might be worth another mention at Bollington next week, I'm sure you'll get a good response.

Steve H

UPDATE

O/k I know some are on Holiday & missed the Bollington club meeting, it went well and this year there were definately less Midge's.

Now onto my Ride to Blackpool, yes I know it wasn't a good idea not to train. Due to circumstances it was not on my agenda until very late, so I decided against any training. This proved to be the correct tack although we I sat on the bike 10 minutes before the start I found I had trouble reaching the pedals. a quick adjustment of the saddle & I was off to the start gate.

As it was a late night before and an early start I arrived on the start line having not eaten, I produced a Bannana which was for the journey and ate this as I awaited 50 cyclists to gather for the off. I was left by my Son Adam after around 8 miles, of course I did not want him slowing me down while he worried over me.

We cycled up hill & down Dale to a place called Preston when I found the engine still running fine although I had started to struggle with the steering because my wrists were very uncomfortable. At that point I had started with the knowledge of a 60 mile ride, a work colleague passed me yelling only 23 miles to go Tongie. I made a decision for all concerned to stop for 5 minutes & rest my wrists, quick drink & off again. Some time later (about 4 miles) a female Marshal yelled out on 23 miles to go, if my mate had been there then I could have flatened him. Another few miles & stopped at a x roads on a red light with a Marshall shouting you all must stop…. I took a breather waited place the lights to cyle 3 times & off again with feeling in my wrists once more. About another 8 miles and ducked into a school for more liquid as I had ran out a little earlier, this gave me the energy boost I needed to go again.

Then we turned the corner & into Lytham St. Anns, well my Geography told me it was next to & south of Blackpool with nothing in between. So me I thought if its a mile into the centre 2 miles wide and another mile out & we are stopping at a big ball on the prom of south blackpool before the Pleasure Beach it can only be less than 4 miles to go. Well big mistake we took a left turn followed by a suddedn right which brought the riders on the front at Lytham as the Marshall shouted out its a 22 mile an hour head wind & you only have 7 miles to go…… Come on all of you, you can make it. At this point we all hit the headwind & were struggling to go forward, we fought on valiantly against the wind with knowledge spinning around in our heads ringing “only 7 miles to go” Bla de Bla. I set my sightson the Windmill sat on Lytham's Prom. Oh did I mention this 7 miles was uphill, yes how astute of the organisers to finish the Ride with 6000 plus flagging souls on a uphill stretch, Doh! Well I was still looking to the horizon with no signs of Blackpool Tower, the Pleasure Beach or a finish line. I rode as far as I could thinking if I dig deep I must be able to get to the finish line & still cut 20 minutes from my finish time. Well I thought long & hard for at least 5 seconds & chose to stop & rest my aching wrists. This again proved good judgement although those fast racing bikes were home & dry all that was left was a mile of Mountain Bikes (like ours) slip streaming each other in the gutter. Getting moving again took an age because no one was looking up to let me back into the pack.

Well we got a break from the horrible wind as we turned off the front to the right then left again & alongside the sand dunes towards the finish. Now all we had to contend with was the sand off the dunes blown into our faces. Another mile down the road around a slight bend to see, yes I could see “The Big One” as I realised this was beyond the finish line it could only be a 1/2 mile now. Next thing I was travelling over a ramp past a finish line & into a winners enclosure, quickly certified by one of the scantily dressed woman and de mounted to see if I was able to walk unaided. Which I managed as the heavens were about to open. I quickly fitted the Bike rack & racking our 2 bikes in torential rain. I promptly jumped in the car & caught up on the sleep I missed due to this early start.

Next day I was fine & the same since, no aches or pains, with the realisation someone can not count 63.5 miles because they said it was 60 miles all in until we were told at the finish & all this for me on one Bannana to eat UNREAL.

Love to all who made the journey and read the sequel, to all those who wished me well and for your Sponsorship too Christie's and your support. Also to all those for your kind offers of pain relief with and without herbal remedies especially from Rob D.

Ta

TNT xx.