Job Done !!!

A Big Big Big Thank You to all who Sponsored us in our successful attempt to Cycle from Windsor to Highams Park on Saturday.

The Cyclists
Conor, Matt, John, Danny, Mike, Paul L, Paul B, Leigh Ian and Ainsley

The Support Team
Richard, Di, and Andrea


The Wags
Debbie, Viv, Sue, Isabella, Jane, Sarah, Noreen and Corrine

Thanks a Million

3 days to go - and the talking is now over...

Dear Friends - as you can see from our Just Giving Site, thanks to your generosity, we are 70% on the way to reaching our target. It has been great fun, hard work, but great fun.

If you haven't sponsored us yet then there is still time by clicking on the Just Giving Logo to the right of this...

The serious work starts at 6:30 on Saturday morning. our schedule for the day looks like this:

	Time	Stage	Post Code	Grid Reference	Stage Time	Total Time
Stage 1	6:30	Start - Holiday Inn Slough	SL1 2NH	SU 96462 79672
	7:00	Breakfast in Windsor			30 minutes	30 minutes
	7:30	Windsor to Rickmansworth			2 hours	2.5 hours
	9:30	Stop Café in the Park Rickmansworth	WD3 1NB	TQ 05497 93805	30 minutes	3.0 hours
Stage 2	10:00	Rickmansworth to St Albans			2 hours	5.0 hours
	12:00	Stop St Albans	AL1 1JD	TL 15547 06476	1 hour	6.0 hours
Stage 3	1:00	St Albans to Hertford			2 hours	8.0 hrs
	3:00	Stop Hertford	SG14 1QR	TL 32706 13046	30 minutes	8.5 hours
Stage 4	3:30	Hertford to Dobbs Weir			1 hour	9.5 hours
	4:30	Stop Dobbs Weir	EN11 0AY	TL 38545 08181	15 Minutes	9.75 hours
Stage 5	4:45	Dobbs Weir to Enfield Lock			1 hour	10.75 hours
	5:30	Stop Enfield Lock	EN3 6HR	TQ 37164 98719	15 Minutes	11.0 hours
	6:00	Enfield Lock to HP			1 hour	12.0 hours
	7:00	Arrive HP

As you can see we are due to cross the finishing line (outside 122 The Avenue) between 6:00pm and 7:00pm. If you fancied popping along and cheering us through at any point along the route you are more than welcome

 The Weather is not what we wanted..... it looks like a strong (19mph) North Easterly It is  going to be very very tough with wind like that..

Obsessive Cycling Disorder - Eeeeeeeeek only 2 Training Weekends to go!!!!

My apologies for not keeping on top of the blog, especially with the ride now only 2 training cycle ride weekends  away...... I've had quite a bit of work on which is good I guess.

I/We have a lot to do between now and the 30^th April.

PLEASE PLEASE Can You give me an Idea of the funds raised to date if you are doing it by Sponsor form as opposed to the Just Giving. And if you can have a big push as we close in on the date...

I will have our accommodation details sorted by Friday and a first Blush Time table for both Friday and the Saturday.......watch this space.

Ainsley is organising a cycle tonight (13^th April) anyone who fancies joining him tonight is more than welcome. I think Mike and Ian are joining him. JJ's running with his "Ladies"

We have cycled from Highams Park to St Albans twice since I last updated the Blog. On the 2^nd JJ Ainsley Ian Matt and Conor cycled the 40 miles, Matt and Conor bailed out at Hertford. And last weekend Paul B and I were joined by Paul Lucas and Conor. I was a beautiful day perfect for cycling, if only we could rely on the weather being like it on the 30^th Better start praying!!!! Conor made it to St Albans. Well done Con even if you did walk like John Wayne for 3 days afterwards.

This Weekend -----

I think it important that we all do at least one training ride together to see what 10 of us cycling together is like. I have now Cycled with everyone, ,and I can safely say "ALL THE GEAR AND ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA" To be fair I think everyones fitness has imbrovedwe ave slowly built up our milage to about 50-60miles or so.   But I cannot stress enough how hard the extra 30 odd miles will be. So I really can’t emphasise how important the next two weekends are.....

Can We ALL do this Sunday? – I am Planning a big one I did want to do the "Bridge To Far" but Ainsley reminded me that its the bloody marathon this Sunday perhaps we could start from Westminster and work towards Richmond from there... The other option is the Potters Bar Special, John Jung has also Suggested a Chingford to Toot Hill Loop.

Any way I’m open to suggestions but I really think we should all get out together if at all possible, especially as the following weekend is Easter and we may all have commitments over the weekend.

Here are a few Pictures.....

Here's our Mayor making a selection from the top shelf at Patels Minute Mart at St Albans Station at the end of last weeks Training Ride. Nice One Boris....

Ainsley trying to sell his bike to a pensioner at Hertford Market....Nice!

JJ having a reflective moment on the 13:45 to St Pancras

Ainsley Very Happy after selling his moody bike to the above mentioned pensioner for £300

St Albans London Road Station end of the Road for the last two Weekend Rides

Another Bloody Lock

This Weekend's cycle - Only 4 Weeks to Go

I have been told that Sunday is Mothers day which is a “three line whip” for me so I cannot now cycle.

Saturday early is probably best now. Ainsley JJ Conor and possibly Matt are up for it (St Albans) anyone else???

Meet Mine at 7:30am

Sorry to muck you all about……

Sorry Guys I haven’t had a chance to write a report on last week’s agonising 90mile ride, from Cambridge to Shoeburyness.

Although the guff from the BHF said that the ride was 70 odd miles I popped the route into Map my Ride and lo and behold 90sodding miles ………argh

We left Cambridge at 8:30 (having left HP at 6:00am)the route went through Duxford, Saffron Walden Debden, Thaxted, Great Dunmow, Felsted,Boreham, Danbury, Battlebridge, Rayleigh, Southend and then Shoebury. Here is the Route!!!!

The Hill between Little Badow and Danbury is a category 5 Climb

Any way here are a couple more pictures.

Nice Boozer called the John Barleycorn free coke and cadbury's mini eggs

 Dont forget to chase your sponsors!!!!

Cambridge to Coast 78.38 miles - Done

We did it . Quite possibly the most unpleasant thing I have ever done. Here's the proof I will complete a fuller report later.

You are quite right my smile here is completely false

Training Timetable April - and Sponsorship

We now only have 5 training weekends remaining until the challenge on Saturday 30^th April.

You all now know what you personally have to do to make sure you are fit and able for the ride…….. 

To help us focus and make the most of our remaining training time I have completed the following Training Schedule  so that you can all see at a glance what rides and training is being done between now and the off.  If you want to take part just email me !!!!

Next Sunday we are going to do HP to St Albans so that we can all re-familiarise ourselves with the second part of the Route.

Sunday 10^th I’ve found another good London Cycle that takes in all 11 major Thames bridges

Hammersmith Bridge, Putney BridgeBattersea BridgeAlbert BridgeBattersea ParkVauxhall BridgeWestminster Bridge Waterloo BridgeBlackfriars BridgeLondon BridgeTower Bridge. Got to be an early start though to avoid the crowds.

Sunday 17 will be an ingenious Potters Bar Circular of about 65 miles starting from HP.

And finally on Sunday 24^th we’ll warm down with an easy Hertford and Back plus breakfast at the café opposite the Fish and Eels mmmmmmmmm!!

If you haven’t got your sponsorship emails out  or you have yet to tell your family friends work colleagues then you need to get them out this weekend. As you can see we’re up to £581 or 23% of the Total but still have a long way to go.

There has been some magnificent donations/sponsorships especially to Ainsley who’s raised £271 so far.

Finally for those who didn’t read Ainsley’s post........ over to you Ainsley.

Ok chaps some hints on fuelling up for a big ride and staying fuelled up while you’re riding:-

Eat a load of pasta the night before
For Breakfast any or all of the following:-

- Hearty oatmeal.
- Whole wheat toast + natural peanut butter.
- An apple.
- Hearty, natural granola (whole almonds, etc.)
- Cheerios without milk.

During the ride:-

- Carb Bars (every couple of hours)
- Banana
- Water
- Sports Drink

Make sure you stay hydrated during the ride don't wait until you feel thirsty it might be too late.
After the ride some protein is a good idea to help your muscles recover.

Great website for all things cycling:-

http://coachlevi.com/

there’s even a section in there on how to shave your legs! Mike, Danny this won't apply to you!

This weeks Cycle - 5 weeks to go

As we said in yesterdays blog Ian Mike and Ainsley are participating in the Cam to Coast 2011 72 Miler as a Training ride. JJ is Working and Paul B is cycling to work this week. I don't know whether Paul L, Leigh, Danny, are organising anything together or whether they're doing separate training rides this weekend.

To be honest I'm not looking forward to this cycle 72 miles is at least 7 hours in the saddle but its got to be done if we are to have a chance of completing the 100. The thought of a couple of scoops at the Hoop in Stock and  a Mr Whippy at Shoeburyness at the end will get us to the finish line.

There is a beer festival on at the Hoop in Stock from Friday 27th of May to Saturday 4th of June 2011

There has been a few complaints about the treatment meted out to Mike over the Romper Suit he was wearing on Sunday. Mike himself has admitted that the Baby Grow look is not a good one and said outfit is now destined for the bin. However there is a view from some readers of this blog that people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. Therefore below is a picture with yours truly in it and admits that he is in no position to take pith.

HMS Bulwark in the Background moored at Greenwich

Just a reminder that all of us are meeting in the County arms at 8:00 to discuss the logistics for the challenge. Please email if you cant be there.