The Participation Ride 2007

Cockpit video clips now available

Sorry these have been a bit of a time coming but YouTube can be very tempramental!

But anyway here they are.

There are more to follow - watch this space.

The Yorkshire dales by bicycle

I will fill this post up later but just want to get the video clip up for now.

More later . . .

On the top of Holme Moor Summit

I will fill this post up later but just want to get the video clip up for now. I didn't want to take still as it just wouldn't have captured the atmosphere in the same way! Listen and see that wind!

More later . . .

On the Road to Pitlochry

I will fill this post up later but just want to get the video clip up for now.

More later . .  .

Barnstaple to Wells - Day 3 - Stages 8 to 11

A silver lining . . .
This short clip was taken after climbing up onto Exmoor out of Barnstaple. It was nearly noon on Day 3 and I was only 15 miles in to a total of the 120 miles target for the day. However, I still had time to pause, catch my breath and take in this view.

My departure from Barnstaple was delayed as I had to wait for the shops to open and source a new seat post bolt and buy my own pump as the others had to go ahead and I wouldn’t have access to Luke’s pump today. I also needed a new tyre. I’d got through 3 in the first two days and I was still running the third on my front wheel! Luke and I had inserted a thick piece of rubber on the inside of the tyre to stop the tube coming out but this was only a temporary fix.

The bike shop recommended was ‘Gordon’s’. This was on the edge of the shopping precinct next to the car park in Barnstaple. It had bikes piled everywhere, inside and outside. You couldn’t get into ‘the shop’ as it was completely full of old bikes piled up one on top of the other. No racks just an enormous heap.

I asked Gordon if he had a seat post bolt and showed him the broken one. He tutted and went into ‘the shop’ and rummaged through a heap of bits just inside the door. He emerged a couple of minutes later with a bolt that fitted but was too short. He said that was all he but I was welcome to it. Thanks Gordon. He said I’d have to try elsewhere for something ‘so specialised’!

I tried the Bike Shed next. Again they struggled a bit to find a bolt but came up with the goods. They also had the perfect pump, a Topeak Road Morph which had an in-line pressure gauge. This pump was superb and became the pump of choice for everyone and served the whole team very well during the rest of the trip.

I failed on the tyre front no one had a 406 tyre. Luckily Trish was supporting us from Bampton today and she went to buy tyres first thing so if I got to Bampton I’d be OK.

I did get to Bampton and fitted two Continental tyres. These were a much more traditional tyre and were brilliant - they took me all the way to John o' Groats with absolutely no further problems.

A lot of today's ride took me along canal paths which was brilliant but the NCN signage let me down badly in the area under the M5 and wasted a lot of time getting back on track.

I never did catch up with the others. And I didn't make it all the way to Whitchurch. It was very dark by the time I got to Glastonbury but I pressed on up to the Tor and then down what felt like a rabbit hole onto a minor road and through to Wells.

By the time I got to Wells I had to stop! It was late and I didn't have the lights to be able to stay on the NCN. Trish and Carol came to pick me up (bless them) and take me to Swallet Farm on the understanding that I would get up early and be taken back to Wells to complete the stage.

The crew at Swallet Farm were absolutely marvellous. They made us so welcome and comfortable and offered to do our laundry. And there was wheat free toast for me at breakfast and a £20 donation to the cause. Thanks guys.

Bodmin to Bude - Day 2 Stage 6

On Day 2 we set off together from Ruthernbridge and cycled to Grogley Halt on the Camel Trail. There we split with James and Ian heading north west towards Padstow picking up the A39 at Wadebridge up to Bude. Luke and I stuck to the National Cycle Network, heading south east initially and then up onto Bodmin Moor. We'd cycled together over this moor before a few years back and it howled a gale. Today wasn't so bad but still very windy considering there was virtually no wind anywhere else.

The signage up onto the moor and across it was brilliant. Bodmin is a struggle to climb onto and hilly once you are up there too. As we came off the moor we bumped into the Wisely Down pub and rewarded ourselves with an early backed potato. We then pressed on to Bude. The narrow roads which the NCN uses into Bude are extremely steep. The rule was if you're cycling less that three miles an hour, get off and walk. You go faster and exercise a different set of muscles!

During one of rest between climbs we met up with a very friendly local farmer. It was a great conversation which I wished I'd been able to capture on camera: the problems with this governemnt; the right to roam; the death of farming; the Word War 2 operations of the coast here including sinking of a hospital ship (carrying arms!) etc etc. All in the space of about 10 minutes. This is where the conversation took place.

We met up with James and Ian in Bude and had another lunch!

After lunch we split again with James and Ian sticking to the main roads to Barnstaple while Luke and I stuck to the National Cycle Network through Holsworthy and Sheepwash. Just beyond Sheepwash we got stuck in a sort of traffic jam of Combine Harvesters and Land Rovers. We both got off our bikes and out of the way in different passing points along the road. When we set off again I thought Luke was in front of me and he thought I was in front of him.

So he pedalled like mad to catch me up and I did the same to catch him up. When I got to the start of the Tarka Trail I thought I'd better phone to find out where Luke was - no signal! So I started down the Tarka trail until I go a signal (quite a long way) and then I called. Luke had picked up the other part of the figure of 8 that the Tarka trail does and was going in the wrong direction. Anyway I waited and we were off together again towards Barnstaple and the really flat old railway. We'd done 65 miles and only had 20 to go and it wasn't dark yet!

We were looking forward meeting up with James and Ian and Ian's wife Emma and son William for an evening meal and then disaster struck! My seat post bolt broke with 12 miles to go. It was now getting dark and there was only one option. The saddle came off, Luke took most of my luggage and I pedalled the next 8 miles standing up. This was really hard especially on a small-wheeled bike and I was really worried about the balls of my feet. I thought I was going to get really deep blisters - they were red hot! After 8 miles Luke let me have his saddle - what a star and what a relief - Luke did the last 4 miles standing up.

We missed Ian, James, Emma and William but had a nice late Italian meal in the only restaurant still open! I was going to need to visti a bicycle shop in the morning.

A few more thank yous

During the the early and traumatic part of the ride several people ran around a bit to help. My work colleague, Brian, contacted Alex Moulton Cycles and Shaun Moulton provided tyre advice and two new folding tyres very quickly to an advance accommodation address. Thanks guys. My wife Jane also spoke to Dan Farrell at Pashley's who also gave his time and advice freely. Thanks Dan.

Some summary stats

 

Here are the headine stats:
1 The ride lasted 11.5 days.
2 100hrs and 14mins were spent in the saddle. An average of 8.72 hours per day.
3 The ride was 1171 miles at an average speed of 11.7 mph. I did an average of 102 miles per day.
4 I managed to do 647 miles on the NCN (55% of the ride)

These figures exclude the distance from Penzance to Land's End. More detail to follow.

See! I told you it folds . . .

. . . well it separates anyway. I'm not sure if I'd have got on the Glasgow to Rugby train with a traditional bike.
Again, I was asked for my bike reservation (which I was unable to book in advance) and there was space for bikes on the train.

Bikes on trains

Why do the years roll by without this problem being solved? I tried to book my ticket back home many weeks ago on the internet but couldn't book a bike. I called by phone and couldn't book that way either. I had to go to the station in person. In the elapsed time (3 days) the ticket price had gone up by £34. In person I could only book the Thurso-Inverness section.
Adrian couldn't get his bike booked on the train I was booked on because 'there was no space'. It turned out that my bike was the only one on the train all the way to Inverness.
When I got to Inverness I met up with James who had left Thurso with Adrian 2 hours before me. They wouldn't let him on the train because he had no bike reservation. There was space but he didn't have a reservation. He could get on but not with his bike. He could have taken the wheels off and put it in a dustbin bag as 'luggage' but it couldn't go on as 'a bike'. He asked for a reservation on the next train which went in 2 hours but was told that that was not possible because you need to make bike reservations at least 3 hours in advance.
At this point he lost his rag and asked to see the station manager. In the end he did get a reservation on the next train but could not now get through to Cheltenham today. His mum will have to come and collect him from Birmingham New Street (=3 hour round trip).
I benefitted from James' misfortune. We went through the barrier together and James whispered 'folder' in my ear. 'Cycle reservation?' I was asked. 'It's a folder' I said. I am sure the ticket inspector knew I was lying but he let me through. Ours were the only two bikes on the train for the whole journey.
Why are cyclists made to feel so uncomfortable when they try to use the train?

More on the girls at home...

Jane who drove the support car thro Staffs and Yorkshire to Penrith, and Em, whose graduation today co-incided with the JOG arrival.

Mission accomplished

 

1174 miles in 11.5 days. Not bad for an old bloke, a fat bloke and a young man who hasn't cycled much before.
Ian left immediately by cab and the rest of us are in the pub comparing stories with other end to enders.
Thanks to everyone who helped us get here and at this point I have to highlight Jane and Trish. Without their help we would not have made it. Thanks girls!
We are now having a Guiness and Pizza and hoping for the wind to die down before going off to Duncansby Head and then along the north coast to Thurso.

The official photo with the riders in it will follow . . .
 

Weather turns nasty

Over the last 5 miles winter has arrived. The wind has turn to tje NW and is blowing hard. 2 miles to go! ETA 11:20.

One for the girls

10 miles to go and this is a view I will not miss - James' butt. If the look closely you can see the sudocrem ouzing from the central seam of his rather classy Bermuda shorts.

Pit stop Wick

15 to go. Say hello!

25 miles to go

With the wind tucked in behind us - magic!
God, I really miss my top chain wheel!

On the road . . .

. . . . at 8:10 with wind behind us!

And they're off!

It's 6:45 and I can hear voices and smell bacon cooking. We are on target to be on the road by 9 and at JOG by noon.
This is Adrian in his 'I've bought them so I'll wear them' cycling sleeves, just for Nicky.

Just 40 miles to go

We have had a good ride today. More than 100 miles covered and we'll be in bed by 10:30. All this mileage was done on the A9. We have climbed and descended all day but, with two noticable exceptions, the ups and downs have been gentle.
The plan tomorrow is to have an early breakfast and get to JOG by midday. There we will say goodbye to Ian as he dashes for a train and the rest of us will meander along the coast to Thurso ready for the train back on Saturday.

The Penultimate Day

The alarm went off at 6:45 and Adrian and I were up. We had our bikes packed by 7:45 and then it was in for breakfast. Today was to be a long day - 130 miles. Ian comes down at 8 and announces that he's going up the A9 direct to JOG. This was a bit of a blow. James was adamant that we should stick together so that's what we are doing. I had to cancel the accommodation in Tongue (but we'll still have to pay unless Mr and Mrs Anderson at Rhian Cottage M Tongue are feeling generous) and there will be no NCN today.
On the plus side, this knocks about 40 miles off the route. We'll get to JOG earlier tomorrow which means that I can still cycle across the north coast which is something I really want to do.
The picture is of Terry and Shan Dudleston of Craigellachie House in Carrbridge who looked after us very well and held the chef at the Bistro for us. If you are in Carrbridge stay at Craigellachie House.

The map

This is the map that got us to our accommodation at the end of day 1! It was drawn in the dark by a vwry helpful man and his young son in a narrow lane in Cornwall when evryone else had gone to bed. Thank you whoever you were.
We arrived, eventually, at 10:45.

Early night

It's 9:45pm and we are all sat down in non-cycling gear drinking Guiness and waiting for our Sirloin Steaks to arrive.
We cycled in a 1:3 formation today with Ian taking the A roads by himself and the rest of us taking a mixture of roads and the NCN.
We all climbed to this summit which meant that from here the 35 miles into Carrbridge were virtually all downhill.
Today it was Adrian's turn for the puncture. We would have been an hour earlier if it hadn't been for that.
The only other news is that we have have all lost the only thing that distinguishes the human being from the chimpanze - the opposing thumb. I've already mentioned the problem pouring tea in the morning, now drinking Guiness is a two-handed operation. Handlebar vibration is a terrible thing.

Here we are Pitlochry

God I look old! 40 miles done only 60 to go and it's only lunch time. It's been a great ride of two halves: the first along Loch Tay the second along the River Tay.

Another late start

We are not going get on the road today until 9:15. Not good.
3 stages today and no A-road shortcuts available. The NCN seems to follow the A roads. They are probably one and the same.
Once we get started we are going to have to keep going.
It's dry again but very windy but the wind seems to be coming from the west which is good.
PS The picture is from Ayrshire. We should go through some stunning scenary today.

Late arrival report

In case anyone is watching....they got in to the Killin Hotel at midnight...
[Ed]

Nearly in

It's 9pm we've cycled 100 miles and we are 20miles from our B&B in Killin. It's raining and we have just ridden up the west side of Loch Lomond.
We've stopped at the famous Drovers Inn (est 1705) to eat as everything will be shut by the time we get in.
Today's a very long day but there have been no significant climbs.
We have had a fantastic day. The run out of Ayr to Glasgow on the NCN was virtually all traffic free. We struggled a bit through Glasgow but then had a traffic-free run to Alexandria. Then James' punctures started. He had three in half an hour!
At Alexandria the NCN was closed. They were digging a trench across it. So we decided to leave it at this point as we needed to make up some time.
Today was Adrian's first day with us. It's great to have him with us all the way to JOG.

Meet Iain and Drew. . .

. . . busy at work as Sustrans rangers on one of the best stretches of the NCN so far between Irvine and Glasgow.
It's now 3pm and we have 72 miles to cycle to get to the B & B - eekk!

Annan - New Galloway - Ayr

 

After the euphoria (and associated celebration) of crossing the border into Scotland we started out late (again) yesterday. We didn't start pedalling until 9:20! And guess what? We didn't get into Ayr until after dark. That's one difficulty of doing this as a group, We can't seem to get going in the morning.
We started out after a hearty breakfast at Tara and Dave's (gluten-free sausages for me!) with the intention of sticking together for another hybrid day - a mix of A roads and NCN. We made good progess on the A roads to New Galloway for lunch but we then split.
Ian and James were put off the NCN by two things: a) by the lady in the tea shop saying it didn't exist and b) the lady in the Post Office saying that she knew someone who'd done it on a mountain bike and had to carry it a lot of the way!
Anyway, I felt I needed to at least try.
It turns out that the first 4.5 miles were tarmac and the rest was forest road, a bit rough in places but you could easily pick a way through with a road bike. The Moulton clawed its way up the slopes like a goat!
Once through to Glentrool village the terrain changed and consisted of very long inclines followed by long descents. I measured one of these. At one point I didn't pedal for 2.5 miles. Mind you, I'd earnt the pleasure.
There was a stiff northerly wind in the afternoon which was cold. Fingerless gloves were not enough!  I think Ian and James felt it more on the A roads than I did in the forest.
There was futher evidence of the 'I'm totally exhausted so I will behave oddly' syndrome (low blood sugar) when James decided to start walking, but forgot to get off his bike first! He fell off. However (for his mother, Jane's sake) I am pleased to report no damage to body or bike. He is also behaving quite normally now (well, normally for James).
James also got his fist puncture . . . of his life... in the afternoon. Ian showed him what he had to do.

Google maps are now down....

... temporarily. Apologies for anyone looking for the Google maps, the links have broken following a server change at work. They will be mended when I get back to the office. We are now tending to vary the route from that planned on most days anyway ... any potential 'joiners' can leave a message on the blog.

Photos are now up

 

I have uploaded the photos so far to the P-Ride Album. If there is a boy named William reading this, Ian (Dad) says can you find the 'Millie Snack' in the photos.

I have just arrived here . . .

 

. . . at New Galloway Post Office which is allegedly run by a relation of Ian's and is closed! It's 1:15. They are about to get a surprise.
That's 40 miles of today's total done.
Hopefully we can pick up the NCN aka the Red Kite Trail from here.

Route mod - hands gone

 

We've decided to stick together again today but modify the route to make it achievable! We are not not doing stages 31 & 32 but instead doing a 40 mile dash up the A75 and A712 to New Galloway. From there we will link back onto the NCN through the forest and up to Ayr. Really looking forward to that bit. We should meet Adrian at this point who will be cycling down from Ayr to meet us. He will then be part of the crew that, hopefully, makes it to JOG.
We are all feeling pretty good but our hands have 'gone': none of us could pick up the tea pot single-handed at breakfast this morning.

A fantastic day

 

Today started with a bit of a tiff (more on that later!) but with air cleared we stepped out into the pure Yorkshire rain and started pedalling through the Dales. You haven't lived until you've had Yorkshire rain driven up your nose and into the back of yor throat. A bit like nasal colonic irrigation I imagine! Anyway the ride to Sedbergh and beyond was amazing. Even Luke who was pedalling mostly on his heals by this point really enjoyed it.
We were led most of the way to Penrith by Jo - what an inspiration that woman is! We were supported until Penrith by Jane, who joined us at Stone after an emergency call out from The Team. Thanks for giving up your weekend Jane to do things you don't enjoy doing ie drive a car around places you don't know - your help was much appreciated.

Left to right in the picture above: Luke, Simon, James, Ian, and Jane

We are now in Scotland and feeling good.
PS: But I am still down to two chain rings . . . .

Luke says farewell at Penrith

 

Here's Luke at our picnic table, set up just off the town centre in Penrith, contemplating the state of his Achilles tendons (not good). He very sensibly decided to preserve them for another day and hitch a lift home with Jane. The first hour out of Penrith was fast but solemn without Luke. And the first topic when we stopped was Luke. How will we manage with our on-road mechanic and wit? Take care Luke. We miss you.

Meet Dave

 

This is Dave Wild, a fellow Moulton TSR 30 owner. Dave joined me at Slaithwaite on Saturday and cycled with me through the Peak Park to Hebden Bridge. Things did not go smoothly (see Chain of events) so it was brilliant to have someone with me. Lots of good cycling conversation was had. Dave, you must email the name of the oil you mentioned. Thanks for joining in.

Bent washer holding out

 

The hour in the kitchen at midnight last night is paying off. The bent washer is compensating for the bent bracket on the frame and I have the use of the bottom two chain rings. :-)  Thanks to all at the lovely B and B at New Butts Farm, High Bentham, for looking after us (and the bikes) so well.

Alive in Sedbergh

 

Picnic Brunch stop at the town centre car park in Sedbergh,where the cooked sausages given to us by New Butts Farm B and B disappeared very quickly... L to R James, getting into dry clothes, Jane with a french sausage, Ian with his Big Shorts, Jo and Luke. We started in the rain but had a brilliant run through the Dales. Cousin Jo has joined us as chief navigator!

Chain of events (sorry)

 

So many stories, no time to blog! Yesterday (Sat) I started off on the NCN looking forward to meeting Dave at Slaithwaite. But had to give up on the NCN after a very slow 6 miles. On all the slopes the surface had been washed away (see picture).
I took to the road guided by the GPS which took me over Holme Summit (high). I arrived late in Slaithwaite - Dave was very patient.
The next stage to Hebden Bridge was a 'chain' section. First of all Dave had problems with his front changer. We fiddled and got the middle and lower rings to work.
Later on my chain started to jump. And later it broke. I had a spare link so it took 10mins to fix BUT when the chain broke it got caught in the front changer and bent it down behind the chain rings. Disaster!
The changer itself seems OK but the bracket that fixes it to the bike has bent. This not fixable on the road.
Anyway, Dave and I spent an hour trying to get some gears back.
After Jane's road-side picnic in Mytholmroyd, I left Hebden Bridge with the bottom two chain rings working-ish. Up over the A6033 and on to the A65 to Ingleton. By the end of the day only the middle one was working.
We fiddled again last night and it looks like I've got the bottom two working again. We'll see how we go but this could be a show stopper.

We rode in separate groups today, to meet up with different people and it was a day of missing each other: Jane missed Ian and James in Halifax, but accidentally met Simon and Dave out of Stallybridge. Jane missed most people with the lunch stop; Ian and James were trailing on the A65 when everyone assumed they were out in front, and then pitched up at the pub five minutes after we left - another chain of events.....