The last post...

...before I set off.

Just time to say thanks to everyone who's read the blog so far, sponsored me or is planning to give me some encouragement (see previous reference to Speckled Hen) en route.

In our party there are eight riders, aged from 15 to 68, (can I quickly point out that neither is me) plus Alan Fletcher who is selflessly giving up his own time to drive the (his) support vehicle. As someone at work remarked today, we'll know each other much better by the end, whether we want to or not.

If possible I'll find a way of posting remotely during the ride.

If not, I'm sure you'll understand.

Ready to roll....

Today was our final training ride, a 65 mile tour of the Cotswolds, taking in Stow-on-the-Wold and Broadway. During which I was reminded thet 'Wold' is the Old English word for hill.

I was joined by Steve Peoples, John Quigley and Rob Davis. Great guys, but all younger, fitter, lighter and with lighter bikes, which meant that while I was OK on the flat, I struggled to keep up on the climbs....tant pis, as they say south of Dover (or should that be Douvers?.)

Since I got back I've been planning the route - not an easy task, as there's a trade-off between speed and safety. Talking with my fellow riders, we' re all happy to take a bit longer and enjoy the experience.

I've had the bike fettled at Mike's Bikes, bought a handlebar bag (partly to hold a map, partly to store 'fuel' for topping up while riding.

Just think - this time next week I'll be luxuriating at the Barnstaple Travellodge....

Good day Sunshine

Friday was a great day for cycling, and I was riding into the sun (and wind...) as I passed through East Leake and into Loughborough. Which I have to say, is a Funny Place. If it's not listed in the book Crap Towns, it really should be.

An industrial area, a university, and the bit in the middle a time warp of 1950s decay. When I say university, don't imagine dreaming spires - it has all the charm of a nuclear reprocessing plant.

Fortunately I was soon out in the countryside again, though the price of getting into the Charnwood Forest was a climb that soon had me pushing rather than pedalling.

But there were moments of pure joy, riding along unclassified roads with no traffic and just the sounds and smells of the countryside for company.

I then tried to follow the line of the Fosse Way back to High Cross. Went along a bridleway, a lane, then into 'Fosse Meadows', which sounded about right...until the road turned into a track and finally a dried-up quagmire. That's the price of following in the footsteps of centurions.

So, what did I learn from these two days?

1. Unclassified roads are great, even if they meander
2. Hills are to be avoided
3. Although you pass some great pubs, you crave a pint of......cold milk
4. Time in the saddle is what matters - there's no point in stopping for longer than necessary
5. Bananas are great! - Tasty, healthy, compostable packaging and, combined with Lycra shorts, the source of endless Carry-On type humour....

The sound of summer

You can't beat a bit of willow on leather to tell you you're in England on a summer's day, and not a vuvuzela to be heard.

A mediocre England bowling performance in the first ODI at Trent Bridge helped Bangladesh record their highest total against England, and make a game of it.

However, Strauss was in imperious form, getting into position ridiculously early (not so evident when watching on TV) and blasting 50 at will, effectively killing any thoughts of Bangladesh gaining its first win over England, within 10 overs. Being England, it wasn't plain sailing though, and it fell to Ian Bell to play a mature innings of 84 n.o. to see the ship home.

The supremely talented Belly's frustrated regularly in the past by playing like a millionaire, then losing the plot and picking out the nearest fielder. Now he seems to be much calmer and selects his shots much better. Shame he got injured at Bristol...

How did this help me prepare for LE-JOG, you ask?... Well, Guinness is full of vitamin B, and a donner kebab, with all that onion, tomato and lettuce, is practically a health food..........

In the footsteps of centurions

Blogs are like buses....none for ages, then three come along together.

Such is life. I took a couple of days off last week to cycle to Nottingham and back. A sort of epreuve, to convince myself that the proposed 100-mile days of LE-JOG were more than a pipe dream.

Thursday morning at 7.30 was cool, which was fine, as I made my way through Leamington, up the Rugby Road to Princethorpe. The school there always seems more Hogwarts then Hogwarts itself. See what I mean?

I made good progress, resisting the temptation to fanny about as I'd arranged to go to Trent Bridge in the afternoon with my brother.

On the hour I crossed the A45, then the M6, and at two hours I crossed the A5 at High Cross and ventured into deepest Leicestershire. Making my way through enchanting countryside, I was pleased that cycling takes you to places you'd never visit otherwise. I mean, what images does 'Leicestershire' conjure up? Jonathan Agnew, Grace Road, pork pies? Really, it's not as bad as you might imagine. I await the call from the local tourist board...

It couldn't last, and picking up the Fosse again I was soon battling with aggregate trucks. In a bid to avoid Leicester - and who can blame me? - I got lost, and, foolishly taking a 'cycleway', I found myself in the Sainsbury's car park at Fosse Park Retail Hell. Not a pleasant place to be, even if you intended to visit.

Made my way round the Leicester ring-road - not likely to feature in a Lonely Planet guide book anytime soon, to be honest. Lots of England flags in evidence - some people don't do shame...

Back to the refuge of the countryside - Anstey, Quorn, Barrow-on-Soar and up the A60 to Ruddington. 75 miles in five hours, 15 mph, not a bad effort. And I felt I could have done another couple of hours in the saddle. But Trent Bridge beckoned....

Carry on Doctor...

Today's training ride (a select group of Rod & me) enjoyed another beautiful day of sunshine as we covered 60+ miles - Barford - Evesham - Broadway Tower (left) Chipping Campden - Shipston - Barford. I was in reasonably good nick at the end (and will need to be, as I'll be averaging 100 miles a day on LE-JOG) but the injuries from last week's crash were still making themselves felt. Stiff elbow, sore knee.




And it seems my chest injury was not just bruising, as I'd hoped but torn intercostal (between the ribs) muscles, which I've done before, playing cricket.

Good news is it doesn't seem to affect my riding, but using a hand pump to inflate my tyres is painful, as is sneezing and laughing.

Better remember to avoid ISIHAC on R4 on Monday evenings....