Homeward bound

100 miles to Coventry. Sunshine most of the way typically after 2 days of rainshine.

Can highly recommend cooked breakfast at the green wellie stop and the lamb burgers at tebay services.

We have establised that the gladiator movie theme tune is the definative sound track for driving through glencoe. And that it is impossible to sleep in the back of a Citroën Picasso. Particularly with a fenlander behind the wheel!




-- Post From My iPhone

Take me home country roads

Alas, all three teams are now heading south having devoured a
veritable nutritious delight in the form of a fry-up. And bought some
tack. Greg, aka Doormouse, was especially vulnerable to tack purchase,
his eye drawn as if by an eye magnet to some of the worst merchandise
yet invented.

And of course, the weather is now glorious following three days of
more rain than you can shake an umbrella at.

That was the Three Peaks Cycle Challenge. We did it. Woo!

The Fenlander

Sent from my iPhone

That's one small step for a man...

...one giant leap for queasy kind.

At 7.30pm the forward party reached the summit of ben Nevis less than 48 hours from leaving the top of snowdon.

The whole team made it - 2 drivers included despite injuries, detours and other encounters.

A great adventure. We are all shattered and looking forward to proper beds!

See you all tomorrow.

Jc




-- Post From My iPhone

A race against time....

And so it begins...

25miles, an hour and a half to get to Fort William before the last climb, some of the toughest terrain in the country.

No problem.

Team 3 to the rescue.


-- Post From My iPhone

Team 3 Update

Team 3 aka Facebike pick up the virtual baton in about 45 minutes for
the last push towards that tall chap called Benjamin Nevis. Then only
the small task of climbing the UK's highest mountain!

Fenlander

Sent from my iPhone

Team 2 update

After driving a drunken army veteran to hospital, where he promptly
plastered himself to the front entrance, Team 2 left Dumfries at 0300
heading north. Currently just south of Glasgow

2 in the bag!

For most a steep 5km climb. For one intrepid rider a 10km extension after his chain snapped 7 miles from base camp. Comiserations to the stig whose non wheeled transport and lack of sleep let him down. To all those back in the office have a great weekend!





-- Post From My iPhone

Badger waste disposal?

Don't get many of these in Coventry!




-- Post From My iPhone

Dark and scary...

Team 1 have just finished their leg. It was dark. Very dark. It was wet. Very wet. And we won't talk about the hills. Ever. But our work is done for the night and we're back in England. So we're heading north to wait for the others at Scafell Pike in the Lakes. And we're now going to go to sleep. Hopefully except the driver...

The Nags Head

Team 2 are attempting to sleep in a pub car park close to Ellesmere
Port. Oh, and it is raining..... In fact it hasn't stopped raining
since we started.

National Brummy Day

Today is National Brummy Speaking Day or something equally regal so,
in honour of our driver who hails from the National Democratic
Republic of Acocks Green, our Star In The Reasonably-Priced (But
Ultimately Woeful) Car, Team 3 says...

Bostin'

All day breakfast

It's now 1am, I'm pretty sure that's not fresh.....sod it...we'll take
4!!

1 down!

1.45 to the top of snowdon. Visibility zero. Great fun!




-- Post From My iPhone

Wales!

3.40pm: Team 1 crossed the border into Wales on our way to the start line...

And we're off!

Team 3 checking in...

After a brief stop at JC's to pick up a bike rack, we're Snowdon bound.

Oh did I mention the Citroen has a 'nifty' iPhone holder....apparently you can call shotgun for the backseats!!

Hunty





-- Post From My iPhone

We're off!

Team 1: Last to leave. Even after a stop at Morrisons for Jaffa Cakes and then a trip back to hand in my car keys (doh!) we're ahead of teams 2 & 3. Apparently team 2 have picked up a 1970s Raleigh Chopper for Greg. Oh this is going to be fun...

We're off

Well Team Badger is moving...... To the bike shop to buy Greg a
bike...... Don't ask

How much packing

Just how much stuff do you need for a 40 hour trip! Hope the rest of team facebike are travelling light otherwise the poor citroen is gonna struggle.

Weather forecast

Rain.  Followed by showers.  Interspersed with drizzle.

As Rob, said, "It must be summer.  The rain's falling vertically."

Snowdon..... the warm up

Mountain number one.... and no we won't be using the train.

Dedicated followers of fashion

While we're in the mood, more thanks to Serigraphia, digital print and design gurus extraordinaire, for supplying these rather spiffing t-shirts for the team:

Each one has a personalised back with the team member's nickname on it. I'm very pleased to report that the 'FATBOYFAT' one comes in XL.

Liquid refreshment

A big "Thank You" to the good people who employ my wife. Not only do they (largely) keep her out of trouble, but they've supplied us with drinks for our challenge:

Mainly bottled water and some of those isotonic sports drink thingies. Plus some Pepsi Max because, well, you have to rock out sometimes.

We will most likely be broken men at the end of this; sleep-deprived physical wrecks. But at least we'll be wonderfully hydrated physical wrecks.

Just like Lance Armstrong

Greg, looking bothered, recently.

The following conversation between Greg and Ian was overheard the other day:

Ian: So have you got hold of a bike yet, Greg?
Greg: Yes, I'm borrowing it from my brother.
Ian: So what's it like?
Greg: I think it's made from solid steel. It's a bit heavy.
Ian: Don't you think that might cause you a problem? You're going to be cycling up hills.
Greg: Mmm. Yes. The tyres won't help, either.
Ian: Has it still got mountain bike tyres?
Greg: Yep.
Ian: Don't you think you should change them for road tyres?
Greg: Nope.

We're going to enjoy this.

Fundraising - another good cause

The previous post about fundraising reminded me that there's an other good cause being supported by all this effort.

James P is raising money for Pancreatic Cancer UK, in memory of his father who sadly passed away last month. The rest of the team is right behind James with this, and if you'd like to support him, his Justgiving page can be found here.

Trickling in

Before we get too carried away with plans and things, just a quick reminder of why we're doing all this.

The funds are beginning to come in for Age Concern & Help the Aged. And if you haven't yet donated, you know what to do.