Steve's Bit
There is a small group of us that try to cycle once a week during the daylight hours of the summer months. I still haven't worked out if we go for the cycle or for the pub visit at the end of the trip, but anyway...
One evening while enjoying our post cycle drink, one of our members, a Mr J Morwood, raised the suggestion that we should do the Coast 2 Coast. Given our weakened state of mind we all readily agreed to the marvellous idea of going from our weekly 5 mile cycle to 100+miles across some of the lumpiest bits of England.
Over the following days Mr M sent round links to the excellent
c2c guide
website and our small group started to grow (before shrinking rapidly later).
Various suggestions of long distance cycles and maybe training were mentioned to prove we could actually make the trip, but we failed to organise any such thing.
We did increase our weekly trips, trying to go faster and rather than seeking out all the local down hills we started to attempt the up hills as well!
I think it is safe to say the most quoted phrase apart from the huffing puffing and cursing was "is this as steep as the C2C?" (having now done said trip I think I can safely say the answer is NO!).
Over the summer months the group and date kept changing trying to accommodate as many people as possible, but eventually mid September was agreed and set in stone. Some extra weekend trips were included in our training regime, some of which actually went up to 30 miles!! phew.
We were definitely getting better, actually getting up most of the hills without stopping. We were getting faster and even broken seat posts didn't stop this intense (ha) training regime.
'training'
A few weeks before the actual trip my wife's and my own bike were stolen and so the conversations with the insurance company began. We eventually got the new bikes and began adding the various bits and pieces, starting to wear the bikes in (breaking bits), getting them fixed again, and so on.
So one morning I found myself at Mr M's house in the country, packing the panniers for the first time and seeing how (if) they fit on the bike (nothing like preparation, and this was nothing like it!). After putting all the bikes on Mr J Grays car I realised that maybe I should have left the kitchen sink at home. (oh my god what have I done!!! panic!!!!).
Now I think it is safe to say that I was probably not the fittest person in our little group, the two Johns and my wife definitely having the edge. But I will say that since I was carrying the most weight, both around my waist and one and a half persons stuff in the panniers (my wife only carrying some in a little rucksack), I did very well. In fact if I hadn't stopped for Mr M's numerous (and entertaining) breakdowns on the first day I'm sure I would have been first to the end. I can dream and no one can prove me wrong :-).
I do have to mention Mr M's ability to keep a positive temperament during his numerous bicycle breakdowns was amazing, not a single hint of a mental breakdown!!
In conclusion the trip was superb, great weather, great company and great views, what an experience! A very strong sense of achievement, slightly wobbly legs and sore bums, but what a great trip. Can't wait for our next one, oh where to go?