We're off (well driving to the start anyway)

Excited, doesn't quite cut it.

Bag is packed, bike is washed and sparkling and just need tomorrow to arrive. Sponsorship has also nudged up to £592 - come on!

Weather forecast is perfect - nice and warm, but not too hot - still unsure of wind direction but can wait for that!

Dog goes to kennels soon, and kids to grandparents then we will be leaving in around 3 hours for the long haul up to Whitehaven. - Lots of counting bridges, Eddie Stobart lorry spotting and general joie de vivre ahead for the journey.

Looking forward to meeting up with Ivor again after a year, since our attempt on the Norwich 50 - a scorcher! Hoping Simon's knee (he dislocated it last weekend!) holds up for two more days? As for me think i am in better shape than my bike - must be time for a new one surely - maybe i could treat myself as a reward... hmmm could I swing it, could I?

I have corrected everyone who i have spoken to that it is a ride and not a race, however a friend asked me whether there were at least two people taking part, to which i replied yes there are thre of us, his response - well it's a race then isn't it? - Deep down I know he is right, the "race" may never be acknowledged by the participants but it still exists and lurks under the surface.

Dedicating the ride for the next two days to my Dad, who would have been 65 yesterday, but was taken by cancer almost 4 years ago - LiveStrong Dad - you are in a much better place now.

48 hours...

It's astounding.
Time is fleeting.
Madness takes it's toll.
But listen closely (Not for very much longer)
Let's do the C2C again!

Serious countdown now. it's just hours away - bike has an appointment with a sponge and bucket tonight and then it's carb load up time - my favourite bit of the whole event!

We load the car at around lunchtime with eta in Whitehaven at about 6pm, before an evening of cycling stories, both good and bad, comparing calf muscles and putting in our respective two penneth on the world at large. Then it's off to bed before brekkie and 2 days of riding.

Yesterday's Giro stage was good, Menchov still in pink, Lance had a bit of a dig on the climb but Pellazotti was away and gone Di Luca grabbed a few seconds back so could all be down to the final TT?

3 Days to go!

As per the title suggests, time is closing pre the epic(?) ride this weekend. Kit is washed, and in a pile ready for packing, energy food/drink has been obtained and the last 100 miles are being pedalled.
Weather report for the start is reproduced below:

High 17°C - Sunny
Wind - From East South East at 26 kmph
Maximum Humidity - 71%
UV Index - 6
Chance of Precip - 0%
Sunrise - 04:48

Looks good to me! - Hmm i wonder if the B&B will do brekkie at 4am to allow us to start with the sunrise?

Looking forward to the Giro Stage today a climb up the monster Blockhaus - can anyone dislodge Menchov, let's hope so

Map for the weekend

Quick reminder then. We start at Whitehaven on Saturday morning after breakfast, then work our way across to Garrigil / Alston for an overnight stop, then on Sunday pick off the rest of the miles and finish up in Sunderland.

Profile for the weekend

Looks pretty in blue doesn't it?

Rolling first day with a killer hill (Hartside) to end with, then a few short sharp ones before downhill all the way to Sunderland!

Bring it on.

The things we do

Hey

Just a thought, but have realised for the privilege of doing 140 miles next weekend i shall be travelling around 550 in the car to do so - madness? Probably but its got to be worth it. - Hasn't it?

Darren

Progress Report Week 18

6 days and counting till C2C - Another good week on the bike, in terms of mileage / performance and lovely weather to boot. Sponsorship has gone through the hakfway pont of £500 too - hopefully we can add to that over the next few days - come on everyone!

The Stats:
Total Mileage: 235miles, 2636 year to date. (Think thats the most mileage in one week this year, plus i have smashed through the 2500 target)
Longest Ride: 31 miles
Hours on Bike:13.63Hrs
Weight: 72.5Kg
BMI:23.74
Wii Fit Age:34

I am now taking 2 days off the bike, then will cycle a more direct route to and from work say 50-60 miles-ish over the next three days before travelling up to Whitehaven on Friday for the off on Saturday morning.

Although sorely tempted, i have declined the opportunities of additional cycling kit, and so will go with what i have! - the long range weather forecast looks good which is a bonus too.

In the Giro, Cav gets his hat-trick and is then pulled by Columbia to prepare for the tour, Levi got beat on the TT, by Menchov (is that really the same bloke who normally cycles so anonymously on the big occasions?) who had an absolute flyer on the day. Lance also performed well for his first competitive TT since return from retirement. Team Astana continue to perform well overall on GC too. They have also paid some of the owed money to their team this week , but future name andsponsorship of team is still in doubt.

In other cycling news, Graeme Obree is having a pop at the hour record again later this year - no "superman" bikes alloed anymore, but it will be intriguing to watch - wonder if Boardman is interested in having a crack again to revitalise the rivalry of the 90's?

Will probably post some meandering thoughts a couple more times before the weekend. Will probably get organised and post updates from the road over the weekend on Facebook / Twitter too. www.twitter.com/djw92

Cheers for now

Progress Report Week 17

A fortnight to go - can you sense the excitement in my typing?

Fundraising has taken a leap forward as well which is great - £477 (and rising?)

The stats:
Total Mileage: 153miles, 2401 year to date. Should eclipse the 2500 target a week early (at least!)
Longest Ride: 40 miles
Hours on Bike:9.18Hrs
Weight: 73Kg
BMI:23.84
Wii Fit Age:33

Took a couple of days off (slightly enforced as my back brake had seized plus had bike serviced) so that accounts for the lesser mileage - big push this week before slackening off next week in final preparation for the challenge to come.

Felt like St Swithin was up to no good on Friday - boy did i get wet coming in, which (coincidentally?) caused my back wheel to start its creaking noise again - maybe subliminaly i am being told something here? - No new kit (as yet..) to report although ever watchful!

In cycling news, the Giro has been intersting watching - Ali-Jet dominated the sprints early last week, with the peleton taking part in some crazy descents thereafter, and a Rabobank rider having a really bad crash as a result. Stage 9 was then a largely uncontested affair until the final few Km's when Cav got his first sprint stage win, making it three in a row for Columbia. Astana (with or without a sponsor!) continue to lurk in the top ten of GC.

Finally am most jealous as Simon, my riding buddy got a new bike - a ridgeback panoramic tourer - v.nice - can i have a new bike too? - please!?!

Progress Report Week 16

Sweet sixteen! and another good week was had

The stats:
Total Mileage: 200miles, 2248 year to date. - Well on target for 2500 pre-C2C.
Longest Ride: 36 miles (down a bit)
Hours on Bike:11.68Hrs
Weight: 73.7Kg (hmmm - fatboy?)
BMI:24.03
Wii Fit Age:38

Fundraising is up to £402 - excelent!

Shopping update - 2 new hard case tyres bought plus spare inner tubes, bottle cage and bottle, still hankering after some new kit and in the utopian world of Darren some new wheels but we will see!

Bike has gone in for a service, so no cycling today, but back with avengeance tomorrow...

In Cycling news:

• Cav and his Columbia team made a great start to the Giro, winning the TTT - but very early days and with mountains on stage 4 the GC should get a shake-up on Tuesday, with teh big boys coming to the fore. - Go Lance / Levi.
• The future of Astana hangs in the balance as the Kazakh backing has not been forthcoming with the readies to pay the masseurs, mechanics et al all the associated gossip is about LA or Johan Bruyneel taking the team on - Team Livestrong? - watch this space.
• Sadly Tom Boonen has been caught for cocaine again, hopefully the authorities will do the right thing for cycling whilst encouraging TB to seek help.
• Also the slur of Operation Puerto lingers on as Valverde is banned for competing in Italy based on his alleged involvement with this scandal.

More next time...

Progress Report Week 15

Under a month to go - bring it on!

Another Puncture sustained even after the post below. -New tyres will be purchased forthwith.

The stats:
Total Mileage: 188miles, 2048 year to date.
Longest Ride: 46 miles
Hours on Bike:11.1Hrs
Weight: 72.75Kg
BMI:23.77
Wii Fit Age:33

All looking good - just need to control the snack cravings!

Fundraising is up to £370 - so thanks to all of you who have sponsored so far.

In other news Levi and Lance did a one-two in the Tour of the Gila in Mexico representing Mellow Johnny Team (Astana in disguise!) and the Giro is rapidly approaching this weekend - Cav has been named as Columbia Team Leader - can't wait...

Punctured

I hate punctures!

Once is forgivable, twice is ok, but three times in a little over a month - aargh!

Guess the Bontrager hardcase tyres need replacing - They must have had 4-5000 miles done on them so not bad.