The Tour de France: AN OBSESSION

[@1stElement]

What did I say in French..?

[@geraldinecoupland4162]

Oh, well, I ended up a bit teary! Happy ones though 👍

[@1stElement]

I’m glad they were happy ones! It’s odd - I’ve sort of been meaning to make this video for years and years now… there seemed like no time like the present!

[@TheMopete24]

As a fellow middle aged musician trying to get fit I'm loving this channel!!

[@1stElement]

Ah awesome - well it’s awesome to have you here! What do you play?

[@martindoyle5505]

Really enjoyed that. Back in the 80s the channel 4 show was my only access to watching the tour de France. Because I live on the east coast of Ireland, channel 4 didn't broadcast to us but we were able to get S4C. Unfortunately they never broadcast the show at the same time. Could be 6:30 one evening 8:00 the next. You'd have to look up Teletext every day. I got my dad to buy me a pair of those specialised gloves that feature on the intro. God knows how he got them but he did and I wore them till they fell apart.

[@1stElement]

Oh wow - your dad did well! You know, I do wonder how much value these things had because of how damned hard we had to work for it (teletext for timings etc) - I mean, I had to have a word with myself the other day when I was thinking how boring a stage was of some obscure race or other and I had to remind myself that 10 year old me would have lost their minds to have racing on almost on demand…

[@Gordyhand]

Omg Zak in that intro vid! So cute. Lush vid. I feel I need to find out the full story about the Disneyland goat.

[@1stElement]

I know - breaks my heart @globalcyckingnetwork never used it… I’ll pop around and tell you…! It’s a great story!

[@markwhitlam805]

My pleasure mate .. what a great backstory 💚

[@markwhitlam805]

I mean, "mon plaisir" ;)

[@1stElement]

Hahaha - je vous en pris!!

[@daverostron]

Beautiful storytelling!! Still love hearing you talk about getting back onto the group during London -> Paris when you had that flat. Great work all round mate 👍👍

[@1stElement]

Thank you mate - I’m glad I had the presence of mind to know what I was experiencing and really drink it in - it was very special and reliving it again was, perhaps, a little self indulgent but… well - I always say these videos are my journaling, so… hope you, Helen and the kids are well mate?

[@daverostron]

@1stElement you can be as self-indulgent as you like when you've done something that awesome. Family are all good ta, I think we are all ready for the holidays though. Hope Becky and the boys are all good as well. Catch you soon mate

[@1stElement]

@daverostron we are man - thank you - yes, would be so good to see you mate! Let me know over the hols!

[@nottelling4087]

That bloody goat. Why did I have to ask what its bloody name was???? Great vid - L2P seems like an age ago already!

[@1stElement]

I know, it really does, doesn’t it..?! What an amazing experience it was mate - thank you so much for it. And yep. The goat story is probably one of the best ones I’ve ever heard…!!

[@ProtectionRacket]

Beautiful 🙌🏻 👊🏻 the outro, pure poetry … 10 year old you, you were Zak 😮 Zak was you?! Continually inspiring…. How did you ever find the time to become my favourite drummer?! 😂 X

[@1stElement]

I wonder if Kerri Green likes drummers…? Thanks mate - yeah - we’ve always said, Zak looks like a Hester and acts like. White and Indy is the opposite… it’s so odd…!! How did you become my favourite human..? X

[@robinchild5633]

I recognise that tunnel from Zwift! Brilliant video James. Any cycling adventures planned for the rest of this year?

[@1stElement]

Hahaha - well actually I was a bit sneaky there as the bit of us going into the tunnel (and me waving to the crowds is the Pont d l’Alma (the ‘Diana’ tunnel…) and then it cuts to me leading out Brian Smith (former British Champ) coming out onto the Rue de Rivelli (under Tuileries Gardens) - so some poetic license perhaps there… thanks man! I did have some planned but I’ve had a rethink and yeah… dunno… open to suggestions, frankly! You?

[@robinchild5633]

@@1stElement Ah, gotcha! I've already done my 'big ride' this year - Chase the Sun, two weeks ago. 205 miles nearly killed me but felt flippin' awesome after, and still holding onto that fitness. Probably gonna do more mtb or easy road stuff, really want to get back into running too! We should do coffee soon!

[@1stElement]

@robinchild5633 ah yes - that ride - sounds amazing - east to west, right?! That’s immense man, fair play!! Maybe next year! Yep to coffee - message me - been too long!

[@themussile3335]

Excellent storytelling mate. J'adore le tour et les Francaise

[@1stElement]

Thank you man - do you spend as much time over there as you used to?

[@themussile3335]

@@1stElement probably more, at least 1 week a month

[@1stElement]

That’s bloody lovely!!

[@themussile3335]

@@1stElement well it would be lovely if it wasn't 100% work and food and drink on expenses meaning it's super easy to over indulge and not get much exercise in

[@1stElement]

@themussile3335 well I guess that is a pity but - do you get the choice to over indulge in good, clean food?

[@russellcarter6699]

Excellent! Welling up at this...

[@1stElement]

Ah mate - that’s lovely! Hope you’re well?

[@russellcarter6699]

@@1stElement just had a new right hip... so back at zero & dreaming of getting back on the bike eventually.

[@1stElement]

@russellcarter6699 ah - how’s refugees going? You’re not at zero though, trust me! Have they given you a timeframe for getting back on the bike - how about starting with some turbo training at all?

[@russellcarter6699]

@1stElement I might be able to get on the turbo end of week 3. Getting on is the hard bit. Got to pedal backwards for first session to mobilise things. Put flat pedals on to avoid twisting to unclip. No turbo training sessions allowed until week 8. Probably outside around week 6 (just started week 2), but "don't fall off ". At least the titanium hip matches the titanium bike.

[@1stElement]

@russellcarter6699 ha - your hip is ‘on Brand!’ Oh and you ARE allowed to use the word ‘hip…’!! That’s good news - the pedalling backward thing is interesting - as a coach I wonder how this will mobilise? Is it to stop any load? Don’t underestimate core work when you can too to maximise the ‘don’t fall off’ bit! Sounds like you may catch the end of the summer on the bike after all?