DE-BRIEF 09/26/2010
But this isn’t brief! I have been back at work for a few days and the cycling already seems an eternity ago. I have had literally dozens of people come up to me and congratulate me or shake my hand which is really nice. Plus I have had some good comments about my blog, so it seems that more people were reading them than I thought. So a recap on the 18 day trip. I am going to cover it in different topics. Hopefully some of this will be helpful if anybody reading this is considering doing LEJOG at some point. DURATION Despite some of the individual days feeling long, especially the windy ones, although with cooked breakfasts most days, every morning was windy in a different sense, but my point is, the days might have seemed long, but the overall challenge absolutely flew by. I think 16 days was nicely realistic for doing the ride unsupported. The days were challenging, but doable (if that is a word). If you were doing it unsupported, you could do it quicker, a couple of stone of extra weight really does make a difference, but I have had the beer belly for years, oh and the panniers weighed a couple of stone as well. I would say doing it in 16 days unsupported would be lovely as you would have the time and opportunity to see some tourist attractions. ROUTE When planning the route, I tried to avoid major A-roads as much as possible. Overall this was a good strategy. The only thing I would advise though, is when picking minor roads, make sure they at least are displayed on a 4inch to 1 mile scale road atlas. Some of the route especially in the first 4 days included what can only be described as ruts in the ground, this is why my brake pads knackered up so quickly as on some of the downhill stretches we were permanently on the brakes. It was also the reason why Pinhead’s back was covered in cow shite (before he bought his mudguards) EQUIPMENT My Fratello (that is the model of my bike, not an ice-cream) did me proud. I was gutted to get a puncture on the last day, but it was a thorn through a side of the tyre, probably one of the times when Pinhead and I had to veer onto a grass verge to avoid some of the moronic drivers we encountered. Pinhead and I both had Continental tyres, so 1 puncture in 1100 miles is bloody good going. I went through one set of brake pads and had to tighten my gear cable on the last day, but other than a few wipe downs with baby wipes (the bike not me) and a bit of oil everything was tiketyboo. The Ortlieb panniers get 10/10, they withstood some proper downpours, but everything was bone-dry inside. I would also highly recommend buying some of the resealable zipper plastic bags, great for your wallet, phone and camera in your back pockets. My best non-essential piece of equipment would have to be my cycling cap, even though people seem to laugh at me when I am wearing it. It kept sun (not very often) and rain (often) out of my eyes. Kept my head warm in the cold or stopped sweat running down in my eyes. When suicidal flying bugs decided to make a bee-line (pun intended) for me, I didn’t really feel them, unlike Pinhead who screamed like a girl every time something flew into his helmet and started crawling around. On the subject of helmets (cycling helmets), as you have seen from our piccies, we both had mohawks on on our helmets, his obvioulsy attracted some attention and a few comments, it wasn't until about day 14 until somebody said I look like a chicken, something Pinhead had been saying all along. Sometimes I didn't have a clue what people were actually saying, I am not good with northern dialect, being a sarf Londoner. Anyway, the reason for this paragraph, is to highlight the amount of people (including fellow cyclists) that said "nice hat". Can I just point out IT IS A HELMET, NOT A HAT. Right, I am glad I have got that off my chest, or should I say head. ACCOMMODATION Out of the 17 venues that we stayed in, there are only 2 that I would not recommend, obviously the Amityville Horror House in Tintern and we were not too impressed with our digs at Fort William. The rest ranged from very pleasant and good value to absolutely lovely. With the exception of ‘Johnny’ all of the hospitality we received was warm and welcoming. My fav would have to be The George Hotel in Invereray, but I would not hesitate to go back to any of the others. MISCELLANEOUS Other things that I need to blog about that didn’t make it into my original blogs. The dustcart that smelt of Lavender, be interesting to know whose job it is to spray the vehicle each morning and wonder if they change the smell on a monthly basis. The sign for ‘Flicks in the Sticks’ a mobile cinema that travels to small villages. I think that maybe there is scope to expand this idea how about ‘Poker outside the Big Smoke(r)’ – a mobile casino, ‘Rock by the Loch’ – a mobile climbing wall or maybe ‘Clown in the Town’ – a mobile circus. Although thinking about it, a circus is by nature mobile anyway, so that last one may not be such a good idea Plumbers of the world, lend me your ears. Is there not a universal standard for taps on sinks. As we ventured further north, 3 venues had the hot tap on the right instead of the left, we even had one place where the tap turned clockwise rather than anti-clockwise to turn the tap on? When you are tired after 80 miles cycling these things mess with your mind when you start brushing your teeth with hot water! For some strange reason I ended up talking in a strange dialect, a cross between Yorkshire and Pirate talk. Some examples for you. “There be rain in those clouds” “By eck that road was bumpy” “Hill ahead Lad” “We are doomed I tell thee” Strange as we didn’t travel through Yorkshire and didn’t sail the high seas! Hills! One thing I noticed, particularly when we did the big climb in Inverness, that despite being fitter and more used to cycling up hills, is that we didn’t get any faster at climbing. It was just a case of plodding on and getting to the top when you get there. One of my mottos which Pinhead heard regularly is ‘Pain is temporary, Pride if for life’ Hills hurt, especially when I am dragging my fat arse up them, but I am proud to say I didn’t get off and walk up a single hill (neither did Pinhead), every one was cycled up, even if an 80 year old walking his scotty dog could moonwalk up the hill faster. PINHEAD I am sure you are aware from my blogs, to say that Geography is not Pinhead’s strong point would be an understatement. Which kind of explains why he let me plan the route and also navigate. To be honest, if he had navigated, I would probably be typing this now sitting in a B&B in East Anglia, and we would have done 2224 miles to date with still another 800 to go. We had a couple of tense silences on the trip. I am sure I wound him up some times, but the two moments that stick in my mind when he wound me up were… The Shopping trip! Pinhead was complaining his flip-flops (he wanted to save weight) were rubbing his feet and giving him blisters. So despite it being nearly six o’clock we quickly walked, well I did, Pinhead hobbled to the High St in Windermere. So stupidly I thought, feet are hurting, quickly buy a cheap pair of trainers/sandals, need to do it quick as shops are closing, problem solved. Oh no, not in Pinhead’s world. 1st shop, he apparently doesn’t like the range or colours, 2nd shop nothing that he likes. This was the shop that thought we were shoplifting and a woman came running down the road after us. We would have been the world’s worse shoplifters. Pinhead was hobbling with his blistered feet in his flip flops, I was limping because of my sore knee and I was in a bright blue MS Trust t-shirt and Pinhead was in a bright green Macmillan Cancer Support t-shirt, just the perfect attire to mingle into the crowd! Anyway, we get to shop number three, they are hoovering, this is how close they are to closing. Pinhead starts asking for half sizes, different widths, different colours, not liking the prices, wondering if they were fashionable enough. He can’t walk because of blisters yet thinks he is in Clarks Shoe shop on a Saturday afternoon in Bluewater. I had to walk out of the shop, because at this point he was seriously doing my head in! He did buy some though. Getting ready for dinner! Once again I am sure you have gathered from my blogs, that for me it is a case of shower, change, get out for dinner or in the morning get up, go for breakfast, get changed, get out on the bike. Pinhead is how can I put it, put it this way in a previous life he was a tortoise and an element of his previous life is still with him. This night in question, I have showered and dresses and ready to go out for dinner. Now Pinhead takes his usual 30 minute shower, where he no doubts, showers, exfoliates, shampoos, conditions, moisturises, plucks his nasal hair and whatever else he does. I am not too bothered as it gives me a chance to work on my blog. Pinhead saunter’s out of the shower with a towel wrapped round him, potters around the room for 5 mins, not actually doing anything and whatever he is doing he is doing it slowly. He then decides to sit on the edge of the bed and start cutting his toe nails. This sends me over the edge and I politely ask “ARE YOU TAKING THE PISS” tense silence follows as Pinhead gets dressed in double quick time and we walk to a pub for dinner. I know Pinhead was a bit worried at the beginning because he said I was as a stronger cyclist than him. He did struggle for the first 3 days, but got stronger as the trip went on and I think he would have enjoyed the last couple of days if it wasn’t for his nagging injuries. But he didn’t give up on any hill and kept peddling with some encouragement form me (just keep peddling, just keep peddling, just keep peddling) If you have watched the film Finding Nemo and know the character Dorey, you will know what I am talking about. We had some real good laughs along the way and on at least four occasions I can remember we were actually in fits of laughter like little school kids. FINALLY This challenge was an amazing experience and a great way to see parts of this beautiful country. If you are mad enough to even consider doing LEJOG, go for it you won’t regret it. It’s been emotional, you have been a lovely audience! I would sincerley like to thank everybody who has sponsored me, you have made this trip all the more worthwhile and I know the money will help make a difference to MS sufferers. Thanks!! Bye for now Fathead CommentsStu Taylor Sun, 26 Sep 2010 12:49:23 Excellent re-cap Ray and I must say I was well impressed with everything. Good skills mate. You are right to be proud. And if I hadn't read it or seen the pics I would never have believed Hippos could ride bikes!?! What next, flying pigs? Nigel Sun, 26 Sep 2010 12:56:51 Great to read a roundup.. And by the way, from my plumber years, I can confirm that there is a UK standard (might even be global, but I only worked in the UK), which is "Cold on the right". You do find though in lots of B&Bs, that when you have a "back to back", where 2 basins are on both sides of a wall (in 2 guest rooms etc), that lazy plumbers can't be bothered to jump the pipes over each other on the one.. So therefore, the cold is on the left on one basin.. So there's your answer.. Cowboy northern plumbers. :) Uncle Colin & Auntie Pam Sun, 26 Sep 2010 16:57:47 Now come on Ray this isn't quite the end Norry Fri, 01 Oct 2010 08:56:26 Thanks for your efforts in putting this website and blog together. Fathead Wed, 06 Oct 2010 05:40:32 I have a few ideas, something continental perhaps. But I think I need to use my holiday next year for the family. I think Pinhead will probably tell me to bugger off as well :-) Fri, 26 Nov 2010 16:42:08 An elegant but crisp article with ripe, gooseberry flavors on the fore palate backed by tropical fruits and a hint of grassiness that lingers long on the aftertaste. Thu, 09 Dec 2010 23:32:36 If we should ever accomplish anything in life, let us not forget that we must persevere Leave a Reply | AuthorRay Sievey aka Fathead! ArchivesSeptember 2010 Categories |
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