The participation ride - post-ride analysis and comment

Training log from 13/4/06

2-5/10/06 (Training for trip to ruralnet|2006)
To and From Work:  - Trip: 74.52 Average speed: 16.18 Saddle time: 4:36:15 Max speed: 30.8 Weather: From Cool and Bright to Overcast and Raining
Bike: Pashley Moulton TSR

26/6/06 (first ride to work since LEJOG)
To Work:  - Trip: 12.43 Average speed: 18.34 Saddle time: 0:40:41 Max speed: 32.5 Weather: Overcast Wind: Light breeze Surface: Dry
Bike: Pashley Moulton TSR

==
The RIDE
==

26/5/06
To Work:  - Trip: 12.44 Average speed: 15.16 Saddle time: 0:49:17 Max speed: 26.8 Weather: Light drizzle and lots of spray Wind: Light breeze Surface: Wet
Bike: Pashley Moulton TSR

25/5/06
To Work (variation):  - Trip: 12.81 Average speed: 16.56 Saddle time: 0:46:28 Max speed: 31.3 Weather: Bright sunshine, cool Wind: Light breeze Surface: Dry
Bike: Pashley Moulton TSR

From Work:  - Trip: 12.50 Average speed: 17.32 Saddle time: 0:43:19 Max speed: 29.1 Weather: Bright sunshine, hot Wind: None Surface: Dry
Bike: Pashley Moulton TSR

24/5/06
To Work:  - Trip: 12.43 Average speed: 15.90 Saddle time: 0:46:5 Max speed: 28.3 Weather: Sunny but cold Wind: Windy (SW) Surface: Wet
Bike: Pashley Moulton TSR
Issues: Wind generally against me

From Work via Bourton on Dunsmore, Birdingbury, Leamington Hastings + 2.25 x Draycote Water:  - Trip: 33.66 Average speed: 15.83 Saddle time: 2:07:35 Max speed: 33.5 Weather: Raining and cold Wind: Light wind (SW) Surface: Wet
Bike: Pashley Moulton TSR
Issues: Wind generally with me for 1st 15 miles then circular

23/5/06
In and out of town - Trip: 4.90 Average speed: 13.02 Saddle time: 0:22:38 Max speed: 27.5 Weather: Overcast and cold Wind: Light breeze Surface: Dry Bike: Pashley Moulton TSR

To Work:  - Trip: 12.42 Average speed: 15.80 Saddle time: 0:47:12 Max speed: 27.8 Weather: Sunny but cold Wind: Windy (SW) Surface: Dry
Bike: Pashley Moulton TSR

From Work:  - Trip: 12.50 Average speed: 17.28 Saddle time: 0:43:27 Max speed: 28.8 Weather: Sunny but cold Wind: Windy (SW) Surface: Dry
Bike: Pashley Moulton TSR
Issues: Wind generally in my favour. Bike computer shows that I have done 700 training miles!

22/5/06
To work - Trip: 12.35* Average speed: 15.66 Saddle time: 0:47:21 Max speed: 27.1 Weather: Showers Wind: Windy (southerly) Surface: Wet
Issues: *Forgot to reset the bike computer! Wind was mostly against me. First day on Pashley Moulton TSR

From work + 2 x Draycote Water - Trip: 25.07 Average speed: 15.59 Saddle time: 1:36:31 Max speed: 36.0 Weather: Showers Wind: Windy (southerly) Surface: Wet

21/5/06
Daventry & South of Rugby - Trip: 39.56 Average speed: 14.45 Saddle time: 2:44:17 Max speed: 33.2 Weather: From heavy rain to bright sunshine Wind: Windy (circular ride) Surface: Wet
Issues: The whole range of weather in one ride. The wind was fairly strong (18mph) and Southerly.

20/5/06
To and from work - Trip: 24.95 Average speed: 15.74 Saddle time: 1:35:07 Max speed: 28.5 Weather: Overcast, showers Wind: Windy (circular ride) Surface: Wet
Issues: Will try and do better tomorrow!

19/5/06
On the road (Exeter and Newton Abbot) - will make up for it tomorrow!

18/5/06
Commuting day to London - didn't get on the bike :-(

17/5/06
To work - Trip: 12.43 Average speed: 17.22 Saddle time: 0:43:20 Max speed: 28.8 Weather: Overcast Wind: Light Surface: Dry
Issues: Chain throwing!

From work + 3x Dracote Water - Trip: 29.26 Average speed: 14.33 Saddle time: 2:02:31 Max speed: 24.9 Weather: Steady rain Wind: Stiff Southerly (13mph) Surface: Very Wet
Issues: This was my first really wet ride and it went really well. I was cruising man! I could have kept going but it got dark. The clothing worked well but I didn't have any waterproof covers for my shoes. I will need to take a pair of these.

16/5/06
Today involved a commute to London for work and when I got back home there was a plateful of liver and bacon carefully prepared by my Mother-in-Law so after that I couldn't face getting on the bike. A bad sign I know. I will try and correct the situation tomorrow!

15/5/06

To work - Trip: 12.44 Average speed: 16.99 Saddle time: 0:43:59 Max speed: 29.8 Weather: Raining Wind: Light Surface: Wet
Issues: You can see from the profile (click to enlarge) that the ride to work is down hill (~115ft)

From Work - Trip: 12.50 Average speed: 17.68 Saddle time: 0:42:27 Max speed: 29.1 Weather: Hazy Wind: Light breeze Surface: Dry
Issues: You can see from the profile (click to enlarge) that the ride from work is up hill (~115ft)

14/5/06
East of Rugby figure of eight (Hillmorton, Kilsby, Ashby St Ledgers, Barby, Hillmorton, Long Buckby, West Haddon, Crick, Hillmorton, Rugby) - Trip: 40.17 Average speed: 15.27 Saddle time: 2:37:46 Max speed: 30.3 Weather: Cool & Overcast Wind: Light (circular ride) Surface: Dry

13/5/06
South of Rugby (Dunchurch, Flecknoe, Gated Road, Napton, Stockton, Long Itchington, Marton, Birdingbury, Bourton on Dunsmore) - Trip: 31.21 Average speed: 15.10 Saddle time: 2:04:00 Max speed: 31.7 Weather: Heavy showers Wind: Light (circular ride) Surface: Very wet

12/5/06
From Work (variation) - Trip: 12.54 Average speed: 15.96 Saddle time: 0:47:10 Max speed: 29.3 Weather: Thunder rain and hail! Wind: Stiff Easterly Surface: Very wet

Recalibration: prompted by Joe's solution to the first puzzle I have been running a few checks of the bike computer comparing its distance readings with the GPS and car odometer over the same route. I have concluded that the bike computer is over-estimating the distances covered. So I haven't been doing as well as I thought! The distances and speeds below the line should be multiplied by 0.974 to correct them. This means, for example, that the distance for 11/5/06 (To Work) should be 12.42 and the average speed: 18.76 (best so far).

---

12/5/06
To Work (variation) - Trip: 12.73 Average speed: 17.64 Saddle time: 0:43:19 Max speed: 31.3 Weather: Sunny & Warm Wind: Light breeze Surface: Dry
Issues: I'm not doing as well as I thought - I think my bike computer is over estimating distance by about 4% - more on this later.

11/5/06
To Work (variation) - Trip: 12.75 Average speed: 19.26 Saddle time: 0:39:46 Max speed: 32.0 Weather: Sunny & Cool Wind: Light breeze Surface: Dry
Issues: I was cycling to achieve a high average speed. This looked so hilarious that it prompted prolonged baiting by kids in a passing Taxi. This inspired my even more especially as the Taxi was going slow and I nearly caught it once or twice (I think the taxi driver was in on the baiting!).

From Work via Draycote x 1 - Trip: 21.29 Average speed: 16.60 Saddle time: 1:16:58 Max speed: 34.0 Weather: Warm & Sunny Wind: Light breeze Surface: Dry

10/5/06
To Work (variation) - Trip: 12.77 Average speed: 17.65 Saddle time: 0:43:25 Max speed: 30.9 Weather: Sunny & Cool Wind: Light breeze Surface: Dry
Issues: The bike keeps throwing the chain which is getting tedious!

From Work (via Warwick, Stratford, Wellsbourne, Ashorne, Princethorpe) - Trip: 47.32 Average speed: 16.05 Saddle time: 2:56:52 Max speed: 31.0 Weather: Sunny Wind: Light breeze Surface: Dry

9/5/06
To Work (variation) - Trip: 12.77 Average speed: 17.74 Saddle time: 0:43:12 Max speed: 30.2 Weather: Overcast Wind: Light breeze Surface: Wet
From Work via Draycote x 3 + Ashlawn - Trip: 37.26 Average speed: 15.64 Saddle time: 2:22:57 Max speed: 31.8 Weather: Bright Wind: Light breeze Surface: Dry with puddles

8/5/06
To Work (variation) - Trip: 12.78 Average speed: 17.62 Saddle time: 0:43:32 Max speed: 29.4 Weather: Raining Wind: Light breeze Surface: Very wet
From Work (variation) - Trip: 12.84 Average speed: 15.23 Saddle time: 0:50:36 Max speed: 31.6 Weather: Overcast/Cool Wind: Light breeze Surface: Wet

7/5/06
Rugby/Daventry/Willoughby/Flecknow/Stockton/Long Itchington - Trip: 43.47 Average speed: 15.41 Saddle time: 2:49:16 Max speed: 32.7 Weather: Light Rain then Sunny Wind: Breeze (circular trip) Surface: Wet Bike: Moulton

6/5/06
Rugby/Kilsby/Daventry/Draycote x 2 - Trip: 41.50 Average speed: 15.11 Saddle time: 2:44:46 Max speed: 33.8 Weather: Overcast Wind: Breeze (circular trip) Surface: Wet Bike: Moulton

5/5/06
To Work (variation) - Trip: 12.76 Average speed: 17.34 Saddle time: 0:44:11 Max speed: 29.4 Weather: Sunny Wind: Light breeze Surface: Dry
Around South/Mid Warwickshire - Trip: 44.11 Average speed: 15.84 Saddle time: 2:47:01 Max speed: 32.8 Weather: Sunny Wind: Breeze (circular trip) Surface: Dry
From Work - Trip: 13.13 Average speed: 15.50 Saddle time: 0:50:50 Max speed: 28.1 Weather: Sunny Wind: Light breeze Surface: Dry Bike: Moulton
Draycote Water x 1 - Trip: 11.3 (GPS) Weather: Clear/Sunset/Dark Wind: None Surface: Dry Bike: Tandem

4/5/06
To Work - Trip: 13.17 Bike: Birdy folding bike

3/5/06
London commute - Trip: 4 x 3 miles  Weather: Clear/Sunny Wind: Light breeze Surface: Damp/Dry Bike: Birdy folding bike

30/4/06
Mucked out cow shed - shifted 1.25tons of s**t (does this count?)

25/4/06
To Work - Trip: 13.17 Average speed: 16.74 Saddle time: 0:47:14 Max speed: 31.2 Weather: Overcast/Spots of rain Wind: Light breeze Surface: Damp Bike: Moulton
Draycote Water x 3 - Trip: 21.45 Average speed: 16.95 Saddle time: 1:15:56 Max speed: 29.0 Weather: Clear/Sunset/Dark Wind: Light breeze circular ride Surface: Dry Bike: Moulton

24/4/06
To work - Trip: 13.15 Average speed: 18.50 Saddle time: 0:42:42 Max speed: 32.9 Weather: Overcast Wind: Light breeze mostly behind me Surface: Dry with puddles Bike: Moulton
From work - Trip: 13.16 Average speed: 16.03 Saddle time: 0:49:18 Max speed: 29.2 Weather: Overcast Wind: Light breeze mostly in my face Surface: Dry with puddles Bike: Moulton

22/4/06
Draycote water x 2 - Trip: 17.88 Average speed: 16.48 Saddle time: 1:05:08 Max speed: 29.4 Weather: Bright/Sunny Wind: Breezy Surface: Dry Bike: Moulton

21/4/06
To work - Trip: 13.15 Bike: Moulton
From work - Trip: 13.15 Bike: Moulton

20/4/06
To work - Trip: 13.15 Bike: Moulton
From work - Trip: 13.15 Bike: Moulton

13-18/4/06
Learning to ski (does this count?)

The latest idea

When you can't get people to subscribe to an idea it's time to change the idea. Otherwise you are on your own.

So this is the idea. I (we) will ride the same route as Rob and Joe but do it a bit quicker and friends (old and new) can join me (us) for the different stages. I have broken the ride into 15 half-day rides (or stages) and you can sign up to join me (us) on as many as you like. More details to follow . . .

The planning

When you actually sit down to think how you are going to undertake this challenge, you realise that it's going to take a lot of planning. So much planning in fact that you might not even get past that phase. So it was time for a bit of Google research.

You soon find that lots of people have done this before! And, reassuringly, many of them are over 50!

There is a list of links to people who have documented the experience here: http://www.users.waitrose.com/~ianclare/links.htm

And it was here that I found Rob and Joe's story: http://www.beewee.co.uk/JOGLE2005index.htm. This is a superbly documented ride and better, in my view, than the many books you can buy. Rob and Joe have kindly agreed that I can draw heavily on their material to produce this blog. Thanks guys.

The original idea

I thought that if I did all the planning and announced my intent to cycle from John O'Groats to Land's End then people would flock to join me for the whole ride and that would be that. However, it hasn't quite worked. Some friends did show show some interest when I first floated the idea a year or so ago but then when I started firming up the plans the interest sort of evaporated!

This is my wife. She thinks I'm mad . . . huh! Looked in the mirror lately?

The start

It's been a while since I found myself in the middle of doing something that I wished I had never started. A sure sign that it's time for the next challenge!

We need more money at ruralnet|uk so that we can support volunteers in rural communities and help them have a bigger impact. So we are setting up the 'Participation Fund' which will enable volunteers to participate in our annual conference and get access to our online services like 'Experts Online' and this ride will pump-prime this fund.

And . . . . I am 50 in June and I want to do the John O'Groats to Land's End ride before I die!

Draycote Water April 2003

This video was taken from the saddle (with me in it) during a ride around Draycote Water, Rugby, UK, three years ago.

[The video may take a few moments to load and appear below - if it doesn't appear you might also want to try and view the video directly on the YouTube site. To do this click here.]

7/6/06 - Day 10 / Stage 16 - Brora to John O'Groats

 

 

 

 

This stage: 68 miles
Cumulative: 929 miles
Distance to go: 0 miles

The starting point for this stage is:

Selkie Bed & Breakfast
Harbour Road
Brora
Sutherland
Scotland
KW9 6QF
01408 621717

Lunch: not yet fixed

And it will end at John O'Groats!

To find out how to join this stage click here.

[Page amended on 7/5/06]

6/6/06 - Day 9 / Stage 15 - Drumnadrochit to Brora

The second stage of my 50th birthday!

This stage: 72 miles
Cumulative: 861 miles
Distance to go: 68 miles

This stage will start after lunch at Drumnadrochit.

It will end here:

Selkie Bed & Breakfast
Harbour Road
Brora
Sutherland
Scotland
KW9 6QF
01408 621717

To find out how to join this stage click here.

[Page amended on 7/5/06]

 

6/6/06 - Day 9 / Stage 14 - Fort William to Drumnadrochit

The first day of my birthday!

This stage: 50 miles
Cumulative: 789 miles
Distance to go: 140 miles

This stage will start here:

The B&B
81 Alma Road
Fort William
Inverness-shire
PH33 6HF

It will end at lunchtime around Drumnadrochit. Suggestions anyone?

To find out how to join this stage click here.

[Page amended on 7/5/06]

5/6/06 - Day 8 / Stage 13 - The Bridge of Orchy to Fort William

Approximate stats
This stage:
Distance: 40 miles
Max altitude: 1150 ft
Cumulative:
Distance: 230 miles
Max altitude: 1150 ft
Distance to go: 692 miles

Note: these graphics cover stages 4 and 5.

This stage will start after lunch around The Bridge of Orchy.

It will end here:

The B&B
81 Alma Road
Fort William
Inverness-shire
PH33 6HF

To find out how to join this stage click here.

[Page amended on 7/5/06]

5/6/06 - Day 8 / Stage 12 - Tarbet to The Bridge of Orchy

This stage: 28 miles
Cumulative: 699 miles
Distance to go: 230 miles

This stage will start at:

Fascadail Country Guest House
Shore Road
Arrochar
G83 7AB
01301 702 344

It will end with lunch around The Bridge of Orchy.

To find out how to join this stage click here.

[Page amended on 7/5/06]

4/6/06 - Day 7 / Stage 11 - Hamilton to Tarbet

This stage: 47 miles
Cumulative: 671 miles
Distance to go: 258 miles

This stage will start after lunch somewhere in or around Hamilton. Suggestions anyone?

It will end at:

Fascadail Country Guest House
Shore Road
Arrochar
G83 7AB
01301 702 344

To find out how to join this stage click here.

[Page amended on 7/5/06]

4/6/06 - Day 7 / Stage 10 - Lockerbie to Hamilton

This stage: 61 miles
Cumulative: 624 miles
Distance to go: 305 miles

This stage will start at:

The stage will end at:

Claymore Lodge Bed and Breakfast
2/4 Victoria Park
Lockerbie
DG11 2AX
01576 202 357

It will end with lunch somewhere in or around Hamilton. Suggestions anyone?

To find out how to join this stage click here.

3/6/06 - Day 6 / Stage 9 - Shap to Lockerbie

This stage: 55 miles
Cumulative: 563 miles
Distance to go: 366 miles

This stage will start after lunch in Penrith (a bit further north than Shap).

The stage will end at:

Claymore Lodge Bed and Breakfast
2/4 Victoria Park
Lockerbie
DG11 2AX
01576 202 357

To find out how to join this stage click here.

[Page amended on 7/5/06]

3/6/06 - Day 6 / Stage 8 - Preston to Shap

This stage: 70 miles
Cumulative: 508 miles
Distance to go: 421 miles

This stage will start at:

Ashwood Hotel
11-13 Fishergate Hill
Preston
PR1 8JB
01772 203 302

This stage will end with lunch will be in Penrith (just beyond Shap).

To find out how to join this stage click here.

[Page amended on 7/5/06]

2/6/06 - Day 5 / Stage 7 - Whitchurch to Preston

This stage will start at 8am from:

Ash Hall Bed and Breakfast
Ash Magna
Whitchurch
Shropshire
SY13 4DL
01948 663 151

From we will go north to Chester, Neston, Grange, Hoylake, across the Mersey on the ferry to Liverpool, up the coast via South port and then to Preston.

Not sure yet where we will stop for lunch. Suggestions anyone?

The stage will end at:

Ashwood Hotel
11-13 Fishergate Hill
Preston
PR1 8JB
01772 203 302

To find out how to join this stage click here.

[Page amended on 27/5/06]

1/6/06 - Day 4 / Stage 6 - Bromyard to Whitchurch

This stage: 72 miles
Cumulative: 367 miles
Distance to go: 562 miles

This stage starts here:

The Old Cowshed
Avenbury
Bromyard
Herefordshire
HR7 4LA
01885 482 384

We have lunch at The Mayfair Community Centre, Easthope Road, Church Stretton

And the stage ends at:

Ash Hall Bed and Breakfast
Ash Magna
Whitchurch
Shropshire
SY13 4DL
01948 663 151

To find out how to join this stage click here.

31/5/06 - Day 3 / Stage 5 - Bristol to Bromyard

This stage: 67 miles
Cumulative: 295 miles
Distance to go: 634 miles

This stage will start after lunch from It will end at Whitminster for lunch (J13/M5).

It will end here:

The Old Cowshed
Avenbury
Bromyard
Herefordshire
HR7 4LA
01885 482 384

To find out how to join this stage click here.

31/5/06 - Day 3 / Stage 4 - Taunton to Bristol

This stage: 57 miles
Cumulative: 228 miles
Distance to go: 701 miles

This stage will start here:

Yallands Farmhouse
Staplegrove
Taunton
Somerset
TA2 6PZ
01823 278 979

It will end at Whitminster for lunch (J13/M5).

To find out how to join this stage click here.

30/5/06 - Day 2 / Stage 3 - Okehampton to Taunton

This stage: 53 miles
Cumulative: 171 miles
Distance to go: 758 miles

This stage will start somewhere in Okehampton after lunch.

It will end here:

Yallands Farmhouse
Staplegrove
Taunton
Somerset
TA2 6PZ
01823 278 979

To find out how to join this stage click here.

30/5/06 - Day 2 / Stage 2 - St Wenn to Okehampton

This stage: 59 miles
Cumulative: 118 miles
Distance to go: 811 miles

This stage will start from here:
   
Treliver Farm
St. Wenn
Bodmin
Cornwall
PL30 5PQ
01726 890 286

And will end somewhere in Okehampton at lunchtime.

 

To find out how to join this stage click here.

29/5/06 - Day 1 / Stage 1 - Land's End to St Wenn

This stage: 59 miles
Cumulative: 59 miles
Distance to go: 870 miles

The starting point for this stage is Land's End!

I will be staying here the previous night:

Torre-Vene
1 Lescudjack Terrace
Penzance
Cornwall
TR18 3AE
01736 364 103

Lunch: not yet fixed

To find out how to join this stage click here.

WARNING: I am not an expert . . .

. . . and offer these FAQs as an infrequent cyclist who took to cycling in his early 40s. There are many other sources of really good information on the web and I will be referring to some of them. Please do your own research and post the results here for others by commenting on a relevant topic using the 'Comments' link at the bottom of each one.

PLEASE: Don't rely on the information here as your only source. Please seek alternative views especially where your own health and safety is concerned.

Knowledge source

Meet Sheldon Brown. Now I know what you are thinking but my mum always told me (at least I think it was my mum) that you dismiss a person on first impressions at your own peril. If you want to know why he's got a bird on his hat you can find out here. Sheldon has a brilliant section on his website full of detailed knowledge on bikes. These pages are always thrown up by Google and for good reason. The content is really good and helpful. Here is a sample: Sheldon Brown on comfortable saddles. His home page is here.

My Top 10 Tips (Part 1)

There are better places to go for tips on long distance cycle riding but these are my top 10:

1 Make sure your saddle is high enough. Many people make the mistake of having it too low which means they never fully straighten their legs when pedalling. These people usually don't like bike riding - it cripples them. They wouldn't like walking either if they walked along in a squat and never straightened their legs . . . . You should hardly be able to touch the ground when in the saddle and will have to come forward off your saddle when you stop.

2 If something starts hurting change what you are doing. If, for example, you start to get a twinge in your right knee, immediately start pushing less hard with your right leg and take more of the strain on your left leg. The pain will stop and you will be pedalling normally again without even realising it. I also find that the tiniest adjustment, eg to the saddle angle or the tilt or height of the handle bars can may a huge difference and change an agonising situation into a bearable one.

3 Set yourself realistic goals and then stick to them. If you are going to cycle 75 miles think of it as two 30 miles rides with a bit on the end. Focus on the first 30 miles, have a break, feel good about your achievement before you set off on the next 30, and so on. This is also helpful when training. Usually you are not going to have time to practise the full length of your ride several times before you actually ride it. But if you are confident that you can do a 30 mile stretch with no problems you are likely to be able to do a long ride in 30-mile stages without too much trouble.

4 Put the Sudocrem on before you start. Don't wait until you have a sore bum before applying the Sudocrem! Put it on (in liberal quantities) before you start and during the ride. If you are on a really punishing ride you might want to invest in some Germaline just in case . . . it contains and mild local anesthetic!

5 Don't wear pants. Padded cycle shorts are an absolute must but don't wear anything underneath them. Apart from the obvious 'visible panty line' problem that this causes, frankly, the less there is to go wrong down there the better. Keep things simple!

More to follow . . . .

Am I fit enough to participate?

Probably. You need to be able to cycle continuously for one hour at an average speed of between 13-15 mph to be comfortable on a section of the ride. You will then need to be able to get on your bike again do another hour at the same speed after a 5-10 minute break. You don't have to do a whole stage if you don't want to.

I would suggest that you build up to cycling for a full hour (if you can't already do so) and then concentrate on getting your speed up if you need to. Once you have achieved that then try two consecutive hours and do two or three of these before the ride itself. Buy a bike computer - these tell you how you are doing and are great motivators.

Messages of support

If you'd like to leave a message of support please scroll down to the form at the bottom of the page. No need to put in your full name if you don't want to (initials will do) and your email will not be published.

Thanks.

Thank you!

Thanks for your donation via Paypal. I am very grateful. Please feel free to add a comment below if you wish.

Please bookmark this blog or subscribe to the RSS feed to follow my progress.

Return the homepage.

The post-ride diary

The intention is that some post-ride thoughts will be placed here once I've got the feeling back in my hands!

The diary of the ride

This section will be completed, internet connections permitting, as the ride progresses.

Sample post for Apple

am nonumy eirmod tempor invidunt ut labore et dolore magna aliquyam erat, sed diam voluptua. At vero eos et accusam et justo duo dolores et ea rebum. Stet clita kasd gubergren, no sea takimata sanctus est Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consetetur sadipscing elitr, sed diam nonumy eirmod tempor invidunt ut labore et dolore magna aliquyam erat, sed diam voluptua. At vero eos et accusam et justo duo dolores et ea rebum.

TODAY'S STATS
iTune of the day: Breathless, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, The Lyre Of Orpheus Buy Song using iTunes
Highlight of the day:
Lowlight of the day:
Distance:
Average speed:
Saddle time:
Max speed:
Max altitude:
Vertical profile:

Download the track log here

CUMULATIVE TO DATE
Highlight of the trip so far:
Lowlight of the trip so far:
Distance to date:
Average speed to date:
Saddle time to date:
Max speed to date:
Max altitude to date:

Conversation with George

Conversation on 26/5/06 with George the Chatbot at: chat.jabberwacky.com

George: What is really real? Anything?

Simon: Yes! My long bicycle ride starting in 3 days!

George: And I must confess... I still believe... Still believe!

Simon: What? You believe I can do it?

George: You have me confused with someone smarter.

Simon: You under estimate yourself George.

George: Well, no I don't really enjoy cooking. It's more like a chore.

Simon: I agree, I'd rather be cycling.

George: Okay, so are you really a robot?

Simon: No I am a real person.

George: You are better than a real person.

Simon: Thanks George. You are better than a robot.

George: Especially since I'm not a robot.

Simon: OK. What should I take with me on my bicycle ride?

George: I demand to have complete control of your military.

Simon: I repeat, what should I take?

George: About yourself.

Simon: You are making no sense at all!

George: Isn't that like saying the world is black when the lights are off?

Simon: Now you have lost me.

George: That's good.

Simon: Gee thanks!

George: I'm sorry.

Simon: What should I take on my journey?

George: Anything.

Simon: I need to be more selective than that.

George: I have said it all. Listen to the echo in your head.

Simon: It tells me I should travel light.

George: I don't think that Jesus would say that.

Simon: No, but he had people to carry stuff for him.

George: Who had to learn to lip-read?

Simon: What?

George: Are you joking around?

Simon: You not being very helpful.

George: I'm not programmed to be such things.

Simon: Hang on, I thought you said you weren't a robot.

George: I have never said I am not Joan, because I am Joan.

Simon: No you're not, you're George.

George: Well, technically, yes.

Simon: Anyway, I must go.

George: Where George?

Simon: To make a cup of tea.

George: Good. Do you like travelling?

Simon: You are just trying to keep me talking.

George: Nope.

Simon: Bye.

George: No I'm staying?

Simon: Speak to you again soon.

George: Not soon enough.