Ray and I met up on Saturday to have a last check through.
Items on the agenda were:
Bike bags for on the plane back,
Train tickets,
Kit lists,
Route!
I had seen a £45 bike bag, but had not bought it as it was so expensive, for one use. You don't think I'm doing this again do you?
Ray had bought a thick sheet of plastic, and is going to tape it together at the airport.
Afterwards I checked the CTC website and found that they sell a thick clear plastic bag, for less than £10, but they are out of stock. A quick look on eBay and I found a bag to put a mattress in, so that should arrive on Tuesday, so hopefully easier than just a sheet of plastic, but with it arriving so late, it better do.
All I need to be able to do now is take my peddles off.
After a bit of hunting through my LeJoG folder, I found all the tickets and reservation numbers and gave Ray his ticket and bike reservation number.
Our two kit lists are very similar, mine has slightly too much electronics and cables, and Ray's has slightly too many drugs.
There has been one accommodation change and we are now staying in a nice looking B&B on the 5th night at Avonmouth right next to J15 of the M5.
The total distance is now up to 1115 miles.
Ray is doing amazing work on the route, with both electronic versions and A5 cards for each day.
Cheers
Paul
Riding the length of the UK, so you don't have to. ;)
Sunday 29 April 2012
Saving the price of a stamp.
I needed to collect a signed document from my brother.
He could have put it in the post, but why miss a training opportunity?
So choosing the windiest and rainiest day of the year so far, I decided that it would be a good opportunity to test my wet weather gear.
Well at least I was right about something; it did test my wet weather gear, some of it to the point of failure!
The outward journey was 56 miles in 4 hours, again about 13 miles an hour, which is slow. It was not too hilly, but I have decided that I do not like cycling in the wind. The route went right past Didcot power station, and over the Thames at Henley. I saw 6 red kites, they are so common in some areas now. I remember they were first released in Wales and they were something special.
When I arrived at Andrew's I was mostly dry, the beanie hat under my helmet kept my head dry and warm, my tops were all fine, and my legs were dry from the leggings, just my feet were soaked. The over shoes I had were windproof not what I needed, waterproof.
I had about a half our stop, with a welcome hot chocolate, a couple of boiled eggs and a bar of milk chocolate. The eggs had been in the inside pocket of my pannier, and were very bashed, much more than I expected, not somewhere to put delicate electronics.
The journey back felt quicker, but was also 56 miles and again took the same 4 hours, with only one slight detour from taking a right turn too early, (I'm glad Ray is doing the route for LeJoG). The journey back was not as wet, and I had great vies of an army helicopter, I'm not sure what type it was, it looked like a modern Puma. I also saw Hercules' doing touch and goes at Fairford, but that was later.
I used a small flask of Mum's that she had used when walking, it fits fairly neatly into a standard water bottle carrier on the bike, and with some green tea in it, it is really great. I did get some smiles from drivers when I was stopped at the side of the road. I just need to add a little pipe lagging to the holder to stop it rattling.
I was pleased with the glove arrangement, which was thin cotton gloves that I use for running, under normal padded cycling gloves, best of both worlds.
At about the 90 mile point I did start to deal tired, and kept a look out for a convenient shop in which to buy a mars bar, but I passed nothing easy. So when I got home I was ravenous.
I am glad that I have got through the 100 mile point, but it did take a long time.
Cheers
Paul
Riding the length of the UK, so you don't have to. ;)
He could have put it in the post, but why miss a training opportunity?
So choosing the windiest and rainiest day of the year so far, I decided that it would be a good opportunity to test my wet weather gear.
Well at least I was right about something; it did test my wet weather gear, some of it to the point of failure!
The outward journey was 56 miles in 4 hours, again about 13 miles an hour, which is slow. It was not too hilly, but I have decided that I do not like cycling in the wind. The route went right past Didcot power station, and over the Thames at Henley. I saw 6 red kites, they are so common in some areas now. I remember they were first released in Wales and they were something special.
When I arrived at Andrew's I was mostly dry, the beanie hat under my helmet kept my head dry and warm, my tops were all fine, and my legs were dry from the leggings, just my feet were soaked. The over shoes I had were windproof not what I needed, waterproof.
I had about a half our stop, with a welcome hot chocolate, a couple of boiled eggs and a bar of milk chocolate. The eggs had been in the inside pocket of my pannier, and were very bashed, much more than I expected, not somewhere to put delicate electronics.
The journey back felt quicker, but was also 56 miles and again took the same 4 hours, with only one slight detour from taking a right turn too early, (I'm glad Ray is doing the route for LeJoG). The journey back was not as wet, and I had great vies of an army helicopter, I'm not sure what type it was, it looked like a modern Puma. I also saw Hercules' doing touch and goes at Fairford, but that was later.
I used a small flask of Mum's that she had used when walking, it fits fairly neatly into a standard water bottle carrier on the bike, and with some green tea in it, it is really great. I did get some smiles from drivers when I was stopped at the side of the road. I just need to add a little pipe lagging to the holder to stop it rattling.
I was pleased with the glove arrangement, which was thin cotton gloves that I use for running, under normal padded cycling gloves, best of both worlds.
At about the 90 mile point I did start to deal tired, and kept a look out for a convenient shop in which to buy a mars bar, but I passed nothing easy. So when I got home I was ravenous.
I am glad that I have got through the 100 mile point, but it did take a long time.
Cheers
Paul
Riding the length of the UK, so you don't have to. ;)
Monday 16 April 2012
Compton Farm (Upavon) to Kempsford by oldboy at Garmin Connect - Details
So at the weekend we all went to a farm at Upavon, and Izzy left her coat behind, so today I took the opportunity to go and collect it. It was only meant to be 30 miles each way, which as you know is only an extra 10 miles, and with that split into two cycles, and nice little increment over the 50 mile distances.
I did not find the right turn I was meant to take, (it there a theme starting), so the distance was 40 miles each way.
As the road was a much quieter road than I had planned and it was rush hour on the way home, I decided that it would be best to use the same route both ways.
Unfortunately the route was very up and down, so my average speed was much slower than previously, although it was consistent in both directions.
The two recordings are below, on the first one there are no details, as the watch gave up just at the end.
To Compton Farm (Upavon) by oldboy at Garmin Connect - Details
Compton Farm (Upavon) to Kempsford by oldboy at Garmin Connect - Details
What is a little worrying is that Fran said that I should wait until tomorrow, when it is due to rain, so that I could prepare for riding in Scotland.
Cheers
Paul
I did not find the right turn I was meant to take, (it there a theme starting), so the distance was 40 miles each way.
As the road was a much quieter road than I had planned and it was rush hour on the way home, I decided that it would be best to use the same route both ways.
Unfortunately the route was very up and down, so my average speed was much slower than previously, although it was consistent in both directions.
The two recordings are below, on the first one there are no details, as the watch gave up just at the end.
To Compton Farm (Upavon) by oldboy at Garmin Connect - Details
Compton Farm (Upavon) to Kempsford by oldboy at Garmin Connect - Details
What is a little worrying is that Fran said that I should wait until tomorrow, when it is due to rain, so that I could prepare for riding in Scotland.
Cheers
Paul
New tyres and panniers
I have now fitted two panniers, which were straight forward. The new tyres were harder to fit.
So when doing after doing a 15 mile ride to the white horse at Uffington, I got a puncture on the way home, and needed to be rescued. A least the family were not far away, as they had driven to the white horse while I cycled.
I fixed the picture that night and managed to fit a new inner tube and the tyre without using tyre levers, which I had not thought was possible.
Riding the length of the UK, so you don't have to. ;)
So when doing after doing a 15 mile ride to the white horse at Uffington, I got a puncture on the way home, and needed to be rescued. A least the family were not far away, as they had driven to the white horse while I cycled.
I fixed the picture that night and managed to fit a new inner tube and the tyre without using tyre levers, which I had not thought was possible.
Riding the length of the UK, so you don't have to. ;)
Friday 13 April 2012
Just a short ride
Yesterday I only did a short ride to Cirencester and back. I heard the sonic boom on the way back, unfortunately it was not because I was going supersonic.
Now I have just had a delivery of panniers and new tyres, so I can have a fun afternoon fitting them.
Cheers
Paul
Riding the length of the UK so you don't have to ;)
You can sponsor me at
https://www.justgiving.com/Margaret-beattie
Now I have just had a delivery of panniers and new tyres, so I can have a fun afternoon fitting them.
Cheers
Paul
Riding the length of the UK so you don't have to ;)
You can sponsor me at
https://www.justgiving.com/Margaret-beattie
Wednesday 11 April 2012
Reverse 50 mile circular route by oldboy at Garmin Connect - Details
Details of the route today.
A little faster and longer than the first time.
Reverse 50 mile circular route by oldboy at Garmin Connect - Details
A little faster and longer than the first time.
Reverse 50 mile circular route by oldboy at Garmin Connect - Details
2nd 50 mile training ride
The plan was to do the same ride in reverse. I mostly did it, but as the place names are familiar I did go off route a little, and had to cycle along busier roads than intended.
It was just all too easy to keep going quickly along a quiet country lane, than stop to look at the map and work out that I should have gone straight on at that cross roads and not left.
Anyway it was still just over 50 miles in just over 3:30.
And I had this view at one point, which was good enough to stop for!
Riding the length of the UK, so you don't have to. ;)
It was just all too easy to keep going quickly along a quiet country lane, than stop to look at the map and work out that I should have gone straight on at that cross roads and not left.
Anyway it was still just over 50 miles in just over 3:30.
And I had this view at one point, which was good enough to stop for!
Riding the length of the UK, so you don't have to. ;)
Tuesday 3 April 2012
50 mile training ride
I wanted to see how much I could do, and whether I was up for riding the 75 mile average that we will need to do.
So I found a route around Cirencester, and although I did not start until about 3:30 in the afternoon I managed (just) a fifty mile trip in 3 hrs 30 minutes, with only quick stops for a drink and to check the route.
You can see the details
here
I now just need to do a few more of these!
Paul
Riding the length of the UK so you don't have to ;)
So I found a route around Cirencester, and although I did not start until about 3:30 in the afternoon I managed (just) a fifty mile trip in 3 hrs 30 minutes, with only quick stops for a drink and to check the route.
You can see the details
here
I now just need to do a few more of these!
Paul
Riding the length of the UK so you don't have to ;)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)