Long Rides and generous folk!

So, it's getting close. Very close in fact and I've been reminded regularly that, actually, I've never ridden over 100 miles on my bike before!

That was it. I decided that I'd do a couple of long rides and get a few good hours in the saddle. But...I've also done quite possibly a rather silly, if not slightly romantic, thing and decided that I'm not actually going to break the 100 mile ride barrier until Celtman itself! I know, I know! My thinking is this, Celtman is going to turn out to be one of the 'moments' in life that means so much. Anything I can do to enhance that experience is a worthwhile decision I reckon?

I'd eyed up a trip heading through Mansfield, Edwinstowe, Ollerton and then into Lincoln, returning along the A46 through Newark before heading back home through Mansfield again. It was just short of the 100 miles mark but it worked on my weakness. That weakness, I believe, is dealing with the monotony of long flat rides. Hills, I can do (sort of) but the challenge of constant pedalling at one pace for a long time is a definite difficulty. This ride dealt with all that, and some! Headwinds. Bugger.



The ride eventually came in at just under the 90 mile mark. Unfortunately, the gels I'd taken were out of date! A long way out of date, so the ride includes a long lunch stop at 'The Pride of Lincoln' pub...NOT recommended! Fish and chips but the fish was wet and watery all the way through..eurgh! I just had to get it down my throat otherwise I just wouldn't make it back in any fit state :o(

All in all, this was a good ride. Dealt with the psychological weaknesses I have and gave me a few more miles under my belt.

Everything seems to be going as well as can be expected, especially with the shoulder injury and the big chunk of training lost due to illness. The accommodation has been booked with Fri night being spent at Bracken B&B which has an advert on Steve Carter's great local site and can be found here.

Accommodation for the rest of the Week we've decided to have up there is going to be spent at the beautiful Minch View

The only downside is that Lulu, our lovely chilled out Beagle, can't come with us :o( The owner, Tracey, has been great already and we're not even there yet!! She's OK'd my support runner staying overnight with us, even though this means some sleeping on camp mats etc! She's also managed to arrange for me to get a massage post race by Sarah Almond! And if that's not all....she's just sponsored me!! I've not met her yet and already we love her.

That's meant that I've just broken through the £100 mark for my sponsorship (not my strong point, I hate asking for money!! lol!) I'm now up to around the £150 mark and I'm hoping I can actually get past the £200 mark....maybe? hopefully? If you fancy helping go to www.justgiving.com/celtman and donate what you can.

Thanks in advance!!