Challenge Over - What to Do next?

Well here we are three days after Ride 100, still pleased with my performance, and OK with the funds raised for The EIKON Charity - would have been nice to done better on that front, but we raised ~£5,000 altogether.

Sunday morning me passing through West Byfleet

I've been to the gym, briefly, for a gentle workout and I generally feel good. Yes I've been back on the bike too, OK only a short two mile ride to the shops and back but it felt good the legs weren't protesting. 

I think this weekend I will take another ride out with my local Pure Motion team. 

I've already had suggestions from some about what to do next - polite and otherwise - like foreign cycle tours, other local events, etc. but as yet I'm undecided. 

However, certain I'm going to do something. I think its the challenge we need to drive us along, that mountain to climb, river to cross, call it what you will we all need a challenge.

As I said at the start, I'm still happy with my time for the 100, but I'm sure if it were not for the early season fall and injuries I could have put in a rather better time. Which is what I intend to do next year... Yes, I really think I'm going to do it again, cos' I thoroughly enjoyed it.

But for now back to the general cycling and maintaining fitness, which is where it all started.

A Change of Scenery - Final Countdown

Last weekend we had the chance to head down to Dorset for a few days. So being keen to get in at least some amount of miles I duly strapped the bike to the back of the car - after filling it with all the other paraphernalia - and we headed off.

Of course its always difficult to fit everything in to a short weekend break, so I didn't get chance to do many miles ~26 in fact, but at least that along with several swimming sessions provided a fair degree of exercise.

I'd hoped to get in a couple of rides but the weather was less than predictable [and I'd not packed everything suitable for a long wet ride] so eventually I only did the one loop, below:

So now we are just three days from the event itself, the last few weeks seem to have gone quickly. I can only hope now that I've done sufficient over the past few months to make the ride itself as enjoyable as possible.

The sponsorship is still a rather less than I'd hoped for, but I do understand times are tough and there are so many charity events out there to support, but if your reading this and haven't already supported me and EIKON and feel so inclined, please do: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/NickCritchell

Right, the registration process opens today and I'm heading off to do that tonight, then check the bike over tomorrow before joining the RideLondon FreeCycle event on Saturday. Then the ride on Sunday - sounds like a busy few days ahead.

The Shape of Things to Come

We have known the route for some months now and for many we also broadly knew the terrain, so it will come as little surprise that the details released this week of the Ride-London-Surrey 100 route include some testing climbs along the way.

The new Participants Map provides a little  more information about facilities, some indication of the mile markers and the like, but still doesn't include the full road route.

But most obviously they seem to have omitted signs for any of the Pubs!

Oh well, perhaps they will have a bar open at the end of the Mall, for when we finish ;-)

Nightrider 2012 - Out of the grey, into the clear night

Somewhere in 2012 the time continuum had a blip because '78 days to go' suddenly became THREE, which turned into 'The Night' and off we headed.

With bike serviced, lights checked, kit packed and everything double/triple checked... it was here, and ready or not look out London here we come!

The weather for June was foul in the week leading up to the event but by some divine intervention [Thank you, again - prayers answered!] the clouds cleared and it turned out to be perfect; clear skies and little to no wind as we arrived at Crystal Palace, and remained that way throughout the night.

Our group of riders, supporting Eikon, set off at 23.10 to the enthusiastic starting orders of Chris Hickford, founder of EIKON, and a person whose infectious laughter and huge smile put everyone in good spirit and ready to go.

The group set off and a pace just a little too quick, immediately proven by us missing the first turn by some few hundred metres and having to double back - an exercise that would be repeated more than once before the night was over.

So off we went riding through London's dark streets, down toward Greenwich and then heading into the city and around Canary Wharf's deserted streets before doubling back into the City and around St Paul's, past the Emirates stadium and up through Hackney toward Alexandra Palace.

Probably my favourite moments were crossing Tower Bridge, just because it's so iconic, looking back over London from Alexandra Palace where the dark night sky and lights created such a fantastic scene.

Even with a few minor deviations from the route [signs were not always easy to spot..] meaning we completed more than the obligatory distance, the climb to Alexandra Palace at the midway point and the climb back up to Crystal Palace at the end, we finished a little before 5am, which given the traffic in town was respectable.

Navigating our way back though Camden and Regent Street among the revellers who were queueing to go into clubs at 3.30 AM on Sunday morning for something undoubtedly alcoholic while we were swigging energy drinks, was certainly a interesting experience...

Around 4:15 the dawn was starting to break and the bird began singing as we made our way back past the Oval and onward to Crystal Palace, where a well deserved mug of tea and bacon roll, provided by our supporting EIKON team was perfect finish.

I thoroughly enjoyed the experience, and the training rides certainly proved worthwhile.

In the end I got very close to my target and overall the group raised around £17,500 [100 percent of which will go to EIKON] so we're very pleased with that.

Your contributions helped to raise a fantastic sum that will go to a very good cause, thank you all.

Now what shall we do next...

Fancy a Night On The Town? - Nightrider London 2012

Some months ago the suggestion was made that I join a couple of friends for a night out in London; well actually a cycle ride for charity that happens to take place at night... around London

And who could say no to a Lycra clad night in London!!

So having a bike in the garage that I'd bought but not really gotten around to using as intended; only occasionally puffing and sweating for a few miles, it seemed to be a good idea. It would provide me an purpose to get out and improve my heath as well as doing other people some good.

Nightrider 2012 - is a circular route around London starting at Crystal Palace, heading north along the eastern side of the city toward Alexandra Palace, then south again on the western side returning to Crystal Palace. In all covering about 65 miles [105km] taking in many of the major landmarks of the city.

My Chosen Worthy Cause...

Eikon – a Surrey based charity that has been working in the local community for almost two decades, providing sustained support to some of the county’s most vulnerable young people and their families.

Their core-work is placing inspirational Youth Specialists into schools to identify ‘at risk’ young people and provide the following support in the pivotal teenage years.