We are in Ludlow now - wherever that is! 108 miles today. It was freezing to start with then it rained heavily and I was back to the shivering wreck I was on day 3 again. Into the pitstop after 40 miles and two tea's and a warmer jacket later I was much better...then the sun came out and baked us all for a couple of hours so all the extra clothes came back off at Pit stop 3! The climbs on the latter third of the day were nice. Smooth surface and undulating but the last 10 miles were A road hell into a block head wind. By that time Wolf and I were doing a two man time trial to the end. Boy is he a strong rider on the flat!
As I didn't post for yesterday I'll mention it now. To say that the climb up Shap was wet would be an understatement. At the summit of Shap we could barely see the rider in front. Then we dried out and going through Preston city centre it started pouring with rain - like a monsoon! So the last 30 miles was urban, in the torrential rain, in the middle of school kids leaving school, traffic lights and all the other dangers of riding on the road. At about 5 miles to go a car went skidding past me about 2 feet from me and crashed into the stationary car in front. No one was harmed but it was a bit alarming as it was so close to me!
Day 7 is tomorrow, forecast is rain (again!) so I hope its wrong. We are going over the Severn Bridge which will be interesting.
By the way the Cumbrian and Cheshire countryside is amazing and we have passed through loads of pretty villages on roads you would normally never see.
My legs are strong but I'm realising the weak link is the saddle sores. Hopefully this will not get worse tomorrow. 3 more days to go!
Check out Flickr for some pics - one with James Cracknell at Pit Stop 2 today.
Thursday 16 June 2011
Tuesday 14 June 2011
Day 4 on the RAB
Sorry I have not done any updates since day 1 but the evenings have been really busy! Camping adds a lot of additional chores that take time up.
Yesterday was like hell on earth. It poured with rain from the start and pretty much rained until about the 70 mile marker. The descent from Glen Coe was amazing but Richard and I, who were riding together were so cold that we couldnt really enjoy it. At pitstop 1 (50 miles) I was so cold I couldnt control the shivering. I had a change of clothes in the car and put them on. That and the fact that one of the Halfords boys (Scouse) loaned me his Mavic monsoon jacket (many many thanks mate!) got me through the day.
Today we rode from Glasgow to Carlisle in lovely sunshine. Its funny that after yesterdays mammoth 122 mile day today was viewed as a "rest day" at only 103 miles. How perspectives have changed!
Today was the last day with the Scottish lads to keep us company, so thanks to Steve, Steve, JD, Michael, Gerry, Josie and to Donald for taking part. From the Cisco Scotland office it's Richard and I now all the way to Lands End.
Tomorrow is Carlise to Manchester (114 miles), forecast is showers but hopefully not too many and not too cold!
Check http://www.mapmytracks.com/events/ride-across-britain-2011 for GPS tracking and pictures and videos.
Massage today was fantastic and was immediately after the arrival into Carlise. Thanks to SteveO for that, will be back for more on Thursday.
The best bit of today was seeing Julie and Jessica and showing them around the base camp. Also thanks to Julie for bringing me my beloved High5 energy drink. Tomorrow will now be easier after the plain water I've been using so far as I cant drink the stuff we are supplied.
James
Yesterday was like hell on earth. It poured with rain from the start and pretty much rained until about the 70 mile marker. The descent from Glen Coe was amazing but Richard and I, who were riding together were so cold that we couldnt really enjoy it. At pitstop 1 (50 miles) I was so cold I couldnt control the shivering. I had a change of clothes in the car and put them on. That and the fact that one of the Halfords boys (Scouse) loaned me his Mavic monsoon jacket (many many thanks mate!) got me through the day.
Today we rode from Glasgow to Carlisle in lovely sunshine. Its funny that after yesterdays mammoth 122 mile day today was viewed as a "rest day" at only 103 miles. How perspectives have changed!
Today was the last day with the Scottish lads to keep us company, so thanks to Steve, Steve, JD, Michael, Gerry, Josie and to Donald for taking part. From the Cisco Scotland office it's Richard and I now all the way to Lands End.
Tomorrow is Carlise to Manchester (114 miles), forecast is showers but hopefully not too many and not too cold!
Check http://www.mapmytracks.com/events/ride-across-britain-2011 for GPS tracking and pictures and videos.
Massage today was fantastic and was immediately after the arrival into Carlise. Thanks to SteveO for that, will be back for more on Thursday.
The best bit of today was seeing Julie and Jessica and showing them around the base camp. Also thanks to Julie for bringing me my beloved High5 energy drink. Tomorrow will now be easier after the plain water I've been using so far as I cant drink the stuff we are supplied.
James
Saturday 11 June 2011
Day 1 on the RAB
Ok what a great start. Fantastic weather, actually sunny and dry. The ride out of JoG was brilliant. In hindsight I did way too much riding between groups, riding ahead and taking videos etc. It uses loads of extra energy but I thought it would be fine - that was a bit of a mistake because after half way I almost bonked. I recovered with a gel and toughed it out to the end but the last 10 miles was a bit rough. I rode the last 50 mile with Richard who is also doing all 9 days and so I think we will do the next 8 days together now.
When we arrived at Kyle of Sutherland the heavens opened just as we got across the finish line so it was good timing on our part. Unfortunately rain and camping dont mix but after the rain stopped and I'd got cleaned up and got a nice hour sleep in the tent - whilst it poured outside again.
Dinner beckons now, I hope my knee holds up tomorrow as it was back to its usual tricks today.
Check out facebook.com/ciscoriders for lots of new photos and comments.
When we arrived at Kyle of Sutherland the heavens opened just as we got across the finish line so it was good timing on our part. Unfortunately rain and camping dont mix but after the rain stopped and I'd got cleaned up and got a nice hour sleep in the tent - whilst it poured outside again.
Dinner beckons now, I hope my knee holds up tomorrow as it was back to its usual tricks today.
Check out facebook.com/ciscoriders for lots of new photos and comments.
Thursday 9 June 2011
All packed!
All packed up and ready to go. I think getting all the stuff I need into a bag weighing 15kgs is harder than the first 100 mile day! But we're glamping not camping as it was pointed out to me the other day - thankfully.
So I think the mini bus from the Glasgow office tomorrow will be a laugh with half a dozen or so of the Cisco boys heading up to JoG. We'll be eagerly awaiting the campsite and the weather that greets us I'm sure of that.
Next stop, JoG ETA 6pm. Wish us luck.
Oh and for a generally more complete and cohesive picture of RAB2011 then stop by a fellow RAB'er, training buddy and friend Ricahrd Moir's blog here: http://richardridesacrossbritain.blogspot.com
So I think the mini bus from the Glasgow office tomorrow will be a laugh with half a dozen or so of the Cisco boys heading up to JoG. We'll be eagerly awaiting the campsite and the weather that greets us I'm sure of that.
Next stop, JoG ETA 6pm. Wish us luck.
Oh and for a generally more complete and cohesive picture of RAB2011 then stop by a fellow RAB'er, training buddy and friend Ricahrd Moir's blog here: http://richardridesacrossbritain.blogspot.com
Monday 6 June 2011
Packing for the RAB
Well its been a whole week with no training due to my cold/chest infection/man flue (delete as appropriate depending on the day.) It's still not cleared up despite generous doses of Sudafed and Lemsip and even some early nights! But every cloud as they say...now my knee and calf are fine! Talk about nursing yourself through this, and I haven't even started the ride yet! But at least I will be rested and I'm not sure thats such as bad thing as I'll be itching to get out on Saturday even if its pouring with rain.
So whilst my mad Scottish colleagues have been braving the unseasonably cold weather this past week I've been tapering down almost to a sharp point. I still have a whopping four evenings to get myself ready and pack everything for the departure on Friday morning. Then we have a 7 hour mini bus trip from the office near Glasgow to JoG which is going to be interesting and I'm sure it will be full of nervous laughter :)
It's going to be some sight seeing 600+ riders and all the support vehicles in a field at John O Groats ready to leave for the longest straight line journey you can do in the UK. I'm also looking forward to using our Telepresence over the satellite link that Harris Caprock are providing for us during the event. I'm going to have to make up a poster with all the locations we are visiting for our mobile Telepresence room so when we are talking to people they know where we are.
My sponsorship total is £440 now which is going well but if anyone wants to add to it please feel free, I have a target of £500 so I'm nearly there. Its for a great cause and unlike some events I've done this one will be rather testing I'm sure of that!
Here's the three souvenirs that I want from this trip:
1. A picture at John O Groats
2. A, picture at Land's End
3. A finishers medal.
The bonus will be the hotel bed on the Sunday night and then getting home on the Monday to my long suffering wife and daughter. Oh and then off to France at the end of that week with the bike to ride the Alps. And yes I'm being serious.
So all in all its going to be an interesting couple of weeks.
James
So whilst my mad Scottish colleagues have been braving the unseasonably cold weather this past week I've been tapering down almost to a sharp point. I still have a whopping four evenings to get myself ready and pack everything for the departure on Friday morning. Then we have a 7 hour mini bus trip from the office near Glasgow to JoG which is going to be interesting and I'm sure it will be full of nervous laughter :)
It's going to be some sight seeing 600+ riders and all the support vehicles in a field at John O Groats ready to leave for the longest straight line journey you can do in the UK. I'm also looking forward to using our Telepresence over the satellite link that Harris Caprock are providing for us during the event. I'm going to have to make up a poster with all the locations we are visiting for our mobile Telepresence room so when we are talking to people they know where we are.
My sponsorship total is £440 now which is going well but if anyone wants to add to it please feel free, I have a target of £500 so I'm nearly there. Its for a great cause and unlike some events I've done this one will be rather testing I'm sure of that!
Here's the three souvenirs that I want from this trip:
1. A picture at John O Groats
2. A, picture at Land's End
3. A finishers medal.
The bonus will be the hotel bed on the Sunday night and then getting home on the Monday to my long suffering wife and daughter. Oh and then off to France at the end of that week with the bike to ride the Alps. And yes I'm being serious.
So all in all its going to be an interesting couple of weeks.
James
Tuesday 31 May 2011
Selkirk Training Ride
Yesterday's Bank Holiday was a chance to get a longer ride in. I picked a circular route from Peebles to Selkirk and rode with Richard Moir - with whom I will ride the whole of the RAB with. The weather was a bit variable but better than the past two weeks. The tendinitis in my knee is still manageable which was worrying me before so hopefully it will settle rather than flare up. I'll stick some pics on Flickr from yesterday. I must ensure I do plenty of the exercises the physio has given me today!
I now have a growing list of things to take/organise/remember.
I now have a growing list of things to take/organise/remember.
Saturday 28 May 2011
Two weeks to go!
T minus 14 days and counting blimey it's come around real quick. I only have one more normal week left till I start packing. One more "group" training ride to go - 65 miles Peebles to Selkirk and back on Monday. Pics to follow.
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