Category Archives: Charity Bike Ride

My London to Brighton experience

After all the preparation we almost missed it. We had decided to take advantage of the option to “ride later than our allocated start time” to make the morning a little less frantic, to avoid the crowds at the start of the event and to ensure careful coordination of our arrival with lunch in Brighton. Our plans were flawed on several fronts!

Our London to Brighton experience started smoothly. We left the house at 09.06, just 6 minutes behind schedule. Not bad! We had even had time to capture the moment for prosperity…

Brothers – Before & After

A “thumbs up” from “@LDNtoBrighton” (The official Twitter account for the event) reinforced our level of comfort as we set off for Clapham. How were they to know where we were? After all, there was a lot going on!

We abandoned the car (Thanks Michelle!) at the first sight of cyclists, just south of Tooting (09:46). Crossing the torrent of participants to make our way to the start line on Clapham Common spirits were high. The bubble was almost burst when we arrived at a rather deserted start area.

A few Marshalls were rounding up the stragglers, encouraging them to “Start ASAP!” It turns out the final start time was 09:30. A minor detail that had passed us by. A schoolboy error!

Fortunately it didn’t take us long to catch up with the first tail-backs, perhaps not coincidentally in Tooting.

30,000 cyclists + London traffic + major junctions = Frustration!

It didn’t take us long to see the first of what turned out to be several accidents either… within a mile of the start, a chap (who, it turns out, wasn’t even participating in the London to Brighton event) managed to cycle into a stationary car at speed. The result of the collision was a cut chin and, I suspect, concussion, as well as badly damaged wing mirror (on the car). It was relief that we discovered that the carbon frame of his bike had also been broken as he was insisting that he was OK to ride on. He clearly wasn’t! We left him in the capable hands of a Marshall with Medics on the way.

Travelling through South London was a stop / start affair. The Police were doing a fantastic job of clearing the roads of cyclists by sweeping up the rear to stop traffic, maintaining momentum one junction at a time. It wasn’t until we hit the first hill however that our expectations for the rest of the day were properly set:

With so many cyclists even the smallest bottleneck can impact the flow. Bottlenecks included narrowing roads, hills, accidents, traffic controls and confusion caused by refreshment stops (“Should we or shouldn’t we?”). A combination of a narrowing road and a “steep” slope was enough to bring everything to a grinding halt. It was annoying the first time, but became less so as we relaxed into the day.

As we headed south, out of the hustle of London and into the countryside, the atmosphere changed. Communities turned out in force to “make a day of it”. Quiet villages took on a carnival atmosphere as brass bands played us on our way.

Refreshment stops were frequent and well stocked. Even private dwellings offered “a free sit down”, sweets and showers from Water Pistols, People generously came out of their houses to cheer us on our way; each cheer being greeted with a “Ping” on Philip’s bell.

It felt like we were part of something meaningful and positive. A feel-good factor was capped by the way people ascended the final climb of the day;

Ditchling Beacon had been billed as the big challenge. The most significant hill on the ride. It was all downhill to Brighton from the top, but getting to the top would take some effort. If it went the same way as the other substantial hills we’d encountered there would be no way of us cycling up it because of people walking.

Fortunately people seemed to decide to walk at an early stage of the Ditchling Beacon ascent, and then considerately moved to the left-hand side of the road. As a result, despite arriving at what was probably the busiest time of the day, we were still able to cycle all the way up.

It wasn’t without it’s hairy moments, but we both managed to stay on our bikes. For a few minutes, the other participants became vocal onlookers, like an over-enthusiastic Mountain-Top crowd in the Tour de France. It was a special feeling to get to the top!

The thousands of people at the finish on the front in Brighton were the cherry on the cake!

So, a HUGE thank you to all the people involved in organising and supporting the event, the Marshalls, the Medical Staff, the Caterers, the Mechanics, the Supporters, etc. etc. Thank you all for making it such a fantastic event!

A great way of celebrating life!

Countdown to L2B

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Two weeks today, June 15^th, Father’s Day, I will be participating in the British Heart Foundation’s Flagship charity event of the year; the London to Brighton (L2B) bike ride. It’ll be a mere 54 mile jaunt from Clapham Common to the Beach in Brighton, and I’m expecting a quiet affair; just me, my little brother and about twenty-five thousand other people.

Last year’s starting line… while I was enjoying my first day in hospital post Heart Attack.

One of the main reasons for participating is that it will mark the anniversary of my Heart Attack; one year to the day when our lives were momentarily turned upside-down. The fact that I’m not concerned about the physical aspects of the cycle shows how much things have changed since last Father’s Day. It’s amazing what you can achieve with the right motivation and a little hard work (not forgetting the drugs of course!).

I’m so glad that I decided to take up cycling as the mainstay of my fitness regime. I don’t remember there being much conscious thought in it at the time… it just seemed like the right thing to do. As well as getting me in shape, it’s opened up a whole new social dimension, and has re-introduced me to competition without needing to be in competition with anyone but myself.

I am personally aware of several other people that are participating in the event having been impacted in one way or another by Heart Disease. Many people will be there for a fun day out, but there will be a lot of others for whom the journey will be much more significant. I’m sure it’ll be a special day!

Coincidentally, I lived just off Clapham Common (the starting point for the ride) for about five years when I first left University. It always used to play host lots of community and charity events. Generally I’d watch them from afar with a combination of curiosity and (occasionally) a little envy. It’s not without irony that it’s taken 20 years, a move to Aberdeen and a Heart Attack for me to participate in one.

I’m really looking forward to enjoying the occasion with my brother. It’s been years since we did anything like this (if we ever have). I’m also looking forward to participating in a sporting event with him in which we’re on a fairly level playing field… it’s definitely been a long time since that’s been the case! (Not that it’s a race, of course! Don’t worry Mum!)

Philip & I circa 1978. The awesome power in our legs was evident even then!

For those of you who are participating, I’ve included a photo of the 2 of us so you can spot us in the crowd. People say that I’ve got cuter over the years, but I don’t think either of us have changed a bit. You won’t be able to miss us!

ECC Day 5: The day after the night before

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The day after the night before… I awoke in the 6th bed in 6 days, a delightful pull down number squeezed into the corner of a double room. It had been a relatively late night and promised to be a very slow start to the day.

We had the morning to ourselves. The only deadline was to get ourselves to the Train Station by mid-afternoon. It was relaxed. For once there was no-one to giving us orders. There was no-one to follow. We were alone.

After four days riding across Northern Europe blindly following a man with an iPad we had been given control back. The Guides had travelled ahead with the bikes. We were left to look after ourselves. Without any counselling we had been abandoned, left to re-integrate into society. Alone.

Sightseeing in Brussels

I felt a strange sense of freedom… a day without Lycra. I was able to walk normally, without cleats, able to put my feet flat on the floor. I was without bike, able to sit inside and watch the rain rather than being out in it. I had nowhere in particular to go.

***

Generally I felt more “normal” than I have in a long time:

The previous night’s beer didn’t seem to do me any immediate damage, I hadn’t fallen over or experienced any side-effects, and I woke up feeling fine.

The first beer since my Heart Attack

Possibly more importantly the Euro City Cycle is behind me. It has been a real focus for me for the past 10 months; the end of a key recovery phase? I can now look forward with a little more comfort, a touch more relaxed. It feels good!

***

After a relaxing two-hour journey we arrived at London St Pancras. The Guides were waiting for us: We were instructed to follow them to an unknown destination.

We blindly followed them; winding our way across the station concourse in a chain which gradually fragmented as people lost contact.

We emerged into a light drizzle… normal business had been resumed!

ECC Day 4: Falling down and bouncing back

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Richard, Geoffrey and John are locked in the dungeon and Henry is coming down to execute them:
Prince Richard: He’s here. He’ll get no satisfaction out of me. He isn’t going to see me beg.
Prince Geoffrey: My you chivalric fool… as if the way one fell down mattered.
Prince Richard: When the fall is all there is, it matters.

The Lion in Winter, 1968

To be a cyclist means giving up an element of control. Whether it’s relying on other traffic, experiencing hazards along the way, trusting the person in front, or simply sitting stationary with a cleated shoe attached to a pedal, there is an element of risk involved. Improved bike handling skills and general awareness can reduce the risk, but it’ll never be eliminated.

As with life in general, bad things happen. The most important thing is how you deal with them, and how you bounce back.

Over the four days of the Euro City Cycle there have been a number of incidents. Fortunately none of them were too serious. No serious damaged was caused other than a little bit of hurt pride.

With many of the incidents, the comedy factor was high: Irrespective of fault, Guides going down is always hysterical, like a Referee falling in front of a large crowd, you just have to laugh (quietly, of course!). Momentary lapses of sanity are also worth a giggle, a man hanging from a lamp-post unable to extricate himself from his pedals for example, or user-induced brake failure resulting in a tumble down an embankment.

Negotiating a bridge under construction… like you do!

Despite these occasional incidents, over the course of the trip people’s confidence visibly grew. With a little encouragement and practice, everyone became more comfortable, cycled a bit faster, a bit closer together, we slowly developed to become part of a team. I’m not saying we got there, but we got better.

For a few seconds on the final afternoon we almost managed to draft, cycling in formation into a head wind, the lead rotated to share the effort as we pushed to maintain a steady pace. For a few seconds, we almost managed it. It felt good!

Despite having to battle the elements once again, we all made it from Breda to Brussels. If I had been in Scotland I would have described the weather as dreich (“Low End” also works). The persistent rain and low temperatures made the going tough. Dampness got everywhere causing electrical equipment to fail left right and centre. However, we fought through and made it.

Broken bike through broken camera

It’s been a pleasure to share this experience with the 20 other participants. I’m sure everyone felt some emotion as they approached the finish line; a sense of accomplishment or satisfaction. It wasn’t the hardest cycling ever, but there were definitely moments when everyone will have had to dig deep, calling on hidden reserves of energy and endurance to see the journey through.

For me, the overwhelming feeling as we crested the final hill and rolled towards the Atomium in Brussels was relief. My journey didn’t start in Brentwood, it started in a hospital bed last June. I’ve cycled just under 300 miles in the past four days, but over 3,000 miles preceded them as I worked to get myself fit and strong again. There was a “Finish” sign next to the Atomium, but my journey is far from over.

Along the way, we’ve managed to raise just under £3,000 for the British Heart Foundation. Thanks to everyone who has donated and for all your support over the past few days!

(Incidentally, it’s still not too late if you’ve been meaning to contribute: Click here)

Relief, pride and satisfaction… what’s next?

Jersey of the day: Euro City Cycle

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For the final day of the Euro City Cycle, it felt appropriate to sport the team colours of the tour.

According to the organisers, Global Adventure Challenges, the Euro City Cycle is…

“An exciting charity cycle combined with breath-taking city sights make this a European charity challenge extravaganza! This superb charity bike ride caters for every level of cyclist. It takes in the rolling countryside of Essex, the plains of Holland and the sleepy lanes of Belgium. One of the best cycling challenge experiences in Europe!”

So far we’re about 200 miles into the adventure. Our itinerary has included:

Day 1 – London to Harwich – ferry to Hook of Holland
Day 2 – Hook of Holland to Amsterdam
Day 3 – Amsterdam to Breda
Day 4 – Breda to Brussels (Today’s challenge)

So far it’s been a blast… and it’s not over yet!

ECC Day 3: Why are we here?

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Why are we here? This isn’t intended to be a grand philosophical question, but some days you have to ask yourself why you’re doing what you’re doing. Some days everything seems to be against you. Today was one of those days.

The Day 3 route promised to be long; the longest of the Euro City Cycle. It was further than many of the participants (including myself) had done before. As well as being long, the route was complicated, circuitous and fiddly. It required navigation through the backstreets of towns and travel across several bodies of water by various means.

As it happened, the weather also conspired to make the day even more challenging. It had been suggested that it would be wet throughout; wet and windy… joy! So it was with some trepidation that we set out to make our way from Hoofddorp to Breda.

Time to cover up… here comes the rain (again)!

Each participant has their own unique reasons for participating in the challenge. As we battled against the elements, driving rain and near gale force winds, it would not have been unreasonable for some of us to question why we’re here. It wouldn’t have been a surprise is some of the group decided that catching a lift in the support van was a sensible move.

Every time we crossed open ground the elements seemed to re-double their efforts to make the day difficult, to make us miserable. We slowly made our way along the route, back-tracking on many occasions as our guide grappled with the finer points of navigation. Ferry crossings required patience, breaking any rhythm we may have built. Even the railway crossings seemed to conspire against us, waiting for us to approach before flashing warning signs and bringing us to a halt.

In particular, the Moerdijk Bridge tested our resolve: The bridge spanned about 700m of open water. It was positioned perfectly to expose us to the worst the day could muster including gusts of wind of over 55 km/hr. The wind carried rain that was being propelled with almost enough force to draw blood. Each crossing was long and dangerous as we leant into the wind at a precarious angle, trying to adjust for every gust and lull. It was really windy, painful and more than a little bit scary!

Relief at reaching the other side!

Despite the challenges, everybody made it. Everyone made it across the bridge, and everyone made it safely to Breda. I didn’t hear anyone suggesting that they had had enough, they couldn’t do it or that they were going to pack it in.

There was relief at reaching Breda. There was a real sense of accomplishment (despite the route being slightly shorter than advertised). Individually and collectively we overcame the challenges the day could throw at us. Together we had made it!

Somewhere, over the rainbow… almost there!

It turned out that everyone’s answer to the question “Why are we here?” was enough to get them through. For me it is because I can be, because of all the hours I’ve spent on the Turbo Trainer over the winter to get myself in shape, because there is life after a Heart Attack, because I’m lucky, I’m alive. Not doing it isn’t an option.

Tomorrow promises to be another challenging day. I am confident that it will be another successful and rewarding one. Bring it on!

Jersey of the day: The Sandpiper Trust

ECC Day 2: The 7 Ps

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Today saw the short hop from the Hook of Holland to Hoofddorp, just outside Amsterdam.

After a relatively hard day in the saddle yesterday and a night on the ferry in a four-berth cabin, the day offered a gentle, largely wind assisted roll through the Netherlands followed by an afternoon of R&R.

Today was the first day of “many” (as in one is one, more than one is many) days in the saddle, and as such posed a bigger challenge than it’s distance would suggest to some of the less experienced and more physically “damaged” cyclists in the group.

We were fortunate to have the wind at our backs for much of the day as we took our detour towards Amsterdam on our way to Brussels. We made the most of this as we recognised the same helpful wind is likely to become our worst enemy tomorrow as we take on the 85 mile leg south to Breda.

Oh, I do love to be beside the seaside…

The greatest challenge today’s cycling posed was navigation. The Netherlands has a fantastic cycle network including both commuter and longer distance signage place at regular intervals along the route. Unfortunately, these rely on (1) doing the preparation required to plan the route in advance (2) spotting the route markers and (3) a little bit of luck in ambiguous or poorly sign-posted sections.

It’s easy to become reliant on something and abdicating responsibility for understanding how it works, or being willing / able to do it ourselves. Having done no preparation for our journey (as far as navigation is concerned at least) It would have been easy for us to have complacently followed the basic guide that had been prepared for us and got completely lost fairly quickly. I could easily have foreseen a situation in which splinters of the group ended up strewn across a vast area of Northern Europe, tired, frustrated and in need of rescue.

Instead, we all stayed together in close groups and followed our Human Guides as they followed complex sections of the route using the guide, the route markers, a map, gps systems and a little guile. Fortunately this was enough to bring us all in safely.

Cycling in the Netherlands is a very different experience

There are several points that I learned about navigation from today’s experience:

Know specifically where you are heading to; general destinations such as “the bar by the canal” are not sufficient. If you know exactly where you’re heading to, at least you can re-plan your route if necessary.
Know where you’re starting from; it sounds obvious, but getting lost is often compounded by multiple failed attempts to get un-lost
Review your route in advance so you have a general idea of which direction to head in
Pay extra attention to critical junctions / turns that could really make the difference between success and complete disaster
Don’t blindly rely on someone else for directions, take some personal responsibility for navigation
If you are unsure, go slow until you can validate your route.

This afternoon we (three of us) proved these points by setting out on an abortive attempt to cycle into Amsterdam itself. Keen to make the most of a free afternoon in the Netherlands (with bikes) and a relatively easy morning’s ride, we decided to head into the city to experience more of the real Netherlands…

With little preparation we headed out into a grey afternoon (which quickly became a very wet, very windy, grey afternoon) for a spin. Just over an hour later we returned; wet tired and slightly embarrassed (but far from disheartened). We had proved the importance of most of the points above by heading out into the teeth of the wind, in the completely wrong direction. We can point at a number of coincidences and elements of misfortune that resulted in our mistake, but fundamentally we screwed up.

Having warmed up and dried off, I’m going to get my head down and study the course for tomorrow… as well as being the longest, it’s apparently the most difficult to navigate too. With more ropey weather forecast we could be in for a long day!

***

The 7 Ps: Proper Planning and Preparation Prevents Piss Poor Performance

Jersey of the day: Ride the North

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I am delighted to be taking part in Scotland’s premier cycling event in August this year:

Ride the North is a two day, 170 mile cycle challenge through the beautiful scenery of the Grampian Highlands in the North of Scotland. The route will follow the scenic back-roads through the Grampian Highlands between the cities of Inverness and Aberdeen.

The 2014 ride will take place on Friday 29 and Saturday 30 August. Ride the North 2014 work closely with their charity partners and, as always, looks to celebrate the best of what the North-East of Scotland has to offer including hospitality, community and camaraderie (banter is guaranteed!).

It’s not a race nor a sportive, it a challenge ride which celebrates the love of cycling and the scenery in this part of Scotland. The ride welcomes everyone – whether you are fundraising for the charity partners, your own charity or simply taking part for the fun of it.

It’s is a supported ride, with mechanical support, support vehicles, route signposting, lunches provided, mobile coffee stops, refreshments, luggage transfer, transfers from finish point to local accommodation and all the encouragement you will need!

Ride the North 2014 is Sold Out, but look out for the 2015 event on http://www.ride-the-north.co.uk

ECC Day 1: Finding the right group

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So, Day 1 of the Euro City Cycle experience is coming to an end (or Day 2 has started depending on whether you’ve re-set your clock to Central European Time) and we’re all settling in to life on the open sea for the next few hours. As we rest (hopefully sleep!) the ferry will take us from Harwich to the Hook of Holland, where our adventure will continue.

Team photo prior to departure

Day 1 saw us ride from Brentwood to Harwich, 65 – 70 miles (depending on how many times and how badly you got lost) into our journey. We have had a day cycling along meandering lanes through, picturesque villages, on our way to the coast.

It wasn’t the longest day ever in terms of physical miles travelled, but it’s seen a big step forward many of the participants; Introductions have been made, general nerves have been laid to rest, cycling groups have been formed (based primarily on pace)… we’re under way.

For some people there are still many questions to be answered: Will the ferry make me ill? Which cycling group suits me best? How do I work these brakes? I haven’t spotted the berk yet, does that mean it’s me? Have I made a huge mistake? These will be answered as our journey unfolds.

The weather held out during the day with only a few spots of rain. As a result, there were some pink faces this evening (including my own) where the sun and the breeze had worked their combined magic. Much more rain is forecast… it could dampen our spirits as we hit the continent.

For me, any concerns about general fitness are gone. I was comfortable today, the training has been worth it! There is still a question about the cumulative effort over the four days, but I’m trying to pace myself (both on and off the bike) to give myself every chance of a successful outcome. If this means I need to be selfish and just look after myself from time to time then that’s how it has to be.

Tomorrow we head to Amsterdam and a whole new set of challenges… wish us luck!