Post Ride update 28th June 2010

Wll try and keep it brief!

Stayed in Morcambe - spiders!  Went to Frankie and Bennies, they asked whose birthday it was, Phil's obviously!  (September actually).  So, Phil got the music, sparkler dessert, the lot. 

Set-off to Whitby, Ade, Alan, Mark intending getting there, Phil and James doing a few miles for fun.  The two chaps did sixty flipping seven!  Awesome effort!  Only stopped by James over cooking a corner and ending up in a hedge!  He lived to tell the tale, bike a little worse for wear!

Three of us were ahead, however we had our own woes.  Junction, Pogo stopped, Mark stopped, I didn't.  Into the back of Mark, took him down, I went flying, messy!  60 miles done at this point.  Pogo took over, got us a brew, off again. 

Stats:

Ride completed in eight hours total pedal time, ten hours forty five minutes elapsed time.  14.7mph average.  Hills slowed us (there were a few) but we mainly operated like a pursuit team at 20mph - it was brill.  Mark Hunter shielded me and Pogo quite a lot, and I thanked him by smashing into the poor fella!  He's a gentleman, one of the few of us left! :-) and he looked after me along with Pogo after that until I stopped shaking!  Last 20 miles I managed to do significant turns and pay the boys back and we rolled into Whitby together, as it should be.

£1k+ raised for CF so far!  Fantastic, thanks for the support.

During my fall I ripped a load of clothing.  Team CF Directeur Sportif Martin Dainty commented:

'Lads did well to be fair, top average, however that top of Ade's wor alus destined for gloom!  I've ad a word, and agreed that Ade will leave Sky and join CF, transfer fee is a new shirt, sorted!  Unfortunately under his new contract he will not be starting the Tour de France next Saturday.  A decision that is important as Polka Dot 'aint his colour!

Thanks for the massive support all - really amazing.  A few photo highlights here to look at on this site.  CF is not a massive charity organisation like the biggest few, and this will really make a difference to lots of people - so, for that we're very grateful.

Cheers

 

 

Ade and Martin

 

Final Pre-Ride Update 24th June 2010

Saw Ralph at work today, his toes are a right mess after the three peaks challenge - man they're really bad.  This has to be an easier option.  Weather forecast sunny, wind direction S/SW, logistics just about sorted, we're all good.  Thanks for the amazing support.

Training update is that we're ready.  We have a couple of pilots in Phil and James ready to do a stint in support, and Bob in the car.  We're hoping to collect a bit of cash along the way but we'll see.  Diet is good, weight down, and most importantly suncream packed.  Sleep and relaxation could be better!

Onto the final bike shirt saga.  Turns out that not only has Dainty ordered the T-Shirt from China, our mate 'Young Ben' is involved!  If I'd known that I'd have given in ages ago!! 

Making his final comment on the issues and C2C attempt, Dainty said 'It's bin a bit of a 'mare but tha'll be reight!  Sorry i only managed to train wi thi once, tha'ller dun it all wrong!'  By way of apology for mucking up the shirts and training schedules Dainty offered to bring in motivational local celebrity cycling coach known in these parts as 'Uncle Pete' a rare honour.  No-one knows why he is called uncle Pete, everyone calls him Uncle Pete but it is surrounded in mystery (well, it is in theory but I happen to know he's Dainty's Mum's brother).  Commenting on this last minute introduction to the coaching team Uncle Pete offered the words that have helped champions all over the world reach their potential.  The words that came from the Guru went something like this.  'Ah tha sure a cun tellim? Reight then....  What tha does is this.....  When't pedal get's to't top smack it back darn again as 'ard as tha can!'.  Genius....

The final word however must always be had by the great man himself Directeur Sportif Dainty.  'Sum were meant to be ordinary, sum were meant to do great things.  As for thee, tha wa meant to get a sore arse on a long bloody day, all in aid of charity mate!'

You can follow us on Facebook on Saturday - search for the group 'Team CF - Coast to Coast' and join

We thank you......

 

 

Ade and Martin

 

Update 20th June 2010

First of all a big shout out to 'The Whitby Holiday Park' who have kindly agreed to allow us to use their facilities at the end of the ride given we're supporting CF.  http://www.whitbypark.co.uk/html/park.html Please visit them sometime if you need a campsite up that way - nice kind people.

Onto the final big update:

Training is OK - not as many miles as Id like but high intensity with lungs in good shape and average speeds high.  One more mid-week full on short run and then rest.

Weight is still a tad high, still time to lose a few pounds though - if you see me with a beer this week then take it off me!

Route planned, logistics coming toether, we're all just about ready EXCEPT one major issue which has caused more interest from the press than the debarlce with the French football team.

It's hard to believe that the calamity involves CF Team Directeur Sportif Martin Dainty who was given what is best described as 'one job'.  That one job is to get the Team Shirt on time. 

Cycling magazine interviewed the two men involved to get their side of the story:

Commenting on the latest status of the team shirt Martin said 'I ordered 'em ages ago, lad on't blower sounded like e new whariworronabart (what he was on about for those reading south of Watford) and they wor't right price!  Wat more can I do!'  Following this news Lingard has subsequently signed for Team Sky following late night talks with Brailsford and Wiggins.  Commenting on this last minute move Lingard said 'Dainty is the best coach you could possibly have, however I have no shirt.  The thought of peddaling 120 miles without a shirt simply fills me with dread so I reluctantly agreed to join Wiggins and co.  Dainties charity will still be supported and if the slow boat from China heading towards Barnsley (via the River Dearne!?) ever does turn up then I will wear their colours'.  As ever Dainty had the last word.  'Lingard will do OK there but I've always said that Wiggins will come to nowt and e int fit to clean't wheels on my four man pursuit team!  Don't you worry though, it's only a temporary job, I'll get that Lingard back in't team once he realises how crap they all are and his shirt arrives!'

Thanks to all for the continued support!

 

Ade and Martin

 

 

Update 9 June 2010

OK - So the training is not going very well!  Travelling a lot for work, no cycling option, and tonights rain means I'm again sat inside with a curry, a beer and updating you about my lack of training!

Some progress has been made this week though.  I went to Pogo's for a planning session.  It involved Pizza and a Beer (once again, ideal training!).    Pogo had found a fabulously short route, less than 100 miles from Morecombe to Saltburn.  It sounded appealing, until the second Peroni, the support team were grinning at me, and the competitive nature kicked in.  'That's not a proper route' I cried, 'We'll cycle to Whitby instead!'.  And so it was written.  All the technology and planning in the world, brilliant optimisation of route by the master, but a slice of Pizza, a couple of Peroni's, lads grinning at me and there we are.  It's all out of the window, Whitby it is!  120 miles ish now, and some hills post 100 miles - a proper route......

Will I do it?  Yes, of course I will.  It's just a question of how long it takes and how much it hurts!

Commenting on the latest news from his Maverick Coast to Coast Team Directeur Sportif Martin Dainty said 'Oh, chuffing 'ell, he's not training, he's not even picked his team T-Shirt up and had a photo.  His 'Small' cycling shirt is stuck on a slow boat from China, and I might 'av to send the badger back for a bloody large by't time it arrives!  Gi im sum brass cos it’s gonna urt!’

 

 

 

Original Message 23 May 2010

My Story:

2009 - I did the West Yorkshire Circuit with friends, and Phil Levell and I received donations of £1520 for Cancer Research – thanks so much!  It was 120 miles around the perimeter of and we did it in a day

2010 – Attempting West Coast to East Coast of England in a day, 120 – 140 miles, start from Morecombe, finish somewhere between Saltburn and Bridlington.  Current planned date is 26/6/2010.  Muscles still ache from last year and I’m nearly a stone heavier.

Cystic Fibrosis

Affects 8500 people in the , 1 in 25 people carry the faulty gene.  If both parents have it then there is a 1 in 4 chance the child will be born with CF.  There is no cure, it is one of the ’s most common life threatening diseases.  The charity is making progress and now 50% of people with the disease will live beyond the age of 38.  The life expectancy in the 60’s was 5 years old.

Why CF?

I promised to do this back in April to help some friends of mine who are doing all they can for CF.  Martin and Julene Dainty are both ‘1 in 25’ and their daughter Molly was born with CF.  They have raised money for the charity since then and this year they are trying to raise the profile and raise money at the same time through a number of activities including a charity ball.  In addition Martin has launched a cycling team ‘Team CF’.  He intends to take his best four boys to the British Championships to compete in the 4000 metre Team Pursuit in October.  As the newest member of the ‘all discipline’ team I drew the short-straw and got the coast to coast in a day gig and I am the only team member doing it instead of some fancy dan lycra number in the autumn (thank goodness for that!)!

The Final Word 

Commenting on the Coast to Coast in a day attempt, Team CF Directeur Sportif Martin Dainty said:

‘Eyup, it’s a flipping long way wi some big ‘ills.  Lad’s not bad but he ‘aint no Lance Armstrong so gi im sum brass cos it’s gonna urt!’

Thanks to Martin for his kind words of encouragement and wisdom.  I think Dave Brailsford and Sir Clive Woodward are safe, but if Martin does write a sports psychology book I’ll let you know.

Thanks for your support and come back here for updates!

Ade

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