Our Charity

Our Charity

Monday 30 May 2011

My blinking knee

As the title suggests I am still having problems with the knee I hurt on the Wyre Forest Stinger I did along with Dave three weeks ago. I have been to see a physio and he seems to think it will be ok for the ride though I'm not so sure. I guess only time will tell.

The Aberdovey ride is only three weeks away as well. Come on knee. Get with the programme!!!
The Stinger. The last time I rode without pain!!

Dave, just before he hurt his ankle

Friday 20 May 2011

Seven weeks tomorrow. Arrggghhh

 It's only seven weeks tomorrow that we hitch up the wagons and travel down to the start of the ride. Nerves amongst the Team are starting to fray and John has started to make out kit lists like a manic Sergeant Major, it's definitely almost time!

I have news that two of the Team are currently carrying injuries from a sportive that Dave and I completed a couple of weeks ago. It was called the Wyre Forest Stinger and for a reason. We took part in the mini version which covered 70 miles. The first 50ish miles were fairly flat but upon entering the stinger section we were confronted by a wall of tarmac. I didn't know that you were able to cycle up hills like that. But cycle up them we did, 11 of them in 10 miles. The two worst were both 25% hills and most of the others were in the low 20%. At the end we both limped over the line like a couple of lame dogs. Though beaten we were not.


Beach Hay
The first hill on the Stinger. 20%

I have an injured knee and Dave has a dodgy ankle which he refuses to rest properly and is still playing him up two weeks later.

I am currently trying hard to plan all the routes on the computer and write directions so that everyone can follow them. It's is taking a lot longer than I thought and is harder than you might think. Especially when Daddy Davies keeps moaning about the length of the rides we have to do each day. Anyone would think that he doesn't like cycling!

Before I go I will again ask for people to sponsor us. Click the link to the JustGiving website. For the technophobes it's very easy to donate and you can also gift aid the donation.

So until next time


Saturday 7 May 2011

I left my elbow in Badger!


Well it began so well! Everyone was on time, it was a nice sunny day and not too cold either. 

The route was one I'd tackled last year taking us approximately 40 miles from Seisdon, down the rabbit run, cutting through some randomly named villages, then onto Shifnal, the A5, A41, Cosford then home. At least that was the plan! 
My companions for the day numbered three; Dave-who will be doing the actual ride and Carey and Dan- fellow officers from our team but who are too scared to take on the End2End challenge!

We set off in good spirits just after half 9. The first couple of miles always seem the worst, having to shake off the rust and getting the muscles warmed up. We were soon on the rabbit run. A road that has numerous ups and downs, similar to that of a roller coaster. I think I even heard a scream or two from my comrades when the steepness of some of the inclines were eyeballed for the first time! 
A couple of miles later and we turned off into the countryside and we entered a village forever to be etched into our memories. Badger. probably named so, due to the amount of dead ones on the verges en route! It began with one of the steepest climbs I've done in a long time, two minutes of out of the saddle torture! And then the stories started! Carey began going on about ghosts and ghouls and how once you enter the picturesque Shropshire village, you will never leave! He has a very vivid imagination- i think he even still believes in Santa! But it got us all on edge thinking that it would be a very scary place to be once the sun had gone down.  
Once we escaped from Shropshire's answer to Royston Vasey we conquered another couple of hills before reaching Beckbury. And this is where it started to go wrong. As mentioned I'd completed this route some months ago and my memory of it was sketchy at best which is why I led the group straight past the left turn we should've taken. Instead we went straight on, meandering through country lanes before we realised we were back on the rabbit run. So what would've taken two miles to do if we had stopped on the rabbit run, in the end added about 6 miles onto our total journey! Oops! 
Wrong way!
After some verbal abuse off the others we made it to Shifnal. And then DISASTER! The curse of Badger village strikes! We were halted at a quaint little roundabout, somewhere that exposed no hint of what was about to happen.
We were deciding which direction to take-as our bearings had been corrupted by my earlier mistake- Dan said left and left is where I tried to go. I was in too high a gear trying to clip into my pedals and negotiate the island all in one go. It was too much. My left foot wouldn't clip in so I slipped off the pedal, my foot hitting the floor at such a rate it buckled and in super slow motion on a traffic junction full of other road users, I took a tumble landing on my left elbow. I was splayed out in what from a distance probably looked like some kind of bizzare porn pose! All the traffic came to a standstill. Not out of concern, but more for their own safety-it would be too dangerous for them to drive whilst crying with laughter! I say all the traffic stopped, but I did notice Carey continue his journey briefly before stopping to chat up some old dear who had witnessed the episode. He says she was offering directions to the local doctors....... 
Meanwhile I was still pinned to the tarmac by my bike. I tried sliding out from underneath it but alas I forgot that my right foot was still clipped in. So the more I tried dragging myself away the more the bike came along. This added to the waiting motorists laughter. Eventually with Dan and Daves help I got up (Carey still conversing with his new acquaintance) and i was on the pavement. On being asked if I was alright, I couldn't give an answer as the pain was yet to kick in. My elbow was stinging a bit, but I wasn't surprised as when I looked down it was grazed to hell. I think there's still some of my elbow embedded in the road. 

Realising that I was lucky to be alive, I gave my arm a quick clean up and we were on our way. Dan was at the helm as we exited Shifnal, up onto the A5, before looping round back down to Cosford for a cup. 
Ahh, John's Poorly arm!
The Cosford Air Museum has a highly polished wooden floor. This plays havoc for those wearing cycling cleats. Trying to get from the entrance, to the drinks machine is similar to an excited German Shepard attempting to transverse laminate flooring!  
Just 15 short miles later I was home. I felt like I couldve done another 20 miles-maybe it was because I was lighter, missing half an elbow and that, that made me feel like I could go that little bit further?  
Beware of the curse of the Badger!
This was posted by John

Monday 2 May 2011

A new post, my word!!

I must say a big sorry as I have been a little lax in my posting recently. This is due to lots of reason which I won't bore you with right now. Though I might at a later date. So be warned!
A welcome break.
On the training front, members of the Team have spent days together going on training rides. As you can see from the videos and photos on the Gallery page, fun was had by all and a lot was learned about how we are going to carryout the actual running of the days on the ride. With a bit tinkering we have worked out that we don't need a long lunch stop as we start to stiffen up and the old legs don't work very well. (I also tend to "bonk" really badly after such a stop).
Me, not feeling very well. Thanks for the banana Keith!

So we are going to have a short stop and something to eat every 20 miles and carry this on throughout the day. I'm sure this will change to some degree when we start the challenge.

We didn't get very far on the last training ride as my rear tyre decided to split and we all had to limp home after only 13 miles. Sorry Guys!!
"Does anyone know where we are?"
We have also received our Team shirts and I must say they do look quite good. I had a few sleepless nights waiting for them to arrive after designing them but I'm happy with the end result. If you happen to see anyone riding around the Midlands, give them a wave, it might be me.
The shirt design.
It's only about 8 weeks now until the day will arrive when our family and friends will wave us off with a tear in their eye (tears of joy I would imagine) and we set off on our merry way. Please see the Route page for a description. I am currently trying to plot the various stages onto my sat nav. Stage which I must say were approved by Dave and I as "official Planners" but now everyone has an opinion. "If we go this way", "Just turn off there", "why are we going this way" and "I can save us half a mile this way" are only a few of the many helpful pieces of advice I have been gifted recently. Cheers.
Keep going Keith!
The link to the first day's route can be found here.
http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=mysrtvyjlzrbwenf

Keith, Dave and I will be taking part in the Aberdovey Bike Ride that goes from Wolverhampton to Aberdovey over a hundred miles in June. The organisers have been kind enough to name The Castle Wheelers as one of their Charities that they are riding for this year. This should bring in a lot of money for the Dudley Group of Hospitals so again, thanks.

Will post again soon.