Support arrives!

Meanwhile,my friend Simon had been busy taking possession of a superior looking "Ridgeback" touring bike with racy drop handles and a Brooks saddle - very impressive. After an initial planning session and a gentle 12 mile ride in the Windsor Great Park, we were ready to start training in earnest. 

Next would be a route, maps and setting a date for our adventure. Under the eagle eye of Queen Victoria we felt a little readier to take a tour of her realm.   

Watch this space....

The Accessories

Then of course were the "add-ons" that would be needed- pump, lock, rack and pannier, flashing front and back lights and a higher "viz" jacket than the usual black track suit I was used to wearing. After a speedo/distance counter was added I was ready to embark on a first training ride. Sadly it took a week or so to work out how to re-set the device from kms to mph- alas I thought I doing 20-26 miles a day when it was actually a bare 10-15!

I Settle on a "Hybrid"

I settled on a Specialised Sirrus Sports "hybrid" bike on the basis that I was reassured it would make the 1000+ mile trip and would be useful for day to day riding beyond. Sturdy and no nonsense with 23 more gears than I had ever used, which was most reassuring. 

Choosing the right bike

Easier said than done.  There was evidently a bewildering selection of bikes to choose from - road bikes, mountain bikes, racing bikes, touring and hybrid versions. Bikes with straight up or drop handles, bikes with suspension for a "softer" ride...the choice seemed endless and somewhat daunting. 

A Ticket To Ride - Is this a crazy idea or a life-changing event!?

Back in the summer of 2009 at my eldest son's wedding a very old (and I use that term advisedly) friend threw out an idea over probably too much champagne. "You know I am retiring in a couple of years", he announces, "and I fancy getting on my bike from Lands End to John O'Groats. I think you should come too. It will do you good, you'll lose some of that weight and you might learn something about this country of ours".

Always on for a challenge I rose to the bait. After all,  2011 seemed a very long way off.Maybe he might have forgotten by then. A year went by and I thought he had but over a cleansing malt this past New Year's Eve it appears he was deadly serious. It was on. No going back. " John, this will be a life changing event" he announced, "but that 1953 Raleigh you keep riding around Windsor is never going to make it.  You will need a proper bike!........"