Essential Equipment?

31 Dec 2007: New Year's Eve

After the Christmas break visiting family, finally got back home today! Having left home on Christmas Day to celebrate my Dad's 60th birthday, we return to find the house cluttered with discarded wrapping paper and opened, untouched presents!

Called Laurence (a member of Ford's cycling club and husband of Clare's school friend Fiona), I'd spoken to him before Christmas about the ride and was keen to help out if he could - even expressed interest in doing the ride! Anyway, he agreed to lend me a bike :-) We also discussed his recommendations for kit which was very helpful, if a somewhat long list!

Went over to Chelmsford to get the bike, cup of tea, saddle adjustments, clip pedals for when I get clip shoes, spanners, drinks bottle, oil, helmet, tubes - a great help. The bike is a cross bike with road tyres, it's a bit heavy, but I just want to get out and start training while I try to sort out a cycle to work scheme to reduce the cost of buying a decent road bike!

Agreed to go out on a ride with Lawrence on Sunday morning (though when I got home, I was reminded that it was Amy's 5th birthday party on Sunday morning....

Must call Laurence to re-arrange....

29 Dec 2007: Is this mad?

29 Dec 07: Team Meeting in Guildford

An interesting day ahead! Having been talking about this LEJOG ride for a several weeks, Iain has called a meeting to get the riders together to go for a ride and talk about the challenge.

I'm in Cradley, near Malvern, away from home visiting family for Christmas, the ride is at 11am, and I don't have a bike. Left Cradley about 9:30am for the 140 mile drive (yes - that's less miles than any stage we are going to do). On leaving Cradley, I couldn't help but think about the roads I was driving on, the distance travelled, what it would be like doing this on a bike, this hill is steep, isn't it a long way!

Had a good chat with Jules about the ride and offered the services of my parents for the support team, which was well received - phone my parents just to check they were serious about their offer - they were!

Had a read of the lovely information pack Jules & Iain had put together - training plan, route, fundraising etc. while waiting for the riders to get back from their ride. Six riders turn up, looking happy they had been out for a ride - I wish I had managed to sort out a bike and get their for the ride - still I wasn't the only one not to do the ride...

Good team meeting, sharing of experiences, concerns about the ride, tips on clothing, energy drinks, equipment, etc. Training plan looks manageable for the first couple of months!! Then I'm going to have to seriously think about time management!

Exchanged phone number with Tim to organise a ride before heading back the 140 miles to Cradley, talked about the ride with Clare (my wife) and the in-laws - they all think I'm mad, but are being very supportive!

What's it all about?

The Race for Chase is a sponsored bike ride from Lands End to John O'Groats, taking place in the first week in July 2008. We are doing the challenge in 5 days, that's about 180 miles a day on average! Every day is longer than any stage on the Tour de France

Why are we doing it and what is CHASE?

Last October, my Godson, Fraser, died at the age of 2½ from a very rare disorder. Fraser had a rare metabolic condition (Co-Enzyme Q 10 deficiency). This meant some of the cells in his body could not produce enough energy from his food intake to survive, and that ultimately Fraser’s life-expectancy would not be high. Fraser, as it turned out, was the only person in the world to have this condition.

Fraser had a remarkable love of life & really wanted to be here, which is made all the more remarkable considering what Fraser had to deal with. In fact, after his first major episode as a baby which should have ended his life, it was his sheer will and determination to live, that let his parents get to know him and love and treasure their special boy for 28 precious months.

Sadly Fraser died on 5th October 2007. The doctors had thought he would die a week earlier when he was transferred to Christopher’s for end of life care, and they warned his parents that he may not survive the 10 minute journey. Fraser had been supported by CHASE for most of his short life, but that final week at Christopher’s is particularly special to the whole family. Fraser continued to defy the doctors’ predictions, and enjoyed several more days of hydro-therapy and music-therapy sessions (his two favourite activities at CHASE) and spending some last precious time with those people who loved him most.

Here's the plan! Land's End to John O'Groats (LEJOG from now on!) in 5 days...

DAY 1: LAND’S END TO BRISTOL (200 MILES)
DAY 2: BRISTOL TO WARRINGTON (165 MILES)
DAY 3: WARRINGTON TO MOFFAT (159 MILES)
DAY 4: MOFFAT TO KINGUSSIE (174 MILES)
DAY 5: KINGUSSIE TO JOHN O’GROATS (161 MILES)



For full information and donations: http://www.raceforchase.co.uk