Day 1, Sennen to Pelynt

Well that's the first day done. We set off at 09:15 from Sunny Bank Hotel, 2 miles from Lands End, in glorious sunshine but with a bit of a nip in the air. Doing LEJOG from south to north means we go with the prevailing wind, so the light headwind we experienced for the first 20 miles was clearly imaginary.

We didn't even make it to midday before we needed a stop and after nearly 60 seconds deliberating, we opted for a pint rather than a coffee at the Royal Oak in Perranwell (36 miles). As a consequence, the lunch sandwich stop was delayed until 14:00 at Tregony (49 miles).

It was a good day, but the second half was tougher than the first. It's true what that say about how hard Cornwall and Devon is. We are extremely glad that the ladies are bag-carrying because the hills are killers and it's impossible to get into a rhythm as it's a constant up and down. It wasn't helped by Joe's front mech playing up and not always allowing him to get into the small chainring (not good on a steep hill). The two ferries broke up the journey and we arrived in one piece at the B&B at 17:15; 5 minutes after the drizzle started.

An excellent meal and a pint of cider completed a fantastic day.

Stats for the day : 74.1 miles; 11.0 mph avg; 1861m ascent; 6hrs 43min saddle time

We're here : Day 0

We've started!  Okay, okay, so we cheated a bit.  Anne and I arrived at Lands End around 15:30 and met up with Joe and Maeve who got there just a few minutes before us.  After a long blether with a couple of Merseysiders (who were also just arrived and planning on doing the LEJOG in 15 days) we decided that as the weather was so uncharacteristically good, we'd return to the B&B at Sennen, don the kit and return for a photograph.  So here it is.  Doing it at this time also had the advantage of being able to use the signpost after the chap had gone home for the day ... so it was free!

So with a following wind we banked the first 2 miles of the journey back to the B&B ready for a meal and an early night.

Easy so far!

Last Post Before Lands End

So, Joe's sly training on Isle of Wight was somewhat eventful as he was thrown form his trusty Thorn into a hedge.  Clearly down to poor quality cycle paths and not rider error (as if!) but the result was a mammoth multi-coloured bruise and slight cosmetic damage to bike.  No worries, though as the bike was booked into St John Street Cycles (in Bridgewater, where it was built) for a service and check-over.  Now it is resplendent with new leather bar tape to match the Brooks B17 saddle.

Nice leather bar tape, Joe, but what happens when it rains?

Meanwhile my Hewitt has had a couple of hours of loving attention lavished on it by my own hand with a wash, polish and service (complete with new chain).  I just have to get it inside the car and see how much room there is left for the rest of all our luggage!  The route is now fully loaded into the GPS, and as a back-up, transcribed onto the butchered pages of an old AA road atlas.  Now all we have to do is get down there and ride.  Just hope I don't forget the tyre levers!

On top of the Lancashire Dales ... to be revisited on 20th Jun according to plan

Next Post :  Lands End.  Back soon!

Phil



Nothing to do with LEJOG!

Just a test to check I can post to blog from iPhone using hotmail account over mobile network ('cos my other account plays up occasionally!)

7 days to go, oo-err!

Sunset over Marischal College, in case you were wondering.

Countdown Continues ...

Well, as Joe and Maeve drive south (on the best day we've had all year) for 2 weeks of partying, golfing and general fun, Anne and I are just returned from a 7-day, 347 mile cycle tour.  We went from Swanland (overlooking the Humber Bridge) to Lancaster and back and managed to choose the worst possible weather in which to do it.  We way underestimated the hills across the Pennines and the Lancashire Dales, and we underestimated the amount of offroad tracks on the Trans-Pennine Trail.  This, combined with high winds (in our face, naturally), torrential rain, cold, and discovering I'd forgotten the tyre levers when Anne eventually punctured in the rain, all combined to make the westerly leg a bit of a trial.  Thank you Steve and Lynda Almond for providing an oasis of calm in Clitheroe in which we could recuperate in luxury after the toughest day! We cut short the extension to Morecambe where The Way Of The Roses (by which we returned) actually started, and took a half day in Lancaster.  The return via Grassington and York was a comparative doddle (except for the rain), and the last day was actually sunny and warm for a change.  Still, it was all good battle-hardening for the epic journey to come.

Lesson learnt:  (1) hill climbing performance is seriously compromised when dragging 10kg of luggage!  (2) Check the tyre levers are actually in the tool roll (before you set off)!

Talking of lessons learnt, Joe has one too.  After packing saddle bags, panniers, handlebar bag (how much stuff are you taking, Joe?) kilt bag, two suitcases, golf kit, and the rest for a multi-faceted break, he can't find his wallet.  In the way that only wives can manage, he was made to unpack everything, bit by bit (I know the feeling, you have my sympathy, Joe ... ask Anne about the tyre levers!).  Wallet was found under the final suitcase on the floor of the boot!  It just shows what happens when you rush these things!

Anyway, Joe will be in Isle of Wight (with bike, so can get some hill climb practice there) then on to the West Country.  We head off to Kendal for a spot of visiting friends and Lake District hill walking, then home for some catch-up and bike prep.  Then we all meet up at Lands End on 13th June when the trial really begins and we see for real if we've done enough training.

lets just hope we get less of this ...

Lancashire Dales in the rain

and a lot more of this ...

Yorkshire Wolds in the sun

Etape Caledonia : been there, got the medal!

Well, that's the first challenge completed!  Now we know we can nail 81 miles.

Registration complete, Team Wheelbarrow (comprising Phil, Joe and Liam) convened on Saturday night  in Pitlochry, Perthshire, for some pre-race nosh and drinks along with the wifely supporters.  Tactics were discussed (survive; find a peloton to hang on to; and don't push it), fears were expressed (that the broom-wagon sets off just after us and drives at 13 mph to try and take your timing chip off you) and beer was drunk ... an early night followed with a sharp eye on the weather forecast.

Where's Wally?

Sunday dawned clear, cold and windy and after a hearty breakfast we all met up at 06:30 at the start.  Well, actually 24 groups back from the start as we were not exactly up there with the elite riders.  Some early morning shopping ensued by Joe who had forgotten his gloves, then we were set.  Sadly one of the warnings I'd been given was absolutely true: an hour spent standing in the windy main street of Pitlochry at 06:30 in May is not exactly the best warm-up.  By the time our wave of riders was released onto the road I, for one, was full-body shivering (the main reason for a pulled knee before I'd even left Pitlochry - Learning Point 1)!

Liam ...................................... Phil ............................................... Joe             

The buzz was fantastic.  Over 4000 riders, and the most eye-watering collection of high-end bikes you could wish for.  The organisation was faultless, the feed stations were great, the route was fantastic.  The wind was a pain, but helped on the return legs as much as it hindered on the outward leg.  Once Joe had the bit between his teeth he was off!  I saw him briefly at the first feed station, then never again until the end.  Liam dropped off the back within the first 5 miles and I thought that his dour warning that he was going to do abysmally might in fact come true (although I never actually believed him when he first voiced it).  It turned out that a technology glitch caused his HRM to convince him he was on the verge of a cardiac event and he backed off.  He then came back on song, powered through the first feed station whilst Joe and I were scoffing, and we never saw him again.  He was first back.  Well, first of the 3 of us anyway.  (My HRM also lied and reckoned my heart was only beating for 31 seconds of the race.  It was all down to the cold = no sweating for an hour = no full chest contact.  Joe was OK; he used the electroconductive gell - Learning Point 2)

Joe sailed in a short while after Liam, and I breezed in for the wooden spoon half an hour later having spent far too long at 3 of the 4 feeding stations - Learning Point 3.  Oh, and also because I didn't pedal fast enough - Learning Point 4.  Still, it gives me much more scope for improvement next year!

All over ; where's the beer tent?

So well done all 3 of us.  We finished, and we finished in good shape ahead of the broom wagon.  It really was a great event and well worth the effort.  Now all Joe and I have to do is the same thing for 15 days on the trot with 10kg of panniers!  Not at that pace, though.

Celebration!

p.s. I've just scanned the results and my dignity is restored with the King Of The Mountain times!

Liam : 3009th; 05:18:56; (KOTM 13:18)
Joe    : 3158th; 05:26:09; (KOTM 14:00)
Phil   : 3798th; 06:04:41; (KOTM 13:15)  (moving average 14.6 mph)

And for comparison and future inspiration, Evan Oliphant, Scottish Road Race Champion won :
Evan Oliphant : 03:27:38; (KOTM 05:48)  (Suspect he missed out on all the feed stations)

To read more of this event, see :

http://www.etapecaledonia.co.uk/

http://www.thecourier.co.uk/News/Perthshire/article/13990/surrey-couple-saddle-up-for-married-life-at-etape-s-start-line.html

http://www.thecourier.co.uk/News/article/13942/saboteurs-fail-in-bid-to-wreck-etape-caledonia-cycling-event.html

http://www.thecourier.co.uk/News/Perthshire/article/14002/opponents-of-etape-caledonia-vow-to-step-up-pressure-to-have-it-declared-illegal.html

Tension is Rising

Well, time is marching on.  Planning is progressing, but the pace may quicken as panic sets in.  We now have the first 4 nights accommodation booked (Fowey, Exeter, just north of Cheddar, and just north of Ross-on-Wye).  Family commitments have prevented joint training, but a spell of mother-in-law-sitting has allowed me to get a few long rides in: east of Hull; up on the Yorkshire Wolds; and south of the Humber Bridge. And the last week or so has seen Anne and I out on rides in preparation for our cycle tour at the end of May.  The fantastic weather has revealed Aberdeenshire at its best as this shot in Glen Buchat shows. Between trips to Norway, Joe has been sneaking off on epic tours and has admitted to a 90-miler out to Corgarf and back via Glen Buchat, all in 7 hrs (plus stops).  What else has he not admitted to?  I'm going to have to up my game. 

Phil, the Hewitt Cheviot SE, and Glen Buchat

The real test will come this weekend, however, as we are embarking on our first Etape Caledonia, the 81 mile closed-road sportive based in Pitlochry. http://www.etapecaledonia.co.uk/  We are joined by another ex-BP friend of mine (Liam Cousins) and around 5000 others and will be setting off at 07:33 approximately on Sunday (14th May).  Fingers crossed for the weather!    The challenge will be to keep ahead of the broom wagon which sets off just after us and drives at 13mph.  If it catches you it takes away your timing chip, and you are presumably classified as DNF!  No pressure there, then.

I'll report back on our performance!