Every year a group of intrepid cyclists (called the Cairo Cyclists) make their way out into the Sinai desert to ride from Taba to Sharm. Hot stuff indeed, as Eddie Gough explains...

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The setting for the Taba to Sharm ride this year could not have been better. We had a total of seventeen riders. The weather was beautiful, not too hot and little wind and Pat laid on a big bus with lots of room for everyone and their bikes and equipment. Dave, Jane and Mathew drove down in their own car. We packed everything into the bus in no time and on the dot of three we were on our way. Pat had to catch us on the road as he had a pressing meeting to attend. After we picked up Chad and Sarah at the Mirage City we were really on our way. Pat caught up at the rest stop before the tunnel and we loaded his bike into the bus beside JP’s and Stu’s (Mr Blue), taking care not to touch JP’s.

We all settled into our seats and enjoyed some beers and snack food while we whiled away the time telling each other stories about previous rides and how the climb was going to be. Was it ten or fifteen kilometres? No-one knew. JP kept going up and down the bus like a bookies runner checking that his bike was ok. Jesus, you’d swear it was going to walk off the bus. Eddie was bragging about how he had done the ride three times (as if we didn’t already know or care) and about how he was out to settle some scores this time after the humiliation of last year.

We got into Taba at about nine o’clock and in good time for the evening meal. Then it was time for bed and a good nights sleep to be ready for the challenges that lay ahead. Next morning we breakfasted and got our bikes and gear together and headed out the road towards Dahab at about 08.30. This time we had a large security contingent. I think they got us mixed up with the Pinarello race a couple of weeks earlier.