When you were a kid did you ever get out of the house and race off to meet your mates on your bike. You've left the chaos and control of home back behind you and as the wind rushes through your hair and you are forced to breathe deeply you race towards your mates, your kindred spirits? To a much lesser extent I still get that feeling every time I ride. I love it, I really do. I understand to others it is a chore and to yet others it is just impossible, so I'm very fortunate. Last year, I nearly did and would have ridden 4000 miles had it not been for the adverse weather from December 18th onwards. (This year, due to changing circumstances it has probably been less than 1000.)
I've always wanted to go on a journey too. I've read some Bryson, watched "The long way down/around" and read a great book called "Boogie on up the Pennine Way" and every Christmas dinner since then I've tried to convince my brother we should walk the Pennine Way. Always to no avail and the conversation got shorter every year. So, imagine my surprise when "Mr Non-cyclist" suggested this year we should cycle the coast-to-coast! Next thing Andy is coming along too, he's already booked the first week of August off work :-0. Now both of these guys are new back into cycling and need a training course. April starts well with laps around Grafham Water in between a Dave's special bolognaise and far too many Stella's and JD's in the pub. May is ok but the ride around Rutland Water in the rain starts with technical problems and with the persistant rain does n't get any better. In the end we fail to do the penninsula and manage the rest at less than 8 mph. After that, we failed to meet up again as a threesome but the Nuneaton pair and the Cambridge singleton continued "training"separately. Teaching courses, extended business trips to Japan, other work and injuries had a big effect on the preparation. So the coast-to-coast turned into the South Downs Way. It is shorter, with less climbing and the weather SHOULD be better, honest guys. Accommodation was booked, maps and guides were bought and bikes were updated (in one case, there is not much of the original bike left!!).
So, as I write it is the two days before the ride starts. People do do it in a single ride of around 12 - 14 hours (infact, off road bike fitness freaks do it both ways in under 24 h) but we are planning to do it over 5 days. That's 20 - 25 miles per day which should be managable for all and hopefully, enjoyable too. There should be some good laughs, some good views, some clear air, some good food and drink and some good exercise. I hope to post it all. For me, I'll make it more challenging by returning for the car each day and doubling the miles.
The itinarary is:-
Sunday - drive down to a village near Eastbourne
Monday - leave a car there and drive to Winchester, cycle first 25 miles
Tuesday, Weds, Thurs - ride about 20 miles each day, returning Thursday eve to original B&B just outside Eastbourne
Friday - complete SDW by riding past Beachy Head into Eastbourne and then back to original B&B before driving home.
I think we have all spent a fortune preparing. Just today I laid out £50 on new tyres. Well, there is no point having a great bike and putting cheap bits on it is there?
So, we'll see what happens. After weeks and weeks of sunshine it's been grey for the last week or two and it's raining now, grrr..........
