This Is It........

This time next week will be our last day in our own beds before embarking on a madcap adventure from Lands End to John O Groats. I'm (Lee) already knackered thinking about it. Tried to get out today for what I hoped would be a decent prep ride but god it was hot, not helped by Ava keeping me up all night with a temperature of 39.6. She's OK now. Anyway did my usual trip to Richmond Park and went round and round until my limited sleep deprived strength gave out and I headed home. Only 55 miles. Actually got out yesterday morning too for a quick 25 miles before breakfast. Hope it's not so hot next week. Hope you boys got out and honed those riding skills to the maximum...remember you promised you'd wait for me.......happy days

Support Car

This is the lovely BMW M5 that Phil Jones of Halliwell Jones has very kindly provided for us to use as our support vehicle.

Lord Lucan Appearance!

Very good Kev. How did you manage to get a shot of us two with hands on hips at the same time?
Here's the official shot for the papers etc.....
No Photoshop software would be good enough to improve these terrible mug shots.

Polo Shirts

I (Kev) picked up our polo shirts that will promote our ride from the printers today, when I presented them to Lee and Steve they looked a little disappointed, maybe I should have ordered theirs in Pink!!!

Very Sociable, Social Ride

Dilemma today was, which ride to go out with???? Chipping with a mix of the race group and B's, never a good mix, as it constantly splits the bunch. Or the only other option was head out with the Social Group. We (Kev and I) opted for the later and had a most enjoyable ride. It was so relaxed and leisurely that we were able to chat throughout the ride, rarely do you have enough energy to chat constantly on a club ride. I even spotted Andy popping into a newsagents in Churchtown and still get back on the group. I must add that he was purchasing a drink, not the Sunday newspaper that I first thought he'd gone in for.
The route took us on some wonderful very minor roads that I didn't know existed around Hesketh Bank and Tarleton, then again through towards Bretherton.
The weekend has clocked up about 90 miles at quite a gentle pace. We had to do something to stop Lee falling further behind!
The picture was a reference to a socialable bike for a Social Group ride. Or it may be what we need to enable Lee to keep up. As for Downhill Danger, didn't you know Lee, my bike handling skills are from many years practise? Or is it that fat cyclists roll downhill much faster?

Eze does it....

This is Eze at Ava's 5th birthday party yesterday. He was surrounded by screaming kids, yet the boy Eze finds a way to chill out and get some much needed shut eye. This is something I should have done (Lee) instead of staying up last night watching TV.....this was because today I went for what I was hoping to be a long ride. I haven't been out on the bike for two weeks and I could feel it. I was all over the place but managed to do 70 miles in the end, if not a little slower than I hoped. I was knackered at 40 miles but kept at it.....slowly...until I reached the 70 mark. Hoped to do a little more but no legs. Two weeks out not a good idea at this stage but no real choice. Hey hum. Kev and Steve, or as I like to call them, Up Hill Flyer and Down Hill Danger respectively, will need to keep me on their wheel best they can or its a long ride on my own come 1st June. Happy Days.

Gentle ride

Had quite a leisurely ride out with Kev today. Either that or I'm not feeling the hills as much as I was!
Still, an enjoyable day, apart from Kev experiencing a bit of a mechanical problem which caused his headset to crack and creak constantly. However, a quick pit spot at H. Middletons and Matt's swift work had the fault sorted.
Even though I feel that I'm finding some sort of form, I still spend a lot of time with Kev up the road (especially on the inclines).
Was sent a plan of the car decals today from Paul and they look absolutely brilliant, picture to follow once the job is done.
All these sacrifices continue until the ride is over. That includes another early bed tonight, seeing it could be a long club ride in the morning, weather and plans permitting.

LIVERPOOL ECHO

There was a brief article in todays Liverpool Echo about the ride (p.15). Hope to get a longer piece in during the next two weeks with a picture included.

Day 11 Route

The final stage on the 11th June and we have an 88 mile journey to reach the finish line.

Day 10 Route

10th June sees us follow the Caledonian canal (West coast to East) and along the side of Loch Ness.

Day 9 Route

9th June and we are back on the mainland, taking a path North along the coast and through Oban, staying in Ballachulish (near Glencoe).

Day 8 Route

Tuesday 8th June and we head for the ferry terminal after a long day in the saddle. A short trip over to Arran and then we do a lap of the island. Why you may ask? Well, because it's there and it looks really lovely.

Day 7 route

Monday 7th June sees us entering our third country in a week. Hope Scotlands weather warms up for us.

Lancashire Lanes (H. Middleton CC version)

Today was the date set for The Annual Lancashire Lanes event, which amazingly, takes in the lanes of Lancashire. It also includes Apply Bridge, Standish, the approach to Rivington via Haigh Hall, Winter Hill to Belmont and also Brindle etc... However, this year the organising club had a fall out, so it was left to our club to do the route without feed stations etc.....
A great turn out, with over 40 heading off from the shop (that was without many of the B group faces). Steve D punctured in Dalton, but apart from that there were no other dramas. I (Steve) felt great on the Winter Hill climb and I'm sure I even overtook several riders. There was a split in Mawdsley, just at the cafe turn off, so only about 14 of us hit the refreshment stop. Great to sit out on the decking, soaking up some sun at last.
I had to make a dash for it and get to the match for 4pm. Worth it when Billy popped up and hit the goal of the season.
Legs feel good now and I am itching to get on this end to end challenge now. Unfortunately, the next few weeks will be tough getting out to put miles in as the SAT's begin this week and us poor KS.1. staff have to mark them ourselves.
Hope Kev gets his head cam sorted out and maybe he can download footage of todays climb over Winter Hill for you to all look at.
Superb effort by Ronnie Bellion yesterday, who has managed to raise over £800 on her Garden Party for the charity. There was so much generosity shown by people who showed up too.
Great ride today and feeling more prepared for the hills of Cornwall and Devon.

Day 6

On Sunday 6th June we will set off from H.Middleton Cycles in Ormskirk and will be joined by H.Middleton Cycling Club, who both Kev and I are members of. We have trained throughout the winter with the club and they are going to tie in the club Sunday outing to ride with us for part of the journey towards The Lake District. We are really looking forward to sitting on wheels amongst the group and having a great bunch as company up as far as Scorton cafe.
If you are around that morning come along to the shop to wave us off. The club normally set off about 9am.

DAY 5 Route

122 miles, with our own beds at the end of the day (apart from Lee). Home sweet home, before we set off again the next day!

DAY 4 Route

Another 121 miles, hope there's somewhere to get a massage after this stage!

DAY 3 Route

The miles in the saddle begin to increase, this is a 109 mile ride.

DAY 2 Route

It gets a lot tougher as we get through the days. The evelation on this day is silly.