Cuckoo!

And no, the title of today's blog, is not a reflection of my level of sanity, or (although quite possible) most peoples reaction to the Jogle or indeed a description of a Swiss clock.

It is the sound which greeted my ears as I rode at a leisurely pace upon this mornings ride, passing through High Hoyland and with the view as shown. I hadn't heard a Cuckoo for years probably since I lived in Holmfirth, so it was a really cheery sound.

I have this week purchased my rail tickets to get me to within 20 miles of the start. I leave Huddersfield at 10.22pm on the 6th of July and arrive in Thurso at 2.27pm on the 7th which should leave me a couple of hours to get to John O'Groats and my bed for the night, before Le Grand depart on the 8th.

Now that my friends may well, be a bit Cuckoo. The daft thing is I have 4 tickets for me and 8 for my bike, God help me if I lose any of them.

I have discovered that I am continuing to lose weight, what with all this exercise, and I actually lost 2lbs on my 65 mile ride.

Therefore if you follow the logic of that through I could lose up to 2 stone on the actual Jogle.

Hmmm, need to discover a way of "bulking up" me thinks or I'll never manage to ride on a windy day! Anyone with any sensible ideas please leave me a comment.

You will be pleased to note that the Route is almost ready for production so watch this space as they say, especially all those of you who have mentioned "Cheering me on" as I pass like a blur on my Journey South, or meeting me and buying yourselves a beer and laughing at the "teetotal" John Wayne impersonator at some point along the way.

Definite signs of Global Warming!

And so what is the answer to whether I have been arrested over the weekend for carrying guns for which I am unlicenced. The answer in simple terms, No Six guns required!

I am unsurprisingly a little tender, but not to the degree of Getting off my horse and milking my cow. That will disappoint the guys at work who were looking forward to calling me John Wayne.

Anyway I have continued my training and have discovered definite signs of Global warming. As my Grandad would have said " As ta seen a Swallow? ".
I can this very day answer in the affirmative, which clearly is due to Global warming, no sensible swallow would ever venture this far North at the back end of April would they?

Mind you I'm sure the bluebells being out, the Hawthorn flowering, the fact my two boys continue to grow, the fact the Cricket season has started, the fact our water butt is empty (bring on the hosepipe ban), the fact that the sun continues to shine and that I won on the National, can all reasonably be attributed to Global warming as well, so I won't get too carried away with any pessimistic thoughts , that we're all doomed and the world will end tomorrow, if I don't turn off my Computer monitor at night.

Forgot to mention after my trial run, on Friday I have now surpassed my combined totals for 2005 and 2006 with regard to mileage covered, which is another little tick on the way to the start line. Also tried to explain to Oliver all about the Jogle and that Daddy will be riding his bike for 15 days, think he just about got it, but confirmation will come in just another 11 weeks. Crikey don't time fly when your having fun!

True Grit and the Alamo

Greetings, on this fine and wondrous eve, you find me this evening a tad weary, to the extent that I was falling asleep in the bath (that's all my bathing done for this year, except perhaps on my birthing day).

You will see from the appended photo that I have been absent from my working duties today and instead have been pedalling for Britain.

I have undertaken my first "completed" ride fully laden on full daily course distance for the jogle, a small 65 miles covered in true John Wayne style in a little under 7 hrs.

I have learnt two important lessons along the way, as I have traversed the West Yorkshire Cycle way:

1. Follow the map and not any signposts for said Cycle way

2. If it looks wrong it probably is, therefore hastily retrace ones wheels to a known point, before its a long way back.

You may have gathered I have had one or two trials and tribulations. Getting lost twice in the same way did annoy me a little, but like most blokes, I'm a little slow in learning from my mistakes, and need to do something wrong at least twice before I realise there has to be a better way.

Anyway a hugely positive result both with time and distance as it proves I should be able to do the daily ride. Whether I can walk tomorrow without my six guns is another matter entirely.

Didn't see too many things of note on the ride, though did see two very small ducklings, and crossed a bridge with a plaque upon it remarking that the area of Wentbridge where I had luncheon, is mentioned in an early version of the Robin Hood Legend.

I also saw Bluebells for the first time this year in abundance, not quite fully open but on their way, so for Caroline, I have attached this

Sunny days

A beautiful, spring day has found me adapting one of my early 20 mile rides into something a little longer by combining it with a few other parts of my repertoire, ending up with a 32 mile ride which took me just over three hours.

The picture unfortunately doesn't quite do the windmills justice and neither does it portray the, sumptuous high level of carbohydrate (Caroline says Protein) I consumed as I ploughed my way down the road through the seemingly continuous cloud of midges.

One thing with a road like that, just like the wind I have trained with all year (not the one as a cause of my eating habits but the howling gale of a northern winter) it can only be good preparation, in particular for the Scottish Midgelands.

I seemed to pass an inordinate amount of roadkill today, including Pheasant, Hedgehog (both young and old), Squirrel and Blue tit, perhaps I just noticed it more because I set off slightly later.

I have to confirm that Spring really is sprung as yours truly bared his cycling legs in anger for the premier time this year, though I did regret the long sleeved jersey, the further along I got.

Anyway you may have noticed that the level of sponsorship has shot up this week as I have officially launched the Jogle on an unsuspecting world, by sending numerous begging emails. Thanks to all those who have responded and sponsored or pledged so far, and the rest of you please help if you can, and if not please at least spread the word.

Went to see Thomas Jack today and have to say a handsome, if slightly noizy chap he is, much like his Uncle Racing!

Finally whilst riding I came across this strange sight, Anybody any ideas as to how you get a bike this big? I'm sure I'd get to the end a lot quicker on this.

Wadski Junior

Just found out that Nicola and Wadski have an heir, Thomas Jack born sometime this morning (details a little sketchy) weighing in at a "small" 9lb 5ozs.

Congrats to both on this great news.

2 strips for the price of 1

1st choice kit


To be worn on all occasions except when alternative kit worn.

By the good fortune of the Jogle lasting a maximum 15 days it should mean, by sheer coincidence that I begin and end in the same glorious technicolor.

Still needed home address and name tag in case irrevocably lost.



Shirt sponsorship still available!!!!

Shorts sponsorship still available!!!! (though beware with all this cycling my behind is not a pretty sight!)

Alternative kit



To be worn each alternate day, generally whilst 1st choice kit undertaking cleaning duties.

Now now girls no swooning over my ever so manly figure!!!

P.S you may have spotted this was taken pre lightweight training ride.

Grandads Rabbits

On a bright April Good Friday morn, I set off somewhat hesitantly upon a short ride, round a few minor hills and vales in the shadow of the Pie Village. I say hesitantly as I have been struck down with illness during the week (best guess a form of food poisoning, probably brought on by my denial of use by and best before dates).

It was a beautiful day and within a mile of home the countryside once again sucked me in with the sight of two small and perfectly formed young rabbits sat sedately pondering me with the inquisitiveness and lack of fear that only the very young have. Anyway eventually they turned and loped off revealing they were my Grandads rabbits, as he always claimed the ones with the white tails were his.

The ride took me on a part of my newish elongated hours ride past the Yorkshire equivalent of the CN Tower, admittedly its only about 1/3rd as big but it certainly dominates the skyline more ,and I couldn't help but add a photo to the blog to demonstrate.

P.S. Coming soon ,the grand unveiling of the first and alternative strips for the Jogle so keep watching.

P.P.S It looks like Huddersfield Giants have just broken their duck in Superleague this season 56-12, Thanks Wakey, Wadski will be pleased.

April fool

A "fresh" spring morning has found me like an April fool , aboard my trusty steed, pedalling like a man possessed towards the dawn and the daffodils, hence the picture.

Fortunately I haven't tried to explain the idea of April fool to Oliver yet, as I think it may be a little confusing and it might well end up with me being the fool.

I have followed my route from last week with a few minor hidden extras ( like fruit and "spare" flapjack as well as a few minor detours) and managed to reduce my time on the ride by a whole two minutes.

A rare event occurred last night as we (and I use the we advisedly in the royal sense)for the first time this year, got round to organising a baby sitter (Grandma and Grandad) for the evening and we went out for a very enjoyable high quality meal at the White Heart hotel in Penistone. Most enjoyable must do more often.

Anyway more definitive signs of spring this morning, lots of young lambs gambolling in the fields, including a huge amount of twins. I had to keep going as the thought of mint sauce had me salivating a little too much (sorry all you veggies out there!).

Also Calves bumbling along ,and we have had a couple of bumble bees in the house already, one of which we believe was a Queen (the Crown and the way she "minced" in, kind of gave it away). But the final and foolproof conclusive evidence was the flotilla of Caravans wending its way towards the Motorway for the Easter break.

I have added, because I can and I am after all a bloke, still with a relatively new toy another picture from this mornings ride, taken yet again on my mobile phone.