Winter training

Too dark, cold, wet and dangerous to go out much so indoor spinning classes take over. Despite bringing the average age up a few years, after a couple of months I'm holding my own and just about keeping up with the 20-somethings

No direction home.....

LEJOG or JOGLE?

This is a big decision and there are many factors to consider. In the end I was swayed mainly by these:

• North - South feels like coming home
• Surprisingly everyone says the hills in Devon and Cornwall are harder than those in Scotland (where you tend to go through rather than over). So I thought I'd get acclimatised first
• Travel just seems to be easier at Land's End, so get the hard bit over at the start
• And now there's a plan forming for a welcome party at Land's End...more to follow

JOGLE it is - flight is booked with EasyJet, Luton to Inverness, then  John O'Groats Bike Transport having couriered the bike up to Inverness the week before will drop me off at John O'Groats. This should be mid-afternoon on Saturday 24th June, giving me the time to look around, take the obligatory photos and get 20-30 miles knocked off before starting off in earnest on Sunday.

The plan is taking shape!

Canal and Vale to Oxford

The Boat Inn on the Grand Union at Berkhamsted

The first 50 miler this weekend. It didn't start to plan as I called in at Halfords for a spare tube and drinks bottle only to find they don't open until 9 on Saturday mornings. Still, neither was required on the day, which comprised two distinct halves: along the Grand Union towpath from Hemel Hempstead to Aylesbury and then country lanes through the Vale of Aylesbury to my mother's in Headington, Oxford. A very pleasant ride although almost entirely flat, so next time it'll be a hillier route through the Chilterns. For now though, 4:30 hrs riding time and an average speed of just over 11 mph bodes well for the longer days in June next year. 

Lessons learned:

• October mornings can be cold - shorts not enough
• Towpaths can be bumpy - plenty of padding needed
• Use the same measures - speedometer in miles/mapping in kms doesn't work

First 50-mile training ride

I've done a few 20 mile routes and a 35 so far. Here's my first 50-miler - well, it's 47 but I'll find 3 more somewhere for the round figure. It's a relatively flat route over to Mum's in Oxford. A hilly one through the Chilterns will follow. 

£3500 raised! - charity sponsorship page

Including 'offline' donations direct to the charities, and with Giftaid, total sponsorship has passed £3500. Many thanks to all who have contributed. All sponsorship great or small is very welcome and as I have funded everything to get me to the start and now the finish, all your donations go straight to the three charities via virginmoneygiving.

www.virginmoneygiving.com/jim60lejog

Planning the trip

I don't know if he ever rode a bike, but I'm following his advice, so here's my project plan!

http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/jim60lejog 

Celebrating 60

Decision made, now the planning starts. To celebrate reaching 60 years on 9th July 2017, I'm going to cycle Land's End to John O'Groats - or it might be the other direction, they tell me it's downhill North to South. There are lots of choices to be made: alone or with company, up or down, bike, kit, accommodation and a few more. Having lost a stone in the first half of 2016, I now need to build up strength and stamina as I intend to enjoy the ride not see it as a painful penance. 

I'm doing it for myself, but it's an opportunity to help other people, so I've kicked off with an appropriate donation and ask friends and family to contribute to charity in the traditional way. Details at 

http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/jim60lejog

Watch this space as I intend to record the preparation, the planning, the training and the anticipation.....or if that sounds like watching paint dry, come back next July and see how I'm getting on.