'White Horse Inn' - Cilcain

Friday 24th October

Just completed 1st training cycle of any real length - 66 miles (108kms) to Moel Famau and back, with Matt (pictured above)

This is 39 miles more than any previous ride... and the body knows it!

By-passing breakfast in anticipation of a 'full English' at Eureka cafe seemed sensible, until we arrived at Eureka (15miles later) and it was shut... great start

Starved of fuel, the legs start cramping up a few miles further on but we carry on regardless and eventually reach the White Horse pub in Cilcain, high in the Welsh Clwydian hills at 12.30pm. Sun shining and a great spot for lunch and rehydration (2 halfs of Jennings please)

For 35 minutes, all is ok with the world again... but a further 32 miles later, and back home - with legs spasming, knees swollen, organs failing and I am (for the 1st time) slightly concerned about what lies ahead...

Prior to today, 100kms a day seemed straightforward. After today, I feel it will be at least a week before I am medically able to venture onto the saddle again.

1200kms, 12 days, much bigger hills and much higher temperatures?

hmm... no thanks!

Wirral Way

Stepping up the training now - a massive 39 miles this weekend, including this training ride with Tom along the Wirral Way to the disused railway station in Willaston.

I think he really appreciated me cycling through all the mud and horse manure along the Wirral Way so that he got caked in it whilst he was sat on the tag-along, hehheh!

Eureka!

9.10am Sunday morning - Ahh, pint of tea and couple of slices of toast @ Eureka cyclists' cafe (near 2 Mills), half way thru 27.2 mile training cycle with Cookie

Only guys in there WITHOUT full cycle kit and those weird shoes.

Outside cafe - 45 hi-tec, ultra-modern road racing bikes, 1 1970's road touring bike - complete with mudguards, pannier rack and dynamo (mine) and 1 Tesco's Finest mountain bike - complete with very thick off-road tyres, ladies comfort saddle and a ding-a-ling-bell (hehheh, sorry Cookie)...

2nd training day

A certain theme to my cycle training plan appears to be developing - have just returned, on bike, from Thursday night last orders at the Irby Mill - an energy sapping 2.2 miles return journey!

Of note, amazing how fast one can cycle after a pint and half of Bombardier!%*?

Anyway, also completed an 11 mile trip this morning down to Meols, West Kirby and Caldy and I must admit that the recently purchased, specially for cyclists, 'padded' boxer shorts (£19.99) - on their 1st outing today - did NOT live up to expectations... Padded boxies??? Padded my arse! (no they didn't). No discernible difference to the 2-4-£1 Tesco Value boxer shorts - this is a psychological blow to preparations

Total training distance to date:- 17.2 miles

Hello, is there anybody there??

Hmm... Just trying to set up a blog?? Not sure whether this will work or not, but what the heck - will give it a go!

Semi-mad idea to cycle from Melbourne to Sydney following Ad's wedding - probably won't happen, but sounds fun

Thought I'd post a 'blog', just in case it does, so family and friends can follow progress... (lucky you!)

Have devised training plan...

...although have yet to implement

Am the proud owner though of new bicycle lights which I purchased last week - put them to the test on Friday with a late night inaugural training ride to last-orders at the Caldy Rugby Club beer festival (a mammoth 2 miles). Deceptively VERY bright, as I found out when staring straight at the LED lights at a distance of approx 20cm and then pressing the 'on' switch... (hey, we've all done it!)

Once sight restored, opted for energy-saving-flash-mode to cycle up the unlit Montgomery hill road... banging headache 2 minutes later and on verge of brain seizure due to stroboscopic effect... Headache resolved following 6 half-pints of Wigglewaggle(?)... only to return again upon awakening the following morning... blinking lights (quite literally)

Will keep blog posted with any new developments as and when...