Mission Accomplished!

My odometer says that I've covered 111.4km; my bottom feels like it was closer to 1000! but its done.

It really was a fantastic event, from the cameraderie at the top of Alexander Palace at 12.42am to the sights of London from Kensington to Docklands; Ally Pally to Crystal Palace.  Highlights for me were riding through the West End at 2 in the morning, with dozens of fellow Nightriders battling with Rickshaws, Taxis and drunk Londoners - it was a real buzz.  The stretch from 50km to 70km was predictably tough - not lots to see in South London, lots more hills that my last post predicted and it is always the worse bit when you are beginning to feel the ride but there is still a long way to go.  Also missing a nights sleep means your body is telling you to stop cycling at 4am!

But as we crossed Tower Bridge on a Sunny sunday morning (it was light from 4.30) and headed out to Docklands we knew that we were on the home straight.

Thank you for everyone whotook past for Action on Hearing Loss, particularly my friends and family who responded to my e-mail back in January.  I hope you all loved it as much as I did.  A special mention for my sister Cath, and Tori who cycled with me to half way despite being fitter and faster (Tori had already done a 5mile run and a 1 mile open water swim over the past 24 hours - amazing!) also thank you to Neil and Rich for sticking with me until the bitter end.

The special mention of the day goes to Ian though, having trashed his bike on Waterloo Bridge less than 20km into the ride - he hired a Boris bike and did the last 80km using it (has one ever been that distance before in one hire?) also much respect to Barry and Jason for seeing him all the way home.

And finally to the other group of Matt, Larry and Mike who finished first out of the 11 of us despite taking a wrong turn and adding a few extra kilometers onto the route around Euston Station!

So following a radox bath and a couple of hours kip I'm feeling almost human again, the bike safely in the garage; at least for a week or two...

Thanks to everyone who sponsored me.

From putting up bunting in our new brand colours in the office, to our birthday celebrations around the country, followed by a Buckingham Palace reception and then Nightrider this will be a week to remember!  Welcome to the world 'Action on Hearing Loss'.

Come in Number 901 Your Time Is Up!

OK, so its all a bit real now; the final race pack has arrived and the next time I get on my bike will be on the start line.  Yep, I'm number 901 and the gang of 11 who have all signed up to ride for Action on Hearing Loss through my arm twisting are setting off from Alexander Palace at 12.43am on the morning of 12 June. 

Firstly a massive thank you and good luck to Neil, Rich, Jason, Matt, Barry, Ian, Larry, Mike, Cath and Tori - what stars.

I don't want to be at all cocky or complacent but I've downloaded the route map this morning and London is much flatter than the Chiltern Hills where we've been doing our training.  Apart from a sustained climb in the middle (Crystal Palace) and the end (Alexander Palace) the rest is as flat as a pancake!  The toughest gradient looks only to be 3-5% on Map My Ride; which compares pretty favourably to the 14% hill coming out of Wendover to Cholesbury that I've struggled up 3 times 60k in on my 80k+ training rides (admitedly with lots of stopping and panting!)

But...lets take nothing for granted, this is the first (last?) time I've ever cycled for 100km and we've done all our training in the light having had a full nights sleep.

I might not blog again until after the event. 

Wish me luck! and thanks for the amazing support.

The Last Big One Before the Big One

I can't believe the event is less than two weeks away!

On Sunday, myself Jason and Barry went out for 81km.  Our now very regular route through Ashridge and on to Eaton Bray.  Again on to Billington, Mentmore and eventually Aylesbury - back to Wendover and over that horendous hill!  To be fair, knowing it was coming made it easier in a way, and although I still stopped about 10 times on the way up (its a 1:7 incline and 60km in to the ride) I made sure that I didn't get completely puffed out half way up.  Overall I was pretty chuffed to have got to the end of the ride still feeling in good shape.

So just a short 20 or 30km this weekend as we wind down the training; and then Nightrider is on Saturday 11th.

84km - The Longest Ride So Far

Having had a week off, I approached the Sunday 14th May ride with some trepidation.  We set out early (myself, Matt and Jason) and managed a pretty well paced first 40km (Ashridge, Ringshall, Eton Bray, Great Billington, Slapton, Cheddington) and then carried on from Cheddington out to Mentmore and eventually Aylesbury.  The next 20km was a lot tougher as we crossed the valley and up into the Chilterns to Wendover and then over the horror of a hill (14% gradient according to the signpost for cars) that eventually takes you to Cholesbury Common. 

I was quite content to pace myself, and as a result lost Matt and Jason at this point!  Given I had the map and was the only one who had cycled this route before I just hoped they had not got too lost - although both have iphones with maps etc.  Having recovered from the hill climb and given the day was really beautiful and I wasn't under any time pressure I decided that rather than cycling back through Berkhamsted, I would follow my nose and see if I could extend the ride a bit.  Unfortunately the road went further and further down hill (essentially back across the ridge I had expended so much effort getting up).  While it was quick, fun, easy cycling; as I know to my cost after five months of this what goes down invariably has to go up again!  I found myself in Chesham having to slog back up the Chesham Hill on the main A road which was not much fun, but it was only for a couple of km before being able to head cross country again throught the villages to Bovingdon and then all the way down the hill to Hemel station.

All in all 84.44km and I felt pretty good at the end.  It took 5.5h with breaks (so just over 15km/h which will be fine for the night) and I was probably averaging more like 18km/h in the saddle.  So not too shabby.

Less than a month to go...

May day ride

A slighly shorter ride this week of 57km with Matt and Jason.  Basically the same route as last week but without going on to Aylesbury and all the silliness over the Chilterns.

The sun was out and the sky blue again which makes all the difference. 

The lonliness of the long distance cyclist

Having had a break last week as I was holidaying in France, I was out of synch with the rest of the lads this weekend, so went out for a ride on my own on Bank Holiday Monday morning rather than the usual Sunday.

While its great fun training with everyone else, I actually enjoyed my own company,  I had a rough plan in mind to cover a longer distance than usual at my own pace.  I was really chuffed, especially after a weeks break that the pace was reasonably speedy and I covered the first 20km to Eaton Bray in just over an hour and the next 20km out to Billington and then on to Mentmore and Wingrave in an average speed of 22km/h which is quick for me.  It's all pretty flat out that way but I was pleased to have covered 40km in 2 hours.

I then carried on into Aylesbury, but didn't fancy riding back all the way down the main A road in the valley so instead went up the other side of the valley to Weston Turville, then Wendover.  It was then I realised that the Chilterns can still be pretty steep and I really struggled up a 3km hill with a 14% gradient (according to the road sign) from Wendover to Cholesbury Common.  To be honest by the time I'd done 60km I was very tired and still 25km from home.  I was also running out of time as I was meant to be going to my folks for lunch, so I changed plan and cycled from there down to the Northchurch end of Shootersway and then back to my folks place in Berkhamsted.

All in all 77km in about 4.5h in the saddle with 0.5h of breaks (3x10mins every 20km) along the way.

So while the hilly last 20km or so was very tough, I was pleased to have essentially done over 3/4 distance in about the pace I hope to maitain during the race, and with stops only every 20km (as will be the case on the night).

Still, could have done with the lads to encourage (berate, take the mick etc) to get me up the hill to Cholesbury a bit quicker! Hopefully a few more people will be out next weekend...

Spring makes all the difference

Cycling on beautiful Sunday mornings really does make all the difference.

Last Sunday we had six of us all out at 7am for a 40km ride (shorter as lots of people needed to be back for mothers' day duties), including guest appearances from Dave 'Blimey I'm feeling too old for this' Martell and Matt 'I might have big guns but I'm not bike fit' Phillips.  It was a lovely day and Ian and I who were so far at the back that we ended up carrying on to Aldbury rather than following the rest of the group and as a result did 45km.  I think the fable of the tortoise and the hare tells you all you need to know about our extra efforts...

This Sunday; Barry, Ian and I had a more leisurely 55km ride on a glorious April morning,  deer roaming in Ashridge, daffodils on the verges and then Barry (having decided not to go for a loo break in any of the remote woodland parts of the ride) decided to spoil it all by peeing in behind a hedge in the children's playground in Ivinghoe Village - the shame.

I'm delighted that I can do 55km without really feeling it is a big effort now.  Still that is only a bit over half distance, so I'm going to need to get in a couple of 70km - 80km rides to keep pushing my fitness before the 100km ride itself.

Also delighted that (inc Gift Aid) I've now raised over £1,700 - thanks everyone who is supporting me, it means a lot.

68km Ride - This is starting to get silly

It doesn't seem a moment ago, that I was getting off the bike after a 13km ride to Berkhamsted and back thinking (privately) that there is no way that I'm going to cover 100km.  I'm really chuffed therefore to have done 68km this weekend.

There were just three of us again and Matt, Jason and I headed all the way out to Billington, took a wrong turn which turned the planned 60km into the 68km and then came back through Cheddington, Long Marston and Tring.  I've got to admit I was in bits at the end.  Matt even had to leave me so he could get back home in time to be ready to be back out again for Sunday lunch.  So there is still more work to do, I wouldn't have welcomed getting back on the bike for another 32km put it that way.

Big lesson learned on Sunday was always read the instructions before taking on board energy snacks.  I ate what I thought was an energy sweet after 50km before reading the instructions.  It was actually a tablet to drop into a litre of water.  How we laughed as I foamed at the mouth...

I've also now covered over 500km in training and been in the saddle for over 30 hours.  I'm also delighted that with gift aid I've nearly raised 1,500 pounds.

Is it meant to be this cold in March?

We had a really good, if very cold ride this morning.  We started at 7am (myself, Matt and Jason) and covered 55km in total adding on an extra little loop in Buckinghamshire to our previous 50k ride.  While it was a clear spring day it was deceptively cold.  I'm really chuffed to have been able to cover the distance after two weekends break for Jacob's birthday and then Neil's 40th weekend away.

Only 80 or so days to go, so back on the bike evey weekend from now on and I need to keep pushing up the mileage, just a few extra km every week until we do a final training ride of 75-80km at the end of May.

The fundraising is going well too, with offline, online plus gift aid I think I'm up to nearly 1,400 pounds.  Thanks to everyone who has sponsored me, very generous!

Whoooaah We're Half Way There...

...whoooaah living on bananas and tastless chewy bars.  Good work today as Matt, Jason and I covered half distance for the first time.  Ian joined us for the first bit but (intentionally and planned) balied out and did about 30km.

The sun was out, spring in the air and it felt all too easy.  I was determined that the map my ride was going to say 50km at the end, to the extent that when I'd got to the end of Chaulden Lane (about 1km from home) and it looked like I might be 1 or 2 km short; I turned around and cycled the final stretch twice just to make sure!

All good, although I'm not sure that I would want to have immediately jumped back on the bike for another 50km; ah well, still over 100 days and plenty of training rides to go...

Snow, Bikes and All Day Breakfasts

There was a change of scene this week as it was the staff weekend away for the kid's camp that I volunteer for in the summer.  As has become a tradition we were staying in the Peak District, but undeterred this year we took the bikes with us, all loaded up in the back of Barry's van.

On Friday I had a fun 23km ride from Hathersage to and then round Ladybower reservior with Sze and Barry.  The plan was to do something much more ambitious on Saturday but we woke up to settled snow, with even more falling.  After much deliberating, and a change of tyres for Barry onto a proper nobbly mountain bike set we took the van back to Ladybower and cycled from there.  This time we were joined by Ian and Alex for what was a really fabulous short ride in beautiful countryside.  It was mainly tracks not road which was a bit of a challenge for me as the only one on hybrid rather than mountain bike tyres but a real laugh.  Lots of skidding and nearly losing it moments, messing about pulling the bikes up onto log piles to take photos and the beautiful scenery of Derwent Water.  Also its hard not to spend most of the time humming the theme music from dambusters.  Only 17km but plenty challenging enough for me and then off to the Grindleford cafe for a lot of coffee and an unfeasably large all day breakfast; perfect mid afternoon recovery food...

First ride for the magnificent 5

It was great to have a big group out training on Sunday for the first time, so Matt, Barry, Jason, Ian and I all embarked on the longest training ride yet.  We covered 43km including the big climb up Ivinghoe Beacon and adding on an extra loop via Aldbury and Tring Station.

Also two huge group thank yous - firstly to everyone who has sponsored me in the first week that I've gone public on my giving page - you've already helped raise over 700 pounds for RNID which is amazing.

Secondly a huge thank you to everyone who chipped in to the bike fund for my 40th Birthday present.  The fund has already paid for the bike, cycle helmet and all the dodgy lycra, and generous presents from people mean I've also got a Camelpak, lights, energy bars, a bell(!), I spent most of the rest of the cash in Leisurewheels the bike shop in the Old Town on Saturday afternoon.  I must have been the ideal customer, walking through the door with over 100 pounds and very little clue.  I left kitted out in terms of a minitoolkit, spare inner tubes etc and an extra night light - so truly I'm now 'all the gear and no idea'.

Next weekend means a change of scene with two rides in the Peak District.  I think the clue is in the name in terms of whether there will be any hills...

A dodgy training week

It's been a bit of a dodgy training week.  I was working at home on Thursday so started the day very early in order to make up the time to fit in a ride at lunchtime.  The plan had been to just to the simple 14km route to Berkhamsted and back but by the time I got to the golf course I was feeling so good I continued through Ashridge and decided to do the 26km route.  Unfortunately New Road was closed as they were hedge trimming, so I had to detour via Aldbury got a bit lost and ended up in Tring.  All in all it became a 35km ride, I'd not eaten since a 6am breakfast, so hit a bit of a wall a trudged back along the old A41 through Berko back to Hemel.  Lesson learnt = don't do such a long ride on an empty stomache.  Also I then had to work until about 7pm to make up the time!!

I had a good fun night out with work colleagues on Friday night, and I overinduldged somewhat the outcome being that I wimped out on the Saturday morning training ride.  Matt and Jason covered the 38km circuit that Matt and I did the week before in just over 2 hours (it had taken me nearer 2.5) which was good going.  I fitted in a 14km 'guilt ride' on Sunday afternoon, but need to make sure that next weekend I keep my inner party animal under control so I'm fit for a 40-50km run.

Incidentally, the reason for no ride on Sunday morning was going to my Godson Samuel's baptism (which was great).  It was in North London and on the drive home I couldn't help but notice how long Highgate Hill goes on for, not a problem in the car, but will be a bit more of a challenge at 3am on 12th June...

38km - the longest ride so far

It was just the two of us at 7.30am this sunday, Matt and I but we were undeterred and set off on our usual route out through Potten End and on to Ashridge.  It was absolutely *%^*#* freezing but we still added an exta 12km to the ride by going through Dagnall and then up Ivinghoe Beacon which is definitely the toughest climb I've done so far, 2km all uphill, sadly I think that Highgate Hill is even bigger but one step at a time.

All in all we covered 38km in 2.5 hours and felt pretty good about it.  The aim is to be up to half distance 50km by the end of Feb.

Welcome

This is my first ever blog post (how exciting).

I'm completing a 100km cycle ride overnight in London on 11th June for the charity Action on Hearning Loss.  I thought it would be good to keep a record of my training, pics, news etc online.

If you want to keep an eye on how I'm getting on do follow my progress on my blog, and add it to your blog, facebook page, website etc.

If you want to sponsor me then 'hooray', 'thank you' and  'what are you waiting for' just go to http://www.uk.virginmoneygiving.com/paulbreckell