Homeward bound - Inverness to Southwater via Maplehurst!

It's now Tuesday and we are back home, safe and sound. Sunday evening was a great chance to get together over a delicious Indian meal in Inverness. We were all pretty tired for one reason or another. The cyclists had 857 reasons to be a bit tired. Our supporters had made a marathon effort to get up to the edge of nowhere (John O'Groats). None the less we enjoyed a companionable evening before heading back for a relatively early night. Except Beth, of course! She had to update her blog and seems to find late night the best time to do so.
Here's a snap of the crowd in the bar at our Inverness hotel. (Now I am home my pc seems to be allowing uploading of photos in text which it didn't whilst we were away).

We were up at our usual time for breakfast but not dolled up in lyra and leggings today! Beth, John and I were to travel home in the campervan with the bikes and luggage. Alex, David and Simon had a rainy morning in Inverness to endure before their flight home. Chris, Alex, Roxanne and Jo were heading off at 6.30am for the long drive south from their hostel round the corner from us. So we said goodbye to the guys, tucked ourselves up in our van and headed off for the 12hour trip. Beth and I enjoyed recognising various points from our previous couple of days cycling. Great to see it from the warmth and speed of the van. After we de-toured from our route John and I spotted various highlights from his trip last year! I am very pleased that John and I will both have an End-to-End certificate. Who'd have thought that I would accomplish a physical feat to match his? Ok, so he did it quicker but it still counts! His 'n' hers certs, how sweet!
Not much to say about the drive home. John did his usual 'in the zone' trick where he prefers to do all the driving himself. Beth and I dozed, read and generally chilled out for what turned out to be 11 hours. Soon we were rolling into Maplehurst and Beth and I wondered would the pub have put up a celebratory balloon for us? Shame on us for even doubting them! Anne had made a fabulous banner welcoming the whole team and the pub was decorated with 'Welcome Home' balloons.

Lots of regulars came along to say hello and welcome back. Alex brought over Finn to make a fuss of us before he went back to spend one last night at Yew Cottage.  Once I saw the massive map of the UK that they had on the wall with markers for each leg of our journey it kind of started to really hit home what we had achieved. And what incredible support we'd had along the way. Aw, thanks guys!
John gave Alex, Beth and David their belongings from the van and we had a couple of drinks before heading home in a taxi. We left the party to continue and hear that a great time was had by all.
Oh it was good to be back in my own bed, so good! And the bonus is that I don't seem to be too sore, achey or stiff....just a little tired but that is to be expected.
It has been one heck of an adventure from the first thought that I'd like to do it, right through the training and then the awesome ride itself. I will write a retrospective in a week or so once I have unpacked and had chance to settle in again.
I want to once again thank all of you who have read this blog, commented, sent lovely emails and texts and voicemails. Especial thanks to those who felt they wanted to donate to the Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team over in Snowdonia. Whatever we might have achieved this past fortnight, these women and men really are unsung heroes. They work day and night to help people in difficulty on the mountain all without pay. If you haven't already, please donate whatever you can via the justgiving page (www.justgiving.com/le-jog-blog) or by calling me on 07917 861604.
Thanks again for popping by.......hugs to all x

Day 16 Wick to John O'Groats 16 miles!!!!!

Last night we had a lovely meal in Mackays Hotel (like Agent Alex's surname!) which is on the shortest road in the world apparently. Ebenezer Street. We repaired to the bar for a modest couple of drams to set us up for the last push this morning. We were all eager to get going so we left early for the first time ever I believe. We had a lovely meandering ride up to JOG, waving and cheering all the hardy souls just setting out on their own journey to Lands End.  The scenery combined with the weather was just spectacular. Huge skies and desolate farmland. Amazing. Only Alex had a camera with him during this part of the trip so he had full responsibility for the capturing of the beauty. I think he did us proud. All of us but Beth were keeping an eye out for Simon going past in a hire car. She had no idea he was joining us. I saw him and when I mentioned to Trusty I had spotted him he said it couldn't be him because John had said 'they' were already at JOG. I was a bit nonplussed but assumed it wasn't Chris or Alex as they had phoned me last night from the Lintot pub in Southwater.
Anyway we had a couple of 'upflats' to negotiate and I can honestly say I think none of us really felt them! We arrived at the first sign of John O'Groats so quickly and stopped for a photo op. None of us seemed keen to hurtle into the finish straight, just ambling along enjoying the delicious feeling of finishing our epic trip. But we arrived soon enough to be met by John. No sooner had he taken our photos than I turned around to see Chris, Alex, Roxanne and Jo! They had driven up from home to meet us! Wow! What a fantastic surprise. And there was one for Beth too when she saw Simon coming across the carpark. So there was much celebrating, photographing and happiness abounding. John surprised us all with trophies for each of us!
I have never had a trophy before and am dead chuffed! Had a quick coffee and headie off as it was cold. Beth, David and Simon gave a lift to fellow LeJogger Paul who had walked the whole way! We got to Inverness in a couple of hours and here we are! Going out for dinner tonight. I will blog more in the next day or two when I get home. Thanks once again to all the good wishes. We are hoping to be in the White Horse tommoro evening if you are in the area!

Day 15 - Golspie to Wick 50miles

For anybody reading both Beth's and my blogs I would like to point out a) I wrote my blog yesterday afternoon before we hit the bar! And b) I went to bed way before everyone else after a moderate alcohol intake!!!! Seems I missed a good time tho. I am just not as able to cycle when 'fragile' as the rest of the team! It didn't stop everyone being up and at 'em early and Trusty discovered my tyre had a slow puncture. So himself and John wrangled with that for a while. John took off in the van determined to join us for the last leg of today's ride. We had some dastardly plans to take a different route from him so we wouldn't have to try and keep up with him on the last leg. But that wouldn't have been nice, would it? So we tootled off and did have a couple of lumps to climb. The first was a long long slow climb which took me about 20mins. I could have gone quicker but I wanted to do it and not be out of breath. Which I accomplished. This new saddle is working a treat. The Spiderflex was just not up to the job in hand and I should have just bitten the bullet and trained with the normal one. Hindsight is great isn't it? Maybe for our next ride? Trip across America has been mooted for anyone thinking of joining us! Oh and my new big ring is helping. (Thanks for your comment Col, Slack Alice is no more!).
So we then came across a real sharp climb (13%) leading to a long draggy up bit. But poley poley won the day and the views on the way up were worth it. We'd way over ridden our usual coffee break stop so we made a pit stop at a Spar shop for a snack though I couldn't eat. Which made the next few miles hard work for me. It is important to keep re-fuelling on trips like this and today I didn't and it showed! Luckily we hadn't far to go to catch up with John where he'd parked up at a hotel. We had a nice lunch and then took off with John in front, as is his way on these legs! Not surprisingly the last  15miles sped by! Before long we were freewheeling into Wick with only 18 miles left to cover tommoro. And, in theory, this should be  a breeze.

Day 14 Beauly to Golspie 49miles

It was fab to see James, Cathy, lovely smiley Kiera and visiting twitcher Gayle last night. And just as we were saying goodbye to them a bagpipe and drum band marched doon the road! It was like it was arranged just for the tourists! Fabulous.
We set off today at a fine pace, no great climbs to anticipate. Just the busy road and occasional head on winds to slow us down. But we cracked on and in no time at all (it seemed) made it to Tain, home of Glenmorangie Whiskey. We stopped in a lovely cafe for lunch and John hot-pedalled it from Golspie to meet us. Although we love to see him, it does strike a note of trepidation in some hearts as he has very fresh very capable leg muscles and pushes us on at a rate and a half! We are a much tighter bunch of cyclists after two weeks of riding together. Good road sense (most of the time!), drafting when the need arises. Anticipating when those amongst us need to pee/photograph/get off new saddle! After we left Tain we headed straight out into the head wind for a while. Phew, it is simply exhausting riding into a wind. I couldn't keep up with John to draft even at 8mph. Luckily we were soon over that bit and a lot of down hill followed. We made it here to the hotel by 2.30pm which sounds like we did nothing all day! But it is great to have a break. Penultimate day tommoro! Can't quite get my head around it!

Day 13 - Spean Bridge - Beauly 52miles

This morning we spent some time chatting to the local Highlanders (see photo). They appreciated our left over breakfast toast! So we set off after the photo call and I was in fine form! Brad has had a complete overhaul including getting rid of the 'miracle' saddle! I am now riding on the more normal version which takes some getting used to but didn't slow me down. Trusty had kindly 'degunked' all the bikes so we had no excuses. And we sped along, compared to alot of the other days. The weather held out, light showers, not too much wind, sunny spells. And that glorious scenery at every twist and turn in the road. Wow, Scotland knows how to do scenery! We stopped at the little town at the head of Loch Ness, whose name completely escapes me now (6hours later). We watched the boats negotiating the lock. Had a coffee and then set off at a pace again. We were heading for the biggest climb we have left which was Dromnadrochit. It was coloured purple on our map which is higher than any we have climbed so far. We took a short break at the bottom before girding our loins for the ascent. I girded as much as I could on the new saddle but it still wasn't enough to push me up the final 100yrds! Ran out of puff and had to push Brad the rest of the way. But hey ho! Can't be helped. Alex took a break half way and when he got back on his gears locked and he fell off! Trusty did his usual good egg routine of encouraging us all (he wasn't a Captain in the military for nothing you know!). Beth slogged it up with just a brief breather on the way. Finally we were all there and relieved that....that is it! The last big hill of our entire trip. Whoppppeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!. And it was all the way downhill after that. We virtually coasted all the way down into Beauly. Found Coach who had spent the day trying to reconcile his accounts. Yes, on top of everything else he keeps all the accounts and they have been causing him some concern over the past few days. So many kitties to keep track of! But all done now.  We are now all showered and relaxing in the hotel lounge waiting for James, Cathy and baby Keira to join us for the evening. A real sense of almost there now. And so many stories to tell that haven't made it to these pages. Lots of fun, the odd fractious moment but generally very good humoured.
So today we did 52 happy miles and made it to 11mph!

Day 12- Crianlarich - Spean Bridge 62 (very windy) miles

Oh my, I am sooooooo tired, just hope I can stay awake long enough to blog this.
Had a great nights sleep with the window open listening to the howling wind and horizontal rain on and off. Not comforted by the idea of having to cycle in it but comfortably tucked up. We got up and wrapped up like mummys for the days weather which forecast rain and high winds. Are we mad? Well, I think we all know the answer to that one already! After 3miles I had to stop and strip off a layer as I was overheating! We cycled along awhile before we came across some lovely scenery again and photo stops were aplenty. We were delighted when a mammoth stag hopped over a fence, skipped across the road, turned to stare at us before leaping over another fence and heading off. One time we didn't have cameras at the ready. Anyway we started to hit some wind at about 15m in and it really did blow. Wind has to be the most  debilitating condition to cycle in. You feel like you are getting nowhere fast and mostly are! We were kind of expecting a coffee break that didn't come. I was desperate for a loo break and so cycled ahead whilst the others stopped to marvel at another amazing view. I turned the corner and saw John in the van which was a very welcome sight. He pointed us to a hotel down the road a ways and we stopped for panini, coffee and much photographing of the cheeky tame deer in the grounds. Then off we went again into the driving wind. It was one time when I would happily have given in if I'd been allowed. Luckily my cycle mates are made of sterner stuff and Trusty did a sterling job keeping us all drafting behind him. Trying to get us up to about 8miles an hour if we could! We battled on until the road eased off and we had the most amazing downhill section out of Glencoe. Incredible majestic mountains all around. We were all pretty awestruck. Pretty soon we had the wind out of the way and made good time down to Fort William where John had arranged for Brad (my bike) to get a seeing to. The gearing was playing up. I had no big ring and the other gears were dodgy. We left it with the guy in the cycle shop whilst we repaired to McD's again. An hour later and we were tackling the final 12 m to Spean Bridge. We are in a b n b, have been down to the village for a meal and are tucked up in bed and its only 9pm. In fact I did take a nap in the pub and I expect the photographic evidence will be posted on Beths blog sometime tonight!
Our next 3 days mileages are around the 50m so a big reduction to the final push into J O'G on Sunday of 17m. Wow, I can't believe it's nearly all over! Meeting up with James, Cathy and baby Keira tommoro hopefully. It'll be lovely to see them, just hope I can keep awake!
Thanks for the comments from all. I really am too tired tonight to reply but they are muchly appreciated. Specially you Chris and thanks for the donation via justgiving. Love to all x

Day 11 - Glasgow to Crianlarich 43miles

I am sitting in a warm, toasty lounge looking overlooking the Trossachs National Park after a remarkable cycle alongside Loch Lomond for 20+ miles. We set off from our hotel this morning by van as John was depositing us where he collected us yesterday evening. Weather forecast for more of the same. Luckily we had all managed to hang our wet gear over radiators and dry them off overnight. John then had the job of going back to the hotel, collecting all our bags (and Trusty alone has 6!), driving back 20 or so miles to where the tyre fixers were going to supply him with a new spare for the van. Meanwhile we headed off, wrapped up and wondering what today had in store. The terrain was flat as we cycled along the Loch for most of the day. Marvellous views, despite frequent showers. We stopped at a nice hotel for a sandwich and a cuppa then took off again. All afternoon we were chasing rainbows that were forming, fading, teasing us to stop, dig out our cameras from assorted plastic bags and try and capture their beauty! Uh oh! Alex did say the scenery makes you want to get lyrical and I think it's happened! I've gone all Rabbie Burns!!!! Anyway we soon came across John who had thoughtfully pulled into a lovely hotel in Crianlarich to lead us the mile to this lovely cosy comfy b n b. So we had coffee at the hotel then came here. We have had a relaxing hour or so catching up with every thing. And this place even has a drying room so all our sodden gear is upstairs cooking away. Amazing what small things give such joy on a trip like this.
We have someone from the local hotel coming to collect us soon so we can go and eat there. Such friendly locals!
John was given a donation yesterday to my charity from the man who was in the tyre repair centre! Just in case anybody reading this would like to donate a little do go to www.justgiving.com/le-jog-blog In the meantime thanks so much again for reading this and all the texts that are coming in daily. Well done Dave A on your Sportive. We will join you for one in the autumn maybe! Hi Sal, I know you are reading even if you don't comment. Love to all there.
Well, gotta go and get myself ready for going out. Take care x

Day 10 Moffat to Glasgow 64 (very wet) miles....

Hey, did anyone happen to see the weather forecast for today over NW Scotland? Did you notice that hugmungous rain cloud? Yes? Well, welcome to our wet world today!!!! We started early - for some reason I can't fathom....but anyway we did. 8am on the road and a steady 3mile climb out of Moffat. (Which, by the way is a very nice town, worth a visit) Me- my usual slow-to-get-going self but hey, got going eventually. It was wet but not lashing at this stage. But we were hampered by the horrible road surface. Bone rattling stuff that has my miracle saddle (in so far as its a miracle the damn thing is still on the bike) loose and rattly. We made it 17miles to Abington to meet John at the services. Soaked to the skin but pleased to be stopping. I needed to refuel as I had thrown up my breakfast. I know...too much information. But you need to know the trials of life on the road! We then set off again heading in the general direction of Glasgow. I must say, if Cornwall can do hills then Scotland is all about the rain. And we got it in bucketloads today. We stopped at a McD's in Hamilton and the staff took such pity on us poor charity cyclists that we got free desserts! yay! Makes up a bit for all the thickshakes we had at the McD's at Buck Barn during our training! Then it was on to tackle Glasgow. My saddle exploded AGAIN. But luckily John had equipped us with the spare bolt and it got bolted in rapid quick time and we were on our way. Rubbish, rubbish road surface all through the city. Interesting architecture though. Anyway, to cut a long, wet and tiring story short we crossed through and out of the city accompanied by calls from John explaining the route. And still we overshot our turnoff. We ended up huddled in a bus shelter awaiting rescue. John duly turned up with his own tale of woe. The camper van had a puncture which was ok because we carry a spare. But not ok because the supplied jack was not enough to jack such a huge vehicle! Lots of wet too-ing and fro-ing for JP and eventually it was sorted. So we all arrived at our hotel for the night a bit jaded but in fine good spirits because....that is another 64 miles we don't have to do again! Well not the same 64 anyway.
Just want to say a big thank you to all who are commenting and sending lovely texts to encourage us on our way. It is a huge thing for us and it's good to know other people are interested in this madcap journey. Thanks so much. Hugs to all xxx

Day 9 Penrith to Moffat (?) 60miles

As you can see from the photos we arrived in Scotland today. Un-be-lievable!!! We had a very flat ride but against a really strong north westerly wind which made the going seem very slow. Did a lot of 'drafting' to make this easier with David upfront. Thanks Trusty! We met John for coffee the other side of Carlisle and he pointed out the road we needed to take to get to Gretna. Just as well as it was difficult to find! Then we legged it to Gretna and stopped for the photo ops and found the leprachaun awaiting us!  John then headed off to Moffat and we cycled slowly on to Lockerbie where we stopped for a lovely lunch in the town centre. When we finished John was waiting for us on his bike! God, that man gets around! He then proceeded to up the ante and put us through our paces for the remaining 15miles which we did in about an hour and twelve minutes!!! We formed what we have fondly named a 'pelotonini' ie, a small peloton! I can only say that I am rather glad that John isn't setting the pace for the whole ride. Alex didn't even get a chance for a pee stop!! However it did get us to the hotel by 4.30pm. An early finish for once. So I am showered and ready for some serious chillin'. Covered 60miles today in five and a half hours.

Day 8 Preson to Penrith 64miles

Really really heavy rain overnight and this morning. So after the best porridge I've ever had (did I mention this hotel is lovely?) we had the usual dithering with what to wear. We have wet weather gear but any slight incline and its just too hot to bear it. The boys go for the bare wet leg look but Beth and I donned the waterproof trews. We got a bit wet alright but were going so well on the non-hilly terrain that it didn't seem to matter. John headed off to do the laundry....what a great guy he is. True support spending time at the launderette for us all. We met up with him at lunchtime in Kendal so we could all re-fuel for the long hike up to Shap. This is a bit of upflat that climbs to about 1400feet I think. So off came the wet weather gear. All unnecessary kit left in the van and off we went. But we hadn't even negotiated Kendal town before Alex got a puncture on one of his indestructible 'armadillo' tyres. David suggested that Beth and I carry on up to Shap and we'd wait for them there. It was about a 15mile trip to get up there. Not all uphill but a long slow slow slow drag for most of it. Made up for by the amazing views. So we wended our way. It wasn't as steep as we'd feared. But then anything after Day 2 is never as steep as we fear! David caught up with me just before we got to John waiting at the top. Beth pipped us to the summit and many a congratulatory photo was taken! Then it was a great downhill trip and onwards to Penrith. We are at a nice B n B. Have just had an Italian meal in a very lively restaurant and now all of us have retired early to our rooms. The weather was great today with fantastic cloud formations over the Cumbrian hills. Hard to believe we are over halfway through our marathon trek.

Day 7 Whitchurch to Preston 70miles

Writing this on day 8 as too exhausted to make use of the wi-fi at the hotel last night. The Raven Arms at Whitchurch is definitely a place to be avoided if you want a relaxing, clean overnight stop! Our room was fine and quiet as it was away from the main hotel. We went to eat at a nearby Indian restaurant. and were joined by Beths friends Caroline and Amy. A pleasant evening and the usual early night. At about midnight we had a text from Beth to say the party from hell was going on in the room next to hers and she didn't feel safe. So she hotfooted it out of there and slept in the camper van for the night. Where she was very cosy indeed. And John made sure the hotel did not charge her for the room. We couldn't bring ourselves to wait for breakfast there. Not that it was dirty but John was worried that when Caroline brought Jade her dog in to the bar that the dog would be velcroed to the carpet! Anyway after a nice breakfast at the truckers cafe next door (!) us cyclists headed off north. We had a lovely flat days riding ahead of us and all was going swimmingly. Until I got held up at some traffic lights. The guys waited up the road and as I started pedalling they also set off. Suddenly my saddle exploded! Well, the whole kitkaboodle just leapt off the bike! Beth just happened to see it happen and came back to help and pick up the pieces. It seems that a bolt had just sheared off causing the seeming exploding saddle! It was fortunate it happened when I was not riding at speed, I reakon. So there was no fixing it at roadside, though David tried hard. We had to call John back - unfortunately he was the other side of Wigan at this stage. But come back he did and put a new post on. It made my miracle saddle tilt somewhat but was fine as a stopgap. So this made us a bit behind schedule so we didn't stop for a long lunch. We pushed on around Warrington and Wigan. Very urban compared to a few days ago and quiet mentally exhausting. Still is was flat terrain which is a bonus! We had a stop at a lovely deli outside Preston somewhere and then tackled Preston itself. Eventually after 70 miles we ended up at a fabbo hotel outside Preston called Barton Hall. If ever you feel the need to go to Preston, stay there! Fantastic value. Fab food, great staff, excellent rooms. All in all, a right nice way to spend our 27th wedding anniversay!

Day 5 Bristol to Leominster 72miles (yes, thats right -72)

Well, it's pretty late for me tonight, it must be past 10pm! It's been a very long day in the saddle for us. We had a fab evening at Colliters last night. Simon produced a fantastic bbq and it was lovely to catch up with family and friends. Tho we cyclists were all tucked up early for today's adventure. And what an adventure it was.
We left Colliters at about 9ish and wended our way to the Severn Bridge. This was a good trip through the docks and industrial areas. Very flat and we paced ourselves. We took a coffee break with John just before the bridge then took ages to get across it because of all the photo opportunities. It is beautiful and the weather was fine. Unlike some parts of the country we hear! We cycled through the Wye Valley. Wow! How incredibly beautiful. And Tintern Abbey is stunning. We had lunch in Monmouth which is a very pretty town. John caught up with us at one point and gave us his usual 'good news'. Most of which I forget now but involved lots of talk of downhills. Am learning to take no notice of him in this regard! We then spent a couple of hours getting here to the lovely Inn we are staying in. It was further than even John thought and we were all just exhausted on arrival. Though feeling pretty blessed that the weather had been great and the scenery so incredible. So apart from being saddle sore and weary of limb, sure, what have we to complain about? As David said, beats doing the payroll at work!
I had a bit of a prob with my small cog which seems to be ok for now but will need some attention in the longer term. Alex had 9 pee stops. I know this is probably of limited interest to anyone but Beth and I are counting! Trusty ate too much last night and suffered a bit today but seemed better this evening. We have some great photos. Some of which I will try and download now so watch this space. Anyone want to leave us a comment? Go on. Angie seems able to work out how! Go to comments and click. Write your message. Tick 'anonymous' in the box marked 'post as' and send post. That should work. It' d be great to hear from you!
So we were riding for 7 hours today. Phew.

Day4 Taunton to Bristol

Here we are, a quarter of the way through! We had such a lovely meal and relax last night in a lovely Inn near Taunton. Today the weather was much better (thanks Angie!) and we set off at a right old pace with only the Somerset levels to contend with. A short day scheduled which was still 40miles but felt almost like a day off. We were welcomed on the roadside at a pub (where else?) by Simon, John, Chris and Roxanne. Felt like celebrities we did. Then after a lunch we headed the 400yrds to our accommodation at Colliters Brook Farm (see last weeks entry). Where we have been joined by Annie and Mudger. They are all outside watching Simon put the bbq on. We are all in various states of relaxation, laundering, showering and hanging on to this internet connection! Can't write much more as its definitely frustrating!. So I will wish you all well and head back to the bbq. #
I have lots of photos to upload and post but the connection is too poor for that. Just know that 90% of them seem to involve Alex answering the call of nature in front of some spectacular views!!

Day 2 St Austell to Moretonhampstead and Day 3 Moretonhampstead to Taunton

Golly, I barely know where to start, what tone to adopt or what details to include! I will start with the bald statement that I have decided I cannot forgive Cornwall its hills. Cornwall is a b*****!
We set off from our hotel yesterday and almost immediately faced a 10% climb. I am not sure what the 10% stands for but it was flippin steep. Well pleased with ourselves we were and met by John at the top for a high five all round. If I had realised then that we would be earning high fives all day long without respite I may have just gone back down the hill and rested up another day or two! But luckily John decided to keep ahead of us with pasties and pointers to lunch. There isn't really much to say about the rest of the morning other than its a bit like childbirth......painful and you'd rather forget the details as soon as possible! And it got more so as the day wore on and we climbed up onto Dartmoor. Which is incredibly beautiful with pretty sheep, churlish ponies, cute foals and remarkable rock formations. All of which I would love to go back and re visit when I have the use of a car.
Trusty was an absolute star today. He kept us all motivated and moving.....mostly. I must confess to getting off just before one particular summit and pushing my bike up the last 150yrds or so. It was no easier but I was using a different set of muscles! And my team mates didn't hold it against me. By gum the moors go on a bit.
John drove ahead and rode back to join us about 10miles from where we were finishing. It was getting quite late by this stage and we were all pretty exhausted, tired and emotional. John took the decision to go and fetch the van and meet us in Moretonhampstead to ferry us up to the b n b (it involved a 2 mile climb). So he was a hero too. Cycling all those hills just to face a very grumpy me (and tired co-cyclists), then hurtling back to the b n b and meeting us in the town. It was gone 8pm by this time and a Sunday evening in a sleepy Devon town. Worried that we might not be fed we were rescued by none other than the local White Horse! So the bikes were secured in and on the van and we repaired to the pub for pizza and chat. But not for long as we were dead on our feet. We did a pretty illegal trip with five of us in the van up to the bnb. And were greeted by owls hooting madly which was lovely. Quick shower, no signal or energy to blog and sleep! We cycled 55miles today in 6hours 53minutes. What a day! Average speed 7.9mph. Did I mention that it was hilly?

This morning we had to go back to Moretonhampstead and face the climb back up to the bnb to say we had covered every mile by cycle. Trouble was it was pouring rain so we faffed about for a while or two. Finally we had to face the fact that it was set in for the day and so off we went. The climb wasn't too bad actually (even on sore quads) and the downhills quite treacherous due to the rain. But we made it. We had another climb or two before we made it to Exeter absolutely soaked through. The thing is, once you're wet, you're....well....wet! There is no getting wetter! So we amused a few locals in a pub and had a coffee outside in their shelter then made our way through the city. From here on in the journey was reasonable regarding hills but the rain didn't really let up at all. We met John again at a services for coffee and pastries then we hotfooted (wetfooted more like) the next 16miles to our bnb. We are in the middle of the Somerset countryside in a local hostelry for the night. Showered, warm at last and looking forward to a relaxing meal and an early night. Today we cycled for 4 and a half hours and covered 45.7 miles. Average speed about 10 or 11 I think.
If anyone hasn't checked out Beths blog, do! It'll give a different account of the same trip so you will get an all round picture of the days events. She is at http://www.le2jog.wordpress.com/

Lands End to St Austell (about 58miles)

Well, the day dawned misty and not too bright. We had breakfast and met up with Alex, Deirdre and Alex's mum Diana out at Lands End where there was a flurry of riders all going in the same direction as us. All with various support crew, raising money for a number of different causes. It felt good to think we weren't the only lunatics in the area!
After more preparation and form signing and photo ops we were finally away and it felt sooooo good to be actually starting this ride. So many months of training, planning and organising - all leading to this moment.Even though we know that the first 3 days are going to be amongst the toughest. Cornwall does hills! But I can almost forgive Cornwall its hills as it is so beautiful and I am constantly taken back to all the holidays we've had here over the years. Lovely memories and ones to cling on to as we were going up yet another blasted hill.
Alex decided today was the day to start using his cleats for the first time. And anyone who has read Beth's blog (http://www.le2jog.wordpress.com/) will know the falls she endured til she got the hang of them. Which is the reason I have never tried them. I am such a cissy! But Alex didn't let us down, he had a couple of falls alright. He now has the skimmed knees of a 7 year old. But is undeterred and determined to master the cleat!
John devised an 'incident' sheet which is Beth's responsibility to fill in each day. It includes things such as 'answering the call of nature outside' and 'navigation hitches' and we all get ticks beside our names if we commit any of the incidents. Not sure what will happen with the statistics but I hear there are quite a few patrons of a certain White Horse who are keen to know!
We stopped for lunch at about 38 miles which meant only a short ride this afternoon. In theory. There are no short rides in Cornwall with the wind against you and those dratted hills! At one point even tho I could see the hill going downwards in front of me I actually felt like I was cycling uphill!
John met us just outside St Austell and kept us company to the hotel where we are tonight. Very nice rooms. We are all suitable tired but pretty pleased to get the first day under our collective (hi vis) belts. Here we are looking pleased with ourselves!

So that's 58miles in about 5hr30 cycling time. But a lot longer with rest breaks and photo ops of course.

12hrs to go

What more can I say? I am the first to come up to my bed and it's partly because I am feeling slightly sick with anticipation. Weather should be good tomorrow. Penzance has been spectacularly lovely this afternoon. Wish us luck, won't you?

Once upon a time in the West (Country)

Once upon a time, not so very long ago, a lone cyclist was just coming to the end of a day's riding in the wind and the rain. Up and down valleys and hills he had ridden, all alone, for over 100 miles. Only the thought of a hot shower and a nourishing meal kept him going. Unbeknownst to him his poor demented wife had failed in finding a place to park their humble van for the night. Nor could she persuade a local hotel to let them have so much as an outbuilding in which to rest their weary heads. She was about to despair when she spotted a sign saying 'Colliters Brook Farm' (http://www.collitersbrookfarm.co.uk/ !). Almost without hope the wife entered the courtyard, expecting to be turned away yet again. But there appeared the warmest West Country welcome a poor, bedraggled pair could ever wish for in the shape of Ali and Rich of Colliters Brook Farm (.co.uk!).

Oooh, don't you love a story with a happy ending? We count ourselves very lucky to have happened past the lovely farmhouse BnB, beautiful apartment and the aforementioned amazing hospitality of Alison and Richard. This is them waving good-bye to John on his next leg towards Lands End.
So when it looked likely that I was going to have to go through with this daft ride (?) we decided to make good on our promise of popping in to see Ali and Rich again. So here we are! I am relaxing in our lovely room, John is relaxing outside in the sun with the newspaper. We have had a lovely tour of the new dutch barn that the guys have finished for guests. It's great with four double beds all with own loos and a lovely communal area. There is even table football! This is where we will stay next Tues on day four of our epic ride. We are already planning a bbq!
Tomorrow morning we head off to Newquay airport to collect Trusty who is flying in. Haha.....he is flying from Gatwick to Newquay (via Plymouth International Airport) with Nepal Airlines! Seriously! Let's hope they don't make a detour via Kathmandu....it's a long cycle home from there.
I will post some more photos soon.......

WATCH THIS SPACE!

Yippeeeeee! John and I are off in an hour down country to get ready for our big start on Saturday. Can't believe its all happening and we are all nervous and excited. Beth too I assume. She is about 35,000 feet up over the Atlantic at the moment winging her way home from US.
So I will blog tonight when we get to Dundry hopefully. And then as we go along. Thanks to all who have called and emailed privately to sponsor me. Muchly appreciated and I will do my best to finish! Please try and leave comments below as we go along.
We need the encouragement!
Ciao!

Less than a week to go!

Though if you could see me at this moment you would never believe that this time next week I should be cycling 62miles up and down those Cornish hills. I am full of cold, sniffling, snuffling with an ominously sore chest. John is even threatening to make me take anti-biotics. And y'all know how much I love THOSE things! I left Essex yesterday as I was being of no use to anyone and couldn't visit Doug in hospital because of the risk of spreading germs. Still there is plenty to do here as it's only 4 days until John and I head down in the campervan towards Lands End. So I am making lists of my lists of things to do.
I did manage a couple of smallish rides in Essex as John so thoughtfully brought my bike to me. And I have to say, contrary to the popular notion, Essex is not flat. Not at all at all. Not when on a bike, that's for sure. Lots of undulations to take into account. But it was nice to cycle around an area that isn't Sussex and one familiar to me from my childhood.
Anyways, that's about all to report. I must go and get some things done before I have to take another rest.
Oh,, except if you still would like to sponsor me online go to www.justgiving.com/le-jog-blog  I have sponsorship forms here if you'd rather do it that way. So call me on 01403 738073.
Thankyou!

Messy tapering!

It's Sunday now and I am back in Essex. Tapering has been a hit and miss affair so far! I got back from Essex on Thurs, picked my bike up from it's service and John and I cycled for 2hrs on Friday. John's bike was in the workshop so, bless him, he came out on his mountain bike! I did try and persuade him to stay at home but there is no stopping him once he makes his mind up. The saddle was set a bit too low for him after our trip on the Downs Link a few weeks back. So he ended up with sore quads! Yesterday was Saturday and I went out for a recovery ride of an hour. Got rained on a bit but my new jacket is wonderfully waterproof. Left with an incredibly aching back and I suspect the cycle shop did not put my saddle back in the same place. So we will have to try and adjust it next time we're out. And I am dosed up with heavy painkillers....which kind of goes against my beliefs and training but, hey, I have 1000miles to cycle in less than a fortnight! Got to do something.
Came back to Essex as brother-in-law not so well. So do send lots of happy thoughts and love his way, would you? Thanks, it really does help.
Beth seems to be having a lovely time in the Californian sunshine riding retro bikes..no doubt to background music by the Beach Boys! I expect she is not missing our fine English drizzle one tiny iota!

'It's all downhill from here!'

And that just about sums up the whole training experience for me! We HAVE actually finished our big, peak training rides. From now on (for me) its all about tapering, smaller rides, same speeds. Obvioulsy, if your name is Beth, its all about  enjoying the long haul flight and chillin' with the relatives in California on a well -deserved break. Anyway we did it! Well, the training anyhow.
Sunday morning saw me really not wanting to get out of bed. Luckily, Deirdre had offered to have Finn (again) so neither of us had to walk the hound. And we'd left our bikes in Maplehurst so we didn't have to worry about prepping them. So it was - tip out of bed, get breakfast, get in the car and get to Maplehurst. Where we all compared sore spots from yesterday and set off on exactly the same route as yesterday. Ground Hog Day! OOOOOOO! Sore quads.....
Never mind! An hour or so into the ride and endorphin time! We managed a very civilised stop for coffee at Cafe Rouge:

and then pedalled onwards and upwards to Steyning for lunch. Cheesy chips with bacon were choice of the day for some of us! It's actually hard to know what to eat at lunchtime. I am finding that whatever I have makes me feel bloated and lethargic for quite a way afterwards. And unfortunately we had 3 largish hills to get over before we reached Storrington. We were seriously cut up by some stupid driver who nearly caused a major accident which could have involved taking all of us out and the oncoming car. Missed the whole scenario by a whisker but got plenty of verbal feedback from the five of us. Added to the earlier run-in Alex had in Ditchling with another inconsiderate car driver and it seems all the idiots were out sunday driving today!  There followed a rather slow climb up Mushroom Hill. Except for Alex who was under the impression we were racing to Adversane! He won! I got very depleted towards the final mile or two and John assisted me at one point by cycling next to me and pushing me! But eventually we did make it to the Bax Castle pub near Southwater and stopped for a quick drink before heading home for well earned showers.

Phew! Over 300m in a week! That's almost a third of our eventual trip! Wow!!!

Soggy tales

I am writing this very soon after finishing todays ride for once. Actually I am so tired and comfortable I can't bring myself to do much else other than cosy up on the sofa with a cuppa and my laptop.
Todays' adventure started at the White Horse with all five of us for the first time in many months. Trusty came up to join us, reporting that the weather down on the coast was very wet. We were all prepared with waterproofs and over shoes etc. in case it headed in our direction. We headed off at a good pace over into East Sussex and even Kent at one point. Beth had to re-inflate her front slow puncture then a short while later got a puncture on the other tyre! Then a few miles on that tyre went down again. Captain Trusty took some flak regarding this as he had sorted out the original puncture using a different method to how John does it. So when it went down again he was an easy target really for some ribbing. Never mind, we don't mean it really! Had a gorgeous ride over the heath to Hartfield reminding me of the walks we used to take there in my acupuncture college days. Revising point location on the heath!
We stopped for lunch well after the halfway point of our ride because there was a big hill we needed to get over first before we felt we deserved any! We stopped at a place in Maresfield which had a very eccentric lunchtime menu but all managed to find something to re-fuel on. Beth was celebrating her wedding anniversary so had a pint and a half of real ale and proceeded to get very giddy! Actually we think she is de-mob happy as she is off to California on Wed for two weeks. Lucky lucky gal!
We had been very lucky with no rain up until this point. But we paid for it over the next two hours. It just lashed. And we were on the A272 to Haywards Heath which is an interminable road even in a car! On a bike in the pouring rain it defies description. Any attempt at team riding went out the window with Alex and John disappearing ahead, Beth tootling along in middle and Trusty keeping me company at the back.Man, was it wet!
Just outside Cowfold we passed John talking to an older cyclist on the side of the road and when John caught up with us he related that the man had got caught in the rain and was desperately cold and 20 miles from home. So when we got back to the car John and I drove back and picked the poor man up, put his bike in the boot and drove him home - wrapped in a space blanket and with the heater on full blast. I do hope he has made a full recovery by now - not a great day to be stuck out on one's own.
So now we are home. Hot showers were the order of the day and resting up to do it all again tommoro! We covered about 60m in 5 and a half hours riding time. Well over 12mph which is great given the big hill and rain. Last big ride of our training schedule tommoro. Yippppeeeeeeee!

Peak patience

So following our mammoth rides I managed an hours recovery ride the next day and am even seeing the benefit in doing them. It does loosen the legs for the next proper ride...
Wish they could loosen my crunchy left hip! It has been a bit noisy since our big rides and gave me discomfort out on our two and a half hours today. Just John and I out today as Beth did her own ride and Alex was out with his personal trainer Eric. I have decided that having an Ironman as a coach is not necessarily a good thing. Or it is, depending on how you look at it. Because unless I have actually got a broken leg or a severe concussion there are no excuses! John has probably been through more pain and still made it to the finish line than I will ever put myself through. So, no sympathy when I whinge. Not even an acknowledgement most of the time! Just an 'isn't it a lovely day?' from him is all I can expect!
So my hip and sciatic pain made it round 26 miles or so of beautiful Sussex countryside! Leaving one day to recover before we do another64m back to backs. That, I believe, completes our big training and leaves only the taper to go. And Beth is off for a lovely break in California before we head off on our adventure.

Befuddled of West Sussex!

Hi there and welcome to confusedcyclist.com! I am aware of the fact that I am miles behind with my blogging. Not that anyone would care, except me! But I cannot remember all the rides. I just checked over at Beth's blog hoping for a reminder but I think she is as addled as I am at this stage! And with good reason...its been a hard week's cycling!!!  
So I think we went out last Saturday after 2 days rest. I only remember this because Agent Alex went off afterwards and umpired for about 24hrs in the rain, caught a chill and didn't make the next couple of long rides with the team. We cycled the hilly Cuckfield route and I got a puncture at some point. John kindly changed the tube for me (where would I be without him?) only to find the valve was faulty and had to change it again! That is one patient man... Anyway, it was a great ride and amazing how we can go out for 28miles or so nowadays and consider it a short ride! Oh, oh, I just remembered! John and I left the guys and went our own way back to Southwater via Kerves Lane. I got to redeem myself up Bourne Hill. That's the one I pushed my bike up months ago. This time I actually rode it. But it was a close thing! Then when we got to the top someone stopped John because they thought we'd dropped something. So John only cycled back down the hill again! We hadn't but hey, he needed the exercise...

John has been really busy booking accomodation for us all for the trip. We were going to leave it and call in on spec. But when John tried to get rooms for us in Penzance and found it so difficult then we thought it'd be best to pre-plan abit. So that has kept him out of mischief when he's not re-cycling hills of course.

Sunday was a recovery ride of an hour just to get the legs loosened. Then Monday it was full steam ahead for our first big ride of the back to backs. I met Beth down at the Bar and we tootled off to Storrington where John caught up with us and put a stop to any tootling. We got hoisted off at a pace and met up with Simon somewhere in Surrey called Ockley. We had a leisurely lunch at the Old Schoolhouse (very nice, fish restaurant). A bit too leisurely actually because I found it really difficult to get going again. The afternoon leg was slow and much hillier. However it ended up with a congratulatory thick shake at McDonalds and 64m under our belts. Beth, somehow, managed 67. I am still not sure how but hey, she doesn't get enough exercise so probably needed it!!! (Joking!).

And oh my goodness, we did it all again on Tuesday. But the other way around. So we got to do the hilly bit first. Beth and I set off on our own again with half an hours head start on John. He caught us and we had a lovely ride in the pouring rain for a while. My waterproof proved not to be, but at least I know now. Tired legs soon warmed up a bit. We had lunch in a different pub in Ockley but shakes at the same Mc D's! 64m again and, yes, the legs knew it!
We were on a bit of a high for the rest of the day and gave Alex a hard ish time in the pub that night for being precious and not coming out with us. Setting the tone for the actual ride I suspect. Taking prisoners will not be high on the team list I predict!

I want to write some more about a special place we are staying en route but it will have to wait til I have a bit more time.
I do hope anyone reading this is well and would remind you that time is running out to make a donation to my chosen charity!

Now for the hilly bits

So after yesterdays ride the trick was to get on the bikes with tired legs and do some more cycling. As Beth was in sole charge of the pub for the day (Simon off on some dry old business at a pub trade show...can you imagine what hard work that was going to be?) we had to be away early so we met up at 6.30. Yes, folks, that is a.m! I can hardly believe it myself, me , out on a bike at 6.30am. The cycle gods took kindly to us and made the sun shine so it was lovely once the early morning chill had disappeared.
Coach led the way initially and set a nice steady pace. We all knew that Houghton Hill was on our horizon so we were happy to stay behind and let our legs wake up a bit. Took longer for the endorphins to make themselves felt with me today but they did eventually and I have to say, I almost enjoyed Houghton Hill. To zip over the top of the Downs doing 30miles an hour on a bike on a sunny early morning. Wow, in the words of Irene whatever her name was "What a feeling!" And then to zip down Bury hill at 37 miles an hour on a bike......woooooooowheeeeee! Very exciting!
Then it occurred to me where John intended to take us next! We went all around Fittleworth which is also well hilly. Didn't see much of John at this stage - he just loves hills, mad fool. Alex commented that he suspected John was actually doing his own Ironman training today and had just dragged us along for the ride! I had to agree! Anyway we did it. I suffered a bit going home for a while - John thinks my refuelling is not good enough so I will make an effort to drink the sports drink and hydrate too. Refuelled when we got to McD's at Buck Barn. I don't recognise myself at the moment. All that cycling and now eating at McD's regularly when I really don't like them!
So we covered 47m in 4hrs at a slower speed I think. Below 12mph but that's fine considering the hills.
Now we are having a bit of bother booking accommodation for our nights in Cornwall. Seems Cornwall is full in the first week in Sept!

off road, on road, up hills

We had a day off from cycling on Sunday, which was very welcome! Monday is Simon and Beth's day off from the pub and Simon kindly spent an hour of it taking 4 of us plus our mountain bikes to Guildford to find almost the start of the Downs Link. This disused railway track runs from Guildford to Shoreham which is 37miles. We often use the leg of the Link near our homes to walk the dogs, cycle, geocache etc. So I was quite excited to experience a different part of it. The excitement was short lived as the first mile or so was hard going through sand...yes, SAND!  And uphill sand at that! Where did the Sahara come from? Pah! So a bit of getting off and walking ensued. And a bit of musing what we would do if we broke a leg at this late stage from Beth and I. We decided we'd use her holiday insurance and go to Barbados and recover for a month or so. So the prospect of injury didn't seem so bad.
Being on the mountain bike required a whole other set of muscles and generated other sore areas as the morning wore on. But mustn't whinge too much. The weather was lovely and it was a joy to be away from the traffic for once. And very pretty too. There is a train station at Rudgwick which is long since closed but the owners have kept it as it was, complete with flowers on the platform too...really remarkable and showing much dedication on their part.
Had a couple of incidents: one involving Alex falling sideways very elegantly...off road is a whole other balancing game afterall. But we won't mention this in case he gets embarrassed! And then Beth came a cropper with her crossbar when Alex decided to change direction suddenly in front of her without too much warning. See it was all about Alex today! I thought Beth was very contained in the face of pretty unmentionable pain....
Anyway, by the time we got to the Bax Castle pub between Christs Hospital and Southwater we decided enough good time had been had by all. Simon joined us for a leisurely lunch in the garden. Then buoyed up by their baguettes a boy-type challenge was issued by Coach. He (in the tradition of Top Gear) bet Simon he would beat him to Copsale from Southwater - with Simon on road and John off road.  So off they dashed and of course John beat the Galaxy. With those thighs and no traffic lights of course he did! And he was well pleased with himself.
We got back to the White Horse after a pleasant few hours, 24or so miles off-road under our belts and vowing (me anyway) not to go near the mountain bike again for a few years!

Tyred and not so tired....

There was some spooky tyre stuff going on this morning when we all got up at cock crow for an early Saturday morning ride. Beth had a flat one.....Alex had a puncture last night. John and I had a problem with low pressure and poorly pump. But all was resolved come 7ish and we met at the Bar at Copsale. Now, to the uninitiated this place doesn't compute. But in our world its a fitting substitute for the previous meeting place...outside the bar at the White Horse! The bar at Copsale is a little junction on the A24 where we have decided to meet up when we all ride together. Today John and I sped along a few minutes later than planned to find Alex and Beth there already. So we all tucked in behind one another and took off along the A272 to Coolham. I won't go into the details of the ride as we have done this one before. This time it was raining....our first wet outing as a team...though Beth is a veteran of the solo wet one! We squelched our way along with me being grateful it wasn't last Saturday when my birthday BBQ might have been jeopardised. It was lovely to be out together....though Alex goes so far ahead of us that his sociability rating is up for discussion! I was amazed that, despite having only gotten off my bike 14 hours before, I was still spinning like someone who was fit enough to do so!
We had a coffee break at Storrington...when I spoke on the phone to a nice chap called N who wanted to buy our surplus dining room furniture. Turns out N is a cyclist too! He was most interested in our plans for LEJOG!
So our ride ended up at Macdonalds for the customary (by now) thick shakes, cheese burgers and coffee. Then we parted company with the Maplehurst massive and we tootled back to Southwater. John headed off for shed building with Trusty. I waited in for Nigel and his lovely wife (sorry, Mrs S, didn't catch your name!). They got an ABSOLUTE bargain (!) with our outsized dining room furniture. But I have many happy memories of many great times spent around it at The Snipe. Anyone reading this got happy memories of time spent around the cherrywood dining table? Please share! In the process of the deal being struck Nigel decided he wanted to join us for a leg of LEJOG. Top man! So watch this space for news of new training buddy.
Popped in to the White Horse tonight to discuss lists for things to take on trip. It is merely weeks away at this stage so getting serious regarding cycling gear, accommodation etc. Beth is off to US in two weeks so needs to be well organised before she goes. So it is scarily near. Have you donated to my chosen charity yet? Do you want to? It'd be muchly appreciated. If you don't want to donate online, try calling me on our home number...01403 738073.
And the stats for today.....46miles at 12.5mph.....in the rain!

Fifty and lovin' it!

Hey, hey, hey y'all. I think I owe this blog some words as I have been a bit lax this past fortnight. Been a bit lax with the cycling too actually! After the last entry following the ride with Beth things just got a bit more manic than they already had been. Bit of a birthday bbq down at the Vortex which meant a house full of guests (the Essex massive with a couple of Suffolk interlopers for good measure, not to mention Big Don). Trying to move boxes around to create enough room for folk to get in the house was a challenge! Mix in with that helping Chris, Rox, and Alex make some funky bunting, creating a very fruity trifle, charging to Chi to get my hair cut and a gazillion other things, then MAN, come Saturday, I needed to relax! As my patient family will testify to, I dare say! And what better place than down at the Vortex (officially the White Horse in Maplehurst)? Where Simon created a fab bbq, Beth almost ran her (already aching, no doubt) legs off, Vic did his magic thing with some groovy tunes, Agent Alex and Saucy Sal (from West Chilt) came up trumps with some amazing salads and puds and Chris, Rox and Alex did a stunning job with the funky bunting and the magical lanterns! I have some serious competition on the dance floor from the mini Hobbits - great moves abounded from Cordy Hobbit and Leo Hobbit, not to mention their old folk! The family and friends who were there did a very good impression of enjoying my 50th birthday celebration. And the ones who weren't or couldn't be were muchly missed. And to top it all Coach Pattison became Best Husband by announcing that I wouldn't have to cycle 50 miles on Monday because I'd be too busy heading off with him to France for four days of complete birthday indulgence! Not great for my training programme but very, very good for my recovery!
So we just ignored all the moving chaos and took off via the tunnel to our favourite hotel in Epernay. Originally we were going to be there for a couple of days to watch the tour de France. This got cancelled due to pressure of moving. So no Lance to sing Happy Birthday to me (as if) but we had a fab time. Then we spent a couple of days down in an area we hadn't been to before - Foret d'Orient - beautiful area, big lake, very lovely. We met up with Annie and Mudger for lunch (as you do) as they happened to be over there and drove to meet us. Altogether so relaxing, and boy did we sleep! But of course, you didn't come here to read a holiday blog did you. I expect you want to know how the training is going now we've been back 24hrs, don't you?
Well, in my absence the rest of the team have been hard at it. Well, not sure about Trusty as he is a bit quiet but Beth and Alex have been racking up the miles and the hills which included Duncton Hill AND Devils Dyke this week! Wow, that was me under pressure to catch up a bit. So today we attempted to do just that. After faffing around most of the day John and I headed out at 2pm for a trip up the Dyke ourselves. It's a pleasant enough 18 or so miles to get there. Then a big slog up some pretty big hills to get up the top...as you would expect! I found one hill particularly tough but poley poley won the day. And won me an icecream at the top (with a flake in!). Yay, another milestone. We moseyed on home and cycled for 2hr50m altogether. Covered about 35/36m (can't remember exactly, will check computer shortly). Our average speed was 12.1mph which isn't bad considering the terrain.
The next challenge is to go out again at 7am to meet Alex and Beth for a 40 plus miler! Eeeek!

Very moving

Hello folks. We are now on the 'other side' of the move, so a bit pooped, to be honest! Still, we are in even if up to our ears in boxes, yet again. I am going to write an autobiography just so I can entitle it 'My Life in Boxes'. I seem to have spent my entire adult life moving boxes. Anyways, it is kinda nice to be back in sunny Southwater. We have lived here several times over the past two decades so it feels like home. We miss our pals in Maplehurst but so far have managed to see one or all of them every day since we left! Mostly due to our dog having his best friend and soul mate still back there and they insist on seeing each other every day. Plus there is John's commitment to regular appearances at the 6 oclock club at the White Horse Vortex. Last night we had the excuse of a 'meeting' to discuss the next 4 weeks riding requirements. Oh my, have we got some treats in store. Back to back 60milers (on consecutive days), riding up Devils Dyke, just for starters. Even some mountain biking for variety.
So on to today's ride. I hadn't been out since last Wed. If you really want to know what we did then, please look at Beth's report for that date at http://www.le2jog.wordpress.com/ It was the day we moved and my mind is a blank. Though I do remember enjoying it! L(The ride, not the move!)
Beth and I met at our new meeting place on the A24 today at 7.15. Not quite as convenient as coming out of our respective doors and meeting on the path outside - a trip of ...oh.....20yards or so. Still it worked. We had a lovely ride. Not too hot today, no chain events, no parachute rolls (see Beth's blog). A very early, but no less welcome, stop for a Twirl at Storrington. Where we were joined by John who proceeded to get our average speed up to about 13 and a half for the ride.
So we did 46 miles and finished off at McDonalds before we parted company with Beth and wended our way back to Southwater.  

Mouse in a teapot! www.justgiving.com/le-jog.blog

Not much tiime to blog this week as we are moving in! Yay! It seems like the longest move in the history of moves, I must say. But this house is getting barer and barer. Even my underwear is in Southwater...that's how close we are to being moved!!!!
So I am getting away lightly with rides...oh ho ho tho! Coach has some dastardly training plans for us once he's relieved of his Mr Shifter cap. Just an hour on Sunday at 13.5mph this week. And Beth and I have plans to go out on Wed for a 3 or 4 hr ride.
The mouse in a teapot is what Janine calls me....because I like to sleep and she cannot believe that I am training so hard! And she has kindly made the first online donation to my chosen charity today. Thanks Neen, much appreciated. I will try and keep awake for the duration!

Essex is cool!

Literally, that is! We are here visiting and on the coast there is a breeze and it is sooooooo refreshing after the mugginess of the countryside. I slept properly for the first time in weeks and weeks last night in our cosy campervan. Even felt mildly chilly at one point which is a miracle...well, you know what I mean!

So yesterday was Monday and Alex, Beth and I gathered at 8am for our 40 miler. A bit ambitious of Agent, I thought. He hasn't ridden for weeks and has had a busy weekend of umpiring and gardening. Hey ho tho'...he knows best. So we headed off into another beautifully sunny day in the Sussex countryside. As is his way, Alex dashed off at speed keeping Beth and I on our toes and upping our average speed for a while. We stopped off at Alex's mums house for our break which was lovely and beat the Texaco garage at Storrington hands down for hospitality! Thanks Diana! This was 25 m into our ride and we all admitted to jelly legs on our next hill after the stop! Downhill was a thrilling 30mph but then as we hit the upslope I felt like I'd hit a brick wall! Anyway Beth and I recovered somewhat but Alex really suffered from thereon in for the rest of the ride. We tended to him with leg massage and water but he was definitely a tired greyhound! We are all having to make the mental adjustment to training for the long distance endurance ride rather than the greyhound sprint. It is becoming clear to me that it's a matter of pacing ourselves, poley poley up the hills to conserve energy and higher cadence to be more efficient at managing that energy. Not an easy lesson and sometimes a bit painful.
My pain today was the saddle soreness from trying a ride with no padding! Not a good idea. One I need to give some serious thought to.
Anyway its been a great weeks riding. Really feel like I am getting fitter. Though the weight continues to rise week by week. A combination of stopping smoking and putting on some muscle. I try and remain philosophical about it but, again, it ain't easy!!!

Ha! Famous last words (see last blog entry)...

After worrying that Alex would be like a greyhound out of a trap what he actually resembled was a doormouse tucked up for the winter! He had overdone the social aspect of his Presidents Day at cricket and didn't make it out with us on todays ride. Still, as he is President then I guess he can be forgiven.
So it was just Trusty, Beth and myself today. The Cap'n had made some modifications to his helmet to accomodate his sore head and off we trundled. We did our hilliest route via Cuckfield with the addition of  a few extra hills via Staplefield. Great weather again. I think if it actually rains on our big trip we won't know what to do! We have been so spoiled by the great weather on our training rides. No dramas to report, no breakdowns, chains off, pot-hole collisions or anything at all, at all. Just a groovy ride around some fabbo countryside with some cool companions!
We are intending a longer ride on Monday but this one was around 27 miles at about 12mph. Hope you are all enjoying the weekend. If anyone is actually reading this apart from me, do drop a comment or two. It'd be great to hear from you!

'Climb into the cooler and shut the door'

Anyone remember that ad for Coca cola (I think) years and years ago? It's so hot all you wanna do is climb into the cooler and close the door. No? Never mind. It just about sums up how the weather is affecting lots of us at the moment. Hot and muggy and, certainly in Maplehurst, no respite at night. I have been sleeping dreadfully for a while now, some of which is due to the weather. Waking up and not getting back to sleep. Just lightly dozing all night without really going to sleep. Weird (and sometimes wonderful) dreams. So much weirdness going on generally at the moment....but that's another blog.
Was intending to go out for a morning ride with Beth on Thursday but after a mostly sleepless night I just couldn't get out of bed! So I went a bit later  - setting off at around 9.30am which is still morning. Took the route that John suggested and extended it a bit too. It was kinda odd being on my own, no pointing out potholes to Beth etc. But enjoyable nonetheless. I cycled for an hour and three quarters ending up at the new house. Where I cleaned stuff for a while. All looking great there with the painting done and carpets due in the next day. Then back on the bike for the trip home. 25 m in around 2hours and a bit.
Saturday we are planning a trip with Trusty and Agent Alex. Tho Trusty has stitches in his head from a fight with his garage door. So I don't know if he will be able to get his helmet on. Agent Alex will be on his first big cycle for weeks so we will all be kept busy reigning him in to prevent him going off like a greyhound out of the trap!

64 reasons to be cheerful!

Hasn't the UK had some spectacular weather over the past week or so? Shame that we have been stuck inside for a lot of it but we made up for that today. Beth and I finally got out for the 'Big One' after planning it for a week or two. Only one slight blot on the whole day and that was the fact that Beth had developed a sore tooth with what felt like the beginnings of a tooth abcess overnight. She'd only had snatches of disturbed sleep all night. Being the trooper she is she insisted it felt ok when she was upright and we set out at 8.30am.
We had a wonderful ride out to Turners Hill and on to Lindfield (what a pretty village) and Haywards Heath. Onwards to Ditchling (resisting the urge to ride up the Beacon!) and found a pub called the White Horse in Hurstpierpoint where we stopped for lunch. Simon came over to join us and 20 mins later John cycled in having ridden ten miles in half an hour! So we took an hour or so lunch break after which we tootled off again. Well, with John joining us it was a bit faster than a tootle. We definitely go quicker when Ironman is either setting the pace or pushing from behind. Must admit my energy levels flagged all afternoon. We rode to Henfield, past Steyning and onto Storrington where we turned right and carried on to Barns Green. This is where I went a bit quiet and zoned out for a while. However a short side trip through Southwater and we rode triumphantly into Maplehurst after 5hrs 15 mins of cycling time. We averaged 12mph more or less and covered a whopping 64 miles!!!!! This equates to one of our longer days on the planned trip. Tired when we got home, so much so that I never even made it to the shower straight away. Lay on the bed to 'relax' and drifted straight off for half an hour! Beth did the same next door but it set off her tooth ache again so I did some emergency acupuncture to try and give some relief.
So another milestone achieved on this LEJOG journey...

Just Give.....please!

Well, FINALLY! I am finally getting to spend some time setting up the sponsorship link for this mad cycle trip! Beth and I are hoping to raise money for our respective charity choices. Beth has chosen to ride for the Altzheimers Society. A most worthy cause and one pretty close to my own heart as I used to work on a unit for people with this devastating condition. A link to Beth's 'just giving' page can be found by following the link below here somewhere to her blog. Please give what you can.
I am aiming to raise money for the Mountain Rescue Team in Snowdonia National Park. At first glance, not an obvious choice I guess. But, as many of you know, Chris and his friend Rob were air lifted off the mountain last August. I can't begin to describe the emotions we went through in the time between hearing that he was up a mountain in bad weather conditions with no idea how to get down and an hour later when the MRT told us they were back to safety, lessons learned hopefully. We found out that it costs a couple of thousand pounds to scramble the helicopter each time and, of course, the team are all volunteers and therefore unpaid.
When I decided to take on the challenge of cycling 1000miles over two weeks lots of people asked which charity I was doing it for. Well, my initial motivation was to do it for my 50th year celebration! But if I can raise some amount to pay back in some way the peace of mind the Mountain Rescue Team gave me then I will be a very happy 50 year old. So please give what you can via the 'just giving' link. It might just help the next person stuck between a rock and a high place!
Try here...... www.justgiving.com/le-jog-blog

London to Brighton Bike Ride 2010

Here is the finishers photo from last weeks L2B. Coach, Trusty and Mark (whom I believe is an occasional reader of this here blog) finished in 3hrs give or take. Didn't they do well? What an inspiration to us all!

Big hills, backache and brushes!

Now if anyone suggests to you that Jackie does not get enough exercise, just you tell them that on Thurs 24th June she cycled 28miles and walked at least 5 with the dogs. And the rest of the time she was up a ladder weilding a paint brush!
But I am getting ahead of myself....on Monday we were all scheduled for a 60mile ride. In two bursts with lunch in the middle. Unfortunately due to the sport of extreme decorating that John has introduced me to I had a very bad back. I was very despondent on Sunday, so much so that I whinged at Trusty...yes, me, whinge! I know, hard to believe, eh? Anyway Captain gave me a thorough pep talk re the feasibility of cycling 60 miles a day for 16 days in 10 weeks time. And now I am as compliant as can be. But dropped the idea of a 60miler this week. Instead Beth (who was also in pain with 'divers neck' - don't ask!) and I headed out and did the dastardly Cuckfield route. It was hilly alright but we did it 10 mins or so quicker than last time I did it. And we discovered the hills that aren't quite so steep are alot easier if we chat all the way up. So we were out for 2h18m and covered 27.6m or so.
That takes us to today when we did the same route the other way round. Ha! We thought it'd be less hilly!!! We are still too topographically ignorant (is there such a condition???) to work out why it wasn't and it actually took us a few minutes longer! Never mind it was a lovely ride with alot of downhills over very rough road surface. And I hit one pot hole full on down Picts Lane which might be why I have a painful upper back now to go with my aching lower back. But, of course, I never whinge so no-one will get to hear of it from me.
The decorating continues apace.. John is spending most time at the rockface, as it were. I am almost having to prise the paintbrush out of his hand at the end of each day. But anyone who knows John will not be at all surprised to hear of his endurance attitude to what is a mammoth task. (Paint an entire 4 bed house in about 10 days, including woodwork). We've had lots of help from the young folk (girlfriends as well!) which has been an enormous help.

Three counties!

On Tues we cycled three counties in one ride! West and East Sussex (if that counts as two?) and Kent. Anyway we did 52 miles over four and a half hours. I suffered a bit with a sore knee. Due, I think, to recent saddle adjustment. Sorry this is brief but we are up to our necks in decorating the new house we are moving into shortly. No time for anything more creative than this quick entry. And still have to fit a ride in this afternoon. Pah!

There go the girls!

Agent Alex is still out of action with a poorly knee. He has had an MRI scan this week and awaits results with some trepidation, hoping that the consultant kneeologist doesn't ban him from 1000mile rides. As do we all. He is much missed on our rides. I kinda got used to seeing a flash of red way ahead in the distance. It gave me something to aim for! He, meanwhile, is fretting that a) he is losing fitness and us girlies will make mincemeat of him when he returns (as if) and b) the fashion sense of the White Horse Riders is going to go down the drain completely without our beloved style guru. On the latter point I have to say I worry too. Yesterday the only slight hint of colour I had one was the grey stripe round the top of my sports socks. Tut tut.
So after a few days just disappearing since our last ride and despite my best efforts to put it off I finally got out again on Tuesday. Don't know where the time goes...but lots going on. What with imminent move (again), Alex-the-son coming and going, Chris and Roxanne coming and not quite going yet - though they are off cycling to Norway tommoro. Well they are starting tommoro but probably won't get there for a few weeks. John going to play golf with the White Horse Golfers etc etc. And then it rained yesterday morning! And then DHL didn't come to pick up my sickly computer by lunchtime. So the upshot was that John kindly offered to hang around and do bike things and wait for DHL and us girls got out on our own for once.
We admitted (loudly) to anyone within earshot that neither of us particularly felt like cycling.....especially as we were waved off by Alex, Deirdre, Simon and John from the pub garden. Grrr! Still, we are determined so off we went.
Quite an eventful first 7 miles for Beth with her chain coming off (usually my problem not hers!), her clippyon shoes giving her the heebie jeebies and her back light leaping off the bike on a particularly bumpy downhill section. Then we settled in with heavy legs but increasing levels of endorphin assistance and completed a very pleasant 36.6m in 2hr55m at about 12.1mph average speed.

I'm spinning around, move out of my way!

Yesterday was a beautiful day, we really made up for the days before weatherwise. John, Beth and myself (whereforartthou Alex, we MISS you!!!) took off on an early morning ride. I was reluctant. Having a real psychological battle with getting on a bike before 8am. It just doesn't seem right somehow! Probably due also to the fact that I have been awake since cock crow anyway because Maplehurst has the noisiest birds on the planet. We have jackdaws nesting in the chimney who, at 4.30am sound like jack russells. Seriously. I swear they bark. But to have Beth's company it has to be early starts and (sshh, don't tell her or Coach this) once I am up then it's a pleasure being out on the trusty carbon steed. Not to be confused with Trusty Ironman. And we positively ambled for the first hour or so. John found a flat route! Yay! It wasn't til we were cruising down to Storrington that it kind of occurred to both Beth and me that, uhoh! Coach has something darstardly planned if he's being this kind to us. It isn't just because Beth already did 3 hrs yesterday and I wanted a lie-in that he is being so seemingly good to us. I even wondered if we would get coffee and chocolate at Storrington as usual even though we'd only been riding 50 mins or so by that stage. No chance (and I can't believe I don't know my husband better after two centuries). He waved us into the layby for some tasty energy drink (!) and beamed with mischief that we'd be going left at the petrol station. I don't think the truth dawned on Beth as quickly as it did with me. Partly because I have spent most of a decade driving up and down that road over the Downs getting to Chichester and laughing at the silly cyclists who insisted on attempting to cycle it! After one or two cycling hints (but never saying it would be a flat route to Bury Hill) John disappeared. I swear he bi-locates. One minute he is there, the next, phooooosh! Nowhere to be seen. I also think he goes ahead so he doesn't get to hear our curses.
But anyway, we did it! Beth and I just poli, polied all the way up the various hills ending at the top of Houghton Hill which meets Bury Hill. Beth did give in to a mournful 'Are we there yet?' just before the final ascent. John sat waiting in the middle of the roundabout like some atheltic leprecaun, justifiably proud of us. As were we! We had coffee and shortbread to celebrate then free wheeled all the way down to Pulborough. I clocked 38mph at one stage then got spooked and applied brakes. The rest of the route was very, very pretty through West Chiltington and Shipley. And flattish too. We got home in 3hrs 5m (I think), 38 miles at an average of 12. something.
I am suffering some padding friction issues but I won't go into that on a public forum. Anyone really interested can email me privately!
So then today (fri) we took Beth along to her first spin class at the gym. Poor woman...she'd had two days riding and swam 39 lengths last night. So spin was a bit painful and somewhat of a shock to her! Maybe because I bigged it up as being great fun. Which, I kind of remember it was when we all used to go in Chichester. This was hard work though today. All uphill it seemed. But over in 45mins and I still kind of enjoyed it in a perverse way. So Beth and I are going again next week!

Bank holiday backlog......

Am blogging this on a very poorly 'puter. Just opened it the other day and the screen is displaying some mad behaviour. Not laptoplike at all at all. As I've only had this since Christmas then it must return to its makers. But not before the Bank Holiday is over, it would seem.
Anyways, Thursday was meant to be an early morning ride with Beth, Alex and John but when we woke up it was raining. I texted what we were all thinking, namely, 'Blah! Shall we leave it til this afternoon?' And agreement was forthcoming. Unfortunately work pressures were also forthcoming for Beth, she got a backlog in that department and couldn't join us.
So it was me 'n' the lads out there and taking on the Picts Lane/Cuckfield route of 2 weeks ago. It will never be an easy ride but didn't seem quite so hard for me this time. Alex was in fine form with his new tribars. He scooted ahead having a lovely time of it. As did we all. It was a great ride, with us finishing 10mins faster than the first time we did it. A couple of days on I cannot remember the exact time but then, does it really matter?
Today (Sunday) was again going to be a 7 o'clock start with the four of us. Beth originally pulled out last night due to work (Bank Hol at the Horse), Alex had a cricked injury to the knee. His first match of the season and an injury, would you  believe it! Then Beth decided she could make it after Simon offered to take on some of her work this morning. So we went out a 9 (much more reasonable time!) and did our Henfield loop with a difference. Coach had us practising drafting and overtaking each other whilst drafting. This was not only pretty good fun but took our average speed up too. We came home via Crabtree hill which is a long slow drag but still didn't detract from our 13.8 mph average speed. 27 miles. Brilliant!

Great to get to fifty (miles, that is!)

Just had a hectic couple of days driving to Ireland, stopping for 2 nights, driving back. Definitely a long way to go for just 2 nights. But the funeral went very well and, as is usual at these events, it was a bit bizarre being so delighted to see friends and family on such an otherwise sad occasion. Ireland was enjoying the fantastic weather too and Wicklow is just dazzling...must be my favourite place I think. Though wouldn't like to be cycle training there - so hilly it makes Maplehurst look like Holland!
I didn't feel up for a ride on Sunday on our return so John and Beth went out. And he still had energy to come out with Alex and I this morning. We headed off a 9 and I felt mildly fragile as had really disturbed couple of nights sleep, no food to speak of yesterday and a touch of VW syndrome...that's Vortex Wine. Went in there for one yesterday lunchtime. Say no more. So I was probably pretty dehydrated. Anyway, the weather was amazing, hot and sunny and no real wind.
We covered a lot of different terrain, country roads, busy A roads. Had a few stops, one pretty necessary one to get some water into me! Then chocolate and coffee at Storrington, a real treat that we all look forward to. It was here that John worked out that he needed to get home to change and make it to an appointment. So he took his leave of us and legged it at 20+ miles an hour home. We carried on at our own pace. At one point we were joined by a young man on a day out on his bike. He chatted merrily away with Alex at quite a speed. And Alex was delighted that he shook hands when we took our turn off to Partridge Green! Ah, the camaraderie of the cycling world.
We rode into Maplehurst tired, achey but absolutely chuffed to bits at having covered 51 miles in 4hrs 5mins. Our average speed was about 13.2 I think. And I found out later that we had climbed 4000ft as well. Good gracious! John, as coach, was very happy with the route as it was full of variety, good climbs. A 'cracking training ride' was the official verdict.

Blogging back-log

I am a couple of ride reports behind so bear with me whilst I attempt to catch up.
Had some sad news at the weekend. John's mum's partner Sean passed away over in Ireland. He was my surrogate step-father-in-law, I guess. We will all miss him and especially our visits to Wicklow won't be the same ever again. We are off there tommoro, all four of us, to pay our last respects to a lovely man who had so many interests and hobbies, it is hard to believe he was well into his eighties.
So I was in no great mood for a training ride on Sunday and just took myself off for a 14m pootle. Actually, it was a very hilly pootle as it happens. It took one hour ten mins.
John had just arrived down in the south of France when he got the news about Sean. He had inadvertently left his mobile phone at home (anyone who knows John will find this very hard to believe!). So I couldn't relay the news until his journey was almost complete. Anyway, he decided to cycle up Mont Ventoux (24k up) before driving home again. An active 48hrs or so then! He arrived back on Monday exhausted, not surprisingly. Shame he missed his training camp but felt there was no point in joining in for the first day or so only to have to leave midweek.
Beth completed the 26m overnight Moonwalk in London on Saturday with her two daughters Kerrie and Kimberely. Fantastic achievement to raise money for Breast Cancer research.
So one might have expected Beth to be  a bit weary in the legs on todays ride, mightn't one? Not a bit of it! Herself, John and I headed out at 8am and did a long ride. The weather was fine and sunny, though a little windy on occasions. John used the session as interval training and kept zipping past us at speed up the hills. Beth was a yellow peril speeding bullet! Couldn't keep up with her at all, especially towards the end of the ride. Still we had a great time. 40m covered in just on 3 hours which worked out at 13.2mph. That'll have to do us til we are back on Sunday.

R & R

For Recovering and Recovery. Considering we climbed 2,500ft yesterday on our ride my legs feel alright today. So good that I finally listened to coachly advice to go for a 'recovery ride'. It doesn't make sense to my novice brain that to recover from a ride one ought to go and ride. Is it a bit like the 'hair of the dog' after a heavy night on the booze? Or some kind of homeopathic approach? Whichever, I did go and spin the legs for a few miles. Nothing hectic but I did it and apparently it'll pay dividends in the long term.
That was after taking Finn and Lady Boudicea for a mammoth walk today. Beautiful day so decided to explore the area above the woods in Southwater where we go. Discovered miles and miles of woodland I knew nothing about. Which is a disgrace considering I have been walking there for 12 years! But very exciting too and I look forward to many a happy hour getting lost from now on.
Yesterday afternoon Alex, John and I met Trusty down in Worthing at his favourite cycle shop. We spent a merry hour trying on cycling gear and gasping at the price tags. I came away with a nice pair of capri trousers, gel gloves and a fabbo new helmet. My last helmet has served well over 15 years but technology has moved on and the new one is great.
Alex just called in on his way back from his ride and looks so stylish. New tri bars, everything black and red and cool looking. It is rubbing off as I had a tantrum in the shop when John wanted me to buy yet another bright yellow hi-vis monstrosity of a jacket.' NOOOO!  I want to look like Alex! He can be seen in his bright redness..all you guys wear bright red. Why do I have to look like a demented traffic warden?' Oh dear, vanity entering the door! Anyway, didn't buy the jacket. But also didn't get anything cool and red either!k Watch this space.

Mr and Mrs P do hills

Up earlyish to prepare for riding today with Agent Alex and Busy B and Coach. However it was not to be. Firstly Beth cancelled with Moonwalk Malady...in preparation for staying up all night walking 26miles on Saturday she is in sleep deprivation training and had a bad night. Then Alex called off with Goodwood Knees. As I was already in my gear I couldn't think of a reasonable excuse not to go so off we went at about 8am. John decided on a last minute route change and we were quite pleased to be taking a route we hadn't cycled before. Ha! Be careful what you wish for is all I can say in retrospect!
 We took a back road off the A272 on the other side of Cowfold. It was a long, slow incline that went on for miles. Followed by yet more inclines, followed by one mighty steep one that had me off the bike and pushing it up the hill! Only the second time in training I have had to resort to that. All this and we'd only covered 14km in just under an hour! We went through Handcross down to the junction near the Cowdray Arms pub. Turned right to Cuckfield and John said he thought it was fairly flat for the trip to Cuckfield. At one point he kindly said 'Darling' (he calls us all that, thinks its motivational!) 'don't feel you have to catch me up on the hills, take your time'. If  I'd had any breath left at that stage I would have explained that my main focus was on keeping my lungs and heart going and the only reason I MAY have for wanting to catch him up is to deliver a slap to the side of  his head for taking me on such a ridiculous route. I was feeling a bit tired and emotional by the time we'd completed the long climb into Cuckfield. I caught up with John sitting on a wall outside the pub talking to the nice landlord, Bill. (I guess he'd been waiting some while if he was on first name terms with the guy). Whilst I recovered (and managed to stay vertical) John explained to Bill that he'd told me the road to Cuckfield was flat. Bill laughed (knowingly) and mentioned that it wasn't likely as Cuckfield is the second highest village in Sussex. That's the Sussex that is home to the South Downs. So you can imagine what a climb it was.
I'd like to say it was all downhill after that but of course, this is Sussex, so it wasn't. But we did eventually get home. Having covered about 28miles (27.5 of them uphill I swear) in 2.5hrs. Slow average speed but hey, I didn't need an ambulance so I'm not complaining. Though it seems that way when I read this back!
And as John is off on his own training camp in the south of France next week, I jolly well hope he gets all the hill training he desires! Bless him.

Back from Glasto...

Here I am, back from a weeks worth of chant, ritual, meditation and good food!  Met lots of lovely like-minded people (or hippies as James would say!) and had an altogether all together week.  And speaking of James I would like to pass on the joyful news that the lovely Cathy gave birth to their daughter Keira Maya on May Day morn! Fantastic - the world needs more girls. And judging from the photo's she is a beauty. I hope to get to Scotland to meet her in person before too long.
So, back to the blog in hand. I was feeling well up for a ride yesterday, as you can imagine, after more than a week off the saddle. I am also into my second week of not smoking (going ok thanks!). I don't know whether it is that. Or the fact that John made me ride up Newells Lane first off....whatever, I was pretty breathless for the whole ride. Felt very tight chested and can only think my lungs are in a bit of shock. Hopefully this will ease as time goes by.
Got the timing wrong on the gearing AGAIN and the chain came off AGAIN. Coach lost his cool (with the chain, not me, apparently!) and bike ended up in the hedge. Oh dear! Don't get this road rage in Glasto! Talking of road rage, some idiot driver overtook me closely and at speed in a built up area and then was forced to stop abruptly for a parked car. I only just missed going in to the back of him. Can appreciate now how Trusty nearly met his end with that truck!
Anyway, all cool was finally recovered and we went on to enjoy the lovely day and  the beautiful Downs. Although I was still breathless when we got home it was a grand ride. Had my new computer on the bike, new bottle rack, lights and pump. Covered 26 miles in a tad over two hours which is fine.

9th May - BOYZONE - well. plus 25ish years!

Isn't this lovely....a blog entry from a guest blogger! This is Trusty's account of what happens when Beth and I let them off on their own!







Today saw the girls with better things to do so Agent Alex and Trusty Ironman were left to carry the banner. Agent Alex had his new bike profile to enjoy including Tri Bars !! The route choice was an extended Henfield ride, for those in the know about such things. The pace was steady and comfortable with plenty of conversation. The ‘extended’ bit of the ride proved a bit of a challenge for Trusty at times as he was not sure of the directions. He raced off up a hill by Devil’s Dyke with instructions to turn first right and it would take him towards Henfield. Trusty did as told but then encountered an unexpected T Junction after the turn. He decided to follow the sign for Henfield but had to stop after a mile due to a call of nature. Once the task was completed, Trusty had still not been caught by Alex. Alarm bells started ringing and a U Turn was made back to the junction. Still no sign of Agent Alex so Trusty raced along the other turn off. In the meantime, Agent Alex had taken the other, correct, turn off but found himself still riding solo after quite a while. Reminding himself of the meaning behind Trusty’s title, Agent Alex did not believe that he had been deserted like this so something must be afoot. So, Agent Alex also did a U turn and the pair were reunited, albeit going in opposite directions! The rest of the ride was spent cycling within sight of each other. One stop was made for the ‘Banana in Bramber’ refuel before pushing on to the final leg. As we crossed the A272 for the home straight, Agent Alex spotted another cyclist half way up the first hill. Remembering that Trusty had been attacking most of the hills on the ride he issued a challenge....catch the cyclist before he gets to the top of the hill, although the comment was made that the guy looked like he was 75. Trusty accepted the challenge and blasted off, just catching the guy before the crest and feeling good about the chase but, guess what, he did look like he was 75! Home and coffee came soon after and 30 miles in 2hrs 30 set us up for the rest of the day.

Lumpy tyres and sprung forks

As my bike went into the workshop today for some fine tuning I had to go out on the trusty old mountain bike. Wow, what a difference now I am used to the road bike. Don't know how you do it Ion! It, and I, felt very sluggish mostly due to the bad nights sleep I had and the sore neck I woke up with. So it was just a token ride really. Just to say I got out on the bike. The Downs Link is looking gorgeously green since the last time I went in that direction.
That's me done with cycling for a week or so as I am off to Glastonbury tommoro. What a shame the weather seems to be turning. Never mind, it will still be a magical week, I'm sure. Think of me up a Tor at dawn on 1st welcoming in Beltane! Will miss our rides out and hopefully will come back full of vim and vigour ready to face the next stage of training.