They Think It's All Over..... It Is Now

They advertised it at 300 miles in 2 days. When they gave us the actual route is was 329, they said Amsterdam 300 sounded better than the Amsterdam 329. Due to signs being blown around or missing it was actually 348 miles!

9pm Thursday 72 brave or mad cyclists set off from Blackheath for this real test of endurance, cycling through the night we reached Dover at 4:30 Friday morning. 90 hilly miles done. An hour later off to the ferry port for the 6:40 ferry to Calais.

9:15am Calais. Back on the bikes for another 90 miles into Holland, fortunately this was flat. I suffered a puncture in a rather inappropriate place – some of us had inadvertently strayed onto a motorway. Whilst I fixed my bike the others climbed up the grass verge to re-acquire the cycle path. Just as I was about to the police turned up and I got landed with a 90 Euro fine!!

We finally arrived at our campsite for the night at about 9pm, after a 45min wait for the ferry !!

5 am Saturday we were woken up to prepare for the final 130 miles, we were faced with strong headwinds and frequent showers, but we peddled on, some enjoying it so much that the missed some signs and did an extra 25 miles on our first 45 mile leg!

After fighting the elements along the Dutch coast, we finally turned inland towards Amsterdam and the finish.

9.15pm Saturday night I finally pulled into the hotel, 48 hours after starting and 348 miles later, tired, sore but unbowed. All in the name of charity – us mad 72 have raised in excess of £100k!!

Yes it was tough, but looking back now a couple of days later, still a little stiff and a very sore and swollen right hand, it was enjoyable, a laugh in places, but as Steve Redgrave said “If anyone sees me planning one of these again, they can shoot me!!!”

Well done to all of the other riders and to Scope and Action Challenge for organizing the event.

I hope you have enjoyed this blog

Daniel

Just a few days to go now

And it's looking good.

Went out for a couple of hours of night riding Friday and Saturday night, then followed it up with a 30 mile sprint Sunday afternoon, and the good news is that my right legs felt fine after last weeks accident. It's still a bit bruised and sore but otherwise ok.

After that I stripped the bike down and washed, oiled and greased everything that needed it and put it back together.

Both man and bike are ready to go now.

One little tip. I suffer a bit with my knees, but I have found tha applying some ibroprofen gel to them prior to setting off, a bit more mid- day, and then another application after showering after the days ride stops any aches and pains occuring.

So now I am looking forward to Thursday evening and getting underway.

See you on my return.

A week and a half to go...And CRASH !!

Just 6 miles into my first run on Saturday I went flying. My front wheel clipped the edge of a pothole and wipeout.
My right leg looks as if it has lost a fight with a cheese grater at the moment and is very stiff and sore. I also managed to take a chink out of my right elbow at the same time.

On the plus side, I dusted myself down, checked the bike and then got back on to carry on for another 75 miles. After completing the first 30 mile run, I made myself a coffee and then tended to my wounds, before going back out.

So 80 miles in a good time and the only after effects are the throbbing in my bad leg.

A week and a half for it to clear up then it's off to Amsterdam we go.

2 Weeks to go. Looking a bit better

After last weeks honest assessment of where I was, I managed to get out for a good 75 mile ride on Sunday. Not as much as I would have liked but better than nothing. Afterwards I felt really good and no aches and pains followed on later.

I have a clear day this Saturday and I am planning to replicate a stage of the ride, by doing a 30 mile run, 30 min break, 30 mile run, hour break then another 30 miles. I am also hosting a quiz Saturday night so a bit of an endurance test as well.

Tomorrow sees me bid a fond farewell to an old friend. I have decided to sell my old Giant XTC SE that I did Twickenham to Paris on in 2007, and was also my back-up bike for Land's End To John O'Groats.

Until next time

3 Weeks to go and it's time for an honest assessment

Well we are now 3 weeks away from the ride and it's time for an honest assessment.

When I set out with this blog it was with the best intentions of keeping you up to date on my progress and passing on any tips that I could think of.
Well the house move and the 3 W's (Weather,Work and Wedding) have had a severe impact on my preparations.

Yes I have done a lot of cycling, however I haven't been able to get on any really long rides ( 90 - 100 miles), and I haven't been out on any overnight rides (I am still hoping to get at least one in).

Am I concerned by this? The answer funnily enough is yes, but not too much.

The old saying "It's just like riding a bike", is actually quite true here.
I have done this sort of thing before, 2006,2007 & 2009, and I have felt in my rides that my body is remembering what has happened before, a 30 - 40 mile ride has been no problem, upping the pace at times hasn't hurt like I thought it would.
Yes, this ride is different, it's more endurance, doing 300 miles in 2 days, as opposed to 3 or 4 on previous rides, but I know I have the stamina for it, I am actually in better shape than my previous rides, I know that my legs have got the strength to go the distance,
I have got better equipment than prior rides and feel peronally better equipped to deal with the ride and I have got the mindset of bloody determination that I will do it.
The only difference between this ride now and the others, is that before I had trained hard to ride easy (except the first one as I didn't know what to expect !), and now this ride will be just what it's called, a challenge.
Maybe, in my subconscious I have decided to make this, my last big ride, a real challenge, or maybe part of it is that I have just got fed up of going for a really long challenging ride on my own, the after effects of doing Land's End to John O'Groats on my own.
Another reason why I an not overly concerned is the fact that the ride is predominately on the flat, apart from the UK stage, which fortunately is first when you are fresh, as opposed to the equivalent of going up Everest twice which was LE - JOG.

I apologise if this blog hasn't been the idea fest I promised but, I suppose that due to my own problems trying to fit preparation in around other things, it might now be a good blog to read on how not to do it !! LOL

Anyway, I'll post again before the ride and hopefully put some video footage up afterwards.

Until next time.

Apologies for the lack of posts

Greetings all.

Apologies for the lack of posts but things have been hotting up (not just the weather!!).
The wedding plans and preparations and coming along nicely and the invites have been sent (sorry if you haven't received one).
Most importantly the cycling is coming on a storm. Taking full advantage of the weather I am out most evenings for an hour or 2 and out at the weekends as much as possible.
I am trying to fit in a few overnight rides, but it's difficult to find the time.

Until next time

Daniel

Update - not been on for a while

Greetings Dear Reader,

Apologies for the lack of updates in the last few weeks but I have been a bit busy.

After a spell of illness prevented me from cycling, I am now back out on the road, and have been hitting the tarmac a fair bit. Just last week I cycled 30 miles to work and then of course the 30 miles home again.
I have been going for shorter (20 mile) rides in the evenings, and upping the distance at weekends, and working on getting the sponsorship for the ride.

All this whilst sorting out the plans and booking various services for my wedding in November.
Oh yes, and work as well !!

I'm feeling good on the bike and the everything is starting to look rosy.

Only 73 days to go now, so it's now the time to up the pace a bit more, and still fit in everything else, along with football stewarding duties now the start of pre-season friendlies is upon me.

Roll on the end of November, I'll be ready for a good rest then !!!

Until next time.

At Last, back on the bike !!!

I would like to start this entry by offering my congratulations to the Queen on her Diamond Jubilee.

If it wasn't for her, we wouldn't have had the 4 day weekend and I wouldn't have managed a couple of days of cycling.
I set up the video camera on the bike and gave it a few different positions and did some short recordings just to check it out - haven't looked at the results yet.
But I decided to replicate the ride in some respects by covering about 30 miles in 2 hours, having a short break and then repeating the cycling.

I managed 3 "stages" on Monday before the weather turned and I decided to call it a day. I was feeling it a little at the end of the ride but very happy with my progress.

Now I am going to ramp up the cycles during the week and include some night cycling.

3 1/2 months to go. I am happy but now the really hard work starts.

This Weather is really starting to !@*# me off !

I was hoping to report about a bit of cycling this last week, but alas the weather gods are against me once again.
Instead I spent the weekend boing more jobs round the house now that the building work is almost completed. In fact the only dry spell of this bank holiday weekend was spent up a ladder re-painting the rust covered juliet balcony!
I never thought I'd say this but I miss my bike!
On the upside it can't be that bad as the training guide hasn't been published by Scope yet, so I can't see myself being too far behind the curve. I think my training might become rather intense over the next few months, if the damn weather improves!!
Or else it might be a case of this....


Until next time

Water, water Everywhere

Well I think that I can safely say that this is the wettest drought I have ever known !

I am hoping that after another washed out week that I can get out this weekend - a bank holiday weekend so there is a good chance that 1 day out of 3 will be ok (ever the optimist !!)
I'm going to look at getting the video camera up and running before getting out so if I get a ride, I can have a play with the camera as well - How much does You've Been Framed Pay ?

Failing that I think I'll start training to swim to Amsterdam !!!

The sponsorship is starting to pick up,  all be it slowly, but then I guess the sponsorship ios going as well as the training.

Water Wings Required

Well it's been a complete wash out this week as you are probably aware.
I suppose that I could devise some kind of floatation device for a bike to enable cycling in this weather, although with the high winds a sail would be better!

I have managed however to get a few of the jobs inside the house done (however the list seems to be getting longer !!).

I suppose I should apologise, as this blog was meant to be about cycling but due to circumstances beyond my control, there hasn't been much cycling to talk about. Still here's hoping I can get out in the next week or so.

Light at the end of the tunnel

Well another week has passed and the only cycling I have managed is to the supermarket and back and a couple of longer runs to B & Q!
The garden is nearly completed, the builders have nearly finished and the football season finishes from a stewarding front for me in 2 weeks.
2 weeks and then I can start putting down some miles again.
Scope are publishing a training guide in May, so hopefully I am not too far behind the curve.
My bike cam has now arrived so I can get that fitted to the bike in readiness for getting out. The forecast for this week is really lousy so I'm glad I won't be going out, however that means I can carry on with jobs in the house. The new kitchen was fitted this weekend, so it was time for some early season barbequeing after a long day painting fences and sheds. It felt a bit weird being out in the garden barbequeing in pouring rain and high winds in the middle of April ( admittedly under cover!!), but needs must.
So it's a week of putting up new lights, fitting TVs to walls and general tidying up of the house and other little indoor jobs this week then hopefully Sunday I can finish the garden, then next Sunday go cycling with a clear conscience and no nagging from She Who Must Be Obeyed on why this or that hasn't been done.
Until next time.

Easter Bank Holiday Washout

Well it was a bank holiday weekend so I suppose it should be expected.
After wonderful sunny weather for the last couple of weeks I had planned to go out for a ride on either Sunday or Monday, but of course with a bank holiday weekend comes bank holiday weather. Rain, wind and more rain.
With both the cycling and the painting of the garden fencing a washout, I turned to the internet for a bit of solace and ordered my bike cam. I can't wait for it's arrival ( along with some decent weather) and get out on the bike and start filming some rides.
On the up side however I have managed to get a few jobs sorted around the house, so I won't feel so guilty going out for a cycle and leaving a list of jobs as long as your arm behind.
The forecast this week and weekend look pretty grim so I guess it's a waiting game now.

Until next time

The End Is Near (of the Garden re-development)

Another week has passed and the only time I have managed on my bike is a couple of quick runs to to the supermarket!
On the upside the garden is now as good as finished after another marathon day - just got to paint the fences, shed & summerhouse (that's this weekend taken of !)
However I have noticed that I have built up more muscle in my legs and arms hefting all the slabs, digging and removing rubbish so I actually feel in better shape than before I moved. Hopefully this will see some improvement in my cycling.
Hopefully I might get a ride or 2 in the next week or so.
Until next time.

The Week From Hell - Part 2

When I last posted I had just completed my house move.
I had hoped to get out on the bike this week, but she who must be obeyed decreed that the garden needed sorting.
So after football on Saturday it was off the B&Q to purchase the necessary equipment and some gravel - 6 bags should do it I thought.
A lovely bright Sunday morning saw me walk the dogs early and then set to it in the garden. 3 large bush stumps needed to be dug up and 7 paving slabs removed. The weather made it hard going but come mid afternoon it was all dug up, ground levelled, anti weed membrane down and ready for the stones.
The 6 bags I had purchased didn't put a dent into the area to be covered. It was 3.30 and I wanted to get it done so I shot to Wickes, No stones that matched, but much nicer limestone chippings for a fraction of what I had paid for the other stone and bigger bags to boot. In a rush I brought 15 bags and went straight back to it.
It covered the area and looked, I'm afraid to say, a lot better than my original choice. She Who Must Be Obeyed was thrilled (Thank Goodness) but then uttered a memorable line. "It's lovely," she said, " And it will look even better when you have done the other side of the garden to match, and the fences, shed and summerhouse are painted!"
The saga will continue........

The Week from Hell

Well, where to start?
The move has finally happened. After some last minute shenanigans, contracts were finally exchanged Wednesday afternoon, which resulted in frantic phone calls to all of the utilities to ensure we were connected, as we completed on Thursday!
The only cycling I managed was to ride my bike from the old house to the new one, I simply ran out of room in the van!!.
I might not have cycled much, but I have however had a really good few days building strength and endurance.....
Taking loaded boxes and furniture out of one house, onto the lorry, and into the new house ( and even then re-arranging positions, rooms and transferring boxes from garage up to the loft) !
After 4 18+ hour days straight things are nearly there, and I am a physical wreck. My aches and pains have their own aches and pains !

Here is a good tip....
If you don't have to move, DON'T MOVE !!!!!
Also, and meaning to sound sexist here, women are great at packing boxes, and un packing, but have no sense of taking into account the weight of the box that is going to be carried by someone else !!

Going to finish sorting out the house as we have builders starting in the next week or so, so I doubt I'll get out for a ride anytime soon, but I have found out that my new neighbour is a bit of a cyclist, so I might've found a training partner.

It's wierd, but cycling 300 miles in 2 days is infinitely more attractive than moving house !

Until next time.

Another Blank Week, but now I am able to cross my fingers !

Well the finger is now feeling and looking a lot better. However I have not been out on a ride since.
Instead I am packing up the house, for the third time !!!, ready for this week's impending move.
If, and this is a big if going on past experiences with this house sale, everything goes to plan we will be moving Thursday.
Carlsberg don't do property conveyancing, but if they did....
Lost one buyer to a heart attack and another pulled out on the eve of exchanging contracts, lost the first house we wanted, lost the second house wanted (sold the day before we finally got our current buyer), only for the first one to come back on the market, this has been probably the worst move in the world!!
But it has given my the chance to go through all of my cycling bits in the garage and bin the excess  - like the toe-clips that came with the bike !

So hopefully, by this time next week I will have moved and hopefully been out for a ride. But i won't hold my breath on either of those!

Until next time

Daniel

There's something wrong...But I can't quite put my finger on it !!

Saturday arrived, rain bucketing down, but meant to clear in the afternoon (it did!!). Got my gear out ready for a nice afternoon cycle before taking the dogs for their walk. Whilst out on the walk the leads got a bit tangled and whilst untangling the 2 excited hounds I managed to get one of the leads wrapped around my finger. But before I could freee myself, they saw another dog and WHOOSH, they tried to go and say hello. The leads tightened and I got a rope-burn around the base of my finger but also the top half of the finger was sitting at an abnormal angle and I was in extreme pain.

I managed to get them home and off I trotted to A&E. After a few hours out came the result, a dislocated finger at the knuckle, then the painful joy of it being popped back in. Painful as it bloody hurt, joyful as as soon as it popped back in most of the pain went, only to be replaced with a dull throb. To make it worse, I came out to a slighty cloudy but very sunny afternoon.

It will be not until the latter end of this week that I will be able to get back on the bike (once the swelling and pain have subsided), so I have had an impromptu week off, and with the house move next week, I doubt I will get much in then.

Still what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, they say. Until next time.

And this little doggie broke my finger (She is a bit bigger now than when this was taken) !!!

Another week, now increasing the riding

After a few weeks of just going out for a ride at the weekend, I have decided to up the riding a bit.
i did a nice 35/40 mile ride along the coast on Sunday, and then decided to start semi-cycling to work.
I call it semi-cycling as I work 30 miles away and it is a very undulating route, I decided to cycle from home to St Leonard's station (17 miles), then get the train to Frant and cycle the remaining 3.5 miles to work in Tunbridge Wells, and obviously repeating it in reverse after my days work. From next week I plan on doing it a couple of days a week.
It was an eerie feeling cycling along a pitch black, un-lit road at 5:30 in the morning, even though I know the road very well I found myself slowing down as I knew there was a bend coming up but couldn't actually see it until I was practically on top of it.
As the ride in September includes cycling overnight to Dover, the more experience I can get cycling in conditions like that the better. Cycling on lit roads in the dark is fine, but when you hit unlit roads it is a whole new experience.
So now I have doubled the distance I am riding in a week. This is the thing with training carefully, you gradually lengthen the distance you ride and try to keep up the pace you set or improve it.

Still a long way to go, but I'm getting there.

Until next time.

Another Nice Ride - feeling it a bit though

Saturday might've been a washout this weeken but Sunday was glorious.
After spending a post bithday Friday re-packing and organising boxes of stuff ready for my impending house move, and a sodden Saturday helping my fiancee with her horses, I was ready for a ride.
I took the dogs for a nice long walk along the beach on a lovely sunny, slightly chilly Sunday morning, and then donned the lycra and got the bike out of the garage.
I decided on taking a favourite route of mine, along the Cuckoo Trail to Heathfield and back, a nice 36 mile ride. With a bit of a headwind on the way out I rode along the lovely countryside path.
I thought that as I would have the wind behind me on the return leg that I would return via the road and push it a bit harder.
Well I managed the return in just over 35 minutes, and I must admit that I think I pushed a little too hard. That said apart from slightly stiff knees I felt ok. Whether the stiffness is down to the ride or all of the lifting and carrying I have done in the previous couple of days, or a combination of both I don't know. But it's good to find that point and then go past it.

Here is a good tip that I have picked up from my previous rides. Cover your knees with Ibuprofen gel before you go on a long ride and it will prevent sore/stiff knees at the end of it

See you next week