A couple of people have hinted recently that “13 days to cycle 965 seems like a long time”. I’ve also heard it rumoured that “if I arranged the trip now that we’re fitter (rather than last November), I would go for higher daily distances”.
Let me assure you, I wouldn’t.
I’ve paid a lot of attention to a lot of ‘blogs. I’ve also paid a lot of attention to our training runs, e.g. when we go flat out on our Tuesday evening ride, the quickest we have ever done the 23.18 mile circuit was 1 hour and 17 minutes. We averaged 18mph.
So why can’t we do 85 miles in 4 hours 45 minutes? Well…
Sometimes, it’s the little things that make a difference:
1. Head-winds
2. Hills
3. We will need to stop to eat
4. We will need to stop and pee
5. We may need to stop for a puncture or two
6. We will have cycled for 8 hours the previous day
7. We will be cycling for 8 hours the next day
8. There's NO WAY that I could keep an 18 mph average up for any more than 1 ½ hours
Today, we all went out with Julian again and did 63.88 miles in 5 ½ hours at an average of 11.8mph (Click here). That would be nearly 7 ½ hours from start to finish on the longest day. However, I didn’t cycle yesterday, I won’t be cycling tomorrow.
On the trip we may go quicker, I hope we do. However, we may have horrendous problems which can very quickly reduce our average daily speed... I hope we don’t!
As it stands we’re planning to average 75 miles per day for 13 days… This is achievable, a bit of an adventure in fact, and dare I say it… enjoyable, if not everyone’s idea of a holiday.
It’s also the little things when it comes to raising money. After a PTA event for my daughter’s school, the family and I went back to a fellow volunteer’s house for a well-deserved beer. Whilst there, Melanie’s daughter asked why I was wearing my Cancer Research UK T-shirt and her mum told her what we’re doing. With that, little Evie, aged 8, gave me the last of her pocket money… £1.34. Really warms the cockles of your heart doesn’t it!
Bless her!
Come back soon to www.5blokes-end2end.weebly.com and please donate as much as you can at www.justgiving.com/5blokes-end2end
All the best,
Nathan
Let me assure you, I wouldn’t.
I’ve paid a lot of attention to a lot of ‘blogs. I’ve also paid a lot of attention to our training runs, e.g. when we go flat out on our Tuesday evening ride, the quickest we have ever done the 23.18 mile circuit was 1 hour and 17 minutes. We averaged 18mph.
So why can’t we do 85 miles in 4 hours 45 minutes? Well…
Sometimes, it’s the little things that make a difference:
1. Head-winds
2. Hills
3. We will need to stop to eat
4. We will need to stop and pee
5. We may need to stop for a puncture or two
6. We will have cycled for 8 hours the previous day
7. We will be cycling for 8 hours the next day
8. There's NO WAY that I could keep an 18 mph average up for any more than 1 ½ hours
Today, we all went out with Julian again and did 63.88 miles in 5 ½ hours at an average of 11.8mph (Click here). That would be nearly 7 ½ hours from start to finish on the longest day. However, I didn’t cycle yesterday, I won’t be cycling tomorrow.
On the trip we may go quicker, I hope we do. However, we may have horrendous problems which can very quickly reduce our average daily speed... I hope we don’t!
As it stands we’re planning to average 75 miles per day for 13 days… This is achievable, a bit of an adventure in fact, and dare I say it… enjoyable, if not everyone’s idea of a holiday.
It’s also the little things when it comes to raising money. After a PTA event for my daughter’s school, the family and I went back to a fellow volunteer’s house for a well-deserved beer. Whilst there, Melanie’s daughter asked why I was wearing my Cancer Research UK T-shirt and her mum told her what we’re doing. With that, little Evie, aged 8, gave me the last of her pocket money… £1.34. Really warms the cockles of your heart doesn’t it!
Bless her!
Come back soon to www.5blokes-end2end.weebly.com and please donate as much as you can at www.justgiving.com/5blokes-end2end
All the best,
Nathan