The Fridays Tour

[theclaud]

Sadly the tailwind forecast has weakened ... we may even have to pedal!

Outrageous! I demand a refund. And if I can't get a refund, I'll settle for a beer.

 

[Trickedem]

Best of luck to my Friday friends. I am sure you are going to have an awesome tour.

 

[Flying Dodo]

A few word of wisdom (possibly) from me, even though I'm only doing the first night/day*. For anyone who hasn't cycled more more than 2 days consecutively, don't worry about the overall distance. Enjoy each day as a separate journey. You'll be in the company of friends, so share and accept encouragement.

Yes, there will be hills, and you may feel a few wobbles internally, possibly on Day 4, but remember it's not a race so it doesn't matter how long it takes. As you pass into Scotland, the views and general vistas you will encounter will mask any lingering concerns you may have. Make sure you put on clean shorts every day. If you can face it, give your legs a cold shower/bath as soon as you can, after stopping each night.

Get some plenty of rest tonight and don't do anything strenuous. For those in a relationship, don't be too amorous from a nookie point of view tonight - save your strength. And if you're a unicyclist, take it easy, as you'll need your wrists for the bumpy surface on the A68.

And finally, keep smiling. This will be something you'll rememember for a long time.



* Actually I'm not even doing all of the 1st leg, as I'm joining 30 miles down the road in Dunstable!

 

[dellzeqq]

I have a tandem (and what a tandem!) in the hall, and a suitcase with a label on it in the front room. It's all starting to look pretty serious

 

[clarion]

Is this ride coming up soon?

 

[srw]

Sadly the tailwind forecast has weakened ... we may even have to pedal!

The good news is that the further north we get, the closer we get to the predicted track of the depression - and the stronger the tailwinds.

 

[BigGee]

Best of luck everybody and I am sure you will have a fantastic journey.

Arriving at lands end was one of the two best feelings I have ever had on a bike, the other being arriving in Vancouver having done the west coast of USA. Its an emotional experience, a mixture of relief, pride and self satisfaction and not some disbelief that you are finally there. Keep your eyes on the prize and you will remember it for the rest of your lives.

Have a great ride and most of all enjoy it.

 

[mmmmartin]

I have a tandem (and what a tandem!) in the hall, and a suitcase with a label on it in the front room. It's all starting to look pretty serious

And I ever get out of this bloody office and load up the Galaxy, you'll have two red bags (camping kit) and two blue bags (hotel kit) as well. (Clever colour coding and labels done, to boot!)
This assuming I can
A) navigate across The Great Wen to Dellzeqq Towers and
B) keep the damned bike upright with all this luggage on it in London Rush Hour Traffic.

 

[martint235]

Good luck to everyone on the ride! Enjoy it! I'm sure you'll all have lots of fun (some of the fun may even not involve beer!)

 

[srw]

The tandem is delivered to dellzeqq towers, to avoid the need to smuggle tomorrow night.
The routes and overnight stops are plotted and transferred to the GPS unit.*
A luggage label has been procured.
A list of accommodation has been taken upstairs for checking and confirmation.
A sleep surplus has been built up.
Kit lists have been generated and will be packed.

What more is there to do? Oh yes, cycle a few hundred miles.

*We're not actually going north, according to Mr Garmin. We're going North-North-West for a few hundred miles, then turning right north of Inverness and going North-East by East.

 

[ianmac62]

Ditto with lists.

Now actually off to Wellingborough for contemporary jazz (Mark Nightingale Quartet, since you ask; one of the few trombonists in modern post-bop jazz) and I shall pass Tesco and think of the first breakfast.

See you all at HPC tomorrow.

 

[rvw]

The tandem is delivered to dellzeqq towers, to avoid the need to smuggle tomorrow night.
The routes and overnight stops are plotted and transferred to the GPS unit.*
A luggage label has been procured.
A list of accommodation has been taken upstairs for checking and confirmation.
A sleep surplus has been built up.
Kit lists have been generated and will be packed.

What more is there to do? Oh yes, cycle a few hundred miles.

*We're not actually going north, according to Mr Garmin. We're going North-North-West for a few hundred miles, then turning right north of Inverness and going North-East by East.

Meanwhile, upstairs (on the computer attached to a printer), email confirmations from half the hotels - those booked online - have been printed out, and phone calls made to the other half. Three of the four booked by phone have confirmed happily: one is checking and ringing back - which doesn't entirely fill me with confidence...

 

[ceepeebee]

What do you mean that 1st birthday party food isn't optimal pre-ride sustenance?

 

[srw]

one is checking and ringing back - which doesn't entirely fill me with confidence...

Apparently it's Glenbank at Jedburgh - who, when I rang, said that they have two double rooms. One of which has gone to Simon and Susie, the other of which should be ours.

 

[fimm]

Have a good trip everybody - and remember, you will enjoy the second half of Carter Bar!!