01/05/10: Ride Synopsis:

01 May at 09:02: Off in ten... We started Pukka Pedaling at about 9:15am on Saturday 1st May setting off with another group: ‘Norfolk and Chance’. The seventeen of us gently set off from Nevill Holt. The weather was excellent, sunny, not too hot, no wind.

01 May at 09:29 : First puncture and crash! Minutes later and we are in a pack headed down towards Stockerston at about 25-30mph when BANG! goes someone’s tyre. Andrew looks over his shoulder to see what’s happened. On looking back where he’s going, he’s off the road and catching the hedge for the next 30 yards before he crashes at speed and lands in the road with the rest of the riders breaking and weaving around him. Tim’s had the puncture. We spent ten minutes fixing it as all the final teams to leave the start speed past us down the hill.

We agreed that 'Norfolk and Chance' should carry on and not wait for us. Dan was at the head of the pack and we thought we had lost him.

We get going again and head up Uppingham hill. At the top there’s shout of ‘puncture’ and Tim’s bike’s got another problem. Tim is livid as the tyre is ripped. We call for the backup van and after another ten minutes or so, leave Tim to get rescued.

We get into Uppingham and find Dan outside a cafe, finishing a cappuchino. That's cycling in style!

Tim catches us up (via the van) somewhere after Oakham.

01 May at 12:06:  On our third puncture now... by mid-day, we’ve had the first stop and get another puncture. Another 10 minutes lost.

01 May at 12:59: Oh great, now we're on the fourth. Tony (the office mascot) was enjoying it, but he's getting a little saddle sore... Simon’s keeping the pace high and we’re whizzing along at about 22mph. I think at this point we are in the most boring, flattest part of the Fens and I get a puncture. Luckily, the backup van appears from no-where and we use a decent pump to get the tyre back up to 125 psi. Andrew is becoming very proficient at tyre changing. Riders we just overtook catch us up and pass us again…

01 May at 13:41: lunch by now we have overtaken quite a few riders. We have a quick 15 minute lunch and then are off again.

01 May at 14:42: Kings Lynn - flat tyre... Simon’s front tyre’s got a slow puncture, so we pump it up again. Riders we just overtook catch us up and pass us again…

01 May at 15:09: Sandringham Cramp’s been threatening for a while, so I’ve slowed right down and have been spinning my legs more to try and get the circulation going. I’ve been drinking as much fluid as I can all day, but it’s obviously not enough… Another couple of minute’s are grabbed at Sandringham.

01 May at 16:11: Puncture no 5 Doh! We are so nearly there. Only a couple of miles to go. Riders we just overtook catch us up and pass us again… It’s like the tortoise and hare.

01 May at 16:30? Arrive at the Jolly Sailors to traffic and rider mayhem and my lovely wife waiting to greet me :-)

Stats: Ride time 5hrs 51mins. Av. speed 17.5mph. Total distance 103 miles = one very well deserved pint!

01/05/10: I can't believe it: in spite of the forecests, we're going to have to put sun screen on! See you in Brancaster...!

29/04/10: Thanks VERY much to everyone who has sponsored us so far, that's a great result!

27/04/10: So, it's this weekend! The forecast is looking abysmal :-(

I've instructed the team to make sure all bikes are clean, clothes are washed, everone's had a jolly good haircut as we’re on parade at 8:40am Saturday in Nevile Holt and there’s no slovenly slackers in my team as we are riding as a team we will take it steady and make sure that we all get to Brancaster together, come rain, wind or shine!

15/04/10: Yesterday I managed to give my new cycling shirt a 20+ mile workout last night which I think it much appreciated judging by the only other person in the group that went from Illston-on-the-hill who had his new shirt on who must have stretched his shirt beyond repair judging by the size of his beer gut…

…Andrew (Mr. sensible) wore his gardening gloves for the ride; my fingers were freezing by the time we got back. A cold pint of beer managed to warm them up. A further two beers later and no curry as someone had forgotten to inform me that you needed to pre-book a curry and the landlord was miffed at having so many people in his pub even though trade’s not good at the moment ‘but I can’t cope with eighteen people wanting curry’… so I had a bag of crisps.

10/04/10: Excellent ride today through pretty villages and with some wonderful views. 60miles in 4hours 15mins = 14.1 average. Althought Simon and I tried quite hard, we couldn't get over 42mph on the way down to Medbourne! Next time perhaps...

09/04/10: Here's the route for tomorrow's training ride: www.mapmyride.com/route/gb/billesdon/606127076652061226

28/03/10: 50 miles yesterday (where were you Richard & Dan?!), the legs are feeling it today. We have just raised £230 from members of the Billesdon Drama Society. Thank you all very much! 

26/03/10: Summat's not right. A few people have given me cash for a donation. I've then made the donation online but it's looking like two have been paid. Need to check tomorrow...

01/03/10: With a start line at Nevill Holt in East Leicestershire and a finish at Brancaster Staithe in Norfolk, The Pukka Pedalers are riding with about two hundred and thirty other cyclists, aiming to cover over a hundred miles in under six hours riding time in the Century Cycle Challenge.

The plan is to start the ride at 9:10am and arrive by 4pm which means that we have to average over 17mph; that's a tough challenge!

Along with many of the other teams, the Pukka Pedalers has chosen to sponsor the Teenage Cancer Trust.

The date of the ride, the 1st May, is fast approaching so please sponsor us NOW!

Sponsoring is quick, secure and easily done with a credit card. If you’re a UK taxpayer, you can also freely add an extra 25% to your donation simply by clicking the 'Gift Aid' option.

Thanks for visiting!