The participation ride 2006 - post-ride analysis and comment

First co-rider joins in - Stage 5

This is how Stage 5 started. With a picnic lunch! And a specially prepared wheat-free one at that, with Tricia. Tricia and I were part of the team that rode across the Yucatan in 2003.

We'd agreed to meet at Whitminster which is (quite a bit) north of Bristol. But I got lost in Bristol which delayed me. So Tricia had to cycle down to meet me.

We didn't get going until after 4 and we did the whole stage together except for last 6 miles. When Tricia's husband, Alan,  appeared from behind us, with a car with enough space in the back for Tricia's bike, the temptation was just too much for her!

Today was great. A complete contrast to yesterday. So iTune of the day has to be the happiest of 'happy bunny' songs: Breathless by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds – Click here to Buy it for 79p through iTunes Music Store, or just sample it. (This isn't the best version - sorry Nick - If you want to hear the sunshine, you have to get the CD: The Lyre of Orpheus)

I think I can do this. Yesterday, if one more challenge had been thrown at me (eg rain) I would have faced a real difficulty.

Tonight was rounded with a very nice meal with Tricia and Alan. Looking forward to riding with my next co-rider, Adrian, tomorrow.

Net ascent (decent) ft: 304 Distance miles: 42.09 Average speed mph: 10.95 Time in saddle: 3:50:29

Cumulative Distance: 311.36

Oh the Somerset Levels!

The first 30 miles today were flat and were a bit of an antidote for yesterday. Just had a fantastic picnic lunch withTricia. More later . .

Net ascent (decent) ft:
Distance miles: 74.11 Average speed mph: 14.31 Time in saddle: 5:10:39

Cumulative Distance: 269.27

That cold north wind - Stage 3

Finished Stage 4 at 10:10pm in the dark.... Cycling out of Cornwall, across Devon and into Somerset was never going to be easy.

This stage was complicated by various factor:
1) I didn't get on the road until nearly 4pm
2) then there was that puncture!
3) the strong cold north wind meant loads of stops to get the clothing right
4) The photo shows how close my route was to the M5 - and I couldn't get the SATNAV to ignore it! So had to resort to maps which slowed me up a lot.

But I think I have devised a system which combines the two which will stand me in good stead for the rest of the ride. I may be knackered but at least I feel I am a long way from Land's End.

My first co-cyclist joins me at lunch tomorrow :-).

Net ascent (decent) ft: (405) Distance miles: 54.51 Average speed mph: 12.59 Time in saddle: 4:19:45 Max speed: 36.3

Cumulative Distance: 195.16

Puncture!

I told you you'd see them as they happen!

4:50pm - iTune of the moment is another offering from Jerry Fish and the Mudbug Club, to go with the Windy track selected earlier: try Upside Down - Buy it for 79p through iTunes Music Store or just click to sample. It is guaranteed to make you smile in difficulties...

Participation starts! Stage 2

This is Audrey (see www.dartsculpture.co.uk), Carrie (Sister in Law) and Kanye (nephew). They met me in Okehampton for lunch. This was a great motivator! If they hadn't been waiting I might not have made it! Kanye has to grow a bit before he can reach the pedals, but I think he has potential...

While on the subject of motivators, so nice to get a good luck text from Trish this morning too. Trish joins me from tomorrow lunchtime to Bromyard.  I'll now have co-riders with me on this trip all the way from Whitminster (nr Bristol) to Glasgow. Any takers for Glasgow onwards?

Lord knows how I am going to get to Taunton before night fall but here goes . .

Heroes: Kanye (the motivator)
Villans: That strong, cold northerly wind across Bodmin moor. The prevailing wind theory isn't working!

i-Tune of the day has to be an offering to the Wind Gods - how about:
Any Way the Wind Blows - Jerry Fish and the Mud Bug Club - Buy it for 79p through iTunes Music Store, or just click on the listing to sample....

More later . . .

Stats:
Net ascent (decent) ft: 274 Distance miles: 67.44 Average speed mph: 14.03 Time in saddle: 4:48:18 Max speed: 38.2

Cumulative Distance: 140.65

One stage done - 15 to go

This is Jenny, Phil (proprietors at Treliver Farm B+B) and Tony and Tricia (fellow guests from Sydney). They are all looking so happy because we have had a superb meal and conversation. If you are travelling in this area - stay here!

This stage has been one of two halves. Land's End to Redruth was on country lanes -  Redruth to Bodmin was on the A30. Enough said!

The antidote to A30 traffic was a short loop back to St Wenn (Treliver Farm). So why the detour? Two reasons:

1) Ron Daniel is sponsoring per Cornish mile (sorry Ron!) and

2) I wanted to see if Bodmin had changed since my last visit in 2000.

I won't be moving off the trail tomorrow as I has have 112 miles to do across hilly Devon. Must go to bed and get some sleep! I want to be on the road by 8 am.

The weather has been sunny and dry with a strong northerly wind. But it has hit from the side so it could be worse.

Heroes: My trusty GPS/SatNav guided me stratight to thedoor of Treliver farm even though its right in the middle of no-where.
Villans: Caravanners who forget that their van is a foot wider than their car! Today's  iTune is dedicated to them.

iTune of the Day - Amadou and Mariam – Camions Sauvages - A fantastic track about wild African Lorries squashing chickens and elephants. Or, in translation: Bank Holiday 'Wild Caravans' trying to squash cyclists! Those with iTunes Buy it for 79p through iTunes Music Store, or click to sample it. Those without, who want an earful of Africa without going there, get the CD!

The Word: Photographer at  Land's End and me.
P: Are you just finishing?
M: No I haven't started yet. Do I look that bad?
P: Ah . . . Would you just stand over here with your bike in front of you . . .

Stats:
Net ascent (decent) ft: 215 Distance miles: 73.21 (83.62 inc Penzance to Land's End) Average speed mph: 14.20 Time in saddle: 5:09:19
Cumulative Distance: 73.21

First Pint @ Redruth

The word on the street, well, hill actually. (Elderly cornish woman and I share experiences of West Country topography)

Woman: How far are you going today?

Me: To Bodmin.

Woman: Quite a way then, and all those hills! Still you'll be alright once you are out of Cornwall.

Me: Oh I don't know. It's pretty hilly in Devon too.

Woman: Yes....So they tell me dear... so I've heard...

More later . . .

(Nearly) Live from Land's End

'We' are on our way!

Glorious day but very windy!

Redruth here we come!

Hero of the day: Bike: running really well. Mastered gear change on front chain ring.

Villan of the day: None ...so far...!

Check progress and join in at: www.ruralnet.typepad.com/endtoend/

Gadgets, trains and iTune of the Day

There's nothing like having a new gadget to bond with to pass time on the train. And the Treo 650 phone is certainly a neat bit of kit. This posting comes to straight from phone to blog. Information Age or what? And it even supplied this typical picture of a British Summer evening!

The journey from Birmingham was 5.5 hours; the train was on time, but packed (that'll teach me to start an adventure on a Bank Holiday Weekend). No problem with the bike though.

Good News: found accommodation. Bad news: The hill up to it was much steeper than anything I have encountered in training. Eeeek.

At first, I thought I must be at the wrong place. Rang doorbell; no answer. It took about 10 mins for anyone to come to the door. All was explained when I realised my hosts have survived to a very ripe old age in the healthy climes of West Cornwall. I have to admit that Julie Walters in her famous "Two soups..." sketch came immediately to mind! I hope I will be pouring my own milk on my cornflakes at 8am tomorrow morning. If so, I should be on the road to Land's End by 9.

As this is going to be a mult-media all-singing, all dancing blog, I'm going to post an iTune of the day. If you have iTunes on your computer, you can listen to it: just click the Buy it! link where you can either download it for the princely sum of 79p, or click on the listing to get a free sample...

Today's iTune of the Day: The Jam – Start! - Buy it or sample it at iTunes Music Store, where the link will take you....

My target lunch stop is Redruth....

More tommorrow with stats and all...

The diary of the ride

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