For many years I have wanted to cycle from John O Groats to Lands End, but with family and work commitments the time was never right. Towards the latter part of last year it suddenly dawned on me that I will be 48 years old, and if I was going to do the ride I will need to do it sooner rather than later. My original intent was to ride on my own, but it was my daughter who jumped at the chance as she had just purchased a Cannondale road bike. I was initially not keen, but as soon as my son Joe got wind of this he was going to join-us. So much for wanting to have "me-time!!". It didn't take long for Nicky to drop out, so the more I thought about it I realised there was a fantastic opportunity to have some good dad/son bonding. At Christmas lunch kast year I asked Joe if he was committed to the ride. "Yes, definately" was his reply. Sorted - that's it we were committed. Why cycle from John O Groats to Lands End - easy - we live 32 miles from Lands End, so everyday on the ride is a day closer to home and my gorgeous wife!!!!!!!

Straight after work it was back to the hotel, change, fill up my water bottle and off. Fairly brisk headwind blowing in off the North sea, head down fresh legs and then after about 10 miles turn left, and downwind - perfect. Managed 28 miles in 1 hour 48 mins, average speed 15.9mph......well pleased. Still not sure if my saddle is right for the ride, after about 15 miles it frigging hurts :((

I have finally managed to book each nights accommodation during the ride, with the exception of one nights accommodation in the Glasgow area as we head north in the hire car to the start. The places we will have a night stopovers are as follows:27 July John O Groats Hamnavoe B & B

28 July Golspie Inn

29 July Caledonian House B&B, Fort Augustus

30 July Tyndrum, Tigh-na-froach (try saying that when your pissed)

31 July Strathaven, Scissons Guest House

1 Aug Carlisle, Warick Lodge

02 Aug Morecombe, Yacht Bay View (bet the view is not as good as Falmouth Bay)

03 Aug Nikki’s House (friend) Northwich

04 Aug Ludlow, The Mount B&B

05 Aug Bristol, Bridgewater Farm

06 Aug Oakhampton, Capella (Hope it is not named after the England Manager)

07 Aug Perranwell Stn, “The Outlaws” (wife will not let me stay at home” unsupported she says – and bloody means it too!!)

08 Aug Cross the finish line at Land’s End approx 14:00…………………….

Its so so hot and muggy, there's no breeze and my trousers are stuck to my legs - hate it.... Why cant the management change the rules and relax the dress code - not that I want to sit here in my lycra shorts....... Looking forward to getting out of here and going for a 30 mile training ride as yesterday was my rest day.

Lookout - Coming through............

I spoke with Julie earlier today and she tells me Joe completed a 42 mile ride with the One & All Cycle Club on Sunday. Well done Joe - keep up the hard training. I managed a 50 mile ride from Nordenham to Bremen. It was a good ride, mostly on cycle paths with small sections of road, though not busy almost completely devoid of cars. German cyclists are not very social creatures. In the UK I have noticed that road cyclists will acknowledge on another, but here in Germany I am normally greeted by a look of astonishment when nodding/saying Hiya to them. I got lost in Bremen, which was a pain as I needed to catch the train back to Nordenham to watch the footy at 4pm. I guess by getting lost added extra miles, which was mostly through open countryside along a river - it was awesome, very different than the cliff road between Portreath and Godrevy!! Got back just in time for the footy, drank far too much ale, and have been feeling like shit all day!! (Lesson learn't? Probably not!!!!)

England V Germany World Cup

Germany is gripped by footy - there are flags everywhere, cars have flags flying, they even have wing mirror covers in their national colours. I have planned a 60 mile ride this morning, departing Nordenham for Bremen, and catching the train back in time for the kick-off. I am not really a footy fan, but it will be interesting to be on the fringe in the bar with the locals!!!!

Empty Roads

Training ride yesterday was completed in 2h 15 mins, 28.5 miles, again no hills, flat as as a table. The attached photo is typical of the roads - straight and empty - why cant the roads in the UK be like this?

Yesterday can only be described as a beautiful summers day. I was stuck in the office (clock watching) ready to make my escape and leap on the bike as soon as the time was right. I left the office just after 5pm, went back to the hotel, changed into my bike clothes and went for it!! It was great cycling with a steady 10kt wind from the north. The route was a clockwise loop, 33.3 miles, 2hr 13 mins,max 23.9mph, average 14.9mph. Spoke to Joe yesterday - he was sent home from school as he felt sick, so unfortunately canceled his evening ride with his cycling mate Jake. Strange though, it did not stop him going fishing with his older brother on the boat ;).......

This evening after work I managed a 23 mile training ride, 1 hour 25 minutes, average speed 15mph. Cycling in Northern Germany is very different from Cornwall - there are no hills! It is very flat, the only incline is the fly-over over the main road! The roads are almost car-less, it is amazing to ride miles and see only a few cars. Drivers are very considerate to cyclists, and there is a very good network of cycle paths, well sign posted and the surface is smooth with very little in the way of poor surface conditions. Looking forward to the weekend and getting in some serious mileage. Photos of the local area will be posted soon.....

Equipment List

The equipment we take with us on the ride will need to be lightweight and compact as we will carry everything we need. All of life’s luxuries will be ignored for 12 days. I have said to Joe that if he over packs his panniers he will either take them on the whole ride or find a skip by the side of the road. I have read reports of fellow end-to-enders that have five bags strapped to their bikes and even take paper back books to read. No chance – not for us. Our kit will consist of the following per person:

Trek 2.3 Road bike
2 x Altura 46 litre side panniers + rack
Mud guards
2 water bottles
Front and rear LED lights


First aid/medical kit:
Paracetomol Capsules
Rennie Tablets
Deep Heat
Plasters of various shapes & sizes
Sterile Compress
Folded Space Blanket (You'd be amazed how small it folds to!)
Sterile Wound dressing with bandage
Elasticated Bandage
Triangular Bandage
Antiseptic Wipes
Safety Pins
Latex gloves
Lip sun block
Midge cream (to keep the northern mozzies away)

Clothes:
2 changes of cycling tops, shorts, and 2 pairs of socks
Waterproof Jacket
Cycling shoes
Helmet
Gloves
1 T shirts,
2 pair’s pants
1 x pair of light weight trousers
Flip-flops
Sunglasses
Hi-Viz tabard
Base layer
Long sleeved t-shirt
Shoe covers
Arm/leg warmers

Cycle spares.

Chain breaker
1 x Tyre
2 x Inner Tubes
Puncture repair kit
Tyre levers
Multi-tool
Tie- wraps
Duct tape
Penknife
Chain lube

Misc
Notebook and pen
Money
Credit card
Travel Towel
Wet wipes
Toothpaste
Half a toothbrush
Watch
Verification form (to be signed at JOG and LE, plus our overnight stopovers)
Energy drink, REGO
Bungee straps
Blackberry Mobile + charger
Maps (loose laminated pages from a 99 pence Morrison’s road atlas)
Sun screen
Wash kit + deodorant
Kernow Flag

Training Update

Training started in January this year, once Joe and I had committed to the ride. We joined our local cycle club "One and All" and it just got better from then. I have found it difficult to train on several occasions due to work commitments and being away from home. Joe has really put in a great effort and has cycled more miles that the total distance between John O Groats and Land's End, which is a huge achievement considering he was in a wheel chair, post-operation, to insert titanium pins in his hips to hold them together when he was 11 years old.