Mixed bag of Weather at Half Term

Steve's week so far
It's been quite a frustrating week in terms of planned training rides. Planned to get out with a few lads from the club on a decent ride on Tuesday so got up early. Opened the curtains and watched hail and sleet fall, messing up those plans.
Wednesday was a very mixed day of frost, fog, then rain and a bit of sun creeping out too. Managed to get a swift 24 miles in with a few climbs thrown in for good measure.
Thursday was a case of grabbing a window between the showers and Kev joined me too. Did a few hours and got 36 miles in, before the heavens really opened.
Today is stuck in catching up on school planning and preparation for Monday.
A silly early Sky Kick off will mess up any chances of a longer ride tomorrow, which leaves a Sunday club run. Here's hoping for decent weather Sunday morning.

Advice

Kev and I met up with Mick freeman tonight (who's done the end to end). I have met Mick via H Middleton CC and was out on Sunday's club ride with him. Mick has given us lots of invaluable advice and information for our ride. We now feel that we can proceed with making detailed plans re route (most importantly), accomodation, kit, does and donts. He has also loaned us a few great books, spreadsheets etc..... Mick is a true gentleman, an absolute star and we shall thank him with beer when we get an opportunity.
Now we can really get going now.

Blow Out!!!!!

Blow out


(Kev's Post) Got up early this morning, braved the fog and ice, met Steve and headed down into Ormskirk to meet up with H Middleton C C for my first time out with the Club. Really enjoyed the ride, met some really nice people and got some great advice about our LeJog ride, (many thanks to Mick Freeman) also got my first 50 + miler in.
Not long into the ride I heard a loud bang in front of me, I thought someone had been shot!! One of the lads had a blow out, he had to call his wife for a lift back home. That’s what you get when you don’t spend Valentines Day with your loved One!!!
Ill be definitely getting out with the Club again soon.

Kev Makes Debut on Club Run

(Steve here) Wonderful to get Kev out with the H Middleton CC today and another varied and interesting route. The Garmin Sat Nav went a bit mad on a few occasions and we ended up doing a U turn, but it was worth it (I would never have found the route we did without GPS). Out to Ashurt Beacon, Dalton, Apply Bridge, Shevington, Standish, then off towards Winter Hill direction, Chorley, Eccleston, Mawdsley and the cafe in Rufford. Probably missed lots of places, but clocked another 50 mile +. When we hit the 50 mark Kev gave our old 'MASSIVE' shout (he got there for his first). Great thing about today was all the great and varied people in the group. Met Mick Freeman (who I was beginning to think didn't exist)at last (who's an End 2 End rider) and will meet up with him this week to pick his brains a bit more and then Kev and I will set our route. Accomodation etc.... will follow. I felt great today, despite waking up at 4.30am with a painful shoulder blade and had to soak in a hot bath an hour before the ride. Legs felt like they could do another 10 miles +. With a week off school ahead I'm already planning training rides and hopefully a few longer back to back rides.