#lejog2019

[themamil]

LEJOG 2019 mixed podcast and wake up songs playlist

Every morning (with 1 exception when we were in the Bath Uni campuis) on the Ride Across Britain ride we were woken up at around 5/5.30am with a choice “wake up” song to get us up and out. 

Having scoured the Facebook group, I believe that I have identified every songfor each day, so I thought it would be fun to create a playlist on Spotify with those songs, interspersed with my podcast ramblings from each day.

It might give a little glimpse insight into the bubble and the world of RAB if you are planning on participating on the ride.

[themamil]

My awesome Deloitte Ride Across Britain Relive Video.

[themamil]

Ride Across Britain - Day 9

After a surprisingly good nights sleep despite the hammering out tents were getting from the gales, I woke feeling really strong and well. I was so pleased as yesterday had been all about survival and today could be about savouring the finale of the experience that has been my life for the last 9 days.

Regrettably David has caught the bug that is clearly circulating and was feeling awful, so it was time to return the favour and to help drag him to the finish line in Joh O’Groats.

We set off for the final time at 6am (or just a few minutes before).

It was a windy morning and as we rolled through the valley, nothing could have prompted us for the sheer battering we were about to face.

As we rode out of the valley into the ridge heading towards Betty’s Hill we were being hit by sidewinds and gusts of up to 60mph. We were being buffeted and rocked at leisure by the winds and at one point I and my bike were shunted a good 4 feet sideways by a gust of wind. It was terrifying at times and as you can imagine, very slow moving.

I’m really not sure how but David showed enourmous will power by continuing to pedal and force his way forward, but this stage seemed to last forever.

Eventually we started the descent from the ridge and approached Betty’s Hill for the first pitstop which seemed to perk David up a bit. From this point we would turn right and have the wind coming from the back and side for the majority of the time. This obviously helped and as we reached the coast line we were presented with some stunning views.

Our pace picked up thankfully and we reached the second outstop at 73 miles in much better shape although David was again beginning to struggle badly.

Having fed and watered well we gained a new lease of life, and along with that and the now full tailwind, we found ourselves cruising on the flat at 50kmph with little or no effort required. It was quite a joyous last leg and it felt like a reward for all the hard work we had put in over the last 9 days.

And then it was the final left turn and the descent into John O’Groats where we were met by a large group of organisers, riders, friends and families all waiting for the arrival of their loved ones. It was a special and surreal moment. We’d made it.

We were greeted by the amazing Threshold crew who presented us with our medals, and then we headed to the signpost for the obligatory photos.

I owe David and Paul an awful lot. Without their support, encouragement and the wind-shielding (especially on day 8) I may not have made it to John O’Groats in the manner I did, and for that I will always be grateful.

I believe I have made some lifetime friends here, and with 2 people for whom we share a unique experience that only few will be able to understand.

I will write up my thoughts about the event in full when I have had time to absorb and digest them properly, but Deloitte Ride Across Britain was harder than I could have imagined. From the despairing lows to the elated highs, from the downright ugly to the beauty and splendour of our incredible island, and to the humankind and displays of unequivocal support, guidance, compassion, humour and love, I’ve simply experienced nothing like it before.

I am incredibly fortunate to have been able to participate in this (for me) once in a lifetime event, and for that I am incredibly grateful.

[themamil]

Ride Across Britain - Day 8

So at about 9pm last night I thought my LEJOG adventure has come to an abrupt end. I was pretty ill and had the major shivers and thought it pretty unlikely that I would be participating in the ride today.

Amazingly enough, getting it out of my system (so to speak), seemed to work wonders and I woke at midnight cured of the shakes and feeling a whole lot better. However, I wasn’t sure if I’d be up for the Lecht, and perhaps that was why I didn’t sleep too well as a result.

The alarm didn’t need to wake me up because I was already awake but I was exhausted through the lack of sleep as we lined up ready to start the 120 mammoth mile stage for a 6am start.

To add to my woes, the derailleur has decided to fail completely from the outset today, even though I charged the batteries fully overnight.

The ride out of Strathdon took us back along the route we came in the previous night before turning right up through the valley. I wasn’t feeling too bad but as daylight began to take hold we found ourselves at the bottom of The Lecht climb.

The initial climb ramps straight up at 25% and continued for about 400 meters. It’s brutal and being stuck in 3rd gear I had to revert to zigzagging to make it up to the “more gentle” upper ramps.

At this point, I think I realised that perhaps I wasn’t as recovered as I had hoped and the thought of another 100+ miles filled me with some dread.

After reaching the summit we descending amongst some of the strongest winds I had ever experienced on a bike and had to be super cautious descending as a slight lapse of concentration could have caused a serious problem.

The ride then followed the route north through the Cairngorms national park which provided some of the most stunning and remote views of the ride so far.

Due to my condition, I have to say that I probably didn’t appreciate the ride as much as I could but it continued to deliver stunning backgrounds the further north we went.

Additionally, due to my lack of strength, every time we hit a ramp that I couldn’t make up in my current gear, I’d have to ask Paul to hold my bike in the air whilst I manually forced the derailleur into a lower gear. Hardly ideal for a 120 mile ride.

As the day progressed I got more and more tired and my energy sapped more and more. On a couple of occasions, I felt my eyes starting to close and had to snap myself out of it. A very strange feeling and experience I have to say. because I was still feeling icky I also wasn’t feeding properly at the stops and so was probably compounding issues as we went.

We rolled into the Kyle of Sutherland around 3pm. David and Paul would have ridden it a fair time quicker but their support for me remained resolute and for that, I am truly grateful as I wonder if I’d have made it without them.

So whilst today was all about survival for me, I’m just a little sad that I wasn’t able to enjoy the day as much as I had yesterday, but at the same time quitting would have been a disaster from a personal point of view.

So a good night sleep will hopefully recharge me and we will go again tomorrow for the final, and hopefully triumphant leg, into John O’Groats.

[themamil]

Ride Across Britain - Day 7

Today was the first of 2 big days in the saddle as we move closer to John O’Groats.

We set off at 6.30am from Edinburgh. Within about 3 miles we were crossing the Forth Road Bridge and heading north for Perth.

Once over the bridge we passed through towns that I’d only ever heard talked about on Saturday Football results, like Cowdenbeath.

The day really started to come to life as we passed through the Cairngorms national park where the views were just incredible.

And then we arrived at Glenshee. The big climb of the day and at the top of which we were met by the Threshold team with their flags and bells.

After that climb we rolled down the other side and continued to be fed scenes like this.

Then we hit the final “grippy” section if the ride. The reality is that these were 2 enormous climbs in their own right. But with Paul and David with me, we ground our way up them, but they were tough.

Upon returning to the camp I fell unwell and was pretty sick and I was really concerned that my adventure was over.

[themamil]

Ride Across Britain - Day 6

Today was billed as a transition day and it lived up to its billing. We set off from Carlisle in the rain and headed for Lockerbie for the first pit stop.

On route we passed through Gretna and entered Scotland.

Apart from that milestone there was really very little left to report. My derailleur had sprung back to life and despite the weather my spirits were up.

The derailleur then died again and was stuck in the hardest gear on the small chainring. I was down to 1 gear so for the second leg I decided just to treat it like a long TT and powered on to the second pitstop which was 30 miles outside Edinburgh. The route followed the A7 and was less than dire. Both the views and the surface were horrible.

The mechanics at the pitstop managed to force the bike into an easier gear and got the front derailleur working again so at least I was up to 2 gears again and the weather also started to improve as did the views.

We arrived at basecamp at the Hopetoun estate at about 2.30, tired but pleased the transition stage was done.

[themamil]

Ride Across Britain - Day 5

Day 5 will stick as a memorable day for many reasons. We set off from Haydock at 6.30am with the prospect of a 116 mile ride and some 2000 meters of climbing, in pretty horrendous conditions. The were strong winds and the rain was pretty heavy.

I was on a loan bike (a basic Claris groupset based aluminium Trek Domane) which was pretty identical to the Specialized Allez I have at home for turbo sessions.

The first leg out of Haydock was grim, with poor weather and a fair amount of commuter traffic and nothing to really see. So much so that I have no photos of the first 35 miles.

When we arrived at the first stop it was still raining but it was definitely dying down and once we were on the road again we got into the countryside and the scene started to change for the better, and so did the weather.

The low hedgelines and stone walls were archetypal English countryside scenes.

We skirted the lakes and headed through Kendal to the second pitstop seeing more beautiful scenery.

We then arrived in Millthorp and the halfway point of the whole ride. That was a great feeling.

We left once we had fed and watered ourselves and headed for the climb of the day, Shap Fell. At 4 miles long and 1500ft it was a great grinding climb with super views at the top. David also got a puncture and we nearly couldn’t get the tyre back on the wheel. Thankfully we did.

From there it was a fast descent down to Shap and the greetings and support of the local primary school kids which was very special.

The drag to Carlisle was a, well drag. Headwinds and grippy climbs, we were done and just wanted basecamp.

So done great parts and some miserable ones, a loan bike and a puncture, support and cheers from young and old too. A special day in many ways, albeit exhausting.

[themamil]

Ride Across Britain - Day 4

So today was going to be fairly straight forward. Practically a flat stage and not much to look, we left Haydock at 7am

...and we’re actually presented by some pretty pleasent riding conditions and views.

But as we progressed north it became fairly nondescript again and instead we focussed on riding in groups along the quiet and sometimes narrow lanes.

The first pitstop wasn’t for about 50 miles so I was happy to get there and to refuel. Starting off the second stage I realised that my rear derailleur has stopped shifting. This was really strange because I had charged them last night. Suddenly the rear derailleur kicked back into life so I thought nothing more of it and thought it had simply rebooted itself or something.

Then we got stuck Tour of Britain style at a level crossing for about 5 minutes.

However about 10 minutes later it happened again and this time it was completely dead so I was reduced to 2 gears (because the front chainring was still working).

A small holdup with a works lorry meant I got separated from the group out at the front. So I continued to roll but the group just didn’t seem to be catching me, so weirdly I got it into my head that I was in some sort of breakaway and rode hard to the next pitstop which was further away than I thought.

Once I arrived I asked the mechanics to have a look and a few checks and they believed it was dead so I phoned Sigma Sports who to their credit were super helpful. Short of time I said I’d call them back and I joined the group for the last leg to Haydock.

I spoke to Signa again who confirmed the derailleur was dead and amazingly are sending a replacement to Carlisle where hopefully the mechanics will be able to fit the new one to my bike tomorrow, and in the meantime I am borrowing a bike for the day to get to Carlisle.

What doesn’t break you makes you stronger right?