Well, How Did I Get Into This?
It goes something like this. Joe and Matt came up with this idea to ride from Land's End to John O'Groats (known as the End To End or LEJOG). I heard from a friend that they were doing it and then when Joe and I met up for a Wednesday evening mountain bike ride the following week, he mentioned casually that I should join them.
I was hoping that he didn't really mean it, and was quite happy to hear any reason - for example "Actually, James, we've decided that you're too short to come with us" or similar, but unfortunately I'm 'in' now and there's no going back!
The Training Regime
There's only really one way to get fit for riding long distances, and that is - you've guessed it - riding long distances. Unfortunately riding long distances takes time (unless you use a motorbike of course, and that's sort of against the rules). So... given the need to work, the wish to stay married, and other commitments, our opportunities for team training in the 4 months leading up to September are limited.
We've managed 2 50 mile rides with all three of us. The first in the pouring rain - headed for home after 40 miles of a planned 50 mile ride. The second was more successful - Emsworth to Petworth via Duncton, and back home via Midhurst. A very nice cream tea in Petworth - with real Cornwall clotted cream, which pleased Joe immensely. Slight navigational 'moment' when Matt managed to reverse the route and start sending us back the way we came.
However, I digress. The bottom line is that we're training individually most of the time, with a planned 90-miler to Dummer (Dimmer?) in mid-August.
Joe has been riding home from work (Guildford to Emsworth, around 40 miles) occassionally (sorry, Joe if it's more often than that), and putting in some longer rides at the weekends. Also actually turning up for Wednesday evening mountain bike rides!
Matt has started riding to and from work (Emsworth to Southampton - impressive!), as well as weekend longer rides. The thing is, Matt's a lot fitter than Joe or me, so I reckon he's OK on the training front. Oh yes, there was that ride he mentioned from Emsworth to Luton (yes, that Luton).
What have I been doing? Well - I ride to work most days! Ok - it's a mile each way. However, I have been managing to get in some regular 30 to 50 mile rides at the weekends. I even took the bike to Brest, where I was shore-crew to my Jess, Georgie Mothersele, Harry Derbyshire and Tom Lovesey at the French 420 Nationals. Got a good 50 mile ride in, getting as far as Le Conquet (where you can get a ferry to Ushant - intriguing). Thereafter, the weather got awful - torrential rain and blowing dogs off chains - so wimp-face here concentrated on stopping the campervan blowing over.
I did do a good 45 miles yesterday, and 30 miles today. As I sped down New Brighton Road I saw Joe turning into his drive in the Galaxy - and he saw me! Excellent, he thinks I'm training! Not that we're competitive...
OK, I'll admit that today was a gentle ride out to the Keeper's Arms at Trotton for lunch with Helen, and a gentle return. A very nice lunch it was too - we decided on starters and puddings, to pretend that were being healthy. I did manage to make it a bit more like hard work, by giving Helen the road bike and taking the mountain bike - and then gallantly cycling up Harting Hill and West Marden Hill while pushing Helen's bike with one hand (yes, I feel smug).
Now I just have to find out what it's like to ride 90+ miles, not 30 to 50, in one day.
