Armadillo's!!!

Adam, Phil, Neil and I had an 'A5' planning meeting last night (down the pub of coarse) to look over some of the finer details of our trip. Any way one of the things that came out was to set up a designated web site devoted to our adventures. So hopefully with the help of the very talented Adam, and not to far in the future I'll be posting a link to that very site. After a late night down the pub I got home motivated and charged with energy so decided to get up early and ride to work (first time since the dreaded virus). I've never found it easy getting out of bed at the best of times, least of all at 6.45 after a late night out, but that I did and I was soon on my way to Royston. Disaster nearly struck as I climbed out of Wallington, I heard a faint click, click, click as the wheel rotated so I stopped to examine the tyre (of which I've only just replaced after the last mishap). Sure enough a tiny piece of sharp flint was patroding out from the back tyre. Gutted, and expecting a Pissssstt sound, I pulled it out but the Specialized Armadillo tyres had done their job and the kevlar belt had prevented any tube damage. Harrah for Armadillo's!!!

New posts

I've been helping Greg put up a new fence. We made a slow start last week but hopefully it'll get finished tomorrow. Read how we got on in Greg's blog... http://gemars.blogspot.com
Just seen the verse of the day “Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial,” That should be our motto Greg!
(James 1:12)

98 miles sponsored 182 miles to go

Well done, 98 miles gets us to about Coventry, please keep the donations coming in. Starting to feel better now after that nasty virus. I went to choi last night for the first time in over a week and although I was very short of breath I got through the class. I will be trying to build my fitness up again now so I'm going again tonight. I'll have a bit of a rest at the weekend (apart from finishing Greg's bottom fence and hopefully back to my training program next week.

How many places have you visited?

I've visited 6: Canada, UK, France, Spain, Czech Republic & Austria. Lets see who's got the most then I'll make a map with every country we've been to between us.







Make your own map if you want by clicking here:
http://www.world66.com/myworld66/visitedCountries

Under the weather

Not feeling to good today. I went to Choi last night and I was burning up and sweating like a pig. I think I may of picked something up, like a virus or cold? Really gutted because I've spent allot of time getting fit and I won't be able to do any Choi or Cycling now until I'm better. Hopefully it will go away soon and I won't lose to much fitness.

Blomming Tractor

Ok I've given in to temptation and brought a new road bike. I had a look at my friends old bike which he said I could borrow but knew I'd never keep up with them on their ultra light weight new racers no mater how fit I get. The bike I really liked (scott speedster s60) cost over £500 which is well out of my price range but I managed to find the exact same bike which was last years model and had streight handle bars for £200 less so I was well chuffed. I already had some money that I was saving for a better mountain bike so with that, my overtime and birthday money I thought well it saves me £4 petrol a day too, so why not?

I cycled to work on it today but it went 'Pete Tong' just after Kelshall about 13 miles in to the ride. A tractor had been up the road and left the road covered in mud and stones, to many to avoid and sure enough I earned myself my first puncture on my new bike. Realising I still had 5 miles to go and less than an hour to get to work I new walking wouldn't be fast enough so I managed a faux march (run,walk,run) to Royston town centre where two serious racers with (carbon fibre bikes) and broken spokes soon joined me outside the bike shop waiting for it to open. I left my bike with the shop to be fixed and was only 10minuites or so late but very tiered. I am probably going to train it home tonight because 2 punchers in one day is likely to kill my moral. Next time I will walk my bike through stoney mud but hopefully there will be rain to wash the mud away soon.

Made it...

I made it to work today on my bike. I left a change of cloths at work yesterday so I wouldn't have to carry anything with me. The trip went ok though getting out of bed that bit earlier is a struggle and it was a bit nippy to start with though I soon got a bit to hot. I have to say that although the first bit is rather unpleasant and a bit of a shock to the system it's really enjoyable being out in the country and watching the sun break through the clouds and brighten up the day. I road past a pheasant that was only about 8 feet away and it didn't even flinch (probably thought 'nutter'). Everyone at work seems to think I'm insane which I have to say I quite like. I'm going to try and do some sponsorship forms at lunchtime today while people are taking such an interest at work.

Debs came up with a good suggestion so I rang Cancer Research UK and ordered their fundraising pack. We'll get proper sponsorship forms and possibly tee shirts too. Makes it more official and also saves me the work.

Spurred on by the prospect of not having to wait for a late train and saving £5.20 on a ticket I mustered the will to ride home. Leaving work at 5.30 prompt I shot off through Royston town and out towards the golf coarse. A sharp left takes you up a never-ending hill towards Therfield, which took me real determination to keep the momentum going. The rest of the ride was ok though the light was fading fast and by the time I got into Baldock it was pitch black. I choose to go though Willian but it was very hard riding with bike lights as the only source of light making dogging potholes and twigs almost impossible. Next time I shall drop down onto the 505 at the bypass roundabout and stay on it home. I drove today as riding both ways a total of 36 miles over hilly terrain took allot out of me and I'm going to Choi tonight. Hopefully I'll be recovered enough to ride to work tomorrow.

Happy Birthday to Me!

Yes it's that time again, time to reflect on whats gone and whats to come! Unfortunately my dad's having an exploratory op to look at his kidney today so I'm not in much of a party mood. I'm seeing him later then Deb's and I are going for a meal which I'm looking forward too very much.

38 miles sponsored 242 miles to go!

The Royston bike ride was almost suspended due to Greg needing help moving his new concrete fence posts and gravel boards, which eat up the entire morning. Under pressure to complete the ride, and get home for an evening out with Debbie at her friends’ birthday meal I left my house at 2.30 on the nose. Passing heavy Saturday traffic I found riding the back way to Willian a good choice and didn't feel the burn until the first testing hill coming out of Willian. Then took a right across the A1 (roundabout) and down into Baldock. The next bit I knew would be more challenging so after negotiating the bridge and bridle way over the Baldock bypass I stopped for water and to check the map. It had taken half an hour to get to this point and I did consider turning back 'but no' I got back on and peddling hard made up another taxing hill and down into Wallington. I started to get into a good rhythm after this point and soon found myself passing Sandon, Kelshall (where I was soaked going through water across the road) and Therfield. Passed Therfield is an exhilarating drop down to Royston where I managed to reach 35mph before having to break for a junction. Royston train station soon appeared and I'd covered 18.04 miles taking me 1.35 hours. I was pretty shattered and needed to get home fast so I court the train back. Over all I was pretty pleased with how it went for a first run and considering I was on my very cheap Halfords mountain bike I should be able to make a reasonable dent in that time when I'm on a road bike and a bit fitter. I think this ride is commutable on a week day, at least in the morning as the evenings still get dark pretty early so I'm hoping to give it a go again later this week.

Now sponsored for 38 miles that's enough to get me Dunstable please keep the money rolling in.

First bike ride

I saw Neil one of the other guys who is going on the A5 ride last night at Choi and it occurred to us that we havn't got that long until May. I've decided to get some time in the saddle tomorrow morning. I've been thinking about the possibility of riding to work one day a week so I've planned out a back way route from Hitchin to Royston that I'm going to try tomorrow and see if it is do-able in a reasonable time without getting lost. As it's somewhere between 15-20 miles one way I may be catching a train home from Royston.

10 Miles sponsered- only 270 to go!

Thanks to Jonny his payed for 10miles that will get me past Burnt Oak near Edgeware. Another 10 miles will get me to St Albans, can anyone help?

Can anyone help me find a cycling machine to borrow untill the end of May to train on when the weather isn't good enough to be out on the bike? Please ask around as I'm sure someone must have one stuffed up in there loft gathering dust.