Today I hit the 700 mile mark since I started 'training'. My training log can be seen here. The bad news is that this works out at an average of just 30 miles a day and I will have to do an average of three times this distance everyday for 10 consecutive days once I get going this Monday.
On a more positive note . . . that's all I will have to do! I will not be working!
I have to confess that the recent visits to see Dan at Pashley Cycles of Stratford-upon-Avon had developed into something else. On my first trip I was introduced to the Pashley Moulton TSR30. On the second trip we were allowed out together . . . alone with no shaperone.
Well, I was seduced . . . the 30 gears . . . the stronger wheels . . . the wide handlebars. With some running around and help from the staff at Pashleys, a nearly-new light blue one was located and I picked it up on Sunday. Today was my first trip out on it. See my training log to see how the ride went.
So now, which bike do I take? The old faithful Moulton NS or the new TSR30?
No wonder cyclists get cross. I first tried to book my Rugby-Penzance trip online on 2 May 2006 using thetrainline.com. Towards the end of the lengthy booking process it became clear that I was not going to be able to book a bike this way. So I called thetrainline and they said I had to make the booking by telephone to the train operator.
I called the Virgin Trains booking service. Went through the booking process plus bike and asked for confirmation to be sent. This came but didn't mention the bike. I raised this with the 'have you any questions about your booking' service and I was emailed a huge PDF of the leaflet about taking bikes on trains. I called the number, went through the security checks, and explained that I wanted to book a bike on the journey. "I'll put you on hold". Sorry, we can't help you. You need to go to Rugby station and they might be able to help you.
Come on guys you must be able to do better than this. No wonder there are so many frayed tempers on platforms between cyclists and rail staff. The system doesn't work! This is unfair on frontline rail staff and cyclists.
I will stopping in or near the following places for a pub lunch during the ride. Can you recommend a pub? Can you join me? Please let me know by clicking the 'Comments' link below and leaving a message.
I expect to be at these places between noon and 2pm. I will try and give more precise timings for places where people have said they will join me.
29/5/06 - Monday - REDRUTH
30/5/06 – Tuesday - OKEHAMPTON
31/5/06 – Wednesday - Whitminster (nr BRISTOL)
Whitminster by J13/M5 between 1 and 2 pm then cycling to a picnic spot
1/6/06 – Thursday – CHURCH STRETTON
The Mayfair Community Centre, Easthope Road, Church Stretton between 1 and 2
2/6/06 - Friday - to be confirmed
3/6/06 – Saturday – SHAP (or Penrith)
4/6/06 – Sunday - HAMILTON
5/6/06 – Monday - THE BRIDGE OF ORCHY
6/6/06 – Tuesday – DRUMNADROCHIT
7/6/06 – Wednesday - WICK
I woke at 5am this morning in a cold sweat. There is so much still to do to organise this ride and I am working! I am down in the South West today and will not be back until Saturday afternoon . . . . don't panic!
So anyway I got up and cleared a few emails and did some planning . . . The key thing still to sort out is accommodation. I was worried about this as 29/5/06 is a Bank Holiday. My daughter Emma has been working all week but today was a day off so I asked if she could help. Anyway she has done a grand job. She was on the phone on and off all day and has arranged the accommodation. Thanks Emma. I will post the details shortly.
I just wanted to acknowledge the support I am getting from Pashley Cycles in Stratford upon Avon (Dan Farrell) and Alex Moulton Bicycles in Bradford upon Avon (Shaun Moulton) in the preparation for this ride.
The work Dan is doing to get the bike ready has been fantastic, although we still have some anxiety about the freewheel! And Shaun has always been available to give advice. Thanks guys.
The campaign took a real boost today when Olympic Gold Medallist, and Britain's best known cyclist, Chris Boardman MBE, signed up for Stage 7 of the ruralnet|uk Participation Ride from John O'Groats to Land's End.
I was lucky enough to spend 10 days with Chris in 2003 as part of a Charity Ride across the Yucatan pennisula in aid of the Acorns Children's Hospice. An account of the Yucatan ride can be found here. He tried to infect me with his passion for diving but I was hopeless at it!
With Chris Boardman doing his bit, what could you contribute? There are many options and for most of them no cycling is necessary! Here are some ideas.
1 You can make a donation - click here
2 You can join a part of the ride yourself - sign up here or give me a call - 07932 107109 and leave a message - numbers for each stage will be limited.
3 You might be willing to comment and give advice via the Blog. Just click on any of the 'Comment' links at the bottom of each post.
4 You can leave a message of support via the Blog - go on be the first!
As you drive to work (those of you who do), have you ever wondered what keeps a cyclist going, day in day out, cycling the same route? Well this will answer the question in my case. Hopefully it will also get more people to visit this website and help with the fundraising campaign. I will be watching the website counter!
Joe (of Rob & Joe fame) and I have been bouncing an Excel spreadsheet between us since Joe sent a solution to the challenge to produce a verticle profile chart from the data generated by my GPS. Here is the result! This exercise has led to a recalibration of my bike computer and revealed that I was not cycling as far or as fast as I thought I was :-| See my training log. This spreadsheet will be used to post the profile data to this blog as the actual ride progresses.
If you like a copy of this spreadsheet. Please leave a comment by clicking on the 'Comments' link below.
I decided I should do a bit of marketing today. I made some cards and took them to local bike shops: Skinny Wheels in Long Buckby (they had one of Chris Boardman's trial bikes on show) and Thorntons of Rugby.
If you'd like a copy of the cards (8 per A4 sheet) to do your own marketing or to help me with promotion then you can download them here.
I did get on the bike and did 30 miles and had a puncture which I was able to mend on the side of the road. It's good to have a dry run of this sort of thing. You can never be sure you have all you need to fix a puncture until you actually have one! My training log is here.
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