Factoids 2!

Our time of blister-free backsides and undamaged calf muscles is running out and in less than one week we will be swapping our sofa's for saddle's and heading west. Thus, anxiety may be upon us.

Don't despair, check out these factoids and chill out. (They are in order of amazing to life changing)

During our 10 day cycle ride over 21,000 babies will have been born in the UK. Lovely.

Presuming we will be cycling steadily for 6 hours a day, we will each inhale 116,640 litres of air in 10 days cycling. That's enough to fill 3,800 rubbish bags or 20,000 balloons OR a small hot air balloon between us.

When we reach Land's End we will have lost about 300 litres of sweat between us. The equivalent to two baths full. Two sweaty baths.

One Week to go!

Been slow on the blogs, as realised that it's not really going to make interesting reading until we're actually on the road!

I'm feeling more and more confident as I do more riding, complete more hills and hear stories of fellow pushers completing longer and longer rides. My legs are definitely getting stronger, and with a team of friendly friends I just know we'll urge each other on and get to where we're going.

I had some words of encouragement from the physiotherapist I saw this morning, who also recommended some good stretches for us to do, so that's also really positive!

The countdown timer, ticking away on my desktop is saying we have 6days, 21hours, 43minutes and 45seconds until Push Off! My prediction is that this time next week, if all goes to plan, we will be nearing Littlehampton, and pretty ready for a (another?!) fuel stop.

I'm 60% excited and 40% terrified right now, although this is changing on a daily basis - luckily swinging mostly towards excitement! It's getting harder and harder to sit in an office!!!!

19 days and counting...

Having bust my shoulder (again) on Saturday evening (and been seduced by the sun during the day) I did a total of NO training at the weekend, which really wasn't very clever!

I cycle at least 5 miles every day going to and from work, and did 10miles yesterday - going to see the lovely Richard McMinn - my chiropractor, who I wanted to kiss after he fixed my shoulder (meaning I got my first good night's sleep in ages!)

Found out that Meridian TV don't have space to cover the ride, which is a real shame, as I though it was a dead cert, but never mind - their loss...

Very sad to find out on the weekend that Tash won't be able to come on the ride with us :o( - she took medical advice having had lots of problems with her hip and we're all very sad to see her go. Jumping straight in to take her place is Mr Andy Marshall - who is probably fitter than the rest of us put together and also has 'the knowledge' in terms of what we're going to need to eat and drink to keep ourselves going!

As you may have gathered - we're not the sportiest bunch of people on the planet, oh no, not in any way - we are all however enthusiastic and optimistic and I am sure that will power and mutual encouragement will see us through. Realistically, it is our energy levels that will make it or break it - which means making sure that we're ingesting enough calories, regularly enough to keep us at our pedals.

Bex and Tash have done some research on this, and I've been doing some reading myself; as well as talking to professional sports people and there really is nothing to stop us as long as we're sensible! Hip hip Hooray!

On a different note - been reading several stories about cyclists in the local rag and on the BBC website - was very interested to hear that it is perfectly legal for cyclists to ride side by side (in twos that is - not taking up the whole road!). A cyclist recently got sent to prison for colliding with a pedestrian while cycling on a pavement, which also involved his driving licence being suspended - I knew that this was possible, but had never heard an instance of it.

I really hate it when other cyclists cycle irresponsably - I'm no angel...I've been known to skip the odd red light - although in fairness, not without having a thorough check first and I HAVE (shock horror) cycled down the pavement, although, again, not when there are lots of pedestrians about...I got stopped by a police officer for doing this once - I wish they'd patrol the cycle lanes and stop pedestrians wandering aimlessly in and out - it's dangerous for cyclist and pedestrian! If you really want to hear me rant about this - bring it up with me in person...

I should really get over my cycle-lane-rage before we start this trip!!

Busy week!

24 days to go...so much done, so much to do!

Yesterday we had our first 'photo-call' for the local Argus newspaper, which will hopefully be published over the weekend.

Our website has gone live and donations are rolling in via the paypal account, which is wonderful - thank you so much to everyone who has donated so far!! If you haven't taken a look yet, check out: www.thebigpush.co.uk

I had to mend my bike with sandwhich tags as the front mud-guard was hanging loose...hoping this is just because it was old, and not because someone tried to knick it from outside my flat...hmmmm - Think it's a sign to get that new bike I've been dreaming of and with some early birthday gifts from my family, boss and lovely boyfriend I should have some new wheels next week! Hooray!

Sustrans (the sustainable transport charity) have continued to be very helpful providing information on routing, via their website and helpline number - if I manage to grab a minute to call their regional managers and wardens I'm sure it will be even more valuable!!

We've had a whisper of some interest from Meridian TV about doing a piece, so fingers crossed on that, and we're all lined up for some more local press over the next few weeks!

The Hop Poles on Middle Street have very kindly agreed to sponsor our t-shirts, so I'm now (not so) patiently awaiting their arrival so they can go off for printing.

Need to get some serious training in this weekend, as I'm away the two weekends after, and then it is the weekend before Push Off!

Push it real good....x

Countdown! 28days, 22hours, 4minutes (approx)

Wow...I can't believe that it is now less than a month until 'Push Off' !

There is still so much to do!

Need to follow up with a friend who has offered to help with getting the press involved in Brighton, and hopefully we'll have the t-shirts done this week.

The idea is that money from t-shirt sales will be put towards helping us actually GET there - i.e: food and possible camping fees for the riders.

As long as there is space in the support van - we will also be taking musical instruments so that we (I say 'we'- I'm probably the least musical of the whole crew) can busk...literally 'sing for our supper' on route!

Not all of us are lucky enough to have jobs with holiday pay and the like, so we need to make sure that all the riders can get there in the first place, or there won't be much sponsorship going on at all!

Sam, Ollie and I did a good ride on Saturday - to Devil's Dyke in the pouring rain! Good endurance training! 5miles up hill, was not as hard as I thought, although we certainly weren't going at any speed. Sam had some problems with his gears, which certainly slowed us down and we got to the top in about 40minutes.

Now we need to know how fast Oscar can go on the same terrain!!