That's it....

Tomorrow is a big day, and the day after is even bigger. Here we go.

Bank Holiday - bring it on!

Spent a very busy day at work trying to get things ship shape before next week. I have one day left to work on Tuesday but at a different office so there were plenty of well wishers during the day. It's getting close now and I am starting to feel pre match nerves and a lot of pressure.

There are some genuine people in this life and I am lucky enough to know a few of them. Ray is inspirational along with chaps like Phil and Tracey; my wife is lush and Spence is a hardworking best buddy; Nobby is Special Forces and Simon Smith gets things sorted. Simon has suffered sciatica and has generally felt cut in half by his bad back but still feels like he is letting me down by not being able to do a day in the saddle on 14th May between Chepstow and Shrewsbury. We have talked plenty of bollocks about endurance sport; Simon is on the same wavelength as me and has provided valuable support over the last 8 months. He has now stepped up to the plate again by sorting a brand new compact camera for the ride - something I did not have but now do.  Thank you Simon; I hope to be able to repay you by sorting out the thing you call your fence?

The last spin session on Wednesday was fun but circuits on the Thursday has left me sore.  I have minimal exercise planned between now and Friday morning; as a consequence of reducing my training and general indolence I have gained a few kilos over the last month.  When all my gear is packed I will get on the scales with the bike and kit for pictures and to check the starting weight.  Hopefully, I have enough of an energy contingency when things get tough but I do expect to lean up a bit.  One thing is certain, I will have to work hard at my top end fitness when I get back - oddly enough, I am looking forward to this.

Sam has worked tirelessly and without complaint over the past few days to sort out my crap; train from Thurso to Inverness sorted; hotel in Thurso, sorted; lift from John O'Groats to Thurso by the Dounreay boys, sorted; flight to Brum from Inverness, sorted. She and Ben will be updating FB whilst I am away and generally acting as base camp with Harriet winding them up a treat. I've not been away from home for more than a few days before in 20 years, I'm going to miss them and can't wait to see them at Birmingham airport.  I hope I don't let them down, or let down any of the poeple who have supported and indulged me since deciding to take this on.

Today (Saturday) has been spent going through a checklist of jobs that need doing and I'm nearly there - even down to cutting the now lush grass. The bike is looking wicked with the slick tyres and pannier rack in place.  I should notice a difference in weights as I have ditched the cable shears and spare cables plus Spence has lent me his much lighter lock.  The bottle cage on the underside of the down tube has now been modified to carry the meths fuel bottle and I have double checked all the torque values of important components. The only other thing to buy is a decent pair of shorts for 'evening wear'; Sam thought that taking my swimming shorts and wearing my bike shoes would lead to an early court appearance followed by chemical sterilisation....

The Blue Peter Totaliser has now reached £2,600 and I'm wondering if £3k is possible before I leave?  You can but hope and keep pressing the keys in Twitter and FB.

A famous local author launching his book at Challow Cricket Club once said, 'some men deal with middle age by buying a sports car and base ball cap, not me, I decided to be a writer so please indulge me and buy my book!'. I've got a baseball cap but have no interest in cars however I quite like cycling, please indulge me and click the Just Giving link below!

Question: What the flippin eck am I going to do when this is finished?

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Technology and the over 40's...

In the 80's Judith Hann promised that cars would drive themselves and robots would do the housework - I am still waiting for this to happen.  What she did not tell me was that I would be able to tweet via SMS which would then post the tweet to FB for me. I understand robots and cars better than Twitter.

Job seems to be done, tweets appearing in FB, a convenient if limited way to communicate whilst I am away.

Waiting on Sam's negotiations with colleagues about being collected from JOG's and taken to Thurso when I finish.  Plans have changed slightly in that I am finiding my own way home (too expensive to get everyone up there) via train to Inverness then flight to Birmingham. I can't book/plan anything further tonight until I know what can and can't be done.

Less training, more admin.

I haven't lifted a finger since finishing Monday's 'All Day Spin' at the TFD gym in Grove (another £86 in the pot) - and it's been quite nice.  We have now smashed through the £2k mark; current total is £2,042.

I spent 11.5 hours on the saddle and met a load of people - some I hadn't seen since leaving school. The staff at the gym were awesome supplying tea like it was going out of fashion. I can't thank them enough. Me old mate Ray popped in and lent his support like he always does - thanks Ray.  Sam and the kids also turned up for a couple of hours which was great, really helped the time pass.

I had amassage yesterday which has destroyed my calves and ITB's and demanded the use of the sauna afterwards.  Today has been ok as I have made a point of doing a bit of walking around town etc. Another massage on Tuesday which should be less painful.

In terms of training, I am planning a couple of spin sessions, circuits on Thursday and several sessions in the gym before leaving on 10th May.  Nothing too heavy duty and no more long rides; it's more important to rest now and get some decent fuel in a few days before I leave.

Kit-wise I have had a good day - the tent has been re-proofed along with all my panniers.  My new (well, 2nd hand) cycling shoes have arrived and I have transferred the cleats over.  Wet wipes and toe protectors all procured.  Tomorrow will focus on setting up my bike for the trip with a final clean and degrease planned just before I go.

I still have no idea if I have prepared adequately but we will find out.

A final though, the Expedition 30 crew from the ISS touched down safely on the steppes of Kazakhstan on Friday. There recovery from the capsule was in true soviet no nonsence style (they were hauled out and chucked into couches that were then manhandled,couch and all, into a medical tent). They had been on the ISS for 5.5 months and I wondered how they felt as they began their trip home and finally felt the fresh terrestrial air again.  Probably 'thank goodness that's done - good to be back - what's next'. I wonder what will be next when I finish my ride.

Fund Raising Spin in Wantage

Smashing day yesterday spent sat on a turbo trainer outside Ledbury's in Wantage. Ray Collins asked me to join his cake stall raising money for local Wantage charities plus Sobel House and Breast Cancer - would have been daft to pass it up! Please have a look at what Ray is doing - he is a philanthropic lesson to us all; a real role model.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100000349081377

Plenty of people spent time chatting and finding out what was happening; I was surprised at the number of people I knew; and surprised at their generosity. £113 in the bucket for just sitting down for 7 hours...can't complain at that.

The total is now over £1,800 and I am wondering if we could reach the £2k mark after tomorrow's spin at TFD in Grove.

The only other thing of note was that I ruined my cycling shoes in the tumble dryer - don't try this at home it's an expensive mistake to make!

Thanks to Spence for helping me set up so early (7.15am).  I can't speak at this time of the morning....

Back to life, back to reality...

Really rubbish two weeks after catching another chest infection.  This one was worse and I did not feel like lifting a finger let alone riding. Work was particularly busy with year end and I haven't really had time to rest properly. The only positive is that I got it now and not during the ride.

I started feeling better during last week so have focused on some of the administration tasks that needed doing.  Most of the accomodation is sorted (cheapest £3.50 but the owner was a lovely person) and I have collected my train tickets for Cornwall. This sort of thing takes a surprising amount of time but it has to be accurate and transposed into a check list I can use. I have also written to 10 or so local companies basically asking for sponsorship - not holding out much hope though.

I kick started my cycling career again with 2 commutes in this week.  I haven't lost any power just a bit of lung function on the climbs; yesterday's circuits class was hard but then I haven't done that particular class for 3 weeks (stiff as a board now). I suspect that we will do a ride at some point this weekend; now the weather is better it's much easier to get motivated.

I bought a couple of pairs of bib shorts today as my old shorts are worn out.  People have consistently told me that these are better than shorts as the pad is kept in the right place by the braces. I tried them on thinking that, at last, I will finanly get to look like a cyclist....I just looked like a 40 year old in sports gear that was slightly too small. Form a queue 45 year old ladeez.

Still trying to organise a turbo trainer for the two spin events later this month...still hopeful.

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Resting (again)

Following the all day spin last Monday, I felt great and took a spin class on Wednesday; performed well despite a developing cold.

The cold has taken hold now and I am on the bench coughing up green stuff.  I haven't trainined at all since Wednesday but it has given me a chance to catch up on things at home and the ride admin.  I've swapped back to my hybrid tyres now as I need to save the slicks for the ride.  I only put them on to test them with kit and also keep the noise down on the turbo trainer in the gym's reception.

I have had an offer to set up next to a cake stall in Wantage on 21st April - that could see a bit of cash coming in but I do not want to detract from the chap raising money for his charity.  Even if it just stimulates some interest it would be worth doing.  Then there is the spin at TFD gym in Grove which may have to be moved to another date.  More things to organise....

The weather is looking good and I think my cold is on the wain...spring is definitely coming.


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