Meet the team from West Brom!

While our other teams have made a start on the cycle relay, making it to York earlier today (after 2 punctures on the way!), we are still in training and preparation mode ready for our big start on Sunday 13th.  Today the team from West Bromwich Park Inn were making their way to Telford to have their bikes here ready to start on Sunday, so being good team players we offered to meet them in Wolverhampton to lead them into Telford, we couldn't have them getting lost!  Lucja, Will & Ande made the most of the sun and cycled the 18miles to meet the West Brom team led by Peter, who arrived slightly muddier for the experience full of high spirits.  We took over the leading and took them back to Telford through some rather undulating terrain, so much so we had to pull into The Crown in Codsall for a cold beer!  Suitably refreshed we got back on the bikes and hit the road again, a tough ride back through the hills, with some of the team resorting to getting off the bikes to walk up some of the hills (until they saw me out with the camera that is).  Making it back to Telford safe and sound, our car wash team gave all our bikes a jet wash after all the muddy canal riding and we sat back and enjoyed the last of the sun having a delicious dinner with cold beers all round.  Great effort from all the team, particularly West Bromwich team that had not cycled that far before, or even cycled together yet as a team.  Until Sunday until we meet again!

Mudslides

Mud was the calling of the day today.  It was a relatively clear afternoon, so Tony & I (Lucja) needed to head out to reccie the last leg of our route that we are responsible for, so we cheated a bit and jumped on the train to Wolverhampton, found cycle route 81 and ploughed our way to the Park Inn West Bromwich.  What would be very lovely canal paths are now very muddy play fields, whilst chasing the aggresive geese away, nasty little devils, we slip slided our way along the tow path, through a 300m dark tunnel and made it safely, albeit rather disgracefully muddy to Park Inn West Brom. 
I don't think the receptionist believed who we were so lucky for us, Alan, the Operations Manager recognised us in our garb and swiftly organised us a lovely hot tea & coffee for our troubles.  Route sorted, we made our way back to Telford (yes on the train, it was nearly 7.30pm by now!), hosed down our muds, I mean bikes, and made a right mess of the bathroom!  Sorry Housekeeping!  Some evidential photos for some of you who believe that we just don't get muddy, unlike Tony who is lucky (or smart) enough to have mud guards, I look like I have had a whoopsy in my shorts......think I might be visiting Halfords tomorrow for some of those treasures!

Team Pant(h)ers minus 1

Well the weather held for us :) :) so Team Pant(h)ers headed out on the bikes.  It was a boys only cycle with Tony leading the way, and Ande & Will along for a good ride.  Lucja was back at the hotel still recovering from a massive effort on Sundays London Marathon, though snuck out for a sneaky 6 mile easy ride herself to stretch those weary muscles.

The team made it to the outskirts of Wolverhampton without a hitch following route 81.

Bumped into our "support team" member, namely Natalie - unfortunately there were no refreshments on offer (Cup of tea next time perhaps Nat!).  Never mind, on we ploughed..... Our return route was slightly off course...took a couple of wrong turns but made it back safe and sound, and most importantly dry!  Except for the sweat of course!

Out again today.....

April Spring Showers

After a dry afternoon in Telford we thought 'we'll take a chance', and headed out for a training ride to Shawbury.  As soon as we got our kit on, the heavens opened up, so we were drowned rats by the time we made it to Telford Train Station from the Park Inn Hotel!  Not to be deterred we set off and eventually the rain did subside.  Glorious views along the way of all the fields of yellow, set off with the grey skies, it did look fantastic. 
With Deb, our tag along rider for the night, struggling with a slow puncture, Tony and I (Lucja) took off ahead to send back Nina in the rescue vehicle!  Whilst Tony & I quickly defrosted in the warmth of our friends, Nina & Fiona's, home with a couple of very hot cups of coffee and some dry, warm socks; Nina was out to pick up Deb.  With all of us back together and raiding the wardrobe for dry attire, Lucja was kitted out in new favourite Wild and Striped thermals.  Wow!  A new range of fashion to keep me warm, rather pleased to find out they were founded in New Zealand! 
Suitably refuelled after a super tasty sausage casserole with jacket potato, followed by a cheeky New York Cheesecake; Tony and I hit the road back to Telford.  The wind had dropped so we thought we were in for a nice ride back, which it was until we hit flood waters just before Wellington, too late to turn around we were up mid-thigh is some rather unsavoury smelling water.  With a nice layer of some form of grease and now completely soggy shoes and socks we made it back after a total of 33 miles to a lovely hot shower and warm clothes, forgiving all the tribulations and already planning our next venture out!

Sweating it out at spin class

A slightly belated blog, but I think we have still been recovering from Monday nights exertion at Spin Class.  I thought I would 'treat' a couple of my fellow cyclists to a gruelling spin class at Nuffield Health on Monday night.  The instructor didn't let me down and came out with a classic class of everyone's favourite - hills, and not just hills but hill sprints!  The team did well, no-one dropped out, passed out or flaked out!  Red faced and very sweaty we finished in high spirits...until we hit the change rooms to find out there was no hot water, but Tony was complaining he was too hot, so what better way to cool down than a cold shower!  Stay tuned for more updates from the team.

Fluorescent Overload, the Pan(t)hers take to the Road

Suitably kitted out with high visibility jackets, helmets and a good sense of humour, not to mention water resistant skin, three intrepid members of the Park Inn Pink Pan(t)hers set off for their first training ride several weeks ago.  Ready and willing to face high winds, buffeting rain and the first installment of saddle sore.  Ok, so that's slightly exaggerated... apart from the saddle sore ...

Lucja Leonard, Deborah Bennett and Tony 'Pink' Riches

On Yer Bike!

It's time for the Carlson Rezidor UK Cycle Relay 2012!

Our employees are getting on their bikes for a mammoth cycle relay, covering over 1300 miles and most of the UK.

From Aberdeen, our team will work in groups to visit all 32 managed Radisson Blu and Park Inn by Radisson hotels, finishing in Southend-on-Sea.

Why are we doing this? It’s part of our commitment to Responsible Business – promoting a more environmentally friendly mode of transport, encouraging our employees to improve their fitness, and importantly; to support local charities.

The aim is to raise at least £30,000 for causes close to the hearts of our hotels – please support us!

Park Inn Telfords team is made up of Lucja Leonard, General Manager; Tony Riches, Sales Manager; Deborah Bennett, Revenue Manager; William Ford, Conference & Banqueting Supervisor; and Andy Evans, Housekeeper.  We will be cycling the leg from Telford to Cardiff via Birmingham over two days on the 13th & 14th May 2012.