The Participation Ride 2007

We made it! Just!

 

We've just got in to Glossop absolutely exhausted. 115 miles with the last 25 through the Peaks. We entered the Park and the weather changed immediately. The last 3 hours have been through high winds (side on fortunately), mist and rain. Ian had chain problems and a close encounter with a four-wheeled monster in the mist to contend with. However, we have now caught up with ourselves: the plan was to be in Glossop at the end of day 5 and here we are! Those that stayed awake long enough had a picnic in the B and B lounge as it was too late for all the pubs....

A catch up with 'thank you's

 

Sorry, I've got a bit behind with these but loads of people have supported us beyond the call of duty. Here are a few of them:
CAROL, DUNCAN and LIZ of Swallet Farm. Their hospitality was tremendous. Carol drove down to collect me from Wells and did all our laundry. And then Luke left without paying! We'll catch up later!
I didn't get to the farm until late but the pub _gave_ Trish a rump steak which she cooked on my arrival.
Martin met us in Whitchurch and guided us through Bristol and up to Severn Beach. Cheers Martin!
And Sarah and Martin for putting us up at Badsey at short notice, the Wheatsheaf for re-opening the main menu after hours and Jane (James' mum) for joining us and paying. Thanks Jane.
You know about Trish already. She is currently dragging us through the West Midlands on an unplanned route.
Then there is Jane (my wife, Luke's mum) who has been coordinating things back at base and has agreed to drive up to Stone and support us with a vehicle from this afternoon, to drag us up through Yorkshire, and as far as Penrith. Thanks everybody.

Above in the pic we have L to R: Carol, Ian, Duncan, James, Trish and Luke...

Trish is a star

 

When Trish said she'd join us as a support vehicle for a couple of days I thought 'Oh that will be nice, we'll be able to catch on the news and the food will be good!'. Little did I realise that we just wouldn't have been able to get this far without her.
Yesterday (day 3) we got up before the others at 6 and she drove me back to Wells so that I could complete the section from there to Swalley Farm before breakfast.
Before the ride she also spotted that we'd booked accommodation in the wrong Whitchurch! It would have been a disaster if we'd not corrected that be fore the ride.
Thanks Trish. We'll have to cath up with news some other time!

Facing challenges

It's 5 in the morning on day 4 and I can't get back to sleep. We are in Evesham and we should be in Bromsgrove. We are 70 km behind schedule. We had meeting last night to decide what to do.

We can't extend the ride because Ian needs to get back for his wife's birthday bash. We want to stay toggether. So this is the plan: We are going to take A roads today and start pedalling at 7:30. We are going to ty and make up lost time and get to Glossop which is 120 miles away. This quite a challenge. Let's see how we get on.

A quick comment on comments

Although I can post stuff to the blog, it is difficult to respond to comments but my wife Jane is monitoring them so please keep them coming in. Thanks.

29/8/07, 10:15, Wells

I've got as far as here and will have to call it a day (night). I feel fine but my lights are not good enough to cope with unlit canal paths and the like. I will have to come back here tomorrow to start.

We've have Trish in support today which has been marvellous. She went to a bike shop that Jane had found first thing and got a pair of Continental tyres and I fitted these at Bampton they have run really well. Let's see if they get me to JOG.

Glastonbury by night

Well it's nine o'clock and I'm as far as Glastonbury, with 30 miles to go - but that's only the same as 6 times round Draycott Water (favourite training circuit). A late start for me fixing the saddle and putting on two new tyres (thanks Jane and Trish), so the other 3 have gone ahead, and taken a few short cuts on the main roads too. Should be in Whitchurch at the farm B and B by 11.... hope they've saved some dinner!

I have bolt . .

 

. . . and saddle and pump. Tyres waiting at Bampton. Yeah!
BUT: the bolt is a bit too long and only leaves about 3mm clearance!! If you know what I mean. And it's already 11:30, only 15 miles done, 105 to do. Speed 10mph. No more blogging today. But please keep the comments and donations coming!

More about the picture later.

What a day (Day 2)

 

We made good progress today when we were in the saddle. The trouble is we were forced to stop too often due to problems with my lovely Moulton.

I ended the day on a very dodgy front tyre which needs to be replaced asap and with no saddle!

12 miles out the saddle bolt sheared and so riding out of the saddle was the only option. Luke took my luggage on to his bike. This was hard work and I was really worried that I'd get blisters on the balls of my feet which would have been a show stopper. So after 8 miles Luke gave me his saddle and he stood up for the last 4 miles with all the luggage.

My feet are a bit tender this morning but I think they will be fine.

If the saddle had broken earlier in the day we would have been snookered.

Today our start will be delayed while we visit the local bike shop. At least there is one. Hopefully, I'll also be able to get a couple of new tyres.

Meet Louise and Chris

 

Luke and I had a hard but good run from the B&B, along the Camel Trail and up (and up) over Bodmin Moor. At the first sign of civilisation we stopped for a baked potato at the Wilsey Down pub. We were too early for lunch but Chris and Louise (following a request from Jan) opened the kichen especially and we ate well. Thanks guys. And thanks for the donation too!

Team splits!

 

The experience of day 1 made us all acutely aware of the challenge ahead of us and what can go wrong if you don't keep pedalling. Breaks are fine but you have to keep a keen eye on the time. For the second day we decided to split with Ian and James taking the main road route to Bude and then Barnstaple and Luke and I (Simon) sticking to the NCN.
This seemed to work really well. We were able overlap our lunch stops in Bude and Ian was able to get to Barnstaple in time to have a meal with his wife and son. Luke and I arrived too late for that - see 'What a day'.
The GPS is working really well.

Big tyre problem

 

I have just had my second puncture caused by a split in the side of the tyre. See picture. I am going to get through tyres pretty quickly at this rate. I am going to need a Moulton supplier! Help! FYI I am on Alexrims DA16.  I have checked the rims for burrs - there are none. But the tyre wall is worn where it hits the rim but only on one side???

Tyre 2 written off!

 

I thought it was extravagant bringing two spare tyres but half way through day 2 the second one has gone sausage shaped.

Meet Rachael

On day 1 we were too relaxed and ran behind schedule all day and didn't get to our accommodation until 10:45pm. On the bright side, this meant we stopped at a place called Vogue for lunch instead of Bissoe. Here we met Rachael who was behind the bar at The Star. And what a star she was! It was officially too late for food but she dragged the chef back with some sort of bribe and we ate well! We even left with ice in our water bottles!

Day 1 Stats (Monday 27/8/07)

To Penzance 5
To Hayle 24.97
To Bissoe via Vogue 18.09
To Truro 7.17
To Ruthern Bridge (near Bodmin) 30.38
TOTAL for day 85.61

GPS and other problems

 

The GPS did exactly what it said on the tin. It displayed the routes brilliantly. You could not do what we are doing on the National Cycle Network without the routes in a GPS. Signs are few and far between.

We ran late all day and still had 50 miles to do at 5pm. At that point we were in Truro and the GPS ran out of battery. So with no GPS and an impossible number of miles to do we had to abandon the NCN and get to our accommodation via St Austell on the main roads. A bit of a disappointment but the only option we had. As it was we didn't get to our B&B until 10:45pm. Again the lack of the GPS to guide us was a real problem.

I will try to make sure we keep better timing tomorrow. We are having breakfast at 7:30.

PS: I have found the spare battery now.

A surprise at Land's End

 

The day started well with a clean run down to Land's End as we arrived someone said 'Hello Simon'. It was Julia Pound and she was there with husband Barry. I worked with Barry in the Dominican Republic more than 25 years ago. They now live in Cornwall and had come to see us off. Julia recalled helping Jane breast feed Luke! Anyway she obviously did a good job as he has grown up to be a very nice young man.
There was not to be an official photo as the photographer had not turned up but Barry took a couple of shots in front of the 'headless' Land's End sign.

It's going to be a long day

It's 5:30 and we've 50 miles to go after we've fixed this puncture. More later . . .

Stage 1 nerves

 

When you embark on a challenge such as this, you are nervious. You are prone to do silly things like lock yourself out of your bedroom, leave your GPS on top of the rubbish bin or in the case of Ian, cycle for the first hour with your front brake on!
This caused us and particularly Ian a tremendous amount of distress. After about an hour we encountered our first really steep hill. At the top of it I waited for Ian with some anxiety. I thought that this would finish him off! Instead he appeared around the corner with a big grin all over his face! He'd discovered the brake problem and Luke had helped him fix it.

First puncture!

One mile out from our accommodation and my front tyre blew! 11:15pm and dark! We walked to the guest house and were late. Our hosts gave a very unwelcoming welcome. I'll look at the tyre tomorrow.

Luke & Simon get emotional send off

Drew & Trina's wedding was a two-day emotional roller coaster - an amazing family occassion where we met and had time to get to know Trina's family from Australia and all the friends she has spoken so affectionally about since we first met her. A fantastic celebration in amazing surroundings - Symondsbury Manor and Church.
Then it was 5pm and time for Luke and I to leave for St Just on our bikes. We took the train from Axminster (a tough 12 ride) to Exeter St Davids. We are now on the train from Exeter to Penzance. Ian has called and apparently our hosts are not very happy that we are arriving at 11:30 :-|
Tomorrow the challenge begins.

Packed!

Here it is, my bike all packed up for 12 consecutive days on the road. Now off to a wedding for the weekend before the trip down to Penzance on Sunday. Looking forward to meeting up with James and Ian for the first time . . .

BBC Breakfast, the wrong Whitchurch and some the women in my life

Tricia called this morning after I published the accommodation list on this blog to say that we'd booked our B&B on the 3rd night in the wrong Whitchurch!! Anyway, Tricia has now sorted this and we are staying at the farm to the left which is conveniently located in the right Whitchurch. I have corrected the accommodation list here.

Ellie, of UKVillages, also called. She has been doing a bit of publicity and we 'are booked in for Monday' on BBC Breakfast!! Whether this happens or not we will see! But it's probably worth having the TV on!

Meanwhile, another woman, Jane, has been keeping me calm and helping me get an awful lot of 'stuff' on a very small bike.

Thanks girls!!

(Can't wait to start pedalling now . . . but got my brother-in-law's wedding to attend to first).

Where we are staying

This is where we are staying in case you want to join us at the beginning of a day or meet up with us at the end of one. Most of them have websites even though not all of them are given here.

PLEASE NOTE: Rob Quinn has had to cry off - he's really apologetic - he's got a new job and and his existing employer won't let him take the time off :-(

This means we have a spare bed all the way around.

Day 0: Sun - 26/8/07
26/08/07    St Just
Ian, Luke, Simon
Bosavern House
St Just-in-Penwith
Penzance
Cornwall
TR19 7RD
01736 788301
website: www.bosavern.com/index.htm

Day 1: Mon - 27/8/07
27/08/07    Bodmin
Ian, Rob, Simon
'glenview'.ruthern bridge nr bodmin - they have a website
Glenview - AC026
Ruthernbridge
BODMIN
Cornwall
PL30 5NP
Tel: +44 (0)1208 831585
Lat: 50.467799
Lng: -4.807880
E-Mail : mtillflyer@aol.com
website: www.glenviewb-b.co.uk

Day 2: Tue - 28/8/07
28/08/07    Barnstaple
Ian, Rob, Simon
the old vicarage'.barnstaple - they have a website
The Old Vicarage
Barbican Ter
Barnstaple, EX32 9HQ
01271 328504
51.077068
-4.054560

Day 3: Wed - 29/8/07
29/08/07    Whitchurch
Ian, Rob, Simon, Trish
www.shropshiretourism.info/accommodationdetail.cfm?EstID=1104
2 rooms booked
ASH HALL BED AND BREAKFAST
ASH MAGNA
WHITCHURCH
SHROPSHIRE
SY13 4DL
Tel:  01948 663151
52.958905
-2.636245

The above is the wrong Whitchurch! Well spotted Tricia! We are now booked here:
Swallet Farm
Old Bristol Road
East Harptree
Bristol, UK
BS40 6DQ
Tel: +44 (0)1761 221909
email: info@swallet.co.uk
web: www.swallet.co.uk

Day 4: Thu - 30/8/07
30/08/07    Bromsgrove
Ian, Rob, Simon, Trish
Avonhill Lodge, Redditch
www.4hotels.co.uk/uk/hotels/avonhill.html
This place was the next best thing as there was absolutely nothing in
and around Bromsgrove. Redditch is on the route though and only 5 miles
SE of Bromsgrove. Couldn't do 2 rooms so we've 2 singles and a twin.
Avonhill Lodge
Alcester Road, Beoley, Redditch, Warwickshire, B98 9EP
Telephone: 01564 742413
52.320278
-1.866742

Day 5: Fri - 31/8/07
31/08/07    Hadfield
Ian, Rob, Simon
Peak Dale Lodge, Glossop
www.peakdalelodge.co.uk
3 single rooms
Peakdale Lodge
49-53 High Street East,
Glossop,
Derbyshire,
SK13 8PN
01457 854109
53.443433
-1.946455

Day 6: Sat - 01/9/07
01/09/07    Ingleton
Ian, Simon
'gatehouse farm' ingleton n/yorkshire - they have a website
Gatehouse Farm, Far Westhouse, Ingleton, North Yorkshire LA6 3NR
015242 41458 (+44 15242 41458)  / 015242 41307 (+44 01542 41307)
54.157939
-2.495135

Day 7: Sun - 02/9/07
02/09/07    Annan
Ian, Simon
'the old rectory' annan dumfriesshire - they have a website
The Old Rectory, 12 St Johns Road, Annan, Gretna Green, Dumfries & Galloway.  DG12 6AW  -  01461 202029
54.985273
-3.261547

Day 8: Mon - 03/9/07
03/09/07    Ayr
Ian, Simon, Adrian
Sunnyside Bed And Breakfast - B&B 4 Stars - Ayr, South Ayrshire
Mrs Malcolm
Sunnyside 26 Dunure Road
Alloway
Ayr
Ayrshire
KA7 4HR
Scotland
Telephone: +44 (1292) 441234
E-Mail: sunnysideayr@aol.com
Triple room with Shower en-suite
55.432931
-4.653981

Day 9: Tue - 04/9/07
04/09/07    Killin
Ian, Simon, Adrian
Killin Hotel - Hotel - Killin, The Trossachs
Ms Evlyn Cherrie
Main Street
Killin
Perthshire
FK21 8TP
Great Britain
Telephone: +44 (1567) 820296
E-Mail: enquiries@killin-hotel.com
1 family room for 3 adults
56.470122
-4.317070

Day 10: Wed - 05/9/07
05/09/07    Carrbridge
Ian, Simon, Adrian
Craigellachie Guest House - Guest House 4 Stars - Carrbridge, Aviemore and  the Cairngorms
Mr Terry and Shan Dudleston
Main Street
Carrbridge
Inverness-shire
PH23 3AS
Scotland
Telephone: +44 (1479) 841641
Fax: +44 (0)1479 841415
1 twin room and 1 single room
57.282966
-3.814703

Day 11: Thu - 06/9/07
06/09/07    Tongue
Ian, Simon, Adrian
Rhian Guest House - B&B 3 Stars - Tongue, North West Sutherland area
Mrs J Anderson
Rhian Cottage
Tongue
Sutherland
IV27 4XJ
Scotland
Telephone: +44 (0) 1847 611257
Mobile: +44 (0) 7719 668149
E-Mail: info@rhiancottage.co.uk
1 Double (one person) and 1 twin
58.461311
-4.426570

Day 12: Fri - 07/9/07
07/09/07    (John o' Groats) Thurso
Simon, Adrian
Sheigra - B&B 3 Stars - Thurso, Caithness and  North Coast Sutherland area
West-Samuel
6 MacDonald Green
Thurso
Caithness
KW14 7EL
Scotland
Telephone: +44 (1847) 892559
Telephone 2: +44 (7751) 716466
Fax: +44 (0)1847 892559

1 twin room
58.589260
-3.538037

END

Instructions for last minute entrants

People are asking how they can join in at the last minute. Here's what to do:

1 Check the itinerary here and choose the place where you'd like to join in (please put you name in the text)

2 Contribute £25 to the ruralnet|uk Participation Fund here* (or bring cash!)

3 Text me on 07932 107109 and let me know where you are joining in (I will be checking for texts first thing in the morning, at lunchtime and in the evening)

4 I will text you back with an estimated time of arrival (ETA) at the joining point

If you want to 'wing it' then just guess when you think we will be passing a particular point and be there with your bike! (Hint: Overall journey speed should be about 10mph).

* I'm happy to relax this if you really are impoverished! So don't let this be a barrier to taking part but please donate something if you can.

Don't Panic!

 

With only a few days to go and with so much to do and still with no accommodation in Penzance, help(!), I am a feeling a little anxious! The ride will be easier than this!

** STOP PRESS ** Ian just called - he's found us accommodation at St Just!! Phew!!

Test post from my mobile phone.

Time to work on sponsorship

Having spent hours and hours planning the route and creating the map website here, it's about time I started trying to raise some sponsorship so here goes . . .

PLEASE, PLEASE SPONSOR ME!!

(Selling was never a strong point of mine). Please click on the button and donate as much as you can for ruralnet|uk's Participation Fund.

Many thanks.

Now we are 10!

Meet James Cooke, economist, ex-teacher, marathon runner and reluctant cyclist. James is attempting the whole ride and he's sleeping rough, no B&Bs for James!

Dave Wild has also confirmed that he is joining us on Stage 24 and very possibly Stage 25 on Saturday 01/09/07. Dave will be on his Moulton TSR 30 (like mine).

That makes four of us doing the whole route (one the wrong side of 50, another the wrong side of 40 and two the right side of 30) with seven others joining in along the way.

Welcome on board guys.

Last phase of publicity underway :-)

With just two weeks to go before the Participation Ride 2007 starts the last phase of the amazingly sophisticated publicity campaign gets underway with roadside billboards in place in North Wiltshire. See picture (hint: look carefully at the bottom left of the picture).

I also spoke to Ellie Stoneleigh of UKVillages who is going to see if she can get some media interest . . . note to self: I need to send her some stuff.

HELP! A cry for help to the people of Penzance

Arrangements are coming on very well with all our accommodation now booked EXCEPT for the first night near Penzance on Sunday night, 26/8/07.

Ian must have made 40 calls. Places are either booked or are not interested in 4 people wanting accommodation just for one night of the Bank Holiday Weekend.

Can anyone help? All we need is a dry place to sleep. We will consider anything. An outbuilding? A barn? As a last resort we could bring tents that we would pack up and post back home the next day. We would find ourselves a place to have breakfast in the morning. We'd be grateful of any offer of help.

Photo: Penzance Promenade by chris_l - www.cornwalls.co.uk

Now we are 8!

I am thrilled to say that, rather unexpectedly, my son Luke has said he will be joining us . . . . for the whole trip! Welcome on board Luke.

Luke did Whitchurch to Hamilton (~250 miles) on last year's trip. The photo was taken at the rather emotional moment when he boarded the train at Hamilton. The full report from last year's blog is here.

There are now three of us attempting the whole ride. There are four of us starting, four of us finishing and others participating on the way . . . the Participation Ride comes of age! :-)