10 Hints and tips for LEJOG or JOGLE

Here are my hints and tips, bearing in mind that I am not a coach, and am commenting only from my experience and in the spirit of cycling comradeship. So what’s my experience? I have been riding my bike since 8, and when I was 13 it really developed into the way to get around. When I was 18 I did my first end to end, solo with tent, stove and all. The bike weighed 35Ilbs and the load was 40Ilbs. I didn’t walk a step! There was dip when I got my first car at 22, but it recovered in my late 20s, and I now have over 82,000 recorded miles since 1982.

I am told I am a good club cyclist, and you know from this blog I did the End to End the long way last year. I did it on my own with a support car. I did 1353 in 16 days being 13 full days and 3 half days. It rained on 13 days. I enjoyed it immensely, even when it hurt. I wasn’t ever tired as such, but deeply fatigued at the end which took about 3 weeks to recover from. Yes I would do it again. Why not?

Generally I do sportives, and shorter Audaxs. The longest I have done is 5 yrs ago and was 330m in three days (tour of Wessex), with the last day 130 mile with 8000ft of climbing. Took 8 hrs, the whole 330 was 20000ft climbing in 20hr45mins. Did it again the year after. I’ve done the Dartmoor Classic three times, and will do it again, best was 105m in 6h45m with 9000ft of climbing on Dartmoor. First finisher was 5h42, slowest was over 10 hrs. Oh and I am 45 and a half years old. The photo on Twitter is me at the top of the highest point of the 330, with 65m left to go, and with a tail wind :-)

1 Training:

I think it is common to think that ’you’ haven’t done enough training. That said I think the reason why so many people do the end to end is that it is attainable by ordinary people, its just a case of how long/easy. The more training you do the easier you will find the ride and the more you will enjoy it. If you are a regular cyclist then it really is a case of extending the rides, and backing them up. I build up in half hour steps. So maybe 2.30hr on sat, 2hr on Sun, and a couple of 1 to 1.5hr during the week, these can be faster rides. Then step up the weekend rides 30mins at a time until you can comfortably back up 4 and 4 sat to sun.

The general advice is don’t try to increase your mileage by more than 10% at a go, listen to your body. If it hurts it is trying to tell you something, stiff and sore muscles is different to painful knees and joints. If they continue to hurt then get someone who knows to check your position, cleats, saddle height etc.

2 Hills:

Learn to love hills, there will be a few on the way, so you may as well love them as otherwise your going to spend a lot of time being miserable. Use the gears on the bike to allow you to spin up the hills, then over time, try and ride one gear higher than is comfortable. This will help you build strength. Don’t choose a big gear and grind up the hill. You don’t go at a steep hill in 5^th gear in a car, it really labours, your body is the same.

3 Rest:

Is as important as training. Slowly increase the hours over 3 weeks then back off for a week, then pick up again, doing a bit more than the first week. Also take days off during the week. Exercise stresses the body, the recovery period allows it to grow. If you don’t rest, you will overtrain, go backwards and ultimately get ill. So give it a rest too.

4 Kit:

A bike that you are comfortable with is a necessity. Get someone to help you with your position. After that I would advise proper padded shorts, stiff soled cycling shoes which are either clipless, or use top straps. There is loads of choice, you don’t need to have racing shoes and walk like a duck. The recreational shoes set the cleat (the bit on the shoe) in a recess so you can walk normally.

I don’t generally use any sort of chamois cream in my shorts. Keep your contact points with the saddle clean, and clean shorts everyday. Use non bio washing powder least the bio part of the bio is not rinsed out fully and it starts to digest your cheeky bits. On the end to end after four days of rain I got a bit sore from being wet all the time so got some sudocream (look in the baby section, they use it for nappy rash) which I applied, and no more problems.

Otherwise dress to stay warm in the rain, but don’t overheat. A raincoat wide open as it is now not raining will simply slow you down and use energy. Take it off.

If you get cold then your body will use energy keeping warm, not moving forward. I’ve seen people abandon rides as they got cold and miserable. Stay warm, even if wet, and don’t ride with your clothing acting like a parachute slowing you down. Bus shelters are a great place to shelter in poor weather.

Take tyre levers and a couple of tubes with you daily and consider taking a spare tyre and oil to keep the bike moving after the wet.

5 Eating:

On the ride eat! Eat today, for today and for tomorrow. Eat within 30mins of stopping and make it carbs with some protein. 80/20% is good. Then eat again within 2 hrs. This is because your body is most ready to replenish itself immediately after stopping and will really put it away, after two hours this tails off. Eat whilst riding, and eat before you are hungry.

Your body carries enough glycogen for about 2hrs of exercise, less if it is intense. You can improve this by becoming fitter and hence more efficient, which means training your body to run more off it’s fat stores. But you also need to feed it during the ride to keep the glycogen in the muscles up. If you don’t feed it you will bonk (cycling term) or hit the wall, if you are a runner.

Food that I carry is Frusli bars (cheaper than the ‘special’ energy bars) and I use PSP to drink, but I use the unflavoured as it is cheaper and you can flavour it yourself with squash if you want. I keep a few power gels in case of need. I also ate quite a lot of cake on my end to end!

Also drink before you are thirsty. Get into the habit of drinking, and target maybe a bottle every two hours, more if it is hot. Giving yourself a target will make sure you drink it.

Continuing on the food theme. At some point you may feel awful, in a kind of general crapness. This is ok. DO NOT PANIC. Slow down and eat and drink. Your body will come back to you, but will need a little time, so treat it gentle and be nice to it.

6 Head:

Believe that you will do this ride and complete it. At the same time don’t think of it all at once in case of overwhelming yourself with the challenge. Break it down into blocks, days, villages, turnings, hours, summits, lamp posts if need be. Make them achievable, but always believe. It is not IF you do it, simply how long. Do not allow your head to give in. If there is a group of you, you can help each other, just be aware that you may need to. Be aware that as you all begin to tire, your moods may well become affected and you may say things that none of you might normally say or indeed mean. Cut each other some slack and look after each other, both on the road and emotionally. As I said it is achievable, but it is hard, and that is what makes it worth it. If it was easy, they’d all be doing it.

If there is a group of you, you can also help with taking turns riding into the wind. Give it 5 mins each and you only need to be there twice in an hour which is maybe 10 to 12 times a day. Easy huh?

7 Gearing:

My general advice would be to start on cog bigger than you would normally ride, let the legs spin a bit, rather than push on. As the days go on you will find you have much reduced power anyway, so you may have to drop the gears. I ride 53/39 on the front and 13/27 on the rear and I can get up most hills on that. If you are laden with kit you will need lower. Many people now ride with a compact chainset on the front which gives a much lower spread of gears. Just remember as the days go on you will lose power in your legs.

8 Route:

Routes are available from various sources including the CTC and

http://www.pewseys.co.uk/ . 

The GPX files for my All SEWN up #lejog is at: https://sites.google.com/site/gregcycle/gpx-files-for-the-all-sewn-up-tour

I would recommend that you stay off the main roads, especially if there is a group of you. I never fail to be amazed when I come across cyclists on dual carriageways and many A roads. On my lejog I picked direct minor roads, rarely anything bigger than a B road. Google Earth and its Street view are great for looking ahead at roads.

My main suggestion is that north of Inverness that you consider following the Sustrans route 1. It is pretty direct and on tracks beside the main road and then close to but off the A9. When driving back from JOG we saw cyclists on the A9 in amongst the cars, whereas there is no need.

9 The Start/Finish

I am convinced that the start/finish at John O’Groats is not the car park and sign post but is at the lighthouse at Duncansby head. If you don’t get there, the other pointy end, then I am not convinced you have done the full route.

10 Apps

I would recommend the free rainy days app, so you can at least see where the rain is and which way it is going. Google earth streetview is great for looking at roads in advance to see if they should be avoided.


Websites include http://www.raintoday.co.uk/ for where the rain is now and an indication of where it is going, and for wind see http://www.xcweather.co.uk/ 

Well I hope that has helped, I don’t know what your knowledge level or experience is, so sorry if you have found it patronising. I do believe you can do it if you want to. Do remember to enjoy it on the way, and anything hard or difficult is just part of the experience. My view was short of total mechanical failure of the bike or me I was going to get there.

Good luck, take care and stay alive, play nicely with the cars and most of all enjoy.

@Chalkface2009

Miles cycled this year: 3500.6 @ 2 August
In 210 Hours burning 124459 Kcal climbing 147480 ft
Most miles in a week (so far) : 187
Weight: Being supplemented by chocolate biscuits.

Sometime ago I aimlessly searched the LEJOG tweets on twitter, a part of the withdrawal effects after my ride. One caught my eye, @chalkface2009 said that something like he would be trying to ride LEJOG. I picked up on this, I replied: It was not try, it was will, Believe! Hence started an occasional exchange of encouragement and advice on his planned LEJOG which culminated in me leaving home at 7.50 on a Tuesday heading south west towards his overnight stop at Halse.

I arrived, much to my surprise, at the time I had said, just gone 9 in the pub car park. We said our hellos and I was introduced to the other four cyclists and the support. Now, I am not too good with names and the like. In a group I know I try to learn one name each time I meet with them, so eight people at a time is over load. So I apologise to Dave and Steve that I can’t remember the others names, but it was clear that somehow or other they were all related, in terms of fathers, sons, sisters, and wives or indeed a variation of these (or not as the case may be).

I was expecting a climb back over the Quantocks, but they had changed the plan. I really can’t say I would blame them, riding two days in Cornwall and Devon really is enough hills and half a day without hills if it can be avoided it is an inviting idea. So we set off into Taunton, with a plan to ride along the canal. This is quite heavy going in places, and the group agreed to let me reroute off the canal and onto side roads to Bridgwater.

We were then back on route and made progress across the Polden Ridge with me acting self appointed tour guide. On the right we have Glastonbury Tor, to the left is the Wells TV transmitter and further left the mighty big scar on the Mendips, no that is not the Gorge, but a quarry just to the north of the Gorge. The poor quality blue lias and the early 17^th Century tsunami were mentioned and we climbed up and over into Wedmore.

The support team, were waiting for us at Wedmore and we stopped and had a very well organised and plentiful pick nic in the field by the car park. A change of tyre was needed as one had perished and we were then back onto the road.

Cheddar Gorge was the next event, and I was asked when they would know when they meet the top. That is difficult as it really just becomes less and less steep, my top is where the road forks. As we left the tourist area the group broke up as we all chose our rhythm up the climb. There are harder climbs, but few as spectacular as you wind up through the cliffs that rise up from the road. Ultimately either the cars and/or the effort to climb the 17% sections distract from taking in the views. Oh, and the support group cheerily offering encouragement as they drove past us on the way up.

We arrived at the top in groups, one of the younger men (name? I know, I am sorry) sat on my wheel on the way up. No I wasn’t full on, but he had more miles in his legs, further to go, and his bike was getting on for twice the weight as mine. Part way up he exclaimed that he was really enjoying him self I think they words were “I could really get into this” Good. He had a few more days of it yet! I went back looking for Dave and my climbing companion went back for his dad. We regrouped and agreed it was a great climb. This was added to as the support came back down the right fork as they had gone the wrong way. Much congratulations on the climb and we then all carried on taking the left fork. I stayed with them until the north slope of the down hill, thanked them all for such a nice day, and then turned to meet my wife from work. I must admit I was just a tiny bit envious of what they had done and what was to come. I believed they would make it all the way.

They welcomed me, a man they had never even spoken to before, and we had shared the cycling camaraderie which I have become so used to, and must be passed on. They trusted me to alter their route and feed me into the bargain. Thank you all.

As I write this they will now be home having finished their trip on Sunday. Reading the blog

http://chalkface39.blogspot.com/ it appears that they enjoyed their trip.

Well done you, well done you all, including the support who had to drive, navigate, support and no doubt encourage the five men.

Well done. The bee is proud.

Stourhead

Miles cycled this year: 3332.2 @ 24 July
In 210 Hours burning 118614 Kcal climbing 140780 ft
Most miles in a week (so far) : 187
Weight: becoming a state secret#

I lead the local cycle club ride out to Stourhead in Wiltshire. I rode to the start, the onto Langport and then back home from Somerton totaling 93 miles for the day.

Unsure as I am of the normal format of these write ups, being your newest, but probably not shiniest member, I offer this as my write up of the Club ride to Stourhead.

This ride has been planned in my head for over a year now, but each time I looked at it I came up with a different route out and back. It was no surprise that I was still fiddling about with the options for the return journey on Saturday evening. North or South of the A303 was the options, and keeping it down to a bit over 30 miles, being the main constraint. I also wanted quiet roads, where we wouldn’t be toubled by cars and a constant need to single out.

The result was a route where I suspect everyone, including me, rode on new roads (I have driven them all sometime before) and most of us had no idea where we were most of the time. This meant that when we came to the junction with a main road, there would be the odd knowing murmur of recognition of where we were, at least in relation to some town or other.

So where did we go? Well we gathered in the main car park in Langport, and headed east, and into the up the aptly named ‘The Hill’ to the Hanging Chapel. Sarah was proving to be on form at this point as she accelerated away to the first king of the mountains prize. After that is was the A road to Podimore roundabout and onto the village of Podimore. We then stayed on the side roads to Bridgehampton, and Queen Camel. Straight on to the south of Sutton Montis, well in truth we went into Sutton Montis until I realised we were off course, where we U turned. This seemed to start the trouble, the first of the three that it comes in.

As we approached Girt and the turn for The Beacon, Ian slipped his chain. We turned up the short sharp climb up to The Beacon, but Ian did not appear. Nigel and I went back (downhill) and found Ian hidden in a gateway bike upside down. A plate on one link of his chain had sprung open. Nigel broke out the chain tool and I rode back to report to the group at the top of the hill. 15 mins later first Nigel then Ian appeared. All back together we moved off only to stop in 20 yards as a U turn in a narrow lane caused another of our number to fall gently sideways. Much leg pulling, and congratualtions and we were off on a long gradual downhill to Charlton Horethorne past Sigwells.

Sigwells is an odd place, a site of a former WWII airfield but also much archaeology.

Continuing out of Charlton Horethorne up the 20% Windmill hill and down to South Cheriton and its toll house with table of charges from 1824. We couldn’t see a charge for bikes, but moved off quickly just in case, and continued east through the lanes to Cucklington which is at the top of yet another short sharp climb. Seats were available just in case, or just to enjoy the view back to the west over the Blackmoor Vale.

Closer to coffee, and into Dorest through West Bourton and Bourton where we joined the old line of the A303 and quickly into Wiltshire and Zeals. Turning north now we close quickly onto the National Trust visitor centre at Stourhead and its café. We seemed to cause something of a localised stir here, it was quite funny stood back and watching the public just standing and staring at us. We must remember to pass the hat round next time!

Suitably refreshed we headed back west through Gasper and through the woods to Pen Selwood. West onto the old A303 and into Wincanton. A 50 yard walk against the traffic in a one way section avoided a mile circuit of Wincantons one way system, and we were heading north west to turn left into Verrington Lane and off towards Shepton Montague, Yarlington, a little wiggle through Galhampton, and towards North Barrow.

It was at this point we picked up the strengthening headwind and Alan started to suffer with the pace set into the wind. There was regular slowing of pace and we were able to stay together through Charlton Mackrell where we picked up on the Three Towers Audax route and rode that backwards towards Somerton. It was notable that we were not passed by a car from behind from Wincanton to the A37 near Charlton.

In Somerton the group opted for the main road back and a ride distance of around 63 miles in total.

I understand there is a café at a garden centre just north of wincanton, maybe next year?

Dartmoor Classic 2011

Miles cycled this year: 2907.5
In 183 Hours burning 103882 Kcal climbing 123840 ft
Most miles in a week (so far) : 187
Weight: about the same

Five o’clock in the morning is early and is far too early to be getting up and going somewhere. However, the alarm tripped off and I was up, breakfasted and changed into my cycling kit. The bike was already in the car, and the bag packed, all I had to do was move the large number of various sizes and shapes of bottles with water and energy drink, two of which were to come on the bike.

I left the village and saw a tour bus full of some band from Glastonbury, (pronounced brie, not berry) and I joined the motorway and trundled down to Devon.

A very efficient check in and then to start in line for the 7 o’clock start. We moved into the starting pens where 100 riders were allowed to start at 5min intervals. I left in the second group. The start is quite fast, but many riders concerned at the distance and climbing hold back. I don’t, I ride within myself, but quickly move up between the groups the 100 riders I am with have fragmented into in the first few miles. I get in with a group that feels right for speed and stay there.

It is warm but misty. I am using my gloves to clear the lenses of my glasses. It is quite dark, ah no, I have fitted dark lenses. We start climbing and the group fragments. A few climb away, but mostly I leave them, nobody passes me. I climb into more mist and then brake out into sun.

The route continues up and, mostly up it seems. I become aware of a pain over my heart. This is a little worrying. I watch my heart rate and it stays where it belongs, I feel normal. I think I can recall a pain like this in the past, it came and went. I ease back and consider that what is most likely is muscular, the little intercostal muscles between my ribs are complaining about the deep breathing and pulling.

There is a different route into the first feed station at Princetown. We come in from the north which feels hillier. When I pull into the feed, others are coming in on the old route from the south, people I passed sometime ago have caught me by going off course. This is disappointing, but not within my control. I have a chocolate cake, a gel, fill my water bottles, have a pee and its off to Tavistock.

The start of the 40 mile loop uphill, but soon changes to one long descent, great fun, but alarming as whatever we go down now, we will have to reclimb to get back to Princetown. I note the chest pain has gone.

The climb back to Princetown is a killer. By now it is 30 degrees, and the climb just goes on and on. The road stretches on ahead with people on bikes punctuating the shiney ribbon of tarmac. Here and there, groups of cars gather behind cyclists waiting to pass. All there is to do is sit there and grind on. I pass people from time to time and put in a cheery hello or some other form of encouragement. Ok, so I am playing games with them. This isn’t hurting me, is it hurting you, is the subtext. I am passed by 3 or 4 riders, 1 riding a fixed. He has only one gear, he is both mad and talented. I conclude he is only passing me as he can’t go any slower. Slowly the TV mast above Princetown and the feed comes towards me, a short descent and I’m there.

This time it would appear to be a cherry flapjack with yogurt stuff on top. More water, and another pee. Good I must be drinking enough. I am making myself drink at least a litre between every stop, having dehydrated myself on this ride two years ago and upsetting my liver function for the next 6 weeks.

The feed is very busy as the 65 milers are now here. For some this is there first sportive, to do this 65 miles is an achievement. It is a hard and intensive course which requires fitness and determination to finish. Two people drop out from the 65 miles, a couple in matching pink Flo tops, I think they expected a gentle ride, not this workout. Still there are plenty of others sitting round on the grass drinking, eating and chatting to their families who have come to meet them. I am off the clock is still running.

The way back is over the top to the north east. It is flat … ish. It is largely flat with the occasional big drop and rise again. On the first of these descents I touch 48mph before riding hard out of the bottom and getting halfway to the top before, changing into bottom gear and twiddling back up, due to the lack of power in my now drained muscles.

This was always going to be the problem. I haven’t trained for this distance. It was ride for 4hrs then hang on and see how it goes. I knew I could do the distance it was just in what time. Denise reminded me later that I was in two minds as to whether to bother three weeks before.

Another dip coming. Past by a car, van, motorbike and car and were off, accelerating down the hill. I am pacing the cars down, they slow for the bend at the bottom, but that fine. The van is not picking up. Okok with it.

The next descent is odd. On the climb up there is nothing, except for a family sat on a grassy verge eating sandwiches. I push on down the descent passing the 65 milers, then there are cars, moving slowly. Looking ahead it is a group of maybe 5 of the 65 milers, single file, but going slow. Clear section and I am off again passing cars then the bikes. This is a great descent winding through trees, and having put the effort in to get up, braking seems just plain wrong. More cars, this time stopped. There is a bus ahead, right hand side and overtaking, the cars are off and I slot in. We continue to descend on the brakes. How frustrating, but whilst I am happy to descend at speed, I like to see where I am going and don’t like to take (too many) risks, especially with oncoming cars.

Onto the relative flat of the last valley, the bus is off and passes more cyclists, I try to close the gap but can’t and watch them ride away slowly. I ride on trying to keep a high pace, but every rise takes more out of me. A group come up and I get on, one more hard hill, and the group fractures, I am in the middle of them as we crest the hill, and I now commit all that I have left to get back.

I ride back over the finish line on my own, but applauded by people I don’t know. I thank them. Bike in the racks and I look at the queue to get my time and ‘free’ gifts. I go off in search of a bacon butty. I had encouraged a rider 20 miles back with the thought of a bacon butty. This is a much shorter queue and I return unabashed to the time queue, waiting in line is so much easier when there is something to munch.

Finish 210 out of 1120 who completed the 104m ride.

The Levels, Islands and Moors

Miles cycled this year: 2780.3
In 175 Hours burning 99500 Kcal climbing 120140 ft
Most miles in a week (so far) : 187
Weight: about the same

Pedal the Levels:

It’s been a while since I’ve been forced off the bike for so long. What is galling is that I was well enough to work, and felt well in myself, but trial bike rides showed my body had not recovered from the illness. It sounds traumatic and it wasn’t. I was not well, but it took a while for my body to come back to me.

Still, I hadn’t ridden any sort of distance for so long, I’d had a 40mile the ride the week before, but the 50 mile British Heart Foundation ride was to be a bit of a test to see how my body would respond.

I decided that I wasn’t up to riding out, round and back as I did last year, as that was 85m, and I wasn’t sure how it would go, I rode from home to the start in Glastonbury (pronounced Glass ton BRIE, not ‘king BERRY). It was a dry ride out. I left a donation and went back out into rain, the sort of big drop, but not many of them rain. Some riders were hiding under cover, I grinned at them manically and set of in pursuit of those who had just started.

This lasted all of 40 yards. The route turns into a narrow track with appalling surface. I negotiated, by asking nicely, pass loads of people riding very errrr, steady. Then we meet a car coming, or trying to come, in the opposite direction. We edged past and rode on. The rain became heavier, glasses off early.

Finally we were onto the wider better surfaced minor roads that criss-cross the Levels. I pushed on, passing rider after rider. I was much amused to surprise some as I rode pass on a slight incline, sorting out the zips on my jackets, both hands off the bars.

Coming into Polsham I warned a rider in front of the sharp left and gravel, and pushed on, I was aware he was there maybe 20ft behind. I pushed on, lets see. Another 5 miles and he was still there. OK, so lets work together. I sat up, he came up beside and we chatted. He was far more used to riding in London, so was enjoying this, and he had been swimming in the sea of the Isle of Mull the afternoon before. He seemed fine on it. Riders in front dropped on, the rain came and went in short showers. Around Mark a group of four formed but it was me and the first guy who made the pace.

Gravel is always a problem cycling, and wet gravel is worse. I came into a corner with a little more speed than necessary, can’t break too hard or will fall on the gravel, but too much speed ran me wide into the gravel in the verge, the front tyre slid then bit. I hauled the bars and put the wheel back under me. Those hours of riding my bike as a child racing my neighbour in the car park at our house in Wantage have taught me to react without thinking. Doesn’t always work though!

Coming into to Cossington I noted a man walking with rucksack towards us. I had met other walkers here before on one the End to End walking routes. I shouted “Are you end to ending?” “Yes” he said in some North American Accent “Good luck” I replied, his shout of thanks lost on the wind as we were now past.

Onto the first hill of any note up to Cossington and I drove on, pushing hard to see how I was and test the others. I crested the hill comfortably on my own. In fairness a hill after 30 miles of flat can upset the legs, so maybe that was it.

It was nearly time to turn home and I rode onto Chilton Polden and turned for home. Shortly I came across a damp swearing lump of lycra which was indeed two cyclists with a double puncture. They had used their spare tube and were trying to mend the other with a puncture repair kit. I gave them one of my tubes. They said they had no money, but had a chocolate bar. They looked like they would need the chocolate themselves, so I told them that they knew what to do and pass the favour on when they saw another cyclist in trouble.

Back home against the flow and another pair with a puncture. They had a spare tube but couldn’t get the tyre back on. I took it off them and wondering what people do with their childhood nowadays put it back on for them. It was a tight tyre and it was a new bike, which was now rather dirty, but I have had worse. We used my long pump to get plenty of air into it and they and I were off in different directions.

As I came up to the junction in Woolavington I watched a tandem pull slowly up the hill. I caught them and said they were nearly at the top and were they going anywhere nice. The lady stoker said John O’Groats. They enquired how far I had ridden, “63miles so far” They were impressed as they were doing a total of 40 that day. I can only assume they have plenty of time to complete the ride.

Home and I felt fine, but still an excuse to lie in front of the TV in a vain attempt to catch up on the cycling on the TV.

A discussion with Denise. Would I be strong enough for the Dartmoor Classic. Well I would go and ride the 65, as opposed to the 104 entered, and take my time over it.

The Isle of Anglesey:

Off our now nearly annual trip to take the Mother-in-law to Anglesey. Well I say Anglesey, but she likes Moelfre, or more precisely Ligwy beach. We stay in a house with a great view and a short walk to the beach and providing the weather is nice, and often when it is not, she desires to stay there and on the beach with the dogs. I find this rather claustrophobic, but normally get by with a bike and cycling which I copied onto DVD.

The DVD bit only half worked and only about half of the stages of the Tour of Italy played. Still better than nothing.

Cycling wise I have only ever stayed on the A roads, they aren’t busy but some of the driving is a bit lazy and close. So walking sat nav programmed with routes I planned to ride off into lanes of the interior and coast.

Sunday it rained, but really rained, like standing in the shower, but cold and coming from the side. Not riding in this. Two walks on the beach, the last of which I extended walking along the coast into the village and back along the road.

Monday I was off by 10 in the morning. A 50 mile circular route plotted to the north of the island, continuing counter clockwise to overlook Holy Island and back. It was lovely, tiny roads, masses of short sharp climbs and longer low grades. I got lost in Valley, looking for a Sustrans route that seemed not to exist. Well I wasn’t lost I did know where I was, but couldn’t find where I wanted to be going. Anyway back on track, no royalty to wave at so on my way back. Arrived 40 mins late, but hay ho.

54.8m 3h40m 3500ft climbing

 

Wednesday I was off out again, having slipped the lease. This time it was a zig zag and a zig back and forth across the island heading towards Plas Nwydd, a national trust property on the south of the island, more narrow roads, and remarkably courteous drivers. Had a bit of fun when I turned into one road and after maybe 100m met an artic coming the other way. He filled the road, touching the grass verge on both sides. We both stopped and assessing the situation I waved at him to keep coming, picked the bike up and turned round back to the junction. His beep to thank me was so loud I jumped, but it was accompanied with a friendly wave. Plas Nwydd was arrived at 20mins late, an improvement!

54.1 3h35m 3200ft climbing

Friday it rained hard and heavy. I stayed in bed.

The Moors


Triscombe Stone

The Sunday we got home I was off out again. No friends to play with, so I decided that it was hills that I needed. I rode out and onto the Quantocks. Firstly up through Enmore, where I caught a guy riding from Bristol to Lynton he went onto Exmoor and our routes would cross again later, but he would have been through about an hour or two before, back down on the east side of the hills and climbed up the dead-end of Triscombe Hill, down again and back up over to Crowcombe gate and down the 1:5 on the west side, cutting through to Stogumber, back up to Monksilver and down to Woodford. A left in Woodford and up onto Exmoor. By now my legs were tiring, but I knew that next Sunday it was the Dartmoor Classic, I couldn’t get the time, but I had to test myself in the hills.

This hill was very testing. It climbed up without fear or favour, I pushed on it turned a corner and held 15 to 20%. I could seeing it stretching ahead and steepened as it climbed the corner in the distance. I clung on, standing for 10 pedal turns and sitting for 10. Two reasons for this, to change the muscle groups as they tire, but also to give me something to distract myself, counting to ten over and over. Much shorter than it felt I crested the hill, without stopping and it was out onto the B road near Raleigh’s Cross. I checked the mileage, 32 miles and 4100ft of climbing at 12.8mph. That is quite a lot of climbing in that distance!

Turning left there is one almighty descent off Exmoor and one more climb over the Quantocks. Down the 1:10 it steepens to 1:6. The car behind gets the idea that he is not going to pass and we quickly pass 30, then 40 and touch 50mph. It’s straight and dry, there is no fear. Sitting back hard onto the saddle and breaking for the stop line at the bottom of the steep section and were off again, steady downhill, tailwind and an energy gel.

Cothelstone is a hard hill, but I climb it better than earlier in the year at the end of Dunkery Dash. Still I am pleased to reach the top, the next time I go that way may well to be to meet @chalkface2009 as he rides End to End in August.

57.8m 4hrs20m 5500ft of climbing

I was tired but happy, my back had started to tense up on the last climb which was uncomfortable, but I had a week to recover and for my muscles to figure out what had happened and to get ready if it were to happen again. Perhaps they knew?

I'm ill you know, did I tell you? (It's only a cold really)

Miles cycled this year: 2207
In 104 Hours burning 77356 Kcal climbing 92130 ft
Most miles in a week (so far) : 187
Weight: Going up

Ok, so I've actually got a cold, but it's been hanging around for ages. Man flu I hear you say, and indeed has been said by others, to which I say, give us a kiss. No? So you don't want my cold then? Can't be that benign then, can it?

It consists of an even lower voice than normal, a runnyish nose, a cracking cough fueled by stuff running down the back of my throat (Do you still fancy me?), and a background of tired.

Anyway I've been a good boy and off my bike. I did do a little try out of 15m on Saturday. Up to the cafe on my own, then a short way into the way back I pulled off and rode back on my own, I know too well that I may well not let the group go when I should do. Heart rates were normal, but I did feel a bit empty, so make it short and see how it goes. It goed by me having a sleep Saturday afternoon, and not riding Sunday.

My, Sundays are long! I'd forgotten how long a Sunday morning really is. I did this and that in the garden and it was only 10.30! I watched the cycling on the TV in the afternoon, well most of it, I did nod off every now and then.

I am also putting some weight on. Problem is that I don't think I am eating any more than normal, just using less energy. Seems I am taking this "Feed a cold, and starve a fever" too literally. Maybe that it what is helping it hang on, should I attempt to starve it out?

I have also managed to give it to Denise, so we now cough in surround sound. The dog is not impressed, there are these tremendous looks of disdain when a good sneeze, and or cough wakes her. I would also say at this point to hiccup and cough at the same time is a truly amazing noise.

Tomorrow I will have another ride to the cafe. I sense my body is beginning to come back to me, but however it goes, I will ride short and easy, and see how it responds in the afternoon. I must have patience, he types, coughing and yawning, bit tired after work.

This is not ideal preparation for the next couple of programme rides which are the British Heart Foundation 50 at the beginning of June and the Dartmoor Classic -106 - at the end of June. Still, going mad now will only prolong it, so I must be a good boy, I must be a good boy, I must be a good boy, I must be ..... a ............good ..............boy, ............I ................. must .................snooze........

ACHOO!!!!

Bugger.

Nurse!

Giro tragedy puts everything in context

Below is a blog written by Tom Southam, a British Professional Cyclist with regard to the tragic death of Wouter Waylandt in the Giro D'Italia. It is so good I reproduce here in full.

Greg

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Thu May 12 11:55AM

It is hard to find a way to write a blog about cycling at the moment. It would seem that the sport has been in the news for the most tragic of reasons this week with the sad passing of the Belgian professional Wouter Weylandt at the Giro d'Italia.

I really didn’t want to open up a blog with such a morbid tone, but I suppose the idea is to write about what is on my mind and at present, the risks we (bike riders) take, knowingly or otherwise, is something that is suddenly on the minds of bike riders and their families the world over.

It is always hard to be brought so harshly into reality by a shocking image or the horrific news that something so tragic has happen to someone doing something that we don’t ever consider to have such grave consequences.

I was watching the Eurosport coverage live on Monday when the tragic events unfolded. I instantly recalled the memory of the day I skipped a day of school with my Dad to watch the queen stage of the 1995 Tour de France.

The events of that day are also burned deeply into my conscious; I was 15 and clearly remember the awful silence that preceded David Duffield’s announcement, some hours after the crash, that Fabio Casartelli had been pronounced dead.

That sudden silence on the TV, probably while the distressed commentator has to try to work out just what he is hearing down his headphones, has a sound like the moment that fire starts to steal oxygen, a split second of nothing - before the roar of flames.

As a kid, I had no experience of what was going on. There was a total detachment from what was happening. These were grown men, from lands overseas, doing something that was so far removed from anything in my young life. I understood it was an awful day, but that was all.

On Monday - sat on my couch as a 29-year-old man - I was chilled to hear that same silence. These days there exists no longer the barriers of age, distance and impossibility to keep me from feeling the impact of what was unfolding on the television.

Racing, although at a much lower level, is exactly how I make my living, my friends and acquaintances are now in the very race I was tuned to, and what’s more most of these guys are even younger than me.

It puts it all into context and it becomes an overpowering thought. One can only imagine the thoughts running through the riders still in the race, riding the same roads with the same risks. These are the days when you think of every single near miss; every time you walked away thinking things could have been so much worse.

Sadly things don’t get much worse than this, these incidents that punctuate the sport ever so occasionally are a shocking reminder of the risks taken by professional bike riders.

The continuation of the Giro is oddly the only redemptive outcome here. A metaphor if one was needed for the realisation that life might be no way to treat an animal on occasion, but the only way to deal with it is continuing onwards as best you can.

April (No) Showers

Miles cycled this year: 2191
In 104 Hours burning 76827 Kcal climbing 91930 ft
Most miles in a week (so far) : 187
Weight: Seems about the same 67.7, no movement.

Fuel prices continuing to rise along with dry weather and extending days have encouraged me to do more cycling that is work related. This is both to and from work, and at work.

Well, I haven’t yet got to riding the whole way into work. It’s 26 miles one way, and parts of the journey are on busy A roads. So I continue a few days a week with driving part way and riding the final 11.5 which is far enough to make a difference and not too much extra time. Other days of the week I look to car share, or I have to take the car as I go out of the office to as part of my work. We can though ride our bikes as part of this up to 5 miles, so the days I ride in I see if I can arrange visits to meet people or see things by bike. I do tell them I will be cycling, which is well received, then I say it is the full lycra, which has not yet phased anyone. I have also refined the contents of my tiny 10L rucsac to fit in a pair of shoes, tracksuit bottoms and a top, so that I look less hard core lycra.

Dispite how I felt on the White Horse Challenge, I didn’t stop riding after. I didn’t feel that bad, but I did back off on intensity for the rest of the week. On the Saturday ride I felt fine and managed to stay with the front group a until the very last ‘hill’, or more properly rise in the road. It isn’t a speed pump, it does get you attention, but is really only 250yds long, and I just can’t quite manage to hold on.

There seems to be discussion on the nature, speed and disapline of the Saturday ride, and there is something in this. I feel that I may unilaterally opt to do something different, making my own way to the café, coming back a different, parallel way, and then riding over the hills towards Taunton, then looping back over home. The first part is flat so I plan to ride a brisk pace, and then easy through town, and then all out in the hills. Sunday can then be a recovery ride.

Maybe, if we ever have an AGM, the Saturday ride can be something discussed then.

Saturday the 23^rd I also made an attempt to meet up with a group of End to Enders on there way through. If you want to see who is doing the ride put in ~#lejog on twitter and see what you get. Anyway the best laid plans…. The group, including Garath Roulston, (http://journal.garethroulston.co.uk/) had a problem with their van which locked them out, which put them late on the road. I got a text to let me know they were in Taunton, and I headed out to meet them. The problem was they were now on a new route and I was heading out to the old. As a result we missed each other. It was a nice second ride out on the day! I meet with them the next morning and said hello before an easy ride with the locals.

The day of the Royal Wedding dawned and dispite trying, I could find nobody that wanted to ride out. This was disappointing, as I planned to have 9 days of riding 3hours or more every day. I rode out to Glastonbury and turned north. I felt a bit tired, but not too bad. Then the switch in my body said no. It is not a food or motivation thing. It is a subconscious message where by body goes really not keen on this right now. It is a rare event, but I recognise it. I have found that I can carry on, but if I do listen I will pay for it later. I broke the tempo and pottered towards home. As chance would have it I meet a chap on a bike at a junction. He has just looked at his map and was moving off. I started chatting to him. He was 80, and was riding from Cheddar to Weston Zoyland to the battle field there. His wife was watching the wedding so he was out for the day. He had broke his Achilles tendon and could no longer walk distance so had started cycling a year ago. We rode along and chatted, then he realised he was off his route and lost. I took him another way back onto his route, and turned and left him and Chilton Polden. He was riding further in a day then most men half his age would even contemplate. He clearly was nice man. Chapeau.

I decided to rest on Saturday and Sunday.

Monday 2^nd May: 51.7miles in 3h15m burning 1930 Kcal climbing 1700 ft

Somerset Levels

Monday my wife went to her Mum’s for the morning, so delaying a start to get some warmth outside I headed north over the levels to the Mendips. I was on my own as if I didn’t fee right I would turn for home. I seemed to be ok, easily climbing, heart rates normal and happy. I headed over to Cheddar and took the road for Shipham. This is a nice steady 10% or so for about a mile, I kept within myself, no pressure, there is the rest of the week to ride for. This is a nice hill to ride, but a bit busy with traffic, and one to avoid when the quarry at the top is open, unless you like meeting lorries both up and down on your hills. I meet maybe 8 cyclists going down, shouting hello at me. I waved and smiled in a ‘this is really easy, you should try it’ way. It is a great descent, being fairly straight and wide, and the surface is not bad. That is provided you don’t come up behind a car, they really can’t go as fast as I can down there.

After Peat Extraction before restoration

At the top of this section it was right and onto Charter House. The climb continues, more shallow, but there. It was a little busier than I expected, but it would appear the banger racing was on a the circuit at the top. The drivers were considerate, including those with the bangers and I waved them past where I could.

If this road were to be blocked it would be 4m cul-de-sac. After 3.5m there was a tree across the road, courtesy of the fresh easterly wind. No one else was around. It looked very recent. There was wire in the road taken down by the tree. OK. Avoid the wire. There was a wood to the right, where the tree had fell from, but no fence. I am not going back. Carrying the bike I pushed through the lower branches and through the edge of the wood and past the tree. I emerged pushing through the branches, much to the surprise of the cars stopped looking at the tree and the wire in the road. The wire appeared to be for telephones, but I decide to tip toe past it. Were off again, cars passing me, we are all waving at the oncoming traffic, which largely ignors us. Hay ho. At the junction I am now the involuntary fount of knowledge on alternative ways to the banger racing which is clearly via Cheddar or Burrington. It is NOT my fault, OK? I make a brake for it head for Priddy, and down Ebbor. It is a cross head wind on the way across the Mendip plain, you can hide behind hedges, but the gaps for the gates will take your front wheel and put it in the opposite ditch if you let it. 

Ebbor, or the hill up from Wooky Hole, is a trial of a climb, it starts hard, stays there and gets harder. Not generally helped by the fact that it is narrow and cars going both way aren’t keen to wait for you on a bike, and then you have to stop whilst they pass each other. It is on the sustrans route. The view from the top is fantastic.

The ride back across the levels is great, tailwind giving me 20mph+ and slowly increasing my appauling average.

Tuesday 3rd May: 60.4miles in 4h20m burning 2199 Kcal climbing 4460 ft

Tuesday was car MOT day, so I put the bike in the car and headed off to my friends garage. I was on the road by 8.45 and had a four hour ride whilst they did an MOT and did some suspension bushes. You may know that I like a target, a place to go to, I am not keen on just riding about. The night before I had spread the map out and got the National Trust and Englsih Heritage books out. It was to be a castle ride. The GPS was broken out and programmed for the bike, the first time since John O’Groats.

Nunney Castle

The day started, sunny, but cool and with a fresh easterly. I started in Wrington and made my way over the A38 heading south east through Blagdon and up onto the Mendip plateau. The average speed is very low, but a quick consultation shows that I have climbed a 1000ft in 30mins, so that’ll be it then. Now it is gentle rolling with a cross head wind as I head south east for Nunney. The castle here is free entry and is a classic square building inside a moat. Very French.

Farleigh Hungerford

North toward Farleigh Hungerford keeping to side roads. This one you drive into and park inside the walls. I ride into the car park which is empty. Both these sites will be worth a visit. It may well be where I ride out and meet Denise and we have a picnic and a wander around.

Onto the main road and onto a side road which says it is a dead end, but my map disagrees and there is plenty of oncoming traffic. All becomes clear when the road goes one way and it is not my way. Bugger. OK, so I trundle half on, half off the bike, ready to walk for the 200yds or so back to normal.

Coming into Hinton Charterhouse there is a PCSO in a police fiesta with a road closed sign. So how closed in the road? There is a car on it’s roof being recovered. I tell her, truthfully I have no idea where I am, and she says if I am sensible I should be able to get by on the pavement. When I get there the car is on it’s roof next to a high wall, with a car beside it. It is not entietly clear how he managed to get it in there upside down, other than a good slide up the road on the roof. There are discussing how to get it out and ignor me as I walk by on the pavement.

Wellow

Onto Wellow and Peasedown St John, where 30yds on a pavement sees me off the bypass and onto the bypassed road and empty road. On through a network of lanes crossing and avoiding the main roads until the descent to Chew Valley Lake, which looks fuller than the stated 75% full. A climb back up, passing a fellow cyclist and a great descent to the car.

I feel fine, riding to get round, but I am hungry.

Wednesday 4^th May

53.7miles in 3h25m burning 1729 Kcal climbing 2200 ft

There is usually a Wednesday ride, and it would appear there are now two. I rode out and meet the group who go to Langport. We took to the lanes back to Taunton, and I came back over the Quantocks back home.

In the evening my voice deepened, and was either late onset of puberty, or something not quite right. I felt fine.

Thursday was election day, so I was up at 5.30am and in my polling station by 6.30. We were there all day and closed the doors at 10pm and home by 11pm. I didn’t feel too bright in the morning, but it was early!

Friday I woke with a sore throat, and stayed in, the cough, head cold and general ill feeling closing in over the day. So it was another weekend off the bike, lying low.

Best action is to rest and use the energy normally used on the bike to speed getting better. Hay ho.

　

White Horse Challenge

Miles cycled this year: 1737
In 104 Hours burning 63183 Kcal climbing 72130 ft
Most miles in a week (so far) : 176
Weight Not Known!

I like the White Horse Challenge. It’s friendly, small, great route and got a good mix of serious riders and less so.

The day started shockingly early. I forget when booking how early I am going to have to get up. I got up at 5.45, still it was light, but foggy and 6C. The forecast was for warm and sunny. Drink and a small breakfast and I am off on the road, eating on the way. I got there early!

Before long we were off. I was about 6^th to start. It was a slow start, and we were quickly passed by others, and I jumped on. This was not the best idea and after 5 miles or so, I let go again, and rode on steadily. Another bigger group passed and its back on. This was better. I shared work at the front for a bit and dropped to the back of the group, which was quite big, to take it easy. The problem was there was a number of riders struggling at the back and gaps would form, and I would have to close the gap again.

The first big hill and the group spread out, reforming as two groups and a load of straggles. I was in the second group. It was shortly after I got some stomach cramps, nothing to stop me, just inconvenient. I was drinking and eating a bit, and was slowly taking clothes off as it warmed up.

It did occur to me that I had started a bit quick, also that I hadn’t ridden a bike for 8 days, but I was after my time of 4h50m two years ago. 1h30m left to go and 24 miles which I worked out to be an average of 18mph left. Not really certain that was going to happen, I was tiring already. I had let the group go about 50m in, and had rode on with one other chap, I was ok on the flat, but the hills weren’t as normal.

Into the last part, and I was seeing groups go past every now and then, faster than me and I knew there was no point of trying to get on, as I would quicker be left. I out climbed my riding partner up the last hill, and he returned the favour on the run in by putting his head down and riding me off his wheel.

Finish and a ham roll and a Danish whirl, washed down with water sat on a wall outside the hall. Sat in silence with others also eating.

The time was 5h3m, so I lost 13mins which is ok. I got home ate some more and watched the end of the cycling then the grand prix whilst laying on the floor. Later the cramps returned big time and my body emptied itself. I felt much better. Seems my poor performance could be partly down to something else. Still I was ultimately 97th of 411 finishers, so made top 25% which is my target.

Still there is always next year.

The Year So Far (Inc Merry Monk Audax)

Miles cycled this year: 1646In 104 Hours burning 59908 Kcal climbing 67930 ft
Most miles in a week (so far) : 176
Weight 67.7Kg 19.0% fat

This year has been a little odd after last year. Last year I had a big target, a big plan and a long time to get ready for it. This year I feel a little lost as normality resumes. There is a plan for next year, not as big as the End to End/Cardinal trip, but could be great and/or very wet. I do also have a week free for the first week in May when I intend to ride 5 hrs most days.

None the less I am currently ahead of last year in terms of miles ridden by this date. I have taken to riding part way to work, and I am trying to do it twice a week, work pattern and weather permitting. I can't get yet get myself into getting wet on the way in, still if fuel prices continue to rise......

Currently I am having a week easy walking, and the White Horse Challenge is Sunday. I do generally enjoy that ride, it just every year the shock of getting up for it kicks in.

So what have I been up to other than the normal Saturday and Sunday stuff? Well I rode the Dunkery Dash audax (for more on Audax go to http://www.aukweb.net/ You don't need to be a member to ride the sort of events I do). It is a hard climb with over 5,500ft of climbing, most of which comes in four helpings. I was three minutes slower this year. At least it is consistent :-) I couldn't hold the group I was in half way back, and got dropped. I caught and passed two of them on the last climb, so there is some satisfaction. Finish in the top 20 of 120 or so, so content with that.

Then there was the Merry Monk Audax. It starts in High Ham and goes south to Forde Abbey, via Muchelney, East to Sherborne, then back to High Ham. Hence the monk monica. I rode there and back as well making 90miles on the day. The last 10 miles back to High Ham was wet on the road, it had clearly chucked it down just before we got there as water was across the road in place.  The ride was notable for the fantastic array of food when we got back. I had apple pie and custard, whilst watching the rain and then rode home. I picked up a puncture on the way, which I only found when I went to get my bike next time. I may well have to change the tyres (the same ones I rode end to end on) as they are now picking up punctures too often after being brilliant.

When I got home about 4 I had my lunch. We then took one of our cars to a friends to service and had rhubarb crumble and custard, then home to a light tea.

The plan for the next quarter is to finish the White Horse Challenge and the Dartmoor Classic quicker than last time, lose some weight and knock some time off my best times for local climbs.

I also plan to do a 10 tips for the End to End, what I would do, not do again. This is to follow shortly and will be referred to on the LEJOG index page. I also need to get the maps of the route finished, just in case anyone wants to follow my route!