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.