Day 9 - Kyle of Sutherland to John O'Groats

It was at the start line of this last day, 9 of 9, that I was thinking back to Bath University at the end of day 2 where I had a very sore backside and not a lot of sleep. I had been thinking that's 2 days down but still 7 to go... That's half a 2 week holiday. It seemed like a long time then but suddenly it was done and we were about to finish. I can't say at that point I wanted to roll back time but I was enjoying every moment. We woke up to One Day Like This - Elbow

We set off along a very remote, deserted single track road which went north for roughly 50 miles before hitting the coast. Route Director Andy Cook said it was his favourite road ever. I'll agree it was nice but 50 miles on the same road drags and I can think of nicer ones but perhaps that was the frame of mind I was in at the time - I just wanted to get to that finish line.

We turned east when we hit the north coast and immediately into big hills and headwinds. Since we were a group of 10 and I can go up hills fast I found myself doing a lot of waiting at the tops and was getting a bit impatient but promised myself that as we had ridden the majority of the event as a team, they had cheered me up when I was feeling grumpy, I had ridden on the front when they were having off days etc etc we would finish as a team. It was the right decision to make as they were a great group to ride with and the banter made time pass well (and slowly when the jokes were poor!).

Eventually the hills subsided and it was just flat into the headwind (the only wind on the whole trip so I shouldn't complain really) past nondescript arable farmland. Dull riding and it took an age but finally we were at 15 miles to go (out of 105) and the pace and morale picked up. I was feeling strong so did a good shift on the front to help out and we hit the finish at JOG to a heroes welcome, music and beer.

Another beer with my new found friends and we all headed our separate ways. It's a shame they mostly live down south as meeting up with them will be a challenge.

I stayed the night in Wick with Neil before we travelled home the next day but I've never been so pleased to see these in my life:

Well that was Scotland, and it was ace!

I achieved my goal - 2 substantial back to back rides and it didn't kill me. Really pleased with myself and proof that after 2 months putting in the miles it's possible to get from feeling totally spent after 25 miles (end of February) to a total of 187 miles over 2 days with more in the tank (end of April). I also beat another target of mine, over 200 miles in one week (I managed 222). Next target will be 300.

Day one from Ilkley to Penrith was a cracker, I was joined by Paul and Clive from ICC. Clive peeled off at Burnsall with a creaking bottom bracket and Paul made it to the top of Fleet Moss where we went our separate ways.

(that's Pen-y-ghent just peeking out behind my left shoulder)

I dropped down the huge descent into Hawes and ate this beautiful thing...

Then I cycled up this valley into Cumbria and to Kirby Stephen. I've decided that due to the scenery, the deserted smooth tarmac and the friendly gradient this is my favourite valley for road biking so far!

Once at the riverside cafe in Appleby, I realised there IS a solution to the age old problems of where to store your bike and how to ensure the toilet roll is accessible without putting your back out to reach round for it.

Finally I ended my day with fish and chips followed by rhubarb crumble and cream and a night in The Ginney B&B at J41 of the M6 which I thoroughly recommend (£57 B&B for the night, breakfast was excellent). 83 miles in the bag.

On Saturday I woke to bright sun, a light tailwind and cows walking past the window at breakfast! Home made muesli, grapefruit and orange segments, 2 poached eggs on toast and some toast with real butter and Marmite set me off in a good mood.

The road to Carlisle was great but that was the best bit, Carlisle was a typical city centre for cycling and the A7 out of it was busy. This then peeled off to the B something all the way up beside the M6 to Gretna then the M74. I got caught by a random who chatted and helped pass some time before he left at Ecclefechan.

The next 5 hrs from Lockerbie weren't great to be honest. The tarmac (yawn...) was broken with loose stones everywhere and the scenery after being spoilt in the Dales and Cumbria was almost non existent until Dumfries and Galloway (these photos kind of sum up the 5 hrs).

This is day 6 on my LEJOG ride and it's a means to an end definitely - get from the nice bits to the nice bits as directly as possible.

Does anyone know what this sculpture represents? I came across it en route somewhere near Moffat on the Sustrans bike path.

Anyway, things started looking up when I ate this (microwaved) scotch pie from a VG

And arrived at Chatelherault overlooking my final destination, Hamilton, at about half 5 with 104 miles on the clock, a sunburnt ear and my lovely mother-in-law wielding a bottle of chilled wine

Today's top quote from a Scottish Neighbour seeing me clad in lycra "I've seen more meat on a butcher's pencil"!

Also big thanks to Stu for giving me the 22 mile Lochs and Windmills Tour of Ayrshire this morning :-)

Tuesday 15th April - This week's goals and a bit about the event

I'm writing this at 06:30 while waiting for my porridge to digest before riding into work. It's dead time so why not update a blog..!

21 weeks to go.

This week the Intermediate training plan is going a bit softer on me but it's still a lot of riding:

Tues 2 hrs
Thurs 2 hrs
Sat 2.5 hrs
Sun 3 hrs

So I'm ignoring that and am planning to break the 200 mile barrier this week (a first for me) over the following rides which include my first serious back to backer:

Commuting
Tues - 18 miles, 1 hr
Wed - 18 miles, 1 hr

Riding to Scotland
Fri - 90 miles - 7 hrs
Sat - 90 miles - 7 hrs

I think the idea is to ride as much as possible so I'm working on that mantra rather than following the training plan to the letter (which gives me a get out clause if there's a tough week and I'm not on form!).

I haven't posted much about the event itself yet. The route hasn't been fully announced yet as far as I know but it's going to look something like this:

I have had to book the laundry service so far, 3 washes of kit during the 9 days (drop off in the evening, comes back clean early the next morning) so I'm gradually (bib shorts alone are £70+) pulling together 3 sets of kit to ensure I get a fresh set every day.

There's more information on the route  here:
http://www.rideacrossbritain.com/2014-ride/the-route/

10th April - Quick ride and planning my 2 dayer to Scotland

Popped out at lunchtime for an hour to Draughton and Bolton Abbey. Quite a nice hilly route for an hour and I was desperate to get out on the bike having eaten a huge pizza on Tuesday. Plus it was sunny although there seemed to be more headwind than tailwind as always.

Also, being mindful that I need to start building up the back to back ability, I've being planning my 2 day 180 mile ride up to Hamilton in Scotland for Easter weekend, looks pretty good, certainly up to Carlisle where I'll be spending the night in a Travelodge at the motorway services. Motorway services food for tea and breakfast and a pastel shade bedroom, something to look forward to then!

Day 1, Ilkley to Carlisle, 142km or 88 miles
Goes via Hawes and Appleby-in-Westmorland.
Link to the route and a downloadable GPX here http://www.plotaroute.com/map/1202

Day 2, Carlisle to Hamilton, 150km or 93 miles
Sneaks up alongside the M6 pretty much all the way. I guess navigating will be straightforward but the motorway signs are going to go past very slowly and be a constant reminder of the distance. It's slightly longer but less hilly than day 1.
Link to the route and a downloadable GPX here http://www.plotaroute.com/map/1194