So last Saturday morning I dragged myself out of bed in the wee small hours (well 5am.) covered myself in bum cream (it helps prevent saddle sore) and headed out to Newcastle.
I couldn't believe in a way that I was actually going to do it.
All I had on me was three bottles of energy drink. some gels and bits of food. My rain jacket and my mobile phone. That being my primary navigation aid as I had uploaded my route onto my phone. I did realise this wouldn't last the whole day so I even took an external battery that I had just purchased to boost it up!
So out I went out of Hyde through Stalybridge out the other side and on towards Saddleworth Moore.
To give you an idea of the hill I was going up at this point it crosses the highest motorway in England (M62) at the highest point! Hmm that warmed the legs up a bit!
After that I descended into Sowerby Bridge and set off towards Halifax. I was reminiscing on the way as I grew up in this area and at least though I knew the roads well.
Onwards up and over I cycled as I made my way down the steep valleys and up the long hills of the Calderdale area. Then North out towards Keighley and TDF country!
I didn't know it when I was planning the route I was to be riding on but a good few miles of my ride would be on the now famous roads the Tour de France's Grand Depart around Yorkshire went on last month. It was actually really nice to see that all the small villages had obviously taken cycling to heart. People waved and said hello to me as I cycled down these leafy lanes. As I admired the wonderful countryside, the landscape was dotted with Yellow bikes and signs of cyclist friendly community everywhere. I was happy and relaxed. As the miles rolled by and the hills got steeper I hardly noticed. It was really such a nice place to be!
Past Bolton Abbey I went as I climbed the backbone of Britain. Through Barden then up and over past Stump Cross Caverns. I was luck y with the weather so far as I was getting a bit of a push from the wind, the rain was just minor little showers and when it was sunny it was really very nice indeed!
I dropped down into Nidderdale, then on towards Marsham and headed up to Leeming Bar where I would cross the A1(M) for the first time. I was feeling a bit peckish as I reached Northallerton so I stopped at a shop. Locked up the bike and then quickly rushed in to buy some food and drink to keep me going.
I was doing this without support remember so I had to carry everything, food, water, spares, the works!
A sausage role half a pack of wine gums and a bottle of energy drink later I was all ready to hit the road. Northwards I went, heading down little country lanes. my only company the cows that always give you the "Are you mental?" Mooo! and the occasional tractor/farmers LandRover speeding along. Can make your hear stop sometimes, but generally I saw very little in the way off traffic and people and I rode my way through little country villages. It was really nice again and I was also making good progress. Sometimes I got a bit carried away and took the odd wrong turn or two! I was regularly checking my map on my phone and keeping an eye on the battery as I knew I would have to plug it in at some point soon.
As I passed through Yarm I could see black clouds forming on the horizon then Finally as I reached Sedgefield it began to rain with vigour!..... and cats, dogs, small rodents and everything else it seemed that I could think of that could describe how heavily it rained. I actually had to stop a number of times as I couldn't see. Rain water was getting in my eyes so much that they stung and my vision blurred! Probably pollution or sweat of my head, either way may pace dropped right down and my phone chose this as the best point to pack in.
Now with only a vague idea of the direction I was to be heading in I rode blindly towards Durham. The rain held off for a brief 20 ish minutes. Just enough time for me to blunder through Durham with still no idea and head out on the wrong road not entirely towards Newcastle!
As I found myself crossing the A1 again and heading towards Sunderland I finally caved and stopped to buy a map from a Garage. Back on track, all be on a dual carriageway where I really didn't want to be I headed up the A690. Cars screaming past at 70 + Mph I was not doing anything illegal by being there (it is still an A road) however I really wanted to get off the road at the earliest opportunity. Finally just as I got to Houghton-le-spring I turned onto a nice quiet B road and breathed a sigh of relief.
I headed through Birtley and on towards Gateshead giving a wave to the Angel of the North as I past her. I only wish I had taken my camera.
Legs numb and my body tired I continued on to the Tyne bridge (I think) A167 only to realise that having come this far I actually had no idea where my sister in laws house actually was and what the landmarks near it are!
Now it was real guess work time and attempting to navigate on a map of the scale you get in a UK road atlas (pocket edition) was proving impossible! Finally, after getting all the way to Biker (yes the irony a cyclist stuck in Biker) I found a pay phone and phoned the wife to get rescued. Once I described where I was she knew the place. It was about 1 1/2 miles from the house and I had no idea. Literally just around the corner!
After just over 12 hours and 155 miles I was in surprisingly good shape! I wasn't sore in the bum department, my legs did ache but I hadn't overly stressed them. I was a bit annoyed that I hadn't made it all the way to the door and that my phone had run out. My own fault really for not taking a good old paper map for a journey of such a distance. A bit pee'd off that my Strava only recorded 138 miles of it too. But I made it and that is what counts!
Now its the countdown to the big ride on the 29/30th of this month. I am worried as I know it will hurt. however I am looking forward to what will be a great adventure and something to be proud of.
Don't forget you can sponsor me through the link on this page (top right).
Not long to go now!! Happy cycling :)
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