A Yorkshire man and a Lancastrian put historic rivalries aside and join forces to cycle from Land's End to John O'Groats in less than five days to raise over £2,000 for charity www.justgiving.com/touroftheroses
Mike and I caught the cycling bug last summer and found ourselves covering over 150 miles a week. As we loved it so much we started talking about getting involved with long distance bike rides such as the London-Edinburgh-London (Audax event). It then struck us that we should set up our own challenge, and here we are, Land's End to John O'Groats - 900 miles in less than five days!

To give us a greater incentive to complete the mileage within the timeframe, and to put all our hard work to a good cause, we have decided to make it a sponsored event, raising money for The Stroke Association (www.stroke.org), and dedicating the ride to Frank Sherwood who sadly passed away last year. Cycling was very close to Frank’s heart. He spent many nights as a boy during WWII cycling up and down fields, with a pole across the handle bars fitted with lights at each end. The plan was that the enemy would think he was a plane on a runway and drop bombs on him rather than on Birmingham!

The ride is scheduled to start on Friday 15 May, making use of the longer days and better weather. This leaves us quite a short training period which you can see below, however, we feel that we are healthy enough to pick up the distances and train relatively quickly. The training rides will cover long distances on a weekend and weekday evening rides will be in the form of spinning sessions at local clubs until daylight hours are more favourable. To complete the challenge we will need to be cycling almost 200 miles a day, so training has already started with 100 mile rides each weekend, increasing to 360 miles over two days, on two occasions, the month before the attempt. During the week we will also work on strength and cardiovascular fitness.

As an overview, the route will take us up to Bristol on the first day, then on to Wigan on day two. On day three we should finish just south of Glasgow, with the fourth night being spent near Aviemore. If it all goes to plan, the fifth night will be spent in the beautiful John O’Groats.

As we said before, we are aiming to raise over £2,000, so if you would like to sponsor us please go to www.justgiving.com/touroftheroses. Any donations, no matter how large or small, will be very much appreciated.Thank you for reading our blog page

Best wishes,
Mike and Chris (and support team - Vicky and Sarah!)

“Tour of the Roses” – The route (Revised 29th April 2009)
Day 1 Land’s End to Bridgwater 188 miles
From the start line at Land’s End, we will follow the A30 passing Redruth, Bodmin, and Launceston. We leave the A30 at Okehampton, and follow the B3260, B3215, A3072 and A377 to Crediton. Then it’s back onto the A3072 to Tiverton, then A361, and then the A38 to the Travel Lodge at Bridgwater services. Then a hot bath!
Day 2 Bridgwater services to Warrington 193 miles
We follow the A38 through Bristol, then A4 and A403 to cross the Severn Bridge into Chepstow.
From here we follow the A466 through Monmouth, and then onto the A49 below Hereford. We continue on the A49 to the Travel Lodge at Warrington (Lancashire Hmmmmm!!!!)
via Leominster, Shrewsbury and Whitchurch.
Day 3 Warrington to Crawford 182 miles
On day three we will continue briefly on the A49 past Leyland and then join the A6 to pass through Preston, Lancaster and Carnforth. We then join the A590 and A591 beneath Kendal. Leaving Kendal on the A6 we continue to Carlisle, east of the Lake District, via Penrith. Following the service road alongside the M74 (former A74) above Carlisle, we will continue on the B7076, snaking each side of the M74 passing Lockerbie, before joining the A702 into Crawford. A wee dram may be required after this ride!
Day 4 Crawford to Aviemore 167 miles
Leaving the A702 after 5 miles, we will follow the A73 all the way
to Airdrie passing through Lanark, Carluke and Chapelhall. We’ll go through Cumbernauld on the B8039 and A8011 then onto Stirling on the A809 and A872 via Denny and Dunipace. Leaving Stirling on the A9, we’ll pass Bridge of Allan and Dunblane, joining the A822 at Greenloaning, and then the A826 to Aberfeldy. We’ll take the B846 out of Aberfeldy through Tummel Bridge before following two minor roads through Trinafour to join the A9 at Dalnacardoch. We’ll continue along the A9 to Aviemore via the Pass of Drumochter, Dalwhinnie and Kingussie. One more day to go!
Day 5 Aviemore to John O’Groats 151 miles
On the last day we’ll continue on the A9 over Slochd Summit and through Daviot before bypassing Inverness. We’ll cross both the Moray Firth and the Cromarty Firth, via the Black Isle. Staying on the A9 we’ll head to Latheron via Tain, the Dornoch Firth, Golspie, Brora, Helmsdale, and Dunbeath. At Latheron we will join the A99 to continue through Ulbster, Wick, Keiss and Freswick to the finish line at John O’Groats. HOOOOOORRRAAAYYYYY!


End to End Training Programme (Weekend rides)

Sunday 8th February 90 miles (Completed 90miles)
Our first training ride was as hard as we expected. I (Chris) had to fight off the desire to turn back after 30 miles as I have not done more than 65mile previously and felt exhausted. Our average pace for the 5hr42mins riding time (6hrs incl. rests) exceeded our anticipated 15mph giving a final 15.8mph. Temperature was at only 1 degree above freezing; the wind however, was (thankfully) very light. The route was undulating, not hilly, but the hills we did find were killers. Calorie burn worked out at 4,717cals total which equates to 786cals/hr which again is what we expected. Both our heart rates averaged 150bpm

Sunday 15th February 90 miles (Completed 108miles)
Our second training ride and we have discovered that I (Chris) have a weakness in my left knee. Both Mike and I felt good for the ride, I think having completed the 90 miles last week gave me a psychological boost and so felt ready to increase the distance up to 100miles. 30miles from the finish though, my knee was so painful I thought I would need picking up. We decided to carry on with mike going on ahead and returning to pick me up with the van. Mike completed 108mile and I had done 97miles by the time he returned with the van. I will need to think about what has caused the knee problem and adjust things very quickly to keep up with the training.There was a fresh NW breeze with us going out and in our faces coming back. Mike averaged 16.4miles/hour and I, approx 15. Calorie burn was up on last week to over 6000cal this included stops. The route was quite hilly and several hills where very long.

Sunday 22nd February 120 miles (Completed Mike 114miles, Chris 80miles)
This was our first weekend training ride we have done separately.
Due to the problem I have with my left knee, I decided it would be better for me to do several shorter circuits so that, if at any time I felt I was doing more harm than good, I could bail out closer to home. Ice packs and rest during the week, does seem to have resolved the problem in that the pain is now more than bearable while riding.
(I soldier on, despite the sarcasm from my un-sympathetic team mate ) The lower mileage for Mike was due to the excessive wind speeds. With this in mind we have decided to plot training rides (on windy days) in the future based on a triangular route (In sailing this would be called an Olympic circuit). This will be riding in to the wind in one direction, going with the wind in another direction and the wind to our sides in the other direction. In this way we do not have to force our way back in to the wind and risk over training or injury.
Mikes calorie burn was 6300, mine was 4800. Next weeks ride takes us from Morley in to Wakefield through Holmfirth, Skipton, Otley, Tadcaster, Castleford, back through Wakefield and in to Morley for pizza and a hot bath (this is where we DO put the 'I' in team and bathe on our own) and possibly a pint of Guinness. For the Iron content, of course.

Sunday 1st March 120 miles (Completed 127 miles)
Our favourite route so far and it was a hilly one, the largest of which being the road out of Halifax towards Denholme and Keighley along the A629. The use of a triangular route was a good idea and will likely govern most of our future training rides. Next week however we have both got family events to attend so will will be cycling to those.
This week’s average speed worked out at 15.4mph pedalling. Cal. Burn was around 6,862.
We had our first major bike repair this week. Mikes front derailleur seemed to create a loud bang and stopped shifting to the small ring. Potentially a major problem given the route having a number of long steep hill climbs. A 20 min. stop at the top of the next hill, combined with a bit of a tweak with our handy, on bike tool kit, a few choice words and all was fine again. Mike even commented that his gear changes were better than they had been since we set off.

Sunday 8th March 150 miles (186 and 100 miles Completed)
Another weekend training session cycling on our own due to us both having other commitments.
I cycled to Stoke on Trent, via Huddersfield and Chesterfield, so as to increase the mileage to where I needed to be. Navigation for me was my main problem, as it seems I cannot find my own arse with both hands, let alone navigate my way out of my local area without taking a wrong turn. In future I must study the map and familiarise myself with the intended route prior to setting off. This would certainly minimise any potential errors occurring. And also to check my estimated time of arrival at each town, so I can guesstimate my position should I get lost. Getting lost for me is now an accepted way of life. Navigation on the event has been delegated to Mike for good reason.
Mike cycled to Henley on Thames, via Nottingham, Leicester, Buckingham and Aylesbury. Setting off at midnight on the Friday and arriving at Henley at about 1.30pm on the Saturday (186 miles). He made quite good progress (average speed on the bike of 15.3 mph) and enjoyed the night time riding with hardly any traffic on the roads and no wind. The use of some high powered LED lights made him extremely visible and made it a lot easier to avoid pot holes. The only real hazard was the Pub and Night Club turning out times at Mansfield and Nottingham. Calorie burn was 10,150. (Superman theme tune playing in his head all the way down :)

Sunday 15th March 150 miles (125miles Completed)
We revisited our favourite ride from 1st March but this time we had a slow start. Mike did not feel on top form for the first half and even suggested we split up, but we stayed together and by half way round at Skipton mike felt fine. By the end of the ride our average pace was up on last time at 15.8mph.
I had a new gadget on my bike a cycle computer with heart rate and cadence among other things. The cadence tool certainly appeared to help with finding my rhythm on the hill climbing. Only further rides will tell as to the benefits this provides, very impressed so far. Now I have the use of an accurate heart rate monitor we can now clearly see the difference in energy usage for our individual body weight, Mikes calorie burn was 6,550 and mine was 7,654.

Sunday22nd March 180 miles (178 completed)
This week’s ride took us over the wolds to Bridlington, and on to Filey, before returning over the Wolds once again to Wakefield. Since starting our training we have been training quite hard on our general fitness levels and riding to what feels is our natural pace. This seems to be paying off as we no longer feel empty for two days after a ride, even though each ride is generally longer than the last. We now feel we have to slow down to the speed which would be adequate to allow us to keep riding over the four and a half days. This is difficult to achieve when you feel energised and fresh during single day rides which allow full recovery. Our pace this week was an average 16.1mph which we coped with fairly well, we are also beginning to realise when we need additional energy gels to prevent a bonk (total exhaustion from depleted blood sugar levels), which is again another good lesson to learn before such a long event. Calorie burn was different this week as Mike burned 9550 and I burned 8665 according to our cycle computers. We also noticed a slight change in Mike's general heart rate which we have put down to him developing a cold, which may also account for the calorie burn. This weekend was our first warm ride - which was very nice. We started the ride just before sun rise, so were wrapped up warm, but by 11am we were removing clothing which then had to be carried in our jersey back pockets, another plus to having a support car on the actual event.

Sunday 29th March 180 miles (0 miles completed)
Mike has gone on holiday cross country skiing he will be treating this week as a bit of cross training and am sure will appreciate the change, as I would. I had family commitments, so the ride this weekend was changed to a recovery week, which I think we both appreciate. As the evenings are starting to get lighter, this week we are likely to start doing an evening ride which we will use to work on our hill climbing technique and/or fitness, or what ever we feel requires fine tuning. The evening may even be devoted to practicing general bike maintenance and repairs so that we are truly familiar with our bikes for the event. Each session on the bike probably lasting an hour or so and include a brisk warm up and cool down with plenty of stretching.

Saturday 4th April 180 miles Sunday 5th 180 miles(40 & 90miles completed)
Mike has had a change from cycling this week. He has been on holiday cross country skiing in Finland and still managed a large calorie burn 13656, so he was obviously skiing quite a bit and so kept his fitness levels up. No slacking allowed... even on holiday? I was out riding alone this week which was to be a long distance back to back weekend, but once again due to family commitments only two shorter distances were possible. Both the rides were around the Leeds and Otley area, so were relatively hilly. As the first ride ended up being quite short, I finished off with several repeat hill climbs as the daylight disappeared.

Sunday 12th April 180 miles (Tuesday 14th April 182miles completed)
This week’s long training ride had us cycling through the Yorkshire Dales. The route went from Leeds to Kirkby Lonsdale, along the A65, North up the A683 through Sedburgh and then back over the Yorkshire Dales on the A684 through Hawes, then onto Masham, Ripon, Skipton and back to Leeds. The hilliest route so far, in places it was like a roller coaster. Every lung bursting hill we ascended was falsely rewarded by a rapid descent, before having to go straight back up the next hill. The longest hill was along the A59 which began after a 40mph+ descent into Blubberhouses. We then climbed up onto the moors before descending into the Wharfe valley for our return back to Leeds. It was quite a windy day, and cool with it at times, with an East South Easterly direction. This assisted us nicely on the outward leg to Kirkby Lonsdale, but from Sedbergh to Ripon, it created a lot of hard work. Calories burned for me was 10,403, Mikes was 10,526. Our average pace was 15.3mph

Sunday 19th April 180 miles (184miles Completed)
This weeks training ride was planned to be a much more flat route after the previous Yorkshire Dales circuit, only four days before, which was so hilly. However, this wasn’t the case. Who said Lincolnshire is flat? I think the name ‘Wolds’ springs to mind?
The route took us through Doncaster to Bawtry, along the A631 to Louth, A153 to Sleaford, then back via Newark-on-Trent, Retford and Doncaster. This route formed a circuit around Lincoln. All in all though, we had an easier ride due to the fact that the wind was, for the most part, very gentle. Our riding pace increased dramatically to 17.1mph average (not thinking we could maintain this for five days… but then again?). We seemed to find it reasonably comfortable, especially with the new bib shorts, which gave us both more confidence for the actual ride in May. Mike did comment that the new shorts were so comfy that even after 120 miles out it felt as though his cheeks were being kissed by Angels, as opposed to the ride before, which felt as though ferrets were clawing at them in search of prey. Calorie burn was at 9566.

Saturday 25th April 180 miles (171miles completed) 15.4 mph
Sunday 26th April 180 miles (172miles completed) 16.8 mph
Having completed several long distance training rides over the past few months we, (that is, Mike) are finding it harder and harder to come up with a route which we have not already ridden, at least part of. It was for this reason we decided to travel the full ride distance away from home and stay over night at a travel lodge, sort of a dress rehearsal for the ride it’s self. The route took us South of Doncaster, keeping East of Nottingham and Leicester, through Melton Mowbray, Oakham (Very Hilly!!!) beneath Northampton, through Buckingham to the travel lodge at the end of the A43.
Strong Southerly winds made the outward leg very hard work… but I suppose it is all good training in the long term?
There are too many things learnt from this ride to list here. The main thing we wanted to find out was what it would be like to get back on the bike the next day after a long ride? Boy did we find out. You may or may not be surprised to hear that it hurt. It hurt in all the places you would expect and most of the places you would not expect. We proved that our consumption of gels and energy powders would be fine but our choices of foods for the evenings would require some thought as they where all much too dry and boring. One thing we would both ask all drivers to do more of at roundabouts is pay attention and look to your right befor driving off.!!! The other thing we would like to point out is that just because a ring road, having three lanes, resembles a motorway that is where the similarity ends! So please slow down, and don’t pap your horn at us cyclists in a frustrated sense that we haven’t the right to be there. And please, once again, pay more attention!!!
Calorie burn for weekend was 17,500 each.

Monday 4th May (Bank Holiday) 150 miles (102 Completed)
This weeks ride (102 miles), and next weeks (60 miles) are shorter recovery rides in preparation for the start on the 15 May. Someone tell the weather!!! As riding out 50 miles to then have to ride back into 40mph gusts is by no means a recovery ride.
With just over a week to go before the start we will be thinking more about bike maintenance, and prep for the long journey, as well as how to pack all that we might need for a 5 day bike ride into our hire car and still have somewhere to sit? It has been said that getting all the stuff in the car and the drive down to Lands End might end up being the hardest bit. Let’s hope so!!!

Friday 15th May-Tuesday 19th May END TO END (880 miles)
Chris. The first day, we were advised by several people, would be the hardest day and we should not be put off. This was not the case for us, whether this was due to our training or simply that we were expecting something worse or simply because the wind was in our favour is anybodies guess… we would like to think that we were well prepared:)

There were several note worthy hills, the first of which was on the way in to Shap along the A6 in the Lake district, a 20 mile stretch of the route which slowed us down to an average 10miles an hour which finished with Shap hill (mountain pass?) The hill itself went on for around 2-3miles in total. ???????? More hills???

The weather was not all in our favour as we experienced several heavy down pours each day which soaked us through to our socks. The hardest moment for me was the first hour or two of the fourth day, after arriving in Crawford at the end of the 3rd day in the rain, again, feeling utterly exhausted and then getting up on day four to set off in torrential rain once again. All in all this was the only moment I did not truly enjoy. The enjoyable moments far out way this difficult morning, as I said to Mike on the way up to John O’Groats, even though I felt shattered I was still enjoying the bike ride like each day was just another training ride somewhere new.

Mike. First of all it was a great success. We achieved our main goal of completing the ride in five day’s or less. (4 days 12 hours and 55 minutes. From crossing the start line at Lands End to crossing the finish line at John O’Groats)

Day one, Lands End to Bridgwater was up and down all the way along the A30 for the first 100 miles. This stretch was made easier by a strong tail wind, but also more dangerous due to heavy rain and poor visibility from the spray created by HGV’s.
We were glad to get off the A30 in one piece and onto more scenic, quieter roads.
We arrived at Bridgwater at 18.15 and wished we had pushed on further to our second option of Bristol. This would have made it a far longer first day, but having the wind assistance certainly made up for this and it would leave a shorter 2nd day. Having prepaid accommodation at Bridgwater put an end to this, and also we were still feeling first day fresh and over confident J

We made good time to Bristol the following morning, crossing the Severn via the second bridge, and onto our first stop above Monmouth. We arrived here later than anticipated through a combination of both stopping to take photographs, and a bit of ‘there’s not such a rush’ attitude after the quick time on the first day. The scenery and roads were certainly more interesting than the A30 of day one. Whoever said that this section was flat and a bit of recovery ride? Well, we may disagree by the time we arrived at the Warrington Travel Lodge in darkness after 197 miles. The wind gave us less assistance on day two, but the showers were even heavier. Real cloud bursts. You could see the next Squall (sorry… we’re on land, not at sea) approaching, one after the other with hailstone to add insult to injury. We were soaked. Bottom and knee pain was now becoming more of a constant reminder.

Day three was very scenic up the A6 between Kendal and Penrith, but this section also provided the hardest climb so far up to Shap. In the bottom gear, but still wishing we could change down further, this particular climb was a real killer. I was convinced one of my brakes had stuck on! As the day continued above Carlisle the weather once again deteriorated. The final stretch up to Crawford for the night seemed to go on forever as we snaked either side of the A74 (M) on the B7076. We appeared to have been going up hill for miles toward Crawford. We later discovered that the next village on from Crawford is apparently the highest in Scotland. That explains why?

After a very short stay, in the extremely comfy and very friendly Holmlands guest house at Crawford, we were off again into day four and torrential rain from the outset.
We had managed to clean the bikes that morning, especially the chain sets, and re-oiled everything. They were desperately in need of some TLC, as were my buttocks.
The rain continued with us into Stirling, but fortunately stopped before our first refuel of the day just above Dunblane next to the A9. A very moody, dark sky covered the hills to the north. After a well needed pit stop, for pizza, bottles filling, energy gels, and more pain killers for my knees, we were off up the A9 for only a short spell before turning off up the A822 heading to Crieff.(The official route cuts out the easterly sweep on the A9 around Perth and takes a more Northerly direct route)
This stretch, through Perthshire, back up to join the A9 was fantastic in both roads (most of the time) and beautiful scenery. However, it was very hilly, which combined with day fours fatigue, slowed our pace considerably over this section.
After rejoining the A9, and once we had climbed over Drumochter pass, we were flying along with speeds averaging over 20 mph. Even with this final ‘sprint’ finish we didn’t arrive at Aviemore until around 10 o’clock. Good job we had lights on the bikes? Not much time to relax… just a bit of food and energy drinks before a short, restless sleep, and the alarm ringing out at 5.45.

Well, day five has arrived!!! Cleaned the bike chain sets, brakes etc… and relubed everything to get us through our final day. Breakfast consisted of Tesco’s porridge, as had most mornings, with loads of honey, more energy drinks and a caffeine fix.
This was the best day so far weather wise. In fact we didn’t get wet at all. We even had to get rid of the leggings and long sleeved tops at the first stop. What was happening? Pasty white legs were on full show at last.
On this, the final day, we were suffering, but buzzing.
Once we got north of Inverness, we knew we had it cracked. There was heightened excitement at seeing John O’Groats for the first time on a sign post. (Even if it was still 111 miles) Along the coast road the villages and scenery, in the unusual sunshine and not rain, looked better than ever. Even the hills, and there were some killers, couldn’t spoil the day.
Our arrival at the finish, I think, was one of disbelief, and ‘have we just cycled from one end of the country to the other’? Or was it just an 880 mile training ride?
I think we were a bit brain and body numb.

Well that’s it then. I could have added more, but I think you get the gist of it.
4 days 12 hours and 55 minutes from start to finish. I think I can say for both of us that we are well chuffed with the result!!!!!! :)

''Tour of the Roses'' Cycle Nutritional Plan
From our research into calories expended during long distance cycle rides and now our own training rides. We have decided that based on our individual weight and the speed at which we intend to ride we shall require between 9000and 10000cals per day mostly from carbohydrates. We have tested our nutritional plan out on our training rides and adjust it, to what we feel we need to achieve optimum performance. The list below is what we have descided we can complete the ride on and is in addition to breakfast and evening meal. The calories per item are estimated and only meant as a guide.

5am ‘’wakeup shake’’ 30g protein 129cals
50g Carbs 215cals
6/7am Set off 1st 4hr ride 2ltr water and carb min. 250cals
(60gcarbs/15gprotein/500ml)
6xcarb gel plus caffeine 99cals

Meet support car Sandwich or ¼ thick crust 12”pizza 600cals
‘’Wakeup shake’’ 344cals

Set off 2nd 4hr ride 2ltr water and carb min. 250cals
(60gcarbs/15gprotein/500ml)
4xcarb gel plus caffeine 99cals
2xsimple carb gels 198cals

Meet support car ¼ thick crust 12”pizza 600cals
‘’Wakeup shake’’ 344cals

Set off 3rd 4hr ride 2ltr water and carb min. 250cals
(60gcarbs/15gprotein/500ml)
3xcarb gel plus caffeine 99cals
3xsimple carb gels 198cals

Meet support car ¼ thick crust 12”pizza 600cals
‘’Wakeup shake’’ 344cals

Evening meal within 2hrs of finish each day 2000cals
10pm Bed Time ‘’Bed time shake’’ 344cals