Thursday, 10 January 2013
The Next Challenge
So, after last year's 100km Nightrider, I've agreed to a new challenge this year.
On 28th September I'm going to do the Oxford to Cambridge bike ride. This is 90 miles (just over 140km), organised by the British Heart Foundation which is a charity I'm quite keen on.
I don't feel I can ask everyone to sponsor me again, but if you'd like to do so then please go to my fundraising page at http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/rew. Anything you can spare will go to a very worth cause.
So, I'd better do some more training, but not quite yet!
Saturday, 30 June 2012
Official Thanks
I received the following letter from the Cystic Fibrosis Trust yesterday, acknowledging receipt of the £1,360 (which came to £1,608 once gift aid was added) and thanking all of you who kindly sponsored me...
So once again, thank you everyone for your donations!
So once again, thank you everyone for your donations!
Sunday, 24 June 2012
Epilogue
It's been two weeks since the big event, so I've had time to reflect on how well it went, and how lucky I was not to have any mis-haps on the night itself.
I believe that at least two riders (out of three thousand) were in significant collisions with vehicles and were taken off by ambulance (both were okay but one had a dislocated shoulder I think). Another lady was advised by medics to pull out midway but went back the following weekend to complete it!
Less serious, but very annoying nonetheless, various riders had mechanical problems including one person who had three (yes 3!) punctures. Using my mountain bike doesn't seem like such a bad idea after hearing that, even though everyone said it would be harder!
Various write-ups of the night have been posted online:
A few YouTube videos from helmet-mounted cameras have been posted, including:
Loads of local newspapers have coverage of charity riders from their areas, and lots of photos are online, mainly on facebook (unfortunately!)...
But on to the important thing, the reason why I was doing it... I think all my donations have come in now (but please head to http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/rew if you still want to contribute). You generous people have given £1,360 in total, which with Gift Aid added equates to a grand total of:
This incredible amount will help the Cystic Fibrosis Trust continue their valuable work supporting the families of CF sufferers (like my little nephew who was my inspiration for this in the first place) and funding research into treatments and cures. On their behalf, thank you all very much!
Finally, a lot of people have asked if I'm going to carry on cycling. The answer is definitely yes, although not to the same extent. The time involved in training properly for an event like this shouldn't be underestimated, so I'm going to ease off for a little while.
Will I do another challenge one day? Probably, but not for a while. I like the idea of London to Cambridge, or possibly further afield (Paris anyone?).
In the meantime, anyone thinking of doing Nightrider next year, I wholeheartedly recommend it. Don't do it alone, and make sure you put in the training effort - you'll enjoy an amazing night so much more if so!
According to the countdown clock on http://www.nightrider.org.uk, there are 349 days to go!
Thanks again,
Richard.
I believe that at least two riders (out of three thousand) were in significant collisions with vehicles and were taken off by ambulance (both were okay but one had a dislocated shoulder I think). Another lady was advised by medics to pull out midway but went back the following weekend to complete it!
Less serious, but very annoying nonetheless, various riders had mechanical problems including one person who had three (yes 3!) punctures. Using my mountain bike doesn't seem like such a bad idea after hearing that, even though everyone said it would be harder!
Various write-ups of the night have been posted online:
A few YouTube videos from helmet-mounted cameras have been posted, including:
Loads of local newspapers have coverage of charity riders from their areas, and lots of photos are online, mainly on facebook (unfortunately!)...
But on to the important thing, the reason why I was doing it... I think all my donations have come in now (but please head to http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/rew if you still want to contribute). You generous people have given £1,360 in total, which with Gift Aid added equates to a grand total of:
£1,608.75
This incredible amount will help the Cystic Fibrosis Trust continue their valuable work supporting the families of CF sufferers (like my little nephew who was my inspiration for this in the first place) and funding research into treatments and cures. On their behalf, thank you all very much!
Finally, a lot of people have asked if I'm going to carry on cycling. The answer is definitely yes, although not to the same extent. The time involved in training properly for an event like this shouldn't be underestimated, so I'm going to ease off for a little while.
Will I do another challenge one day? Probably, but not for a while. I like the idea of London to Cambridge, or possibly further afield (Paris anyone?).
In the meantime, anyone thinking of doing Nightrider next year, I wholeheartedly recommend it. Don't do it alone, and make sure you put in the training effort - you'll enjoy an amazing night so much more if so!
According to the countdown clock on http://www.nightrider.org.uk, there are 349 days to go!
Thanks again,
Richard.
Sunday, 10 June 2012
Done It
Wow, what an amazing night!
I've completed the Nightrider 2012 challenge, and I have the medal to prove it (and aching legs!).
We started from Ally Pally at 12.55am (shortly after Princess Eugenie - see http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2157110/Princess-Eugenie-completes-gruelling-63-MILE-overnight-charity-cycle-ride.html).
The weather couldn't have been better - mild, calm and clear skies. You could see the whole of London from the start point, which was both fascinating and scary! The first bit was briefly downhill, followed shortly by the first of the three major climbs.
It didn't seem long before we were going through Camden and then the West End, just before 2am. The bright lights, noise, traffic and general merriment were unbelievable. Adding 3000 cyclists into the mix (not all at the same time) created some great traffic jams and some "witty" banter with the revellers.
I'll cut a long story short, but we crossed the river three times (with some great views) before heading down to Crystal Palace and the second of the major climbs.
Coming back up we did the east of London, including a break stop by Tower Bridge:
After crossing the bridge we did a deserted City and Canary Wharf before heading back up to Ally Pally via a bunch of other places.
By about 5am we were cycling in sunshine - we really couldn't have asked for better weather!
The final climb back up to the finish line was tough, but we made it and finished a few minutes after 7am.
Total statistics:
Back at the finish line, the medals were given out and we enjoyed the sunshine and the daytime view over London:
All in all, a fantastic experience and more importantly thanks to your donations I've raised £1250 for CF Trust, plus gift aid to take it up nearly £1500 and I have a few pledges from people still to add.
So, thank you all for your support, both financial and emotional!
And now to sleep...
I've completed the Nightrider 2012 challenge, and I have the medal to prove it (and aching legs!).
We started from Ally Pally at 12.55am (shortly after Princess Eugenie - see http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2157110/Princess-Eugenie-completes-gruelling-63-MILE-overnight-charity-cycle-ride.html).
The weather couldn't have been better - mild, calm and clear skies. You could see the whole of London from the start point, which was both fascinating and scary! The first bit was briefly downhill, followed shortly by the first of the three major climbs.
It didn't seem long before we were going through Camden and then the West End, just before 2am. The bright lights, noise, traffic and general merriment were unbelievable. Adding 3000 cyclists into the mix (not all at the same time) created some great traffic jams and some "witty" banter with the revellers.
I'll cut a long story short, but we crossed the river three times (with some great views) before heading down to Crystal Palace and the second of the major climbs.
Coming back up we did the east of London, including a break stop by Tower Bridge:
After crossing the bridge we did a deserted City and Canary Wharf before heading back up to Ally Pally via a bunch of other places.
By about 5am we were cycling in sunshine - we really couldn't have asked for better weather!
The final climb back up to the finish line was tough, but we made it and finished a few minutes after 7am.
Total statistics:
- Distance: 106km (66 miles)
- Cycling time: 4 hours 57 minutes
- Total time: 6 hours 13 minutes
- Moving average: 21.3 kph
- Overall average: 17.0kph
Back at the finish line, the medals were given out and we enjoyed the sunshine and the daytime view over London:
All in all, a fantastic experience and more importantly thanks to your donations I've raised £1250 for CF Trust, plus gift aid to take it up nearly £1500 and I have a few pledges from people still to add.
So, thank you all for your support, both financial and emotional!
And now to sleep...
Thursday, 7 June 2012
Am I ready?
Two days to go, so I'm doing final preparations and taking stock of my training.
It seems a long time since the cold wet dark nights (and frosty mornings!) of February when I decided to take on this challenge, and a lot has happened since then...
However, it's a night-time ride and I start at 12.55am. Getting food and energy levels right to start at that time of night when the body wants to be asleep, and then keeping those energy levels going for another five or six hours through to the next morning, adds an additional challenge into the mix.
Also, most of my training has been on country roads with little traffic, junctions or other interference. I know it's at night, but riding through Camden or the West End at 1.30am is hardly going to be quiet so I'll have to be on the lookout for taxis, pub-goers and other general hazards/drunkards.
I've done a couple of routes through Cambridge city centre, which slowed me down more than I expected even on a Sunday morning as the stop/start nature of traffic lights, roundabouts and other junctions puts a real dent in progress on a bike.
But in conclusion, yes I'm about as ready as I'll ever be. The training went generally according to plan, minus the illness, crash and other setbacks, and I've done the distance I was aiming for.
By the time I've finished the event, I'll have done over 1,250km in total, which is more than London to Edinburgh and back!
So, roll on Saturday night. The weather forecast isn't good, but then much of the last few months have been atrocious anyway. As long as the 60mph winds they're forecasting for tonight and tomorrow have abated by Saturday it can't be too bad, surely? At least it shouldn't snow!
Wish me luck, and if you haven't sponsored me yet then please do so now:
It's all for a very worthy cause!
It seems a long time since the cold wet dark nights (and frosty mornings!) of February when I decided to take on this challenge, and a lot has happened since then...
- Total weeks since start: 16
- Weeks lost to man-flu: 1.5
- Weeks lost after crash: 0.5
- Total training distance: 1,155 km (= 717 miles = a long way!)
- Number of training rides: 42 (about 3 per week)
- Total training time: 52 hours
- Shortest training ride: 8km (25 minutes, frequently in the beginning)
- Longest training ride: 71km (3.5 hours, once!)
- Highest speed: 60.8 kph (downhill, = 37.7mph = scary!)
- Average speed: About 23 kph, unless it's hilly or in town centres
- Weight lost: 8 lbs (just over half a stone, mainly when I was ill!)
- How wet did I get? Very, in the wettest drought ever!
- Money raised: £1,140 so far (plus gift aid for total of £1,345)
However, it's a night-time ride and I start at 12.55am. Getting food and energy levels right to start at that time of night when the body wants to be asleep, and then keeping those energy levels going for another five or six hours through to the next morning, adds an additional challenge into the mix.
Also, most of my training has been on country roads with little traffic, junctions or other interference. I know it's at night, but riding through Camden or the West End at 1.30am is hardly going to be quiet so I'll have to be on the lookout for taxis, pub-goers and other general hazards/drunkards.
I've done a couple of routes through Cambridge city centre, which slowed me down more than I expected even on a Sunday morning as the stop/start nature of traffic lights, roundabouts and other junctions puts a real dent in progress on a bike.
But in conclusion, yes I'm about as ready as I'll ever be. The training went generally according to plan, minus the illness, crash and other setbacks, and I've done the distance I was aiming for.
By the time I've finished the event, I'll have done over 1,250km in total, which is more than London to Edinburgh and back!
So, roll on Saturday night. The weather forecast isn't good, but then much of the last few months have been atrocious anyway. As long as the 60mph winds they're forecasting for tonight and tomorrow have abated by Saturday it can't be too bad, surely? At least it shouldn't snow!
Wish me luck, and if you haven't sponsored me yet then please do so now:
It's all for a very worthy cause!
Wednesday, 6 June 2012
The Route
With three days to go, I've been looking in detail at the final route for the event on Saturday (subject to last minute changes for roadworks etc.)...
http://goo.gl/maps/FW4A
When I loaded the route into http://bikeroutetoaster.com (the fantastic website I've been using to plan routes), it suggests the distance is 105.96km, so I think I've been had!!
I can understand that the route needs to be 100km even if you don't go in and out of the five rest stops, but an extra 1km for each break is adding quite a bit to the total!
The general picture is as follows:
The highest peak is quite soon after the start (hopefully after enough time to warm up), climbing up to Whitestone Pond in Hampstead. The second peak is at the half way stop where we climb up to Crystal Palace. These will both take a bit of a concerted effort, but the rest doesn't look too bad though.
So, I have one more training ride this evening, then I'm in rest mode until Saturday. I'd better get some sleep before then!
http://goo.gl/maps/FW4A
When I loaded the route into http://bikeroutetoaster.com (the fantastic website I've been using to plan routes), it suggests the distance is 105.96km, so I think I've been had!!
I can understand that the route needs to be 100km even if you don't go in and out of the five rest stops, but an extra 1km for each break is adding quite a bit to the total!
The general picture is as follows:
I start at Alexandra Palace in the north (where the bike is drawn on the picture above, although I'll be heading in the other direction to that image as we go anti-clockwise round the route), passing the following places amongst many others:
- Leg 1: Hampstead Heath, Camden Lock, London Zoo, Regent's Park, Piccadilly Circus, West End, Waterloo Bridge, London Eye.
- Stop 1: Imperial War Museum.
- Leg 2: The Oval, Westminster Bridge, Big Ben, Parliament, White Hall (past Downing Street), Trafalgar Square, Hyde Park, Royal Albert Hall, Chelsea Bridge, Battersea Power Station.
- Stop 2: Crystal Palace.
- Leg 3: South London, Greenwich Park, National Maritime Museum.
- Stop 3: Potters Fields.
- Leg 4: Tower Bridge, Tower of London, St Paul's Cathedral, Barbican, City of London, Canary Wharf.
- Stop 4: Mile End Stadium.
- Leg 5: Victoria Park, Emirates Stadium, Finsbury Park.
- Finish: Alexandra Palace again!
The southern part of the route doesn't include as many sights, but is a just long hard slog down to Crystal Palace and back up to the river.
We cross the river 4 times, the last of which is Tower Bridge which I'm quite looking forward too as it should be dawn by then.
The height profile generally isn't too bad:
The highest peak is quite soon after the start (hopefully after enough time to warm up), climbing up to Whitestone Pond in Hampstead. The second peak is at the half way stop where we climb up to Crystal Palace. These will both take a bit of a concerted effort, but the rest doesn't look too bad though.
So, I have one more training ride this evening, then I'm in rest mode until Saturday. I'd better get some sleep before then!
Monday, 21 May 2012
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