First the train now the bed!

5 weeks to go and our accommodation is booked!

Friday night will be spent at The Black Swan in Gainsborough



followed by Saturday night at The Red Lion in Spalding



Just hope they know what they've let themselves in for!

Five k for fun?

A day away from the bike today as I was taking part in the 5km Great Westgarth Run at the Friends School in Saffron Walden. Organised in aid of Motor Neurone Disease and by Susan Westgarth, a teacher at the school and sufferer of the the terrible disease.
Decided to paceset for the good lady then took the children round on the 2km fun run but still we have so far raised over £700 for the charity. If anyone else would like to contribute, our site will be open for a while yet, all donations very welcome.

Justgiving Site

Back on the bike in the gym tomorrow

Tired legs

Eventually swapped the bike for the trainers last night and did a few miles run in preparation for a 5km charity run on Sunday. However, got a good group of 6 of us out this afternoon for an enjoyable 30miles round the roads between Saffron Walden and Haverhill



Feeling the legs a bit just now, lets hope all is fine for the morning!

Trains are booked!

I've had a slightly odd week on the training front. Managed a decent 25miles on Tuesday but struggled with 13 miles in the dark on Wednesday evening. Sore legs yesterday so took the night off and now the weather looks decidely ropey so not so keen on a ride tonight either.

Anyway, train tickets to York (from Stevenage) are booked for morning of Friday 14th May. A total of eight of us making the full 3 days. No backing out of it now.

Looking forward to getting a couple of hours done tomorrow if possible with some of the gang, then on Sunday swapping the bike for my legs and doing the Great Westgarth run in aid of MND association - you can donate a £1 or two here if you like :-)

More about my bike:

For all those nerdy enough to worry about these things - some details regarding my trusty steed:

Ridgeback Genesis Day 00 Flat Bar Road Bike
Frame - 6061 Heat treated Aluminium
Fork - Cro Mo blades
Headset - Sealed Intellaset w/alloy spacer
Shifters - Shimano ST-R220
Rear Derailleur - Shimano 2200 GS
Front Deraileur - Shimano FD-443A
Chainset - Shimano 2203 52/42/30
Bottom Bracket - Cartridge Cro Mo
Chain - HG50
Freewheel - Shimano Cassette 12-25 8sp
Hubs - Formula Double Sealed
Rims - Alex R450 32h black w/CNC sidewall
Spokes - Stainless steel black
Tyres - Continental Ultra Race 700x 25c
Brakes - Tektro 510 Dual Pivot Brake
Levers - Shimano ST-R220
Handlebar - 6061 Aluminium 540mm
Stem - Alloy Ahead
Grips - Dual Density
Saddle - Ozone SL
Seatpost - Alloy Micro 27.2mm
Pedals - Nylon street with mini clips

How it looks when new:

Lonesome training

Took 90 minutes out of my day to put in some miles today before the bad weather hits for the rest of the week. Set off from home in blustery but dry conditions and headed along B1383 to Audley End. Turn right and pass through Littlebury Green. Cross B1039 and head through Duddenhoe End and onto Langley Upper Green. Head towards Great Chishall then on through Heydon and Elmdon before turning back to Littlebury then final sprint home to Gt Chesterford. Total 25.2miles (40.5km)


View Map

A New Challenge!

It's been quite some time since my last musings on this blog. However, the time is right to revive it and share with the world my thoughts as I train for the next adventure in my travelling life.

On Friday 14th May an intrepid group of cyclists will set out (via train first of all) to complete the ~200miles from York back home to Saffron Walden. Why? We are raising funds for a group of young people to travel to Brazil in the August 2010 with the charity Youth with a Mission.

So far, the training has been going well. I am up around 80miles per week but still have some way to go before we set out in just over 6 weeks time!

Favourite routes so far tend to lead out over the (relative) hills around Elmdon and Chrishall near to home. A typical ride being 15 - 20 miles with another 10 or so on top at the weekends.

My trusty steed will be my Genesis hybrid currently fitted out with ultra thin Continental road tyres but in need of something a little hardier for the trip itself.

As for my fellow riders? Well so far signed up alongside myself we have Simon Mattholie, Chris Winfield, Nick Jones, Peter Wilson, Barry Morton and Paul Cubitt. With hopefully more to follow.

You can also follow our progress on our facebook page

More news soon!