Have set out on three occasions this week, I have determined to approach the mile count in a slightly different way.
Admittedly I shall not be starting each day from the same place, as I do in training, but I realised today that there is something psychologically wearing about doing the first 10 miles, or the first 20.
Instead I shall start each day from the running total from the day before, since then each day will be breaking new ground and retain a freshness and positivity about it that should help when the legs and mind are tired and sore.
213 miles on the clock sounds much better than 13 at the beginning of day 2 as does 97 for the week at the end of today, rather than 50 for today. It's all mind games, but that's just it. It WILL be ALL mind games.
Interestingly I've been reading a couple of websites about ultracycling, http://www.active.com/cycling/articles/12-training-tips-for-an-ultra-distance-ride-880710
and welcome any thoughts from experienced long distance riders about training schedules, eating, drinking and resting.
I for one am interested to know how I'm going to keep the energy going in. I haven't stopped eating since I got home today and I only did a quarter of what I hope to be achieving. I shall need a small trailer to carry my food. I do remember from LEJOG in 2010, that you get pretty fed-up of chocolate and cereal bars and the body is good at telling you what it really needs. Baked potatoes at roadside cafes were a favourite.
Thursday 27 February 2014
A little help from your friends
When I last wrote I mentioned the generosity of those who have been making contributions to the cause. It would be wrong not to take the time to mention them.
Since I started to plan the 'temporarily' aborted trans-atlantic crossing at the tail end of last year, Linda, who works in the office, has bought into the sense of adventure that goes with big ideas such as these and has given of her organisational experience and specifically her previous knowledge of graphics to produce some great logos and artwork to assist with the marketing.
Since I am trying to raise money for Dementia Care and specifically the Alzheimer's Society, this is vital. It is also something that I am rubbish at and along with the other contributors I am about to mention, highlight why expeditions of any complexity, rarely happen without a team of supporters in the background.
There is an irony here that is not lost on me, since the ride itself is by the rules of the race, 'unsupported', but you still have to get to the start line.
Sojan is a computer hardware engineer who manifestly knows what he's about when it comes to IT. From asking him a couple of unrelated problems, his 'sponsorship' has been to completely rebuild my PC and take on the task of getting his head around Garmin Basecamp and Openstreetmaps, so that I can get on with downloading Europe and plotting my route across the continent.
Hannah is pursuing some charity sponsorship for me, again without being asked. Since she has also determined that I'm not very good at self-publicity, she's also taken on the task of ghost writing my brief for the would be sponsors, since she at least recognises that 200 miles a day is a bit more than just 12 characters on a computer screen and that I maybe should make more of it.
Well in the end I did another 50 miles today (97 for the week so far,) and have re-arranged my visit to see my father until Sunday since he has had quite a few visitors and is still settling in to his new surroundings.
Since I started to plan the 'temporarily' aborted trans-atlantic crossing at the tail end of last year, Linda, who works in the office, has bought into the sense of adventure that goes with big ideas such as these and has given of her organisational experience and specifically her previous knowledge of graphics to produce some great logos and artwork to assist with the marketing.
Since I am trying to raise money for Dementia Care and specifically the Alzheimer's Society, this is vital. It is also something that I am rubbish at and along with the other contributors I am about to mention, highlight why expeditions of any complexity, rarely happen without a team of supporters in the background.
There is an irony here that is not lost on me, since the ride itself is by the rules of the race, 'unsupported', but you still have to get to the start line.
Sojan is a computer hardware engineer who manifestly knows what he's about when it comes to IT. From asking him a couple of unrelated problems, his 'sponsorship' has been to completely rebuild my PC and take on the task of getting his head around Garmin Basecamp and Openstreetmaps, so that I can get on with downloading Europe and plotting my route across the continent.
Hannah is pursuing some charity sponsorship for me, again without being asked. Since she has also determined that I'm not very good at self-publicity, she's also taken on the task of ghost writing my brief for the would be sponsors, since she at least recognises that 200 miles a day is a bit more than just 12 characters on a computer screen and that I maybe should make more of it.
Well in the end I did another 50 miles today (97 for the week so far,) and have re-arranged my visit to see my father until Sunday since he has had quite a few visitors and is still settling in to his new surroundings.
Wednesday 26 February 2014
A few miles and some more to chew on.
Since my last post I have visited my father on hospital again and am delighted that he has now been discharged and is very happy with his room and surroundings in a specialist care home for people living with dementia. I hope to visit him tomorrow and since it will be a 70 mile round trip, it seems like a perfect excuse to go there by bike.
There is a symmetry that I should travel to see him on the bike that he spent many, many hours cycling around the local countryside. I would love to take this same bike across Europe as a very fitting tribute to him, but it is just slightly the wrong size and would cripple my neck and back after a couple of days I think.
Still it's a good training camel.This is mejust back from a short outing in my new Alzheimer's Society shirt!
I have been amazed by people's generosity over the last few days. It has been said that I am slightly underselling myself. Certainly as I have been out on the roads a little more in the last week or so, the enormity of what I am taking on has become increasingly clear. Yet, I don't want to make more of what I am doing than of the opportunity to raise awareness for the Alzheimer's Society and whilst I accept that 200 miles a day is easy to say and pretty tough to do, I have chosen the challenge afterall.
So in the last two days I have been out for a couple of 25 mile stints and taken in Gas Hill in Norwich 5 times yesterday. Mindful of the Dello Stelvio Pass and many other hills/mountains, besides, I am working on my strength as much as my stamina. With 70 odd miles tomorrow, that will make it a 120 mile week so far.
There is a symmetry that I should travel to see him on the bike that he spent many, many hours cycling around the local countryside. I would love to take this same bike across Europe as a very fitting tribute to him, but it is just slightly the wrong size and would cripple my neck and back after a couple of days I think.
Still it's a good training camel.This is mejust back from a short outing in my new Alzheimer's Society shirt!
I have been amazed by people's generosity over the last few days. It has been said that I am slightly underselling myself. Certainly as I have been out on the roads a little more in the last week or so, the enormity of what I am taking on has become increasingly clear. Yet, I don't want to make more of what I am doing than of the opportunity to raise awareness for the Alzheimer's Society and whilst I accept that 200 miles a day is easy to say and pretty tough to do, I have chosen the challenge afterall.
So in the last two days I have been out for a couple of 25 mile stints and taken in Gas Hill in Norwich 5 times yesterday. Mindful of the Dello Stelvio Pass and many other hills/mountains, besides, I am working on my strength as much as my stamina. With 70 odd miles tomorrow, that will make it a 120 mile week so far.
Sunday 16 February 2014
I'm not ready
But then who would be with months to go and was resurfacing after a fortnight with a stinky cold?
I have resisted the temptation to train whilst unwell, though toward the end of my brief convalescence I was beginning to feel frustrated and guilty. Instead, I did something far more worthwhile and went to see my Dad.
Admitted to hospital a couple of weeks ago he is being extremely well looked after and was pleased to see me. That smile of recognition is worth any number of miles and the little juggle of children and carers back home.
Unlike me, his face lit up when I produced the little jar of prunes from my mother.
I digress.
Today, I met up with Steve, (Whom I recall I said I would introduce you to some time back,). Suffice to say that I contacted him through Explorers Connect. http://www.explorersconnect.com/
I have had it in my head to row a boat across the Atlantic for about 10 years, probably more. It won't surprise anyone that children and family and responsibility' were collectively too much inertia for my conscience to overcome.....at the moment, but Steve and I got our heads together and another blog, http://transatlantic2017.blogspot.co.uk/ tells the story as far as it went.
Anyway, back to the present.
So having had a short forced break from training, I popped to the gym last week and completed an hour of fairly strenuous turbo training that was at least akin to cycling in the middle of the summer, if only due to the stifling heat and lack of air in the room. either that or I was actually working quite hard. Either way, I came away thinking, heck, this is going to be hard work.
Funnily enough after 60 miles from Swaffham to Burnham Deepdale and back today, I found myself considering the same sense of trepidation. 200 miles a day is going to be HARD WORK!
I have resisted the temptation to train whilst unwell, though toward the end of my brief convalescence I was beginning to feel frustrated and guilty. Instead, I did something far more worthwhile and went to see my Dad.
Admitted to hospital a couple of weeks ago he is being extremely well looked after and was pleased to see me. That smile of recognition is worth any number of miles and the little juggle of children and carers back home.
Unlike me, his face lit up when I produced the little jar of prunes from my mother.
I digress.
Today, I met up with Steve, (Whom I recall I said I would introduce you to some time back,). Suffice to say that I contacted him through Explorers Connect. http://www.explorersconnect.com/
I have had it in my head to row a boat across the Atlantic for about 10 years, probably more. It won't surprise anyone that children and family and responsibility' were collectively too much inertia for my conscience to overcome.....at the moment, but Steve and I got our heads together and another blog, http://transatlantic2017.blogspot.co.uk/ tells the story as far as it went.
Anyway, back to the present.
So having had a short forced break from training, I popped to the gym last week and completed an hour of fairly strenuous turbo training that was at least akin to cycling in the middle of the summer, if only due to the stifling heat and lack of air in the room. either that or I was actually working quite hard. Either way, I came away thinking, heck, this is going to be hard work.
Funnily enough after 60 miles from Swaffham to Burnham Deepdale and back today, I found myself considering the same sense of trepidation. 200 miles a day is going to be HARD WORK!
Wednesday 5 February 2014
'Where Memories Go' why dementia changes everything
I had an e-mail from my Aunt (Dad's sister,) last week bringing this new book to my attention. I would be interested to know what you think and look forward to reading it myself.
http://www.tworoadsbooks.com/books/where-memories-go-sally-magnusson/
One might suppose that I might have my own perspective to compare it to, but as well as succeeding in the Western world, in maintaining our physical health for so long that our brains cannot keep up, it seems that we've also become so disparate and far-flung that having the ability to care for our nearest and dearest is almost impossible.
Were it not for my mother who has resolutely and steadfastly been there 24/7 for the entirety of my father's illness and the willingness of my twin to postpone her life in Africa to support her in recent months, my Dad would have been cared for in a dementia unit of a care home a long time ago.
I therefore rely on periodic catchups with my mother on the phone between school runs and night shifts and an afternoon, when I can find it, to take my father down the road in his chair for some fresh air. These moments are precious, but they are no substitute for the insight gained from spending 24 hours a day caring for him and I hope to get some of that from this book.
http://www.tworoadsbooks.com/books/where-memories-go-sally-magnusson/
30 JANUARY 2014
Mamie, Magnus and baby Sally Magnusson
Scottish broadcaster and author, Sally Magnusson, cared with her two sisters for her mother, Mamie, during her long struggle with dementia, until her death in 2012.
This moving and honest account of losing a loved one day by day to an insidious disease is both deeply personal and a challenging call to arms.
Faced with one of the greatest social, medical, economic and moral challenges of our times, society must urgently reconsider how we look after the most fragile of our citizens.
- See more at: http://www.tworoadsbooks.com/books/where-memories-go-sally-magnusson/#sthash.lL2x9FWu.dpufOne might suppose that I might have my own perspective to compare it to, but as well as succeeding in the Western world, in maintaining our physical health for so long that our brains cannot keep up, it seems that we've also become so disparate and far-flung that having the ability to care for our nearest and dearest is almost impossible.
Were it not for my mother who has resolutely and steadfastly been there 24/7 for the entirety of my father's illness and the willingness of my twin to postpone her life in Africa to support her in recent months, my Dad would have been cared for in a dementia unit of a care home a long time ago.
I therefore rely on periodic catchups with my mother on the phone between school runs and night shifts and an afternoon, when I can find it, to take my father down the road in his chair for some fresh air. These moments are precious, but they are no substitute for the insight gained from spending 24 hours a day caring for him and I hope to get some of that from this book.
The Horse.
SO this is the bike that I think I'm going to plum for. A Canyon Inflite 8.0 S, a winter training version of the full on cyclo-cross models brought out by Canyon Bikes in 2013. www.canyon.com
I had a long chat with Andy Panks, the extremely knowledgeable and experienced engineer at Specialised Cyles on Connaught Road in Norwich. His advice and comments were positive about Canyon bikes generally and specifically that for the money, you'd be hard pushed to build something similar for half as much again as this retails at. Useful advice indeed.
That said, I do want to make some adjustments and would welcome any experienced users of hub dynamos and lighting systems and or tri-bars for long distance riding.
Sunday 2 February 2014
Rules
The Transcontinental was born out of my experience on the 2012 World Cycle Race and the growing desire by myself and many others to see an unsupported alternative to the longer distance ‘Ultra’ Cycling races, such that it could rival the so called toughest bike races on earth, without the associated cost of admission. It is also influenced in style by the satellite tracked bikepacking races, most of which have traditionally taken place on dirt or gravel, but the autonomous format with no route and a small number of controls also make it more akin to a longer Brevet or Audax.
In 2013 thirty riders from many countries and backgrounds lined up on Westminster Bridge and each made it their own. Some raced at a fantastic speed, almost reaching the finish before we did, some took it as a ride, others made it up as they went along, went sightseeing or completely off the beaten track. Most arrived a bit dirtier, with a big smile on their face and plenty of stories to tell. In short, there’s no wrong way to ride the Transcontinental, its whatever you want it to be. Sure there are rules, but we try to keep them to a minimum and just ask you to play fair.
In 2014 we keep the iconic Stelvio for another year but swap out the Muur for a visit to one of Paris’s lesser known districts. Now a cabaret bar and not much to look at, you’ll scarcely believe that the Cafe au Reveil Matin was where the world’s biggest bike race first set off, but it was and there’s history there. Tourists can plot a line in down the Champs Elysees and try their luck at the Arc de Triomphe if they wish or marvel at the Eiffel tower on a Sunday morning. Then its Brevet Card marked and onward to the Alps. We also have the addition of a third checkpoint in 2014 of the climb to Mount Lovcen which will give you stunning views of the Adriatic and the world heritage site of Kotor and Risan Bay. In combination with CP1 this will make the second edition a completely different race for returning veterans.
The Transcontinental has certainly been a hugely rewarding race to stage, largely down to the enthusiasm and character of the riders who have taken part and so for taking up the gauntlet in 2014 the Adventurists and I doff our collective caps to you and look forward to seeing you in the summer.
Bon Route!
Mike Hall
Race Director
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