Thanks for taking the time to visit our JustGiving page. - SEE POST RIDE UPDATE BELOW
We are intending to cycle the Coast to Coast route from Whitehaven to Sunderland (approx 140) miles in one day.
For those of you who know us and know our history of running (Gill has 25 years under her belt and Pete has 16) and know how much we enjoy extreme training - will also know that we will put 100% into acheiving this goal - mad by name, mad by nature !!!!
This isnt one of those events where you have to raise a certain amount of money to gain entry nor is it an organised event - after a few years running with re-occuring injuries we have turned to cycling and try and mix our training between the two disciplines - but we wanted to do something which came close to running the London marathon in terms of the feeling of satisfaction and acheivement - so what could we do that was really hard ???? -
'I know' said Gill 'lets cycle the C2C',
'OK' said Pete,
'in a day' said Gill,
'you mad ***' said Pete 'but OK let go for it'
.. so the training schedules came out and off we set building up from 40miles to 100 miles for our longest ride and clocking up to 200 miles a week -
The hardest ride so far has been frrom home (Hambleton - just outside of Blackpool) to Windermere in very windy conditions on Sunday 12th July - it was hard work but extremely excillerating and seeing 100 miles for one ride clocked on our milomiters was fantastic - aftet that we feel on track now for the big day - which will either be Saturday 1st August or Saturday 8th August
Although we dont have to raise money to complete this ride we felt it was a wasted opportunity not to, but as we don't have any targets, any donations for either of these two great causes will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in anticipation
Pete and Gill
POST RIDE UPDATE
Did we manage it ? - read on and all will be revealed !!
For those of you who dont know, due to the forecasted weather we decided the best day to do this ride was Thursday 30th July.
That meant a hectic few days leading up to Thursday concluding with a 350mile journey from Watford (picking Gill and bikes up at home) to our hotel in Workington the evening before the ride - arriving at midnight.
We knew the ride was going to be tough and hilly but this was confirmed when even the walk to the hotel entrance from the car was uphill and to top that our bedroom was on the top floor - three flights of stairs !
Anyway not to be deterred we were up bright and early (ie 6.00am) looking forward to the challenge ahead.
We drove to the start to find the nearest secure parking spot was two miles away - still with a postive mindset we got ourselves and the bikes ready and rode off to the start.
So at 8.15am we set off and it was immediately evident that the C2C signposts were less than perfect and navigation skills would need to kick in - so that was left to Pete as Gill hasnt got those.
Needless to say we promptly got lost and it wasnt long before we found ourselves well behind schedule. The course between Cockermouth and Keswick consisted of paths/tracks which were unsuitable for our roadbikes (the official C2C website and literature leads you to beleive that this wont be the case !!) and we found ourselves tackling very steep decents which were rocky, wet and slippery.
At Keswick we hit the A66 and made up time to Penrith. Pete after falling off in Cockermouth was suffering with an injured shoulder and asked Gill to buy him for paracetemol at the petrol station when purchasing some more water.
'Where's the drugs' said Peter when Gill emerged with the water
'They were 2 quid' said Gill 'that outrageous so I didnt bother'
'I dont care if they are 50 quid' said Pete not so gracioulsy 'We've got 90 miles to go - I think we can stretch to £2' !!!!
So we carried on after Pete had taken two very expensive paracetemols !!
Pete's pain in his shoulder was soon forgotten when we hit the climb to Hartside Heights - an agonising 1900 ft climb over 4 miles. However the welcoming cafe at the top (the highest in the UK) and fab food were well worth the effort.
Talking to other cyclists in the cafe we soon realised that there were lots of challenges ahead - we hadnt even reached the highest point on the C2C yet.
The steep decline over the next 5 miles was welcoming but in places a bit scarry and tested Gills nerves (Pete was fine - yeah right) and the effectiveness of our brakes !
After another steep climb and decline into Nenthead we took a sharp right into Nenthead village - this was particularly steep and cobbled at the beginning. Carring on we reached the highest point of the C2C at Weardale which meant climbing up Black Hill. This was very very tough and really tested the muscles - but we managed it without having to get off and walk.
Because we were unsure of the suitability of the C2C paths at this point we stayed on the main road to Stanhope, the route to which was very undulating but luckily the wind was behind us. This was the same distance but just provided us with the on road alternative.
Once in Stanhope we stopped to refuel - ie more bread/bananas and water and then set off again joining the C2C route again turning left out of the village towards Consett up the steepest hill we have ever tried to tackle - AND it went on for two miles.
The route changed from main road to shale track again which we decided to stay with and took us across Waskerley Way and gave fantastic views over Waskerley Reservoir, but slowed progress a little. After 10 miles and meeting a young couple who advised us that the remainder of the C2C route was not suitable for road bikes we rejoined the main road.
After a couple of steep climbs and decents we arrived in Consett back on schedule ie 18.50 with only 30 miles to go.
After eating at a really good Italian restaurant who's staff didnt mind us looking disschelved and probably extremely smelly we set off again with the wind behind us and the promise from the C2C guidebook that the remainder of the course was all downhill.
We made swift progress through Rowlands Gill (sometimes reachings speeds of 28+ miles per hour) and arrived on the outskirts of Newcastle looking forward to what we thought would be a pleasant ride into Tynemouth by the side of the river thinking we would arrive approx 8.30 pm
Unfortunately the guidebook and maps seemed to show a completely different routes to the signposted route and we found ourselves going round and round in circles in Newcastle loosing lots of time and light.
After much delay and frustration we found the A187 and followed it into Tynemouth eventually finding the Castle and the finish around 21.30pm.
It had been long eventful journey which tested our physical and mental endurance but all that was worthwhile from the sense of acheivement, the support we have had from all of you in terms of sponsorship money and words of encouragement and from people along the way who helped us.
All these feelings came together when we saw one of our daughters running towards us at the finish, cheering and presenting us with some cheap medals she had purchased from Tesco - they were worth a million pounds to us.
Thanks to everyone who has supported us - it really made a difference and kept us going.
Pete and Gill.
'So' said Gill ' what can we do next Pete thats harder than that ?'
