Baz’s Ride Debrief!

Very many congratulations to Baz Street and Team for completing Rock Ride 2, a phenomenal achievement. We’re pleased to receive this debrief from the man himself, and thank you to the official Rock Ride organisers also, for allowing us to share some of their excellent photos. Read on and be inspired!

Baz Street: “The ride started on Sunday 1^st June 2014 with the first 100 Miles from Gibraltar with temperatures soring to 35 degrees. The first day was going well until we reached the 50 mile point, and the first real test for the peloton was a 10 mile alpine climb. The group soon split apart as the road ascended and I found myself at the front of the pack in the company of an ex-Olympic athlete. It was then that the real challenge of the 1500 mile Rockride started.

As we rode together for the next few miles my thought’s drifted to the real reason why I was taking part in this venture, raising money to support our injured Riflemen. These thoughts gave me the strength I needed and I managed to be the first rider to the summit, this was a total surprise to the support team.

The next 2 days riding appeared to go smoothly as we organized ourselves into a well drilled and efficient pedloton. As day 2 was ending the support team alerted us to the last 30 miles accent which they aptly named “Death Valley” Which as it turned out was well named, this was a 10 mile straight along the valley bottom then a 5 miles accent. Yet again I found myself in the company of the Olympic athlete, this time we ascended to the finish together to the roaring cheers of the support team.

June 5^th- the longest day of the ride 118 miles, all was going well until the first puncture which split the peloton into two groups for the next 50 miles. As we neared the end of the day reaching the 100 mile point the support team informed the group and dropped a mega bomb- shell, stating we had a further 20 miles to reach our final destination. Tempers and moods where tested to the extreme with tears and tantrums across the group and that was just the men amongst us! This is where I earned the nickname for the rest of the ride as The Serjeant Major.

June 6^th- D-Day I start the day with my own minute silence as we were having a group service that evening. After 98 miles and 7 hours in the saddle we arrived at our Hotel, showered and changed ready for the evening events. The remembrance service was very moving; a few tears were shed thinking of all the friends and colleagues lost over the years.

The next few days became a blur of Spanish roads and countryside, Hotels and the rear tyres of the bikes in front, as the peloton was now a well-oiled cycling machine, covering great distance at 18-25 mile an hour just inches from the wheel in front. Our last day in Spain finished at the top of the Pyrenees, and Yes the first two to arrive at the hotel that afternoon where myself and my new cycling partner.

Finally after 12 days of hard riding we reached Pegasus Bridge and the end of the European stage. After the team photos on the bridge had finished, I found a seat in the shade outside the famous Café. I was then approached by an elderly gentlemen wearing his medals and beret with pride who lent across to me and said “ are you in the Rifles son”?, Yes why I asked ? He replied “I served with the Rifle brigade during the war; share this cup of tea with me?” Sharing that tea and conversation of old war stories with an old soldier was worth 10 hour’s in the saddle.

Day 13 the last day Portsmouth to High Wycombe 80 miles was a breeze the hills were never to steep or the roads never to rough. We arrived in High Wycombe to all are families and friends cheering and clapping what a welcoming sight. Couple of days recovering from the Rockride and I am talking about my next venture next year 3000 miles across America the toughest single stage bike race in the world.