Lands End to John O'Groats
Friday, 10 June 2011
Thursday, 9 June 2011
I have not been anywhere near my bike since getting home on Sunday. My knees are shot. Both knees are still swollen, the left is much worse than the right, but both are a little better than they were on Sunday. I guess it is only to be expected. Way back before Easter my knee flared up after I had ridden quite hard for a week or so. Back then I stopped straight away and rested it; back then, it took a week to stop hurting all the time, and then another week of very low level riding for it to stop hurting when I rode. So as this time I continued to ride for another 400 miles or so after my knee flared up so it’s understandable that it is likely to continue hurting for a little while longer than it did last time. They are starting to feel a bit better. It’s now more of a constant dull ache with the odd bit of pain when I move in the wrong way, rather than constant pain and the odd bit of big pain when I move the wrong way. It’s worse when I have been sat for a while and I need to get up, I must look proper comical as I have to slowly easy my way to standing, being careful not to move anything too quickly.
Still the signs are good, I have been going to and from work in the car and each time I pass a cyclist I have experienced a pang of jealousy. I want to be back on the bike. I was not sure it a week in the saddle would have put me off but clearly it hasn’t. I was hoping to have a go at a 10 mile time trail next Wednesday but I do not think that will be happening, maybe the fortnight after.
Money is coming in quite well. There are a few people who are not quite as forthcoming with cash as they were promises of cash but I am sure it will continue to trickle in.
Still the signs are good, I have been going to and from work in the car and each time I pass a cyclist I have experienced a pang of jealousy. I want to be back on the bike. I was not sure it a week in the saddle would have put me off but clearly it hasn’t. I was hoping to have a go at a 10 mile time trail next Wednesday but I do not think that will be happening, maybe the fortnight after.
Money is coming in quite well. There are a few people who are not quite as forthcoming with cash as they were promises of cash but I am sure it will continue to trickle in.
Monday, 6 June 2011
It’s was a funny sort of week really. So pleased to have done it. In a strange way it passed in the blink of an eye. I’m not really sure what I was expecting the week to be like: I guess there was a touch of romanticism - me, my bike and the open road, little ‘Miss Marple’ villages and well wishes form cheery folk stood chatting with one another at there garden gate.
Needless to say that was not the case. It was more a case of me, my bike and the rutted roads, little bits of road kill and the odd beep from impatient drivers who need to be somewhere before they set off.
I think had expected a little more ‘sight seeing’ than I got, I knew I would not be diverting in to towns or villages to specifically take in sights, but I guess I thought I would see something. I have, in all honestly discovered some truly beautiful parts of the country, the Cotswolds were stunning – Wells and Stow on the Wold (I thought that was a made up place name.) both looked like places that require return visits. Yorkshire was pretty in places, but Scotland was just so incredibly green, and hilly and treey – so many of the buildings and houses required a ‘wow’ Scotland will be getting a return visit.
I am a little surprised that I didn’t stop to take even a single photo – I think it was because no one view or image meant anything specific to me, the whole week was great – yes even the horrible bits – a photo of a nice Scottish hill or a thatched cottage in Devon would not really bring back any significant memories, a kick to the knee or the odd place name however might.
I have now been asked several times if I would do it again – I answered that yes I think I might, but if I did I would take at least three weeks to do it, slowly winding my way up the country, seeing what different places have to offer would be am incredibly interesting and enjoyable way to spend several weeks.
What I did was really to ride a set distance in a set time. The pleasure was in completing it, rather than in enjoying the journey. Hence why the blog has in no way resembled a travel guide – there were in fact stretches where the only thing I saw for several miles was the front tyre or my bike and the next 15 feet of road surface.
Maybe when Harry is a little older we could have a scaled down tour of somewhere, I have suggested a tandem to Mrs Holmes but she does not appear too keen. She has suggested a small trailer with a comfy seat attached to the back of my bike I did not appear too keen.
Harry and Mrs H got to visit a few places along the route, St Ives, Bath, Stratford, York, Kelso, Edinburgh, and Inverness. They do have some pictures when she has got them off the camera and on to the computer I shall put a couple on the site.
High point: Finishing day 6 in one piece.
Biggest smile moment: Seeing Mr Soulsby in Leister (total fluke of timing)
Best View: Crossing the Forth Bridge – Stunning (a photo could not have done it justice)
Biggest thrill: Hitting 46 mph (down a steep straight stretch of the A30 in Cornwall)
Total mileage: 900 (equal to the straight line distance from Manchester to Budapest)
Total ascent: 12000 meters (Everest is just less than 9000 meters high)
Total hours pedalling: 57 (excluding time stopped eating, drinking, traffic lights ect.)
Average speed moving speed: 15.8
Total time including breaks: 67 (including time stopped eating, drinking, traffic lights ect.)
Average speed including breaks: 13.5
THANKS AGAIN FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT.
Needless to say that was not the case. It was more a case of me, my bike and the rutted roads, little bits of road kill and the odd beep from impatient drivers who need to be somewhere before they set off.
I think had expected a little more ‘sight seeing’ than I got, I knew I would not be diverting in to towns or villages to specifically take in sights, but I guess I thought I would see something. I have, in all honestly discovered some truly beautiful parts of the country, the Cotswolds were stunning – Wells and Stow on the Wold (I thought that was a made up place name.) both looked like places that require return visits. Yorkshire was pretty in places, but Scotland was just so incredibly green, and hilly and treey – so many of the buildings and houses required a ‘wow’ Scotland will be getting a return visit.
I am a little surprised that I didn’t stop to take even a single photo – I think it was because no one view or image meant anything specific to me, the whole week was great – yes even the horrible bits – a photo of a nice Scottish hill or a thatched cottage in Devon would not really bring back any significant memories, a kick to the knee or the odd place name however might.
I have now been asked several times if I would do it again – I answered that yes I think I might, but if I did I would take at least three weeks to do it, slowly winding my way up the country, seeing what different places have to offer would be am incredibly interesting and enjoyable way to spend several weeks.
What I did was really to ride a set distance in a set time. The pleasure was in completing it, rather than in enjoying the journey. Hence why the blog has in no way resembled a travel guide – there were in fact stretches where the only thing I saw for several miles was the front tyre or my bike and the next 15 feet of road surface.
Maybe when Harry is a little older we could have a scaled down tour of somewhere, I have suggested a tandem to Mrs Holmes but she does not appear too keen. She has suggested a small trailer with a comfy seat attached to the back of my bike I did not appear too keen.
Harry and Mrs H got to visit a few places along the route, St Ives, Bath, Stratford, York, Kelso, Edinburgh, and Inverness. They do have some pictures when she has got them off the camera and on to the computer I shall put a couple on the site.
High point: Finishing day 6 in one piece.
Biggest smile moment: Seeing Mr Soulsby in Leister (total fluke of timing)
Best View: Crossing the Forth Bridge – Stunning (a photo could not have done it justice)
Biggest thrill: Hitting 46 mph (down a steep straight stretch of the A30 in Cornwall)
Total mileage: 900 (equal to the straight line distance from Manchester to Budapest)
Total ascent: 12000 meters (Everest is just less than 9000 meters high)
Total hours pedalling: 57 (excluding time stopped eating, drinking, traffic lights ect.)
Average speed moving speed: 15.8
Total time including breaks: 67 (including time stopped eating, drinking, traffic lights ect.)
Average speed including breaks: 13.5
THANKS AGAIN FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT.
Sunday, 5 June 2011
Saturday, 4 June 2011
Well there you go 7 days have been and gone. Today was an odd day, got off to a false start, I had got about a mile away, and crunch – the cassette (the block of gears on the back wheel) had come to pieces, chain was firmly wedged between the gears and the spokes, great! Bodged a repair and returned to the B&B to fix it properly. Wasted about 45 minutes a bit of energy and a whole host of enthusiasm. The time and energy were gone for good however the scenery helped to restore the enthusiasm, that and 8 mars bars and more pain killers than is probably good for you. The miles passed quite happily, general energy levels an undulating profile and the customary head wind kept average speed to just under 16 mph which I was really pleased with. Met up with Mrs H and Harry a couple of miles for John O’Groats and was both pleased and proud to finish what Harry and I had started only a week ago.
It’s odd really, but not unexpected having seen very few cyclists all week I saw loads today, there were groups of riders heading south as I made my way North. It’s this I think that got me thinking. I have always been very well aware that the challenge I set myself is by not stretch of the imagination huge. There a thousands of people who have completed the ride, there are thousands more who are more than capable of completing it if they bothered trying. I know that the pro riders cover the same mileage I covered but at twice the speed and then battle in high speed sprint finishes. The record is less than two days and the record for the return journey is about 5 days (how)
However I know that only a couple of years ago there is no way on earth I would have dreamt or attempting a 50 mile ride let along this. I am also really pleased to have done it on my own, don’t get me wrong I could not have done it without the help of my ace wife and my supper star son, but the pedalling was me on my own, nobody to share the work with, no body to draft behind, no one to talk to, to break up the solitude of just me and my thoughts. I am not sure of my total road hours but it will be in the region of 60hr, and those 60hr were mine – just mine – the exhilaration of the speed, the stunning views, the villages, the amazing sunny weather, the wind, the rain, the pain, the misery, the tiredness and the ultimate feeling of achievement. The achievement in my eyes in not to have got to John O’Groats – as I said lots of people have – in my mind the achievement is to have got from an overweight, under active, unmotivated 37 years old to a fit, hopefully healthy, certainly active and defiantly motivated 40 year old.
Further more I appear to have made my mum, wife and son proud of me – what more could a son, husband and dad want.
sorry it that got a bit rambly
It’s odd really, but not unexpected having seen very few cyclists all week I saw loads today, there were groups of riders heading south as I made my way North. It’s this I think that got me thinking. I have always been very well aware that the challenge I set myself is by not stretch of the imagination huge. There a thousands of people who have completed the ride, there are thousands more who are more than capable of completing it if they bothered trying. I know that the pro riders cover the same mileage I covered but at twice the speed and then battle in high speed sprint finishes. The record is less than two days and the record for the return journey is about 5 days (how)
However I know that only a couple of years ago there is no way on earth I would have dreamt or attempting a 50 mile ride let along this. I am also really pleased to have done it on my own, don’t get me wrong I could not have done it without the help of my ace wife and my supper star son, but the pedalling was me on my own, nobody to share the work with, no body to draft behind, no one to talk to, to break up the solitude of just me and my thoughts. I am not sure of my total road hours but it will be in the region of 60hr, and those 60hr were mine – just mine – the exhilaration of the speed, the stunning views, the villages, the amazing sunny weather, the wind, the rain, the pain, the misery, the tiredness and the ultimate feeling of achievement. The achievement in my eyes in not to have got to John O’Groats – as I said lots of people have – in my mind the achievement is to have got from an overweight, under active, unmotivated 37 years old to a fit, hopefully healthy, certainly active and defiantly motivated 40 year old.
Further more I appear to have made my mum, wife and son proud of me – what more could a son, husband and dad want.
sorry it that got a bit rambly
Friday, 3 June 2011
First thing is no attempt to get the ride data on today - it's too late and I'm too knackered. Odd day, the first 25 miles felt ace, it was like I was just out for a ride, having not ridden for the previous 5 days. Even the diversion due to my road being closed didn't bother me. Knees started to kick in a bit after that, still all was bearable. Met up with team Holmes at about 12 o clock - 60 miles down and 80 still to do. All was still ok well for 10 miles or so anyway. The 10 mile stretch from 70 to 80 was a nightmare. I couldn't do anything right. I was running on empty, I needed to eat, but when I ate I felt sick. Pedalling sat down hurt my right knee. Pedalling stood up was a no go as it was just too painful in the left knee. Any of you who has cycled with me will know that I tend to stand quite a lot, hills especially. Not today, I had to remain seated, the right knee pain was better if I turned a heavy gear, problem with that was that if tired my quads, andnot being able to stand to releave them I had to keep stopping, only long enough for a quick drink but it was enough to allow me to continue. I put up with the feeling of sickness as food was more important.
My head was all over the place, could I go on, should I call for help. Clearly I managed to over come these naughty thoughts, and I am one day from the end. Mr Tadman - you can rest happy in the knowledgr that I will have this as a week as a trophy to my determination. I know how hard I have had to work - nobody else does or for that matter ever will but as I have said before its self opinion that matters the most. 120 miles tomorrow - Harry is to join me for the last mile or so.
My head was all over the place, could I go on, should I call for help. Clearly I managed to over come these naughty thoughts, and I am one day from the end. Mr Tadman - you can rest happy in the knowledgr that I will have this as a week as a trophy to my determination. I know how hard I have had to work - nobody else does or for that matter ever will but as I have said before its self opinion that matters the most. 120 miles tomorrow - Harry is to join me for the last mile or so.
Thursday, 2 June 2011
What a day. First time I asked myself why. AM was hard. Both knees are now equally not happy. Sorry to harp on but imagine a knock on the funny bone but in both knees. It worse when I start up. It actually make me feel sick odd really. Wind was also strong. Cross wind from the north west. Slowing me and trying to push me into the road. Worst of all it was taking both my breath and also my will away. After a brief stop with wife and child thing got a bit better. The turning point on the day was instigated by the breaking of a spoke. I tried to get help from Mrs H but had no signal. I rode on. A little worried about the strength of the wheel. 500m on there is the scottish boarder and Harry. Quick stop new wheel and off I went. Second happy coincidence of the ride. Thing seemed to get better after that. I got used to the pain and the wind dropped a little. The crossing of the forth bridge was amazing what a view. Cycle lane is much better placed than the road. Details will ne added later. A very big thanks for your messages. And a huge huge thanks to Mrs H and Harry they are both ace. Thank also to Jonesy you're a top chap.
Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.5
Wednesday, 1 June 2011
I have said it before but time is a funny thing, the first two hours flew by today, and them each successive hour seemed to last longer than the previous one. I was heavy going today, its odd I doubt I actually worked that hard. There is no way that my heart rate will have been anything like as high as on day one, I guess I am just feeling the effects of the previous three days. I have been eating as much as I feel that I can but I think I must only be getting about 5000 calories each day. By the last third of the ride I start to feel like I’m cycling in mud. It was the same yesterday. I have had a big feed tonight, I am considering feeding through the night, if I get up for a loo trip I might neck a frij – odd but it might help a bit.
Today was a day of very poor road surfaces and head winds, both of which really take it out of the legs. Knee has been ok – ish today. It’s not right but I am sure many people have cycled with worse. Russell Downing for example who fell down a ravine in last weeks Giro (tour of Italy) climbed out coughed up blood, got himself a fresh bike and rode on. My knee will be fine.
My sat nav has again played tricks on me, taking me on a 6 mile detour that ended in another private road with locked gates. Still I managed to keep a smile on my face while getting myself back on track.
A long day 9:12 hr in the saddle and an hour or so feeding and drinking.
Today was a day of very poor road surfaces and head winds, both of which really take it out of the legs. Knee has been ok – ish today. It’s not right but I am sure many people have cycled with worse. Russell Downing for example who fell down a ravine in last weeks Giro (tour of Italy) climbed out coughed up blood, got himself a fresh bike and rode on. My knee will be fine.
My sat nav has again played tricks on me, taking me on a 6 mile detour that ended in another private road with locked gates. Still I managed to keep a smile on my face while getting myself back on track.
A long day 9:12 hr in the saddle and an hour or so feeding and drinking.
Tuesday, 31 May 2011
Well day 3 done. That was by far the longest day so far, 134 miles and just short of 8 hrs pedalling. The duration was partly due to me trying to take it easy and protect my knee and party due to the traffic. My knee is really odd, it was sore for the first 20 miles or so and then gradually got better. If I stopped it flared up again for a mile or so and then settled down. I appears that its ok when its turning over at a steady tempo but when it stops and starts that’s when it plays up. This became very evident when crawling my way round the ring road at Leicester, again on Nottingham’s ring road and once again in Mansfield. Problem is it looks like tomorrow is going to be similar. The last three days are however open road and so should not be too bad ( I hope )
Some lovely villages today I would be happy to come back at some point and have a proper look round.
High point of the day was the road side shout out from Matt. I can’t believe that he just happened to be driving on the road that I just happened to be cycling on at the same time – really odd.
The weather helped today. I must admit my head was going towards the end, not helped by the sat nav trying to take me down a private road – a few extra miles when you have already done 128 and are only 2 from the end is not good for moral.
Still I managed to eat better today, still not enough though.
message to the Plodding Blogger - sorry I bailed yesterday. I was out on my feet, bit like today really. The only reason I am still up is so I can eat again before bed.
Some lovely villages today I would be happy to come back at some point and have a proper look round.
High point of the day was the road side shout out from Matt. I can’t believe that he just happened to be driving on the road that I just happened to be cycling on at the same time – really odd.
The weather helped today. I must admit my head was going towards the end, not helped by the sat nav trying to take me down a private road – a few extra miles when you have already done 128 and are only 2 from the end is not good for moral.
Still I managed to eat better today, still not enough though.
message to the Plodding Blogger - sorry I bailed yesterday. I was out on my feet, bit like today really. The only reason I am still up is so I can eat again before bed.
Monday, 30 May 2011
Day 2 is now done, dusted and in the past. Another 115 in the bag so 239 down 661 still to do. The weather was the biggest factor today. The rain started 1 mile into the ride and it never really stopped. It varried in strength from drizzle to hammering it down, but you knoe things are not good when the road you are on has a current. Smaller roads today, up side - much more senic than yesterday, passed through several very nice villages. Down side the road surface was not great. My bloody sat nav took me up a road that got narrower and narrower until I was on nothing more than a dirt path – things got even better when the path started to climb, there must have been a 15% gradient, on wet mud, with thin tyres in the rain – traction noexistant had to walk – that was bad enough.
Will be interested to see my heart rate data – will have to go sit in the cat and get inline as there is no phone reception in the room. My avaerage speed was down to 16.9 considering the weather and the fact that I was trying to take it easy is quite encuraging. My legs fely quite good, thighs are good, both front and back, calves are good, knees are alittle twingy but nothing too bad at the mo. Longer day tomorrow, so an early start and the plan is again to take it easy. Could be more traffic tomorrow as its not a Sunday or a bank holiday. Better weather would be nice.
In short the wind made it hard work, the rain made it miserable, the cold caused by the wet and the wind made it more miserable, the thought of a bath and coffee made it doable. I am now going to see if I can get my ride data to work.
Will be interested to see my heart rate data – will have to go sit in the cat and get inline as there is no phone reception in the room. My avaerage speed was down to 16.9 considering the weather and the fact that I was trying to take it easy is quite encuraging. My legs fely quite good, thighs are good, both front and back, calves are good, knees are alittle twingy but nothing too bad at the mo. Longer day tomorrow, so an early start and the plan is again to take it easy. Could be more traffic tomorrow as its not a Sunday or a bank holiday. Better weather would be nice.
In short the wind made it hard work, the rain made it miserable, the cold caused by the wet and the wind made it more miserable, the thought of a bath and coffee made it doable. I am now going to see if I can get my ride data to work.
Sunday, 29 May 2011
Day 1 is done. I have cycles like a machine. 124 miles done average speed of 20 mph. That is over 2 mph better than my previous best. It was 20.4 when I left the A 30 at 118 miles. Weather was not great set and misty and muggy. It's quite nice now which is just as well as they will not let me in the travelodge till 3. Head was really focused today. I was working in 5 mile blocks trying to keep the ave speed at 20 this kept me working well and made the mile pass quite quickly. Not expecting a repeat tomorrow. Had problems eating had a good breakfast but then only managed about 1500 calories during the ride was hoping for more than double that. Oh well just have to spend the evening eating.
Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.5
Saturday, 28 May 2011
Nine hours in the car. Traffic was silly. Road signs slowing the cars down to 40 for no reason. I am now sat watching murder on the nile having bathed shaved my legs and had a brew. I am now looking forward to tomorrow. Up at 6 - 15 mile car trip to lands end so could be on the road by 7 7.30 at the latest. BRING IT ON. Thank to all who have sent their good wishes. Don't forget 6.30 Granada Reports see just how rough I look and how gormless I both look and sound.
Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.5
Half way to the first of six travelodges. Stopped for coffee. Traffic has been very heavy. Bloody football match on tonight. Not being a fan I had no idea. Things got much better once on the M5 but we are approaching the congestion caused by an overturned vehicle. Hence the stop - hoping it might go away.
Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.5
Friday, 27 May 2011
Just having a quick break from packing. I have lists for everything, bike bits in case of I need to fix something. Food – things to take so that we do not need to buy. Various bit of tech stuff, phones sat nav laptop. . . . Clothes for cycling and for not cycling (don’t need many of them) Clothes for Mrs H and Little H. and so on.
Good to have finished school, yr 13 and yr 11 have gone, bit sad really as I liked my form – they might not have noticed as we didn’t chat much but they were nice kids (young adults) anyway. High point of the day was my meeting with the nice lady from Granada Reports or is it now Granada Tonight, whichever – I have been interviewed, filmed and photoed and should be getting my 34 seconds of fame on Sunday. I shall be setting the recorded to save the moment for posterity as we will not see it as I will hopefully be in Exeter by the time the show is on.
Well better do something productive, we are expecting our house / plant / pet sitters shortly and I need to pack a few more bits and think about feeding people.
36 hours to go!
Good to have finished school, yr 13 and yr 11 have gone, bit sad really as I liked my form – they might not have noticed as we didn’t chat much but they were nice kids (young adults) anyway. High point of the day was my meeting with the nice lady from Granada Reports or is it now Granada Tonight, whichever – I have been interviewed, filmed and photoed and should be getting my 34 seconds of fame on Sunday. I shall be setting the recorded to save the moment for posterity as we will not see it as I will hopefully be in Exeter by the time the show is on.
Well better do something productive, we are expecting our house / plant / pet sitters shortly and I need to pack a few more bits and think about feeding people.
36 hours to go!
Thursday, 26 May 2011
Less than 70 hours until the start. Still not sure how I am feeling. People keep asking if I’m excited or nervous etc, but I don’t really think I’m anything. It maybe that I am underselling the size of the challenge, or it maybe that the challenge is not as big as some other people think it is but at the moment, I am just thinking of it as riding to and from work 12 times each day for a week. Put that way it does not sound too bad. I’ll let you know.
I think the decision to cut back on the training has been a good one. My body appears to be working properly. My knees feel fine, my legs are feeling good I feel full of energy and my head is full of positive thoughts. I think if I had continued with the sort of mileage I was covering before Easter I would be both tired, sore and probably a little fed up with cycling.
Food preparations are going well, I have managed to maintain my weight at a very consistent 12 st 4 lb for several weeks, (sad but I weigh in daily) adjusting my food intake as I adjust my activity levels.
I am estimating that I will need to expend around 8000 - 8500 calories each day to complete the ride. I anticipate that consuming this amount each day will prove difficult, so a little stockpiling before I start might help. I am currently over eating – not a chore - so as to add a couple of extra pounds prior to the start of the ride. I am very interested to see what affect the week has on my weight; if the internet is to be believed a deficit of 3200 calories ‘should produce a weight loss of 1 lb, so if I only manage to consume 5000 calories each day I could conceivably lose half a stone over the week.
I think the decision to cut back on the training has been a good one. My body appears to be working properly. My knees feel fine, my legs are feeling good I feel full of energy and my head is full of positive thoughts. I think if I had continued with the sort of mileage I was covering before Easter I would be both tired, sore and probably a little fed up with cycling.
Food preparations are going well, I have managed to maintain my weight at a very consistent 12 st 4 lb for several weeks, (sad but I weigh in daily) adjusting my food intake as I adjust my activity levels.
I am estimating that I will need to expend around 8000 - 8500 calories each day to complete the ride. I anticipate that consuming this amount each day will prove difficult, so a little stockpiling before I start might help. I am currently over eating – not a chore - so as to add a couple of extra pounds prior to the start of the ride. I am very interested to see what affect the week has on my weight; if the internet is to be believed a deficit of 3200 calories ‘should produce a weight loss of 1 lb, so if I only manage to consume 5000 calories each day I could conceivably lose half a stone over the week.
Wednesday, 25 May 2011
It’s 7pm on Wednesday, that means only 84 hours until I leave Lands End. Not sure how I’m feeling at the moment, not really excited, or even apprehensive, I think I am looking forward to getting started, or it might just be that I’m looking forward to yet another school holiday. Things are starting to come together though. I have a collection of bike things that I need to take with me sorted out, I have a list of the food stuff that needs to be taken with me, and clothes can look after themselves. We have had conformation that our house sitters will be arriving on Friday so our plants, pets, and garden will all be fed, watered and looked after.
A new development is that I will now have company for part of the ride. We have decided to take my sons bike with us, he will be joining me for the first two miles on day one and the last 2 miles on day 7. Who knows, in a couple of years or so we might be able to do the whole ride together.
I have today tipped over the £2000 mark on the thermometer. This being made up of about £800 of sponsorship to be paid on completion, and £1200 of donations already made. I am clearly happy to have reached my target but rather than sit back and smile, I have done the only sensible thing I could think of and made my thermometer bigger.
A BIG thanks to all who have sponsored of donated, and a small poke of encouragement to those who have not.
A new development is that I will now have company for part of the ride. We have decided to take my sons bike with us, he will be joining me for the first two miles on day one and the last 2 miles on day 7. Who knows, in a couple of years or so we might be able to do the whole ride together.
I have today tipped over the £2000 mark on the thermometer. This being made up of about £800 of sponsorship to be paid on completion, and £1200 of donations already made. I am clearly happy to have reached my target but rather than sit back and smile, I have done the only sensible thing I could think of and made my thermometer bigger.
A BIG thanks to all who have sponsored of donated, and a small poke of encouragement to those who have not.
Sunday, 22 May 2011
As Arkwright used to say ‘it’s been a funny old day’ I had planned on Saturday being my last ‘proper’ ride before THE RIDE. I had planned an 80 mile route around the Peak District. That unfortunately was scuppered by a sequence of unforeseen events, and at 7am this morning I was not riding at all today. However due to a rather more favourable sequence of events by 9.30am myself and Tadman were on the road heading for Bakewell. The ride there was very pleasant, despite the head wind, legs took a few miles to warm up, but by the time we reached Ladybower I was feeling quite good. Discovered a few new and very nice little villages and a very nice café a very nice village - the name of which I forget. The ride back was equally pleasant, though the hoped for tail wind never materialized. Returned home 60 miles covered and feeling both happy to have been out and happy in the legs.
Jumped straight in the car, drove to school borrowed the car park and enjoyed watching my son trying out his new and shiny road bike – a few minor adjustments are needed as it is a little big for him, but the bits have been ordered and hopefully by the middle of the week it will fit him like a red and white metal glove.
(written off line on Saturday – posted on Sunday)
Jumped straight in the car, drove to school borrowed the car park and enjoyed watching my son trying out his new and shiny road bike – a few minor adjustments are needed as it is a little big for him, but the bits have been ordered and hopefully by the middle of the week it will fit him like a red and white metal glove.
(written off line on Saturday – posted on Sunday)
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)