We're (more than) halfway there

Before getting into the stuff, it was such a bad day yesterday I didn’t mention that The Glass Centre were sponsors for that day. Apologies for that.

Todays sponsors are Lewes St Michaels CC, probably not playing cricket today if what I have seen of the forecast is true down in Lewes.

Day seven!! We are officially half way. Well for Mike anyway, our support team duties don’t end at John O’Groats, only when we are home safe and sound. Today was a longer ride than yesterday heading towards Kirkby Stephen with the weather once again not looking too good.

But it’s England, what do you expect?

The first meeting place was the best so far by a long way. A lovely coffee and shop called The Barn. Where Jenni and I had breakfast, an apple pie for myself and a bacon sandwich for Jenni. Nice and healthy. The Barn was designed for cyclists so everyone that passed us we thought was Mike at first. Once he had arrived, maintenance was undergone on his shoes, which looked like it involved a spoon and a fork from where I was standing.

The weather held out nicely for the ride to the second stage but the clouds were building. And by the time we left stop 2 it was starting to rain. It was a rather heavy shower and we feared that it was going to last for the rest of the day. But by the time we’d stopped at the third stop it had stopped.

Jenni and I waited in the car for Mike just beside a reservoir. Then got attacked by flies. The car was surrounded and with horror I realised I needed the toilet, badly; and the only option was a bush. The road we were on was completely quiet, it was the flies that were the issue. So we drove down the road away from the water slightly so I could relieve myself. Which I did, losing my dignity as well as the drink I had at lunch.

But when I got back into the car, a fly followed me, which caused a lot of squealing and screaming with not much help from Jenni at all. I think she just found it amusing.

The weather was amazing considering what they forecast it to be, and the roads were excellent to cycle, all in all it was a reasonably successful day and hopefully there will be more to come like this, just a little bit more sunshine.

Rider’s viewpoint

After the gloom of yesterday, today was so much better in so many ways you may be glad to know.

There were challenges to overcome throughout, but they were manageable and critically, not all coming at the same time as had happened yesterday.

The day started ok with a good night’s sleep at the Salmesbury Hotel just outside of Preston. However, bit of a shock going down for breakfast to be told that they started serving it at 8. I was there at 7.15. I rolled out the charm and the dear chef rustled me up a full English by 7.30. Brilliant man, well done.

Then it was radio call in, all fine, after that, video of me drinking and cheersing for Sunday Brunch on Channel 4, and then set off.

The first part of the route had been causing some concern as it was using cycle tracks to avoid the A59 (very busy road) and although we had checked these out they turned out to be more suited to mountain bikes. In fact, I knew I was in trouble when I saw a mountain biker get off his bike in front of me and a hill! The tracks did however get me through, just a bit of a walk up the hill so was worth it in the end.

After that, it was under 20 miles to the first stop at Scorton in The Barn. Support team have already talked about the food there, and yes I have to confess to using a fork to dig out mud from the old cleats and a spoon on the bigger bits. They will be washed…

Got the new cleats on, hopefully in the same place but as they weren’t quite the same size, hard to tell so some of the bike fit may be invalidated now. Feels ok riding, but the changes are so fine I may be a bit off now. I will blame any hill climbing issues on that from now. Anyway, they are still there on the shoes so that is a worry gone.

Although the place is called Scorton, the Support Team seemed convinced it was called Scrotum. Nothing to do with me of course.

Nice ride through to this stop, but it only got better as I headed to the second stop. The countryside from Preston northwards is stunning, and in the sunshine the hills looked truly lovely. Even met a few cyclists going the same way. Most fortuitous rendezvous was with a group of 4 from Bolton Sands as we were climbing quite a big hill. Have said so many times that company on hills makes them easier and it is true. Particularly, and this may sound conceited or self centred, if you can gradually ride through them talking to them all to get to the front man. Does wonders for confidence, and I function on confidence.

2nd stop, some place beginning with an A, nice rest up but head on sharpish as the clouds were gathering. Sure enough, rain top on by Kirkby Lonsdale but the shower had passed by the 3rd stop. That was by a reservoir on a fantastic road called The Old Scotch Road. A great road to cycle.

As there were a few flies around, rumour has it that one hid inside Ruth’s leggings, we didn’t hang about long. At least Ruth peed without being filmed, not like Ross the other day.

More showery bits leading up to the 4th stop, but nothing could detract from the beauty of the Dales.

Lovely soak in the bath at The Black Bull in Kirkby Stephen. Its meant to be an ice bath, but I had a hot one. Saddle sores didn’t complain at all.

Looking forward to meeting up with the Queen of Chat tonight. Myself, Ian, Ruth will all hope to reach a double figure word count when Jenni and Helen get going.

Finally, thanks to all of you who sent supporting messages after my ‘Black Day’ yesterday. Glad to say that whilst not out of the woods, today was brilliant and I am sure has helped a lot.

Top day of the ride in nearly everyway = Day 7.