Small world Big ride

There I was last night saying I don’t know the guys who I’m riding with and then this morning Beth’s dad gives me a story from the Kenilworth Weekly News about Werner! It turns out he is an alumni of Warwick Uni, as am I. This led me to his website http://www.end2end.co.nr/ which has told me as much as I need to know about him. It turns out he lived in Kenilworth whilst studying at Warwick. Sadly for me, I also learnt that he, along with John the other rider, is half my age, so I risk a) being left behind and b) becoming some sort of father figure. How scary is that (for them I mean)? Young at heart….

(For our overseas readers: Kenilworth is the next town to Warwick, with a crappy castle because they were on the wrong side in the English Civil War and it got mashed by Cromwell – see previous blog entries on Edge Hill and Naseby).

I must be getting carried away – I’m referencing my own blog!

Another day nearer

Not much to say today, but I want to share the excitement. I'm itching to get on the road. There are so many unknowns despite all the planning. I have route maps, route notes, hotels booked, have to remember to take everything. And don't forget I haven't even met the people I'm going to spend 12 days in close proximity with. What if we hate each other! I'm sure we'll bond whilst watching each other's lycra bound backsides bounce up and down in front of each other.

I started checking the long range weather forecast today. I don't know why. Its a British thing. I can't control the weather, but then its no different to plotting out the route so I can see the profiles each day (although day 12 looks gratifyingly easy, you can see it and the other 11 days here: http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-kingdom/kyle-of-tongue/1080390135 ), its not as if I can move a hill because it looks a bit tricky on the map. Its there to be conquered.

One thing I do want to do is thank Dave Thomas. Dave long ago entered Morris family lore as a gift to mankind sent by some celestial body to make all our lives easier. In attempting to bully him into sponsoring me, we got talking about charity wrist bands (because I was boasting about the Livestrong band personally given to me by Lance Armstrong, well actually personally given to Bryan Gumm who carried it across the Atlantic and gave it to me, but it was still in the bag, so it kinda counts - I thought I might scrape some DNA from the bag and merge it with my own to make a kind of hybrid Lance Armscraig but I might get Bryan's instead and become Craig Morgumm, not that that's a bad thing but you get my point), anyway, Dave volunteered to sell some FSID bands to raise money for me. So 100

bands were duly delivered from the back of an FSID cupboard where they were quietly resting and Dave has the challenge of selling them all to raise £100. I know he'll do it (well he's got to now, the whole world will read this blog and be waiting in expectation for me to proclaim his victory - or shame).

Enough dribble, I did spin today and a few weights. Its not the same as being out in the fresh air but its a good intense workout. I can't wait to pit myself against the British countryside. We pass through England, Wales and Scotland en route. I've just watched Robbie Coltrane (who I once had a drink with in a pub in Clerkenwell) in his travelogue of Britain, pass through Dumfries, where we'll be going. The scenery there is fantastic I've mountain biked a few times up there. I'll try and post pictures if I can get a decent wifi connection, here's one of Birdy from last time we did a MTB road trip. This is Kirroughtree, one of the 7 Stanes http://www.7stanes.gov.uk/.

Exultant

I feel good tonight. After work I picked up my new mountain bike, an Orange G2 with Rock Shox Tora forks, Deore components and Hayes disc brakes front and back - and its British! £700 worth of hardtail MTB for £280 through the cycle to work scheme. Sweet:

"Cross Country is where it all began. Giving riders the opportunity to go beyond roads and experience new places in nature where no one else goes. It is a test of endurance and technical skills where one must climb up steep hills and descend down narrow trails through wandering trees and over rocks. Giving one an overwhelming sense of accomplishment and excitement with one simple ride."

Which is pretty much how I feel now, but I haven't been off road. I didn't get on the bike until 6:20 and it was already gloomy. I don't have lights on my road bike because a) they add weight b) I don't ride in the dark and c) they're a bit girly, so I cut my ride shorter than planned. Still, I managed just over 30km in 1hr 5minutes and thoroughly enjoyed myself. That's nearly 300km in 72 hours and I still feel fresh (although I don't smell it) and its also pretty much the end of my training. I have a spin class and gym session planned on Thursday, a couple of hours at the weekend and that's it. We're off. At the moment I'm buzzing and raring to go.

I'm made up with the the amount of sponsorship I've had. People have been so kind and I can't thank them enough. Now I have to reward their faith by a) completing the end to end and b) really suffering whilst doing it, to make them feel they've had their money's worth! To that end, I plotted a few more days of the route. Just take a look at what the profile does on day 3 at about 40 miles in (click the show elevation tab at the bottom of the map) : http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-kingdom/sampford-peverell/277736044

That's rock climbing not cycling! Wish me luck. I love it.

Avon calling

I'm guessing that a nutritionist wouldn't recommend 5 bottles of beer and a chicken balti the night before a big ride by way of preparation, but that was what I set off with today after another great night with friends. 136km today pretty much along the Avon valley and back. I went out through Arrow and headed towards Worcester. I was riding into a strong headwind so about 15k short of Worcester itself I turned south from Upton Snodsbury towards Wyre Piddle (I'm not making this up) which took me through Pershore, which was heaving, presumably because of the plum fair (!) that was on in the market square then to Broadway and back through Stratford which was also heaving, presumably because of Shakespeare and home through Charlecote. 5 and half hours elapsed, average 28kph. Not much to report, the weather was good if windy, I stopped and filled my water bottles at a cider mill outside Broadway and ate cherry flapjack (not home made, full of e numbers and preservatives but they'd given me free water so I felt obliged to buy something) and I had a pleasant five minute stop by the Avon in Stratford watching the boats. I also stopped on the green at Inkberrow for an energy bar . Inkberrow was allegedly the inspiration for the village in the Archers, particularly this 16th century pub which features as The Bull. But I resisted a pint. I didn't want my secrets broadcast to the nation on Radio 4 as part of Archers' gossip.

When I get fit

I finally got out to test the new cassette properly last night, 52k to Little Alne and back. This route has two short sharp climbs and a couple of long drags. I made it all without too much trouble (3 cogs spare into Wilmcote, 1 spare into Snitterfield) and again today I went over Avon Dassett, Edge Hill and Loxley (and added Snitterfield hill for good measure) without too much trouble (72k). But it did prey on my mind. I've had to re-learn the bike. I'd made it to that point where I didn't think too much about the mechanics of cycling, more technique. I've covered 2960km this year to date in training and I really don't want to have to re-learn how to ride. My bike and I have a symbiotic relationship. Today I found myself constantly checking gears and mentally trying to compare how difficult a climb was (which I liken to trying to compare pain, is tooth ache more painful than ear ache, is the pain I had in my knee when it shattered worse than childbirth - obviously?). Do you know what I mean? There's no benchmark, no measure, so it feels difficult, but is it more difficult?

On balance I was uncomfortable with changing the setup of the bike so soon before we go, regardless of difficulty, so I rang Evans and asked if they'd change it. The guy I spoke to was very sympathetic and agreed to change it no problem if I took the bike in (we glossed over the fact that they now had the part in stock which apparently they didn't on Thursday and couldn't get in until Tuesday). I grabbed the kids and set off for Milton Keynes. The guy in the shop was not the guy on the phone and he was most suspicious until I explained and produced receipts, even though it was he who had served me 48 hours earlier. Any way they changed it, but not without a parting shot when I went to pick the bike up. As he handed it over he said, "maybe when your a bit fitter you'll be able to swap it back again"! Cheeky so & so. Its not about fitness its about the style of riding I'm doing. I need to be comfortable getting from A to B, not fretting about how quickly I can get there on my big ring 23 tooth cassette. Muppet.

Saw a dead badger today.

Blackberry musings....

Had the bike serviced ready for the off. They didn't have the right cassette so I've had to switch from 12/27 rear to 12/23 which will make climbing harder. Can't wait to get out and try it. Also bought some new tyres and chamois cream (go google it!) so I'm pretty much ready for the off.

Grey day

In the morning I awake, my arms my legs my body ache, so begins another weary day.

I nearly skipped the spin class today because I went to bed with aching quads and woke up with an aching back to match. But I didn't and joy! Tony wasn't there, Nemeka took the class instead, so it wasn't as hard as usual. Although I still had a good work out it had the effect of loosening all my tension. Isn't the human body great (well mine anyway :0).

When I got in tonight I marked the whole lejog route in a road atlas in preparation. Can't wait to get going now. I also got round to mapping the Canon's Ashby route, here: http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-kingdom/warwick/771428684 so I could see the profile, which doesn't look anywhere near as daunting as it is on the ground. We'll just have to see how well it's prepared me. Who's idea was it to pick the wettest summer on record to train for and then ride 1000miles in 12 days. Muppet.

Gloomy Sunday

I awoke this morning with a hangover and too little sleep after a late night with friends (which was worth every pain - a thoroughly enjoyable evening). I left Beth in bed until lunchtime to recover from the same, on top of all the nights she has worked. When she awoke I went out for a ride. I decided to do the Canons Ashby route because without my bike computer at least I knew the distance and its an enjoyable ride. Except it wasn't. It was hideous. The hardest ride I've done. Ever. And that includes some big mountain bike loops in the rain.

I set off in a light drizzle made worse by a cold wind and by the time I returned it was a full on storm. Another drenching and the return journey, about 40k, was into a strong headwind and biting rain. I could have cried. Its the first ride I've done that I just wanted to end. I just wanted to get off and get in a hot bath. It was made worse by a shocking choice of music on my ipod shuffle, meaning I rode up Harbury hill (as regular readers - are there any? will know, my least favourite) listening to a dreadful dirge by Gary Numan and "attacked" Avon Dasset to Lionel Ritchie. If anything is less likely to inspire you to ride 1km up a 10% gradient in the wind and rain I can't imagine it.

By the time I got home I was exhausted and despondent, really questioning for the first time whether I can do this ride. If the weather is anything like today for two weeks I think the simple answer is no. Time will tell. Today, the first doubts crept in.

Body count: 3 pigeons; 2 moles (!), 1 hedgehog, 1 rabbit, 1 ego.

Summer rain. riding on my bicycle

Any one that thinks I haven't suffered for this bike ride should have been out with me today. It poured, stinging rain for the whole two hours I was out and my striking Howies waterproof jacket proved to be as water resistant as Spongebob Squarepants, so I was literally soaked to the skin. Ho hum, at least nature made me waterproof.

The day started so well, Beth had worked last night so a couple of glasses of chardonnay sent me on my way to a relatively early night. When she got home this morning I went off to Leamington. The problem with charity work is that it makes it to easy to "reward" oneself with treats (well it does me). So, in the euphoria of finally nailing down the accommodation list for the ride, and coming in under budget, including the two fabulous 5* hotels with Spas Beth has managed to do a deal with (£35 each bed breakfast & evening meal) in Shrewsbury (day 4) and Loch Fyne (Day 8), I bought a picture. Signed, limited edition print, by Tom Lewis a local artist, which I've hung in the girl's bedroom. Its fab (http://www.tomlewis.co.uk/), similar to Jamie Hewlett of Gorillaz and Tank Girl fame.

Anyway I went straight from the gallery to the gym, dropped Mo in the creche and did an hour (1500m row 6 mins, 7k uphill bike, 15mins, 10 mins crosstrainer + weights). Mo and I then had lunch there and came home to find Beth just emerging from her bed. So I jumped on my bike and off I went. In the rain. Boy it was wet. But fun, even though my bike computer packed up which was a bummer. 56k. Body count 2 hedgehogs.

Oh, and the cherries worked a treat. Not a pain in sight.

No ride

Still no ride. I took Edward to StAndrews last night to see Birmingham play Sunderland in the first home game of the season. A disappointing result but I have no regrets, it was a fun way to spend an evening. Today I did a spin class and some light gym work, which really hurt. I guess because my legs are tightening up because I haven't been exercising quite so much, only two days in the last seven. I hope I don't come to regret this late hiatus in my schedule, but then life has to go on. Beth is really working her butt off at the moment, doing loads of shifts at the hospital so it s going to be tricky to squeeze rides in this weekend, but I really must get out, if I can do it and let her rest too.

Anyway, more positively, I bought a bag of cherries on the way back from the gym which I munched through at my desk. Cherry juice allegedly reduces muscle soreness after exercise. I'll let you know tomorrow.

Trailer park blues

Hmm. No ride today. Beth's working a night shift. Can't get lazy as I leave three weeks today. I know I won't get out again this week. So I bought Imogen a new toy, a trailer for my commuter bike. I trailed it home from work and we went to the park. I took the long route to make me feel better. Its fab. She loves it. I just need to work out where we're going to go in it.

Big girls' blouse

Three day's rest while we partied in Liverpool. Back today to spin. Tony wasn't there so Abi took the class. One thing I like about Tony's class is that its Bike focused rather than fitness. Today's class was more about fitness, so although my biceps and triceps hurt by the time I'd finished I didn't feel like I'd had a great workout; when I got home from work, Beth had taken the kids to the pictures, so I went out and did 37k.

The weather was fabulous although windy, and I raced a pigeon that I startled on a lane. One of those deep English lanes with high bank and hedges, so it was kind of trapped, but I kept pace with it.

At the weekend I expounded my theory about the stupidity of bees which fly straight into your face. Do they not see cyclists? What do they do in a wood, just bounce off all the trees because they're too daft to fly around them? Anyway, Mark's counter theory was that they're not stupid, but very brave. Really they're playing chicken. And never give in!

When I see an adult on a bicycle I do not despair for the future of the human race. H.G. Wells

Spin a hard days night

Spin today. Don't think I'll get chance to ride tomorrow because Beth's working, then we're away for the weekend. Three day's rest won't hurt I've trained each of the last 6 days.

Think of a witty title......

Wednesday 8th August

Another glorious summer evening. Rode with Paul, not too far, about 36k but hilly so that I could play Alberto Contador to his Michael Rasmussen (where has Paul been for the last 10 days?).

I’ve now ridden 5 consecutive days (including spin on Monday) and I’m feeling fresh which makes me think I’m just about on track fitness wise. So fresh that, at the end of the ride whilst waiting for traffic to clear at a junction, a guy went past on his bike. I said to Paul we should catch him, but as we waited we saw he sped off, knowing we would do so. He got away, but when the traffic cleared we shot after him. I hit 53.2kph past the Warwickshire in my pursuit and caught him just past the A46 roundabout, with a cheery wave and rode off into the sunset. Childish. But fun.

Today one of the guys has dropped out of the End to End, “for health reasons”, which leaves three of us. It makes me think that the others may now bail out too on the basis that three isn’t enough. Tough. I’m going anyway, whatever it takes.

The Rider

43k tonight (Tuesday). 90 minutes. Did the Aston Cantlow route, which is one of my favourites. The first 10k is pretty much all uphill, which opens up the lungs, then there’s two short sharp climbs on the way back. All the roads are quiet, its just you and the bike.

The sunshine has tempted all the farmers out to harvest, so the lanes are covered in mud and the air is full of dust and bits of straw and stuff. Which helps with that nice rural smell when I get home. Nice. I don’t include cycling to and from work in my training, but if I did that’d be a nice round 50k today.

Paul & Rachel came round last night after their hols. I leant Paul a book, The Rider by Tim Krabbe, which I’d recommend to anyone with the vaguest interest in cycling. He describes a race and his thought processes before, during and after. It’s the most evocative description of a bike race I’ve read. One thing we talked about that Krabbe mentions is how, when riding, one thought or one emotion can occupy your mind for hours. Lance Armstrong, when asked what he thinks about whilst cycling always says, “Cycling. I always focus on technique and how to improve it”. I don’t. Tonight I thought about farmers and the cycle of farming. And what a mess they make of the roads.

I've run out of spin puns - Spin a busy day

Spin today. Sore quads. We're away next weekend so I'm going to try and get ride (or spin) in every day this week to simulate the tour (although clearly not 90 miles). Then take the weekend off. In Southport.

Sun is shining & the weather is sweet

make you wanna move your cycling feet.

Summer hit with a bang this weekend, 28deg C today and I rode 105km in it, in 3 hours and 45 minutes. That's only 10k short of our first planned day, so I feel pretty good about it. I squeezed in 25km yesterday too before going off to my niece's wedding and leaving that for Tony's 40th birthday party. Both of which were fun.

Anyway, today I retraced my steps, more or less, from the rain soaked ride of a couple of weeks ago, except I made it across Cropredy Bridge which was under 4 feet of flood water last time I tried, to Canon's Ashby where I refilled my water bottles in the National Trust cafe, seen here. How terribly English.

The ride was pretty much without incident, although I hit 70.5kph re-entering Warwickshire from Northamptonshire which is about as fast I've managed and nearly hit a car which reversed out in front of me on a blind bend, fortunately I was doing more like 7kph at the time.

To show the contrast to my last big ride, here's the view to Edge hill from the top of Burton Dassett. Last time I was here, I was in cloud!

When I got back I was earlier than expected and Beth was out. I didn't have a key, so I sat in the sunshine for a while waiting for her (she wasn't answering her phone) before getting bored and cycling off to get a Sunday paper from the local petrol station. I didn't have a lock so I took my bike into the shop with me and stood at the counter, in lycra shorts, sweaty shirt, cycle helmet, bike by my side. The guy looked up at me and said completely deadpan"any petrol sir?". Needless to say this caused much merriment on my side. So I bought the paper and went home, arriving at the same time as Beth...who'd been out to buy me a paper. Bless her. Now, can I sell a duplicate Observer on ebay?...

Friday ennui

Meant to post yesterday but didn't get chance. No ride today but did a spin session yesterday plus a bit of gym work, some weights and 1500m on the rower, my usual. Had intended to ride this evening but got the hotel and route details from Discover Adventure today so need to ring the others and make plans; I'll get up early in the morning and go for an hour before we go to the wedding.

Had planned to do a Sportive (110k) on Sunday organised by Evans cycles in S Oxfordshire, but thought that the hours' drive there and back would be better spent on my bike. So planning a long ride (at least 100k), might repeat the route to Canons Ashby I did in the rain recently, as the forecast looks good.

Time to crack the Chardonnay...

Where have I been?

No training today and to be honest I'm starting to panic a bit about how I'll maintain my fitness over the next few weeks. This weekend we're at a wedding (my God daughter Emma) and a 40th birthday party, next weekend we're away in Liverpool. So it'll be a few early morning rides to maintain some miles, but I can't really do more than 90 minutes before work. I guess that's better than nothing.

Anyway it made me review my progress. I started training on 7th January. I've recorded 49 separate rides since then, a total of 2465km in just under 7 months, an average of about 50km per ride. At my average speed of 28kph that's a minimum of 88 hours in the saddle.

The pink line on the graph shows my cumulative distance and the blue my daily distance. I've also had two lots of major eye surgery this year and two weeks in Cuba, so I've done my best in the time available.

I think the pink line shows a nice concave curve, but its not getting as steep as I'd like in these last few weeks. Riding has been augmented by gym work and spin. I've ridden in snow, frost, sleet, winds, rain, sun, hail, floods and glorious English (and Welsh) country side. And loved it.

Just gotta get out and ride. Cycling is my prozac.