The final countdown

A weekend of stunning cycling weather saw us do two short cycle rides in readiness for the 916 miles of cycling that we will start on the 2nd June.

Nice uneventful ride on Saturday with stunning views of the Thames.

Today we had a very quiet ride with Peter and Nik from the team to Henley and back via Remenham hill. We had several car incidents today... Impatient drivers at 8 am and just general bad driving near cyclists.... Perhaps it's the weather ?? Who knows.. Certainly hope we don't encounter much of that next week.

In the last week people have been asking if we're ready? And how I feel about the challenge?
Well I'm a bit excited and looking forward to it. At the same time am I ready??? Well we've done lots of training but I suspect most of the team apart from The Captain are seriously underestimating the pain we might encounter over the 8 days of our journey... As he told me ' it will be the second most painful thing I'll ever do' that does worry me slightly.
I feel ready... Will we do it... Time will tell

Wiggle ups and downs sportive

Saturday saw us do a quick 30 mile training ride. Not much to report from that except it was our first ride since March that we were able to wear shorts and shirts and..... We DIDN'T get wet! Amazing... The weather has not really been our side. I really hope that some warmer weather appears over the next two weeks!!

Today saw us do our longest ride yet. 96 miles in the Surrey Hills. It certainly went up and down. We managed 6000 ft of climbs in 7.5 hours including breaks. The first 20 miles was pretty hilly with some long climbs.
In the middle section we even managed to shoot up some short hills leaving some Lycra clad heroes in our wake. I even got a 'Well done' comment from the captain for my efforts there.... That doesnt happen very often so either he thinks I rarely put in effort or hes just a bit stingy with his praise??

We had some good comments from some of the other riders today... 'relentless' and ' amazing' are two of them.
Crossing a road today I got told off by the captain for not pedalling when I soo was and it appeared to me he wasn't!!
The last 20 miles was pretty hard going and mostly up hill but slowly does it is the answer. Managed an almost mile long 18% incline very slowly.... In fact so slow that our Garmin thought we had stopped!!!

All in all a good day out and legs don't feel that bad.

Post Tour de Isle of Wight

A bit creaky this morning, particularly my right knee which hit the ground in our fall yesterday... But hey onwards and upwards 😊

Tour De Isle of Wight

Being a Bank Holiday, we decided to take full advantage to hone our training and do a three cycle trip to get our legs used to cycling repeated days...after all during LeJog they will be cycling 8 days in a row. So here are my thoughts on the past three days..... sorry it might be a bit long.....

Day 1 - Saturday 5th May

Bracknell - Portsmouth - Catamaran to Ryde - Chez Mundell ( our friends Mum and Dad's house on the Island)
We set out about 12.30 pm  - a slightly delayed departure -  due to a visitation by our family. About 12 pm the Captain started to get a bit agitated as he wanted to get to Ryde in time for the FA cup final and  had wanted to leave at 12 giving us 5 hours to travel the 60 miles to Portsmouth. Sadly we didn't quite make it for kick off. May have been due to leaving time, but the misreading of the Garmin 800 ( our GPS route planner ) led to several turn arounds and missed exits. The Captain keeps telling me he doesn't know how to work it - hardly helpful when we are relying on it for eight days in just over 4 weeks time. I think map reading is the way forward myself.

On reaching Portsmouth, the route plotted on the Garmin proved difficult to follow and there were a few moments when I was slightly concerned that we were heading for a motorway on the tandem. Happily we managed to arrive at the passenger ferry safely at 5.05 pm, reaching Chez Mundell just before 6pm, managing to catch the second half of the FA cup final. Then off for a curry with the Mundell family before retiring to bed in readiness for the second day of cycling, this time round the Isle of Wight.


Day 2 - Sunday 6th May 


Isle of Wight Randonee - 100K round the Isle of Wight


We wake up to rain and not just a bit. Our two friends have decided to join us on the trip. Becca has done very little cycling before so quite a bit undertaking.
We arrive at Bembridge to register and then set off towards the next check point at Alverstone, we are all in good spirits despite the driving rain and wind. The course is pretty hilly but we are all doing fine. Next stop Whitwell and still in good spirits as you can see.

We leave almost together but myself and the Captain end up heading to Godshill which is the wrong way. We manage to renavigate ourselves back on course probably taking about an extra 5 miles in. Some hills, some wind, being dropped on the kerb and a puncture and 32K's later we arrive in Yarmouth, still in good spirits.

Next stop Cowes and some more hills, Becca is finding it difficult and decides to stop at Cowes. We reach the chain ferry after some really nasty hills and are joined on the ferry with many other cyclists.

Next two stops are pretty uneventful and the weather semi cheered up - well no rain for a while.
When we get back to the first check point we discover Paul has a puncture so we leave Paul to cycle back to Chez Mundell while he waits for a lift. All in all a good day and an amazing achievement for Becca cycling 52 miles.
Dinner at Chez Mundell's is an amazing roast dinner which is really needed after a long cold wet day in the saddle. A bit of pyrotechnics finishes off a good day.

Day 3 - Monday 7th May


Chez Mundell - Ryde harbour - Catamaran - Portsmouth - Bracknell


We wake to more rain and it doesn't look like it will clear til lunch so we change our plans to leave a bit later. We catch the 10.50 Catamaran. The sea is a bit choppy -I'm not the best traveller on water so the crossing is not great. We arrive in Portsmouth to more rain but find our way out of the city by a much less dangerous route than when we arrived.
On the road to Alton we pass a runner who is running 50 miles every day for 50 days..he's pegging it and looks good - amazing.
We reach Alton but it has felt hard. Third day in the saddle is making itself felt in my legs and my rear end. I can't get comfortable in the saddle. As we reach Alton the rain eases off  and we see the first blue sky we've seen in 2 days - HOORAY.
Starting off from Alton my legs are feeling it and I don't really feel like I've had a break but after a few miles they do ease up. After a long climb up a hill near Hartley Witney we decide we need to take off the rain jackets as it's too hot.  It feels good to see the blue sky and to feel some heat from the sun and air round our bodies.
The next part of the journey seems easy and not really relying on the Garmin. Approaching Sandhurst however ( where we really know where we are ) the captain decides to follow the stupid techy gadget again and we take a wrong turn. This requires us to turn around in a narrow street and head down a steep hill to a blind junction. I'm told to use my brake ( it's a disc one and quite powerful and I only get to use it if instructed ) so I do as I'm told. As we get to the junction, I see a car pull the brake, Stephen decides to pedal.......disaster.....we fall to right both still clipped into the pedals...ouch.... Is it my fault?
I'm not sure as I did as I was told but then I'm told we need to keep moving at all times or we will fall off.... or do we want to ride into the path of a car?
Anway we do arrive home safely and we have managed to complete the 60 miles from Portsmouth in under 4 hours... sore legs though....today was hard.

The Challenge is starting to be scarily close.