4 Days to go!
As John and Joy are doing really well on JOGLE I am putting the finishing touches to my preparation. To be honest I have done not enough training, the biggest single ride I have done is 55 miles. My first day is over 80 miles followed by another 80 miles then 50. I know this is going to hurt, but I have all day to complete this mileage and I know I can do it. What I am not sure about is what I will feel like on day 2 and 3!!
I have a plan. I will be setting off very early on Sunday morning (5am). The sooner I get the Chippenham the more recovery I have for the next day! Hopefully this will help.
You can follow me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/spicern. I will however update this blog every-night after the days ride.
Training
Tonight I got back on the bike. With little under 3 weeks until I cycle from home to south devon I knew I had to do some training and fast.
Tonight was the first time I had been for a proper cycle since October 2008!! Wow...I was worried about several things. Anyway I set off with no plan, no cycle computer (battery is dead) and no expectations. I honestly thought I would do a few miles and them come back hence why I took no water!
I however was positively surprised. I felt good, my road awareness was good, speed was OK and it felt like I had never been off the bike. In fact I really enjoyed riding and remembered how good it feels after a day at work to clear my head with a cycle. The thought of getting on the bike was far worse than actually doing it.
In the end I did 11 miles in about 45mins. No loads but a great start.
Positives:
No back or knee pain
Energy levels were good
My bike still works
I enjoyed it
Negatives:
I still think I am going to struggle with hills.
I got a fly in my mouth!
My bum hurts, need saddle time!
Things I have forgotten:
Always wear sunglasses, my eyes were watering and the bugs were everywhere
Always take some water
How bumpy the roads are.
Anyway, I am working away tomorrow but should be home by 4:30pm so I plan to go for a 20 mile ride tomorrow. Then I am playing football on Thursday. I will cycle to work and back on Friday, Saturday I am playing football and I am in work so no cycling, however on Sunday it is a 35 - 40 mile ride!
I have to find what distance I start to hurt and then push on from there. If 30 - 40 miles is my bench mark then am happy with this. Next week I will cycle into work as much as I can and then I hope to go for a 5o mile followed by a 70 mile ride the following weekend. Hopefully this will be enough for my adventure to Brixham. I will then rest for a few day before doing a few small Cycles in the week leading up to my trip.
Watch this space!
Hello...
Well it is only a little over 2 months until my bike ride. Just to remind everyone I am doing a 3 day ride from my house to my parents house in Brixham. I am doing this to raise money for Rowcroft who cared for my mum.
Day 1 (Sunday 7th June 2009) - I will be a riding from my house near Coventry to Chippenham where I will meet up with John Berry, Joy and Sascha who are doing JOGLE (John O'Groats to Lands End). This is a 80 mile ride.
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2667540
Day 2 (Monday 8th June 2009) - I will be riding with John and Joy and following there route from Chippenham to a camp site in Tiverton where I will spend the night. This is a 83 mile ride.
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/JOGLE-Day-9
Day 3 (Tuesday 9th June 2009) - My cycle with John and Joy will end and I will make my own way to the south devon coast while they head for Bude in North Devon. My route will take my into Exeter, Teignmouth, Dawlish, Torquay and then onto Brixham. The final day is a small 53mile ride.
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2667512
Over three days I will travel 215.8 miles.
My training is back on...It will consist of cycle rides into work 3 days per week (unless I am working away from the office) and then 1 big ride over a weekend of 50miles+. Although I have not done a fraction of the training of John, I am confident that I can complete this challenge and raise some money.. I am looking forward to it.. I will try and keep my blog upto date with regular updates although, no promises! thanks for reading. Nathan
Day 1 (Sunday 7th June 2009) - I will be a riding from my house near Coventry to Chippenham where I will meet up with John Berry, Joy and Sascha who are doing JOGLE (John O'Groats to Lands End). This is a 80 mile ride.
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2667540
Day 2 (Monday 8th June 2009) - I will be riding with John and Joy and following there route from Chippenham to a camp site in Tiverton where I will spend the night. This is a 83 mile ride.
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/JOGLE-Day-9
Day 3 (Tuesday 9th June 2009) - My cycle with John and Joy will end and I will make my own way to the south devon coast while they head for Bude in North Devon. My route will take my into Exeter, Teignmouth, Dawlish, Torquay and then onto Brixham. The final day is a small 53mile ride.
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2667512
Over three days I will travel 215.8 miles.
My training is back on...It will consist of cycle rides into work 3 days per week (unless I am working away from the office) and then 1 big ride over a weekend of 50miles+. Although I have not done a fraction of the training of John, I am confident that I can complete this challenge and raise some money.. I am looking forward to it.. I will try and keep my blog upto date with regular updates although, no promises! thanks for reading. Nathan
Decision...
Happy New Year to all....Christmas has been a fantastic time for myself and my family. I feel relaxed, refreshed and ready for a fantastic 2009.
Regarding JOGLE a decision has now been made. I am going to complete part of the journey but with a twist. I will joining John and Marian on Day 8 and Day 9 of JOGLE. This means that I will be cycling from my house to Bickleigh in mid-Devon via John's house in Chippenham. On Day 10 / 11, John and Marian will set off towards north Devon and then onto Lands End, however from Bickleigh I will set off towards South Devon through Dartmoor and finish at my dad's house in Brixham, South Devon.
I feel totally happy with this decision. I will finish in Torbay where my Mum was carred for by Rowcroft and although I am disappointed that I will not be doing the entire journey, I am happy, as are my wife a kids. I feel this is the right thing to do at this stage of life and one day I will complete JOGLE along with other challenges I want to complete, I already have a list!!
What now? Well training needs to kick on again and soon. I am out of the country for a few weeks between now and June (More about this below) and even though I will now only do a 250+mile journey over 3 days I need to be ready to do a 80 mile day, followed by a 90 mile day and then a further 80 miles on my own through the hilly Dartmoor! the blog is back...I will be going out for a ride on Sunday although I have no winter bike gear!!!! should be fun!!!! and lets see how no riding since September has affected me...
Now about June. It has been decided to delay JOGLE by a couple of weeks until early June. This is to allow Scotland to warm up a bit and to avoid half term traffic. Also just so you know Joy may also now only do part of JOGLE. If Joy does only do part she will probably do John O'Groats to Glasgow the home of her parents...
Regarding JOGLE a decision has now been made. I am going to complete part of the journey but with a twist. I will joining John and Marian on Day 8 and Day 9 of JOGLE. This means that I will be cycling from my house to Bickleigh in mid-Devon via John's house in Chippenham. On Day 10 / 11, John and Marian will set off towards north Devon and then onto Lands End, however from Bickleigh I will set off towards South Devon through Dartmoor and finish at my dad's house in Brixham, South Devon.
I feel totally happy with this decision. I will finish in Torbay where my Mum was carred for by Rowcroft and although I am disappointed that I will not be doing the entire journey, I am happy, as are my wife a kids. I feel this is the right thing to do at this stage of life and one day I will complete JOGLE along with other challenges I want to complete, I already have a list!!
What now? Well training needs to kick on again and soon. I am out of the country for a few weeks between now and June (More about this below) and even though I will now only do a 250+mile journey over 3 days I need to be ready to do a 80 mile day, followed by a 90 mile day and then a further 80 miles on my own through the hilly Dartmoor! the blog is back...I will be going out for a ride on Sunday although I have no winter bike gear!!!! should be fun!!!! and lets see how no riding since September has affected me...
Now about June. It has been decided to delay JOGLE by a couple of weeks until early June. This is to allow Scotland to warm up a bit and to avoid half term traffic. Also just so you know Joy may also now only do part of JOGLE. If Joy does only do part she will probably do John O'Groats to Glasgow the home of her parents...
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