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John Bassett

My Activity Tracking

3,513
kms

My target 5000 kms

3 days in the Vercors done - Next the Alps!!

Last weekend I was joined by Bedford friends Ben, Tom and Mark for 3 fantastic days in the Vercors. A region not so well known by cyclists, it offers challenging climbs and wonderful landscapes that can rival the Alps!
We stayed at VeloVercors run by the ever-welcoming Teresa Harte (we had been previously in 2017); powered by wonderful breakfasts we managed to complete 6000m of climbing and 300km over the 3 days. Great training for the main event in the Alps, coming up very soon (gulp). But now my training is done - since Nov I've covered nearly 4000km with 49,000m of climbing (equivalent to 5.5 Everests!). 

Fundraising has also been going well, with a massive contribution just in from good friend Marty Bradfield @SafetyCircle (https://safetycircle.com.au/), which catapulted my fundraising to the 4k mark from my previous 3k benchmark. I am thankful to all the contributors, and of course if anyone is still waiting to donate, please don't hesitate! Or just wish me luck for June 7-10, despite the training it will be a tough 4 days!

Mont Ventoux and Gorges de la Nesque - done!

Fantastic last weekend with Mark Williams (CICC)! After a warm up ride on Friday evening we headed off to Bedoin early Sat and 'knocked the bastard off' - ok it's not Everest but in cycling terms it feels like it. From Bedoin after a few kms of scenic riding, we headed into the forest for the toughest part - nearly 10k of mostly over 9%. It was the unchanging nature that was the hardest on the body. Coming out at Chalet Renard was very welcome, especially as there was no significant wind, and after a short stop to put the body into a different position (and pee and nutrition!), we headed up the last kms of the famous 'moonscape'. A fantastic descent followed via Sault and the Gorges de la Nesque - if you do Ventoux any old way don't come back the same way.  'Unfortunately' no riding the next day due to lots of rain but I finished off the trip with an excellent 80k from Mark's in the Lac de Verdon area. Thanks to Mark and Claire for their wonderful hospitality and I am now starting to feel like the Cykelnerven challenge is achievable! Onwards to the Vercors for the last big test before the Alps. Thanks to readers and sponsors, I will update after the Vercors in a couple of weeks.  

We are in the 'Build' phase!

"Build" is a bit of Danone jargon, but for Cykelnerven training it means something else. This is when we need to ramp up the training substantially. I'm well on track for elevation, having done >23,000m since Nov, but lagging a bit on KM targets (see training graph). But with the better weather I'm getting out for some longer rides and averaged 150k/week for the past 3 weeks. If you want more detail on my rides and praise or spur me on, you can follow me on Strava - https://www.strava.com/athletes/1609501. Next update could have details of the Ventoux trip end of April.

Update on preparations

The train is booked for June to Geneva, we have had a run-through of the route with the head trainer and things are on track in my training (I think!). Christmas was not great weather, too windy and wet as well as the food and drink distractions, but in Jan I have been doing two virtual rides in the week, one of them a tough time-trial, and getting out on the weekend for 40-60k. As the weather gets warmer, will step up the distance (nice weekend coming and will aim for a 150k ride Sunday). I am planning 2 days up and around Ventoux in April, 3 days with UK cycling buddies in the Vercors in May, so on top of my usual riding I am hoping these will set me up well for June. Last climb (Col de la Loge) looks like a killer with one bit hitting 24%(!) so whatever the preparation it's going to be hard. Thanks for all the support, moral and financial and will update more along the way. 

I'm fundraising for a world without MS

Hi,

Thanks for coming to my page! Next June, I'm taking part in one of the world's toughest cycling challenges, the Cykelnerven.

Cykelnerven is famed as Europe’s most unique and challenging charity cycling event. I'll be riding 400km over the toughest mountain climbs of this year’s Tour de France.

I'm taking part in the Cykelnerven to raise money for research and cure of Multiple Sclerosis. Please join me in the fight against MS by contributing to my page.

Thank you for your support!

Please Help Me
Reach My Goal

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€4,279 + €309.95 GiftAid

My Goal

€5,000

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Thank you to my Sponsors

€25

Helen M

Good luck John! Looking forward to seeing you very soon!

€104

Mark Williams

€26

Lisa Pennington

Sounds like an epic John and for a great cause. Good luck and we'll done. X

€10.40

Anonymous

€104

Kbmg

Everything that goes up, must come down. This is a key rule in cycling up mountains. You're welcome. X

€31.20

Caroline Andrewes

Good luck John! Love Caroline, Mark and Jess

€31.20

Helen Matthews

Glad the preparation and training are going well, John. You’ve got this! Helen x

€62.40

Wayne Ricketts

Good luck mate

€57.20

Gorris Leon

Wishing you a successful run!

€10.40

Brett Stansfield

Good luck John I'm sure you will nail it.

€100

John Bassett

€20.80

Jim Woolhouse

Good luck with the ride!

€26

Tony And Julia Bones

John, Alan King, your father in law is a good friend of ours and being cyclists we appreciate the enormity of the challenge for a good cause. Go smash it !! Tony and Julia Bones

€20.80

Ben Rawlinson

Great challenge John!

€52

David Bassett

Go bro x

€104

The Morrishes

Good luck John,you've done the training, now spin it up those hills. We'll be with you in spirit, courage mon ami.

€26

Simon Hardie

Great views from the top of a hill

€50

Jane Dahlstrom And Chris Nolan

For a great cause. All the best. Jane and Chris.

€25

Dessislava Filcheva

Good luck and the whole Fish family is supporting you!!!! Have a wonderful 2024

€52

Ian Sells

Rather you than me, but I’m confident you’ll smash this cycling challenge…

€26

Lynn Mcintyre

Best of luck John! Just keep thinking about the view at the top of the hill xxx

€52

Stephen Little

Best of luck John.

€26

Andrew Limbert

Best wishes John. You are on tremendous form so you don’t need luck!

€52

Teresa Harte

Best of luck, John. We'll be thinking of you.

€60.59

Liz Campbell

For a special guy with a special cause.

€31.20

Natasha

Keep pedalling John. Good luck

€104

June Morrish

Good luck John!

€25

Emmanuelle Baranger

All my best wishes John, we will follow you in this long journey

€52

Martyn Hilton

Good luck John. Massive effort already with all the training. I’m sure you are going to do brilliantly with this challenge !!

€52

Phil Macleod

€26

Brigette & Magnus Ahlman

Goodluck. Stay safe

€52

Matthew Billingham

All the best on the ride John. You'll nail it!

€52

Rahul Dogra

Best wishes John!

€5

William Bassett

€52

Angelika Tritscher

Keep going!!!!

€52

Mrs J Bratchell Owens

Go John go! Amazing for you to do this and what a sense of achievement 👏👍💪 🚴

€100

Noel And Ingrid

We wish you all the best John on your epic ride!

€104

Hamish Bassett

Good luck mate! xo

€62.40

Sarah & Ned

Best of luck John, some big hills there!

€104

Oz And Claire

Great work John!

€104

Sian

Amazing challenge, wishing you every success

€25

René

Well done so far John. Keep up the good work with those kms and at least you don’t have to worry about dragging my sorry a**e up those hills in June!😉👍😎

€104

Kate And Ian Beaton

Good Luck John! What an amazing thing to go for. We hope you get time to enjoy the views. Just beware of any fords….

€52

Pamela Wilger

You got this John!

€26

Don Schaffner

Go John go!

€26

Stella Constantatos

Go John, go!!

€52

Mat And Sarah

Great stuff John, iron legs

€104

Gary Acuff

You can do it, John!

€52

Paul Wilson

You are an inspiration to all of us Cruisers.

€30

Linsay Matson

€104

Alan King

Good luck John, I'll be thinking of you.

€26

Bizhan

Very impressive! Don't forget to enjoy the scenery!

€50

Sean Hurst

Looking forward to joining you for some of your training rides!

€50

Helen And David

Happy cycling bro

€104

Aaron O'sullivan

Best of luck John, a worthy challenge and a worthy cause!

€104

Katie & Lawrie Chapman

Good luck John! May the wind be with you! xxx

€922

Safetycircle

€52

Mark T

Very best of luck John 💪

€78

Lionel Hobbs

Go for it John.... With all that training, I'm counting on you!! L

€25

Andrew Macdonald

Good luck with this fantastic cycle challenge and well done for raising money for a good cause 👍

€52

Adrian & Felicity Clarke

Good luck! The training will pay off and you’ll really appreciate the downhills

€26

Yvonne Stedman

Best of luck John, no problem to you!

€26

Davide Mazzucchelli

Buona fortuna !

€30

Anonymous

Good luck John

€26

Mark Bassett

Congratulations on a fantastic project John! Ride safely.