O hello again bike

The last thing I did to or on the bike was to put 2 new tyres on it about 8 weeks ago. Since then the birthday, chrismas and bonfire parties have come and gone. I suddenly realised I have a whole weekend with time to ride.
So yesterday I worked out a nice little circular route 45 miles or so with an option to extend if I wasn't purple and throwing up by then. So the alarm was duely set so that I could leave at about 8 am. After having eaten one of the hard boiled eggs I had prepared the night before and some creatine. As the alarm sounded I there were muffled groans from the other side of the bed. I just caught the words "still, dark and nutter" as I donned the fluorescent green giant costume and fumbled for my iPod nano.
I started well, taking Boreham Street Hill a mile ouitside the village relatively well (was in granny gear though!). On through the village with the French name remember? Towards the Boship roundabout. Straight on here (still don't do right at roundabouts) towards East Grinstead.
My route then took me left before EG out to Ringmer (into a headwind...nice).I took the Left through laughton which would bring me back onto the A22 towards home for the last 20 miles or so.
Approaching the turn onto the 22 I felt, thud..thud..thud..and things got harder. I turned onto the A22 (too slowly as it happened and nearly got killed by a black volvo) and after exchanging the international hand gesture for "Happy New Year" with the driver I pulled over. The front was flat. No pump. Wife in Kent walking dogs.
As I walked toward home having phoned Vicky and been heartily congratulated on my efforts (not) I was thankful I had the nano and its stuffing of "all the rock tracks you can get on it" on shuffle.
I met a fellow nutter 2 miles further on who had a pump which would fit my tyres. Oh great at least if it will stay up until I get even half way there....... Anyway turns out the reason its flat is because the valve is broken. So the walk continued. Vicky arrived to pick me up. Home now, showered and feeling a bit annoyed that I only got 25 miles done before I had to fire a flare. Nevermind off to Halfords again.

33%!

Following Friday night's raffle at the Christmas party my fundraising total has crossed the £1,000 mark and I have 33% of the total required. This seems like a massive milestone and I am feeling extremely positive about the other 66% now!

Merry Christmas
Jen

Looking good

My new pimped up DFTD Totaliser in our notice board. Nice photoshopping job by Nikki at support office. Although i wonder did she leave my head big on purpose?

hmmm...

Festive Cheer!

The fund raising continues to go well - last Saturday afternoon was the light-switching on in Faringdon where the market square is closed to traffic and is transformed into a festive wonderland complete with fake snow and a Santa!
 
We had a stand set up and Debs and I sold our homemade jams, chutneys and pickles (all made from predominantly free local produce), bunches of holly and mistletoe (gathered from around the office) and ran raffles and a 'guess the number of gravy bones in the bottle' contest. As well as that we had Julie (from the data team) acting chaperon to Debbie's husband who very kindly donned the Drontal dog suit and entertained the crowds all afternoon (but who had limited vision!) out with the collecting bucket.


We managed to raise a fantastic £314.50!! a great result and just shows what is achievable with a bit of effort.  Once again my thanks go to Debs who masterminded the whole thing (and organised me as I had been up in Scotland all the previous week at the new surgery openings), to Wally for his tireless enthusiasm in the world's hottest dog suit, and Julie for all her help on the day.

Pictures to follow!

Jen

Paolo's first fundraising event

Paolo and our friend Nick hosted a night of music last Friday with the help of some of our very talented musical friends (including Nick himself). They were able to raise almost £500 to share between their two charities - Nick's running the London marathon next year for Leukaemia research.

Over 130 people came through the doors and the success and feedback have given them the encouragement they need to plan another night some time in the new year.

Thanks to Felix from Companion Care in Beckton for taking some great pictures of the night.

someone should really stop me doing these things

These are the lovely bruises that i have on my arms at the moment. A cycling injury you say? No, unfortunately more stupidity. I decided it would be fun (!) to do a Survival of the Fitest Rat Race at Battersea last weekend. And suffice to say i barely survived. 10k with obstacles without training is not the most clever thing to do

But if anything it has shown me: how unfit i am & how much training i have to do!

Hey ho, whats the worst that could happen?

PS. if you ever see me signing up for anything, please please hit me over the head or something. It'll probably be less painful whatever i had in my head to do

We had a great week of fundraising last week - £85 from a silent auction for some beautiful bouquets of flowers, and then a massive £182 was raised at our wardrobe exchange. This was greatly helped by the very generous people from Ariat who are based locally in Faringdon. They donated some great items which we held a silent auction for on the night - contributing significantly to the funds raised. I think everyone who came along went home with a new addition to their wardrobe as well as demolishing the nibbles that were laid on. Once again a big thank you to all who came/donated items.

Sadly on the cycling front I have been less successful. However I do have a renewed enthusiasm (as well as a slight fear now the start date is getting closer) and am planning on a training session tonight...!

Jen

Back in the saddle....

Due to the unexpected arrival of a rescue lurcher I've been a bit slack with the cycling for the past 2 months. Paolo's been cycling the 4 miles to and from work but today we started our training schedule which has been meticulously worked out to allow for inactivity during the festive seasons. We're easing ourselves into it to avoid injury and it was a beautiful day today to saddle up.
The good things about cycling around London are the new cycle super-highways that are becoming more widespread -these are like king size cycle lanes which are much less pot holed than your average road - and the ability to see so many different sights in a 2 hour outing. Unfortunately there are down sides too - our fellow road users are not particularly considerate with their road positioning so the cycle lanes are not always free to use. We had a group of scooters blocking the lane in Putney and numerous cabs with their wheels to the kerb. We had to dodge various piles of broken glass from the Saturday night revelry.
The biggest drawback of city cycling is that we worked out we spent 25 mintues of the 2 hour cycle waiting at traffic lights. Now at times my legs were quite glad of the rest but I can't help but feel the training would be more effective if we kept moving.
I've started to use a website called runkeeper.com with its phone app. It allows you to plan and record your routes and I've been able to choose some routes that another cyclist had already uploaded. I'm going to try to keep it up to date with our training. If any of my fellow team mates are already using it or decide to start then send me a message so we can become team mates on the website and keep track of eachothers training.

Truro to Penzance in the Rain

Forty seven miles in the rain! My longest cycle yet with all the associated rubbing and discomfort. Great views while cycling past St Michaels Mount, but some problems with a closed road leading to a mile of walking between diggers and tarmacing machines.

Have good new pair of clip-in cycle shoes, last pair had no grip and were like walking on ice skates- almost caused me to fall off on a busy local roundabout among other places.

Thanks to everyone who is helping me fundraise especially everyone at Companion Care Truro who are not as shy about asking for donations as I am!

Well whilst I've not been out on the bike for ages, I have been doing a bit of inpromptu fundraising. It was the Halloween party at the local last night. Fancy dress 1st prize £30 straight to Dogs for the Disabled!

Worth all the latex and the conacts to create the unzipped undead.

Cake, cake and more cake

A huge thank you to all at the support office this week who proved their cake eating prowess by raising over £70 for the cycle ride!! at 50p a slice that was a lot of cake.
Thank you also to everyone who baked, clearly we are a talented bunch :-)

Some cycling training definitely needed now to burn off some calories!
Jen

Bute it or shoot it?

Riding home yesterday my steed went lame. I was flying down a hill out to westham. There is a man-hole cover which I know isn't flush with the road surface. But as I got level with it a van was overtaking me so I couldn't take my usual avoiding action and swing out to go around it.

Thump...thump (add that one to the list of things that hurt on a road bike especially at 17mph.. ouch!) but carried on OK. Got the 10 miles or so home but cycling up the high street in Ninfield I happened to look down to see the front wheel changing shape once every revolution.

I got home had a closer look and saw this. Thankfully the wheel and rim itself is OK. But there is a distinct "s"-bend in the tyre. Not quite sure if this is safe to leave so I've done some googling. On the various fora it sounds like in the words of one respondant " if there is anything you wanted to say to that tyre, you better say it now!" With other mentions of high speed blow-outs going down steep hills, and there's plenty of those round here, I think she's had it. I will take the wheel off tomorrow and toddle off to Halfords for some advice on whether it is salvagable but I doubt it. I should also ask if the inner tube needs replacing I suppose. I've looked at the prices of new tyres of this sort on-line and found one for £17.50. But I guess I should change both so that'll be 35 quid. This charitable cycling thing ain't turning out to be cheap you know. But then neither would coming off at high speed going down Earlsdown as your tyre explodes as the road bears right up to Three cups corner.

Hey ho that's me grounded for a few days. Shame I'll jsut have to visit the Blacksmiths Inn tomorrow and partake of Rugby and the Grand Prix instead. Or I could go to the gym........nah!

Worth it

There have been mornings over the last few weeks when, smashed from the arms of Morpheus
by the alarm at some un-godly hour on a day when I cycle to work, I look at the darkness and mist outside and shiver under the duvet searching for an excuse to stay in bed that extra hour and just drive to work. Yesterday was one of those days.

With the shortening days the mornings are certainly darker. Soon it will be too dark and dangerous to ride to work (even with the cloak of much hi visibility) and I will be settling for gym work and "spinning calsses" rather than risk my neck. I will then try to do more road work at weekends/days off during the day weather permitting.

Unfortunately I couldn't think of a lame enough excuse to not get up. Not even a hangover! So I dragged my kit on and let "Rumer" puppy out for her early morning wee in the garden. I must say even she has been looking at me with disdain on the darker mornings. Her eyes questioning my sanity, yawning on her slow bimble to the gravel path outside the backdoor. Grudgingly she squats and then shuffles back to her crate in the kitchen curled up with her teddy.

I clambered onto the bike, engaged the pedal clamps of death and set off. On the way through the next village along, "Hooe" there are some beautiful views across the Pevensey marshes towards Bexhill and the Sea beyond. On mornings like this just as dawn is breaking it is quite mystical. I thought I would stop and take some shots on my phone and share them with you.

It makes the transition from bed to Mr B's steam, sauna and more importantly the first coffee of the day a bit more gentle.

White knuckle ride

On Saturday I decided to go for a more substantial ride. Before I left I checked the bike to find that the tyres were going a bit soft. So I got my pump out and inflated the tyres as far as I could. This would also hopefully reduce friction and increase speed.





I did the usual weekend route; Netherfield, Heathfield,Horam,Polegate but added an extra bit. Instead of coming back through Hooe I carried on to Bexhill and came back through Sidley. That was a total of 45.2 miles and in just over 3 hours. Could have knocked off 5 minutes as I had to stop for an "Gentleman's adjustment break".





That is the longest training ride I have done so far on the road bike. The last 5 miles were pretty horrible and slow. I was more than a bit "jelly-legged" at the end of it. I have to say that I am starting to question whether I am going to be up to this. We will be doing 70-80 miles a day, that's twice what I did on Saturday and yeah OK I did it in 3 so 80 should be possible in 6 hours right?? But every day for 2 weeks.....wow. I am also more than a little worried about the fund raising side of things as that is not exactly flying at Eastbourne. I'm getting lots of people asking how the training is going but not as many actually donating. I will not be able to finance this personally so I am worried I may have to pull out if things don't pick up.





The extra air in the tyres may have helped with the speed and friction but it does nothing for the list of things that hurt on a road bike. Basically everything when your tyres are blown up so you can feel every bump. I have to say that it's not the seat that suffers the most either. Lord know's I have enough natural padding. It's the hands and arms. The vibrations through the hands and arms are something to atch for. White knuckle disease is a distinct posibility and I kind of need my fingers to operate and stuff! So I have bought some padded handle bar tape and added and extra layer. We'll see if that helps.

Harry Potter app?

I have been worried about S.M.I.D.S.Y for a while now. This is the acronym which strikes fear into the hearts of anyone on two wheels and the public highway motorised or otherwise. It is the phrase uttered by motorists as they are standing over your bloodied and battered body and help you to your feet, while trying to bend your bike wheels back into shape. Quite simply "Sorry Mate I Didn't See You".

So I thought I'd better make myself a wee bit more visible. I toddled off to sports Direct down the road. Saw the appropriately garish coloured top and duely purchased. Now being polyester and designed for outdoor use I had also assumed ( never assume) that this would also be somewhat waterproof. However yesterday morning while cycling to Mr B's Steam and Sauna emporium, into a 10 mile per hour headwind and persistant drizzle upon arrival I was saturated. So I have reserved this one for summer use and bought a waterproof equivalent.

Having dried off (thank goodness for Meile industrial sized tumble dryers) and done my day at the surgery I left for home. Whilst the weather had brightened up considerably by now the blasted wind had changed direction, and instead of a helping tailwind I was up against it again!

There is a cycle path and pavement running parallel to the dual carriageway out of Eastbourne. I tend to use this until I get to the padestrian crossing and then get onto the road. By the way wind is a hazard in SPD clips. I am just mastering the getting out of them in time to stop thing, but yesterday while waiting to cross the road, I had my left foot out, toe touching the floor and Right foot in ready to go, when a gust of wind hit me from the Left and still nearly blew me over as I struggled to get my Right foot out! Anyhoo. I have identified a further hazard. Pedestrians.

There is a floor in the high vis plan. In order to be seen (and who could miss me in that thing?) you have to be looked at. Now the mobile phone is a marvellous thing. But I now consider it deadly to cyclists. When you are cycling towards someone who is texting away or reading something on their phone their eyes and brains are somewhat preoccupied. Unfortunately the other problem is that you tend not to be able to hear a hi vis jacket either. Especially if you are the sort of person who is so obsessed by their phone that you have to text while walking, because you will almost certainly have earphones plugged into the thing too so you can listen to music, whilst texting and walking simultaneously. Immersed in your sensory paradise you may for instance fail to notice the 20 stone bloke, glowing like the core of Chernobyl coming at you on a bike at 15 m.p.h.

I very nearly broke the dinger off my little token bell supplied with the bike (well now I know why it's there) trying to get the attention of the approaching hipster, and imagining how much it's going to hurt hitting him, then the ground with feet still attached to the pedals. There would be blood, designer labels and knitwear scarves everywhere. Luckily some sort of 6th sense (or gap between tracks) allowed him to hear my frantic dinging and he stepped to the side just in time. I also had occasion to thank the shortening days when I approached a simliarly oblivious fashion/technology victim however this time walking away from me. Luckily the sun being so low and behind me cast a long enough shadow that he saw me (or my day-glo shadow) approaching way before I deployed the dinger and got out of the way.

I have now concluded that there is a Harry Potter style invisibility cloak app on android phones. I think it's a bit like the spell that makes people by yoghurt drinks thinking they will be healthier. You know the one "Bifidus dygestivum". Likewise I think this one goes "Hi-vis obliviosum" and renders the wearer of anything reflective or brightly coloured completely invisible and in-audible, no matter how frantically they are dinging their ickle bell.

The Hokey Kokey.......in a nappy.....in Russian?

To say that today at work has been a bad day would be a masterpiece of understatement.

Today has been the only day I have been on the bike this week. Last week I did a total of 83 miles, so feel extra guilty. I did nothing on Sunday except pootle to the local (only at the end of the road) for a pint, on what is now a noticably heavy mountain bike. But without suicide pedals. This is much safer for the pooo(hic)ttl(hic)e home melud. Wednesday was so washed out down here I didn't cycle to work as I have not yet purchased the appropriate fluorescent waterproof (skin tight of course) cycling top. I have not even managed to get to the gym to sit in the warm half heartedly pedalling while watching Kylie (mmmmm Kylie) on VH1 classic or the Vault. So this morning I made myself get up, despite the near sleepless night and bad dreams and get on the bike.

It was flippin misty at 6.30 this morning. But Off I went with as many high viz strip thingys as I could find attached to my person somewhere and praying that whoever came up behind me would see my flashing light before they hit me. The level crossing barrier gates were down so rather than go the long way round (zero enthusiasm) I got off and waited (yes folks I got my feet out of the clips in a controlled and dignified manner). Got to the gym had my Mr B steam, sauna, jaccuzzi and shower. This was especially nice as the wet road had mostly been transfered into the seat padding of my cycling shorts as I have not yet bought a mud guard either. In fact I am frankly ill equipped for moisture.

The day from hell, completing the fortnight from Valhalla ensued.

I usually wash my cycling kit in the surgery machine so it can get dried in the tumbly dryer ready for the ride home. However as part of the day my shorts had not really dried well. Too late and I really wanted to get home I change anyay. Well what the heck I'll going to end up all sweaty anyay by the time I get home so start damp.....no big deal.

Now I should now mention that because of the day from hell and the forthnight of damnation, my mind was not 100% focused on riding the bike. Knowing this I was being careful. I dismounted when the cycle paths crossed the dual carriageways getting back on only when safe to do so. Then on the climb up the hill towards shinewater and allowed my mind to wander and review and try to somehow change the day's events, when in my distraction I sensed a Firefox moment again. Aside...wasn't that freaky. No sooner do I mention it in a post on here than it appears on TV over the weekend. Another excuse (nearly said reason ha!) for not getting out on the bike. Anyhoo. I am getting to the end of the cycle route. Directly in front is a high curb, the cycle route turns sharp right onto a dropped curb but then I have to go sharp left once on the road , onto and over a mini roundabout (it's OK I can do those). For a split second I considered the straight on option dropping off the curb. But then remembered Sinead's comments about several innertubes as a result of such mammoth leaps. So I decide to turn right and then sharp left onto the mini roundabout before being struck by the approaching mondeo. My left foot is out of the pedal in readiness in case I do need to stop. But the slightly damp seat padding in my shorts was somewhat less closely conforming to one's contours, and had by now taken on all the characteristics of a moderately full pampers. The bike is slowing...and slowing and I find that now standing in the right pedal, left foot free, the pampers are hooked over the front end of the saddle. I tried to regain may seat, however this seemed to make the situation somewhat more urgent as I failed, and was duely presenting whoever was behind me with a visual represntation of somehere to park their own bike... if you know what I mean. So, whilst slowing with pampers hooked up like a failed parachute, and turning very, very slowly to the right, Mitchell Gant's face (Clint Eastwood's Firefox character) popped into my head muttering the Hokey Kokey into his helmet. He said something to the effect of "your Right foot's in but your left foot's out". Major Gant could obviously see that as I was slowly toppling to the Right, the tactical descision to remove the Left foot from the cleats before the curb was by now fatally (almost) flawed.

I think that in the blind panic of trying to un-hook the dry-nights I forgot to think in Russian!


I can only hope that next week will be better.......? Maybe if I just tweak those pedal releases a bit more??

My new bike

No excuses now!
Jen

money money money

Office dog Honey has been down to Lands End to check out the conditions for us this weekend - very hilly was the verdict!!

As I still don't have my bike (apparently I have a short body and long legs - meaning I need an unusual sized bike!!) the thought of hills has not filled me with joy as the training is yet to begin.

However the fundraising has got off to a better start thanks to my official fundraising manager Debbie who has an eye for sniffing out a money-making opportunity whatever the situation!

We have a National Lottery bonus ball competition every week, various sport sweepstakes, and soon to come the launch of the jams, chutneys and pickles sales - the perfect Christmas presents for your friends and family!! thanks to the Support Office staff who have been donating all sorts of fruit for Debs and I to cook up. I am sure the resulting produce will be interesting!

Please don't forget to check out our Just Giving page - http://www.justgiving.com/teams/ccvets we still have a long way to go to get to £50,000.

Am also meeting with the Dogs for the Disabled PR team next week to get the PR ball rolling - watch this space.

I hope that next time I post it will be a picture of me on my bike....

Jen

choosing a bike was the easy bit.....

So we're just back from a relaxing and inactive break and back on our bikes. It was starting to get dark as I cycled home today and it made me think of the long, cold, wet winter ahead. We've already spent a small fortune on basic cycling gear but I think we'll be needing much more in the months ahead. Paolo can't get out of the habit of riding his bike like a mountain bike so we've gone through about 8 inner tubes (tip of the day - don't try jumping off kerbs on your road bike) and the right padded shorts/shoes/pedals/lights/bike computers have all been purchased.
Now with the winter looming I'm thinking we need warmer/more visible jackets and longer leggings. I've already been soaked in a downpour and it wasn't as unpleasant as I expected. In fact the rain on my legs seemed to make the hills a little easier. The only discomfort was my feet being saturated so another piece of must have gear goes on the list in the shape of shoe covers. Hopefully all this gear doesn't sit in a box going mouldy after we do the big one!

Firefox on 2 wheels.

Ok not been on for a while. Quick update. Padded cycling shorts sant arrive (accent on the last "e" as per French classes. I'm not that great with this thing and switching languages). They are soft and fit and are great and everything! Aaaand relax...aahhh.

Weekend before last (after my extended by cowardice ride) I did a 30 mile ride on Sunday. Managed to get through the hills of Dallington and Woods Corner, through Earlsdown and Three cups corner. Heathfield then down through Horam. Turned left (cos I can't turn Right) at the Boship roundabout on the A22. Back along through Horsebridge, Hellingly etc (as per cowards way out ride). Doing OK until he did it again. That bloke twice ...no possibly three times my age with the calves of steel...no wait probably Palladium whizzed past me going up the hill to Herstmonceux (see I told you it exists). I'm puffing away and in my moment of despair suddenly realise that I need a comfort break. Certain sports drinks are great on a bike but after 2 hours of riding and a few sips there are consequences. Luckily there is a public convenience in Herstm...the village with the French name. But There is a down side to cycling shorts!

Anywho. Got the SPD pedals on now too. The ride this weekend went well. The settings are OK so can get the feet out of the pedals relatively well. This time I did the same ride but this time at the Boship roundabout went ....wait for it....sraight on. So went down to Eastbourne then along the Marsh road back to home. 38 miles in 2 and 1/2 hours. By the way the cramp kicked in at about 1 am when I really wanted to be asleep but ended up dancing around the bedroom. Don't ya just hate it when that happens!

So had a couple of days off. 5 pm finish today so I rode to work. Level crossings still hurt as does that stretch of road in Westham with the potholes. Got to the gym. Had my Mr B steam session, jacuzzi and shower. All was going well on the short ride to work when I approached the crossing over the main dual carriageway. It was then I experienced my Firefox moment. Urban rides are a bit more troublesome in SPDs for the stop star factor.

Do you remember that fantastic cold war spy thriller starring Clint Eastwood as the Vietnam vet (not like us)? He was selected to steal a top secret fighter bomber codenamed "Firefox" from a top secret installation in mother Russia. The reason he was selected was because this piece of kit had a unique weapons release system. It was powered by the thoughts of the pilot. But the pilot had to think in Russian. Clint's character just happened to have had a Russian parent and was therefore fluent.

So there I am approaching the crossing, judging the speed of the on-coming vehicles. I thought I had a gap and then suddenly the car seemed to change speed. No I didn't have a flashback to when I was a pilot in a Huey over the Ashaw valley but I did get a bit of a cold sweat on. I thought...Oh heck I hope I can get my feet out of these SPD pedals before I reach the edge of the road or ......At that point, just as the thought had entered my head, my imaginary heads-up display in my wrap around shades flashed up " fail to release feet from new fangled pedally things, fall off bike (with a backwards "B" just as in Russian) to the Right hand side" Unfortunately the message did not end with..."and retain dignity".

This was not the last time the Firfox brain to outcome bike management system kicked in today either. On the way home whilst cheekily cutting a corner of a pavement (serves me right) I was faced with the heads up display " rear wheel clipped curb at odd angle, course correction required.... bail out.....lamp-post or hedge?" I chose the soft ,but slightly prickly option!

At least I havn't had the message "abort attempted Right hand turn at round-about 18 wheel truck approaching at speed"......yet

A bit more pracice with the clippy things required methinks.

Cowardice extends ride home

So There I was cycling along the main dual carriageway out of Eastbourne as I thought I would try cycling the way I would normally drive. Previously I had been taking a slight short cut to stay on the quieter roads. But I need to up the miles a bit.

So rapidly approaching the large roundabout at the end of the road needing to go straight on I stayed on the inside. Went round the island to realise that in the car I would normally turn right at the next roundabout in about 150 yds time. Of course in the car I would be in the outside lane.

Unfortunately I have all the poise and grace of Bambi on ice when it comes to looking behind me to my right to assess whether it is safe to cross over to the outside. So fearing for my life under the wheels of a truck or riding straight into the nearest lamppost, I bravely bottled it and turned Left.

Now committed I had to crack onto the polegate roundabout, which is huge. There was no way I was cycling round that so at the end of this stretch I got off and walked across the road and carried on up towards hailsham, Hellingly, Herstmoceux (yes a real place) Windmill Hill, and Boreham street. This takes my usual ride home from 11 miles to 17 with the last mile up standard hill. Unfortunately the village where I live is on the site where Duke William of Normandy camped the night before his little tiff with Harold, and they always seem to go for the highground for these sort of pre-scurmish encampments. So which ever way I go home the last mile is a killer.

I really need to get these traffic islands sorted. It may need to be some sort of little rearview mirror arrangement, otherwise I'll be planning a route to JOG avoiding right turns at large traffic islands!

Cyclists are tiny

Well gradually getting myself kitted out. Got the bike. She is doing OK but I am having a couple of issues with the gear shift. There is a "shadow shift" on the high/low range derailer, I forgot this a couple of times this morning on the ride to work and the chain came off twice as I held the shift across too long I think. So slightly greasy fingers on arrival at Bannatyne's steam emporium.

The other day while contenplating my slightly sore ischial tuberosoties (bum bones) I decided that I needed to get some padded cycling shorts. Yup the full lycra, stand back this bloke looks like he knows what he's doing on a bike type shorts! So had a look on t'interweb, found Sports Direct.com with an up to 80% sale on cycling clothing. Fab.

So for a whole £61 I got 2 pairs XXL padded (ahhh) cycling shorts, 1 long and 1 short sleeved cycling jersy (XXL again), 1 pair cycling gloves as the hands are not liking the road vibrations; Which reminds me, shortly may follow my diary of what really hurts on a road bike. Rumble strips and level crossings are currently up there. And 1 pair of muddy fox cycling shoes with nuts on the soles for SPD cleats and everything. (The things that make you fall off sideways like a chopped down tree when you stop at traffic lights and can't get your feet out of the pedel clips quick enough....tiiimmmbeerrr.)

My package duely arrived and I unwrapped. Pleasantly I found a complementary tea mug with the Sports Direct logo on, presumably to celebrate completion of your more epic cycling victories with a large cuppa.

Excitedly I tried the shorts on. Tried.....and tried...and tried. The waistband on these things got halfway up my quads before jamming tight, leaving the tantalisingly soft looking padding hovering about 12 inches due South of where it needed to be. Remember these are XXL yeah right. I would hate to meet a small cysclist. I may need a scanning electron microscope to see him! So I tried the jerseys. Ever seen an overstuffed pillow or a Hippo in a tutu? Unfortunately again when ordering the clothing I had forgotten that cyclists are a collection of superhuman individuals with the torsos of Michaelangelo's David. They are plainly not for people who have been endulging in BGI (beer gut investment) for the last 10 years or so.

Ho Hum. My wife Vicky suggested that I keep the clothing as a goal, something to aim for. "You may get into them once you've done a few months training". The jerseys.... OK are a somewhat realistic goal. I may end up looking not too bad, I hope. But unless I take a saw and a spoke shave to my legs, I think I'll have to go with the website I found today. Yes you guessed it it's in the US and caters for the "larger" cyclist. Engraciatingly I am in the smallest shorts on their sizing guide. i.e. a REAL XXL. I await UPS with anticipation.

But I might just hang on to the others.....just in case?

Quicker

So here she is. My new Carrera Virtuoso from Halfords.

Got me the 10 miles from home to Bannatyne's (and a lovely steam, sauna and jacuzzi) in 38 minutes this morning. Was just over an hour on my old mountain bike.

Combo of new bike and slightly fitter me perchance??

We'll see how long it takes to get home this evening.

Airbourne?

Last week it was eastbourne airbourne. Basically a 4 day airshow with all sorts of military hardware and display teams performing over the sea in front of eastbourne.

This includes the legendary Red Arrows.

On Sunday I decided that in need of extending my range a bit, I would go and watch the Red arrows on my bike ....from Beachy Head.

I had planned to stay on the roads and make the 25 miles in a couple of hours. Unfortunately I decided half way that I would go up past the long man of Sussex in Lillingstone, up onto the South Downs way. Ooops.

After getting about 1/3 of the way up the shear chalk track I had to get off and push. I made it to the top still about 5 miles from Beachy to see the Reds in their characteristic diamond 9 formation go whizzing over my head. So I had unfortunately not made it in time.

To add insult to injury (nearly cardiac), I saw glimpses of coloured smoke over the cliffs whilst basically off roading across the downs whilst simultaneously getting lost!

Muddy and tired I emerged at the bottom of the hills in Jevington. Back on the road I cycled past Friston forest, but after all that, the hill climb from Friston and from east Dean to beachy were too much. I had to push again.

I eventually made it to the top. Got back on the bike and promptly scared myself stupid with the frighteningly steep descent. seems less scarey in the car I remebered thinking.

Aching, covered in mud and with nothing left in my legs I decided to stop at the surgery on the way back. Bad move. Whilst the 2 bottles of Powerade I got from the shop next door re fueled my legs, my backside was complaining bitterly when I got back on the bike.

It was a very slow 10 miles home.

I have now got my nice new bike from Halfords on the cycle to work scheme. A Carrera Virtuoso. So as a pure road bike I have every excuse not to repeat Sunday's idiocy. I took her for a 10 miler yesterday to get used to the set up. I think we'll get on well.

total miles this week so far 55.

Meet the Team - Angela

Sorry to have not posted before, I'm a bit of a technophobe.

I am a vet nurse and one of the JVP's at the Norwich Longwater branch.

I really enjoy cycling and have been cycling to and from work for the past 4 years which is currently 18 miles a day! So I thought I would take on the challenge of Lands End - John O'Groats.

I have been to Halfords and picked out my new bike, a Boardman Road Comp called Bertie, I am still getting used to him after taking a tumble yesterday. Luckily my pride is more bruised than I am.

I am both excited and nervous as to what I have signed up for next May, but well up for the challenge and raising a large amount of money for such a brilliant charity.

Oh Boy

Well following the successful test ride to the surgery on saturday I decided to cycle in today as I finish at 5 today (or am supposed to!).

However I had forgotten that our new springer puppy Rumer arrived home yesterday. Having stayed up as late as possible with her to try to get her to sleep through the night she went to bed around 11.30. However she decided she neded to go out for a wee at 4am. She cried and told us...good girl. However once we have had a wee, we are awake again, and have a strop when put back to bed. Following 15 solid minutes of howling (despite being Adaptilled up) she finally went back to sleep.

I had planned to leave at about 7 anyway, but she was up at 6.30. So whilst Vicky entertained and fed Rumer, I got my stuff together and left. However whilst worrying about falling asleep on the bike and disappearing under a truck, I had forgotten my keys. Well who needs keys if you're not driving right?

So on arriving at the gym up the road from the surgery, where I had planned a nice relaxing swim, sauna and shower before changing into work gear and pootling the last mile or so to work to avoid getting icky again, I discover an inability to lock up the bike. Now as nice as the residents of Eastbourne are and the members at the gym belonging to a certain dragon who's name begins with B are, I am paranoid. So I rush in shower and change. I get to work... No key.

Eventually Lisa my nurse arrives and lets me in. We go to get the cahs from the safe.......no key.

I have one and Alison my morning receptionist has one. Alison is off today. Ooops. Had to phone her to get key.

So the cycle was actually the easy bit. By the end of today that's 46 miles for the week. Not bad for a fat chap who hasn't cycled since he wanted to be in BMX bandits.

I suspect the miles done will far outweight the hours slept too....thanks Rumer pup......zzzzzzzz

Meet the team - Adam

Hi, I live in Edinburgh, work in Livingston, sold my car in April, (hence ecologically, I must be as benign as Felix) and I pride myself on trying anything - including running a vet practice & cycling long distances for 12 days running in May 2012, even if it means spending time with Cormac!

I will leave some detailed info, in time, of my ongoing "training", but so far, in summary, on average I'm doing 100-200miles per week, as when the weather is nice, it seems irresistible to the masochist in me to not cycle the 17miles home from work - whether I leave at 7pm, or 10.45pm (as I did on Tuesday after a stone-eating Border Collie decided to vomit for a day - the 3rd time she has done this!). It takes me anything from 1hr to 1hr20mins on my mountain bike, about 57mins to 1hr 5mins on my racer, and oddly, as little as 50mins on my newly acquired hydbrid, so guess which bike I'm doing the 1000miles with? You're correct - the most comfortable one - not sure which one this is yet...

I weigh 92Kg, but despite the last 6-8 weeks (lost track of time since the weather made cycling more appealing) of training, the only time I have temporarily managed to lose weight was to 91Kg after cycling 71miles in 4hrs 10mins on a very sunny Sunday.

My plan is to increase the number of these longer cycles on consecutive days to at least 4, not sure when I'll achieve this for the first time. My polar watch (and heart monitor) tell me I have a resting heart rate (when reading emails of a non-stressful nature) of 49bpm. Not the fittest I've been, but it'll do for now.

I'll add some photos once I work out how, but for now, I'd better let Maggie (Border Collie) and Billy (rescue greyhound) out for their midnight jaunt around the garden.

should really introduce ourselves....

This is myself and Paolo at our first fundraising event today where with the help of the whole team (and in particular Natalie's husband Daniel) we managed to raise £165. We were each on the bike for about 1 hr 45 mins and not feeling too saddle sore tonight.
I signed up to the cycle on the first night it was drunkenly suggested, but anyone who knows me knows that I've got a fairly big stubborn streak. So as far as I was concerned as soon as the challenge was on the table there was no backing down. I was quite surprised though to hear that Paolo wanted to join us. Exercise is not usually his cup of tea but he does like to cycle. His goal at the moment is to make it to Scotland and eat deep fried kebab pizza.
Our training so far has involved cycling to work - 5k for Paolo and 10k for me. We're away next month but when we get back we'll be starting some longer cycles to try to build up our fitness.
I'm definitely encouraged by today's fundraising effort. We had some really good feedback from customers in Pets at Home about the charity and some very generous donations.

A start

Well afer doing the 8 and 1/2 miles last Monday, I have summarily failed to get to the gym or get on a bike all week. Lots of odd things going on at the surgery.

So I decided today to do a "test" cycle to the surgery. I walked my youngest springer Rebus for about 7 miles as a warm up.

Managed to cycle to the surgery in about an hour. Although towards the end he addition of the gel saddle was losing its benefit. May need some padded shorts too. Goodnes knows my backside should be padded enough!.

Got back and took both dogs round the block as a 10 minute warm dowm. Especially as I feel if I sit down for too long I'm not moving again for a while.

37.65Km round trip, about 23 miles according to my little handle bar trip computer. Even managed to survive some of Sussex's bigger A roads.

May need a soak in the bath now.

Meet the Team - Tom

Hi, I am the vet partner in Truro, Cornwall. I moved to Cornwall 3 years ago with my wife Kathryn and three kids - Harry, Natalie and Lucy. I know some of the other guys on the trip fairly well and the others I am looking forward to getting to know better - possibly whilst walking in a slightly strange manner after cycling 90 miles a day!

I spend a lot of my spare time in Cornwall surfing, but I do occasionally cycle the 6 miles to work and I do own an old racing bike so that is a start at least. Time to start taking it a bit more seriously I guess and putting in some hours cycling around the Cornish Countryside - Open invite to anyone who wants to come down this way for some training rides!

Have to admit I already own some cycling Lycra which the practice nurses think is very stylish. I wonder how long it takes for the other to lose their dignity and invest in some skin tight clothing!

Last but not least

Hi Team & supporters,

Got myself locked in for the challenge finally.

1st thing 1st... need to get a medical for the all clear... H&S 1st and the magic is back in.

I have been cheating a bit and have been riding to work for the last year and a 1/2 after deciding to be car free.

Set the trip computer to 100miles and see how long it will take to complete over the next few days, and get an idea of how much effort to put in for a 18-20 mph average. That should mean an early finish each day on the challenge for a beer and a massage before Adam & Cormac roll in.

Ouch

Well I have a bike to start a bit of training on. I bought a car cycle rack and brought a bike back from my in-laws in Northants after we stayed for the weekend. Motorway driving with a bike on the back definately a new experience.

It is a light weight hybrid frame but has really chunky mountain tyres. But I figure if I can get going on that, when I switch to a road bike things can only be easier.

Did a little test ride today to get used to gears etc. Did about 8 and 1/2 miles. Very hot day and did it at lunchtime so really hot.

Managed better than I thought even with a few inclines. Took about an hour with 2 drink stops.

Note to self I must get a gel saddle.....ouch.

Let the training begin...

It's taken me 2 weeks to come to terms with the fact I have actually agreed to do this! So with reality setting in that it is a long way (not helped the by fact all my mates think i'm mad!) i thought it was time to start some training...

With the old mountain bike rusting in the garage, I thought I'd ease myself in with a trip to the warm gym and 30 mins on the "comfy" bike followed by a trip to costa on the way out... I survived the rigors of a hill programme which is a challenge since I grew up in linconshire and anything 1m over sea level is a mountain! Not sure how the legs will feel in the morning but only another 81 mile to add to the day and i'm there!

The wheel is rolling!

I have finally set up my fundraising page, reserved a bike, looked at some shoes and pedals and thought about training. Shoes don't look too comfortable to walk in!
I did 5 push ups and 2 and a half sit ups last night and I'm feeling the burn a little today - Feeling fit already.
Really enjoying the mixed reactions of people when I tell them what we are doing.

My week in training

This weeks totals: hmmm. can i have a do-over? 0 cycling. 10k run. Oh and some takeaways. lots of takeaways....

Next weeks targets: Well at this rate anything would be a bonus so i'll set the bar low and say 3 cycles and 2 runs but i'll cheat and wont define a distance yet!

The fundraising begins.

I know we've got lots of training ahead of us but I have to admit that the most daunting part of this crazy adventure is the amount of money we've pledged to raise for Dogs for the Disabled.

Myself and Paolo are starting our fundraising on the last Sunday of this month with a bikeathon in the waiting area of the Charlton Companion Care practice. We're borrowing a fixed bike trainer so we can take it in turns to cycle on the spot over the course of the 6 hour day.

With the surgery open day happening around us we hope to get support from our clients and pets at home customers alike.

It's going to be a long day but least there won't be any hills to climb!

Well got started. Last week managed 2 very short runs. Only about a mile or so but need to build up. Gym after work on Saturday. Did mix of cardio and upper and lower body resistance.

Was supposed to have a bit of a rest day yesterday. But as I was decorating at home, filling rubbing down priming and painting, felt quite stiff by the end of the day.

This morning 2 hours at the gym. 20 mins each on 4 cardio bits of equipment and lower body resistance. The sauna and jacuzzi after were most welcome. Getting quite stiff now so I think I'll be back on the creatine supps to help muscle recovery.

No booze this week but I might allow myself a couple tonight. Off to se Lee Evans at the Congress theatre in Eastboure with a few mates.

Current weight 126.0Kgs.

Meet the team - Jen

I ride horses. I don't ride bikes! I don't really remember when I did last ride a bike. I don't own a bike. 

But for some reason I couldn't shake the idea of doing this cycle ride. And before I knew it I was signed up so no turning back now! I am excited but also scared. 900+ miles on a bike in 12 days... and a lot of fundraising to do in between. I plan to start training this weekend, hopefully I will prove that you really do never forget how to ride a bike!

Jen

Well just went to Halfords. But I'm a bit confused.

Whilst I know that I probably need a road bike lightweight, thin tyres etc. I'm not too keen on dropped handlebars. I mean, once I've finished this ride (I mean if I finish), I would like just a good "all rounder" to continue using.

The chap in the shop as quite helpful, if not a little disbeleiving looking at the state of me.

So I think I'll be looking at Hybrids.

Either the Carrera crossfire, or the Marasa Voodoo.

W

Meet the Team - Cormac

Well, this was my stupid idea. I'm the partner in our Ashford surgery.

For some reason, despite a complete lack of fitness i always like to imagine myself as an athlete within a coach potatos body! I never really did any fitness until i did my first sprint triathlon 2 years ago (with the bike in the pic and the saddle falling off as i did it) and i have since done the Reading half marathon twice (very slowly). My exercise endeavours do tend to be spaced about 6 months apart though so constant training will be interesting.

The most i've ever cycled was a charity 100km cycle in Ireland which almost killed me and made all the more embarassing by the fact my 60 year old father was leaving me in his dust (and reminding me of the fact!)

Last year i spent a few hours at the Dogs For The Disabled kennels and it really is inspiring to see what they are doing. I hope we can raise our target to really help them continue this incredible work

no bike but new shoes!

The training has got off to a flying start. Got myself a lovely new shiny bike, cycling shorts and SPD pedals/shoes. I look a real pro and have been attracting admiration from my fellow commuters on my 10km cycle through London's busy streets. That is until last weekend when I tried to stop at the lights just before Tower Bridge, with a line of cars behind me and a less suitably kitted cyclist in front. I tried to catch hold of a bollard so as not to unclip my feet and totally mis-timed it. Down I went onto the tarmac with a crash, feet still firmly in place. I grazed my knee (haven't done that since I was a kid!) but the only pain was that of embarassment. Especially when the other cyclist turned to check I was ok and his face showed the joy he felt when he saw my attire. I can only imagine how the black cab drivers behind were tickled!

a good start....

well my first 12 miles cycled yesterday at a very slow pace. on a positive my bottom is not exceptionally sore. (yet!)

only about another 5000 or so more to go

OK I've really gone and done it this time.

At the time of that particular conversation at conference I was feeling pretty good. The beer had definately helped by then, and at the time I had lost nearly 4 stone in weight. I was going to the gym regularly, my blood pressure was at an all time low so I thought what the heck, you can do this Wok.

Unfortunately since then I have expanded the business a bit and myself quite alot, having had less time for the gym . I am now about 130Kgs, and my blood pressure could be better.

My motivation for the gym has been a bit up and down so I needed a goal to get me back on track. How about cycling the length of Britain and trying to raise alot of money for charity. GULP.

I think perhaps I'd better get a bike!

In the beginning....

Welcome to our blog. This is the launch of our 2012 charity cycle for Dogs for the Disabled from Lands End to John O'Groats

How did we get here? Well, it initially all started at our annual conference with a late night discussion about our fitness or lack thereof. Adam mentioned that he did some cycling and I described a long held dream to cycle from John O'Groats to Lands End. Unfortunately at the time we all though this was a great idea. Normally you wake up the next day with a bit of a headache and no recollection or inclination of any such silly ideas. However, thanks to Sinead's memory and enthusiasm the next next morning it was reignited and continued to grow until we find ourselves here, 308 days to go staring into the unknown and dreading it.

Over the next year, we'll document our training, our fundraising, our excitement and fears. Oh and pain.... probably a lot of pain.

We might also discuss why it's Lands End to John O'Groats and not the other way around. Is it just me or is it wrong to be going "up" the country against gravity! : )