Morgan's Giro Sardinia ~ Epilogue
 Thanks for the memories...

Just wanted to wrap up with a few thoughts.

In January 2004, I had a total hip replacement at the age of 39 because of arthritis. Once I knew I was going to have to go through that, I set myself something to look forward to, post recovery.

I chose cycling because I had commuted a few times to work and loved it (once my bum had got acclimatised - remember having that problem when you started?  We don't think about that anymore, do we?).  I also did the London to Brighton charity ride.  All this on a second-hand, crappy old mountain bike.

Once fully over the op, I got myself a Marin commuting bike for £450 (a sort of hybrid set-up) and started commuting again and it wasn't long before I wanted more miles and more speed.  I started drooling over road bikes and wondered how I could ever justify the expense. Then I won a bike, as you do!  It's the one I ride now - a SCOTT Speedster, with 105 and a bit of carbon here and there. The rest, as they say...

I got into sportives when I wanted my extra commuting miles and increasing fitness to be for a purpose.  I stumbled across cyclosport.co.uk, as it was then, and signed up for one day of the Tour of Wessex.  It took me 8 hours 40 minutes, including a very long puncture stop (I had a spare tube but I didn't know what to do with it!) and several stops to question my sanity.  4 hours of the ride was accompanied by heavy rain.

As I got to the finishing line, I had the 'Never Again' tape playing.  By the time I had packed the bike and dried out, I was wondering when the next one would be. We've all been there.

So, in a few short years, I've gone from keen commuter to legend-in-my-own-mind stage racer, completing the Tour of Sardinia in 146th place out of a total of 263 (I defended my position on the final day - no ups or downs). 

I am now getting into Cat 4 racing, hoping to get to Cat 3 before the end of the year.

In preparing for the Sardinia event, my father became ill and died.  A good man, a good father, a great encourager, and I miss him. (We undervalue the word 'good'.  When it's my time to go, I hope people will say, 'He was a good man'. I'll settle for that.) 

I will always remember Sardinia 2008 as the period when I also lost my dad.  Not as a dark cloud, just as juxtaposition of life events: woven into the last couple of months of my relationship with my dad was this adventure.  Where am I going with this...

Life is to be lived.  Live with passion.  Live generously, and make the most of every opportunity and encourage others to do the same.  And help them do it when they need it.

I finish with lots of thank yous:

Thank you to my wife and family for letting me go to Sardinia (did they have any choice, they might say!).

Thank you to all the people who encouraged me to go for something that, although it turned out I could handle, was very much outside my comfort zone when I signed up for it. 

I thank all the people who posted comments on my blog and encouraged me in that way.

I'd like to mention Tony at Flamme Rouge, in particular.  His input has always been generous and passionate, and with a twinkle in his eye (Tony, not sure I ever got the swagger right. I'll have it sorted by next year).

Thank you to Mark, the Editor.  What a great job he is doing. (I can't believe I actually make the credits on the Bwlch part 1 film!  The legend in his own mind garners kudos...)

Thank you to all the people who included me in their groups in Sardinia: the skivolution crowd, the Liphook racing crowd.  Thank you to Peter and Anne, for organising all the logistics and helping me to get there at all.

Thank you to Nick for the bike box (will you be coming next year or can I borrow it again?) and your encouragement.

Thank you to all the people who made my kit and bike gear.  Although you are not yet my official sponsors, I am ready to talk. If you are listed below, take it as an offer to approach me.

Continental: no punctures all week on the GP4000s
Assos: the shorts that make you feel you're 'being kissed by an angel', as I once read on the cyclosport forum
Rudy Project: Rudy, my daughter broke my glasses only last week.  Come on, give me a call
Science in Sport: good old PSP and caffeine gels!  Didn't bonk once. Also, REGO Nocte: top marks
Prendas: podium caps and overshoes. Worn with pride; from the company based in my home county
Campagnolo: great jersey. Please send me some more of those. I'll be your best friend.
Pinarello: I just want a Prince.  I just want one.  Please send me one. Thousands are reading this. They want you to send me one.

OK, that's it. I wish you all a great season. I'll bump into some of you no doubt (as I did with Dave Lee queueing for the loos at the Dragon Ride).

Cheers! Morgan

Now you've read his story; why not ride his sportive, click the logo...

© Morgan Lewis 2008