Friday 30 September 2011
Day 5 Saturday morning
Well most people on a Saturday morning will be tucked up in bed.
Us are about to drive back to Lockerbie for the start of today's ride. Today's leg is around 80 miles skirmishing the lake district. The leg also involves another notorious hlll 'Shep hill'
Not sure of the details but after the ascent into the Glencorns I am sure we can do any hill albeit with time.
Catch you all later
Day 4 - Friday Evening
Well we are now in a Premier inn Hotel, relatively luxurious compared to the other accommodation we have had.
Will endeavour to update all the blogs today but no photos as no free wi-fi. My dongle will be too slow to upload the photos.
For those interested in the ride stats, the link to my Garmin page
Adrian
Day four lunch time
Whose idea was it to cycle 1000 miles into the head wind!!!!!
Currently stopped for lunch on the M74services. I won't mention some one cycled onto the motorway slip road;-)
Cycled 37.99 miles along an old A road. Consequently the bikes felt as if shaking apart.
We joined a cycle path which was slightly better and compared to those cycle paths in London free of street furniture!
So despite a series of long climbs we have made good progress averaging around 12.5 mph though down those descents we should make more speed I wonder.
But progress is good and other than the head wind the weather is kind to us.
Currently stopped for lunch on the M74services. I won't mention some one cycled onto the motorway slip road;-)
Cycled 37.99 miles along an old A road. Consequently the bikes felt as if shaking apart.
We joined a cycle path which was slightly better and compared to those cycle paths in London free of street furniture!
So despite a series of long climbs we have made good progress averaging around 12.5 mph though down those descents we should make more speed I wonder.
But progress is good and other than the head wind the weather is kind to us.
Thursday 29 September 2011
Day 2 lunch; Wednesday lunch
49 miles and having a soup and a roll for lunch. The ride up in the mountains was horrendous with driving rain and a strong head wind as well as the 1200 feet climb.
One gust reduced my speed from about 8mph down to 2mph
Climbs over and a flat 35 mile ride to our hostel in Glasgow (hopefully)
Day 4; Friday morning
Just driving to our start point for another 85-ish mile ride. Morale still high though a few tender thighs. Weather is dry as is the forecast . After yesterday's rain up in the mountains a welcome respite
The room in the hostel was okay but rather warm....
Day 3; Thursday Evening
Evening all
About to have my evening meal in the youth hostel here in Glasgow, a two course affair for a tenner..
We definitely had a ride of two half's, the first being up in the mountains with a strong head (and/or cross) wind and a driving rain
As we came down into the low lands conditions improved.
Wednesday 28 September 2011
Day 3; Thursday Morning
A cool overcast sky here in Glencoe. It is trying to rain but the forecast is optimistic. Not sure how warm it will be up on the top.
We have a 9 mile ascent from about 100 feet sea level up to ~1200 feet. Gradient averages 4-6% though that is a software interpretation then the next forty or so miles will be a roller-coaster until we descend down into the lowlands for the final forty miles into Glasgow.
This will be a challenging day for us all; experienced or not.
Hopefully Mick has adjusted my gears so I cam utilise them up the hill!!!!
Need to get my ride
Day 2 - Wednesday evening
Evening all
A good ride was had today, and sorry for not completing last night's blog though I will do as I will finish tonight's blog later
For those who want the stats.. My Garmin details:
The ride was simple, we cycled along the A82 heading South West (Into the direction of the prevailing winds) for a good 75 minutes! WE cycled along Loch Ness, as well as some other large Lochs, and the scenery was breathtaking. This was made even more inspiring by the lovely weather we had with sunshine and blue sky, and the early stages of the leaves turning to reds and oranges added to the effect.
There were no major issues, though one team member suffered another two punctures. After the second, he replaced his tyre, but a few miles later he had another one. After a visit to the LBS, he got his wheel sorted, a spoke was puncturing from the inside!
More details will follow later but about to have dinner soon. The plan was to have fish and chips but the chippy closes at seven!
How inconsiderate!!
Tuesday 27 September 2011
Day 2; good morning all
It is a lovely clear morning here in Inverness. Little wind blue ish sky amongst the clouds.
Just had breakfast in possibly the best transit cook house ever!
Plan today is a cycle along the great Glen pass Loch Ness up to Glencoe about 90 miles.
Here goes;-)
Day 1 - First day of riding
One puncture before leaving! Ominous!!
Also a strong southerly wind and so a headwind......
Here goes
Monday 26 September 2011
Day 0 Monday morning
Well had a good drive up to loch lomond, though as we hit Glasgow the sky opened!
But left South Mimms at 0845 and arrived Glasgow around 3pm. Another hours drive or so found us at our over night stop. Now waiting to depart for John O'Groats.
After the rain yesterday the sky is blue sunshine and s light breeze. We will be heading to Tongue for the night before a sixty mile drive to the start point at JoG. The plan is to start riding at 0730 to Inverness.
Just drove up to Glencoe. The views were amazing in the sun. The hills depressing;-)
I drove from St Augustus to Tongue, a small village on an inlet on the North coast . The drive involved the Great Glen to Inverness and along the A9 to we turned onto the A819(?) a single track road with snow markers and passing places. The views though were spectacular. In particular the two rain bows and their ever moving ends. No pot of gold for us...
The youth hostel is fine and the two chefs prepared a quick carb and protein dinner. Need wine next time!
All prepped for tomorrow and the longest ride of a 100 miles or more as we head to Inverness for our next accommodation.
Reveille is 0500 breakfast at 0530 to be driving to JO'G at0600. There a team photo in the strip that hasn't arrived (blame DHL)!
Then nine hours of cycling along mostly a Coastal route though one shyte of a hill will be encountered. Mere training for the many to come.........
Almost 2000 hours (eight O'clock pm for the civvies amongst you.
Sunday 25 September 2011
Friday 23 September 2011
First Post
Hi all
As most of you know I am, with five others about to cycle from John O'Groats down to Lands End for charity.
First picture was taken during a lunch stop on an organsied bike ride. We had cycled around 45 miles at that point before we had a lunch break.
The following photo was taken around Regents Park, and had cycled 101 miles at that point. By the time I had cycled home, I had covered 112 miles in under 8 hours riding over 12 hours....
The ride is over 12 days including a rest day, and on Sunday 25th September I will be driving up to Glasgow with some of my fellow team members where we meet the others. On Monday we drive up to the North coast to the start point.
I will try and post daily and will include links and statistics about the ride via my Garmin cycle computer
Will post some more information later
Adrian
As most of you know I am, with five others about to cycle from John O'Groats down to Lands End for charity.
First picture was taken during a lunch stop on an organsied bike ride. We had cycled around 45 miles at that point before we had a lunch break.
The following photo was taken around Regents Park, and had cycled 101 miles at that point. By the time I had cycled home, I had covered 112 miles in under 8 hours riding over 12 hours....
The ride is over 12 days including a rest day, and on Sunday 25th September I will be driving up to Glasgow with some of my fellow team members where we meet the others. On Monday we drive up to the North coast to the start point.
I will try and post daily and will include links and statistics about the ride via my Garmin cycle computer
Will post some more information later
Adrian
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