Team jersey ordered!

Rodger was so impressed with this jersey, thought I best get an order in for the whole team. Another practice ride here, joined by Josh (11) and a potential new victim ( not shown ), Huw.

In the background is the Loughour estuary. Full on 20mph head wind on this 18 mile run - great practice for those Scottish glens we felt!

Gower Rides

Practice rides from Deepest Wales

Constrained by gsm speeds and an iPhone sized screen, a short post from deepest Wales! Training not really started yet, but enjoying a few shorter practice rides of up to 20 miles around the fabulous gently undulating roads of Gower.

The welsh drivers are great to road riders, especially when sporting my recently purchased Sarn Helen sportif jersey which features a large red dragon on the back!

If I figure out how to upload images from this mobile, I'll add a few pictures!

Martin

Thinking about the trip, are my wheels up to it?

Looking up and down my Mountain bike it was tired and weary. It has been through two road traffic accidents and has carried me around for the last ten years. To ask it to get me from John O'Groats to Land End next May felt like an ask to far. Don't get me wrong it has served me well, it's time it had a well earnt rest!

With the trip next year in mind I headed off to Williams cycles to see what the options were. I needed a road bike that was good for touring and covering a lot of miles, speed and sprinting less of an issue.

The advice from the lad in the shop was a flat bar'd road bike. "It gives a more up right riding position, better for someone of your build, sir!" I knew what he meant :) I am sure if I got down onto some dropped bars I'd never get back up again, 900 miles lying on the top tube doesn't appeal.

After checking some info online regarding suitability and costs I was back in the shop a few days later parting with my hard earnt cash. I had to wait 24 hours for the shop to prep the bike, it was like Christmas eve, I was so excited. I collected the bike the night before my 36th birthday and unloading it at home it suddenly felt very real! 900 miles and 10 days in less than a year! I had better get training then.....

Photos to follow....

Ian

Today I went to market and bought...

A new bike - a Specialized Secteur Elite,

Derek

A Specialized Propero Helmet (in the photo),
A Specialized EMT Survival Kit (hung under my saddle),
A spare inner tube (I got this free!),
A Specialized Speed Zone Sport Wireless computer (on my stem),
A Specialized Air Tool Mini Pump, and
A Massey Ferguson Tractor.

No going back!

What started as a family trip to Lands End, an off the cuff comment to a friend, and a drunken night in a pub has turned into a plan (in the loosest sense of the word) to cycle from John O'Groats to Lands End next year.

I'll update our progress here as we plan, train and (hopefully) complete this goal.

No going back now!