Who's Sorry Now.....

A man well out of his depth

Those of you who have seen me on a bike can perhaps imagine the potential folly involved in my rather ill-conceived plan to ride from Lands End to John O'Groats next month.

I have always thought that going from one end of the country to the other has a simple, but rather noble appeal to it; a badge of cycling honour, a marker, something to bore the kids with when I get (even) older.

So one evening over a couple of beers (not, I grant you, the ideal basis for making important decisions) I gave public (and slightly slurred) voice  to my long-standing ambition. I mean, how hard could it be ?

Well, from Sunday 5th August I will find out. Over 13 days, along with my old mate Steve Morgan, I will attempt to ride 1,000 miles to the north-east tip of Scotland. And then, clock up a few more miles by going on to Kirkwall in Orkney.

(note the very deliberate use of the word attempt. More confident types wouldn't have even entertained the word because of all the associated, lack of back-bone, lilly-livered, hedging-your-bets uncertainty it implies....but given my current level of confidence, the word remains). 

I have been training (I use the phrase in the loosest possible sense) but frankly, I'm petrified. Petrified I won’t be able to finish (many don't). Petrified that I'll come to a pathetic, exhausted whimpering halt before I even leave Cornwall. Petrified about what two weeks on an unforgiving though highly-fashionable racing saddle can do to a man.

You can follow my inevitable travails in this blog.

In return, I promise to do my best to furnish you with photos, tales from the road, amusing anecdotes (particularly if they are at someone else’s expense) my general moans, musings and misdeeds...recommedned pub stops and for those of a medically curious disposition, detailed and self-pitying descriptions of the inevitable malfunctioning of the this middle aged body.

Enjoy the ride......(even if I don't)