DAY 14 TOUR DE FRANCE CHALLENGE – REST DAY Q&A

It’s the 10th July and it’s Amy’s one and only rest day, we answer some questions about the ride so far and prep for the next days to come! She is riding every single stage of the Tour De France plus the transfer in between for mental health charity shout.

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Bon Matan. It’s day number 14. What’s 14 in French? I don’t have a clue. Um, don’t know. And it is my one and only full rest day during this whole challenge. The pros have two rest days. So, I thought I’m going to give myself a full one and then I’m having two half rest days, one of which I’ve already had, one of which is to come. But to start off the rest day, Carla’s delivered me Oh, yeah. breakfast in bed. porridge k and a big pile of apple and pear which he’s going to share with me. But what’s on the menu for today then what’s the plan? Uh right I’ll have a look. You first get a y out. That’s we’ve done one thing already. Um right we’ve got to go service the bikes. Yep. I’ve got to clean the car. Got to go to the shop. Got to make flapjacks. I need to check the stage route for stops tomorrow. Yep. laundry potentially. That’s not a given. And then send some pictures over to someone. And I’ve already done that. Uh you order Oh, and Santini have sent us some kit to a bike shop. But the most important thing you’ve missed, what most important thing we’re doing today? What? Going to a cafe. Yeah. Anyway, right. We’re going to eat my breakfast and then probably head over to the bike mechanic just to give my my bike’s been absolutely fine, but I just think it’s good to give it a once over. Probably needs a new chain. Probably put a new chain on it. My bike’s been has done 2015 miles so far and more than that because obviously I’ve done miles on it before this trip. So, also we are going to do a little Q&A on this video cuz some people have sent some questions in. So, we’re just going to answer 5 to 10 questions about what’s been happening so far. Right, I’m in the whip. It feels weird to be in normal clothes, not Lyra. And we’re currently on the way to a bike mechanic who someone very lovely sorted out for us. What was his name again? Robert. No. Oh, Adam. Adam. I don’t know why I said Robert. The man that came out to join me yesterday. That client. Yeah, I think of St. Robert. Um, sorted out a bike mechanic for us. So, we’re going to go and get a new chain, new brake pad to put on my bike. Just have it look looked over. Kyle’s as well. Right, we’re at the bike mechanic. He’s just having a chat with Kyle. I usually have him in a little bit, but Okay, that one need a bit more. here. But yeah, okay, let’s have a look. That’ll be really ready. Yeah, it’s the team [Music] bike. Yeah, nice. Is that yours? No, my uh my friend. Oh, wow. Very nice. That is beautiful, isn’t it? Really nice. Yeah. What size? Uh, small. Yeah. About say quite Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Smaller than mine. Big stem. Really? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Wow. Is that a team one? Yeah. Team. Yeah. Yeah. Wow. Do you do a lot of pro bikes? Do you do a lot of pro bikes? Do you work on pro um pro cyclists bikes? Me or team? Yeah. Team team. Yeah. Yeah. Wow. Amazing. That’s so cool. This is on a m. Oh, nice. Oh, that’s nice. Yeah. Oh, total energy. Yeah. Wow. Cool. Nice. Wow. Amazing. Well, we’ll come back in do earth. Thank you. Thank you. As usual, Kyle’s navigation’s gone wrong. Basically, the the bike shop is over that main road. Somehow we end up in here. You always give me the blame for navigation. All I’ve done is clicked an address given to me by someone by Santini John. Yeah. Clicked it. Yeah. And he’s not gone to the right place. Right. So that’s not my fault, is it? Back in the whip then. Don’t worry. Adding more steps to me legs. Hear the insects. I don’t like the insects. Right. We’ve just been material. No, sorry. Culture. I don’t know why I said material. Um my head’s not in it. and Santini aka Santini John have sent out some packages that any might need for the mountain. So, we’ve got a puffer jacket cuz even though it’s going to be absolutely boiling, when I get to the top or descending or if I’m, you know, stopping fuffing around at the top, it might get cold. So, we got a puffer. No, her name is You’ll be puffer and cuz I’m going to be leaving like 4:00 a.m. in the morning some mornings, Kyle. Because I want to get up early. I don’t know why you’re looking at the not in the heat. Gloves important. Oh, this is something that we should have had from the beginning, but we didn’t, which is very silly. Shoe covers. This is that base layer. Yeah. Or jersey or something. Biscuit base, I think. Think it’s a buttery. It’s a buttery biscuit base layer. Mhm. Yeah. And then we’ve also got some arm warmers. I don’t know what this is, so we’ll have a look. long tea uh long sleeve jersey that I asked for. Yeah, a long sleeve. That’s be good for descending. Did say get a long sleeve more thicker. My h strap on that splat. Anyway, we’re now going to my favorite part of the day that I’ve been waiting for the cafe. Right. So, we’re in a little cafe on the outskirts because we were going to go right into the center of Tuloo, but then we thought it’s going to be a nightmare with parking. We’re on the outskirts, so we’ll stay in the outskirts. Now, we’re in this cafe. It’s a bit of a Harry Potter theme. A bit. I’ve never never watched Harry Potter, so sorry about that. But the cakes coming over. Yeah, we bringing him over. Wow. [Music] Kyle and what’s that? Got this lion cake and a caramel latte. What’s the owl called again in Harry Potter? Hadwig or something. I don’t know. There’s an owl in Harry Potter. It’s got a name, hasn’t it? Don’t know what that says. The owl in the owl in Harry Potter. Harry Potter. That one. Headwig or something. Something like that. Yeah. Never watch. Sorry. You actually got me on you. I think I watch half one with you. It smells cool glasses. It’s like a little It’s actually called a a Luna chai cuz I think Luna’s something cat with one claw. Anyway, oh yeah, and they’ve even got a crunchy apple for me. So, I’m going to tuck into this and enjoy. And then next stop, supermarket. No, no, no, no. Not a supermarket. Hyper market. Thank you. I was feeling hyper about it. Lime bars is actually my favorite chocolate as a kid. Yeah, genuinely [Music] something else. Can I try the pomie? Mhm. Now, you know, I like a crunchy apple, but in a cake, it’s never going to be crunchy. It’s always going to be mushy, which is fine cuz it’s cooked. So, let’s hope it’s not crunchy. Dig into this bad boy. That is like heaven. This is the first cafe I’ve been in in 14 days. I’ve been having withdrawals, let me tell you. So ready for that. He’s got to fuel me for the next coming. How many days we got left? Day 14, 29. So 15 days left. So I’m going to doing 29, not 30. Going to go for the big 29. Mhm. We have just been in what I can only describe is the biggest supermarket I’ve ever been in in my entire life. I wasn’t joking, was I? Massive. Anyway, I got some pineapple ananas. I think that might be um Spanish, but oh well. We’re now going to go back and get the bikes and then we’ll go back to the apartment and do a little Q&A cuz some of you sent some questions in. So, we’ll answer some of them and then I’m going to be having a nap and switching the camera off a fur. Um, your brake pads are dead. So, I put the new the ceramic pads very good. Nice and clean now. Sorry. Oh, incredible. Dead. Oh, yeah. And I’ got to go down some mountains. Oh, let’s have a look. Kyle, what were they like? Let’s have a look. Yeah. Oh, shut up. So, brake pads. What were mine like? Oh, yours. Okay. So, so okay. Did you put new one? I put the new one. Amazing. Thank you. You review the brake system. Yeah. And uh I do the fuel. Yeah. On the two bikes. Yeah. Um, new new brake pads on the bikes and yours. Uh, I put off the crank set and uh, yes, I think the bottom bracket the bottom bracket is done. The not that really, but the the left uh, is more more used. Is it bearings? The bearing. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So, I I I put the grace on the axle. Yeah. Uh on the two bikes and yours, but yours in the next time you you must Yeah. change. Right. We’re back at the accommodation. Sorry about the angle here. It’s not the best, but we’re working with what we got. And we’re just going to finish today’s rest video with a Q&A because some of you lovely lot sent us in some photos. We can’t from photos. I mean some questions. We can’t answer every single one because otherwise we’ll be here all day and I’ve got all day. Kyle’s got a lot to do, haven’t you, Kyle? Yes, you’ve got resting to be doing and I’ve got a lot of stuff to be doing. So, let’s start with question number one. How do you manage bathroom breaks? To be honest, when I need a wei, what I’ll do is I’ll probably need a Wii every 2 or 3 hours maximum. And when I need a wei, I start thinking, right, I need to look for a place. I find anywhere like that I can just go behind. And I do this little trick where you don’t actually have to take your bib shorts off. You just get two hands under one leg, yank them to the side, and then you don’t have to take them off. And then I don’t have to flash. So, it’s pretty much behind any bush that I can see. And then when I stop with Kyle, he’ll open the car door, won’t you? And I can like hide behind it. But yeah, two car doors makes a cubicle. Yeah, two car doors makes a cubicle, but there’s been no public toilets yet. So, apart from the only toilets I’ve been sat on is in the evenings, in the morning. So, it will be nice when I get home and have a toilet every time I need a wee. But anyway, um, is Kyle the best boyfriend ever? Actually, I’m not. Best husband. Thank you. Best husband ever. Kyle, here you are. Oh, how do you how do you juggle all the relocating food, YouTube, etc., and still get to ride? Uh, the riding has been quite minimum really, ain’t it? So, just usually have it planned out before we start where I’m going to stop so I know where I’m heading each time. Then I know roughly in between, say if I need to go shop, like in between stop one and stop two, I’m gonna have a bit of time before I get to stop two. So then I’ll try and plan in the shop and what she might want to eat, if there’s any additional stuff I need to get and then Yeah. And if she’s all good at stop number two, cuz it’s usually just the two stops. There’s been occasions of three, but only once or twice. M and in the heat which is fine but then from when when she’s okay from that stop then I’ll drive to the end get into the accommodation get everything set up all the recovery stuff done ready so when soon as she finishes it’s there cherry juice protein no waiting about all the massage stuff ready stretching and then I’ll put my kit on and ride out to her so if I can squeeze it I’ll just squeeze in whatever I can squeeze in. Yeah. Are there any areas of your body niggling after all these miles? touch wood. No, not at the minute. But I have just been going really super slow, like not pushing because I know that I’ve got to go day after day. So, I can’t go into the red. Got to keep it, you know, zone two. Um, how do you continue cycling when your mind and body are screaming to stop? To be fair, there haven’t been like loads of moments where I’ve really really struggled yet. I think that’s going to come in the mountains and the heat. I did struggle yesterday in the heat quite a bit. Um, and at the start in the heat and there’s been a few moments where I’ve been going up a hill and been struggling. But I think I always just remind myself why I’m doing it that nothing’s going to be as hard as what I’ve already been through in my head like when I struggled with my mental health. So that keeps me going. And I always envision getting to Paris and just envision also what I’d feel like if I quit, which I know I’d be really not happy with. So just keep going. So you knew before you was doing it that that was going to be your area of weakness. Yeah. So you did heat training, didn’t you? Mhm. So you but even before doing this you knew the hot days were going to be tough for you. Yeah. So I’m not not looking forward to the next few days. You got through it. So that just proved you can. Yeah. Um next question. How is the saddle pain touch bum? It’s all good. I have had struggled with a bit of a rash on my bum but we’ve been using not the nappy rash. That was down to a bad cream. The cream I was allergic to, but I’ve still got a bit of a rash. But we’re using E45 cream and aloe vera. Every time like when I get off the bike, as soon as I get off, have a shower, put that on it. I have got a bit of a rash. It does hurt a bit today. Walking around, it was hurting a bit. Um, but while I’m on the bike, I just have to try not to think about it. It could be worse. And I also use shammy butter. So, I just make sure every time I go to the toilet, wet wipe, put it on, and I put it on at least every 2 or 3 hours while I’m riding just to keep it topped up. Um, what has been the hardest part of the trip mentally so far? I think you know what, the first few stages cuz it was just so like I had really long days. I planned in long days to start off and the views were just kind of the same every day, weren’t they? Even driving, I bet it was the same, wasn’t it? Just endless fields and flats. We’ve ridden in a lot of that area before, so we knew what we were in for. And it was just like it got a bit mind numbing. And so it was like the miles, you know, when you’re like riding the miles just don’t seem to be going down. That was probably the hardest bit cuz it was trying to like keep myself entertained. Um, but again, I just remind myself why I’m doing it and just keep on pedaling really. Um, why are you doing both the stages and the transfers? Because I was inspired by Lacklin Morton who’s done that. He’s an ex-pro and I just wanted more of a challenge than just riding the tour because basically I’m a lunatic in in a nutshell. Best way to be. How are you finding eating so much for the challenge? Someone else has asked this as well and someone else has said how are you managing to keep eating disorder keep eating with your eating disorder past do negative thoughts come? Kyle, do you want to answer this one? I think you know. And the short answer to that is not very well. She seems to think that she’s eating too much and she’s going to get really fat. But the reality of it is the mile she’s doing, the calories that she’s burning. And it shouldn’t be a case of counting the calories and thinking, “Oh, I’m eating too much or eating too little.” You need to fuel your body. Your body’s an engine. If you didn’t put fuel in your car, it’s just going to come to a standstill. So, you’re not going to put weight on. Yeah. You physically couldn’t eat enough at the minute. Yeah. To eat enough to get rid of your calorie deficit. Yeah. So, basically, I’m having to eat about Well, I’m burning like over 7,000 calories a day. So, I’m having to eat a lot. And it has been hard. I don’t think it’s been hard as hard as I thought it would be cuz I am managing to eat enough cuz I’m not running out of energy. But I think the mental side of my old eating sort of head does come in and say, you know, you’re eating too much or don’t eat that. But I am letting myself have treats as well, like bakery treats and things cuz I do enjoy I can now enjoy food like that. Like I haven’t I wouldn’t class myself as having an eating disorder anymore. I wouldn’t be able to do this if I did. Um cuz I wouldn’t have been eating enough. But yeah, I think sometimes I’ll eat something like a cake or a quason and then afterwards I’d feel guilty, but I just get those guilty thoughts will fade after like an hour because I know that I need it and it’s good to have a treat. So the emphasis isn’t on the number of calories you’re burning. Yeah. It’s on keeping consistently fuel. Yeah. So what I’ve been doing is sort of I’ll have a big breakfast with porridge, peanut butter. I always have a pair. We’ve got a routine of what you need. Yeah. I have overnight oats. Um but it’s a really big bowl. And then that will last me for like the first 2 hours of the ride. Then after the first 2 hours, I pretty much eat something every hour to every hour and a half. And it’s all been solid food. Like every hour and less if I can help. Yeah. Like I’ve not had any gels and I’ve not had any carb mix yet. In my bottles, I always have electrolytes and so far you’ve not been on. It’s been going well. So yeah. Um we’ll just do a few more. What’s your favorite snacks to carry and eat whilst cycling? I’ve got a few favorites. When I’m at home, I do love a peanut butter pitter, but they don’t do pitters in France. So, I’ve been using SAS oat bars. I love the white chocolate and macadamia one. That’s literally like eating a cookie on the go. Bananas. Love them. Dates. Been having a lot of dates. My food stops with Kyle. I’ll have something bigger like pasta or a baguette or rice. And I also really like having these little smoothies, like kids smoothies. What else do I have? Um, oh, and someone asked about what’s the snack that gets you going if you’re really struggling. The SIS beta bar. You saw that the other day, didn’t you? They have 40 grams of carbs and it’s a bit like a sweet and that they are brilliant. Gets me up the hill to be fair. Hold on. I just saw a question. Yeah. Do you have a power meter and know your FTP? Just interested. You’re super strong clearly. I think Well, you know your FTP. Do I? Yeah, cuz you have to know your FTP for your training. You did FTP test and all that testing with Dan UK Bit as well. All I know is I have to keep it like around below 150 W, which is the point I was just about to make. The FTP number is only relevant if you know your zones and you know where you need to be sitting below because in endurance riding you do you’re not going to be riding FTP. No. So knowing you it’s helpful. Um and she’s very very strong and she has I’m not going to say the number but she has got a very good FTP. You can say it. What? I don’t mind if you say in fact I can’t even remember. I know it’s it’s like 200 and something 200. Yeah, it’s watts per kilo. It’s really really good. Um but what I’m saying is you know where to sit. Yeah, basically that’s important. Basically, someone asked if I’m basing on heart rate or FTP. Well, I’m doing it on FTP on heart rate or watts. I’m doing it on watts. So, I need to like make sure I don’t push it basically. Obviously, when I’m going up a climb, I’m going to be going over above 150 watts cuz for some of the steepness, there’s no choice but to um but I’m trying to just keep it every day, not putting effort in. Like getting to the top of a climb and not being out of breath is the aim really. Um that’s not going to happen on the mountains. I’m definitely going to be out of breath, but so far I’ve been trying to do that just to keep it nice and steady and not burn myself out really. But heart rate, I do have that as well, but I try not to look at it too much. And sometimes when I’m riding, I don’t even look at my watch cuz I’m like, I know if I’m pushing and I know if I’m not. So sometimes it gets in your head a bit if you’re looking at it too much. Does Kyle pack up the accommodation and check out once you set off in the morning? Yes, I do all the checking in, the unpacking, the checking out and the packing and organizing. Yeah. What do you have to do logistically? Nothing. Just ride, which is what we want. Ride and ride. All I want Amy to do is sit on her bike and turn them pedals. If that’s all I can get her to do, that’s me doing my job properly. So yeah, that’s what it’s all about. She’s got a big enough job on focusing on getting herself to Paris, which you will. So the minimum amount of things she can do for me is the best. And you have got annoyed a couple of times. Oh, let me just do this. Let me do that. I keep saying, let me cook cuz I feel bad. But no, it can’t be like that. And yes, it’s tiring, but it’s got to be that way. Yeah. What have you had to reroute at all off the plan stages as a result of road closures? No. So far so good. How are the legs feeling? Surprisingly, my legs actually feel good. Like I’m noticing on the flat and everything, I feel fine, but as soon as I hit a climb, I just feel like I’m going backwards. Obviously, my energy levels are low, but my legs do feel good. My knees are fine. Like someone said about the niggles, obviously, I said I’ve not got any, but I think yesterday on the hills, I felt them a little bit, but I’ve been icing them. I’ve got the recovery boots when Kyle mentioned about the massage. That’s our recovery boots that my very lovely friend has lent me which are really good. So, keeping on top of that and just making sure Kyle’s forcing me to stretch as well. And she’s still climbing very well. I joined you for four of the mountains stage. I feel like a slug. I joined four mountains on the mountain stage, 36 miles, and she was climbing really well. in like she could climb better, but in normal circumstances, she hasn’t done 2,000 miles. Yeah. So, in the circumstances, yeah, she’s still going very well. Someone said, “Are you feeling physically stronger as you go through each stage?” No, I’m feeling physically weaker. Why do you ride with a low cadence? That’s literally just my natural riding. Like, I’ve tried to increase my cadence. It just doesn’t work for me. Everyone’s different. And everyone always comments saying, “Oh, you need to do high cadence, high cadence.” But I’ve tried it. I’ve tried it in my training. I just it that’s just how I’ve always ridden and I’m just comfy riding like that. So, and also knowing the science behind spinning faster is one thing, but everyone’s different. Every everyone finds cadences different. Yeah. Like you need to do what’s comfortable to you. Like you just cuz they say a faster cadence will be more that what’s the word? Beneficial. Beneficial. Yeah. Yeah. Well, basically what they say is a a fast a faster cadence uses more cardiac. A slower cadence uses more muscle. So, obviously you’re wearing your muscles out a little bit more with a slower cadence. But my muscles are going to be worn out anyway by the end of this. So, yeah. So, she’s doing cadence to get to the end. You’re all right. Um, right. Two more questions. What date are you doing Montbon 2? That’s the 18th of July, which is Kyle’s birthday. I turn 25. And what day are you coming through Paris? Well, the aim is to finish late at night on the 25th of July. If all goes wrong, it’ll be the 26th, but we’re hoping it’ll be the 25th of July. Then I’ll have a day in Paris on the 26th, and hopefully see the pros finish on the 27th. So, yeah. Thank you so much for everyone that’s commenting and watching. I’m really sorry. Like, normally on YouTube, I reply to everybody’s comments, but I just don’t have time to do that at the minute, but I am reading them. It does help me along. So, keep doing that and keep donating, please, cuz it’s really motivating, and we want to raise as much money as possible for the charity. I can’t believe we’re on over 32,000, not including gift aid. So, that’s just unreal to me. And to be honest, just sat here on the rest day. I remember being at home thinking, “Oh, if I make it to the rest day, I’ll have done okay. I wonder how bad I’ll feel.” And I don’t feel as bad as I thought, but I know that now is where the hard bit starts. So, tomorrow I’m riding the full stage with Kyle because it’s a loop that starts into loose and finishes into loose and Kyle needs to ride. So, he’s going to do the full stage with me and then I’ve got an extra 50 m. No, it’s 109 miles. Um, and then I’ve got I’ve got an extra 50 mi afterwards for the transfer which you’ll drive. No drafting. No drafting. I’m staying in front or to the side of Kyle. I’ve got this thing about not wanting to draft. I want to do it on my own. And then the next day, I’ve got the cam. Yeah, we should both be going up there, but we’ll see. And it’s forecast thunderstorms. Well, I don’t think it’ll be as bad as what you think, but I just don’t want to get struck by lightning. You got more chance of Someone actually put something on Instagram the other day about some things you have more chance of. And I think it’s there’s a couple of things I thought that’s just mad. Okay. Like very very slim. Anyway, do you want to finish off with a joke from your mate? Can I give you a couple? Our mates’s been sending us jokes every day. Yeah, I would if I knew where my phone was. What have we done with it? Oh, let me come back to you. We’ve been getting these jokes every day. So, Carl’s not read any for a while. Been a nice little um thing that makes me chuckle each day. Yeah. Um just Why did me go back there like an like an old man then? Oh, I’ve had another one just now. Go then. In fact, I’ll tell you. Go on then. I’m thinking I should do lunges to stay in shape. That would be a big step forward. Uh do you want another one? Yeah. He just saw one of our other jokes on YouTube, so he’s quite happy. I went into a pet shop and asked for 12 bees. The shopkeeper counted out 13 and handed them over. He said, “You’ve given me one too many. That one is a freebie.” Oh god. Oh, let’s have one more. One more. Last night I stayed up cycling to see what happens when the sun goes down. Then it dawned on me. Oh god. Great. Right, we’ll leave you on that. one of our friends and uh I’m really enjoying them. Yeah, keep sending them. You’ll probably get sent loads of jokes now, Kyle. He’s called they’re called dad jokes. He said that was dad joke number 13. Yeah, I’ve had 13 up until now. So, they might feature slowly surely throughout this uh yeah, this trip. So, anyway, so tomorrow is stage 11. Stage. It’s currently the 10th of July. So, tomorrow 11th of July, we’ll be doing the Tulu stage. Tuloo to tulo tul to tulo. And the bikes are here in the room with us. Looking lovely. And yeah, ready to have a nap now. Eat some more carbs and try not to stress about the mountain. Service and they’re looking very good. I was very happy about it. Extremely happy. But anyway, thank you so much to everyone watching. We really appreciate it and we’ll see you on the next one. TT FN. Goodbye. Goodbye.