Mule Song

I heard this song by Kate Rusby and decided to adapt the lyrics to become our MULE Anthem

Ride the Road - (Inspired from Kate Rusby Song adapted by Philip Shrimpton)

Think not of casting off your dreams
when the road goes on forever
all is not just as it seems
we will ride this road together

All the way through wind and rain
I'll turn my pedals, no mind the pain
wheel by wheel across the land
we'll ride the road together

Think not of failing, carry on
when the road goes on forever
count down the miles, see them gone
we'll ride the road together

All the way through wind and rain
I'll turn my pedals, no mind the pain
wheel by wheel across the land
we'll ride the road together

Think not of stopping keep your pride
when the road goes on forever
keep your mules close by your side
we'll ride the road together

All the way through wind and rain
I'll turn my pedals, no mind the pain
wheel by wheel across the land
we'll ride the road together

Think not of hills and mountains high
when the road goes on forever
we'll lift our hands up to the sky
we ride the road together

All the way through wind and rain
I'll turn my pedals, no mind the pain
wheel by wheel across the land
we'll ride the road together

Red, White and Bike

Last July the Anglo Mules cycled non stop for 24 Hours to raise Money for Help For Heroes - A British Charity set up to help servicemen and women and their families who have been affected by the conflict in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Whilst we were doing this are American Mules were undertaking a more modest, but by no means less Important challenge which slipped under the blog Radar.
They took part in an endurance ride to raise money for 'Red, White and Bike' an American Charity that focuses on the children of American service men and women.
RedWhiteandBike is dedicated to recognizing their incredible sacrifice that is too often overlooked. They do so through providing a special gift of a world-class bicycle for these little heroes, the young sons and daughters of Americas Purple Heart recipients.

Their thought process is simple - Kids love bikes!
They provide a quality bike that has been selected by the child and customized to tell the story about the service of their parent. This gift will provide the child much pleasure while reminding others of their parent’s service and love of country; this is a very unique way to say “thanks”.

The bikes are purchased purely by donations from fund raising.
As well as the obvious appreciation I feel that there are other issues here that are so positive.

In a time when most children find entertainment through staring at screens for hours whilst pressing buttons with their fingers and thumbs. Where childhood obesity levels are higher than they have ever been in history - anything that encourages exercise that is also environmentally friendly ticks all my boxes.

Great idea Red, White and Bike !!!!!!!
If you want to help out or donate click the link below
RedwhiteandBike

Other News
Inspired by our liking of all things Rapha we now have some new Mule Jerseys which are modeled by our US Mules below. A must for any cool mule !

New Directions

As usual with this time of the year I 'read' with in interest the various pro Riders tweets and blogs about the forth coming season.
The GreenEDGE Antipodeans, The Brit Pack at TeamSky and the Final chapter of The Armstrong Saga. All enthralling, the later of which must surely have been penned into a screenplay by now. If they want pain Id volunteer as an Extra.

For a cycling blogist I can sometimes get away with reading, being in the arena instead of on the stage. Whether it be for research, amusement or Inspiration, I can still convince myself that it has some preparatory place.

Sadly this process can not offer any cardio vascular improvement, although I do get excited when I read about how well Cav and Bradley are doing. The only singular physical benefit of reading that my imagination could conjure up was the skill in sitting in one position for a long period of time.... doesn't that count as training?

Yeah that it, I have been practising sitting down for long periods of time for a the winter months. So what about the bloging then?

Yeah well .....Ok, I admit it my fingers have been as lazy and as sedentary as my maximus glutimous.

This reading process should not be totally underestimated although as it does herald the start of my own preparations, a seasonal alarm clock If you like, to move me from the public bar over to my handle bars.

A gentle reminder to start shedding those winter pounds that I so greedily added when the days were getting shorter. ......that enough now, get on with it Philip !!!!!!!!

So as Geraint Thomas and Co write about 'Balearic base camps' and 'Canary Island carry ons' and I am shamed into action.

With the temperature gauge hovering over freezing and the sky thick with the threat of snow I determine that its time.

Systematically I pull up my sealz socks and slip on my recently acquired cycling BOOTS.

I say Boots rather than Shoes because these Shimano MW81 Gore-Tex Winter babies are all BOOT.

Their downside is that they are heavier than most TDF Road bikes and restrict any real dynamic movement, as if I was capable right now!!!!!!

The upside is that they do ward off the frostbite and keep your feet as cosy as the Sofa seat in The Corner House Pub.

Remember my play area -Its Patrington - Not Palma, Tickton and not Tenerife.
Whilst the Pros add layers of sun block,I add layers of clothing and Vaseline (That's all together another story)

So again the keyboard sees little tapping, but the pedals some as I try and drag by over inflated torso up even the most benign of gradients.

At the start of each year I curse, and then blog about my curses - My unique power weight ratio This could be compared to our currency exchange rate.

Having hundreds of Lbs gets you nowhere these days.

I do get my Lbs and ££££ mixed up.

This year will be different, I promise myself whilst finishing off that weekend bottle of Red and signing up for the Cheshire Cat at the end of March. After I had paid the entry fee Joanne reminded me about why I had not entered it over the past two years.

'Cant you remember the pain and the nauseous exhaustion four years ago, when you were younger, lighter and fitter?'

Its funny how that sort of pain is very temporary.

Well this year has to be different. As well as the usual challenges Paddy(My Twin) holds a carrott, a golden one. The possibility of taking part in the Waves to Wine (San Fransisco to Napa Valley) in September with proper climbs and a brother with a point to prove.

Its no longer a case of 'It would be nice to be really fit'

I have no Choice.

This Saturday I ventured out. It was -3 degrees, with Ice and a dusting of snow.

At one time Simon reached for a drink to find the contents of his water bottle frozen. It was grim.

We went to the Humber bridge and raced back to avoid the Blizzard that was forecast.

I guess we all have to start somewhere