Hard, Hard session last night. First time that I have managed to do 20 miles averaging over 20 mph (20.4). Two months ago, I thought this was impossible when I averaged 19.7 over 20 miles, but at 5 mile intervals, with rest in between.
Clearly my legs have got much stronger. The training is obviously working.
Wednesday 29 April 2009
Sunday 26 April 2009
Weekend Training
Another hard weekend of training, indeed week of training. On Saturday I got up at 4.45 and cycled 80 miles, took my boy to a rugby tornament where he won his teams player of the tournament and a rugby ball, then came home and did another 20 miles. On Sunday got up at 4.45 again and did 42 miles, went out for a family walk and photos, took my girl to a party, then did another 38 miles. Rounded it off with some rugby training with my boy. 180 miles for the wekend is not too bad. Just one more weekend of heavy mileage and I'm ready.
Bit hectic to say the least. Total for the week is 350 odd miles.
Early night tonight, I'm a little tired.
Another hard weekend of training, indeed week of training. On Saturday I got up at 4.45 and cycled 80 miles, took my boy to a rugby tornament where he won his teams player of the tournament and a rugby ball, then came home and did another 20 miles. On Sunday got up at 4.45 again and did 42 miles, went out for a family walk and photos, took my girl to a party, then did another 38 miles. Rounded it off with some rugby training with my boy. 180 miles for the wekend is not too bad. Just one more weekend of heavy mileage and I'm ready.
Bit hectic to say the least. Total for the week is 350 odd miles.
Early night tonight, I'm a little tired.
Friday 24 April 2009
Charity Plea
A lot of people have been so generous to date and I am very grateful for your deep pockets.
I’m also very aware that there is a credit crunch and choices have to be made, ie buy food or sponsor Pete. In these circumstances I know that its difficult to pledge money especially when there are so many other worthy causes, eg London marathon, London to Paris Cycle ride and London to Brighton cycle ride. I was going to do the ride just for the hell of it. However, the London Marathon only took me 3 hours and 25 minutes and London to Paris is only 310 miles. My route from Lands End to John O’ Groats will be just over a thousand miles, and roughly 92 hours in the saddle, on a bike weighing 60lbs (well over a third of my body weight). The training has been extensive, and exhausting, on occations my feet have almost frozen. It has required a great deal of commitment and stamina. Not to mention an incredible amount of support from my wife and children. By comparison marathon training is like popping down the local shops.
Given this, I couldn't simply ride for myself. If you can appreciate the task ahead and have not sponsored me, please click on the link to my Justgiving web site and donate to Macmillan Cancer Support.
Cheers
May 16th-29th 2009 - Lands End to John O' Groats Unsupported Cycle ride. See details at www.justgiving.com/peterkingcycle
A lot of people have been so generous to date and I am very grateful for your deep pockets.
I’m also very aware that there is a credit crunch and choices have to be made, ie buy food or sponsor Pete. In these circumstances I know that its difficult to pledge money especially when there are so many other worthy causes, eg London marathon, London to Paris Cycle ride and London to Brighton cycle ride. I was going to do the ride just for the hell of it. However, the London Marathon only took me 3 hours and 25 minutes and London to Paris is only 310 miles. My route from Lands End to John O’ Groats will be just over a thousand miles, and roughly 92 hours in the saddle, on a bike weighing 60lbs (well over a third of my body weight). The training has been extensive, and exhausting, on occations my feet have almost frozen. It has required a great deal of commitment and stamina. Not to mention an incredible amount of support from my wife and children. By comparison marathon training is like popping down the local shops.
Given this, I couldn't simply ride for myself. If you can appreciate the task ahead and have not sponsored me, please click on the link to my Justgiving web site and donate to Macmillan Cancer Support.
Cheers
May 16th-29th 2009 - Lands End to John O' Groats Unsupported Cycle ride. See details at www.justgiving.com/peterkingcycle
The Route
The route begins at Lands End and finishes at John O’ Groats. Most people say that its better to do it the other way because its downhill. However, Lands End is slighty higher above Sea level than John O’ Groats, so it marginally down hill the way that we are doing it. Also, the prevailing winds are south westerly, so hopefully this will be the case during our cycle.
The following details comprise our itenary
Day 1 (16th May) – Lands End to Redruth (28 miles)
Day 2 (17th May) – Redruth to Okehampton (75 miles)
Day 3 (18th May) – Okehampton to Glastonbury (76 miles)
Day 4 (19th May) – Glastonbury to Monmouth (70 miles)
Day 5 (20th May) – Monmouth to Bridges (80 miles)
Day 6 (21st May) – Bridges to Warrington (85 miles)
Day 7 (22nd May) – Warrington to Arnside (80 miles)
Day 8 (23rd May) – Arnside to Annan (91 miles)
Day 9 (24th May) – Annan to Stair (82 miles)
Day 10 (25th May) – Stair to Cairndow (81 miles)
Day 11 (26th May) – Cairndow to Fort William (81 miles)
Day 12 (27th May) – Fort William to Alness (78 miles)
Day 13 (28th May) – Alness to Mid Clyth (76 miles)
Day 14 ( 29th May) – Mid Clyth to John O’ Groats (26 miles)
Our accommodation is a mixture of B and B’s, YHA premises and Andrews cousins. It was an amazing coincidence that on presenting the route for discussion, Andrew advised that he had cousins in three of the locations.
The route begins at Lands End and finishes at John O’ Groats. Most people say that its better to do it the other way because its downhill. However, Lands End is slighty higher above Sea level than John O’ Groats, so it marginally down hill the way that we are doing it. Also, the prevailing winds are south westerly, so hopefully this will be the case during our cycle.
The following details comprise our itenary
Day 1 (16th May) – Lands End to Redruth (28 miles)
Day 2 (17th May) – Redruth to Okehampton (75 miles)
Day 3 (18th May) – Okehampton to Glastonbury (76 miles)
Day 4 (19th May) – Glastonbury to Monmouth (70 miles)
Day 5 (20th May) – Monmouth to Bridges (80 miles)
Day 6 (21st May) – Bridges to Warrington (85 miles)
Day 7 (22nd May) – Warrington to Arnside (80 miles)
Day 8 (23rd May) – Arnside to Annan (91 miles)
Day 9 (24th May) – Annan to Stair (82 miles)
Day 10 (25th May) – Stair to Cairndow (81 miles)
Day 11 (26th May) – Cairndow to Fort William (81 miles)
Day 12 (27th May) – Fort William to Alness (78 miles)
Day 13 (28th May) – Alness to Mid Clyth (76 miles)
Day 14 ( 29th May) – Mid Clyth to John O’ Groats (26 miles)
Our accommodation is a mixture of B and B’s, YHA premises and Andrews cousins. It was an amazing coincidence that on presenting the route for discussion, Andrew advised that he had cousins in three of the locations.
Travelling Companion
The guy that I am undertaking the adventure with is called Andrew. Like me he has been training hard, however, we have not yet been out on a ride together. This worries our better halves. However, we will be spending 12 days cycling the length of Britain. I’m not sure what would be achieved, if anything, by riding together before hand. It’s a bit late to find out that we are cyclogically incompatible, so better to just go with the flow.
Andrew is undertaking the ride on behalf of the Army Benevolent Fund which provides support to soldiers, former soldiers and their families in time of need, identifying and investigating cases in real need and providing them with financial support. With the current level of operations this need is greater than ever. His website is
http://www.justgiving.com/andrewtabor-lejog-abf
So if you would like to add some support to his cause, please has a look at his website.
The guy that I am undertaking the adventure with is called Andrew. Like me he has been training hard, however, we have not yet been out on a ride together. This worries our better halves. However, we will be spending 12 days cycling the length of Britain. I’m not sure what would be achieved, if anything, by riding together before hand. It’s a bit late to find out that we are cyclogically incompatible, so better to just go with the flow.
Andrew is undertaking the ride on behalf of the Army Benevolent Fund which provides support to soldiers, former soldiers and their families in time of need, identifying and investigating cases in real need and providing them with financial support. With the current level of operations this need is greater than ever. His website is
http://www.justgiving.com/andrewtabor-lejog-abf
So if you would like to add some support to his cause, please has a look at his website.
Thursday 23 April 2009
Training To Date - I will add to this as and when.
It had been a number of years since I rode a bike, and then it was only for short rides. I committed myself to this adventure in August 2008 and I began putting some miles in during a family holiday in Norfolk towards the end of August. I attached our child’s trail rider to the back of my 20-year-old mountain bike (which still had its original tires and brakes and thus confirms my lack of cycling to date).
On our first family ride I had travelled an impressive distance of only 1 metre, when I felt a sharp sting in my leg, which rapidly got worse. I looked down and a wasp had lodged itself between my new trendy baggy padded cycle shorts and my leg. Over the next few days the swelling got worse and my leg became very hot to the touch, my knee also started to ache painfully. A trip to the chemist was in order, and a large dose of antihistamines settled it down over the following couple of days. In that first week I cycled a total of about 90 miles, impressive I hear you say. However not as impressive as my little boy who did a similar distance on his bike, and he was only 7 at the time.
Since August, I have tried to get out every weekend to cycle between 35 and 45 miles. I met up with a local cycle group who have been brilliant (the Farcycles), and have made the rides incredibly enjoyable. Even when the weather was so cold that a brass monkey would dare not venture out. This training regime continued through January. I really needed to step up the training during the week days, but mornings were dark as were the evenings, and with a full time job, it was impossible, or so I thought.
In February I acquired a cycle trainer and set it up in my garage. I have to say that my first impression was that it was a complete load of rubbish. However, my view changed within 15 minutes and having twiddled with the tension leaver, and changed gears, I began to understand the true value of the thing. The only downside was that it was boring as hell.
I have however tackled boredom in two ways. Firstly, by setting up a portable DVD player and secondly by creating interesting training routines.
I started getting up at 6 oclock to do half an hour in the garage a couple of times a week, and then the same in the evening. The frequency increased as did the interval times. By March I was rising at just gone 5am for a 20 mile cycle, and then I would do the same again in the evening.
Last week I did this for four weekdays followed by a 92 mile ride on Saturday (45 on the trainer to get an early start and then 47 with the Farcycles with my bike fully loaded on the Road). This was followed by 80 miles on the Sunday.
Since August 2008 I have cycled the equivalent of 2943.5 miles. The majority of this has been since the beginning of Jan 2009 (2365 miles).
With 3 weeks to go, I’m pretty happy with the shape that I am in and my ability to undertake the ride.
It had been a number of years since I rode a bike, and then it was only for short rides. I committed myself to this adventure in August 2008 and I began putting some miles in during a family holiday in Norfolk towards the end of August. I attached our child’s trail rider to the back of my 20-year-old mountain bike (which still had its original tires and brakes and thus confirms my lack of cycling to date).
On our first family ride I had travelled an impressive distance of only 1 metre, when I felt a sharp sting in my leg, which rapidly got worse. I looked down and a wasp had lodged itself between my new trendy baggy padded cycle shorts and my leg. Over the next few days the swelling got worse and my leg became very hot to the touch, my knee also started to ache painfully. A trip to the chemist was in order, and a large dose of antihistamines settled it down over the following couple of days. In that first week I cycled a total of about 90 miles, impressive I hear you say. However not as impressive as my little boy who did a similar distance on his bike, and he was only 7 at the time.
Since August, I have tried to get out every weekend to cycle between 35 and 45 miles. I met up with a local cycle group who have been brilliant (the Farcycles), and have made the rides incredibly enjoyable. Even when the weather was so cold that a brass monkey would dare not venture out. This training regime continued through January. I really needed to step up the training during the week days, but mornings were dark as were the evenings, and with a full time job, it was impossible, or so I thought.
In February I acquired a cycle trainer and set it up in my garage. I have to say that my first impression was that it was a complete load of rubbish. However, my view changed within 15 minutes and having twiddled with the tension leaver, and changed gears, I began to understand the true value of the thing. The only downside was that it was boring as hell.
I have however tackled boredom in two ways. Firstly, by setting up a portable DVD player and secondly by creating interesting training routines.
I started getting up at 6 oclock to do half an hour in the garage a couple of times a week, and then the same in the evening. The frequency increased as did the interval times. By March I was rising at just gone 5am for a 20 mile cycle, and then I would do the same again in the evening.
Last week I did this for four weekdays followed by a 92 mile ride on Saturday (45 on the trainer to get an early start and then 47 with the Farcycles with my bike fully loaded on the Road). This was followed by 80 miles on the Sunday.
Since August 2008 I have cycled the equivalent of 2943.5 miles. The majority of this has been since the beginning of Jan 2009 (2365 miles).
With 3 weeks to go, I’m pretty happy with the shape that I am in and my ability to undertake the ride.
Thursday 23rd April
This is my first blog ever, not sure what I'm doing or whether it will work. Anyway here goes.
I read somewhere that any person with an average fitness and ability can undertake the infamous Lands End to John O’Groats cycle ride. That person was probably a nutter, who once did the ride, chaffed all the skin off his backside and undercarriage and just wanted others to feel the same level of pain. While I’m sure that it is indeed the case that anyone can undertake the ride, my concern is to complete it in one piece, with both body and mind in tact. From May 16th to May 29th 2009, my goal is to set out to establish whether it can indeed be done and completed, by a Mr Average.
Recent inspiration has been in the form of a very very large guy who recently completed the ride, I think he was 29 stone or similar and lost about six stone training and doing the ride. Blimey that’s over half of me. Rather than coming home, bigger, stronger and fitter, I might come back half the man that I was.
A bit about myself. I am currently 45 years old. I consider myself to be of at least average fitness (for my age) but I currently carry around a little too much lard around my midriff, and my man boobs need reducing or at least firming up. I did complete the London Marathon in 3:25 at the age of 43, so I know that I can commit to a heavy training regime. 2008 was a difficult year for me health wise. A routine operation didn’t turn out to be so routine, and I struggled to return to full health.
In a bid to get fit again, I began to think about challenges. I had never really contemplated doing the LEJOG before for various reasons, including not being too keen on cycling, it’s a very long way and it takes quite a long time. Did I say that it was a very long way? I cant recall exactly how the decision was made to do the ride, all I can say is that my wife was 100% behind me doing it and actively encouraged me. I do feel guilty about leaving my wife and three little ones for two whole weeks but my panniers are just not large enough to fit them all in.
Thinking about it, my cycling each day is the easy option. All I need to do is get up have breakfast then pedal, and do this for two weeks. My much better half has to stay at home looking after the three little ones, 8,6 and 4. Oh, and did I mention that she also has a full time job. She’s the real hero.
My original plan was to do the ride solo with no support, carrying everything I needed en route including tent etc. Shortly after committing myself to the ride I mentioned it to a friend, an ex Col of the armed forces. The next day he telephoned to ask if he could do the ride with me. And so, it is now the two of us. I’m a little wary of doing it with an ex army person, stiff upper lip sort. If his leg fell of en route I can imagine him saying, “Oh bother, never mind still got another leg, charge!”
Why May. Various reasons really. Firstly it give me time to get fit, the kids will still be at school, it should be getting warmer and the days will be starting to get longer, plus its out of season.
This is my first blog ever, not sure what I'm doing or whether it will work. Anyway here goes.
I read somewhere that any person with an average fitness and ability can undertake the infamous Lands End to John O’Groats cycle ride. That person was probably a nutter, who once did the ride, chaffed all the skin off his backside and undercarriage and just wanted others to feel the same level of pain. While I’m sure that it is indeed the case that anyone can undertake the ride, my concern is to complete it in one piece, with both body and mind in tact. From May 16th to May 29th 2009, my goal is to set out to establish whether it can indeed be done and completed, by a Mr Average.
Recent inspiration has been in the form of a very very large guy who recently completed the ride, I think he was 29 stone or similar and lost about six stone training and doing the ride. Blimey that’s over half of me. Rather than coming home, bigger, stronger and fitter, I might come back half the man that I was.
A bit about myself. I am currently 45 years old. I consider myself to be of at least average fitness (for my age) but I currently carry around a little too much lard around my midriff, and my man boobs need reducing or at least firming up. I did complete the London Marathon in 3:25 at the age of 43, so I know that I can commit to a heavy training regime. 2008 was a difficult year for me health wise. A routine operation didn’t turn out to be so routine, and I struggled to return to full health.
In a bid to get fit again, I began to think about challenges. I had never really contemplated doing the LEJOG before for various reasons, including not being too keen on cycling, it’s a very long way and it takes quite a long time. Did I say that it was a very long way? I cant recall exactly how the decision was made to do the ride, all I can say is that my wife was 100% behind me doing it and actively encouraged me. I do feel guilty about leaving my wife and three little ones for two whole weeks but my panniers are just not large enough to fit them all in.
Thinking about it, my cycling each day is the easy option. All I need to do is get up have breakfast then pedal, and do this for two weeks. My much better half has to stay at home looking after the three little ones, 8,6 and 4. Oh, and did I mention that she also has a full time job. She’s the real hero.
My original plan was to do the ride solo with no support, carrying everything I needed en route including tent etc. Shortly after committing myself to the ride I mentioned it to a friend, an ex Col of the armed forces. The next day he telephoned to ask if he could do the ride with me. And so, it is now the two of us. I’m a little wary of doing it with an ex army person, stiff upper lip sort. If his leg fell of en route I can imagine him saying, “Oh bother, never mind still got another leg, charge!”
Why May. Various reasons really. Firstly it give me time to get fit, the kids will still be at school, it should be getting warmer and the days will be starting to get longer, plus its out of season.
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