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