London to Cambridge Cycle Ride 2008

I did it, I completed the London to Cambridge Cycle Ride 2008 in 4 hours 19 minutes.

I would like to thank everyone that supported me, helped me, gave me advice and sponsored me, you know who you are. I would especially like to thank Yvonne for putting up with me through all the training.

The day before the cycle ride I made some fruit smoothie, to build up my energy, I ate mostly all day carbohydrates, I had plain porridge with a banana chopped into it, for lunch wanted to have a jacket potato, but had to eat out and ended up having sausage roll, and a shared baguette with butter. For tea I had Tuna pasta salad with a side order of new potatoes cooked in minted oil (in the microwave not deep fried).

I bought some carbo tablets and sports powder to add to water for energy, also come carbo gel.

We went to bed just before midnight as I needed to make sure I had everything, I am a person that believes in 'just in case' I tend to over pack rather than travelling light. I packed my bicycle pump, mini bike tool kit, puncture repair kit, 2 spare inner tubes, waterproof trousers, waterproof jacket, tracksuit bottoms (in case it was a cold day) clothes for after I finish, sandwiches, carbo tablets, sports powder and carbo gel all in my pannier.

The following morning woke up at 4:30am, rechecked everything in the pannier, and the things I was going to have on me or my bike like padded cycling shorts, cycling top, helmet, shoes, socks, MP3 player, water bottle, money, cash card, keys and mobile phone.

We packed the things and children in the car and put the bike on the cycle carrier and set off. We got there in plenty of time and I unloaded my bike and we started packing it in bubble wrap, to protect it for the journey. I had to then stand in a queue for 30 minutes to pack my bike in the lorry.

Eventually I packed my bike and got on the bus, we must have waited there at least an other 30 minutes before setting off. We were meant to start the ride at 7:30 am but we did not arrive there until 8:30 am.

After unpacking my bike, removing the bubble wrap, going to toilet and getting ready it was nearly 9:00 am. I got my map and went to the starting line.

When I set off it was an easy start as we were on normal roads in traffic, so a leisurely 12 mph, we then got more into the country and we could speed up a little. I still wanted to keep my speed around 15mph as I didn't want to burn myself out like I had done previously.

The road was more hilly than I was used to being used to Cambridge which is the flattest place on the earth, but it was not more than I could handle. After about 13 miles I got to the first refreshment stop, so I finished my drink and locked my bike up and went to buy some water. They had sold out of bottled water but I was welcome to use the garden tap, which I did. I put some sports drink powder into it and set off again.

At 19 miles there was a grassed playing fields where you could sit down and relax, again they didn't sell bottled water, so I bought a sandwich and a pint of orange squash. I sat down eating and drinking for about 10 minutes then I set off again.

At about 20 miles the road got really hilly and I was starting to struggle a little, the good thing is the more you climb the more you can coast down the hills. I decided to use the coasting down the hill as my break, so I would be happy coasting down at 15 - 23 mph and having a break rather than pushing it and getting up to 25 - 28 mph and not resting.

I kept going until about 33 miles in and had a drink break, where I finally could buy some water, so I bought 3 bottles of water. I felt ill and was close to passing out from the lack of water and a temperature of 32 degrees Celsius. I put one bottle of water in my empty water bottle, the other one I drank straight down and the other one I put into my pannier.

After this I continued and it the further I got the easier it was to continue. At 50 miles in it had a 10 mile count down, this was great, however, I thought this was a 55 mile cycle ride not a 60 mile cycle ride. It is only 5 miles but that could be the difference between being able to finish and not being able to.

During my cycle ride there was a "30 miles to go" sign "20 miles to go" sign. but from "10 miles to go" sign it counted down each mile. This was great because it spurred me on as for a mile I was saying to myself "only x miles to go now".

I was so happy when I saw the "Welcome to Cambridge sign". As I got closer and closer there were more people that started clapping and cheering as we passed. It was a great feeling, and the people lined the streets near Midsummer Common.

When I reached Midsummer common, I passed through the finish line I received a certificate to say that I had done it and a bottle of water, I could have done with the water earlier, but never mind.

I then spent a couple of hours in Midsummer Common with my family, it was a great day. It was a fantastic experience, I would recommend any one to do it, and I would certainly do it again. I felt tired and sore for the rest of the day, but the next day I felt good and cycled 13 miles to collect sponsorship money.

I will add some photographs to this blog but my card reader cannot read the card with the photos on, I will have to add them later. During the ride I made a video that I will post a link to on when I have put it all together.

All together I have raised over £400, thank you to everyone.

Unfortunately, I cannot post any more photographs on this blog, I must be up to my limit, but please see my facebook (http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=730690708) for the photographs from the london to cambridge cycle ride

I can go the distance

Last weekend was the last opportunity to cycle a long distance, so last Saturday I set out to go as far as I could, I was disappointed that I got very tired and wanted to turn back after a couple of miles. I had not cycled much for a month before this, so I thought all my hard work was in vain.

I managed to struggle but when I got home I had managed 20 miles.

I was very disappointed with this so Saturday I decided to Carbo-Load and try some of the things that I was told. So on Sunday, I set out to do over 4o miles. I got to 22 miles and was not feeling that tired, so I stopped for lunch. I set out again, it was tough at first to re-start but before long I back in my stride.

I went from my house to Landbeach, Waterbeach, down by the river to Chesterton, Newmarket Road Park and ride, then to Swaffham Bullbeck, Swaffham Prior and on to Reach, then a couple of miles on the wrong road and back (oops), then back to Swaffham Prior, Swaffham Bullbeck, and to Chesterton, Waterbeach, Landbeach, Milton, Milton Road Cambridge where I used to work, Histon, Oakington and back home.

When I got home I had managed 51.8 miles and I had enough energy to continue my day, I was a little tired but not as bad as I expected to be.

Hopefully the cycle ride tomorrow will go as smoothly.

Is 35 miles my limit

I tried to cycle as far as I could, I cycled out on national cycle route 51. I got about 17 miles out and felt really ill.

I had to return, by the time I got back I had done 35 miles, but I was exhausted, I spent the afternoon laying down as I did not have any energy.

Yvonne cooked a nice roast chicken for dinner, I only had enough energy to only just eat it. After that I felt much better and I was OK again.

I was worried about the London to Cambridge cycle ride coming up and I could only just make 35 miles, I had to do an extra 20 miles on the cycle ride.

I was talking to people about this and the reason was diet. I only had some serials for breakfast and I set off for my ride at lunchtime, so I had no carbs. I also spent the first 5 miles at over 20 mph, so I burned all the energy that I had very quickly. I also did the whole trip without stopping.

For the London to Cambridge I am Carbo-loading, which means that I am spending the whole of today eating carbs for every meal. In the morning I will take some energy food with me like bananas and energy bars, and I may stop for come lunch, and have a couple of peanut butter and jam sandwiches. But just as important, when I set off I will pace myself and try to stick to 15mph. Hopefully this should work.

Last chance to sponsor me

Tomorrow is D-day, so as you know I will be cycling from LONDON to CAMBRIDGE 2008, which is 55 miles to raise money for Breakthrough Breast Cancer and would really welcome your support, either to be there at mid-summer common, Cambridge tomorrow afternoon, or to sponsor me.

Please take a moment to sponsor me if you have not alread. It's really easy - you can donate online by credit or debit card at the following address:http://www.justgiving.com/breatnacAll donations are secure and sent electronically to Breakthrough Breast Cancer. If you are a UK taxpayer, Justgiving will automatically reclaim 28% Gift Aid on your behalf, so your donation is worth even more. Please join me in supporting Breakthrough Breast Cancer and a fabulous cause. London to Cambridge cycle ride tomorrow,

To see more about the London to Cambridge Cycle ride 2008 please visit http://www.bike-events.com/Ride.aspx?id=158

Breakthrough is the UK's leading charity committed to fighting breast cancer through research, campaigning and education.Their essence comes from the thousands of people who are committed to a single vision - to work for a future free from the fear of breast cancer. http://www.breakthrough.org.uk/

Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Breakthrough Breast Cancer will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you.So please sponsor me now!

Many thanks for your support.

120 miles in a week

On may bank holiday I did the Cambridge to Reach Cycle ride which is a return trip of 20 miles, as I cycled to Reach via Cambridge from my house it turned into 38 miles.

This was the first time that I had cycled with other people, the pace was very slow but it did not seem as long as 38 miles all together.

When I got to Reach it was great as they had a fair, the mayor threw pennies to the peasants (old tradition). The best thing about it was that as I arrived on my bike I saw my family and friends greeting me.

I can only imagine what it is like to have my family and friends greet me when I finish the London to Cambridge, the thought of that will spur me on.

The cycle ride to Reach introduced me to to the national cycle routes, they are really good and plan out a known cycle route. I took that week off work and cycled everyday, I ended up cycling 120 that week.

No time to write

Sorry, I have not written in this blog for a while, I have been busy with a lot in my life lately. I have a new job in London now. So getting ready for that has been pretty hectic.

I have some stuff to write from May, but the truth is apart from cycling to work and back, between bad weather and being busy, I have not done that much more cycling lately.

The London to Cambridge Cycle Ride is looming, although I think I will make it, I wish that things had been a little different and that I had the time to cycle more and write in this blog more.

I am now staying in a room in a shared house in London during the week and going home at weekends. It keeps me pretty busy. I do not have my bicycle with me. but I will pick it up this weekend.

I will write more soon...

Feeling Guilty

I feel a little guilty as I have not cycled as much this month as I have previously.

I have tried to cycle to work as much as possible, although one week I was ill and only managed two days that week going to work on my bike.

I have a cycle ride to Ely in two weeks so I need to step the gear up a bit again, less excuses, I need to be able to do the distance. I will do a better job from now on, that is why this month is a little lacking on the blogging front. I cannot wait for decent weather to start, I can then do more at weekends.

Here's hoping.

SPD Pedals

When I bought my new bike it came with toe clips on the pedals, I have been trying to get used to the toes clips for 3 months. One of the straps on the pedals broke on Thursday and I have been thinking of getting a set of new pedals.

I have been looking into what type of pedals to get and a lot of people like SPD (Shimano Pedaling Dynamics) pedals. Basically you have a pedal like the one in the picture and you have special shoes that have cleats on the bottom. The cleats on the shoes lock into the pedals making your pedalling more efficient as essentially your feet are stuck to the pedals. To release them you have to rotate your heal outward and you can then lift your foot off the pedal.

Andy at work recommended Shimano A520 pedals which are SPD pedals. I ordered them and they came with the cleats. After I received them I went to the cycling shop to buy shoes to put the cleats in.

I needed to buy a special spanner to fit the pedals as I didn't have one that would fit. The pedals are too narrow for you to use an adjustable spanner, as I scratched my pedal stems trying this.

When I received the pedals and spanner, Andy helped me fit them. It is important to use non-ceasing grease to make sure that you can get the cleats out of your shoes and the pedals off again.

Once they were fitted it was a learning curve trying to use them, you have to think in advance of stopping to make sure that you unlock the foot that you will be landing on. I have been assured that eventually you get used to it and it comes naturally.

Since getting the pedals I have only fallen off once, this was because someone in a car tried to knock me off and I had to swerve to avoid them, as I was falling I managed to unlock my foot, but hurt my leg in the process. If you are thinking of getting these, I would think why you would need them. If you are travelling quite a long distance e.g. several miles with very few stops, I would recommend them, however, if you plan on just doing city cycling it would not be advisable as you would have to keep locking and unlocking your feet every few minutes.

You can get pedals that are normal pedals on one side and SPD's on the other side. I would probably recommend these for most people as you do not need special shoes to use them.

Think carefully before doing it. I would not go back now, but given the choice again I would probably get the double sided pedals instead.

Sonic Boom Birthday

Last Sunday was my birthday, so on Saturday I went to the cycle shop and bought a track pump with a gage, as my bike tyres seemed to be very low. When I bought the pump I asked the guy that sold me the bike what my bike tyres should be pumped up to. He said that he thinks it is 85psi but it says on the side of the tyre.

I have been told the the more you pump up your tyres the easier it is to ride, and the less effort it takes, so I planned to inflate them as high as possible.

On Sunday I was doing some bike maintenance, I got my bike out of the garage and realised that I had a puncture in the front tyre. Perfect time to try my new pump. Swapped the inner tube with my spare one and I checked the tyre and it said max 85psi, so I thought the guy was right, I pumped it up to just over 80 psi then started to fix the puncture in the other tyre.

I then heard what sounded like a sonic boom, and the front inner tube had exploded with such force that it blew the tyre off the wheel. I wondered if I had inflated the tyre too much. When I removed the inner tube it had a split right down it.

The first puncture was called a snakebite puncture and it is when you get two holes about equal distance apart on your inner tube, this is due to your inner tube hitting your wheel whilst you are riding. the inner tube gets trapped between the wheel rim and a curb or something. I repaired this then but it back on the bike and pumped it up, I learned from the last time and pumped it up to 70psi, this is 15psi off the maximum.

As I was putting away my tools and I heard another sonic boom sound, the other inner tube had exploded. I didn't want to keep going through inner tubes without a reason, so I drove to work on Monday and took my wheel, two burst inner tubes and the pump with me. I took them back to the shop for an explanation, they tested the pump and said that the gage was 20psi out. So when I thought I was pumping up my tyre to 80psi I was actually pumping it up to 100psi. No wonder it exploded. The said unless you spend a lot on a pump the gage is usually inaccurate and used for a guide. He gave me another pump that he said was about 7 psi out and told me to inflate my tyres to 60psi, which should be enough.

I felt quite nervous pumping up the new tyres and ended up pumping them up to 50psi, on the ride to work this week they seemed slightly lower than I would like them, so I think I will take it up to 60psi.

Good Friday, Bad Catholic

Good Friday seemed to be nice weather, a little windy but not more than I could handle. As I was not at work I decided to try out the unorganised cycle group on Friday lunchtimes (http://www.camcycle.org.uk/events/) By the time I could set off I was late. I went to meeting place as fast as I could (http://www.camcycle.org.uk/map/location/8526/) but I was not fast enough and arrived there 10 minutes late, my average speed for this 7 mile trip to the meeting place was 16.4 mph.

When I got there I decided to explore some of the cycle routes down by the river, I cycled around for about 5 miles. I then decided to set off and return via Waterbeach, down by the river route.

During my return trip I thought I was going to be blown into the river Cam a few times, the wind was beginning to really blow hard. Once I got to Waterbeach, the wind was blowing against me so hard that I went down to 8 mph.

I decided to take refuge in a pub called 'The Bridge' I went in and realised that they had a marquee with a mini beer festival and a hog roast. By this point I was starving, so I decided to get a hog roast dinner and an ale.

I went in the marquee and they had a bouncy castle, I decided to phone Yvonne (my wife) and ask her to bring the kids. We ended up spending most of the afternoon there.

After a couple of pints, a hog roast dinner and one and a half giant hot dogs and some shared crisps, Yvonne reminded me that I am a catholic and it was Good Friday and I should not be eating meat. I decided it was time to go. Thank you Emily for taking this picure and making the chefs stand there for a minute while you were taking it.

Yvonne brought the cycle carrier and offered to transport me and the bike back. I would feel like I failed if I had had excepted, so I set off by myself and the wind started blowing really hard. Then the rain started and the 5 miles journey ended up taking me 30 minutes of hard cycling. I wonder if someone was trying to tell me something. I ended up cycling 21 miles all apart from the last five miles were great, the last five miles was just exhausing, when I got home I was freezing and tired.

It is a good job I cycled so far on Friday as this weekend we have seen high winds, hail, heavy rain and even half of Sunday was snowing so much we had a white covering and the kids had a snowball fight outside, This picture was taken Yesterday, by late afternoon all the snow had gone and apart from a few little patches you wouldn't have known it had snowed. Fabulous weather from mid-March.

Catch up

Last Weekend

Last weekend I didn't do any cycling as it the weather was so windy it would have been a mistake to try to cycle anywhere. I had a break from it and I am glad I did.


Last Week

Last Monday was the first time that I did not cycle into work, as it was incredibly windy and stormy. It was so bad that lorries were being blown over on the M1 and M11. It was a good decision because of that it meant that I had to do a little more cycling at the weekend to make up for it.

I did make good use of my waterproof over trousers towards the end of last week. It just meant that I only cycled to work 4 days last week.

Make your own Electrolyte Sports Drink

People that do a lot of sports tend to buy expensive electrolyte sports drinks to help them compete at their optimum performance. I got a tip from a book that you do not need to buy expensive sports drinks, you can make your own.

I am not saying that this will do everything that an expensive sports drink does, but it will help and at a fraction of the cost. The point of a sports drink is that it replaces the fluids that you loose in your sweat through your training. These are mainly water, sugar and salt.

You can easily make your own sports drink by filling your water bottle with fruit squash and water all you have to do then is to add a couple of pinches of salt.

This will help, obviously if your sports give you an edge over your competitors then continue. However, if you want a cheap drink that will replenish you as you fluids while you train, this may be for you.

Hope it helps

There are interesting things to see on a cycle ride

Last Saturday was a lovely day, so I decided to go for a river cycle ride, to Waterbeach down by the river, to Cambridge and back.

I set off with very little, a little hardcase strapped to my pannier with a waterproof jacket and a puncture repair kit in, and onto my bike was a pump and my water bottle filled with my electrolyte drink (see my other blog post on how to make it).

I set off cycled to Waterbeach, whilst going through Waterbeach I saw a Church that I have seen a few times before, but I never stopped, so this time I decided to stop and take some pictures of it.

I set off again and rode down the little path next to the river Cam, I found that although I was only on a thin path I was able to take some video of the ride. About half way down there I saw a rowing boat race and decided to take some video of it (click here to download it). It was very good timing, that I was riding down there at exactly the same time as it began. I stopped for a while and then I needed to continue, so I did.

I cycled to Cambridge and then on the way back home I went over a bridge that is quite steep. I am quite used to going over this bridge the amount of times that I have done it. I remember the first time I went over it, I really struggled. Cambridge is the flattest place on the Earth, so I have to find some hills to practice on, if not I will not have any hill practice for the London to Cambridge Ride. So, when I approached the bridge I decided to cross it 20 times, I managed 5 times, I think I will have to build up to 20. Some people thought I was crazy and I crossed the bridge 5 times in the time it took them to cross it on foot once.

After that I rode home and did some weight work. All over body conditioning is very important, if you do not just want to loose weight but also gain muscle too.

I am not paranoid but...

Last week travelling to work and back I discovered that a lot of people are either ignorant or they just don't know what wing mirrors are for.

When I cycle down the street there is always one or two vehicles that are so close to the pavement it makes it impossible for you to pass them. If you park that close you are likely to get your car damaged by cyclists trying to get past, cyclists also have no registration plates so if they kicked you car as they pass and you are stuck in traffic there is nothing you could do. It is just not worth it, be nice to cyclists and they will be nice to you.

There was one car last week that came right up behind me and then beeped his horn whilst over taking so closely he was about a foot from me. That got me a little concern as I shook my fist at the git, if I wasn't as stable a rider I would have come off my bike. Why would you do that to a cyclist, that could have very easily ended in disaster with him being so close.

The weather last week was so cold that my face was freezing all the way to work, I thought I would have got frost bite. It is March, when is the weather going to improve. I cannot go cycling as far as I want to because of the wind and cold, as they make it quite uncomfortable.

Friday was the worst day of the week for me, I checked the met office weather forecast for the day it showed sun, sun, sun all day. I got ready and got my bike out of the garage and noticed that the ground was wet and it had been raining, but it was not raining at the time, so I thought it must have been raining over night and it has stopped now. There were no rain clouds in the sky, so I set off.

I was cycling for 5 minutes when it started drizzling a little, It was freezing rain with the cold wind blowing against me. My forehead was freezing so I had to pull my skullcap down to protect me forehead. After cycling for about 15 minutes it just poured it down so I continued. By the time I got to work I was freezing and soaking wet. My trousers looked like they were two-tone khaki. I had to wear some over trousers that I had whilst my trousers dried on the radiator, so that I didn't catch a cold.

My trousers dried in an hour or so and I didn't have any meetings, so I could get away with waring plastic over trousers for that time. I will wear my over trousers if there is even a sniff of rain in the air.

Cycling in the rain with wet trousers and a very cold wind makes you feel terrible, it is not very nice and I would do anything to avoid it again.

The sun was out all day on Friday apart from that, it was a lovely day with a very clear sky. As I was leaving work on Friday I looked at the clear sky and wondered how the weather could have been so bad today.

When I was half way home, it started pouring down again. The perfect way to end a perfect day. When I got home my trousers were two-tone again, not as bad as that morning but still not nice.

I cannot wait for the good weather to come.

Just another week

I cycled to work all of last week. Nothing eventful happened. I have found that the more I cycle the easier I find it. I think nothing about cycling to work, it just feels very natural now and it would probably feel strange and somehow wrong to drive to work.

Last weekend there were gale force winds that nearly blew our house down, so I decided against cycling, Yvonne would not have thanked me either as it was Mother's Day and today is Yvonne's Birthday, Happy Birthday Yvonne.

Need to get back on course

After being on my course in London last week, I was limited to how much training I could do. So, this weekend I decided to make up for it by riding for about 25 miles. I re-attached the tube on my hydration pack and tested it was not leaking.

It was pretty cold so I wore my tracksuit over my cycling gear and set off. The wind was blowing against me, but it was only mild wind. By the time I got to about 10 miles away the wind was blowing against me so hard that I found it hard to breath. I had gone from doing 19 miles per hour down to doing 8 miles per hour so I continued to 12 miles. I decided to turn around at 12 miles so that my return 12 miles would make 24 miles which was fine.

I turned around and instantly got a boost with the wind and I was riding up to 25 miles per hour, I was trying to get over 30 miles per hour so that I would trip the 30 mile per hour sign that comes on when you do more that that speed but 25 miles per hour was my maximum speed.

About 5 miles further and the wind had changed course and was once again strongly blowing against me until it got me back down to 8 miles per hour. I made it back after cycling 24 miles in 1 hour and 33 minutes. At this rate I will be able to do the London to Brighton in less than 5 hours.

My maximum speed was 25.6 miles and my average speed ended up to be 14.6 miles per hour. Considering the wind was so strongly blowing against me for a lot of this journey, I didn't do too bad.

If you want to see more pictures of my cycling you can either see my photo galleries on Facebook or see my pictures on Flickr (
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23774591@N08/).

Always dark

Last week

As I was on a course in London last week I didn't cycle to the station everyday. I drove in on Monday and Thursday as my wife was not at work and I could therefore take the car.

When I did cycle, I had to get up at 5:30am so that I could get the early train at 7:15am. it took me about 35 minutes to cycle the 8.5 miles to the station but it was very dark at that time of the morning. On the way back it was about 6:30pm so it was also dark on my return.

Remembering what had happened the previous week I had to be very careful as it was very icy, and my back wheel was skidding quite a few times.

On Friday, I was tired from the course and all the travelling though the week and I was riding on autopilot. We had finished earlier so I managed to get back to Cambridge by 5:30 so it was just getting dark, so I decided to go home the longer way.

It is on windy roads without any road lights but I thought I would be OK as it was not dark yet. In the 15 minutes it took me to cycle from the station to the roads with no street lights the sun had gone completely but I had no choice, I had to continue. I have good lights on my bike, I was wearing a high-visibility back pack and a reflective harness, so it was not too bad. Although the roads that I used were very long and out of the way I was surprised how much fast traffic it had. I just took it very carefully and it was not too bad, thankfully there were only cars on that road and I was obviously visible enough. I will not do that route again after dark, it is not worth it.

Neither wind, nor rain, nor sleet, nor snow...

Two weeks ago

The last couple of weeks have been interesting. I have cycled through all weathers. I have learned how to cope with it, it is not great but necessary. Freezing fog was terrible, I took these pictures just before I entered the freezing fog, and I am glad I did, once I entered the freezing fog I could not see anything. For a couple of days the freezing fog stayed around and it made cycling difficult and dangerous.

During the week I had to work late, this meant that it was dark by the time I got back home. With the temperature being so low it was also very icy. On the way back one evening I got dazzled by a car's headlights and I must have hit something like a stone because I lost control of my bike whilst doing about 12 miles per hour, I knew that I was going to come off the bike as I could no longer control it, so I had to make a decision either to fall left, onto the road or to fall right on to grass, possibly some concrete or metal fence posts. I took this option and hoped for the best. I landed in some bushes and grass. Managed to get up and ride home. I had some cuts and bruises but it taught me to be more careful especially after dark.

Last week end I wanted to push myself, even though it was very cold I wanted to do around 30 miles. Unfortunately, by the time I could leave it was getting dark so I decided to do 10 miles instead and would try to get back before it was dark. I set off with my hydration pack on, I got about 4 miles and stopped to take these pictures. I was freezing and as I took my camera out of my back pocket of my cycling jersey I realized that my hydration pack had been leaking onto my spine at the small of my back. So I decided it was time to return home so I only ended up doing 8,5 miles. I have never felt so cold in my life, all of the way home the freezing wind was blowing against my back making the situation even worse, I have never been so glad to have a hot shower. I later found out that the hydration pack was fine, but it needed the tube fastening back in as it was no longer a tight seal.

Hydration is vital!!!

It is important to keep hydrated when you are riding for a long distance. The last couple of long rides, I have had to stop each time I wanted to have a drink of water. The problem is it is difficult to take the waterbottle, remove the dustcap take a drink then replace the dustcap and return it, with one hand whilst trying not to crash your bike into the nearest ditch. The last time I rode 22 miles in one go I only ended up drinking 0.5 litres of water. This could not continue for long.

So, I heard about hydration packs, you wear them on your back like a back pack and you have a tube to drink out of. I got a reletively cheap one to try it out, which carries 2 litres of water, and the best thing about it is the further you go, the more you drink, the lighter it gets.

Someone at work told me about a route that takes you down by the river, it is 15 miles long and takes you on all different types of roads and tracks. I decided to try it out today, and also try out my new hydration pack.

It was a very nice day, the first day I can don my lycra with no track suit over the top. Summer gear all the way. I set off and it was a warm day with a cold wind, but I continued. I took the wrong road at one point but a few minutes later I was on the right track. A few miles in I saw the river.

The track down by the river was about 6 miles and it was fantastic, I then realised why I was doing this whole thing, it made it all worth while. It was a very good recovery ride, you could not do that route quickly as you have to avoid pedestrians, joggers, other cyclists, and people fishing. It was a really good relaxing ride, I recommend people to find your own routes.

I got into cambridge and back on the roads and back home. The whole ride was relaxing it was 15 miles, but I took my time with it, it ended up taking me 1.5 hours. I will definately be doing that trip again.

What does't kill you will make you stronger

Just over a week ago, my wifes car had break problems, which will cost a bit to put right. So she has borrowed my car and I have started cycling to work on a daily basis.

I have discovered that I can cycle in the rain and cold but the one thing that makes things difficult is the wind. I have had a few cases where the wind was so strongly pushing against me that it has taken me twice as long to get to my destination, and by that time I was exhausted.

Last week I was travelling along an 'A' road and a large lorry coming in the opposite direction had so much force that pushed against me it nearly threw me backwards off my bike.

The last occurance of this was the day before yesterday when an articulated lorry overtook me fairly close, as it passed me the part of the trailer in between the wheels formed a vacume and I had to struggle against the force until it had passed.

These are some of the challenges that I have had to face with the invisible forces. I don't want to experience anymore servere weather like storms, ice or being pelted by large chunks of hail. Hopefully I will not have to worry about them, the more the weather improves as we leave winter behind.

Although my challenges are in the summer, I cannot only ride in nice weather. If I did, I may not be able to handle the wind blowing against me, rain or any other forces we may encounter.

Open up the blog for comments

I have been asked to open up my blog for comments, I had it set to only allow posts from people with a blogger account, but since I am asking for comments and advice, I think this is a wise move.

Now that I have, anyone can post comments on my blog, it is good to hear the views and advice of other people. Please post any advice on diet or fitness that you think may help me in my challenge.

Thanks

End of the first month of training

Well, it is the end of the first month of training and what have I accomplished?

I have gone from struggling to cycle to work and back 6.5 miles each way to being able to cycle to work 3 days a week and 1 day a week cycling 22 miles without stopping for a break, more than taking a drink.

My muscles are getting stronger and I am able to go further with less effort and after pain, I am enjoying cycling a lot more now as I am getting used to it and this makes a big difference.

I am hoping to increase my cycling to work to 5 days a week, the more the weather improves.

I still have 4 whole months before the first 50 mile cycle ride, and I can already cycle half that distance, I don't think it will be a big deal if I keep up the training. Hopefully by the end of February I will be a lot closer to my goal.

Drivers, Think Bike!

As a driver I used to hate cyclists. I still hate bad cyclists that dart across the road in front of you without looking. But drivers are just as bad and they do not think about it from the cyclists point of view.

Leave plenty of room on your left for cyclists to pass, there is nothing worse than coming to lights or a long queue of traffic and there be some idiot so close to the curb that you have to squeeze in between them and the curb or have to wait until they move.

You may ask what makes cyclists so special that they can jump the queue and get to the front quickly. The answer is simple, cyclists are slow and they can use all the help they can get to get to their destination. Also cyclists are very exposed both to the weather and also to motorists. If they can get to the front of the queue and away before the queue finishes, they will be out of the way by the time you start driving, and out of danger.

The other thing that drivers do that confuses and irritates cyclists is driving in front of them and indicating left. As a driver approaching a junction where you are turning left, if there is a cyclist in front of you, wait behind them. Quite a few times drivers have sped up passed me, and stopped in front of me indicating left, you do not know if they are going to stop and let you go or continue turning, where you would stand no chance. So, I slow down until I know that they are waiting for me, by that time I have slowed down from 17 mph to 8 mph and then I have to speed up again, it makes the whole thing take a lot longer for driver and cyclist then it needs to.

Cyclists are not your enemy, they just want to get from one place to another in a healthy, economical and nature friendly way. Be nice, think of the cyclist.

Will you sponsor me for the London to Cambridge Cycle Ride?

Hi,

I'm taking part in the LONDON to CAMBRIDGE Cycle Ride on 27th July 2008 to raise money for Breakthrough Breast Cancer and would really welcome your support. As I am doing this to get fit and to raise money for charity this blog will server to track my training, successes, problems and observations along the way. You can leave you own comments and recommendations on it as well.

As this event finishes in Mid-Summer Common, Cambridge it would be nice to have some people their to support me in person, I will probably need the support after cycling 50 miles.

Please take a moment to sponsor me. It's really easy - you can donate online by credit or debit card at the following address:

http://www.justgiving.com/breatnac

All donations are secure and sent electronically to Breakthrough Breast Cancer. If you are a UK taxpayer, Justgiving will automatically reclaim 28% Gift Aid on your behalf, so your donation is worth even more. Please join me in supporting Breakthrough Breast Cancer and a fabulous cause.

London to Cambridge cycle rideOn 27th July 2008 I will be taking part in the London to Cambridge Cycle ride, the route is 50 miles. to see more about this please visit http://www.bike-events.com/Ride.aspx?id=158

Breakthrough is the UK's leading charity committed to fighting breast cancer through research, campaigning and education.Their essence comes from the thousands of people who are committed to a single vision - to work for a future free from the fear of breast cancer. http://www.breakthrough.org.uk/

Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Breakthrough Breast Cancer will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you.So please sponsor me now!Many thanks for your support.

Thanks and best wishes,

Breatnac

I have won the battle, bring on the war!!!

I decide to try to make it on my bike to Ely and back about 13.5 miles each way. Although it was raining as usual there was no sign that it would improve. I thought I would still attempt it.

I got myself all ready with riding gear (Padded cycling shorts and cycling jersey) with track suit on top and waterproof high visibility jacket.


I packed my high visibility rucksack with things that I may need like tools, puncture repair stuff, pump, mobile phone etc and set off.

The first 5 miles were pretty hard but once I passed that it was plane sailing. I just seemed to carry on, miles and miles, seemingly without getting tired. I passed the half way point and was a little tired but I could still carry on.

I eventually made it to Ely, 13.6 miles and felt great. I rode down the cycle paths until I reached the cathedral. This was the place that I had put down on my plan to reach.

I think you need a goal, it is not good enough to say I am going to cycle to Ely, it had to be to Ely Cathedral, so I found it and took some pictures for this blog.

I rested my bike and High Visibility rucksack down in front of the canon and backed away to take some pictures. If not, I may have been accused of downloading some pictures of Ely Cathedral from the Internet.

The second thing I did was to find a pub.

I thought I deserved a treat for all the cycling. So I found a pub called The Kings Arms and got a pint of Black Sheep and a 8oz sirloin steak with chips. I was like a man possessed with them, I must have burned off my Weetabix breakfast because I was starving, and the pint was well received as well.


I stayed in Ely for a couple of hours (not drinking, before you ask), found somewhere to get some bananas to give me the energy to make the journey back. I had a quick look around the market whilst I was there.

The whole time that I was in Ely it had stopped raining. The moment I sat back on my bike it started raining again. I was feeling pretty full of energy but still a little tired. So I set off.


The first few miles we sluggish, but manageable, then things went from bad to worse. 35 mph gusts were now blowing against me, and they continued most of the way back. It was truly a battle to get back, there were a few times that I felt like giving up, travelling at 8 - 10 mph, fighting all the way back. I found the longest road in the world, pictured to the left, it felt like the longest road in the world but it was only 3 or 4 miles long. At the end of a very very long straight bit there was a turn, to another very very long straight road, it seemed to go on forever. I eventually made it home, absolutely exhausted but I had made it, 27 miles in total, in just three weeks of training I had managed to cycle half the 54 miles that I am going to be riding when I do the London to Brighton. Although I know the London to Brighton will have a lot more big hills. My average speed for this trip was 11.4 mph, which is not bad considering the trouble I had getting back with the wind against me. I consider this a result.

Keep your leg speed up!!!

Last weekend my riding speed was an average of 10.4 mph over a distance of 20 miles.

So far this week I have cycled 26.5 miles and I have seen the most improvement.

I cycled to work and back in the rain on Wednesday and today. I decided to ride the long way to work on Wednesday which added over 0.6 miles to my journey but it is a little more scenic. So on Wednesday I averaged 11.2 mph over 13.6 miles, I noticed my maximum speed at times under my own power (not including down hills) was 14.5 mph.

Today, I took the normal route which was 13 miles exactly, my average speed went up to 12.3 mph and under my own power I did a maximum of 17 mph. That is an average increase of 2 mph in a week. I have been told that I will see this increase by 2-3 mph when I get my new bike

I am so pleased with this, I seem to get tired and my legs ache between 4 and 5 miles but after 5 miles I seem to get a second wind (no jokes please Lee) and I feel like I can continue quite effortlessly.

I think I have learned the secret of cycling, keep your leg speed pretty constant. If you set a pace that means your pedals rotate 360 degrees in just under a second and your rpm is between 80 and 100, if your pedals are rotating faster than this, increase the gear, if however, your pedals slow down much from this decrease your gear until you are back to this rate.

I think this is because if you keep the momentum going it makes it easier to continue. I used to cycle in the highest gear I could. I will let you know if this technique continues to work, if you find this works for you, please add a comment to this blog letting us know.

I am planning to try to reach Ely this weekend which is 12.5 miles each way. This would be a very good way of finishing off the week. I will be able to test my theories of it being quite effortless after 5 miles and my pedal rpm rate.

Charlie's Healthy Tuna with couscous recipe

Here's a yummy dinner to try thats healthy

Ingredients

• 2 tuna steaks
• 1 jar of harissa paste
• 2 lemons
• fresh mint
• 1 tsp cumin powder
• 100g plain couscous
• 200ml veg stock(1 veg oxo in boiled water)

Chop tuna into chunks enuff for 4 skewers and marinate in juice of one lemon and the jar of harissa paste for 10minpour hot stock on couscous cover for 5 min.

Put tuna on skewers and grill 5mmix juice of 1 lemon the cumin and chopd mint into couscous. serve and enjoy!

Great Berry Smoothy

Ingredients:

• Orange or Apple Pure Fruit Juice
• Berries (Strawberries, Raspberries, Black Forest Fruits and berries, blueberries (only with Apple Juice), Blackberries) - you can use frozen berries if you cannot find fresh
• Bananas
• Natural Yogurt
• Ice

Put 1 litre of Fruit Juice into a blender add ice and 1 big banana or 1 small ones, blend. Add berries to taste and blend. Add four large spoons of natural yogurt and blend.

Enjoy!

Recommendations

Bike Accessories

• Bright lights
• Water bottle
• Speedometer and Odometer
• Puncture repair kit
• Tyre pump
• Basic tools e.g. a set of hex keys and a multi-spanner

Clothes and Personal Accessories

• Cycle Helmet - No 1 thing for safety
• Gloves - Especially needed in cold or wet weather
• High Visibility jacket - can fold up tiny for easy storage and use as a waterproof when it is wet.
• Padded cycle shorts - Essential for long journeys especially when you are not used to riding
• Cycling jersey - have zipped pockets in the back, good at letting air flow around you, keeping you cool
• High Visibility Rucksack - you can wear what you like and still stay visible
• MP3 Player - Essential for forgetting the pain and carrying on when you do not think you can any longer

Books and maps

• The Racing Bike Book (Haynes)
• Ordinance survey map of the area you regularly ride
• Transparent plastic sheets and permanent medium colored pens, this is to put over the map and draw different routes, each transparency will have a different route on it that you can overlay on the map to make your own practice routes and keep a good variety.

Websites

• http://www.camcycle.org.uk/map/route/23268/
  - Cycle routes around cambridgeshire
• http://www.bike-events.com/Ride.aspx?id=158
  - National cycle events e.g. London to Cambridge
• http://www.bhf.org.uk/get_involved/take_part_in_our_events/bike_rides/london_to_brighton_bike_ride.aspx
  - London to Brighton Cycle Ride information
• http://www.lcc.org.uk/index.asp?PageID=565
• - London Cycle Campaign - Cycle maintenance
• http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/uk/ee/cambridge_forecast_weather.html
  - Cambridge weather

Weekly bike training in miles

Week 1
Distance: 14 miles
Description: General Cycling

Week 2
Distance: 40 miles
Description: 1 return trip to work, 1 return trip into town, 1 hill climb training session

Week 3
Distance: 53.6 miles
Description: 2 return tript to work, 1 return trip to Ely

Week 4
Distance: 62 miles
Description: 3 return tript to work, 1 22 mile route

Where there is a will, there is a way!!!

My first training session with Andrew was here, only 5 miles to find out our fitness and if our bikes needed work doing on them to make them ready. I am still using my old bike as my new bike has not arrived yet.

There is a route near Fulbourn that is 2.5 miles up hill climb, then across and old shaky overgrown roman road and round and back, 5 miles all together. Both Andrew and I have estate cars to there is no problem transporting the bicycles. We went to near where the highest hills in the Cambridge area are, which is not saying much, as Cambridge is the flattest place on earth.

We started the ride 0.5 miles all was OK, then I felt that we had started going up hill, very gradually, all was still OK, breathing was a bit faster, the steeper it went the more difficult it was, but I was doing it. I struggled up this hill only to find a more steep hill, I went up that hill and made it 80% the next hill and my handlebars came loose. They were not in danger of coming off but they we rotating forwards and backwards making it difficult to control, as when it moved, I could not reach the gears or breaks.

We pulled over and decided the roman road would be too much for my old bike to we turned around, back down the hill reaching speeds of nearly 30 miles per hour. We got back and I tightened up my handlebars, all I needed was an hex key.

I went to the bike shop and bought a mini tool kit that fits onto the bike, so I will be prepared next time, and a carry case that fits to the bike behind the seat.

I was unsatisfied with the amount of training that I had done and wanted an large foldout map of the area so I decided to cycle into town. I found some old LED bike lights in the drawer and fitted them and I cycled into town 7 miles, went to some book shops and bought a large map of all the villages around the area, a complete book about bikes and racing including fixing and maintaining your bike and health, and a book with 20 cycle routes in the area.

After I cycled back my odometer said my total cycling into town and back was 15 miles. I was very satisfied with a total of 20 miles for the day.

It could have been worse!!!

Last weekend I decided to cycle to work one day, so I looked on the Met office website to see which day would have the best weather, it was Friday.

So I prepared my things last night, water bottle, rucksack full of my things, wash stuff, fleece jumper, and spare clothes, waterproof high visibility jacket, gloves and my MP3 player, laptop and mobile phone, all sorted.

I thought I would set off early so that I would not be rushing, so I left at 7:20am to get to work for 8am. Started off when it was just light enough to see the road, knowing that part of the journey was in a bike lane shared with the footpath that had no street lights for about 2 miles.

Just after setting off it started to rain, I thought I would chance the rain, after all it is only 6.5 miles and felt good about my decision. The further I went the more it rained, but I carried on, listening to music on my MP3 player and cycling. I was wearing a waterproof high-visibility jacket but I have no lights until I get my new bike, but it was just light enough for it.

I set off and everything was fine, got to about 4 miles in and had to go up over an bridge, struggled a bit with that and had to drop a few gears. I thought that I would need to stop and have a drink, so I decided to stop at the bottom of the downward part of the bridge, after all if you do the work you should have fun with the easy bit.

Once I decended the bridge, the few seconds of not peddling gave me the strength to carry on without stopping. The rest of the ride was so pleasant that I could have carried on for a few more miles, the rain did not bother me, I was just listening to my MP3 player and continuing, not thinking about my destination or how far I had done, just continuing.

I got to work, got a wash and put on fresh clothes and felt fantastic.

When it got to 4:15pm it was starting to get dark, I worried a bit as I don't have lights, as long as it was light enough it would be ok, most of the cycle paths home are off the road on the pavement anyway. 4:30pm came and I packed up and left, it was getting dark, but it was still just light enough to see, and it was not raining, just wet under foot.

Set off and everything was fine, I had to take it easy as it was too dark to see everything. I got to the bridge that I had problems with earlier. I didn't realise that the other way, the cycle path disappeared into grass and mud. So I struggled up this hill on a mountain bike with street tyres in the dark, wheels slipping and inches from the road.

I made it to the top and thought it would be an easy decent, still on grass and mud, this time hard to control the speed. Once I made it to the bottom, I then had to cycle home 2 miles more with no street lights, the only light was car headlights. on a 2 foot wide path. Road on one side and a large ditch on the other side.

I finally made it back, which took me nearly an hour to get 6.5 miles.

Never leave you house without lights, you never know how long you are going to be out, or how dark it will be on your way back.

What's Breatnac's Blog about

I have decided to start this blog to publish my triumphs and failures for getting fit and losing some weight.

I am 35 years old with a wife and two children and I have made a New Year's resolution to get in shape. You know how it is, you eat the wrong foods, don't take enough exercise and before you know it you are you get out of breath running up a few flights of stairs.

Don't get me wrong, I do not intend to cut the English Breakfast Butties out of my life completely, I mean its not as if I am 2o stone or anything, I could just do with losing a stone and getting in shape.

I have decided to do something about this, although it is only 9th January a lot has happened to steer me towards using a bicycle to get in shape. My work have offered us a tax incentive to buy a new bike and one of my friends has challenged me to cycle from London to Brighton, which is 54 miles, and if you know me, you know that I cannot resist a challenge.

My other reason to get fit is to improve my health and immune system as my children bring home all sorts of colds, flu's, fevers etc. that they just pass on to me.

The London to Brighton Cycle Ride is on Sunday 15th June 2008, which gives me 6 months to be able to comfortably cycle that type of distance, I will be asking for sponsorship for this for the British Heart Foundation. The entry for this starts 1st March 2008 and it fills up quickly as it is an extremely popular event.

In for a penny, in for a pound, so we have also opted to enter the London to Cambridge Cycle Ride which is 6 weeks after that, on Sunday 27th July 2008, which finishes in midsummer common, Cambridge. Entry for this starts mid-January, so I will be able to book this one early. Again I will be asking for sponsorship, this time for Breast Cancer Appeal.

I have not done anything for charity since I left school and with Cambridge being a very charitable place, now that I live here, I should do my bit towards it.

I will be updating this with how I am doing in training, times and distances travelled. I have been reading other things that people have written about their experiences about starting to cycle, but nothing in much detail.

I have spend the next week or so cycling on my old bike which I bought second hand for £90 two years ago and I have only ridden to work a few times on it.

My new bike is a Ridgeback Element, I would not attempt something like this without advice, a decent bike and the right gear.

My training started last week I did a total of 14 miles on the bike and so far this week I have done 7 miles. I will cycle to work and back on Friday 6.5 miles each way and a short 5 mile cycle at the weekend. I will increase the distance once I get my new bike.