The aim

To raise as much money for Macmillan Cancer Support as unreasonably possible.

Our story

In 2009 we all turned 40 and have decided to cycle across England, West to East, from Whitehaven to Tynemouth. Its about 140 miles, 10-12 September. The trip was planned for no other reason than to celebrate our collective coming-of-age, until it became increasingly unlikely that one of the boys, Paul would not be able to make the ride as he has a rare form of brain cancer. Around the same time, Sean’s Dad turned 70 and contracted small cell lung cancer. Cancer affects 1 in 3 people, so we’ve decided to give the ride a bigger purpose. Our ride is dedicated to Paul, and to Sean's Dad, who passed away before we reached Tynemouth.

Why Macmillan Cancer Support

Within even our small group we have been touched heavily by cancer. Paul has an aggressive, rare form of brain cancer. He has had a brain tumour removed, and is being treated with chemotherapy.

During the period of treatment our whole group has been affected by the incredible fortitude shown by Paul, Lisa & Sean's family and they in turn have spoken of the support and assistance that they have been provided both by the NHS and the Macmillan nurses.  Wonderfully, in the UK, this sort of support is not just available to the rich but comes either from the state or via charitable foundations such as Macmillan - we are hoping to show our support, gratitude and respect for the work that they do by raising as much money as we can so that they can continue doing an extraordinary job.

The hook

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - we raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

So please dig deep and donate now and please gift aid if you can........

Thanks

Ian Bowman, Sean Ferris, Ross Wearmouth, Jonathon Lamb, Duncan Barnett

The event

We made it safely and roughly on time.  Will update with some photos and a brief description when we have a little more time.

Training and logistics

Is obviously an optional extra but thought we would try to update everyone on where we are.  Having ignored the opportunity to set aside a reasonable amount of time in favour of the leave it all to the last minute approach this is what is going on now.

Week 6; Saturday 5th September (miles completed in brackets) - most recent highest

Probably the last chance to make up this blog until after the ride (unless Ross does it from his phone).  Everything booked and everyone apprehensive/excited.  A quick note that so far three of our employers Nike, First Direct and Chevron Texaco (subject to working out how to do it as Sean employed in the US) have offerred to match on an equal basis our fund raising - so expect the total to change at the end when we have completed  - heres hoping we can creep over the £3,500 before we ask them to dip into their pockets.

The final training week and each of the cyclists appear to be persuing a slightly different strategy.  Bon is upping his mileage in a traditional peaking strategy while Ian and Sean are either trying to compress a weeks work into three days to enable the time off (Ian) or spending the time trying to put his bike back together after its journey from Houston (Sean).  Duncan of course has continued his startegy of relying on previous experience and a whippet like metabolism.

Week 5; Saturday 29th August (miles completed in brackets) - most recent highest

Bon - (57 miles)

Really pleased - managed to do a 'no hander' in full view of the local teenage posse at the weekend. 20 miles on Bank holiday Monday.  Not even looked at an off-road track yet, if you exclude cycling over our driveway, but looking forward to the 'action learning' approach to the coast to coast ride.

Ian - (253 Miles)

Longest ride to date, 31 miles but very flat.  Sobering thought that I only managed about half of the mileage required on our real day one and it is rumoured that you may have to change gears and go up hills and everything.....

Duncan - (? Miles)

(Sorry about the colour) Has spent the time in visualisation classes but having done it before should be well able to handle the challenge.  Currently scoouring the country for old bread bag fasteners to complete the collection on his spokes

Bon - (20 miles)

Stabilisers off and with the pink tassles flying in the air Bon strides into actio

Ian - (222 Miles)

Training ground still predominantly flat - the real hills should be laugh

Sean (187 miles); Second day on bike since I returned from England. Short ride over the weekend (10 miles), but monster ride tonight (37), which naturally, I feel. Sorry to say its been almost two weeks off, and it rather feels like I'm starting over again, but today was good, and at least I can balance now when I go off-road. I have not, however, mastered how to get out of the pedal clips before hitting trees, which is my focus for the week...The cranes were there again tonight, at their usual spot. It was almost comforting to see them again. I had my first Dad dream yesterday - that he was alive again, walking upright, in a little pain, but how I remember him twenty years ago. It almost makes me think that whatever happens after you leave, wherever you go, he's there, walking and talking just like he always did. 

Bon (definitely miles)

After weeks of flawless planning the time arose on Saturday when actually riding a bike as opposed the thinking about it was inescabable.  Fair to say it was a shock to the body (one particular part of the body in fact). Looking forward to the final preparations.

Week 4; Saturday 22nd August (miles completed in brackets) - most recent highest

Ian - (222 Miles)

Training ground still predominantly flat - the real hills should be laugh

Ian - (202 Miles); Back in England and a joy to ride a bike that is the correct size.  Obviously me cracking the 200 mile barrier will be reported with the same fervour as the England cricket team regaining the Ashes.

Week 3; Saturday 15th August (miles completed in brackets) - most recent highest

Sean (140 miles); Dad died last week, August 11th, just as the sun was rising. My last ride was that evening, in Houston. I went to the place where the cranes eat at dusk; the sun was going down. I rode West into the setting sun for over an hour on a road I have never ridden. I came out of the woods as the last light was going, and rode back to the cranes. They were still there, as they are every morning, every night. I am in England without my bike and will ride when I get to Houston, next Tuesday. Paul, Lisa and I spoke yesterday, and he's having a good day at the moment which really picked me up. Parents count; so do friends.

Bon/Jonathon - (0? Miles); Reports are coming in that Bon has been seen in the vicinity of a bike though these are unconfirmed.

Ian - (179 Miles); Kept up the 12 miles a day on most days.  Bike creaking and groaning almost as much as my knees

Have upped the target amount to 2,500 - can't believe how well we are doing and very grateful for the contributions, please keep them coming.

Week 2; Saturday 8th August (miles completed in brackets) - most recent highest

Found out that Seans Dad passed away and his funeral will be on Tuesday 18th August.  Not much that I can add here just to state that I intend to blub on the bike ride and I challenge anyone else not to.

Ian - (121 Miles); Holiday villa had a bike about the size for a teenager with one cog of gears working.  Managed about 12 miles a day most days by setting off at 7am.  Day two rear wheel punctured - found repair kit.  Day four the left pedal fell off at the frame and I had to tie my right foot to the pedal carrying the left pedal home.  I don't know what the Portuguese is for 'what is that fool doing, but I am sure that I could sense it'.

Sean (114 miles); Big ride today. Buffalo Bayou to the Dam, round the perimeter with the roadies, back along the daily route. First 15 the hardest. After that, a little juice and legs back to normal. Couple of short rests as wind was from all directions. Need second wave of sponsors tomorrow to get past the 2k mark.

Sean (84 miles); First day off-road today for a long-time, and not fit enough yet. Didn't feel my ankle bite, so the surgery must have worked, but one more week on black-top to get a little more in shape. All I thought about today was Paul, and my Dad. I spoke to them all yesterday. I wanted to stop so many times - touching on 100deg again and very, very humid - but I thought of them, and kept going. Head down, pull with the back of your legs. Slowing down...downshift, steadily increase cadence, back to pace again. Look at how much money we have !!! Amazing. Truly thankful.

Ian - (61 Miles); Heading off to Portugal for family holiday with potentially no access to bike.  So as to recreate effect of correct training regime I intend to run over bumpy paths while beating the undercarriage with a blunt object - will let you know how it goes on my return.

Week 1; Saturday 1st August (miles completed in blue) - most recent highest

Ian - (61 Miles); Canal paths and a bit of road final ride before heading off on holiday for a couple of weeks

Sean - (63 miles); No trailer, so a couple of nice fast rides tonight. One to the pool to meet Julia after daycare, cooled down nicely for a good ride back at dusk. Nice and hot; likely over 100deg though I didn't check. Tired today. First week of biking is always the most difficult. Have run out of bike shorts already, so I either need to wash or ride naked, and be warned, I don't like washing.

Ian - (43 Miles); Tonight military land near deepcut.  Didn't see any squadies though - perhaps they were undertaking camouflage training...

Sean - (51 miles); What a great ride tonight. Home late, ride home with the fireflies and a full moon. Had Julia in-tow in her trailer, hence the short miles and really tired Dad. Wouldn't be so bad if Tuesday's were a little easier at work. Bike needs a tuneup already as it's had the first-50 and has been worn in a little. Update on Dad : good day today. Mam much more upbeat and her usual superstar-self. Dad up and about, fixing things as usual. Voice almost completely gone now; that's the cancer spreading to the trachea from the lungs. That's what it does apparently. Slurs your speech too as it moves through the bloodstream to the brain. It's difficult knowing he's there but not being able to talk with him.

Ross (>0 Miles); Practicing driving with Gunther (Lots of miles -running)

Ian - (31 Miles); Cycled to the pub but along the side of the canal - suspect that this wasn't the ideal training for the Hartside Pass.  Am now including the ride to train station in my totals in a pathetic attempt to keep up with Sean.  Haven't noticed the testicle effects that Sean has been noticing but have noticed at the end of a ride that the undercarriage appears cold though this may be more about being married for long enough that this is the first time that anyone has paid any attention to the area in living memory.

Bon/Jonathon - (0? Miles); On holiday in Normandy but thinking about bikes occasionally

Sean - (37 miles); Monday evening. Close enough to 15 miles tonight to keep it honest. Average : 15mph on the nose. Cooler weather, quite the headwind, so a little sluggish on the way home. A bunch of roadies in the way, otherwise I swear I'd have burned my tires. Nuts much more stable today. Legs back in spin mode. Bike feels great, totally recommend getting fitted to the bike : will order a permanant 110mm headset to make it totally mine. Gorilla glue did the trick; shoes in one piece, though a tad smelly. Thanks for the window from Cathy and Julia to get out there after work. Talked logistics with Ian related to the small bus we will need to carry the beer and toilet paper.

Duncan - (0? Miles); Started a new job on Monday hoping to start training soon

Sean - (22 miles); Monday 3rd August. Am going to sign up for spin classes today. Feeling good about the whole affair, really excited about the charity aspect. Gives the ride a real purpose rather than just folly. Update on Dad : sores quite painful today, prescribed spray for pain. Legs terribly swollen, more to worry about. Mam perked up a lot, always a relief. Don't know how they keep going really.

Sean - (22 miles); Sunday 2nd August. 12 miles. A little cooler. Testicles don't hurt anymore, but are quite large. Have never studied them that closely so perhaps they are always that way. Shoe fixed with 'Gorilla Glue'. Supposedly waterproof, and more agggressive than epoxy on steroids. Got my finger stuck to my shorts shortly afterwards, but the shoes no longer flop. Felt good today, much better than yesterday. Have officially announced the training plan of 15 miles a day till Whitehaven - doable if I set up the mag trainer in the front room so I can bike while watching 'The Home Shopping Network' for nice carpets. Update on Dad : Macmillan nurses at the house, as were local docs. More meds, inevitably. Pain meds for under the tongue, huge mood swings. Pain almost intolerable, even with patches and steroids. Living in the front room now almost 24 hours; bed, commode, tele, comfy chair.

Sean - (10 miles); I too have splurged and I cannot feel my testicles. First time on a bike since children interrupted the schedule. Very flat ride, 100++ temps outside, body core close behind, and still cooling. Specialized bikes rock, as do disk brakes. Only other notable event is that the sole of my left shoe fell off so am thinking of doing the ride in flip flop bike shoes. On the home front, Dad not so good today. Mam at her emotional limit.

Ian - (18 Miles); I finally collected a new bike (specialized sports disc) and broke my duck by cycling the massive distance of 6 miles.  On a brighter note have booked the transport and the overnights so we are all sorted now except for the massive celebration dinner at the end.