I couldn't be more happy with the amazing chaps at SaddleDrunk. Their support and service has been out of this world!
They have only gone and made me my very own bespoke cycling kit for the ride in June!!!
Branded with my initials and in the home colours of AFC Bournemouth, also adding the charity Prostate Cancer UK.
The cycle jersey, bib shorts and gilet will be amazing and ensure that I will definitely look the part at the start line on the 3rd June!
I can thank Stefano at SaddleDrunk enough. If you need any cycle apparel please visit their website and have a browse.
www.saddledrunk.com
A very windy and blustery day for today's training ride. Even though my route is a 'loop' it felt like I was always riding into a head wind!
Happy to get another 15 miles in the legs though. Out again on Sunday, maybe on the mountain bike
Ex professional cyclist and former national road race champion Matt Stephens very kindly retweeted my tweet yesterday.
Now a TV commentator on Eurosport and presenter on the GCN Network, Matt is a well known and very respected 'voice' in cycling.
Thanks Matt!
Lots of great and exciting things happening this week, which hopefully I can disclose and announce next week!
A bit of news I can talk about today is that my local premier league football team, AFC Bournemouth, are keen to support me and help promote the ride.
After making contact with the club they have been great and really supportive. I'm meeting with their head of Media and Communications next week to work out the detail and a plan.
My Father, Brother and Nephew are all season ticket holders at the Vitality Stadium, sitting in the East Stand.
Each and every rider on the "Biggest Ride in Football" will be representing a Premier League or Football League club. I will proudly be a AFC Bournemouth rider, being a local lad and follower of the team and club.
Although my family regard me as a bit of a jinx, as the two games I have attended in the last two seasons have resulted in home defeats! Last season v Nottingham Forest and this season v West Ham Utd!
Great news as I've now reached 26% of my sponsorship target!
A big thank you to the anonymous person who very kindly donated £20 yesterday. I will endeavour to find out who you are and thank you personally!
Every donation helps to motivate me during the training rides and runs. So thank you to everyone who has sponsored me.
If you wanted to sponsor me, please see my JustGiving page...thank you in advance...
Just click the JustGiving image below or click here
The very kind and generous people at SaddleDrunk have been brilliant and agreed to supply me with cycling apparel for the ride!.
I couldn't be happier with this generous offer. A big thank you to Stefano.
Please check out their website and social media for an amazing range of cycling products and very stylish cycling clothing.
http://www.saddledrunk.com/
A couple of pictures from my long training ride yesterday.
- Waiting the ferry at Sandbanks with the Purbecks looking very misty
- Reaching Corfe Castle and a well earned coffee and cake
- My bike, in need of a clean, on the ferry after 30 miles heading home
My first really long ride. Planned to do 35 miles, but managed a few more at just over 41 miles. An overcast day I headed from home to Sandbanks in Poole, across the ferry to the Purbecks and endeavoured to reach Corfe Castle. Which I managed, even conquering my nemesis hill just before Corfe and Swanage turn!
Wet roads, but really pleased with average speed over 14mph. Plus pushed myself to do three big hills which I am 'grinding' up a little faster each time!
Felt good. Will know start to increase mileage over 25 miles
As you may notice on my training plan I'm working on my fitness levels both on and off the bike. Endeavouring or planning to train a minimum of 5 out of 7 days a week.
With work commitments evening rides can be challenging, so I plan and commit to running at least 3 times in a week. Gradually increasing my mileage with each run from the 3 miles of my normal route at 10m:30s pace, to longer runs of 5 miles or further.
So far in January I have completed seven runs totalling 30 miles.
I don't enjoy running as much as I do cycling, but it does build core fitness levels.
A big thank you to everyone who has supported and donated so far. I've now reached 22% of my fund raising target. Thank you!
Felt really good on the bike, albeit very cold. Climbing getting better and endeavoured to keep average speed over 14mph
Training on the bike is going well, despite the best efforts of mother nature with this continuous rain and wind!
So I have been doing some fitness training by running. So far this week I have been out on three runs totally just over 12 miles.
I will be training both days over the weekend. With a 5 mile run on Saturday and a 25 mile bike ride planned for Sunday.
Showery, blustery and a little hail. The joys of the British weather in January! A good longish ride that put a few miles in the legs
Very windy day. Blustery on exposed high roads through the Tarrents. Felt OK as kept average speed over 13mph. Climbing the big hill was a little better this time
A big thank you to Dean, Lynda, Martin and the 4Com foundation for their very kind and generous donations to my Just Giving page yesterday.
My £1,000 target has started well with these initial donations.
Thanks again
Training ride #2
The weather was a little challenging with heavy rain and wind making conditions tricky! Managed just 13 miles. Tried to find well-light roads as a regular training route. Pretty flat route at an average speed of 15.1mph
The intention of this blog is to document and share my preparation, training and attempt at a 145 mile charity bike ride!
The countdown to the event has begun, with my new 2016 Star Wars calendar having the following dates written in thick red permanent marker - Friday 3rd June and Saturday 4th June 2016.
