timwilkes

Days ridden: 4
Miles ridden: 24.2
Average mph: 15.4

Just time to squeeze in this report before we depart for the ride tomorrow. This week has been spinning along doing short distances to keep the legs toned and at an easy pace too. The bike was thoroughly cleaned and serviced on Thursday and is now ready to be loaded into the wagon for the journey to Portsmouth tomorrow.

I am busy packing my kit and attempting to ensure I have not forgotten anything essential. Like the passport ... that reminds me. One very good item of news I have just heard is that the 300 riders on the ride have raised £1 million for Help for Heroes, which is just terrific. A great boost as we set off.

Next time I report it will be with the ride behind me, unless I get to a computer to make an interim posting. Here we go......

Days ridden: 4
Miles ridden: 167.2
Average mph: 16.3

Inevitably, no sooner had I started to wax lyrical about the weather than it gets worse. I certainly felt colder on Saturday, when I did 55 miles and on Sunday, when I did 74 miles. In fact Saturday was worse as it was spitting with rain for a good deal of the ride. I was only wearing shorts, cycling tee and shell top. My feet got wet, then cold, then unfeelable! I finished that ride at about 7.15pm and needed the hot bath to restore circulation. I had an extra layer on top on Sunday and could still feel the chill, but at least it was dry. In fact doing the 74 miles was a better ride all round. I felt good and my juice mixture and cereal bar refuelling works fine now.

I came upon a couple cycling on Sunday who are doing the London to Paris charity ride later in the summer. They are raising money for the Royal Marsden and had hoped to be doing it with a friend of theirs. Unfortunately he died from cancer recently so they are riding in his memory.

This time next week I shall be putting my now finely tuned body through its paces on the ride. I assume I am presently at the peak of fitness having religiously followed the designated training regime. This week I am out each morning doing alternate 5 and 10 mile circuits, just spinning to keep the legs ready for action. I am not taking a laptop with me so unless I can grab a computer somewhere en-route I shall have to report on the ride once I am back. I intend to write up each day so that not an ache, sprain or battlefield is missed!

Days ridden: 3
Miles ridden: 105.1
Average mph: 16.9

I have had three good training rides in wonderful weather this week. The early mornings have been marvellous, warm without being hot, still a wee nip in the air and the countryside looking superb; verdant, radiant and alive with bird song. Makes you feel very glad and grateful to be alive. This is one of the joys of cycling. Mind you, I have always thought that early morning is the best time of the day. It is made better by a clear sky and glowing sun.

The weekend saw most riding activity. I went out for 25 miles on Saturday morning and we then went sailing, finishing a satisfying seventh out of thirteen in our race, in lovely conditions. Then on Sunday it was up early to race on a sparkling sea with just the right amount of wind. We again finished seventh out of a dozen boats enjoying the perfect sailing weather. After a quick drink it was onto the bike for a 65 mile ride back home. It went better than the previous 60 mile ride I did, largely I suspect due to my new rocket-fuel drink. In addition to the grapefruit squash and pinch of natural salt in my drink, I have added some potassium (from Lo-Salt substitute) and some dextrose powder. Seems to keep me going! After about 25 miles I passed two rather professional looking riders out on their Sunday afternoon road ride, which made me feel good about my performance.

Not long to go to the ride now. I have been really bucked by the response to my last e-mailing asking for sponsorship and have now to find some £500 to reach my fundraising target of £7500. It will be marvellous to go to France with the target reached. A very large thank you to all who have so generously contributed to Help for Heroes so far!

Days ridden: 4
Miles ridden: 124.5
Average mph: 16.5

Couple of good 25 mile training rides this week and then 60 miles. We had some friends staying for the Bank Holiday weekend so I did not get to do the long ride on Sunday, but on the Monday. It was warm, sunny and with a cooling wind. The first 50 miles I felt fine, then not so good for the final ten. I was stopping every 20 miles for a small feed and 5 minute rest, so I do not think I was running out of fuel. I might have been lacking some vital-to-me ingredient though, so I shall have to experiment a little there. I have also tended now to keep my speed down and get into a touring rhythm, which accounts for my average speed coming down.

Since we have only a couple of weeks to go before we set off, I thought I should annoy my friends again with another e-mail to get those who have not yet sponsored me to do so.

‘In only three weeks time I shall be cycling around the battlefields of northern France for Help for Heroes. Being the persistent guy that I am, I felt it my duty to give those of you who have not yet got around to sponsoring me the chance to do so before the big ride!

Despite the recent announcement by the government that they will be funding Headley Court with £24 million, Help for Heroes still needs to raise £6 million for the much needed hydrotherapy pool. They have already collected a marvellous £4.5 million in six months.

My fellow Viking Julian Pollard and I will be riding our bicycles with 298 others from Caen to Dunkirk, visiting a number of battlefield sites on the way. This is a distance of 350 miles, to be covered in five days from the 26th of this month. You can find out more at http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/bbbr.html.

I have been following a training regime which has me cycling four times a week, working up the distances I ride. I am feeling the benefits now and it becomes easier the more miles I do – honestly! If you feel so inclined, you can read my weekly training blog at http://timwilkes.blog.co.uk

Thank you again to all of you have kindly donated to Help for Heroes so far. What I would dearly like is for those of you who are hesitating before donating, to contact me and let’s see if I can go to France having reached my personal target of £7,500. Or you can donate easily at www.justgiving.com/timwilkes’

Next weekend I have two days in the saddle doing a 25 miles followed by 65 miles ride. Gearing myself up for that!