ride to Liskeard

Didn't really sleep last night, and was awake well before 6am, feeling nervous and was very worried that as I was still carrying this cold I'd be off the pace and struggling. Had a lemsip and vitamin dose, and then headed off to breakfast for porridge and toast.

Lots of mucking around later and we were transfered to Land's End, ready to start the challenge. We all snuck a photo by the sign before the 'official photographer' showed up(he charges a tenner). We then had a briefing from the DA guys, were given maps and directions and sent on our way.

We kept a pretty steady pace, it wasn't too crazy and I didn't get dropped within the first mile like I thought I would. We made the first water stop at 23 miles and had bananas, cereal bars and jelly babies to keep us going. By this point I managed to get the GPS switched on as I'd not had time at the beginning. The hills were not too bad and everything was looking good.

We had another cyclist - Andy - join us and he stayed with us for the rest of the day. He was keen to set the pace and we were all happy to follow. We followed the roads through Redruth and Truro before hitting this pretty horrible hill which we climbed to the top of for lunch. The DA guys put on a good spread with pasties, bread, cheese, tomatoes, tea, water, etc. We spent around 1 hour there just eating and catching up with some of the other cyclists before heading off. At this point the guys advised me that I looked like a smurf in my blue shorts and top - thanks. Won't be making that mistake again!

We pressed on, with the next water stop at 64 miles. There was a monster hill to climb just before it, so we really had to work - lowest ratio, lowest gear...still we made it! Then as we took off again, Hunter, Ben and Andy missed the water stop which was at 61 miles, leaving Kevin and I to load up on water and energy gels. The guys had cycled down Lostwithiel hill by this point, so cycling back for water wasn't an option.

From here on in Kevin and I cycled at a slower pace, leaving the others to ride ahead. The hills were pretty nasty-one minute your cycling up one, the next you are down the other side approaching the next-really tiring stuff! Toward the end we had to turn onto the A38 to get to the Premiere Travel Inn (good enough for Lenny Henry, good enough for me!). I can tell you that cycling on a busy A road isn't my idea of fun...

Kevin and I got in not that long after the others..great feeling-one day down , eleven to go... I had a quick chat with 'Devon Knight', and was told that tomorrow is going to be tough-plenty of climbing before we even get to the first water stop at 19miles (Tavistock). I think as we set off at a good pace today we are going to slow it down for tomorrow-I don't really have an option!

Time for a shower before supper of lasagne and chips, with apple crumble for afters (my favourite). No beer. Seriously...no beer..going to try and keep to that until I get to Inverness. In the meantime I'm going to have a lemsip to keep on top of the cold. Average speed today was 14.9mph, I expect this to drop for tomorrow's update. Caiou for now 8)

we're off!

Today started with tearful farewells at Huntingdon station for the 6:59am to King's Cross. I said goodbye to the family and headed onto the train. Turns out Kevin was quite right, and it was a bit on the early side! Got the tube across to Paddington, and I had a bit of time to kill, so Costa coffee it was. A brief trip to the cashpoint and WHSmiths, and I was equipped with some reading material for the trip down. The lads pitched up, and we got on the train...fairly uneventful trip really and the weather was really good with very little wind, filling us with confidence for the days ahead. The cab trip to St Just from Penzance station was a bit more exciting-the cabby was a genuinely angry man who didn't like traffic!

Once in St Just, we met with the DA guys and got a lift to the wrong guest house, eventually stumbling across some fields until we arrived at Boswedden House. We were duly informed that Alex (another rider staying here) was going to be late.

Stumbled back across the fields into St Just, and milled about. We got the carbs in at the chippy, and then lucozades at the Co-op. Were thoroughly impressed by the local youths on their scooters...

Bit more milling around in St Just and we were done. Big supper at the Wellington -cheesey pasta follwed by treacle pudding and that was us done.

I think I have moaned about feeling unwell to the guys now, so I've got my excuses in early! I'm 'lemsiped up', and going to be up early for breakfast before getting collected around 8am tomorrow.

Panic!!!!!

the day before...

...So the wind seems to have picked up! I'm hoping that things change from the predicted forcast and we have the wind at our backs from tuesday!

I've still yet to pack the last of my things. It's been a last minute dash to get memory for the camera, a battery for the wrist watch, and some smaller items for the medical kit. I'm also trying to blog from the blackberry-like some others on this trip, I think I might have to come back later and add some bits as typing on this is going to be pretty testing!

Right, need to finish the packing...need to get an early night as it's the 6.59am from Huntingdon, and then the 10.06am from Paddington to Penzance.

Saturday, 28th August, 2010

Woke up this morning feeling dreadful.  I have not managed to shake this cold, indeed it seems to be getting worse!  Nothing more terrifying knowing that you have a big challenge ahead of you and you feel like you have nothing in the tank for it.  Anyway, I'm taking plenty of vitamin C, trying to stay hydrated and adopting the 'feed a cold, starve a fever' approach, carb-loading like crazy.

the bikes were loaded into the van yesterday after Ben and I dropped ours at one of Telstra's hosting centre in London, and they are all neatly wrapped and ready to meet us in St Just on monday - thanks Kevin for sorting this out!

Friday 27th August 2010 - Panic!!!

i should've started doing this ages ago... I have obviously chosen to leave things to the last minute as is my style, but I think that I am going to make a stab at blogging this Land's End to John O'Groats trip.

  For some reason or other, I thought that I'd sign up to ride nearly 1000 miles across the country with a group of guys from work, i mean how hard can it be?  Obviously I conveniently blanked out of my mind that Ben is a seasoned road cyclist who cycles for London Pheonix and must weigh about 9 stone.  Hunter is just abnormally fit having spent a lot of time rowing and has legs like tree trunks.  Kevin is the closest to me in terms of fitness, but I know from the experience of the Chiltern and Surrey 100's that he is quicker than me.  Still it's not a race....

so we are also riding for charity - WWF.  They happen to be a customer of ours.  In fact knowing one of the main techies there - Paul - really we shouldve asked them to come and do the cycle with us.  In fact I have had helpful suggestions from Paul that I might want to do the ride in a panda suit (apparently a standard question that WWF ask).  Mind you, i'd take that over the 'suit of armour' that was suggested by my mate Jim.  Apparently I might also need to 'man up' and do the ride on a Penny Farthing too.  Hmmmmm.  Still the sponsorship is doing well, with the team at nearly 5k.  anymore sponsorship greatly received!

Anyway, the bikes are being shipped to St Just where they will meet us on monday, and then the ride commences the following day!  I hope to have completely shaken the cold that i've had for the last week by then, and I am praying that the weather is with us, although one of the guys coming on the trip lives in Devon and assures us its been pretty wet down there over the last week, so it seems a soaking is innevitable.

I've got to do the packing this weekend, and I suspect I am going to have to get a larger bag for all the stuff i'm taking.  most of the weight is the medical kit and the food & drink mix for the trip.  I also need to remember things like lights, pump, shoes, helmet, etc i'm useless at the best of times no doubt I'd have forgotten something.  one thing is for certain - I hope what little training I have managed to do pays off.