Story
The final total is in: Raised offline £1455, on line £720, if the sums are right then thats a total:
******* £2175**** four times what we set out to achieve. Many thanks to all involved and who supported us on the way.
Starting on Sunday 13th May in Lands End, Big Dave arrived in John O’Groats on Wednesday 23rd May having completed 965 miles. Chris was present as support having had to stop on day 10 due to illness (see the updates below).
The stats: Big Dave covered 965 miles at an average of 88 miles a day and 10.7 mph. It took 11 days and around 90 hours cycling time. Max speed 38mph (not sure if it was in a 30 limit, honest).
Chris covered 795 miles at an average of 88 miles a day and 10.4mph. It took 9 days at around 78 hours cycle time. Max speed 34mph (might have been in a 30 limit but the sign was obscured officer).
Longest distance in one day was 106.7 miles, the shortest 70 miles. The day-by-day story is below.
Day 1 Sunday 13 May - The day started at Lands End and it was raining, which set the tone for the whole trip. It dried up about 3 hours later, then rained again. In total 82 miles ridden in and out of little Valleys, average 11mph (and a first by breaking a speed limit (for about 100 metres – it was steep hill!) Over 9 hours out, of which 7 ½ hours spent cycling.
Day 2 Monday 14 May - Only 67 1/2 miles which may seem easy compared to Day 1, but with some shocking hills, easy it was not! Time in the saddle 7hrs 9mins. Top speed 31.2mph for Chris and 34.9mph for Big Dave. Again the terrain was up and down. Big Dave insisted he didn’t get us lost, but he did have to ask directions….you decide!
Day 3 Tuesday 15 May - If there's ever a day to forget, today may be it. Whilst Big Dave was repairing his chain the cycle computer was lost down a drain, Chris then had a puncture and they both got yet another soaking. The traffic around Bristol was hell and the directions were even worse. The weather was either baking hot or very wet. The last 2 miles over the Severn Bridge saw us arrive at gone 7pm.
Day 4 Wednesday 16 May - 95 difficult miles ridden today, the weather was once again against us and yet again and the day was long. A low point of the trip so far saw us having covered only 30 miles by 3pm. The main problem being having to wait for a bike shop to open to get a new tyre, which meant not starting until gone 1030pm. We eventually arrived at the B&B after dark. Peter Fox at the Woodville B&B was a saint to the cyclist. Having arrived late, very wet and a bit miserable he still found time to make us a dinner.
Day 5 Thursday 17 May - Estimating a 90 mile day we appeared still to be 20-30miles off when we had covered 85miles. Cycling between Manchester/Bolton/Wigan is not pleasant! A change inplan meant we didn't reach their intended destination, but found a great Pub that thankfully had two spare rooms for the night. It's location at the top of a hill means day 6 will start with some easy free-wheeling (and breaking some more speed limits no doubt!) 90 miles ridden today.
Day 6 Friday 18 May - 100 miles ridden today and a first in the weather with not only the daily drenching, but horizontal rain and a bit of hail thrown in. On today's route was another large hill (which most of us would know as a mountain) which was the small matter of 10 miles ascent, luckily followed by a 20 mile downhill.
Day 7 Saturday 19 May - The bikes felt the strain again today and Big Dave had to replace a wheel as the old one would not have completed the challenge. Thankfully we found a cycle shop before closing who fitted the new wheel while we waited. Gale force winds hampered our speed and sapped the energy but some cracking scenery along the way helped us on the journey. Another couple were met who had called it a day due to the wind, who suggested May would be ‘dry and not too hot?’
Day 8 Sunday 20 May - Although yesterday's accommodation is best described as a hut, we both had a brilliant night's sleep. Big Dave was amused to see Chris hobble onto the top bunk due to his Achilles still aching (had been since Bristol) The hut couldn't be any more different from today's accommodation, a castle at Loch Lomond. The painkillers are a regular welcome to their daily diet by now (Chris’s ankles / Big Daves back). Quite a hard day, though a kind cyclist pointed us in the direction of a cycle lane that bypassed a rough estate!
Day 9 Monday 21st May - Estimating 90 miles this was the longest day with a mamouth 106 miles over the greatest (and harshest) terrain so far. A long climb onto Rannock Moor saw changeable conditions (no difference to the other days then). The early rain passed and the sun came out, and was strong enough to blister out ears. The wind was so strong as to mean pedelling even on downhills. A drop into Fort William saw us cycle along Ben Nevis and then onto Spean Bridge where the weather changed again and the day finished with us cold and wet. Chris considerably worse off than big Dave hit the bed early and was not well!
Day 10 Tuesday 22nd May - Unfortunatly Chris was no better in the morning and a swift dash to the toilet confirmed that he would have to stop cycling due to the risk of dehydration, that that the need for a toilet every 30 minutes! Big Dave set off on a solo 100 miles to Golspie. The weather finally changed and gave him a strong wind to push him along. In what can only be described as a gargantuan effort he completed the day in only 6 ½ hours cycling time! Chris had an adventure of his own using the public transport system (1 hr to Inverness) to get a hire car. Lets just say he won’t be welcome to use the toilets at the bus station or airport in a hurry!
Day 11: Wednesday 23rd May - Last day! Big Dave set off with a slightly better and defiantly more warm Chris following in the hire car. The day was not easy of BD and the raod meant cycling with and against the wind. There was also a lack of civilization much of the way so breaks were not easy, nor was finding a suitable toilet! The trip ended with Big Dave entering John O’Groats at about 3-30pm and we were both glad to rest and buy suitable tat.
The most common questions answered:
1. Yes we enjoyed it (most of the time).
2. Yes it was very hard work but the rewards were worth all the effort.
3. Yes we probably would have been better to take 12 days, but where would the challenge be with that?
4. On the whole the car/lorry drivers we encountered were very good and there were no incidents of road rage/silliness.
5. No, we probably won’t do it again (though Chris may go back one day for the last 170 miles to complete it).
6. Yes the bikes have been retired. Big Daves antique in particular has been left to grow gracefully old(er).
7. No, we haven’t thought of what’s next…though someone has suggested BD swims the channel!
Why did we do it? SANDS is a charity that offers support to parents of children who die either at birth or shortly after. Its close to our hearts and deserves support. A message from SANDS is below:
'17 babies are stillborn or die shortly after birth every day in the UK. Sands belives this figure to be unacceptably high, and wants to ensure that as few parents as possible have to experience this devastating loss. With your support and the money and awareness that we can potentially raise Sands can continue supporting those affected by the death of a baby and promote research to reduce the loss of babies’ lives'. If you would like any further information about Sands please visit their website at www.uk-sands.org
Its really easy to donate through this site and due to some weird laws for every pound you donate SANDS gets more.
Thank you for your support.
Chris & Mike (Big Dave)