Dreams and teams work together

 

On Friday 25th March I had an excellent day in Stowmarket with Prajnakara and his wife Rachel. We had quality time together. Prajnakara is the man who is supporting me to do this Big Ride from Shrewsbury to John O'Groats - 650 miles. He will be with me every wheel-turn of the way - riding alongside. He's a generous man and very good company. We spent time organising our big ride in greater detail. 

Prajnakara is also an Audax rider. He's a really accomplished cyclist and very fit. Audax is a non-competitive cycling sport where participants (sometimes in their hundreds) cycle long distances within a pre-defined time limit. It is very popular in Europe, and a typical event might be Paris to Brest and back again (1,234km). The riders carry the minimum and are supported by organised rest and food stops en route. There are lots of Audax rides in the UK. 

Not sure if I will ever be able to be an Audax rider, but there's a lot for me to learn from those who do.

Prajnakara has never done a big ride through Scotland, and neither have I, so this is something great to look forward to.

I have recently stepped up my training, and am now doing around 120 miles a week and loving it. 

Lots of P.O.T. (Planning, Organising, Training)

 

Today, I dusted off my bike from winter storage and took it to the bike shop for a service (Kingsway Cycles: Cambridge's most helpful bike shop). I've not ridden this Ridgeway Voyage since last October, as during winter, I store this tourer away, and exclusively ride my training bike, a Genesis CDA20 - another excellent bike. The Genesis is sturdier and can handle the muck and grime of winter along with woodland and gravel paths as well. 

In last year's big ride of 420 miles from Land's End to near Shrewsbury, the Ridgeway tourer was excellent. Not a single thing went wrong. I simply had to keep the tyres inflated correctly. So now it is fully serviced and ready to ride another 650 miles from Shrewsbury to John O'Groats in May and June this year. 

Prajnakara and I are deep into details of our ride together. It is great that he will accompany me on every stage of the 16 day ride. He's more experienced than me as an endurance rider. He's also younger and probably fitter! We have all B&Bs arranged, all train tickets booked, and Prajnakara has got a detailed route for us worked out. 

The route is: Shrewsbury, Nantwich, Wigan, Morecambe, Rydal, Carlisle, Moffat, Livingston, Perth, Pitlochry, Newtonmore, Inverness, Tain, Altnaharra, Melvich and finally, John O'Groats.

We then have our bikes packed up and transported back from John O'Groats by John O'Groats Bike Transport, while we take a train from Wick to Inverness, and then the overnight sleeper to London Euston and back home for a long rest!

There is a strong tradition of getting a photo of yourself holding your bike in the air - once you have reached John O'Groats. You can be sure that we fully intend to do that (though without all the gear on the bike!)

Meanwhile, I am doing 20-25 miles riding every day of the week. My legs are developing stronger and more enduring muscles. I'm going to need that strength and endurance on this monster of a ride!