Eight hours, 100km and a big grin

So, this is how I spent my day on October 3:

It is 9am, there’s 30 seconds to go before the start hooter sounds, I’m three rows from the front and I’ve got 100km (65 miles) and eight hours of pedalling ahead of me.
It is dry, cloudy and the wind is gusting at around 20mph.
Despite all [...]

The wheels on my bike still go round and round

So Plan B for the Minutes Not Money challenge is about to swing into action.
Actually, it is more like Plan D…or even F…but no matter. Like every good tortoise, I’ll get there eventually.
Unfortunately Plan A proved too much to handle.
But I was determined to complete some sort of challenge in 2009 and more importantly not let [...]

Coulda, shoulda, woulda…

The plan was that by now the rack would have been put on the back of the car, the bike fixed upon it, and I would be packing my various bags for the drive north and the C2C Challenge.
Instead, I’m lounging with my wife wondering about the “what ifs” and “maybes”.
Don’t get me wrong, the [...]

How much do you care this week?

Facts and figures, don’t you just love ‘em?
In this fast-paced world when the soundbite is everything, here’s a few little numbers to consider:

There are almost six million carers in the UK.
One in eight adults in the UK is a carer.
3. 3 million people juggle work with caring responsibilities for a disabled, ill or frail relative [...]

Take care on your bike

There are two important events happening in June.
Actually, I’m sure there are lots of important events happening in June, but two of the most significant for me are being launched next month.
The first is National Carers Week – June 8-14
The second is National Bike Week – June 13-21.
They overlap, which is great for me and [...]

A little time goes a long way

So preparations are well under way for my assault on the C2C Challenge on July 11 and 12.
I continue to be amazed and delighted with the generous response to my question about whether people would be willing to donate me 10 minutes of their time, rather than £10, if I manage to complete the 140 [...]

Thanks for your time

It has only been 24 hours but I’ve already been overwhelmed (in a good way) by the response to my question about whether people would be willing to spare 10 minutes of their time rather than donate £10 when I take the C2C Challenge.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who has commented here, on Twitter, [...]

Can you spare 10 minutes rather than £10?

So, it is on.
My registration for the C2C Challenge on July 11 and 12 has been confirmed.
Just as well that I’ve upped my training this week then, isn’t it?
I am getting excited about tackling this challenge from Whitehaven to Sunderland – 140-miles in two days.
Apart from anything else it is great fun to be out [...]

Train to gain

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my Easter.
Time has been spent chilling with Rachel, enjoying a couple of short trips out, eating some tasty chocolate and drinking some very agreeable wine.
We also had some very good news when a couple of good friends rang to announce their engagement.
The four-day long weekend also brought something else – about 100 [...]

Saddle up

They do say that great minds think alike.
A couple of weeks ago Rachel sent me an emailed link to a group organising a 100km bike challenge. She tentatively wondered whether I would like to rise to the challenge.
It just so happened that around the same time I had been mulling over (quietly, within the confines of [...]