Finally done the century!!!

6 hours and 20 minutes of backside numbing riding and the first century is complete!!

Some stats from training. Last 25 activities.

Count:,25 Activities
 Distance:,796.64 mi
 Time:,51:32:01 h:m:s
 Elevation Gain:,"30,594 ft"
 Avg Speed:,15.4 mph
 Avg HR:,133 bpm
 Avg Run Cadence:,-- 
 Avg Bike Cadence:,75 rpm
 Calories:,"35,175 C"
 Avg Distance:,31.87 mi
 Median Distance:,25.04 mi
 Max Distance:,86.79 mi
 Avg Time:,02:03:40 h:m:s
 Median Time:,01:36:36 h:m:s
 Max Time:,05:55:22 h:m:s
 Avg Elevation Gain:,"1,275 ft"
 Median Elevation Gain:,958 ft
 Max Elevation Gain:,"4,252 ft"
 Elevation Loss:,"30,312 ft"
 Avg Elevation Loss:,"1,263 ft"
 Median Elevation Loss:,971 ft
 Max Elevation Loss:,"4,245 ft"
 Max Avg Speed:,28.2 mph
 Max Speed:,46.4 mph
 Max Avg HR:,152 bpm
 Max HR:,183 bpm

Home to work commute and back,

Just had a headwind all the way home.....!!!!

Sunday 20th March.

Todays little training ride.

Well with the time getting closer, I thought I should start to get some miles in my legs. I can't say that this was easy and it was certainly a lot colder than it's going to be in May, but I think it went pretty well considering.
If you click on the map it will take you to all the other details of the ride.

23rd January 2011 Chippenham-Avebury-Chippenham by simon.kay73@hotmail.co.uk at Garmin Connect - Details

Just a couple of photos from yesterdays Spam Winter Challenge, full report to follow.

The New Year is here.

It's just 18 weeks until the off now, the New Years indulgences are now just a memory. I thank one and all who have made donations so far on the Just Giving website, long may they keep coming in.

It is from here on in that my whole regime is to change - starting tomorrow with the annual Spam Winter Challenge, a 50k ride across Salisbury Plain, with somewhere in the region of 1000 riders, thankfully the snow and ice has gone, however this could lead to a little more mud. I will keep you informed on how I get on, and how much washing I can create!!!

Yet again, just a report of more mileage being covered. It's been good over the last few Sundays not having to work, although the weather has been less than helpful. Three weeks ago, myself and two others ventured over to Wales to the Afan forest, to have a go at the W2 trail, this consists of a link of two of the trails, see map below.

What we weren't ready for, was the -9ºC when we left the car park. Apart from being a cold ride, it is quite strenuous, to the point of 3,000 vertical feet of climbing along with the 44km of off road riding, certainly not for the faint hearted. I'm pleased to say, the only issue I had, was a broken chain, a quick 5 minute fix and I was back underway. Total riding time was around 3 1/2 hours.

The week after nine of us ventured to one of the other Welsh MTB centres at Cwmcarn, this was not as successful as a trip as the frozen ground conditions made it very hard going indeed.

This weeks Sunday ride was a completely different affair with us staying local, eight of us left Melksham, with the intention of doing a 20 mile off-road ride, this however turned out to be a 33 mile ride covering a vast area of the muddy Wiltshire countryside. I however didn't fair so well this ride, physically I was fine and managed the distance with no problems at all, however, I did part company with my bike on two occasions, the first was an over the handlebar incident, which ended with me catching the bike just before it landed on top of me. The second was a spill on the road, due too the icy conditions, the bike just washed out from underneath me and sent me sliding down the road, overtaking one of the other riders as I went, I had quite a heavy impact with the road as I went down, but thankfully no injuries other than a couple of large bruises.

That's pretty much me up to date, looking forward to Christmas and the Spam winter challenge on the 2nd of Jan, 50k of cold Salisbury plain and a trip through Imber village.

Well this week has started really well, I managed a 50 mile ride on Sunday with the Chippenham Wheelers at quite a good pace, followed by a 61 mile ride on Tuesday, giving a total of 111 miles in three days.
The latter ride was a bit of an endurance test along with seeing what it was like to ride on busy ‘A’ roads for long periods of time. Thankfully, I wasn’t to bothered by it all, I think I just need to be a little more alert.
To be honest I found it a little boring, however most of that will be that I know the road. One of the main issues that was highlighted to me yesterday, was the state of the main roads, all the way to Hungerford I was finding myself having to ride about a metre from the kerb, just to stay out of the drains, the other issue, was the quality of the road surface which kind of introduced a buzzing sensation through the handlebars and left me with a tingling feeling in my hands, something a lot of people who have done the trip before have mentioned in blogs I have read. The total time taken for the 61 miles yesterday was 3hrs 50mins and I am pleased to report that my legs feel absolutely fine today, a sign everything is moving in the right direction. When I am on the ride proper, I will probably be in the saddle for 8 hrs a day, basically having to reduce my average speed to somewhere around the 12.5 Mph. All my life I have always been a sprinter when it came to any forms of excercise, so am having to really change the way I work. (in the words of my sister "It's not a race.........GO")

As there is now just under six months until the off, I have added my proposed route to the Blog. It has come out somewhat shorter than expected, at just over 840 miles. The routes are all shown down the right hand side of the blog in day order, most days coming in just over the 100 mile mark. If you click on the view full tab on each map, it will take you to the Map My Ride website, where you can view the full map along with the elevation profile (the bloody hills).

I have just fitted my road bike to a Turbo Trainer for the winter months, hopefully it will be a little easier to get the miles in over the winter, without leaving the house.

Yesterday was the annual SPAM Blast, an event on Salisbury Plain. It's a non competitive event, try telling that to most of those that take part.
I think I may have a little bit of a cold about me, as I was struggling for breath towards the top of some of the climbs. I had entered to do the 60k but because of my breathing I opted to finish after one lap. However I managed to finish the 30k lap in just over 1 1/2 hours, not to bad all things considered.
There were a few issues with the course and that some people had missed a large climb out, then the timing people at the end missed the numbers of some of the competitors.
All said it was still a good day, I will look forward to the Winter Challenge which is organised by the same people on the 2nd January.

Seriously getting into this fitness game now, started swimming last week to add to the training. My intentions are to do it 3 times a week before work, Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so far so good. I went to the pool for the first time last Wednesday morning, I was there before 7.00 am and (much to the disgust of my sisters OCD'd mind) managed 31 lengths, Friday morning arrived the same sort of time and managed 40 lengths, (pleased Sam a little more as that is a) a round number and b) 1 kilometre.). Now this morning I went with the intention of doing 50 lengths, however when I got to that point, realising it was only another 14 lengths to get to the mile, I carried on. So I have now kind of set the benchmark of swimming a mile 3 mornings a week before work, every little helps.
This weekend is the SPAM Blast, a mountain bike event on the edge of Salisbury Plain. There are a group of us doing it, not sure on numbers as yet, however I have entered myself into the 60k event, will be fun, just got to service my bike before Sunday now!!

Both Rachael and myself have written off to a few companies for any little help along the way. Just had my first reply from the local paper, The Gazette and Herald in Chippenham, that they would be interested in running a story and want me to call them when I am ready to go ahead with the ride.

Things seem to be getting back on track, the knee problem seems to have dissapeared completely now, I am regulary riding in excess of 50 miles in one hit. On the Tuesday road rides, I managed 72 miles the week before last, then this week did 50 miles on the mountain bike followed by a further 35 miles on the road bike, both of which had brutal headwinds in whichever direction I seemed to travel.
Sponsorship is now moving along too, over 10% of my target reached without really trying too hard, really need to start pushing it now as time is dissapearing fast, if anyone has any ideas let me know.
As it's coming towards the end of the summer, I will be taking the road bike of the road and fitting it to a Turbo Trainer to get the mileage in over the winter. The mountain bike will remain on the road for when the mood takes me to get some fresh air in the lungs.
I have enterend a Non-competitive event on the mountain bike in a couple of weeks time, I have done them a few times in the past, however this will be one of the first times I have felt "bike fit" so will be looking to put in a reasonable time.

Seem to be getting back on track now, the little knee problem seems to be gone now. Have been riding a little more regulary over the last few weeks. Tonight will be the 3rd night on the run I have been out, however it will be on the Mountain bike this evening, we have a group of about 6 or so who venture out each Wednesday evening for about 20 miles or so.
Last nights ride was quite good fun, the local cycle club The Chippenham Wheelers, have an open session at Castle Combe race circuit every Tuesday night, the beauty of it is very smooth tarmac for as many laps as you want to put in, the downside is there is always a strong headwind on at least 2 sides of the circuit. Last nights effort was just shy of 29 miles in just over 1 1/2 hrs, with an average speed of 18.3 mph.

We have just booked the Motorhome to use for the trip, it's the same as the one shown below. To be fair, Rachael has been pestering me for weeks to get something booked and it's only because she is on the ball it's been done.

Training has taken a little bit of a back seat the last couple of weeks, as I have been nursing a little knee problem. Every time I ride over about 30 miles, I seem to get a very painful left knee. I have rested it for just over a week and last night managed 28 miles with no pain at all, after making a few small adjustments to the bike.

On the 7th May 2011, I am going to start a bicycle ride from Lands End to John O'Groats. It's something I've wanted to do for a few years now, so to combine it with raising some money for a very worthwhile charity just seemed to make sense. My aim is to complete the ride in 9 days, covering approximately 100 miles per day and I'm confident that I can achieve this.

Rachael is going to be my 'Support Crew' for the trip, and will completing her journey in the positively luxurious surroundings of a motorhome, (yet to be arranged/booked, any help gratefully received), so it's going to be an adventure for both of us. Over the next couple of months, I will add a Blog page so you can keep an eye on my training, and then my progress each day during the ride.


The charity I have chosen to raise money for is Diabetes UK. There are currently over 2.6 million people with diabetes in the UK and there are up to half a million people with diabetes who have the condition and don't know it. Having friends and family that have and continue to suffer from diabetes, I think make it a great cause.


Most health experts agree that the UK is facing a huge increase in the number of people with diabetes. Since 1996 the number of people diagnosed with diabetes has increased from 1.4 million to 2.6 million. By 2025 it is estimated that over four million people will have diabetes. Most of these cases will be Type 2 diabetes, because of our ageing population and rapidly rising numbers of overweight and obese people.

The figures are alarming and confirm that diabetes is one of the biggest health challenges facing the UK today. If we are to curb this growing health crisis and see a reduction in the number of people dying from diabetes and its complications, we need to increase awareness of the risks, bring about wholesale changes in lifestyle, improve self-management among people with diabetes and improve access to integrated diabetes care services.

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 - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.