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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

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...

8th December - Update

Hello again. I cannot believe we are into December already...There has been no updates since September for a very good reason...nothing has happened since then in relation to cycling!

I am still very keen to do a challenge and will look to go out on the bike again soon. However May09 might be too soon for me to complete a trip of this magnitude. Both John and Joy have trained hard and are miles ahead of me especially John. Maybe I underestimated the training required however I am convinced I could do JOGLE, but not at the pace in which it looks like it will be completed, I don't have the time now to get myself to that level.

There are also the time restraints (I only get 20 days holiday per year, JOGLE will take half of these days and I have to consider my family). I have had a incredibly difficult year and I am not getting the time to train, There is no point doing something I am not prepared for and maybe the timing is wrong.

There are a few options I am considering. The most probable is that I will do part of the challenge, I might cycle from Coventry to Lands End...I will still need to train for this but it would only take about 4 days of my time to complete the challenge. The other option is to cancel my participation in JOGLE however that is last resort because initially this was my idea and although being honest I no longer feel this is my challenge, I still feel incredibly loyal to John, Joy and Marian and do not want to let them down.

I will keep you posted and I will make a decision after Christmas...

Sept 20th - No posts for a long while

Well I just wanted to post to let everyone know what I have been upto for the last 3 weeks....

After the group ride on 31st August, I took a few days off from cycling, on the Wednesday I went football training (I play for a Saturday League Team) and pulled a muscle in my left thigh.... The first game of the season was the Saturday after so I rested my leg so I could play in that game.

I played a full 90 mins and we lost 6 - 4 however men leg was very painful. The week after I was in London for a week on a course through work. This meant I was in a hotel and away from home, while away I make it into the gym one evening and managed 5 miles.

This week again my thigh has not been right but on Thursday I decided to cycle into work. In total I did 20 miles split into 10 miles each way. My leg is fine when I cycle but not when I play football!!

Anyway I will endeavor to keep this more updated. I hope to do a good ride tomorrow..

Aug 31st - Group Ride

Well today was the next get together. In attendance was John Berry, Joy Green and myself.

I had planned the route but never actually completed it, although I had done some of the stages. We set off on time at 10am and headed towards Meriden, It takes me about 5 - 8 miles to warm up and I had not been on my bike for a week so I was a bit rusty.

We went Meriden > Fillongley > Maxstoke > Meriden > Hampton In Arden > Chadwick End before lunch.  32 miles in about 2 hours with a avg speed approx 15.4mph. I felt good before lunch, I managed to clock up my fastest speed yet 38.5mph..

We took it in turns to take the lead and cycled quite closely which made a difference for whoever was behind. We stopped for lunch at the Orange Tree in Chadwick End were we met by Becks, Sascha and my Kids for lunch.

After a pleasant lunch we started out again this time in the rain, and headed towards Lapworth > Rowington > Warwick > Leek Wooton > Kenilworth and then home.  The afternoon ride was much harder for me and between 30 and 40 miles hurt.  However once through the 40 mile point (my previous longest ride) the pain went although I was slower overall, sometimes crawing up the hills.

We did another 21 miles after lunch although there were more hills.  All in All is was great, we completed 53 miles with an avg speed around 14.9mph which I was quite pleased with. Once I was home I had a bath, I was filthy and do really feel tired.

I must now build on this.  I need 50 miles to now be the benchmark for my longer rides and must get on the bike more regulary.

Over lunch we also finalised the route.  See John Berry's blog for details and pictures.  Thanks to John, Joy and Sascha for making time for this ride I think it was quite beneficial for all.

The Route: Here

Aug 27th - Injury!

Well I did not go out yesterday and I am gutted.....I did not mention before but when I was in the gym the other day I hurt a muscle in my leg.  I thought nothing of it however yesterday it hurt to walk on it....with this sunday coming up I thought I would give it another 24 hrs rest.  When I woke up this morning it is still no right.  I am convinced everything will be fine for sunday, I don't think I have pulled anything and it is lots better than yesterday but  still not good enough to go out.

I am truly gutted.  I had big plans for these two days off and this hit my training plan.  I now need to get myself right for sunday and then take things from there.  It means I go into sunday (a planned 55 mile ride) having done no more than 40 miles but I am confident it will be OK.

This is not a high point in my training:-(

Aug 25th - Work and then Gym / Swim

I worked today :-( 

However after work I went to my sister house and did some swimming.  I also did a quick 20 mins in the Gym on the Cycle Machine followed by the Rowing Machine followed by weights..Not loads but quite intense.

Tomorrow is a big day for me.  I am still not sure what I am going to do yet, the original plan was back to back 50 miles but I need too spend one of the days with Becks and the Kids so tomorrow may be a full day on the bike....I plan to leave about 10am and see how the day goes.  I have an idea in my head of how far I want to go but lets see!!

Aug 24th - Town Riding

I was not planning to go out today however the plans I had changed so I thought I would go for a bike ride.  I had an idea of where I wanted to ride but had not plans for the total mileage.

So I set off towards Kenilworth everything was going well until I was on the final hill into Kenilworth when I nearly fell off.  The road was quite narrow but there was a lot of traffic. Basically due to a number of factors I got to close to the curb, my left peddle clipped the curb and I had seconds to react.  I am not really sure what happened next however I managed to stay on the bike, just, but due to whatever happened both of my bottles got thrown off the bike and ended up in the middle of the road.  I pulled onto the path and went back to retrieve my bottles. It was just one of those things really, it did not shake me up but it was just a reminder to concentrate more!!

I carried on minus drink which was left behind on the road and headed into Warwick, I then decided to cycle home the proper way, i.e. not using the lanes.  This meant cycling up the hill near the Waterman which I had not done yet. Surprisingly it was OK although at the steepest point I was in lowest gear.

Anyway I did the 20 miles without drink in 1hr 20mins......Not fast enough really but It was good to get out.

Tuesday and Wednesday next week I am off work and plan back to back 50 mile rides!!!! Watch this space

Today Route:  Here

Aug 19th - Evening Ride

Well tonight after work and dinner I did 13 miles.....No issues, only a small ride however I did not get out until 7:30ish and the light is beginning to fade fast so after work riding is going to get more difficult.

Might be time for the Turbo Trainer.

Aug 16th - New Biggest Ride, New Fastest Speed & New Pains!!

Well after quite a quiet training week I knew on Saturday I would have to push myself.  Well I did.  I decided to ride the route that we will be doing in a couple of weeks time.  My furthest route I had done upto this point was 30 miles, however that was only once and 20 - 25miles was a much more comfitable range and the range I have trained too.

The first 25 miles were the best riding I have ever done.  It was a new route and it was challenging but the roads were great and I actually really enjoyed every moment.  I stopped every 10miles for a quick drink and then stopped after 25miles at the side of the road to eat some food which I had taken.

After lunch I planned another 25 miles route however the minute I hit 30 miles the pain started.  My knees and legs ached a lot and I was into the wind which did not help.  I actually took a quicker route back home.

I ended up doing 40 miles in 2hrs 35mins with an avg speed of 14.8mph.  I smashed my highest ever speed when I hit 37mph!

I was a bit dissapointed that I only managed 40 miles and I felt a little disheartened afterwards but I had only ever done 30miles once before and actually it was OK.

I must push myself on a regular basis.  I am reassessing my training regime because its not been great recently.  I now am going to do two 20 - 30 miles ride during the weeks and then every weekend push myself, starting next week.

The Route: Here

12th August - Very Small Ride

Well tonight I did a very small ride. I could not tell you how far because I cannot find the cycle computer!!!!!! Anyway went out, I went about 2 miles down the road and the heavens opened big style!!!!! I turned around and cycled home...

I know!!!! I cannot do that in Scotland when doing JOGLE...

Wednesday I am taking my daughter Elia out for some Dad time, and then I will ride Thursday & Friday...Saturday is going to be my biggest ride yet, no matter what the weather!

Aug 7th - Sorry

Firstly sorry that I have not updated this blog for a few days.  I have not been feeling too good and decided not to go out on the bike as I did not want my sore throat to turn into a cold.

However after 2 days overdosing on Vitamin C I felt much better tonight, I don't finish work til 6:30pm this week so I did not get in the bike until 7:20pm(after dinner).  I did 15.4 miles in 59 minutes.  Not my fastest but it was good to get out.  I was actually planning to go further despite the rain however the light was fading quite fast and I decided to stop after 15miles.

My Dad is staying with us this weekend so even though I still plan to go out it will be nothing spectacular.

Also congratulations to Joy on getting her new bike today, see John Berry's blog for pics.......I look forward to reading your blog!

Aug 4th - 10 Mile ride and new stuff

Well I got home and my new bike stuff had arrived...Saddle Bag, Sunglasses, Chain Lube and Portable Pump.  I fitted it all onto the bike and it is great. I also made a slight adjustment to the tilt of the saddle and this is also good. It means for the first time since starting training I can take my iphone, food, repair kit and pump with me.  The sunglasses are also great, highly recommended, they are so light and don't feel like I am actually wearing glasses.

Anyway after all of this I managed a 10 mile ride, (all of the kit I had attached at the beginning was still attached at the end)...with a 15.7mph avg speed.

August 2nd - Happy and Disappointed!

I wanted to beat my previous record (30 miles) today however I took the kids out instead. I really could not be bothered to go out when I got home however about 5pm I went out for a ride.

I only did 15 miles in 55 mins however it is the best I have ever felt. I can honestly say that my legs did not ache even up hills and after the ride I felt not one ounce of tiredness and hardly broke into a sweat.

I am delighted at this and shows how I have progressed because 15 miles used to seem a big ride, now it just feel like a walk to the shops.  However I am disappointed that I did not go further......15 miles is better than nothing though!!

31st July - Another 10 mile ride

Well tonight I got home and had some jobs to do. I finished decorating my sons bedroom and got out on the bike about 7:30pm. I decided I would try and ride without my padded short and I forgot to take any drink!! Having said that it was ok and I did 10.13 miles in 37mins with an avg speed of 16.2mph.

I did my normal route.......Hopefully on Saturday I will ride my furthest yet beating the 30 miles I did a few weeks ago.

July 29th - Another ride, no thunder but wind!

Well tonight I set off about 6pm, I had no set route although I had an idea of where I wanted to go.  I had not checked on gmap so I had no idea how many miles it was.  I wanted to do no more than 15 tonight.

I set off in the opposite direction to normal and I was straight into the wind.  It was really slowing me down.  I did the first 4 miles with an avg speed of 13mph:-( It was the strongest I had cycled in.

On the plus side the next 4 miles were really fast as I changed direction...I was shocked how difficult even cycling on the flat was into the wind, even down hill I was only doing about 15mph and had to work to do that.

Anyway no incidents, I covered 15.12 miles in 58 mins with a avg speed of 15.6mph.

I am playing golf tomorrow so a day off from riding. I will be back in the saddle on Thursday Night.

Route Here

July 28th - Biggest after work ride

Well tonight I got home had tea (Cod on Rocket Salad, with home made potato wedges)........I got on my bike at about 5:30pm and after one false start (I got down the road and realised I have forgot my helmet!) I got going.  The sky was starting to go very dark however I am not scared of thunder and a bit of rain...or so I thought

Anyway just 2 mins into my journey it started to rain, these were those big pre-thunder storm big rain drops. This sort of rain continued for about 4 miles then stopped for a bit.  However about 9 miles into my ride the thunder, lightning, heavy rain started, I got soaked, it was actually quite scary because I was quite exposed to the weather as I was riding in country lanes.

At one point I could hardly see from the spray and rain in my eyes (mixed with sweat of course)........

I continued on and did not take any shortcuts home and completed the 25.4 miles in 1hr, 37mins with a avg speed of 15.6mph.  I also extended my top speed to 34mph coming past the Waterman Pub towards Warwick.

I am actually really pleased with tonight, It was not easy as the conditions were at some points very difficult, I achieved 25 miles in just over 1hr 30mins and this was after a days work. Although some of the hills were hard work I could have continued. I had one slight scare towards the end when I decided to try and get up the final hill in top gear not dropping below 17mph, half way up I felt something in my right nee move and it did not feel good! however there has been no pain and it feels fine.

I will go out again tomorrow (Probably just 15 miles), Wednesday i am playing Golf.

Route Here