The alarm sounds at about twenty to six, the eyelids refuse to open, hair a mess... Slip cycle shorts over pyjamas, fleecy top, scarf and sometimes a hat (think Wallace & Gromit in the Wrong Trousers!) even though I'm cycling in the dark with nobody looking.
Start off in the racing position, but quickly find this uncomfortable as the handlebars on the tandem give me a more upright posture (sounds good, whatever it means). With eyes closed, sitting bolt upright in the dark, my legs start turning the pedals and I drift off to sleep again!
Richard can hear the whirring of the TT from upstairs, good job he can't see me!
Sarah Kennedy is a must as she covers the most bizarre range of topics at this early hour.
If it's daylight I read - I would suggest smaller books - less heavy. I tried a book I started four years ago, but at 979 pages it is not recommended!
Tuesday, 23 February 2010
Monday, 22 February 2010
Paperwork
It's all very well deciding to ride from John O'Groats to Lands End, takes about thirty seconds if there are a couple of you who like cycling together and have maybe enjoyed a nice glass of wine with a meal... You get the picture.
If, several days later, you both still like the idea (or are both too embarrassed to admit to the other that you don't think you can do it), the biggest thought is getting in enough training. Actually this can be the easiest part if you have a turbo trainer you can set up in the garage / conservatory. Provided you have a radio or something to aleviate the boredom you can put in the time on the saddle regardless of the weather out side. When the weather is better you go out for real rides. Easy.
After a couple of weeks you start to look at the logistics. How to get to John O'Groats, what route to take, where to stay, how much is all this going to cost?????
There are basically two options - do everything by yourselves, or have a support team. The latter can be the easiest as you then have transport to JoG, and if they are in a motorhome, or similar, you have all your accommodation sorted too. The alternative requires a bit more organisation.
It looks as though we will be going self supported, so a good few hours have been, and will be spent pouring over maps to design a route, and trawling the internet to find accommodation amongst other things.
Getting to JoG.
Fly or train? It is possible to fly from Exeter to Wick (18 miles from JoG). The tandem will not go on the plane though, so a courrier would be required to deliver the bike, and we'd have to get to Exeter (100+ miles)It would mean setting off and arriving on the same day though. The train takes considerably longer, and initial searches showed it costing considerably more, but a little careful research and it would cost roughly half the price of the flights and leave from Penzance (only ten miles away).
A little more research threw a spanner in the works though. We could take tandem with us on the train, but only as far as Edinburgh. Scotrail DO NOT carry tandems on their trains. Everyone else do, but not Scotrail. So we're back to looking for couriers.
Richard is working out how much he can take the bike apart safely to wrap and pack it to be sure it arrives in good condition. We may end up carrying a fair amount of it with us...
As a tenatative idea, we are looking at the support team method, but we need to find a support team.
We will keep you posted!
If, several days later, you both still like the idea (or are both too embarrassed to admit to the other that you don't think you can do it), the biggest thought is getting in enough training. Actually this can be the easiest part if you have a turbo trainer you can set up in the garage / conservatory. Provided you have a radio or something to aleviate the boredom you can put in the time on the saddle regardless of the weather out side. When the weather is better you go out for real rides. Easy.
After a couple of weeks you start to look at the logistics. How to get to John O'Groats, what route to take, where to stay, how much is all this going to cost?????
There are basically two options - do everything by yourselves, or have a support team. The latter can be the easiest as you then have transport to JoG, and if they are in a motorhome, or similar, you have all your accommodation sorted too. The alternative requires a bit more organisation.
It looks as though we will be going self supported, so a good few hours have been, and will be spent pouring over maps to design a route, and trawling the internet to find accommodation amongst other things.
Getting to JoG.
Fly or train? It is possible to fly from Exeter to Wick (18 miles from JoG). The tandem will not go on the plane though, so a courrier would be required to deliver the bike, and we'd have to get to Exeter (100+ miles)It would mean setting off and arriving on the same day though. The train takes considerably longer, and initial searches showed it costing considerably more, but a little careful research and it would cost roughly half the price of the flights and leave from Penzance (only ten miles away).
A little more research threw a spanner in the works though. We could take tandem with us on the train, but only as far as Edinburgh. Scotrail DO NOT carry tandems on their trains. Everyone else do, but not Scotrail. So we're back to looking for couriers.
Richard is working out how much he can take the bike apart safely to wrap and pack it to be sure it arrives in good condition. We may end up carrying a fair amount of it with us...
As a tenatative idea, we are looking at the support team method, but we need to find a support team.
We will keep you posted!
First Training Ride
Yesterday was our first opportunity (both not working, weather kindish) to get out on the tandem together to see how we are progressing with the training.
WOW!
Within the first ten minutes Joules was cursing as Richard had selected the route... Having climbed the hill out of the village we went on to the next hill - Nancegollan to Black Rock. A long steep narrow lane - Richard thought he might have bitten off more than he could chew as they passed the turn off for Bodilly...
Having read much advice from cyclists who habitually spend all day in the saddle, regular stops for water and a shared banana (five star super fule to the cyclist) were taken, the first at the top of this rise after about 6 miles.
The ride then took in Porkellis - scene of a slight accident a couple of years ago when we last came this way (the gears jammed & we fell off going up a hill!), with the idea of heading towards Helston & then maybe out towards Porthleven. However a change of route was selected and we headed to Redruth - more uphill.
The second break was taken just before Redruth, both of us feeling remarkably fresh. Another choice of routes on offer - back via Camborne and Praze, or on to the coast?
The coast won it and we headed through Redruth and out to Portreath, a nice shallow downhill for a couple of miles, spoilt by a headwind that had suddenly become very icy, and spots of rain. As anyone who has visited Cornwall will know, every downhill is followed by a climb. The climb out of Portreath is a KILLER. Bottom gear all the way. Richard was ready to stop two thirds of the way up, but Joules encouraged him on (lying through her teeth (it's down hill all the way to Hayle after the next corner)). Joules wasn't entirely wrong, there were some down hill sections riding along the cliff road.
Our third break was at North Cliffs where the Natinal Trust have a small carpark with a fantastic view. Carrying on towards Hayle (up the hill out of Hells Mouth) speculation began about the distance travelled. Richard had the advantage here as he has the bike computer that gives all sorts of information - current speed, average speed for the ride, maximum speed for the ride, ride distance, ride time, total miles ridden and the time. Joules guessed, but did not want to know the total.
After the CLIMB out of Godrevy, we rode down into Hayle, deciding to go through the town and home via Tolroy Hill. Our final banana stop was in Hayle, outside Mr Bees Ice Cream shop (closed unfortunately). Then up hill for another two miles or so as we climbed from Hayle, up through St Erth Praze to Fraddam, then on through Leedstown, the drop into Binnerton & up the other side before rolling down the hill to home.
Joules guessed 30 miles... The actual distance ridden - 35.25 miles!
Even better, Joules did not get cold!
We are both really pleased with this ride - the TT has done it's job (and will continue). On New Years Day we cycled 12 miles on the flat and had had enough (largely due to the cold), what a change! Obviously we have a lot further to go. This is about half the daily distance we will need to cover doing JoGLE, however we covered this in a little over three hours even with the hills. So 70 miles in a whole day? It looks and is starting to feel more possible.
The next big hurdle is doing this sort of ride two days running. When we will get two days together is another question entirely, but watch this space!
WOW!
Within the first ten minutes Joules was cursing as Richard had selected the route... Having climbed the hill out of the village we went on to the next hill - Nancegollan to Black Rock. A long steep narrow lane - Richard thought he might have bitten off more than he could chew as they passed the turn off for Bodilly...
Having read much advice from cyclists who habitually spend all day in the saddle, regular stops for water and a shared banana (five star super fule to the cyclist) were taken, the first at the top of this rise after about 6 miles.
The ride then took in Porkellis - scene of a slight accident a couple of years ago when we last came this way (the gears jammed & we fell off going up a hill!), with the idea of heading towards Helston & then maybe out towards Porthleven. However a change of route was selected and we headed to Redruth - more uphill.
The second break was taken just before Redruth, both of us feeling remarkably fresh. Another choice of routes on offer - back via Camborne and Praze, or on to the coast?
The coast won it and we headed through Redruth and out to Portreath, a nice shallow downhill for a couple of miles, spoilt by a headwind that had suddenly become very icy, and spots of rain. As anyone who has visited Cornwall will know, every downhill is followed by a climb. The climb out of Portreath is a KILLER. Bottom gear all the way. Richard was ready to stop two thirds of the way up, but Joules encouraged him on (lying through her teeth (it's down hill all the way to Hayle after the next corner)). Joules wasn't entirely wrong, there were some down hill sections riding along the cliff road.
Our third break was at North Cliffs where the Natinal Trust have a small carpark with a fantastic view. Carrying on towards Hayle (up the hill out of Hells Mouth) speculation began about the distance travelled. Richard had the advantage here as he has the bike computer that gives all sorts of information - current speed, average speed for the ride, maximum speed for the ride, ride distance, ride time, total miles ridden and the time. Joules guessed, but did not want to know the total.
After the CLIMB out of Godrevy, we rode down into Hayle, deciding to go through the town and home via Tolroy Hill. Our final banana stop was in Hayle, outside Mr Bees Ice Cream shop (closed unfortunately). Then up hill for another two miles or so as we climbed from Hayle, up through St Erth Praze to Fraddam, then on through Leedstown, the drop into Binnerton & up the other side before rolling down the hill to home.
Joules guessed 30 miles... The actual distance ridden - 35.25 miles!
Even better, Joules did not get cold!
We are both really pleased with this ride - the TT has done it's job (and will continue). On New Years Day we cycled 12 miles on the flat and had had enough (largely due to the cold), what a change! Obviously we have a lot further to go. This is about half the daily distance we will need to cover doing JoGLE, however we covered this in a little over three hours even with the hills. So 70 miles in a whole day? It looks and is starting to feel more possible.
The next big hurdle is doing this sort of ride two days running. When we will get two days together is another question entirely, but watch this space!
Thursday, 11 February 2010
Tea Party
As part of the fundraising effort, we are hoasting a Tea Party this Saturday morning. Efforts to prepare are in full swing with a list as long as a piece of paper drawn up.
One of the last jobs on the list will be removing the bike and TT from the conservatory. It's getting quite a bashing at the moment and Joules has been an absolute HERO with her efforts - 30 to 50 minutes every morning at 6am! Richard is lagging behind slightly...
Sunday, 7 February 2010
The Official Start of Training!
Having set up the Turbo Trainer with my solo bike, both of us had a session this morning, about 40 minutes each steady cycling after breakfast.
It was killing two birds with one stone really, Joules wanted to know how she would get on early after breakfast, as well as how she was feeling cycling. Positive answers to both we're pleased to report! Tomorrow's session will tell how we are at riding two days running, although we're only talking about short periods yet. It will increase!
The biggest problem with TT is boredom. Staying in the same place all the time. Yes we have a good view of the garden from the conservatory, but the weather was poor this morning so even the birds were taking cover. One solution we are trying at the moment is the radio, so Aled Jones on Radio 2 accompanied us today. It does help, honest!
The plan is to increase the length of the runs on the bike, maybe twice a day when we can, and slowly introduce periods of greater effort. The radio is good for this - you can have the equivalent of a sprint for the length of a song - just don't pick something like Stairway to Heaven!
That's it for now. More progress reports to follow!
It was killing two birds with one stone really, Joules wanted to know how she would get on early after breakfast, as well as how she was feeling cycling. Positive answers to both we're pleased to report! Tomorrow's session will tell how we are at riding two days running, although we're only talking about short periods yet. It will increase!
The biggest problem with TT is boredom. Staying in the same place all the time. Yes we have a good view of the garden from the conservatory, but the weather was poor this morning so even the birds were taking cover. One solution we are trying at the moment is the radio, so Aled Jones on Radio 2 accompanied us today. It does help, honest!
The plan is to increase the length of the runs on the bike, maybe twice a day when we can, and slowly introduce periods of greater effort. The radio is good for this - you can have the equivalent of a sprint for the length of a song - just don't pick something like Stairway to Heaven!
That's it for now. More progress reports to follow!
Saturday, 6 February 2010
The start of Training
Training has offically begun (if only in a very small way).
Richard set up his solo bike on a turbo trainer in the conservatory yesterday. For those who don't know a turbo trainer is a device that supports the rear wheel off the ground so that it is running on a roller. This has a device attached to alter the level of effort required to pedal.
While the evenings are dark, and the weather foul, Richard and Joules are going to encourage one another to spend time on the TT as regularly as possible to give us a head start when we are finally able to get out for real!
Photos to follow.
For the record Richard did about half an hour to check it was all running smoothly before the windows steamed up (even with the sky light open!) & he got bored. Need to put the radio in there!
Richard set up his solo bike on a turbo trainer in the conservatory yesterday. For those who don't know a turbo trainer is a device that supports the rear wheel off the ground so that it is running on a roller. This has a device attached to alter the level of effort required to pedal.
While the evenings are dark, and the weather foul, Richard and Joules are going to encourage one another to spend time on the TT as regularly as possible to give us a head start when we are finally able to get out for real!
Photos to follow.
For the record Richard did about half an hour to check it was all running smoothly before the windows steamed up (even with the sky light open!) & he got bored. Need to put the radio in there!
Fundraising
We have received news of Joules' efforts in Helston!
In two hours (or so) standing in a daffodil covered coat and hat, Joules collected more than £150 from the very generous people of Helston for Marie Curie Cancer Care.
Thanks to all those who generously donated.
In two hours (or so) standing in a daffodil covered coat and hat, Joules collected more than £150 from the very generous people of Helston for Marie Curie Cancer Care.
Thanks to all those who generously donated.
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