Nothing Worse Than Wet Pants

Sunday 30th 14:20

Having been out on the bike yesterday in the wind and rain, I thought
I'd check the forecast. At the moment, the first few days are looking
promising.

That should make it a bit more pleasant, because while there are worse
things in life than cold wet pants, it still rates as unplesant.

I now have 27 working gears again, and mostly working brakes.

6 days to go. Please don't forget to sponsor us.

Simon

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If It Ain't Broke, Don't Fix It

[Friday 07:00 am - the time stamp above is the time in California, very useful don't you think ;-)]

We've all been busy on bike maintenance, which in my case seems to have been a big mistake.

So we've all fitted new tyres - except Martin, his super thin, slick tyres on which he has done all his training rides (admittedly not much), are perfect for the task apparently. Woody is also sticking with a replacement pair of his slicks - braver man than me.

I decided new brake blocks were required. I eventually get some moreorless appropriate blocks, and my brother comes over to help out. You know how it is when you start a job it seems so simple and then it just gets progressively more complicated and messy, with an increasing number of trips to the DIY /hardware shop... well that was yesterday and the DIY shop was Wiggle. Anyway, a complete new set of brakes are on their way to me.

The new chain and rear cassette look lovely and shiny. Only one small problem, I used to have 27 gears, now I have about 4. But hey, who needs all that choice.

The new gloves are working just fine though, even if my old gloves, to whom I had become quite attached, are looking rather sad and dejected in a pile I put things in just before they go in the bin (such a pile is useful in case I change my mind at the last minute).

Still, plenty of time to get it all working. And if necessary I'll just take all the bits my bike is in down to the bike shop and ask them to wave their magic wand and make it all worka again. However, I feel confident they'll then tell me I need a new headset, bottom bracket, hubs.... I find ignorance is bliss.

Regards

Simon

Booking Accomodation - The Only Places With Vacancies Are Pubs

We have been debating whether to book accomodation ahead of the trip, or whether to see where we are on the day and then try and find somewhere. So I think we are generally favouring booking ahead.

But do you know what, it seems like only Pubs have accomodation available at this late stage. Ah well, I guess that will just have to do. So for those of you tracking our progress on the map over on the right of this window, when you see us in the pub at 2am, I promise you we'll be in bed (well, I will be for sure).

Since the long ride on Sunday I have put in more hill runs - up onto The Griag - in a vain attempt to got more ummph in my legs.

9 days and counting.

Simon

We enter new territory

Today we did our first 100 mile training ride. And even Martin kept
up, even on the hills.

Thornhill - Ystrad Mynach - Maesycummer - Newbridge - Crumlin -
Pontypool - Usk (big hill) - Raglan (oops) - Monmouth - Tintern -
Chepstow - over Severn Bridge and back (why ? Because it was there) -
Caldicot - Magor - Coast rd (Nash etc) - Newport - Coast Rd
(Marshfield etc) - St Mellons - Lisvane - The Griffin.

96.9 miles
Elapsed time: 9hrs
Time moving: 7:14
Height gain: 9071 ft.
Avg speed: 13.4 mph

Gorgeous day. And I can confirm it is not downhill from Tintern to
Chepstow - quite the opposit

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