Day 5: The longest day

Preston to Dumfries

Mileage: 124

Cycling time: 8hr 8min

Total Mileage: 533

Total cycling time: 35hr 31min

An epic day on the bike today – 12 hours on the road, raging hailstorms and a 1,400ft climb in the Lake District thrown in for fun. Can someone please remind us why we are doing this?

The reason for the long ride was that we wanted to get well into Scotland so that we can make the ferry to Arran tomorrow night (I know, it’s complicated), so aware of the daunting day ahead we set off from Nigel’s house in Preston at 7am and were soon joined by his pals Greg, Phil, David and Colin who had offered to pace us well into Cumbria – you were all a great help lads! Greg and Phil even joined us far as the summit of Shap fell which was absolutely fantastic!

Back in Lancashire we were soaked within 10 minutes of leaving Preston, but the thought of meeting family and friends in Kendal for a coffee stop (hello kids) was a great incentive and the cakes from Endmoor village bakery were absolutely awesome (as were mother-in-law’s sausage sandwiches!).

We certainly needed them to fuel us up Shap fell, but with the pass overcome we were soon speeding down towards Penrith (until I punctured…) ahead of our lunch stop where yet again we had several anonymous charity donations. After lunch, as we took an excellent detour along a Roman road towards Carlisle, we were soon joined by our support crew in the shape of Mrs Ellis and Doctor Kate in our spanking 16-seater minibus which is going to carry our gear throughout Scotland and also get us back to Manchester from John O’Groats.

We met up with the girls again as we crossed over into Scotland at Gretna before our final 20-mile push to Dumfries. At this point spirits were definitely running a little low as we rode head first into a ridiculous stormcloud and were willing ourselves to the finish, but the bedraggled quartet finally rode in to the Premier Inn at 7pm. At this point the girls really came into their own, having already checked us in and deposited our bags in our rooms – you’ve no idea how welcome this was after 12 hours on the road!

So tomorrow it’s an easy day (as captain Lance would say) to catch the last ferry over to Arran – can’t wait. And apparently our hotel the other end even has a pool – fantastic!!         

Day 4 report!

Day 4: Hadnall to Preston
Mileage: 92
Cycling time: 6hr 1min
Total mileage: 409
Total cycling time: 27hr 23min

A rather surreal day on the road as we passed through the familiar cycle routes of Cheshire and the North West, met family and friends for lunch near Knutsford, and rounded off the day with a welcome night at Nigel's house in Preston.
Thankfully the forecast rain held off almost all day which meant we eat up the miles on the Cheshire plain, and after stopping for a coffee in Nantwich  we soon found ourselves very close to home and a stop for lunch at The Windmill pub off the M6. Thanks to everyone who made the effort to join us, it really gave us a boost!

We needed it too for after lunch Richard's pal big Mike (a top track cyclist) joined us to head the peloton for a while, which allowed us all to take it a little bit easier!
However once Mike headed back home it was tough going through the built up roads around Wigan and Chorley, and we were glad to arrive in Preston just as the heavens opened. Nigel's local knowledge was a great help over the last few miles as we picked up an off-road cycle track which avoided the city centre traffic.

After the bikes had had a good clean we were able to sit back and enjoy our take out curry, although also worry about our big day tomorrow as we head into Scotland over the Cumbrian fells.

Still, we pass halfway tomorrow and we also have plenty more support on the road - should be another fun day!

Day 3 report

Day 3 Avonmouth to Hadnall, Shropshire
Mileage: 106
Cycling time: 7hr 2min
Total mileage: 317
Total cycling time: 21hr 22m

 To avoid another late evening on the road we were up and away before 8 this morning and soon traversing the Severn Bridge into Wales where we were greeted by sunshine and a fantastic ride on quiet roads along the Wye valley towards Monmouth.
Perhaps the highlight of the day was dropping down through the woods and suddenly coming across the majestic Tintern Abbey which certainly merited a team photocall.

Coffee and great cakes in Monmouth (and a £10 donation from Mary whose husband had prostrate cancer) and then on to the rolling hills of beautiful Herefordshire and Shropshire, although progress was slightly thwarted by a hatrick of punctures - first Graham and then both Richard and I. But with chief mechanic Richard in tow we were soon on the go again.

On the final road in to Shrewsbury there were some tired legs but the peloton just about kept its shape as we rode in to the super Saracens hotel in Hadnall (thanks to lejog secretary Janine for booking!).
A great find and really accommodating for hungry cyclists - they even knocked up some pasta for us especially, which went down a treat with the Three Tuns local brew!
Preston here we come on day 4 (past Cheshire, of course!)

Day 2: Two Bridges to Avonmouth
Mileage: 109
Cycling time: 7hr 10min (again!)

A real day of contrasts on tour today which began in fantastic sunshine over Dartmoor with not a soul about, and finished in a downpour dodging Bristol's rush hour traffic!
Infact dodging the sheep was our biggest challenge on Dartmoor, especially given that "big ring" Nigel broke the 50mph speed limit, although he later lost evidence of his exploits when he accidentally erased his on-board timer.
Once past Exeter (and emergency repairs at a bike shop) the rolling Devon hills gradually faded, and headed by Captain Lance Taylor the peloton soon picked up good speed as we headed into the Somerset flats. However our pace was later brought to a shuddering halt by the biggest traffic jam you have ever seen in Taunton where we rather unfortunately got stuck behind a cattle truck.
As the rain set in conversation became somewhat muted as we tried to avoid getting mown down on the A38, but soon picked up again as we argued about exactly where the Mendip Hills were. Such banter was however rudely interrupted by "the great roundabout crash" between Big Ring and Lance, though thankfully no serious damage was done...
Finally the Avon bridge came into view and after crossing the river it was time to think about digs - easier said than done although we eventually found somewhere just as it was getting dark.
We're off to Shrewsbury tomorrow (hopefully) where Nigel is keen to read a paper and see some civilisation again amid further discussion about the Mendips.

Day 1 report!

Day 1: Land's End to Two Bridges, Dartmoor
Mileage: 102
Time cycling: 7hrs 10mins
Total climbing: 9,200ft

As expected it was a tough first day through the Cornish hills with a punishing final climb up to Dartmoor, but thankfully the rain held off all day which was a great help.
Passing through Tavistock at the foot of Dartmoor it was tempting to call it a day but we pressed on to our first night's stop, the Cherrybrook. Our hospitable host Dave has already ploughed us with plenty of jail ale, named after the local prison, while we're about to tuck in to some chocolate cake.
It was an eventful day out on the road. We didn't set off quite as early as planned after our promised early breakfast didn't materialise (we started worrying when the chef was locked out), but the delay was soon forgotten as we reached Lands End to start.
We were soon greeted by plenty of cheers from passers-by on leaving the coast. Stopping for coffee was eventful after a local stopped to tell us about his treatment for prostrate cancer -after seeing our shirts and telling us what a good cause it was. Cyril and Joan from Stafford were also impressed with our cause and gave us £10!
The highlight - or maybe lowlight - was when big ring Nigel's chain snapped just as we crossed the Taymer river into Devon. But have no fear for ace technician Richard came to the rescue and impressed us all with his sprocket knowledge! He fixed it in 10 minutes and left us all in awe! However we all blamed Lance Taylor for taking us up the steepest hill in Devon.
Tomorrow should be a slightly flatter day although our original plan of making it to Wales looks unlikely judging by how exhausted we all feel!

Only 900 miles to go - Cornwall hills here we come!

Diet with Dickie!

Richard is keeping a food diary to see if you can lose weight on LE2JOG!

So here goes:

Pre ride weight 83.5kg in birthday suit

Race Day -1 Monday - Evening meal

2 slices cheesy garlic Bread

Beef madras

3 pints Guinness

Sticky toffee pudding & custard


Race Day 1 - Tuesday

Breakfast:

Alpen with full fat milk

2 slices of bacon, 1 fried egg, grilled tomato

1 pot low fat yogurt

Mid morning snack:

2 cappuccino

3 chocolate digestives 250 cals

Lunch:

Cottage pie and beans

Cranberry flapjack 

Full fat coke 500mls

Pre-Dinner:

2 pints beer and 1 bag of crisps in bar

Dinner: 

1 bread roll

Steak and chipped potatoes & veg

Chocolate munch cake with clotted cream

CALORIE BURN TODAY 7,300.


Race Day 2 - Wednesday - "Eating for Victory"

Breakfast:

Alpen with milk

Yogurt pot

Scrambled egg, 2 slices bacon, mushrooms

Mid morning:

White americano

Cereal bar 

Lunch:

Macaroni cheese and garlic bread

Dinner:

Fish & chips, mushy peas

4 pints Guinness

CALORIE BURN TODAY 7,100.

Race Day 3 - Thursday - "

An empty sack won't stand up

"

Breakfast: 

Fruit & fibre with milk

Beans on toast (1 slice)

Orange juice

Flapjack

Cereal bar

Lunch

Strawberry milkshake

1/4lb cheeseburger & chips

Dinner

Mushroom and spinach spaghetti

2 bread buns

3 blobs ice cream

3 pints of pale ale 

CALORIE BURN TODAY 7,400.

Friday 26 August

Crunchy nut cornflakes

Cooked breakfast

Steak & kidney suet pudding & chips

2 pints orange & soda

Cafe Latte

Rocky road

3 poppadoms

Curry & rice (takeaway)

3 cans guinness

Total calorie burn 5,600

Saturday

Muesli with milk

1 crumpet

1 English breakfast muffin & jam

2 sausage sandwiches

1 cream horn

Pasta with chicken & bacon

Huge coffee late

Caramel shortcake

Elevenses bar

Shared platter

Burger and chips

4 pints Guinness

Total calorie burn 7,400

Sunday 28/8

Breakfast:

Muesli

Orange juice

Yogurt

Croissant & marmalade

Pork pie

Marathon

Bag of crisps

Bottle of lucozade

Chicken burger (McD's)

Chicken Caesar salad

Fish & chips

3 pints Guinness

TOTAL CALORIE BURN 5,500 (ignores extreme headwind)


Monday 29 August

Cornflakes with milk

Yogurt

Full English

1 croissant

Soup & chicken & sweetcorn baguette

Mars bar

Snickers bar

Poppadoms

Curry, boiled rice, peshwari nan

2 pints San Miguel

3 pints Guinness

Total calorie burn 5,800

Tuesday 30 August

Frosties & milk

2 yogurts

Full English

Currant slice

Cereal bar

Twix

Cornation chicken Baguette

Mars

Marathon

Banana

lentil soup & bread

Pasta arrabbiata

Creme brûlée

1 pint bitter

1 pint stout

Single whiskey

Orange& soda

Total calorie burn 6,300

Wednesday 31 August

Cereal and milk

Yoghurt

Cooked breakfast

Carrot cake

Latte

Red pepper soup

Cheese & ham toastie

1 pint lager

1 pint Guinness

Nachos with sour cream & cheese

Caithness steak pie with potatoes and veg

3 pints Guinness

Various chocolate bars and cereal bars while riding

Thursday 1 September

Cereal & milk

Yogurt

Full English

Cafe latte

Scone with jam and cream

Macaroni cheese & chips

Numerous chocolate bars and cereal bars to keep me going on the bike.

Whiskey & champagne

Latte and banana flapjack

1 pint guinness

Vegetable soup

Chicken in a whisky cream sauce with potatoes and chips and veg Champagne

2 whiskeys

4 pints Guinness