An on-the-ground update on the Ice Run from Mr. Tom.

As predicted a good number of Ice Runners mangled their heads last night with mind splicing amounts of vodka and danced through till the morning. They mostly managed to separate themselves from their beds and lined up to pick their destinies as they pulled out registration numbers from a hat. Suited up in cold weather gear and with freshly named bikes we set forth for the frozen lake to engage in a spot of ice racing. Team Ural Crazy didn't quite make it to the lake as their front forks were being replaced after Roderick drove into the wall yesterday.

 As soon as we arrived, all the teams very carefully set about learning to drive on the ice, taking it step by step and displaying the usual sensible approach. Jools from Team Buff was tanking round the track slightly faster than possible until he got carried away and was thrown off the bike when he caught a wheel. Minutes later Chris of Team Ice Ice Maybe flipped his bike. As the lake ice cracked and the bikes proved beautifully temperamental we knew we had thoroughly test driven the beasts and given the teams a pretty accurate idea of what mayhem will ensue when they launch tomorrow. Eric of Windy City Wanderes (Frost Edition) was towed back as his bike was in a bad mood and our team of mechanics set to giving the fleet one last tinkle before the off.

After racing Urals around a frozen lake there is nothing better than chewing down on a traditional Russian feast to the sound of a Russian choir, so we did. Furthermore, what better to do after that than jump into in a hole in the ice of another lake and slap each other with birch branches in a баня (banya - sauna). Possibly if you were also wearing a mankini, thanks for that sight Oli, charming.

The talk is now of packing, early nights and how the fuck to get to Salekhard. Tomorrow we shall wave the teams off into a crisp Siberian morn to an adventure unknown...

Cheerio,

Mr. Tom

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We'll be posting more updates on the blog throughout the adventure and from Monday you can follow the teams on the Live Tracking Page.