Peregrines & Punctures

Well we managed to get to day 4 before we got a puncture - but what a spot!

Somewhere on the Peregrine Trail adjacent to the River Wye about 2 miles from Symonds Yat, and about 3-4 from the hostel .

Our second puncture followed hot on the heels of the first - about 30m later!

This is much better going than our Way of the Roses trip in March where the first puncture occurred within 10 miles, and our 2010 C2C trip where we had one within the first four miles followed by 5 in the last 10.

Summary of today's ride to follow.

At the dark end of the Street....

(From yesterday Monday 31 May)

Had a leisurely start to the day due to pouring rain in Exeter (Bank Holiday Monday of course ) and the fact that we were only doing c.56 miles today - although due to some route amendments (to avoid certain A roads) and some map misinterpretation it turned out to be 60.

So now we're three counties down - in Somerset about 5 miles from Glastonbury (Street to be precise).

Thinking about with hindsight what would we have done differently or brought with us?

Rachel - my clip on reading light (none of the hostels have had individual lights so you cannot read etc, although in an ideal world I prob wouldn't stay in hostels either - although you do get up earlier)

Ian - performance enhancing drugs(?)

Damian - his mobile phone (which he left on a train a few days before we set off).

Delightful Dartmoor

Turned out not to be our longest day today - just 75 miles (not the promised 84 as stated on the CTC route - not quite sure how that happened but welcome all the same).

The first part of the day was not overly pleasant due to drizzle etc and just seemed very long. Dartmoor was an unexpected pleasure, although the road to it from Plymouth (A386 to Tavistock) most certainly wasn't. Avoid if you can* .

The climb over Dartmoor was quite hard but rewarding and it was the first time we've seen the sun since Friday. Imagine it could be pretty bleak at times but today was lovely - warmish w little wind.

There were a few tough climbs after Dartmoor particularly out of Moreton Hampstead - including a nice 16% one.

We've been over 3 car ferries so far: Prince Harry on the first day was £1.50 (for the 3 of us), Torpoint to Plymouth was free but Bodinick ferry was £4.70??

Anyway off to Somerset tomorrow nr Glastonbury Tor.

* wouldn't it be nice if buses gave some kind of friendly warning to cyclists using the bus lane that they were there instead of just hurtling past with inches to spare - well I guess we can dream.

Day One: Drizzle

Well that's day one over with - about 66 miles down just 400 something to go.

We actually did just over 70 miles today - through a variety of drizzles, light rain etc. - as we had first to reach Lands End before we could leave Lands End (see photo for shot of rather tacky start point).

No major problems today - D narrowly averted disaster by losing and recovering the map twice, my chain came off just nr Charlestown (v pretty by the way) but that's pretty much it - exciting eh?

We were out on the bikes for quite a long time - about 8 hrs - but this did include 2 food stops and multiple map reading stops plus a fair few putting on / taking off of waterproofs stops.

Tomorrow is our longest and hilliest day we think - what kind of a combination is that? - with our end point at another YH, this time in Exeter.

Day Zero

After 8hrs on the train and a breezy 8 mile ride to St Just - we have finally arrived at our first night's stay - The Lands End YH.

A slight delay to the start of journey due to a small map reading problem (Ian) and a cleat on the wrong way round (me) - you decide which is worse. The hostel is in a lovely location and only a 15min walk from St Just, where we are currently enjoying a pub meal and a pint.

Breakfast is ordered for 8am then we'll be setting off for the ubiquitous photo at the LE sign. Think it's approx 65 miles tomorrow with our first night proper in Golant.

First Fig

FIRST FIG Edna St.Vincent Millay

My candle burns at both ends; It will not last the night; But ah, my foes, and oh, my friends— It gives a lovely light!

The Wind

Luckily the wind for Saturday is currently forecast as WSW which is good news for us.

Here is a lovely poem by Emily Dickinson

THE WIND

Of all the sounds despatched abroad,

There's not a charge to me

Like that old measure in the boughs,

That phraseless melody

The wind does, working like a hand

Whose fingers brush the sky,

Then quiver down, with tufts of tune

Permitted gods and me.

When winds go round and round in bands,

And thrum upon the door,

And birds take places overhead,

To bear them orchestra,

I crave him grace, of summer boughs,

If such an outcast be,

He never heard that fleshless chant

Rise solemn in the tree,

As if some caravan of sound

On deserts, in the sky,

Had broken rank,

Then knit, and passed

In seamless company.

Then There Were Three

Unfortunately due to a virus Annie has had to pull out of our LELA trip - and so the four become three. Get Well Soon Annie.

Well in a little under 24hrs I will be arriving in Penzance* to make (what I hope is) the short bike journey down to Lands End.

I have to admit that I'm feeling a little nervous - although this is not unusual before a trip - have I forgotten something? will the weather be ok? Although now I can add a few new ones - will my legs/bum cope? what direction will the wind blow?

Thanks to Dr Bike my new derailleur is now in place along with my new cassette. Had a little test run today and that ultra low gear certainly spins the legs - let's just hope it does the trick on the Cornish hills and beyond.

There's still plenty of time to sponsor us at http://www.justgiving.com/LandsEndLancaster. Just one penny per mile would be most appreciated (£5).

*Due to the ridiculous situation with bikes & trains in the UK - the other 2 are leaving Lancaster at 0757 and me at 0957. The train between Birmingham and Plymouth will only take 2 bikes meaning we have to travel on separate trains - phhh.

Roses

Just thought this was a nice picture.

Day 2 of our recent Way of the Roses trip. This was taken outside of the West End Outdoor Centre, nr Blubberhouses. It was a very pleasant and well equipped bunkhouse - albeit a little further off route than we thought.

The Dilemma of Packing Light

As it's now only 4 days until we set off my thoughts turn to what to take with me (although truth be told I started thinking about this some weeks ago).

I've got a pair of rather nice Ortlieb panniers and it's very tempting as with any journey to just fill them up and go. But on the other hand I will be riding a bike for a whole week and any extra weight just means more effort.

Thus the process begins - how many pairs of socks do I really need for one week? Can I get away without taking a hairbrush and how much weight will that actually save me? Shall I just take shorts and hope for the best?

Essentially it's a balance between comfort on the bike (the smallest load possible) vs off the bike (spare clothes, home comforts etc.). To be honest the former normally wins - just the thought of those hills is enough to make me put that 2nd jumper back.

Rain, rain, rain and Rachel

Has it stopped raining today - it doesn't feel like it. Perhaps this is normal for May but after the great weather in April it's quite a shock.

Here is the last of the four intrepid riders Me aka Rachel.

Current bike: Cannondale Triple. My other bikes are a Scott mountain bike and a Trek Lexa SLX. The Cannondale is the oldest at just over a year (I went on a bit of a spending spree in 10/11 back in the halycon days when I had employment).

Favourite cycle ride: Most of them to be honest although I do need to be persuaded to tackle some of the hillier ones. Have discovered some great routes in Lancashire & Cumbria over the last couple of years. For some reason Jubilee Tower is my particular nemesis - like diving I know I can do it but it scares me a bit.

Favourite piece of kit: Too many to name...perhaps my Ortlieb panniers? and I do like a good cycle computer.

Favourite cycling quote: “I expect to see the day when not to ride a wheel will be a mark of a defective education, and people will say to such a person, ‘Why, where have you been brought up?’” - Reverend W.J Petrie of Chicago, ‘How to Bicycle’

What does cycling mean to you: Fun, Scenery, Exercise, Health, Transport, Friends, Work, Exhilaration, Happy

It's Better to be Green

My new green bar tape - fitted by yours truly - not the most popular colour with my fellow cyclists it seems, but I like it. The tape was a bit short but for a first go it's worked out well enough.

This is my 'touring' bike - it's really just a road bike but it is a triple and has a pannier rack so it fares better than my others. For anyone interested it's a Cannondale Synapse Tiagra Triple (2009) - and has so far taken on me 2 Coast to Coast rides plus numerous local rides, commutes etc.

Below are some of the recently brought provisions for the LELA trip including a shiny new cassette (to make those hills just melt away) which hopefully will be fitted tomorrow.

I is for Ian and Inclement Weather

Well it seems quite some time ago now that Ian and myself cycled up to the Trough Road - via the 'Marshaw Road' (doesn't appear to have a name on the map) in glorious April sunshine and blue skies - however it was quite a different Lancashire today (some might say normal) grey, damp and very windy. Hopefully this isn't practice for our forthcoming trip.

We did incidentally get a bit of hill practice in - as well as the aforementioned roads it was also my first trip up 'Conder Bottom'. Now just need to spend all day doing it to simulate a day cycling in Cornwall

Enough of that here is Ian - cycling in the Yorkshire Wolds in April 2011.

Bike: Dawes Galaxy. 1994.Dingy green and very few original parts left. A bit like me.

A favourite route: Apart from Jubilee Tower.

Antrim coast -Ferry to Belfast. Train north to Portrush with friendliest conductor ever.Cycle down the beautiful coast via Giants Causeway, Bushmills, lovely fishing villages etc, ending up for night out in Belfast.

Pleasant cycling? - Brittany. Smooth quiet roads, careful drivers, hot weather, wonderful coastal scenery, great (fishy) food and accommodation.

Thoughts on the trip: Maybe I should've taken up bowls.

Favourite kit: Annie's new cassette glistening in its box in the pub last Tuesday

Best cycling quote: “Ride as much or as little, or as long or as short as you feel. But ride." -Eddy Merckx

Other related thoughts; Cycling accentuates the mind and gives a nicely turned calf. And vice versa. Be game for anything, except dancing when over 50. And really really try to leave the car at home.

D is for Damian and Donating

You might see from his answers that Damian is rather more enthusiastic about the trip then the rest of the group (the steeper the better is in no way a group held theory).

Current bike: Ridegeback Horizon in liquid silver (looks

like titanium). Only 3 months old - the baby bike of the party.

Favourite cycle ride: My quick training ride - Kendal to Kirkby Lonsdale to Sedbergh and back over Black Horse Hill. 34 miles of hills, 3 lovely towns, quite roads and awesome views.

Thoughts on trip: Can't wait. Just wish we had time to go all the way to John 'o Groats. Maybe next year. Really looking forward to the scenery in Cornwall.

Favourite piece of Kit: My Castelli socks. Most expensive socks I've ever bought but they have got a picture of a crab on!!

Favourite cycling quote: The steeper the better

What does cycling mean to you: Cycling is the meaning of life - great destinations, fitness, freedom and wonderful people

Pearl of wisdom: Make sure you've got plenty of inner tubes and a spare tyre.

.....and the donating bit

As a few people have asked if we were doing this ride for charity we thought what the heck we might as well so we've set up a Just Giving page. In the event that anyone reads this and is feeling particularly benevolent then please feel free to visit www.justgiving.com/LandsEndLancaster and donate whatever you can (all proceeds to the Red Cross).

Just over 2 weeks to go

Just over 2 weeks to go now - but we're not really thinking about that right now.

So let's introduce the four - well one of them anyway and in truly democratic style we'll start alphabetically with A for Annie.....

That's her there on the right at the start of the C2C in Whitehaven, and here a few snippets of info

Bike: Kona Jake 2010. Grey. Jake: He's the one.

Favourite cycling route: Hum, there are so many, can I pass? oh, maybe the Kirkstone Pass?! and the splendid route round the South Lakes.

Thoughts on the forthcoming trip: 'Why?' is generally what crosses my mind at the moment.

Favourite piece of cycling kit: Padded shorts; they changed my life.

Favourite cycling quote: "Life is like a riding a bike - to keep your balance, you have to keep moving forward"

What does cycling mean to you: Freedom, friends and pies.

Cyclists nose-blowing is easier downhill with a headwind. That's the only good thing about headwinds.

Tomorrow or next time we should be introducing Damian but we'll see about that.