Just been out for a 30 min run & was thinking "there's nothing like cycling"! & must do my closing LEJOG post, it's 2 weeks since we finished the ride & like the lads have said on thier posts is so true .... i'm missing the bike & the miles!
The ride itself was a challenge, fun & at times painful. In fact as you've probably read on the daily blogs I had an almighty crash after 10miles, i won't bore you with the details but it hurt & I really didn't expect to be able to ride the next day, it was actually less painful riding than walking, in fact the part of the thigh which hit the curb is still a numb & my right ankle still hurts!
The negatives : I was very saddle sore at times, in fact it felt as though my saddle had razor blades sticking out, attempting to recall the pain brings tears to my eyes. The A30 through Cornwall was awful, yes there was a small cycle lane but with cars going past us at c.85mph it didn't feel right. The "detour" up Glenshee was difficult but a great achievement (once we hit the peak).
The positives: far too many to mention. Each days mileage achievement, the company, the support car, the B&B's and lovely people we met along the way, climbing hills & going down the other side, the pretty flat Devon to Cheshire, the weather (i can't believe there was no rain - although it got cold in the north of scotland), only 1 puncture each, crossing the scotland border, riding into John O'Groats.........
The recovery following the ride was quite remarkable, saying that unlike Matt I haven't been back on the bike yet but I did go to the gym for a session 3 days after returning.
I do miss the focus that the training provided and i'm now looking for events I can take part in, hoping to do a few sportives over the coming months & will run more as the winter kicks in........... do i fancy the 'cycle to africa' the lads have mentioned? Oh ... i'm not sure although i'd definatley do a leg or 2 as support to them...... watch this space.
I'll continue to promote the charity & will hope to continue to raise funds for sometime to come ...... finally just want to say thanks to everyone, the lads, Howard, the owners of the B&B's, the people we met, the donaters (of which there are many) and most of all our families for the support.
Cleve
Friday, 10 October 2008
Sunday, 5 October 2008
Here we go again!!!!
When we got to John O'Groats I didn't feel the sense of elation that I thought I was going to. I think that the physical and mental exhaustion had just taken over and all I wanted to do was go home to Alison and my children, to sleep in my own bed and spend a day where I didn't have to get on the bike!
When we got home, the accomplishment slowly started to sink in. I kept looking at the web site and staring at the map of the route, shaking my head in disbelief. I read the blogs that we had written and believe it or not, started to feel sad at the thought that it was all over. We had been planning the trip for over a year and it was difficult to comprehend that we had nothing to train for and nothing to focus on. The training regime had become part of mine and my families life. The majority of weekends over the last year had involved Matt and I getting together to go on a ride and our family planning their weekends around us.
Yes, the ride itself had been tough, yes tempers (mostly mine) had frayed and yes we just couldn't wait until we arrived at the finishing line, but looking back now, all of that seemed irrelevant. It had been one long adventure and I wanted more. I could never have realised the impact that the ride would have on me and had failed to notice that I was living the adventure when it was happening. It was only with hindsight that I had started to realise just what had been and gone.
I texted Matt...."We need to do something else.....its doing my head in........lets do something else!"
He was already onto it. "I'm thinking about it too. Just give me some time and I will let you know any ideas".
A couple of days passed and on Wednesday I got a text..."I have an idea. You are gonna love it. I will ring you later!"
Whatever his idea was, I was going to do it. I had caught the bug and even if he suggested that we tried to go around the world in 80 days, I would have said yes!!
His idea though couldn't have been more perfect. When the sentence (which I know that when I am training again will be excruciating to hear!) reeled from his lips, I found myself nodding in agreement and almost jumping around with excitement.............
"We are going to cycle to Africa!!"
This is going to be a huge project and one which will take meticulous planning and preperation, not only logistically, but also our fitness. Africa is over 1600 miles away and the proposal is that we do this in 2010 to give us a chance to get REALLY fit and make sure that the trip is planned with military precision. Its one thing to organise a trip around the UK but its a whole new ball game trying to do it in several different countries and in several different languages!!
So there you have it. If you had told me two years ago that at this point in my life I would have already cycled from Lands End to John O'Groats and was now planning to cycle to another continent, I would have laughed so hard that my sides would have split.
Plans and updates will be shown on the site........but watch this space........we are going to do it again, sure as eggs are eggs, but this time its going to be bigger.
I now understand why Sir Ranulph Fiennes does what he does. Its addictive, and once you have experienced the feeling it gives you, you just want more.
Jon
African Adventure Kit list (Item 1)
Giant padded saddle with fluffy cushions and gel technology, designed by Charmin Ultra......CHECK!!
When we got home, the accomplishment slowly started to sink in. I kept looking at the web site and staring at the map of the route, shaking my head in disbelief. I read the blogs that we had written and believe it or not, started to feel sad at the thought that it was all over. We had been planning the trip for over a year and it was difficult to comprehend that we had nothing to train for and nothing to focus on. The training regime had become part of mine and my families life. The majority of weekends over the last year had involved Matt and I getting together to go on a ride and our family planning their weekends around us.
Yes, the ride itself had been tough, yes tempers (mostly mine) had frayed and yes we just couldn't wait until we arrived at the finishing line, but looking back now, all of that seemed irrelevant. It had been one long adventure and I wanted more. I could never have realised the impact that the ride would have on me and had failed to notice that I was living the adventure when it was happening. It was only with hindsight that I had started to realise just what had been and gone.
I texted Matt...."We need to do something else.....its doing my head in........lets do something else!"
He was already onto it. "I'm thinking about it too. Just give me some time and I will let you know any ideas".
A couple of days passed and on Wednesday I got a text..."I have an idea. You are gonna love it. I will ring you later!"
Whatever his idea was, I was going to do it. I had caught the bug and even if he suggested that we tried to go around the world in 80 days, I would have said yes!!
His idea though couldn't have been more perfect. When the sentence (which I know that when I am training again will be excruciating to hear!) reeled from his lips, I found myself nodding in agreement and almost jumping around with excitement.............
"We are going to cycle to Africa!!"
This is going to be a huge project and one which will take meticulous planning and preperation, not only logistically, but also our fitness. Africa is over 1600 miles away and the proposal is that we do this in 2010 to give us a chance to get REALLY fit and make sure that the trip is planned with military precision. Its one thing to organise a trip around the UK but its a whole new ball game trying to do it in several different countries and in several different languages!!
So there you have it. If you had told me two years ago that at this point in my life I would have already cycled from Lands End to John O'Groats and was now planning to cycle to another continent, I would have laughed so hard that my sides would have split.
Plans and updates will be shown on the site........but watch this space........we are going to do it again, sure as eggs are eggs, but this time its going to be bigger.
I now understand why Sir Ranulph Fiennes does what he does. Its addictive, and once you have experienced the feeling it gives you, you just want more.
Jon
African Adventure Kit list (Item 1)
Giant padded saddle with fluffy cushions and gel technology, designed by Charmin Ultra......CHECK!!
Sunday, 28 September 2008
Matts End Post
So...we made it!
The memory loss continues and I cant actually remember how we did it, but we did. 900+ miles in 8 days is some achievement and I think I am struggling to get my head around that right now.
The ride has had ups and downs. Not once did I want to get on my bike in the morning, but once going I enjoyed it. Looking back now, it has been great. A real experience and something that I will always remember.
We need to thank my Dad (Howard) as we could not have done this without his support. The thought that he was waiting within a mile from you at any point was great and a real comfort. Thanks to the boys for their encouragement and the fun that we had along the way. Thanks also to the team that joined us from Warrington to Kendal - it was great riding with you also. Finally, thanks to all of the wonderful (and generous) people that we met at the places that we stayed. You have been so kind and your support has been brilliant and has helped make our trip.
Every day we went through the pain barrier, both physically and mentally, but for me the thought of our goal of the school at Memusi kept me going. The physical and mental pain that we have suffered over these last few days is nothing in comparison to the suffering that the children of the Maasai will without the gift of education.
2 days post completion and I am back on the bike. Not 100 miles, but it was nice to get out. Strange though not to have my team with me. The pain is now going and thoughts are going through my mind of what is next. Watch this space!
Thanks to all for your kind support and donations towards our cause. Without you our work would be nothing. Thankyou!
The memory loss continues and I cant actually remember how we did it, but we did. 900+ miles in 8 days is some achievement and I think I am struggling to get my head around that right now.
The ride has had ups and downs. Not once did I want to get on my bike in the morning, but once going I enjoyed it. Looking back now, it has been great. A real experience and something that I will always remember.
We need to thank my Dad (Howard) as we could not have done this without his support. The thought that he was waiting within a mile from you at any point was great and a real comfort. Thanks to the boys for their encouragement and the fun that we had along the way. Thanks also to the team that joined us from Warrington to Kendal - it was great riding with you also. Finally, thanks to all of the wonderful (and generous) people that we met at the places that we stayed. You have been so kind and your support has been brilliant and has helped make our trip.
Every day we went through the pain barrier, both physically and mentally, but for me the thought of our goal of the school at Memusi kept me going. The physical and mental pain that we have suffered over these last few days is nothing in comparison to the suffering that the children of the Maasai will without the gift of education.
2 days post completion and I am back on the bike. Not 100 miles, but it was nice to get out. Strange though not to have my team with me. The pain is now going and thoughts are going through my mind of what is next. Watch this space!
Thanks to all for your kind support and donations towards our cause. Without you our work would be nothing. Thankyou!
Friday, 26 September 2008
The End
I'm sat here in the car writing this on Cleve's blackberry. We are on the way back to Inverness from John O'Groats where at 1810 all four of us crossed the finishing line. It hasn't been such a great day. Its been cold for a start and got gradually more so the further north we got. The scenery was not as spectacular as we had been used to either. We have had one or two hills to climb but the road has been generally quite forgiving. The only major disaster was as we were around 30 miles from the end, my brakes went. It was like the whole world had come crashing down around me. I had cycled for 850 miles without any trouble and here we were within touching distance of the end and my bike is un-rideable.
As usual I was completely irrational, but thanks to Dad's patience, Matt's generosity in letting me ride his bike whilst he rode Cleve's spare and Cleve's support the team pulled together and the obstacle was overcome.
So, the very last day has been and gone and its been tough, sometimes downright awful. The truth is however that through all of the blood, sweat, tears and tantrums if you were to ask us all next week if we would do it again, we would almost definately say yes.
Jon
As usual I was completely irrational, but thanks to Dad's patience, Matt's generosity in letting me ride his bike whilst he rode Cleve's spare and Cleve's support the team pulled together and the obstacle was overcome.
So, the very last day has been and gone and its been tough, sometimes downright awful. The truth is however that through all of the blood, sweat, tears and tantrums if you were to ask us all next week if we would do it again, we would almost definately say yes.
Jon
Wednesday, 24 September 2008
Day 7 .....Are we there yet?
............nearly!
We stayed about 15 miles west of Pitlochry and the original plan was to drive back to the previous evenings end point ....... "You don't want to be doing that" said the lady at the lovely B&B, "if you jump straight on your bikes turn left towards Braemer, there's one decent climb then down hill into Inverness" ..... Sounds fair enough we all thought and off we went.
Turned left straight onto an uphill, which is never good first thing before your muscles have warmed up. This was only a small hill in comparison to the Glenshee mountain we then climbed ...... "A decent climb" was an understatement! We climbed into the ski resort above the ski lifts! The descent was fast but very cold and Matt looked funny in his 7 layers.
We then drove past Royal Balmoral and climbed a never ending hill to Tomintul. There were lots of beautiful views, however, the road that the B&B owner had sent us on had sent us at least 40 miles off route!!!
All we can say is its a good job we had the support car. We clamped on to get us back on route. We hopped back on the bikes and rode past Inverness and in Dornoch for our penultimate overnight stay.
We stayed about 15 miles west of Pitlochry and the original plan was to drive back to the previous evenings end point ....... "You don't want to be doing that" said the lady at the lovely B&B, "if you jump straight on your bikes turn left towards Braemer, there's one decent climb then down hill into Inverness" ..... Sounds fair enough we all thought and off we went.
Turned left straight onto an uphill, which is never good first thing before your muscles have warmed up. This was only a small hill in comparison to the Glenshee mountain we then climbed ...... "A decent climb" was an understatement! We climbed into the ski resort above the ski lifts! The descent was fast but very cold and Matt looked funny in his 7 layers.
We then drove past Royal Balmoral and climbed a never ending hill to Tomintul. There were lots of beautiful views, however, the road that the B&B owner had sent us on had sent us at least 40 miles off route!!!
All we can say is its a good job we had the support car. We clamped on to get us back on route. We hopped back on the bikes and rode past Inverness and in Dornoch for our penultimate overnight stay.
Day 6 ....Biggar to Pitlochry
Another 100 mile slog!
Biggar to Pitlochry was split into 3 challenging parts. We set off after a hearty breakfast and headed for Edinburgh at 8.45. We took the road by storm and hit the Edinburgh bypass by 11 !! After a nice lunch overlooking the Forth, we headed over the bridge to cycle to Perth. On from Perth and we hit Pitlochry at 6 for a nice fish, chip and deep fried black pudding tea! A massively successful day and probably the best day yet. It wasn't the easiest, but certainly made us all work hard and we met that challenge well.
The scary things are that we are now suffering memory loss! Nobody can remember where we have stayed or where we have cycled without serious thought. It is the strangest feeling. We are in Scotland now and actually can't honestly remember how we got here!
On top of us suffering from short term memory loss, the sores are really hitting. The majority below the waist and not really where you want sores. It is painful actually climbing onto the bikes. The positive is that the legs don't hurt any more...simply because other parts hurt so much.
Onwards and upwards.
Biggar to Pitlochry was split into 3 challenging parts. We set off after a hearty breakfast and headed for Edinburgh at 8.45. We took the road by storm and hit the Edinburgh bypass by 11 !! After a nice lunch overlooking the Forth, we headed over the bridge to cycle to Perth. On from Perth and we hit Pitlochry at 6 for a nice fish, chip and deep fried black pudding tea! A massively successful day and probably the best day yet. It wasn't the easiest, but certainly made us all work hard and we met that challenge well.
The scary things are that we are now suffering memory loss! Nobody can remember where we have stayed or where we have cycled without serious thought. It is the strangest feeling. We are in Scotland now and actually can't honestly remember how we got here!
On top of us suffering from short term memory loss, the sores are really hitting. The majority below the waist and not really where you want sores. It is painful actually climbing onto the bikes. The positive is that the legs don't hurt any more...simply because other parts hurt so much.
Onwards and upwards.
Monday, 22 September 2008
Day 5 - buttocks like leather
We started off the day in Kendal at the Glen guesthouse where we were looked after like royalty. We had spent the evening sat outside in a hot tub easing our weary legs and we really can't thank them enough for their hospitality. The day started OK. A nice gentle ride out of Kendal admiring the beautiful scenery. Gradually the terrain got steeper and steeper until we came upon signs warning of ice and snow and that we were approaching Shap Fell. For those of you who don't know what Shap Fell is, it's a hill were you ascend 1400 ft in around four miles. It nearly killed us all, but still nobody has got off their bikes to push. We are now in Scotland and in Biggar tonight. The weather is beautiful, as is the scenery and we just hope for more of the same in the days to come. Cleve not had an accident for a couple of days now so things are looking up. All still suffering from bum ache and will all have buttocks like leather when we get home.
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