And Finally...

Sue is feeling happy to be home, a little sad to have missed the last day, overwhelmed by the exciting finish line and seeing everyone and blown away (more than on Brighton Cliffs) by the generousity of the good folk at The Pilgrim Inn who raised a whopping £677.18! Official overall total now stands at...£2179.13 plus £242.56 Gift Aid!!!

Just discovered that the winds on the Brighon Cliffs were 25mph, gusting to 37mph!!!! At one point there was a sheer drop on the left hand side of me and a gust of wind (probably 37mph!) hit me and knocked me sideways.. At that point I got off and felt glad to have my feet on terra ferma. I walked for about a mile with my bike up and down the cliffs until i felt safe to get on again. A tough day.

Best cycling moments, include cycling along the promenades in the sun on day 2, where we stopped and people came from all directions to give money to us. Thank you to everyone who donated en route, we weren't prepared for that and had to improvise a donation bag - Louise's pocket.

Car drivers. Yes another great! The Soath Coast is full of cycle friendly drivers, not one caused me to issue an expletive! Sadly a number of pedestrians did as they walked out looking right through us as if we didn't exist or busy texting or rushing and generally not looking.

Scariest moments include negotiating deep pot holes at a moments notice that would have thrown us off, over the handle bars, the windy cliffs and cycling blind down hill praying my brakes would hold whilst the rain misted and drenched my glasses.

The team did great, with Rhod as the mechanic keeping our bikes in A1 tip top riding condition and having enough tools and spares to (almost) build another bike if the need arose. Jane, the one woman fuel and hydration squad keeping us strong all the way, blogger and photographer extraordinaire, map reader and fellow cyclist Louise who's homing pigeon instincts kept us on the right track all the way, Chris and all the staff at The Pilgrim Inn who made the finish line memorable, Richard for the loan of his workhorse to take bikes and all our gear (my little Peugeot wasn't really man enough) and Karen and Debbie for building the diary for the pub - which we'll keep forever as a momento of our great adventure - to add to the list of life's great moments. We couldn't have done it without ALL your magnificent support and sponsorship, on and offline, and raised so much for the SI Foundation xxx

And they did it!!!

At around 8pm this evening Sue and Louise pulled up to the Pilgrim Inn in Marchwood.

Sue decided to cycle the last mile!
Louise cycled all the way and found the whole thing quite amazing!

Louise said: "I don't actually remember saying yes to doing this!"

Sue said: "With community spirit behind us, we can do anything! What's next? But I'm not organising it!"

The welcome here was truly amazing and was a great welcome back .... great thanks to everyone who met us there (here, as I'm doing this at the pub).

This picture is from the Hythe ferry - the last of 4 ferries on the journey today.

Some pictures of their arrival in Southampton will be posted tomorrow as mine are pretty rubbish!



[Jane]

Lunchtime rendez-vous day 4

It's grim down south ... still not raining at lunchtime, but still ...

A warm pasta lunch and coffee went down well in Hayling Island.

Here Sue and Rhod joined us also and Sue gave Louise some detailed advice on the last miles which involves 3 ferries as well as lots of very small tracks.





I'm currently waiting in Hamble for Louise to arrive on the small pink ferry .... and it's started to rain... Louise is now finding it very hard going. I'm hoping she'll get here before the little café closes and I can get a hot chocolate in for her when she arrives.

Day 4 .... and then there was one ...

So, if you've read the last post you'll know that Sue is unable to continue today.
At 8.30 this morning, Louise set off on her lone journey from Worthing to Marchwood our end point - a 70+ mile journey for this long last step.

It isn't raining but the wind is still very challenging.

I met up with her again just before Bognor Regis at around 10.30am and she re-fuelled.

Our next stop, where we will also meet Sue and Rhod is at Langstone, just before Hayling Island.

If you are in the Hampshire area and would like to come along, we are at The Pilgrim Inn pub in Marchwood this evening.

Meet Dave ....

Dave together with Steve from the Littlehampton paramedic crew had to pay us a visit last night. Completely exhausted after a day battling against the wind and the rain, Sue managed to dislocate her shoulder. This hasn't happened for years but she is double-jointed ....

She was in severe pain ... I've certainly never heard screams like that in real life before. Any move lead to more and more pain. We looked after her as best we could, trying to keep her warm at least.

Then the cavalry arrived in the form of Steve and Dave.
After gas and air, morphine and an hour of gentle coaxing, Steve and Dave managed to get her arm back into the right place and then take a rather shocked and exhausted bike rider off to hospital. Sue and Rhod were in A&E for 5 hours and so were back at the hotel at around 3 in the morning.


Thanks to the paramedics ... I hope your ears have recovered!
(and sorry for the poor quality of the photo!)

End of day 3 - stats

Miles cycled : 178.5

max speed: 35mph

Time : 9.5 hours of cycling that day

Collecitons: £9 collected en route

It was the most difficult day yet.
"Drenched thru, thights killings us. Still smiling and shaking with cold."

One drowned rat has arrived ...

"I've never been so grateful for a hot chocolate," she said.

(She's now on her second.)

Il pleut

Not only is it windy, it's raining quite heavily too!

I've just been out to get in provisions .... hot chocolate & mashmallows, cup a soup with some fresh croutons, cake, dark chocolate, milk for hot tea ... hope I've got something that Sue'll like ... I know that Louise will be fine with whatever.

Expecting 2 drowned rats any minute ....

[Jane]

Lunch time rendez-vous day 3

We met at Beachy Head for lunch today ... and I was late... all I did between the riders leaving and arriving in Beachy Head was .... have breakfast, prepare sandwiches, fill water bottles, have to leave the hotel due to a fire alarm going off, prepare photos and blog, send photos to friends in Southampton who are preparing the story board for The Pilgrim Pub, Marchwood (our arrival place) and then leave.

My TomTom got confused in the one way system in Hastings; the road on the seafront was being resurfaced, I got stuck behind a funeral cortège and I took a wrong turning once ....

Anyway, I got there about 15 minutes late and fed the thirsty and hungry riders.

It's very very windy today - especially high up in the hills and in front of the sea ..... and they are finding it rather hard going.






The wind also caught Rhod out and he's currently with the AA extracting his keys from the car!
Thanks to Rhod for the loan of his camera until we work out what's wrong with mine.

And thanks again to all our sponsors
- there's now £1110 bid
on-line.

[Imagine cycling these hills ... and with crosswind!!]

Day 3 and they're off ....

Today's route And they're off ...

Are you sure you know where you're going?

*** No comment ***

Start of day 3 ...

Day 3, 09h10 start

A few pix from today's start preparations ...








Day 3 is harder than the first 2 days ....

Wow! The start of Day 3 Already. Update in brief.

I'm having an amazing time. Cycling by the sea is great. I hadn't realised just how much of England is cycle friendly.

It is tiring and I know today will be tough: tired legs and over 60 miles to do.

Jane and Rhod have been awesome as the back-up team, making sure we get enough calories and fluids and generally making sure we're okay.

We've met some lovely people along the way: people asking us what we're doing; cheering us; smiling; donating. A big thank you again to all those who've sponsored us on line and to those who've stopped us to give us directions and/or money.

Today, the sun is out, a gorgeous start but also nice and fresh. Looking forward to lunch at Beachy Head.

End of day 2 - stats

Yesterday's stats in full:

Miles cycled: 120

Time taken: 16 hours

Top speed : 22.1 mph

Money raised: £12.76 en route + £1080 in total on the website

Thanks again to all our sponsors and to those of you who have met these crazy cyclists en route!


Quotes from the cyclists:


Lowlights:

"my thighs are sore!"

"Sue sailing past a perfectly good toilet!"


Highlights:


~ meeting 12 red-lycra-clad Belgian cyclists en route to Dover and jumping into their group photo :)

~ flying down the hills :)

Now onto day 3 and we start from Hastings going downhill!

[Jane]

End of day 2

Today the route started in Greatstone-on-Sea (see below) and the first stop was 20 miles away in Samphire Hoe. Samphire Hoe is a man made vantage point between Dover and Folkestone which I've often gone past on my travels.

Whilst waiting for Sue and Louise(for 1.5 hours) I chatted with Alistair who told me that it was constructed from "stuff" cut out from making the Channel Tunnel. Alistair himself is from Scotland and came down to work on the Channel Tunnel in 1988 and never went back. As I live in France, I'm quite grateful it exists!

It is a beautiful vantage point and as it was a lovely sunny day, we did say, several times that there are worst places to wait.

===

So Sue and Louise arrived; and we fed and watered them... but they didn't need much water so they had to endure the wrath of Rhod ... to make sure that they do drink enough during the day.




===

From Samphire Hoe Rhod and I carried on to the end point, Winchelsea Beach. I stopped off on the way to blog what I could in a Little Chef (see below) but after 30 minutes the connection failed.

Shortly after arriving at Winchelsea Beach, Sue called to ask us to meet them at Rye instead. We hot footed it over there and waited 1.5 hours until they arrived. We topped up their water and gave them some flapjacks to keep them going for another couple of miles.

===

Tonight we're staying at the Travel Lodge in Hastings. Nowhere near as nice as the B&B last night. And unfortunately my camera has a problem! Some great big blobs of something have appeared on the sensor. This is really bad news for the camera and all the shots I've taken today. I'll try and find a camera shop tomorrow.


(example of shot ruined by blobs!)



[Jane]

Day 2 - a beautiful day dawns ....

The start of day 2 was very different from day 1 and the sun shined brightly!

(By the way I hope that soon I will be able to right longer blogs than this: so far, there has been absolutely no time available when wifi access is also available!)

End of day 1

So at the end of day 1 the stats were:

- 7 hours and 25 minutes of cycling

- 55.16 miles

- max speed of 27.3 mph


[Jane]

So they arrived safe and sound at the B&B only 15 minutes after me and 5 minutes after Rhod. It's hard work being in the support crew!

The B&B was lovely - the White Horses Cottage at Greatstone on Sea. They even put scones with cream and strawberries in the fridge for us - sorry no photos of those, they were pretty much devoured on sight :)

Photos here are from The Pilot pub just down the road where Sue and Lou just about managed to stay awake long enough to eat a fish supper.

At the lunch stop Rhod had a surprise for them ... a luxury pack of Champeney's smellies to lie in when we would reach the B&B... they were both very appreciative.

Quick update

It's been a busy 24 hours with no time for anything!

The pictures are from yesterday lunchtime... Sue and Lou arrived around 1 hours later than expected but then surprised us by arriving a lot earlier and their next location!

As I passed them on the road just now ....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAO95Q5IiYY

The bike song was playing on Radio ... how spooky is that?

Lunch time rendez-vous day 1

Words from the cyclists ...

Scariest moment .... cycling full speed downhill practically blind due to rain on glasses (Sue).

Scariest moment .... bit of a cross wind on the B2103 coming down into Eastbourne "managed to hold on though" (Lou).

30 miles in and they haven't drawn sweat yet!

£5 collected en route.
And total has reached £1030 today! Thanks!

[Jane]

And they're off!

At just before 9 this morning and despite the grey and murky weather Sue and Lou left Seaford in high spirits. Yesterday, although she didn't say in in the blog post, Sue was feeling distinctly fluey and was taking Lemsips every 4 hours. Seems to have done the trick!

Five minutes after leaving base camp though I spotted them asking for directions ... let's see if we meet them for lunch or not ....

[Blogged by Jane - power-picnic-preparer]

Weather & Stuff

The weather is changing for the better, a rosey outlook ahead.

We have reached and exceeded our target of £1000 - thanks so much to all those who have sponsored us and those who are still intending to sponsor us.

We hope to be greeted by all our supporters at the Pilgrim Inn at 7pm on Tuesday 14th AND a Southampton Echo reporter! Here's hoping they fit us in :-)

We just have to cycle now...!!

Weather

Hmmmm... I didn't plan the weather. Have you seen the forecast? Don't look it's too awful.

4 days to go...

Dead excited now...even though I'm not feeling my best. The dizziness is much less today and the anti-seasickness tablets are working well. The big things aren't spinning around now, just little things like the computer screen scrolling up and if i move my head too fast.

I've looked at the 1:25,000 maps and have been marking our lunch spots so we can meet Rhod and Jane for lunch and replenish water and fuel supplies.

All is going to plan, just my head to fall in line now!

OMG Can it get any worse?

I have Labyrinthitis. Which explains a few things like falling off my bike, the Vertigo at Land's End and feeling generally unwell for the past 2 weeks.

I've got tablets from the doctor who assures me that most people don't even have to take a weeks worth and it's better.

All I can do is hope and pray I'm okay for Saturday.

Keep your fingers crossed everyone.

6 days to go!

A thought for all of those people in New Zealand including my friends John and Susan who were caught in the Earthquake. It was very frightening even though no lives were lost.

Saturday - 30 miles done and dusted. This weekend I decided to do some cycling but not too much. Saturday saw me setting off along the Bristol to Bath cycle path. Weather was cool and clear. The path is fairly flat so I decided to just keeping cycling until I reached Bath which is 15 miles away. I enjoyed the traffic free experience and it was straightforward. Feeling confident, I did a little sprint at one point and almost killed myself! What happened to my youth?

Once I reached Bath I ate coucous with mackerel, celery and the rest of Claire F's chutney she made last year. Very good. Then I headed straight back. A total of 30 miles for the day. The big thing for the actual event will be to just keep going, breaking through the psychological and physical pain barriers.

Sunday was a much tougher day. I had originally planned to do a repeat of Saturday but decided that I needed some hill work. Boy, did I get hills? Out to Wells and back there were some long torturous hills both ways. Along the way I saw plenty of road kill, but the worst moment for me was seeing the Owl. I think it was a Tawny Owl. It made me so sad. Anyway, the hills. The start is up the Wells Road through Totterdown and Knowle and then out to Whitchurch. The trouble with hills is they are hard work. I could probably cycle 250 miles along the flat with my hands off the handlebars. Hills are a whole different ball game. The only way to do them is head down, and think of England! Of course it's always satisfying getting to the top, particularly if there's a downhill bit the other side. WHEEEEEEE! Of course, Sunday it poured with rain so by the time I got to Wells, I was tired, wet and slightly cold. My couscous didn't have too much appeal so I went into a well known chain of takeaways for a hot chocolate and foot long breakfast meal. It hit the spot. I definitely needed something hot. Then head down and back the way I'd come. The hill which had been such fun coming down into Wells was the start of the journey back. Push, push, push. It was pretty tough going all the way back. 40 miles total. I know that the 250 miles are going to push me to my limit. But in the words of A J Hackett, 'If you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much space!'

Dress Rehearsal 2

10 miles out, puncture Doh! Try again today. New handle bar bag, with place for music, SAT NAV and map. Lets se ho far I get....

30 miles. And a lovely route throught Beaulieu, down to Lepe and Calshot,to Exbury and home.

BIG MISTAKE THOUGH. Stupid. Didn't take enough food with me. I 'bonked' Legs started shaking and wobbling. I had to stop before I fell off. Rhod rescued me with Mars Bars. Thanks Rhod ;-)

A series of little mistakes caused that. I had 3 big meals yesterday but the last one had very lttle carbs. So the porridge for breakfast and banana for a snack just wasn't enough. Didn't take any money either.

So lesson learnt. Take more snack than we need and take cash and make sure carbs on the the men at every meal time.

'Bonking' means hitting the wall.


Equipment all works except for map blowing about too much in high winds. Music was great!

Monday 30th Log

Good day for cycling. Sunny, nice breeze. Set off from the centre of Bristol along the National Cycle Route 41 along the Avon Gorge to Pill. A gentle start. Then on over the Avon Bridge which has a cycle track next to the motorway. Get into my stride. Through Avonmouth. Have you ever seen the Flour Mills building - beautiful in a historic sense, ugly in an aesthetic one. Past Severn Beach. I often wonder what visitors from abroad think when they visit Severn Beach with its mud and views. I can see the Severn Bridges. I follow the cycle track round. Bump into Sharon and Chris and we have a quiet drink in the local pub. Then it's Chepstow here I come. I've never cycled over the Severn before. I've chosen a good day. The sun is bright and bouncing off the water below, making it glisten. Then I'm in Wales. I carry on along the Cycle route 4 for a while, narrow country roads, cows, peace. Great hill just coming out of Chepstow on the 4. Wheeeee! Glad I didn't have to cycle back up it. Then back to Chepstow, over the Bridge, through Aust, Olveston and back into Bristol via Bradley Stoke and Stoke Gifford. A good day. Probably about 40 miles. Huge bowl of pasta and plenty of fluids when I get back. Happy with my day.

Photos

Feeling much better today. We laughed our fluorescent socks off whilst Rhod took some great shots of two crazy ladies!

It's just the dress rehearsal. Things always go wrong!

Well, Sunday 29th August wasn't my most successful cycling day. It started okay. Breakfast. Pack the lunch. Route: Marchwood to Christchurch return. The weather was a little overcast but nice and cool for cycling.

Off I set. Legs a little tired from Saturday but nothing dramatic. Good ride back to Beaulieu, then the cycle path along the riverside, through the trees. Watch out for the routes and the mud.

Next stop Bucklers Hard. Very picturesque. Just as I'm heading for St Leonard's I notice my back wheel is behaving a bit strangely. Looking down it looks as though there might be a slight buckle. Difficult to explain but it kind of looks like a wobble. I make a mental note to get the spokes tightened before the big ride. It should be okay, I think, as long as I don't hit something.

There is nothing like cycling the quiet country roads of the New Forest with the sound of the wind in the trees and the tyre on the tarmac. It's good to feel alive. Like a teenager again when I used to cycle for miles wherever my fancy took me, without thinking of mileage and routes.

Sawley Pond is huge. When I think of a pond, I think of the ones in the villages with a few ducks on them. Sawley Pond is like a lake. I stopped to check the route and my tyre. Wow. There's a tear in it. Two inches long. Just the outer part of the tyre but a tear nevertheless. Oh no! I think. I'm three miles from Lymington. Can I make it without it blowing out completely? I do a quick risk assessment and take a chance.

For the next three miles, I cycle carefully, mindful of the tyre. Thinking I can get to a cycle shop at Lymington I feel that all is not lost. It won't take ten minutes to change it and then I can be on my way. I head through the town. Nothing. I go back to the station to ask. A man with a top hat is in the ticket office. This station is worth a visit - a step back in time.

Next thing I know, I have an escort of three children on bikes who are taking me back up the high street to the cycle shop. Not long now. The children are on adventure, showing me the short cuts. I remember when short cuts were the thing.

We arrive. It's moved. We follow the directions. Yeh! But no. The cycle shop in all its glory is shut. The sign says Sunday - Cycling. Still, all is not lost. There must be a cycle shop in Brockenhurst, a hop and stop away on the train.

Sue is at base camp. She texts me the number. Yes. The shop is open, but not my tyre in stock. At this point, I have to concede defeat. I console myself with a bag of chips and a walk by the waterfront. It is disappointing but I have loved my time in the New Forest. It's re-ignited me in some way.

Thanks to Sue who picks me up from Beaulieu Road Station, I return to base camp via Halfords. Rhod changes the tyre and, at least I'm set for Monday's ride back in Bristol.

The evening is well spent making our costumes and having our publicity shots done in the garden. Can't remember the last time I laughed so much. Rhod's face is a picture as he takes the photos and realises finally that we are both totally crackers!

A Beautiful Day in the New Forest

Well, my bike felt very pert this morning as we set off. Rhod had cleaned, oiled, tightened and pumped all the relevant parts. It felt brand new again. Sadly, Sue wasn't quite so pert and after 12 miles had to return home. I decided to carry on aware that I'm behind in my training schedule. With no map to hand, I had a vague sense of where I was heading. Over the last weeks I had been used to the A roads around Bristol, with the roar of traffic and grime. The New Forest was a complete pleasure: purple heather was in full bloom everywhere I looked; ponies stood peacefully under the shade of trees or, in some places, in the middle of the road. Cows chewed the cud and happy cyclists bid me good day as they passed. Soon I had made it to Ringwood where I had a lovely danish pastry from the first bakery available. I got a little lost then eventually found signposts to Burley. From Burley to Brockenhurst was a great ride with the Forest spread before me. In Brockenhurst I stopped for my mid-morning couscous. Fennel and courgette with Branston Pickle and egg. The village was bustling with tourists in flipflops soaking up the last of the summer. Next it was Beaulieu. A truly delightful spot but sadly no chip shop and I really fancied a big portion of them. Then the home straight to Marchwood. A grand total of 50 miles.

Disaster Has Struck

Having spent the last few days in Cornwall, 1 day inspecting the route, I ended up with Virtigo, feeling sick, head spinning on the notorious Cornish hills. This was an utter shock to me and caused me great distress, having spent most of my childhood holidays in Cornwall I couldn't understand how this could have come about. Not to mention the month i have spent planning the route and the help I've had from various people - Alan Pewsey especially - thank you.

But, when the going gets tough,... supported by Rhod and Louise (who came down all the way from Bristol) we trawled the Road Atlas and online national cycle route websites for an alternate route and have found another 250 mile option that won't give me Virtigo. So all is not lost, 250 miles will still be cycled. We thought that if we couldn't do one end of the country - we could have a go at the other end!So we will be cycling to Dover and back using National Cycle Routes 1 and 2 - mainly road routes with some off road sections and a few whopping great hills which I hope I will be okay on! If not, I may never make it home! (Just kidding...I hope!)

Having fallen off my bike twice now and with the shock of the Virtigo out the way, Louise and I set off this morning for our first joint ride on a 70 mile route.

After 12 miles, disaster, i didn't fall off, I just fell ill and had to be rescued by Rhod and later he rescued my helmet and gloves that i'd left behind in the car park. Louise bravely ventured on into the New Forest without a map and cycled 50 miles. She arrived back in one piece, safe and sound.

I got lost!

Saturday 20th August. My first puncture on a training ride. I had cycled from Bristol to just outside Weston-s-mare down the A370. I turned left onto the A371 towards Cheddar. As I passed through Winchcombe there was a suspicious softness about my tyre. Never a good feeling. Luckily, one of the things I have learned is how to mend punctures. Along with French and TouchTyping, it's probably the most useful skill to have. I stopped and mendedthe puncture, checking the tyre and finding a very sharp piece of metal had got stuck in it. This stop was serendipitous because a woman passing by told me about the Strawberry Line which is a cycle track from Winchcombe to Cheddar. Puncture mended off I headed. It included a very scary tunnel - Dark and quite disorientating. Made it to Cheddar where I ate my couscous lunch. I have discovered the trick with good, cold couscous is chutney. Mix in about a half jar of good chutney along with the other ingredients and it is simply delicious. Anyway, after I'd eaten, I found myself in need of a little digestion time. Next thing I knew I was fast asleep. Sorry Sue, I forgot to tell you I can pretty much fall asleep anywhere. The nap did me the world of good and was excellent preparation for the cycle up out of Cheddar Gorge which is quite tough. I'm not sure what happened next but I ended up going down this amazing hill, really steep, with hands on the handlebars. By then I was in the Chew Valley which is beautiful with the lake. All in all a good ride. I think it must have been about 60 miles in the end due to me getting lost in places. The final 4 miles I was in a thunderstorm where the heavens opened and rain came down in bucketfuls. Yes. I was soaked through to the bone! Much to the amusement of some of the car drivers who didn't hide their smirks.

60 miles in the wet

It's not as bad as you might think, especially when there were over 1000 cyclists cycling in the opposite direction today. 10 miles flew by because I was busy saying hello to everyone and some were telling me I was going the wrong way... I see their point! I don't think it gave them the right to hog the whole road though, just a good job I have a bell and they moved out the way sharpish, didn't fancy another tumble!

Speaking of tumbles, I nearly fell off, then I really did fall off, right in the middle of the road! Darn toe clips - they are great for more power but take some getting used to. And that was right after a shop owner told me to go careful. No damage to me or the bike thank goodness.

Stop Press!! Slippery Jack playing at the Pilgrim Inn Marchwood!

Great news... Slippery Jack, soft rock band are playing at the Pilgrim Inn to help us celebrate the end of our mammoth cycle challenge. All welcome - 14th September 7pm. Slippery Jack played at O'Neils in Winchester last weekend - they went down a treat!

Cycle Thoughts 2

Well said Lou. You were braver than I - I never did the down hill no hands trick!! I'm sure there will be many points along our journey where we will wonder what on earth we are doing. I realise I will get the blame - ha ha! Hopefully we will each have highs and lows at different times and can boost each other as we go.

Cycle Thoughts

When I told a friend recently about the cycle ride and the distance, he very helpfully said 'just remember the last 249 miles are the hardest!' I know there will come a point on the trip when I will ask myself 'why am I doing this?' and I know it will pass as I reach the brow of the hill and look at the landscape cascading away. Some miles will be harder than others. I've noticed in my training that the first twenty minutes are tough as my body warms up. I'm cycling short distances between the training days and this is helping just getting used to being on the bike every day again. On a nostalgic note, I remember as a child that going slowly was never an option. Round every corner was an adventure. Why walk when I could run? Cycling with my hands off the handlebars down hill was one of my favourite things to do. The challenge of balancing and relaxing into the wind was a real buzz. Of course, as I have matured, I appreciate the potential hazards of this a little more. It was just as well my mother never saw me do it. She would have had kittens. Part of undertaking this cycle challenge is the psychological one. Remembering why I'm doing it helps; acts as a motivator. I'm doing it to raise funds for research into MND and Alzheimers and I'm doing it because I like a challenge and Sue offered me the opportunity.

4 Weeks to go

Successful weekend all in all. Sunday was a 45 miler. A bit tired from Saturday's ride but head down into the sunshine. Working up a nice tan. Mars bars seem to be the answer for those slight lulls in enthusiasm. Such moments come, I notice, at the bottom of long hills. Box Hill in Wiltshire is a classic. Slow and long. On the way home, stopped in Saltford for a meal for one at the first takeaway I found. Didn't sort my food out so well today so at the bottom of the hill leading up to Saltford from Bath, suddenly realised I was completely out of fuel. The sweet and sour meal was enough to get me back to Bristol. Slept like a little log in a warm forest.

My Knee

It hurts :-(

Progress report

Slowly but surely. Last weekend I did 45 miles. My legs are getting used to the idea that they are required for service again. I managed the ride quite happily. Mars bar and Lucozade all helped. Today I cycled to Weston-s-Mare and back. 40 miles round trip. Slow and steady. Tomorrow will be 45 again. My legs feel a bit tired this evening and I am making an effort to eat properly. I made a huge bowl of couscous this morning with mackerel, boiled egg, chutney, garlic, onion. It was yummy. Did for lunch and tea. Honey sandwiches gave me the sugar burst en route. There was beautiful sunshine when I got to Weston but heavy downpours on the A370 both ways. Oh yes. I forgot to say I had to stop part way to assist a man who had collapsed. Of course, I have lost my phone so was phoneless. Luckily another passerby called the ambulance while I kept an eye on our friend. Getting into stretching during the ride as well. My knees aren't what they used to be. Years of hockey and squash have taken their toll. It's been good to be on the bike a lot more generally. I never fully got my confidence back after the accident in 2008. This training has really completed the recovery. I notice that I am still a bit nervous if cars pass very close, which some of them do. Oh well. Time for bed. I know I will sleep well tonight.

Moo said the horse...

I know, it's a horse but it definitely said moo, proabably short for moo--ve out the way as I tried to negotitate my way around it!

58.33miles today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I wasn't meant to do that far but I didn't check my route well enough. The route home was along the A35 :-o After I'd given myself a heart attack trying the first 1/2 mile, I turned around and diverted via Burley adding an extra 7 miles to the route. I made it home in nearly one piece...

I pulled up along side the road on what looked like a drop kerb but it wasn't. I skidded along then collapsed in a heap just short of a road sign. I'm okay, just a few scrapes down the side of my leg and a couple of cuts. Darn rain, my glasses were covered in drops and I couldn't see properly.

Feeling quite tired now, muscles a little bit sore. Not bad though hey?

OUCH!

My pink tutu has arrived!!! Very pink just right for our fancy dress costumes :-)

I was stung by a wasp on my finger today, the pain is awful!!!!! I still managed to do 47miles - not much choice as I was past half way anyway :-). The wasp was after my banana, but I won.

My SATNAV has been christened and has passed the road test. I only doubted it once, but it was right - i thought it was going to take me onto the A31 at Ringwood.

I got drenched in the last 2 miles. Rain was threatening all day long and then it came in torrents! I couldn't have been more wet in a shower. Now my finger hurts too much to type so will have to stop.


P.S. Feeling strong for tomorrow!

Here we go again!

Getting ready for the next batch of training tomorrow. I'll only have 2 days this week so I'm hoping to do 2 x 50mile hill routes, nice steady pace, plenty of food and water. This will be a lot easier now that my eye pressure tablets have been reduced - they're a diuretic and make me feel tired... so I won't have to drink soooo much now and I'll have a bit more energy. Hoorah!

Sorting out a portable battery charger to keep my phone SAT NAV ticking along without running out of juice today and will give it a test ride tomorrow. I've gone all Blue Peterish and recycled a Yeo Valley spread container to attach my phone to my bike and give it a bit of sun shade.

Keep on riding

37-17-37 not my measurements... mileage this week! Feeling much fitter and at the top of hills where I used to stop, I'm not. STILL not eating enough and still feeling tired. Hoping to get the middle days mileage up to 37 next week. Loads more cyclist squats and some weight training to get me strongerer. Richard came out for a cycle with me today to keep my moral up - it worked, thanks Rich.

Southampton Gym

24 miles Done. Now off to Shirley to get some expert advice on stretching and getting stronger legs for them Cornish hills.

Well I'm back and I'm pleased I found this place: Winning Health Solutions Gym Southampton. Alex Butt gave me some advice on stretching and strengthening and I'm already feeling the benefits. The pain in the backside that I was getting has subsided from the stretching and the cyclist squats are certainly going to make my legs stronger...I've only done a few and I'm not looking forward to walking down the stairs tomorrow! And i'm in good company, they train an Olympic athlete. They are more than just a gym though - personal tailored instruction being the only gym to guarantee results.

I aiming for some consistant riding this week, training 3 days in row without feeling completely exhausted at the end. 20miles on Sunday and 25 today (with a cheer from 2 old ladies for getting up the Beaulieu hill) then hopefully another 20 miles tomorrow.

I've been experimenting with the electrolyte drinks after cycling 5omiles the other day and realising that I'd only drunk 1/2 a litre of water and eaten 200calories!!! Nuun is good, sometimes these drinks are sickly sweet, but nuun is just like flavoured water. The berry flavour is my favourite but lemon and lime is good too.

Tried Torq carbohydrate bars - very nice! Shame you have to do exercise to eat them really :-) . And then tried the Torq energy gels today... Wooooooh! Zooooooooooooom... They give a kick! I was back on my bike and off. Big hit for when we're flagging at the end of each day.

Note for Louise: you can get these energy bars with caffeine in :-)

Besides all the fun of trying these tasty morsals, they really make a difference and I don't feel totally shattered for days after one long cycle.

Training and personal cycling history

After an inauspicious start, I am now ready to go. Bike is fixed, yeh! Managed 15 miles yesterday. Weston this weekend. A little history. My first biking experience was as a five-year old. My first bike was a bluey silver and I spent hours holding onto the garden fence spurring myself on to let go and take off. That was the start of a long life of cycling: I cycled to school. I cycled to work. I cycled everywhere. And, I've been pretty lucky so far, with only one major spill in September 2008 when I was caught by a driver opening his car door. I went flying and landed unceremoniously on the hardest tarmac ever. I was covered in purple bruising both sides, had whiplash and was obviously traumatised. It knock my confidence somewhat. However, step by step I got back to cycling and now I'm ready for the challenge.

30miles today.. the food and drink certainly made a big difference. No surprise there then. Doh!

My handlebars stll aren't right, had pins and needles in my hands for most of the ride, got to sort that out, can't cope with 3 days of cycling mammoth hills, and pins and needles :-(

Met a cyclist at the Totton railway crossing who'd already cycled 32miles. He shot off when the gates went up, i'd only been going for 2.5miles and couldn't catch him!

Refueled And Ready

Ready for another ride. This time with porridge in my tummy and plenty to drink. I must keep drinking, I must keep drinking, I must.... you get the idea.

Picnic and a cycle

Cycled just 13 miles with Rich and Adam yesterday to the New Forest and had a picnic with friends. Was a great day and a great spot. Was very tired though. I need to eat more, drink more and get bigger muscles :-(

We have an official finish line!

The Pilgrim Inn in Marchwood have very kindly offered to host our finish line. So put us in your diary for Tuesday 14th September and get down to the Pilgrim Inn at about 7pm!! Watch this space for futher details.

Cycled 50miles today in 5hours 55 miuntes - including breaks. Just under an average of 10mph. Which is just as well because if we're any slower during the actual event, we'll be cycling in the dark!!!

I can even walk downstairs without my knees wobbling too :-)

3 days training in a row!!! Phew.. I get a break for 2 days then it starts again. Found this site today SkyRide. There's a Southampton ride this Saturday, they will be shutting all the roads to cars. Cyclists Rule!

Thanks to Hargroves Cycles in Southamtpon today - my bike is too big for me so I bought a 'bit' to move the handlebars closer to me. Don't ask me what the 'bit' is called - jointy bracket thingy-ma-jig.

Fancy Dress

Can you guess what part of the fancy dress costume these are for???? A clue - they're not elbow pads! Select the comment buttton below to make your guesses.

Clue - we might look like fluorescent hedge hogs....

Thank yous

Thanks to Colette from Marchwood Parish Council for her kind words of support that helped me get out the door on my bike today - Thank you Colette :-)

And to everyone who has sponsored us so far - we're overwhelmed by your generosity - thank you xxx

Just realising how far 250 miles is and also realising that I am a nut case (sometimes). Cycled 37 miles today, need my bed, need to sleep.

I went on my ride today,
Was not such a beautiful day,
But the cows were humping,
And the cars weren't bumping,
So all in all a good day.

Mid Week Cycle Training

Didn't want to go out cycling today, rain threatened on the news and in the sky and it was a long day at Dad's funeral yesterday. But I managed to shove myself out the door and do 25 miles. I got soaked then i dried out. I got soaked again and I got covered in grit. I dried out but the grit was there to stay! Felt a bit fitter today cycling up the road in top gear... here's hoping :-)

The beginning

Well, I have looked at my bike. So far, that's the start of my training. I haven't warned my legs yet about the 250 miles yet. I thought I would break them in gently. Just under two months to get ready. Yikes. Will start with a warm up ride this weekend.

A Tribute To Dad

Our Dad

Our dad didn’t do much talking,
He loved the Cricket, Football and Tennis.
And when there was time,
He liked walking.

Our dad protected us, out on the streets,
Putting himself between us and the danger.
He was our very own, Lone Ranger.

Our dad worked hard,
And looked after stuff well.
He made the garden look pretty,
And the veggies were swell.

Our dad collected stamps,
I’ll never know why.
They’re still in the loft…
I hope they’re dry!

Our dad liked trains.
He spent hours perfecting,
The switches and signals,
A genius, reflecting.

Our dad looked after the pennies,
And taught us girls well.
You did a good job Dad – we’ve sorted our pensions
And we’ve turned out well.

Our Dad, Keith Kerrigan died peacefully on 3rd July 2010 Aged 68 after suffering 3 years from Dementia and Motor Neurone Disease. Please sponsor us now, to help find a treatment or cure.

What is Motor Neurone Disease?

Motor Neurone Disease is a fatal condition for which there is no treatment and no cure. In the UK 35 people die from MND every week, and every week 35 people are diagnosed with MND. The average sufferer will live two years, only 10% will survive more than five years. The muscles waste away and the patients die from weakness and paralysis of their breathing muscles. Many doctors regard this condition as the worst disease in medicine.

MND was described by Charcot in 1869. Since then very little has been done.

Motor Neurone Disease is also known in some countries as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or as Lou Gehrig syndrome. In France it is called “La maladie de Charcot”

Figures show that between 1999 and 2004 6000 people died from MND, 4200 from HIV/AIDS and 92 from vCJD. During this time £33million was spent into vCJD, £45 million on HIV/AIDS and £8 million on MND.


'There is no worse disease than MND’

Dame Ciceley Saunders OMDBEFRCP, the founder of the modern hospice movement

Source: http://www.sifoundation.com/What_is_MND.htm

Training

Cycled 30miles yesterday 10-07-10. 12 miles to find a new helmet after crashing into a road sign last year. Should have replaced it last year really. Funny things is, if I hadn't had the helmet on I would have seen the sign! Didn't find one that could make me go faster. The rest done with friend Karen, bit of a power workout playing tag along the road from Beaulieu. My legs were stiff today.

Managed to summon up the energy to cycle another 20miles today 11-07-10. Was feeling very tired but thought of the challenge ahead and got out the door. Today is the first time I've cycled 2 days in a row!!