As I sit on the train thinking about what I've taken from this challenge a few things spring to mind as being acceptable while your on a bike and unacceptable in day to day life. Firstly being 23 years old and peeing by the side of the road at regular intervals is considered inappropriate when in a suit but yet in lycra on a bike it becomes fine. This brings me nicely to lycra, wildly off the mark choice of attire to buy your lunch at tesco most of the time yet you forget your even wearing it. Rubbing sudocrem on your bum in your office would be frowned upon and yet in the park as you have lunch and chat to your friends its ok. Eating 8000 calories including sweets you wouldn't touch since you became 10. Eating a whole bag of haribo in one morning. Farting constantly because you've eaten so much haribo. Using wet wipes to wipe your bum because toilet roll hurts your delicate areas. I could go on, but I think you get the point.
Thank you all very much for your support, we have smashed our target thanks to all of you lovely people.
Friday 8 July 2011
Day 12
Day 12
Miles covered - 65
Total miles covered - 989
Highs - finishing, matts dad and his mate being such outstanding blokes- invisible dominoes will never be forgotten
Lows - 20mph direct head winds
"We deserve a bad weather day" I think I remember bruce saying. We were so fortunate with weather it had to happen, and so it did on the final day. Our average speed was barely above 10 mph down hill even when we were peddling hard the wind just blew you back. We were looking forward to the hills to get some shelter. Grums knees were also causing him hell and riding something that all ready resembles a barge and essentially has a desk on the front can't have been fun in the storm.
Anyway, we got there and wow what a feeling legs had long since given up on us and any day when you had no new problems was a good one. I can't remember what it was like not to have tight muscles, that place just doesn't exist. Nicks dad brought a crate of beer for us which was an excellent reward. Photos aplenty. I think I used the moment to officially retire from the sport of cycling but that's probably a rash steve redgrave post 4th gold medal moment! We are delighted, we spent the night in a hotel in thurso courtesy of matts dad and had an excellent evening and excellent chinese food. The evening was full of gems from james (matts dads friend and professional entertainer).
A man arrives at a hotel pushing his rolls-royce and becomes bankrupt. Answers via text please
So we headed for Edinburgh the next day with the prospect of a good night ahead of us, and as ever the city provided.
Miles covered - 65
Total miles covered - 989
Highs - finishing, matts dad and his mate being such outstanding blokes- invisible dominoes will never be forgotten
Lows - 20mph direct head winds
"We deserve a bad weather day" I think I remember bruce saying. We were so fortunate with weather it had to happen, and so it did on the final day. Our average speed was barely above 10 mph down hill even when we were peddling hard the wind just blew you back. We were looking forward to the hills to get some shelter. Grums knees were also causing him hell and riding something that all ready resembles a barge and essentially has a desk on the front can't have been fun in the storm.
Anyway, we got there and wow what a feeling legs had long since given up on us and any day when you had no new problems was a good one. I can't remember what it was like not to have tight muscles, that place just doesn't exist. Nicks dad brought a crate of beer for us which was an excellent reward. Photos aplenty. I think I used the moment to officially retire from the sport of cycling but that's probably a rash steve redgrave post 4th gold medal moment! We are delighted, we spent the night in a hotel in thurso courtesy of matts dad and had an excellent evening and excellent chinese food. The evening was full of gems from james (matts dads friend and professional entertainer).
A man arrives at a hotel pushing his rolls-royce and becomes bankrupt. Answers via text please
So we headed for Edinburgh the next day with the prospect of a good night ahead of us, and as ever the city provided.
Day 11
Day 11
Miles covered - 50
Total miles covered - 925
Highs - pints in the afternoon
Lows - walking to the pub in tongue and regretting it instantly as it was 2 miles up a cliff
First day I think we've all collectively enjoyed, very few miles and a tale wind, left at 10 and there by 4 after taking an hour and a half for lunch.
Decided to cook in the hostel in groups of 3, me nick and fraz made spaghetti avec spew. Made out of a very questionable set of ingredients including pepperami, cucumber and a cup a soup. Tasted ok, plenty of marks for originality and thinking outside the box when shopping at the worlds most limited spar! Feels like we have cracked it, the mood is jolly and we only have 65 miles to go.
Miles covered - 50
Total miles covered - 925
Highs - pints in the afternoon
Lows - walking to the pub in tongue and regretting it instantly as it was 2 miles up a cliff
First day I think we've all collectively enjoyed, very few miles and a tale wind, left at 10 and there by 4 after taking an hour and a half for lunch.
Decided to cook in the hostel in groups of 3, me nick and fraz made spaghetti avec spew. Made out of a very questionable set of ingredients including pepperami, cucumber and a cup a soup. Tasted ok, plenty of marks for originality and thinking outside the box when shopping at the worlds most limited spar! Feels like we have cracked it, the mood is jolly and we only have 65 miles to go.
Day 10
Day 10
Miles covered - 75
Total miles covered - 875
Highs - views over loch ness, a few substantial downhills, bonar bridge, carbisdale castle stories, the duke of sutherlands mental wife, nick forrest's dog hates him
Lows - 6 mile climb before you've warmed up, people cheating on a charity cycle, getting lost because grum and his navigation basket wernt with us. Meeting a girl in inverness who covered 120 miles yesterday to jog with more kit than us.
1st day without grum that we have had any real navigation to do. We could either take the northern route around loch ness which would save about 10 miles but we were strongly advised to take the empty but hilly southern route. After half a mile of the day we started a steep climb, 5 miles later we were still climbing with no end in sight! Legs woefully unwarmed up made it a very unwelcome suprise. At 400 metres high the peak was the same height shap. Anyway spectacular views of the highlands and loch ness below us. As we stand there drenched in sweat up pull 3 vans and all these bikes start being unloaded. Apparently a charity cycle ride from fort augustus to inverness is occurring, we politely point out that they are cheating as they zoom off down the hill, possibly all the way to inverness without needing to pedal. Oh and then we missed a turn and added another 5 miles.
Miles covered - 75
Total miles covered - 875
Highs - views over loch ness, a few substantial downhills, bonar bridge, carbisdale castle stories, the duke of sutherlands mental wife, nick forrest's dog hates him
Lows - 6 mile climb before you've warmed up, people cheating on a charity cycle, getting lost because grum and his navigation basket wernt with us. Meeting a girl in inverness who covered 120 miles yesterday to jog with more kit than us.
1st day without grum that we have had any real navigation to do. We could either take the northern route around loch ness which would save about 10 miles but we were strongly advised to take the empty but hilly southern route. After half a mile of the day we started a steep climb, 5 miles later we were still climbing with no end in sight! Legs woefully unwarmed up made it a very unwelcome suprise. At 400 metres high the peak was the same height shap. Anyway spectacular views of the highlands and loch ness below us. As we stand there drenched in sweat up pull 3 vans and all these bikes start being unloaded. Apparently a charity cycle ride from fort augustus to inverness is occurring, we politely point out that they are cheating as they zoom off down the hill, possibly all the way to inverness without needing to pedal. Oh and then we missed a turn and added another 5 miles.
Sunday 3 July 2011
Day 9
Day 9
Miles covered- 83
Total miles covered - 800
Highlights - lots of downhill, dog in the back of a convertable that looked like a human- sitting up properly with ears that looked like long golden hair flapping in the wind, scenery
Lows - difficult to be negative on today after the struggle of the last 2
Finally feeling good, we smashed 50 miles down hill mostly to fort william before 2pm, it feels like we may finally have cracked it, no more long days, no more massive hills, prevailing wind should be behind us from now. Massive thanks to bruces girlfriend who brought us snacks at 11, excellent fairy cakes. Good feeling is back and fort augustus is lovely despite the hostel being full of hippys and aussies. We are also disappointed to learn there is no fort in fort augustus, we couldn't find one in fort william either but apparently there's definitely one there.
Miles covered- 83
Total miles covered - 800
Highlights - lots of downhill, dog in the back of a convertable that looked like a human- sitting up properly with ears that looked like long golden hair flapping in the wind, scenery
Lows - difficult to be negative on today after the struggle of the last 2
Finally feeling good, we smashed 50 miles down hill mostly to fort william before 2pm, it feels like we may finally have cracked it, no more long days, no more massive hills, prevailing wind should be behind us from now. Massive thanks to bruces girlfriend who brought us snacks at 11, excellent fairy cakes. Good feeling is back and fort augustus is lovely despite the hostel being full of hippys and aussies. We are also disappointed to learn there is no fort in fort augustus, we couldn't find one in fort william either but apparently there's definitely one there.
Day 8
Day 8
Ayr to Crianlarich
Miles covered - 93
Total miles - 715
Highlights - loch lomand, no longer shivering, managing an average of 20mph around loch lomand, nick forrests ever worsening tan lines
Lows - midge's, grum leaving us to attend a wedding
100 times better than the day before, not brilliant but at least I was able to dress myself and eat half a slice of toast and some cornflakes. Probably not ideal given I missed dinner the night before as well. Being on the bike helped, had a pack of crisps first time we stopped. Stomach still awful though, probably for the best that I had babywipes to hand at all times. Loch lomand was stunning, Greater Glasgow was not. Managed decent lunch and full tea. Struggled the last ten, but no danger of not making it unlike the day before.
Ayr to Crianlarich
Miles covered - 93
Total miles - 715
Highlights - loch lomand, no longer shivering, managing an average of 20mph around loch lomand, nick forrests ever worsening tan lines
Lows - midge's, grum leaving us to attend a wedding
100 times better than the day before, not brilliant but at least I was able to dress myself and eat half a slice of toast and some cornflakes. Probably not ideal given I missed dinner the night before as well. Being on the bike helped, had a pack of crisps first time we stopped. Stomach still awful though, probably for the best that I had babywipes to hand at all times. Loch lomand was stunning, Greater Glasgow was not. Managed decent lunch and full tea. Struggled the last ten, but no danger of not making it unlike the day before.
Day 7
Day 7
Carlisle to Ayr
Miles covered - 91
Total miles covered 640
Highlights - Getting into bed, nick forrest oiling his brake pads because he was tired, nick forrest cycling off without his helmet on.
Lows - crossing into scotland, accidentally overdosing on paracetamol,
Woke up feeling pretty sick, went and had as much breakfast as I could and took some ibuprofen for my head ache. Wasn't too bad from there for the first 20 miles to dumfries where I started shivering. Proper flu like shivering, bought some cold and flu relief and took some paracetamol, unfortunately the cold and flu reliefs active ingredient is also paracetamol, don't realise this for about an hour after taking it and were in the middle of nowhere. Very tough day anyway, strong headwind all day, big climbs with wind so strong we needed to pedal downhill. I barely remember much of the day, my legs just seemed to keep pedalling regardless of the rest of my bodies shuddering or my head throbbing, maybe it was the overdose. I do remember wanting to stop soon after lunch when a climb and the lack of food from barely being able to eat became too much. I do remember crawling into bed and sleeping, and sleeping. Apparently I spoke to sophie and mum and dad but I barely remember that. Horrible day.
Carlisle to Ayr
Miles covered - 91
Total miles covered 640
Highlights - Getting into bed, nick forrest oiling his brake pads because he was tired, nick forrest cycling off without his helmet on.
Lows - crossing into scotland, accidentally overdosing on paracetamol,
Woke up feeling pretty sick, went and had as much breakfast as I could and took some ibuprofen for my head ache. Wasn't too bad from there for the first 20 miles to dumfries where I started shivering. Proper flu like shivering, bought some cold and flu relief and took some paracetamol, unfortunately the cold and flu reliefs active ingredient is also paracetamol, don't realise this for about an hour after taking it and were in the middle of nowhere. Very tough day anyway, strong headwind all day, big climbs with wind so strong we needed to pedal downhill. I barely remember much of the day, my legs just seemed to keep pedalling regardless of the rest of my bodies shuddering or my head throbbing, maybe it was the overdose. I do remember wanting to stop soon after lunch when a climb and the lack of food from barely being able to eat became too much. I do remember crawling into bed and sleeping, and sleeping. Apparently I spoke to sophie and mum and dad but I barely remember that. Horrible day.
Day 6
Day 6
Preston to Carlisle via 1400 ft of Shap
Miles covered - 90
Total miles covered - 550
Highs - getting the the top of Shap the highest point and also the midway point of our trip
Lows - the prospect of shap in front of us, being halfway up shap, being three quarters of the way up shap, being almost at the top and then turning a corner and seeing a 2 miles to summit of shap sign.
I think its fair to say shap dominated the day, a gruelling 9 mile slog up poor roads with heavy traffic. To be fair it wasn't anywhere near as bad as we had first suspected. It was hardly joyous and the moment when a rambler was walking up the path in the field next to me, at a similar enough pace in which to wish me a good afternoon- and hold the conversation long enough for me to find out he holidays in kendal twice a year and the names of his dog and longlost sister whom he hasn't seen since she moved to australia.
Anyway we were rewarded with a 6 mile downhill and the rest of the day was good. We got to Carlisle in good time and to our b and b. My room was uncleaned from the last resident and I got an ensuite double by way of apology. Went for dominoes pizza and I only ate about half of it. Start of troubles.
Preston to Carlisle via 1400 ft of Shap
Miles covered - 90
Total miles covered - 550
Highs - getting the the top of Shap the highest point and also the midway point of our trip
Lows - the prospect of shap in front of us, being halfway up shap, being three quarters of the way up shap, being almost at the top and then turning a corner and seeing a 2 miles to summit of shap sign.
I think its fair to say shap dominated the day, a gruelling 9 mile slog up poor roads with heavy traffic. To be fair it wasn't anywhere near as bad as we had first suspected. It was hardly joyous and the moment when a rambler was walking up the path in the field next to me, at a similar enough pace in which to wish me a good afternoon- and hold the conversation long enough for me to find out he holidays in kendal twice a year and the names of his dog and longlost sister whom he hasn't seen since she moved to australia.
Anyway we were rewarded with a 6 mile downhill and the rest of the day was good. We got to Carlisle in good time and to our b and b. My room was uncleaned from the last resident and I got an ensuite double by way of apology. Went for dominoes pizza and I only ate about half of it. Start of troubles.
Wednesday 29 June 2011
Day 5
Day 5
Miles covered - 85
Total miles covered - 430
Moment wed rather forget - warrington, me crashing into grum, me crashing into nick
Best moment - matts cousin calling him mannah unprompted and repeatedly.
Dare I say but another straight foreward day - or are we getting fitter?
Warrington and Wigan were instantly forgettable although the mental scars from the near death experiences at each roundabout will remain. Direct headwind didn't help especially when nick has totally missed the point of drafting in lines and when his turn at the front comes just zooms away. Words were had. Preston is awful.
Miles covered - 85
Total miles covered - 430
Moment wed rather forget - warrington, me crashing into grum, me crashing into nick
Best moment - matts cousin calling him mannah unprompted and repeatedly.
Dare I say but another straight foreward day - or are we getting fitter?
Warrington and Wigan were instantly forgettable although the mental scars from the near death experiences at each roundabout will remain. Direct headwind didn't help especially when nick has totally missed the point of drafting in lines and when his turn at the front comes just zooms away. Words were had. Preston is awful.
Day 4
Day 4
Miles covered - 75.8
Total miles covered - 345
Hours in the saddle - 5.5
Moment we'd rather forget- running around the fields in welsh bicknor looking for a mythical bridge
Best moment - Matts aunties spag bol, the lack of major hiccups, nick forrest forgetting his sleeping bag, towel, stealing grums and having to use a yha sheet to dry himself.
1030 am and we've covered about 4 miles into ross on wye. After three spokes on nicks bike broke late last night getting to a bike shop was top of the list this morning. However in finding our hostel last night we probably added 5 miles by going the long way round when we could have crossed the river in the valley much earlier in the evening. So as usual mad rush to try and get food before everywhere closed. Lucked out again with beautiful dinner in the hostelrie in welsh bicknor. Stayed in pub too long just sitting and then had to take the mile down a pitch black road to the hostel which bruce and nick had to walk in the end because it was so dark and uneven. When we arrived the guy told us the bridge was about 200 yards away and the next morning it still took us an hour to find. Beyond this it was pretty much plain sailing apart from fraz's flying water bottle almost taking me matt and a car out as we flew down a hill at at least 30mph. We also climbed ironbridge gorge which was unexpected and not particualrly nice at the end of the day. Calorie consumption reached an all time high on day 4 this is what I ate.
2 ginster chicken slices.
2 weetabix
Full fry up including 2 toast
1 Croissant
1 apple
1 banana
3 nutri grains
An enormous bowl of spaghetti bolognese- twice my usual portion
3 slices of pizza
2 packs of space raiders
1 pack of squares.
No idea how many calories this is...
Miles covered - 75.8
Total miles covered - 345
Hours in the saddle - 5.5
Moment we'd rather forget- running around the fields in welsh bicknor looking for a mythical bridge
Best moment - Matts aunties spag bol, the lack of major hiccups, nick forrest forgetting his sleeping bag, towel, stealing grums and having to use a yha sheet to dry himself.
1030 am and we've covered about 4 miles into ross on wye. After three spokes on nicks bike broke late last night getting to a bike shop was top of the list this morning. However in finding our hostel last night we probably added 5 miles by going the long way round when we could have crossed the river in the valley much earlier in the evening. So as usual mad rush to try and get food before everywhere closed. Lucked out again with beautiful dinner in the hostelrie in welsh bicknor. Stayed in pub too long just sitting and then had to take the mile down a pitch black road to the hostel which bruce and nick had to walk in the end because it was so dark and uneven. When we arrived the guy told us the bridge was about 200 yards away and the next morning it still took us an hour to find. Beyond this it was pretty much plain sailing apart from fraz's flying water bottle almost taking me matt and a car out as we flew down a hill at at least 30mph. We also climbed ironbridge gorge which was unexpected and not particualrly nice at the end of the day. Calorie consumption reached an all time high on day 4 this is what I ate.
2 ginster chicken slices.
2 weetabix
Full fry up including 2 toast
1 Croissant
1 apple
1 banana
3 nutri grains
An enormous bowl of spaghetti bolognese- twice my usual portion
3 slices of pizza
2 packs of space raiders
1 pack of squares.
No idea how many calories this is...
Tuesday 28 June 2011
Monday 27 June 2011
Day 3 (as seen by mum and dad Apsa)
Key information:
Cannington to near Ross-on-Wye
89.0 miles.
7 hours in the saddle.
We caught up with the pedal pushers after they had done their first 15 miles of the day. They were topping up on water supplies at the Co-op in Highbridge. It was going to be a hot day. Parental inspection revealed that they were looking in fine fettle.
(see picture)
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The team look like they all know what they are doing, which felt very assuring.
Lunch was taken by the lads in Clevedon on the sea front. Beautiful. Unfortunately the parents had spent too long shopping too far away, and the team had made quicker than expected progress. So we got there in time to say hello again and see them on their way via the Avonmouth Bridge. We didn't know that both this M5 bridge and the old Severn bridge on the old M4 (now M48) have cycle paths on them.
We exchanged words of encouragement again near Aust, took photos and topped up on the suntan. (See Photo)
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The parents Apsa then crossed into Wales over the Severn Bridges, and followed the route along the Offa's dyke path for a while. We decided that as it was not clear what route the pedal pushers would be taking, so had a very pleasant journey home via Gloucester and Oxford, successfully avaoiding the Motorway system.
Cannington to near Ross-on-Wye
89.0 miles.
7 hours in the saddle.
We caught up with the pedal pushers after they had done their first 15 miles of the day. They were topping up on water supplies at the Co-op in Highbridge. It was going to be a hot day. Parental inspection revealed that they were looking in fine fettle.
(see picture)
The team look like they all know what they are doing, which felt very assuring.
Lunch was taken by the lads in Clevedon on the sea front. Beautiful. Unfortunately the parents had spent too long shopping too far away, and the team had made quicker than expected progress. So we got there in time to say hello again and see them on their way via the Avonmouth Bridge. We didn't know that both this M5 bridge and the old Severn bridge on the old M4 (now M48) have cycle paths on them.
We exchanged words of encouragement again near Aust, took photos and topped up on the suntan. (See Photo)
The parents Apsa then crossed into Wales over the Severn Bridges, and followed the route along the Offa's dyke path for a while. We decided that as it was not clear what route the pedal pushers would be taking, so had a very pleasant journey home via Gloucester and Oxford, successfully avaoiding the Motorway system.
Sunday 26 June 2011
Days 1 + 2
I've just got to the end of our second day and were somewhere a couple of miles west of bridgewater in Somerset. The worst is apparently behind us for the time being as are devon and cornwall.
Day 1,
Miles covered - 97.6
Hours in the saddle - 7.5
Best moment - Lunch at newquay
Bit we'd like to forget - Bruces 4 punctures, the never ending wind, rain and hills. Bruce walking the last mile.
We set off from Bill and Liz's house at 8 in penzance and flew the 10 miles to Lands End. Photo opps and moral a plenty we headed back to get food for the day at tesco. On entering tesco we had mishap number one. I took the tight corner far too fast and smashed my pedal into the tarmac nearly deseating myself in the process... Luckily I didn't fall but the metal pedal I have is barely recognisable but still useable!
Beyond that we covered 55 miles to Newquay before lunch which is where brucew got his first puncture. The day deteriorated from there into a farce of wind, rain, hills and punctures and sometimes all at the same moment. We will particularly remember the climbs around Camelford that were just incessant.
We had planned to hit Okehampton that evening, but it became clear that we didn't have the time to cover the distance and with nick forrest very close to spewing on the final climb it was also physically beyond us.
So we stopped at Launceston as close to 100 miles from lands end as makes no difference, actually an exceptional choice of last minute accommodation. The locals were friendly, the ones in the bar were either too young to be there or too old to be anywhere else and the rooms were perfect. There we ate and we were asleep before our heads hit the pillow.
Day 2
Miles coveres - 86.1
Total miles covered - 183.7
Hours in the saddle - under 7
Best moment - gamble on a random pensioners advice on the route to Taunton paying off.
Bit we won't forget - The moment when we realised the dobermans that were barking at us wernt fenced in.
What a difference a day makes, sun was out, wind at our backs! After a late start as a result of Bruce in the bike shop trying to fix his recurring punctures (which seems to have worked) until 10. We covered the 20 miles to Okehampton in just over an hour. Thank you to Jill and Tony who stopped to say hello as the coincidentally drove past on the way back from their holiday, a lovely boost. Actually I should also mention that we missed the turning for Okehampton on the a30 - well grum did and the 3 following had little choice but to follow and flag him down. Upshot was we had to walk 400 yards up a hill on a dual carriage way against traffic as the next junction was 20 miles away. Thanks grum.
He managed to recoup this faux pas by convincing us that a pensioner hed met on the way to the bike shop was correct about the route to Taunton. Which saved us a couple of miles but was a much quieter prettier road and also far less hilly. The man in the bike shop wasn't sure of the route but confirmed the other route was a ****. From then on it was plain sailing. An excellent and enjoyable day. Burn lines a plenty and smiles all round.
Day 1,
Miles covered - 97.6
Hours in the saddle - 7.5
Best moment - Lunch at newquay
Bit we'd like to forget - Bruces 4 punctures, the never ending wind, rain and hills. Bruce walking the last mile.
We set off from Bill and Liz's house at 8 in penzance and flew the 10 miles to Lands End. Photo opps and moral a plenty we headed back to get food for the day at tesco. On entering tesco we had mishap number one. I took the tight corner far too fast and smashed my pedal into the tarmac nearly deseating myself in the process... Luckily I didn't fall but the metal pedal I have is barely recognisable but still useable!
Beyond that we covered 55 miles to Newquay before lunch which is where brucew got his first puncture. The day deteriorated from there into a farce of wind, rain, hills and punctures and sometimes all at the same moment. We will particularly remember the climbs around Camelford that were just incessant.
We had planned to hit Okehampton that evening, but it became clear that we didn't have the time to cover the distance and with nick forrest very close to spewing on the final climb it was also physically beyond us.
So we stopped at Launceston as close to 100 miles from lands end as makes no difference, actually an exceptional choice of last minute accommodation. The locals were friendly, the ones in the bar were either too young to be there or too old to be anywhere else and the rooms were perfect. There we ate and we were asleep before our heads hit the pillow.
Day 2
Miles coveres - 86.1
Total miles covered - 183.7
Hours in the saddle - under 7
Best moment - gamble on a random pensioners advice on the route to Taunton paying off.
Bit we won't forget - The moment when we realised the dobermans that were barking at us wernt fenced in.
What a difference a day makes, sun was out, wind at our backs! After a late start as a result of Bruce in the bike shop trying to fix his recurring punctures (which seems to have worked) until 10. We covered the 20 miles to Okehampton in just over an hour. Thank you to Jill and Tony who stopped to say hello as the coincidentally drove past on the way back from their holiday, a lovely boost. Actually I should also mention that we missed the turning for Okehampton on the a30 - well grum did and the 3 following had little choice but to follow and flag him down. Upshot was we had to walk 400 yards up a hill on a dual carriage way against traffic as the next junction was 20 miles away. Thanks grum.
He managed to recoup this faux pas by convincing us that a pensioner hed met on the way to the bike shop was correct about the route to Taunton. Which saved us a couple of miles but was a much quieter prettier road and also far less hilly. The man in the bike shop wasn't sure of the route but confirmed the other route was a ****. From then on it was plain sailing. An excellent and enjoyable day. Burn lines a plenty and smiles all round.
Friday 24 June 2011
Penzance
So if we were in any doubt before, today confirmed that this is in no way going to be straight forward. Matt and Grum managed to arrive at our accommodation in penzance, only 15 hours after leaving their own homes in Edinburgh!
Before I had even got up this morning Matt had been refused his hire car as they weren't convinced of his address. Apparently some young vagrant has possibly been using his details in order to hire cars across europe and not pay, unless there is something Matt is not telling us..
Anyway delay as he had to get the bank to print himself out identification proof etc etc etc, but he caught up with the boys in the van at tebay after what I can only assume was some gentle bending of the highway code.
I on the other hand managed to cycle along the Marylebone road without major incident, an achievement in itself given how difficult it must be to drive along trouble free, although I did see a guy get nicked for a ludicrous illegal U turn. My train was also delayed after a fatality on the line at Southall and they actually started cancelling trains so lucky to have made it at all albeit with an hour and a half delay.
Anyway we are here and ready to go. Looks like its 100 miles tomorrow after you add on the 10 to lands end and back... No body said this would be easy...
Before I had even got up this morning Matt had been refused his hire car as they weren't convinced of his address. Apparently some young vagrant has possibly been using his details in order to hire cars across europe and not pay, unless there is something Matt is not telling us..
Anyway delay as he had to get the bank to print himself out identification proof etc etc etc, but he caught up with the boys in the van at tebay after what I can only assume was some gentle bending of the highway code.
I on the other hand managed to cycle along the Marylebone road without major incident, an achievement in itself given how difficult it must be to drive along trouble free, although I did see a guy get nicked for a ludicrous illegal U turn. My train was also delayed after a fatality on the line at Southall and they actually started cancelling trains so lucky to have made it at all albeit with an hour and a half delay.
Anyway we are here and ready to go. Looks like its 100 miles tomorrow after you add on the 10 to lands end and back... No body said this would be easy...
Tuesday 21 June 2011
Sense of direction
There are 48 hours until I leave and I'm on my way to see Sophie in Barnet. At least I thought I was, problem is I've got on the M1 North instead of South........
Cock.
As if I wasn't worrying enough about my preparations I now have an impending sense of dread that not only will I be ill equipped, but with navigation skills like this I could feasibly not make it to John O'Groats at all and merely spend 2 weeks lost in Cornwall. Some would say that's better than spending 6 days in Scotland...
Anyway, it seems our team have had its first training accident in North Berwick. Bruce somehow has managed to hit a curb and go over his handlebars. Pretty Serious stuff, luckily a well placed bush was on hand to break his fall and he is fine. We understand after a bit of pruning the hawthorn is also expected to make a full recovery.
Pedal Pusher Profile: Bruce Robertson
•D.O.B: 5 August 1987
•Role: The wise head
•Nicknames: Brew-dog, B, Baba Ghanoush
•Occupation: Post-grad student/Charity worker
•Interests: Skiing, Football, Hibs, movies, Real Ale, cheese
•Most likely to say: anything from any movie. Ever.
•During the cycle most likely to... Get injured & also eat more than anyone else
Pedal Pusher Profile: Fraser Young
•D.O.B: 29 July 1987
•Role: The veteran
•Nicknames: Frazbeers, Coupla beers, Beers
•Occupation: PHD student/ full-time genius
•Interests: Egg-chasing (rugger), slapping da bass, cells, crazy cycling journeys
•Most likely to say: 'Just a coupla beers', 'don't touch me!', 'I'll gie him the elbow'
•During the cycle most likely to... be miles ahead of everyone else or fixings someone's bike!
Pedal Pusher Profile: Nick Forrest
•D.O.B: 9th January 1987
•Role: The Press Officer
•Nicknames: Toucan, Rolf Harris,
•Occupation: Post-grad journalism student
•Interests: Squash, football, Hibs, pets
•Most likely to say: ‘Sounds good mate’ ‘I really need to go to the gym today’ ‘A professional footballer should be able to use their weaker foot’
•During the cycle most likely to... Get a puncture within 5 minutes
Pedal Pusher Profile: Graeme McKinley
•D.O.B: 2 April 1987
•Role: The navigator
•Nicknames: Grum, G, Hammond
•Occupation: Electrical Engineer
•Interests: Tennis, babysitting, spreadsheets
•Most likely to say: ‘I can’t actually tell you anything about my job’ ‘that’ll cost some of the boys!’
•During the cycle most likely to... Be the most competitive and swear a lot
Pedal Pusher Profile: Andris Apsa
•D.O.B: 16 May 1988
•Role: The excited one
•Nicknames: Puppy, Bear, Badger
•Occupation: on his Gap Yaah
•Interests: Football, Spurs, Latvia, flowers, gnomes, causing mischief
•Most likely to say:
‘COME ON YOU SPURS!!’
‘Harry’s got them playing well’
‘We’re gonna win the Champions League’
•During the cycle most likely to... Be hyperactive all the time/injure Matt
Pedal Pusher Profile: Matt Hannah
•D.O.B: 2 July 1987
•Role: The organiser
•Nicknames: Mannah, Moosh, Mattanooga, Buzz
•Occupation: hopefully a surveyor
•Interests: Hibs, Fitbaw, Organising, Georgie Thomson, a nice cuppa
•Most likely to say: ‘Alright Moosh’
•During the cycle most likely to... Make a motivational speech
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