now...

Van crew waved off from Chez Bernie, 9:30 on the dot, with van, bikes, luggage, tunes, and snacks, all in the right place.

I think they made it the 500 yards down on to the A23 without incident, but I have yet to check Police, Camera, Action live updates.

good luck and enjoy everyone! I am well jell! And also reminded I NEED a road bike.

We're at some services near Folkestone. There's a Wimpy and everything!

However....
....no ipod jack = no tunes! I'm going to have to start singing soon.

Missed our channel crossing by 5 mins. And so the madness begins...

We're at some services near Folkestone. There's a Wimpy and everything!

However....
....no ipod jack = no tunes! I'm going to have to start singing soon.

Shall I send an ipod doc radio thing with bothwell?

Shall I send an ipod doc radio thing with bothwell?

Yes please! Thanks - I think we'll have had our fill of German radio stations by the time we arrive.

Missed our channel crossing by 5 mins. And so the madness begins...

How many times did you go round the M25 to miss the train?

They probably went at least three quarters of the way up the M40 first.

They probably went at least three quarters of the way up the M40 first.

Ah, that explains it.

Ashford via Oxford, shame they did not have a Tom Tom...

There's now something on the winningtime website about how if we've not already enabled our "Personal Chip" we should do so now, and that since 2012 they've issued new ones and that any chips issued before then won't work. As far as I can tell they're using these chips instead of brevet cards for timing purposes. They cost 5 euros. I can't make out if you actually need one or not.

They do say, helpfully, "Chi non è in possesso di un Personal Chip Giallo Winning Time può acquistarlo con la procedura on line che sarà disponibile a breve in questa pagina." which is cutting it a bit fine for timescales :/

There's now something on the winningtime website about how if we've not already enabled our "Personal Chip" we should do so now, and that since 2012 they've issued new ones and that any chips issued before then won't work. As far as I can tell they're using these chips instead of brevet cards for timing purposes. They cost 5 euros. I can't make out if you actually need one or not.

They do say, helpfully, "Chi non è in possesso di un Personal Chip Giallo Winning Time può acquistarlo con la procedura on line che sarà disponibile a breve in questa pagina." which is cutting it a bit fine for timescales :/

As we will all be travelling at a minimum of 38 kmph, on the uphill sections, I am not sure that the timing chip will be such an issue.

I am practicing my Latin bemused expression and shrug, for when I get told off for not having some critical piece of paper or plastic.

What's "do ya fink I'm bovvered?" in Italian?

We are very sick of Belgium now...

Germany, initially the promised land where we marvelled over large scale industry (badass cooling towers!), is fast losing its appeal.

And why are there no fucking lights or cats eyes on the fucking motorways?

We suspect this is how Germany's economy is so good. They don't waste money sticking things in the ground.

It's so you can go faster without being distracted by little shiny bits. Hurrah for those forward-thinking Nazis!

Airborne crew on plane, flight delayed but otherwise all fine and dandy.

No worries about the delay. We've decided we like Austria so much that we're staying here for a while.