Day 4 150km Tintern to Shrewsbury

Day 4

Tintern to Shrewsbury


Today was another long day 150km. We started at 8:30 and arrived at the hotel in Shrewsbury about 3:30pm. The morning was very hilly; we started out along the Wye valley to Monmouth. Then climbed out of Monmouth to Lentwardine. It was mercifully flat from there and just as well because at about 90km I just lost all power. Not strength so much but I was physically and mentally exhausted. We had a bit of a break and carried on for another 20km before I needed to stop again. This time recharged with a banana and a power gel I managed the remainder, over the Shropshire hills into Shrewsbury. But it was a very tired Craig that dragged himself into the hotel. Fortunately tonight is one of the nights we’re in a 4* hotel. The Mercure Albrighton which is fantastic.

There was a wedding on when we arrived which we had to wade through as they’d spilled onto the lawn. We met Beth and Mo, I bathed and changed and then we hit the pool and spa. What a luxury. Beth laughed at a our comical cyclist’s tan lines; from the elbows and knees down we’re all really brown and pasty everywhere else!

I have wifi access here so I can post a bit more. In review, Day 1 was hard but we took our time. We climbed the equivalent of 1500 vertical metres. Day 2 over Dartmoor was the hardest, 2007 vertical metres of climbing. Day 3 was largely flat apart from a 200m rise over the Mendips and today started off rolling hills and then flattened out before the Shropshire hills. There was a fantastic 10km downhill from the top of the hills though. Today has been the most scenic, through the Wye valley and passing by the Long Mynd and the weather has so far been kind to us. Tuesday was hot and sunny, but we started late, then every other day has been largely still and overcast, cool, breaking to sunshine later. Perfect for cycling. Long may it continue.

Apart from Wednesday when we had virtually no flats, it was all up or down, so we all rode at our own pace, we’ve ridden well as a group and today Werner and John pulled me through when I was struggling. John doesn’t seem to tire at all, but than he is only 52kg ns has a full on carbon bike. I’m surprised he doesn’t float away (he does when we hit a hill), but I’ve largely held my own. He did reveal today that he intends to do the end to end again next year, in under 80 hours, the CTC Gold standard.

Beth has been superb as our support. We’ve got into a routine of meeting her about 50km into the ride and she brings pasta pots and bananas and we can refill our water bottles.

Hotel wise, I’d recommend them all except perhaps the Globe at Sampford Peverell. It was nice enough and the staff were friendly, but a bit pricey for what it is and the rooms were full of flies from the farm across the road. Myrtle Cottage at Sennen was great and I’d recommend it to anyone down that way, likewise the Wye Valley hotel at Tintern, where Alan, the chef really looked after us, maybe because his father did the end to end in 79 hours at the age of 55. So maybe he knows how we’re suffering. The Nebula at Liskeard was nice, roomy and comfortable. The Mercure here in Shrewsbury is fabulous and they’ve done us proud. It’s the cheapest stay we’ve got en route and possibly the best. Three cheers for Ian the manager. Definitely recommended.

A third of the way there and its starting to hurt.

Day 3

I ride up hills on the big ring now. And don't even notice. Its amazing how quickly your body adapts.
Long day today 150km. Mainly flat out of Devon into Somerset, briefly into Gloucestershire and then over the Severn bridge into Wales. One massive climb over the Mendips at Cheddar and a climb out of Chepstow followed by a great 7km downhill into Tintern, 50kph+ all the way. My bike computer shows a top speed of 103kph today but that must be a mistake or some kind of record. A quarter of the way there and still going. We've got a 5* hotel to head for tomorrow, that's incentive enough.

Day 2

Big day today. Very hard. We covered about the same distance as yesterday but took 30 minutes longer. From the hotel it was uphill then a series of steep river valleys culminating in Dartmoor which was far and away the biggest and hardest hill I've ever climbed. 23kph average and max 73kph tells the story of the terrain. I'm really pleased with myself for doing it. John and Werner power up most of the hills ahead of me but then I'm carrying 32kg more weight than John and a few kg more than Werner plus 20 years so I don't feel bad. Beth came past two or three times today and shouted support which really helped. She's been so good to me. I love her a lot.

Day 1

122k, 5 and half hours over dartmoor from Lands End to Liskeard. I think that's the hardest thing I've ever done. Some absolute monster climbs (pic of the view back to Lands End from the top of the first climb). My legs really ache. The weather was hot. Not a cloud in sky all day so it was difficult to stay hydrated. Beth met us half way so we could refuel. The b&b at Sennen was good, I'd recommend it (Myrtle Cottage, right on the harbour). Here in Liskeard we're at the Nebula hotel which is also very good, although I don't know why you'd want to come to Liskeard to be honest. Well day one complete 11 to go. Thanks for all the goodwill messages they're all welcome. At 90k today we hit a 5k 10% climb. It was agony but at the top I kissed the St Christopher Beth gave me and thought of her and the pain she must feel having lost Tom. That's why I'm here.

Day 0

Arrived Sennen after 6 hour drive. Beth drove to Exeter where we stopped and had a steak and chip lunch in a pub. Thanks to the good pub guide for the recommendation. The b&b is nice, right on the beach (see pic) and only a mile from our start point but it's at the bottom of a massive hill which all 3 of us have winced at. What a way to start! First impressions of Werner and John are good. We're off to the pub to bond before the off tomorrow.

PLT (Pre lejog tension)

Quiet day today.

I took the kids over to my parents in Birmingham whilst Beth packed (my stuff's been packed for a week!), then the girls cleaned the car out for us and we went out for a family farewell meal at a local Chinese - all you can eat for a tenner. I'll miss the kids whilst we're away. Originally of course I would have been away from Beth and all four kids and I have to say I wasn't looking forwards to that. I think it might have been harder than the ride. Every cloud, as they say.
Beth bought me a St Christopher to wear whilst I ride, which is a really nice thought, I'll cherish it. My mom asked me whether you got them from the AA, because she was given one when she passed her driving test. My dad was pottering in the garden when we got there, which I like to see. I think that's what retirement is all about. The ability to potter, with no particular aim in sight. Bless them both.

My dad is in some way an inspiration for this trip. When he was a kid, him and his mate Johnny Green used to regularly cycle to Wales. Everywhere we went on holiday as kids my dad would chirp up, "I've cycled through here", now I'll be able to pass that on to my own children. My dad knew Johnny right up until his recent death. What a fabulous thing friendship is to endure the best part of 70 years. Although it might have helped that Johnny ran a pub until he retired!

Can you imagine letting 14 year olds cycle that far now? Crazy thought. Its such a shame really. Mom gave me a big bag of energy bars to take with me, I didn't know she knew of such things, I was expecting a packet of hob nobs. I'll think of her each time I eat one.

Away we go!

nb. In response to Beth's defence of Kenilworth, I grew up in Solihull, which in old English means "pigsty on the hill" - how much more history does a place need!?

Last time out

I wanted to ride today just to keep myself loose but didn't intend going far. However I noticed that i needed another 38 miles to clock up 2000 for the year to date. I set that as my target, but the route I chose was only 30km, so I ended up wandering aimlessly round Warwickshire lanes for the sake of clocking up the miles. I ended up doing 42 miles which takes me to 2004 training miles. It would have been pleasing to finish on 2007 I guess.





I sorted myself out with some contact lenses this week and rode in them for the first time (I haven't been able to wear lenses for 18 months whilst my left eye was busy self combusting), with the intention of combating the dreaded rain trauma. Needless to say it didn't rain which is just as well because I also took the opportunity to wear my shades, which I thought would protect my eyes from drying out (not because I wanted to look cool and impress the local sheep, honest. I might be of Welsh descent but I have better chat up techniques than that). Which was great until I started to sweat and they started slipping down my nose, so I ended up peering over them like a knitting granny. Yea, way cool. However it turned out for the best because as I crossed the A34 on my way back a 4x4 driver going too fast passed me and kicked up a stone which hit me on my right eyebrow. Now, if I lose the sight in my right eye I won't be cycling anywhere. So the sunglasses stay.





A nice feeling really, all my training done. Nothing tomorrow then drive to Land's End on Monday ready for the off on Tuesday. Its a six hour drive which makes you realise quite how far we're going (and that's not even half way). Bizarrely, I checked the Lands End website and it doesn't open until 10:00am, so we won't be starting until then at the earliest. At least we'll get a lie in.

Loads of people wished me well on my last day in the office yesterday, which was great. Please post comments (of encouragement) over the next two weeks I'll need them.

I've posted my training schedule below if anyone, other than me, is interested (although I can't work out how to paste excel and retain the formatting so it looks a bit rubbish), 2004 miles in eight months and then half of that again in the next two weeks: