Mad Dogs and Racing Snakes

To paraphrase a well known saying, "only mad dogs and racing snakes go out cycling in the p**ing rain!"

You may surmise correctly from this, that I spent Sunday on my bike getting more than a little damp.

My route left the Pie village and by back roads over heather moorland to the foot of Holme Moss, (one of those hills to climb before you die if your a mad keen cyclist (just another hill to go over for me then!)), then on downhill to the A628 and then on past the Longdendale Trail to Glossop.

From Glossop (where about the only place open was Woolies) and after having partaken of luncheon, I took the A57 climbing the 5 miles to the summit of my second hill to climb before you die in the day, Snake Pass, ( and yes it damn near did kill me). Then onwards downhill to Ladybower and then over the Strines Moors, returning to Penistone and home.

Surprisingly for a British Bank Holiday it persisticated at a fair rate of downfall for the whole journey, and as a result it took me a sum total of 7 and a bit hours to cover 57 miles.

This, my friends was no fair weather training exercise, in fact I can honestly say I think I will find it difficult to find a consistently hillier ride on my whole Jogle ( especially given its all downhill!), I've had a niggling backache all day today just from having been sat in the same position for mile after mile pedalling uphill. I hope by now you are feeling sorry for me, and admiring my dedication to the cause!

One thing I can say though despite my fears "John Wayne is not at home today" which is a huge positive.

I did learn one or two important facts from the ride which are going to be very useful on the Jogle. firstly my bar bag isn't waterproof in the slightest, secondly mobile phones don't like being that damp, and take approx 24 hours to dry out enough to use again (if you are lucky enough that they do, which thankfully I am) thirdly my panniers and my waterproof jacket are very nearly fully waterproof though my cycling shoes definitely aren't.

6 weeks today I will (touch wood) be sitting eating a well earned meal, at the end of my second day of the Jogle, so if you could all get your prayer mats out and ask for some good weather, a following wind and not too much pollen, and midges, alongside your prayers for those in need in the world, it would be much appreciated.

One thing I forgot to say, was I wasn't alone in my insanity, I saw a large number of drowned rat walkers, three different shooting parties (thankfully not after Racing Snakes) and a couple of other hardy souls on bikes. I am of course expecting to be struck down within the next 24 hours with full blown "Man Flu" for my pains.

Relaxation

As a result of commitments to family matters (playing Cricket at Archie's Christening mainly and stuffing my face with Pork Pie and Christening cake) its been a light week with regard to training so far.

Have to say being betwixt and between "heavy" training and final preparations has meant May has been hard work motivational wise, in the appending derriere to saddle and encouraging legs to join in the rotation of pedals kind of way.

I've just worked out there are 45 days to go before I depart the far north, having no doubt glimpsed the polar ice caps and felt the wind in my face and hopefully the sun on my back as I pass the starting line. So I guess the "hard work" of preparation needs to be finalised very soon.

I can tell you one thing 5.30 am rides, although often great for waking up the mind and the body once upon them, are a pain in the proverbial to clamber out of bed to, so I have to say I have every sympathy with Caroline when she says "I shall be glad when you've finished getting up at this time!".

I am starting to put together my thoughts on necessary kit, thankfully Jonny M has promised to bring fresh supplies of socks if he manages to catch up with me (being the speedster I am!).

I have a plan for a devil of a ride this weekend and really do expect John Wayne syndrome this time, I definitely expect to have to use the lift when I get to work as I'm sure my legs will not forgive me if I complete the ride and then try and use the stairs the day after.

You may guess that I'll let you know how I get on!

Generosity

I have today set a revised sponsorship target of £1,500 as thanks to the large numbers of you who have sponsored or pledged so far I have exceeded my initial target of £1,000 with a full 7 weeks to go before the ride.

I am staggered by your generosity and know that it will be a great additional motivational tool on the days when my head and my legs turn round and say I shouldn't be rolling 1,000 miles even if it is all downhill.

My thanks to you all and please if you can keep spreading the word!

Bulking up!

I have been taking the advice of my earlier erstwhile correspondent this weekend and have mixed a short 20 mile ride, albeit up one of the nastiest climbs in the district, with a little "weight training-" to help my Bulking up. In reality I have been moving about a ton of hardcore sandstone (and no that isn't a euphemism for some new dance craze) from the front of the house to the rear. Thankfully the level of snivels has now reduced to a slow drip so I haven't been too distracted. It has however been brought to my attention that I have omitted a notable event from the route map of stage 13. Sorry Archie not only am I going to not be present on your birthday but I also omitted it in my senility. I hope that you wont be scarred for life by my omission. You'll soon come to discover that us blokes are just about last in the evolutionary ladder for remembering dates. Good to see the monsoon season started this afternoon hopefully this will have run its course before the jogle starts!

Route Launch

With all appropriate, Grand pomp and ceremony, I hereby launch the route, follow the links on the left to try and work out roughly where I should be each day.

My thanks go to Wadski for all his patience and help in production.

Snivels and 32mph hills

You may have guessed from the old title, that, as Oliver would say "I've got a runny nose!"

I appear to have caught a dose of the snivels! Which isn't conducive to training as I spend more time trying to catch up with my nose, than concentrating on the road.

Can't decide whether to blame Jonny M, for twisting my arm behind my back in one of his macho police moves, and dragging me to the ale house on Saturday, Caroline for clearly passing it on! or me for going out without a coat on a chilly windswept Sunday.

Think I'll go with one of the first two, as only a fool blames himself!

The photo is to prove one of two things,

1. that Yorkshire isn't flat, just in case there is anyone reading this that has never ventured to this corner of England.

2. That seemingly innocuous hills can create quite a great deal of velocity, when added to a racing snake on a velocipede.

Luckily said hillock, has a speed limit of 60mph , as it wouldn't look good to be banned from riding for speeding, before the jogle.

I am of course, upon said Jogle, going to aim to break the land speed record for a racing snake on some of the downhills, or else there's no way I will get up the inevitable other side. Just hope there aren't too many chicanes at the bottom of big hills to impede my progress!

Anyway must dash, cos, I've got a .............

Tom Jones Garden Centre

Had to laugh on my way home from work when I passed this, obviously Tom Jones has set up a garden centre in Sheffield.

I'm sure I will see plenty more daft or critically amended signs as I traverse the land in a mere 9 and a bit weeks time.

My thanks to all those of you who have sponsored or pledged to date, as you can see I am creeping ever closer to my target. I'm looking forward to having to revise it so please keep spreading the word if you can.