Story
Welcome to my fundraising page.........
I recently took part in the Guide Dogs Ring of Kerry cycle challenge in Ireland's equivalent of the Lake District, as 'pilot' for a tandem team with Michael Whapples who is a visually impaired physics student at Nottingham University.
In all we covered 210 miles in 5 days with several high passes thrown in for good measure 
(a total of 7500ft of climbing) .
Hurricane Gordon gave us some wet and very windy weather in the last few days.
We are had a great time in a beautiful part of the world, making several new friends and enjoying the local hospitality. You can see my photos on:-http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/davidjbingham@btopenworld.com/album?.dir=/d290re2&.src=ph&.tok=phJwbiFBYiRW9RC3
Michael and two other visually impaired riders who also took part in the challenge, Barbara and Idris, have already expressed an interest in doing another challenge in the future, so they must have enjoyed it too....LEJOG (Lands End to John o' Groats) has been mentioned.........if you are a tandem pilot who might be interested, or could maybe offer any logistical support then please contact me on davidjbingham@btinternet.com
Please dig deep and sponsor me online for a worthy cause in Guide Dogs' 75th anniversary year. Michael's Dad relies on a guide dog so we have a personal interest in supporting the charity.
Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Guide Dogs will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you. Justgiving makes a small administrative charge which will make fundraising so much easier and less time consuming for me.
So please sponsor me now!
Many thanks for your support. I know I can count on you to be generous! 
David
Pre-Ride Updates -
Did the Great Nottinghamshire Bike Ride on 25 June as part of our training - with about 5000 other cyclists - 50 miles, plus about 7 each way there and back from the University. Got a bad cramp in my thigh which the very helpful ladies in the Red Cross cabin attended to with ice packs and massage....
As Nottingham is so flat we decided we needed some training in the hills so on 15th July decided to head for the Pennines near Matlock. Lots of hills there! Had a great day on the tandem up on the moors and down in the dales. Preferred the downhills to the uphills. Had my heart rate monitor on to see how I was going - maxed out at 182 bpm - will probably leave it behind next time so that I don't scare myself!
8 Aug 06 - just got back from hols in the Lake District where Ann & I got in a few miles on 2 wheels (inevitably including some more hills). Managed to crack a rib whilst I was away, doc says I should be fine by September and advised me not to laugh, cough or sneeze too much (I had already managed to work this out for myself!) . He also advised me not to cycle for a couple of weeks but we shall see... I didn't mention to him that our round of Derwentwater was AFTER I did the damage...
10 Sept 06 - been back on the bike recently and it felt really good. Had a good ride on Saturday with some friends from church on a sponsored "steeplechase" around some of the historic churches and chapels in Northumberland to raise money for their upkeep. I was sent off to bag some of the outlying places whilst the others took it easy! I have decided that despite chaving a compact chainset on my road bike I really need a larger rear sprocket as we have some quite impressive hills.... I blame the Romans for building their roads in straight lines!