It’s been a while since I’ve written anything in my blog…. not much to write about really, been busy at work and I am trying to keep my head above water, like everyone else in the country…at least everyone I know.
I’m going to pick my new bicycle up on Wednesday and I can’t believe how excited I am. Obviously because of my age I’ve had quite a few things such as houses, new cars and all the gadgets you can imagine but I’m more excited about this than anything, thanks Dawes for the support.-
The best Christmas present I have ever had was a navy blue tracksuit bought for me by my mum and dad when I was about 11years old. It was bought out of the catalogue and was a few days late, but worth the wait. I vividly remember the first time I wore it, it had been snowing and we had a game of ‘levo123’ with my twin Gary, Brian Calder and Graham Allen ( still my closest fiends) it’s a game I played in my youth that doesn’t seem as popular with young people nowadays…you don’t know what you are missing. I wore it constantly for about a year, it was fantastic. I’ve got a similar feeling about this bike…we never grow up do we?
I’ve booked my flight to America and once I’d done it I had really bad butterflies in tummy…. I love that. There are times when it seems surreal, but once in awhile it ‘hits home’ what I’m going to do, but as I’ve mentioned before it's not going to be anywhere near as difficult or dangerous as it is for thousands of our men and women of the military who are stationed across the globe, or people who suffer in the numerous conflicts throughout the world.
As from Wednesday I’m going to ‘up’ the training. Everyone keeps asking me if I’m ‘super fit yet’ I don’t think so…my excuse is that I don’t want to peak too early. I suspect that is not a rational reason…but that’s the one I am sticking with. However fit I get it is going to be a psychological test rather than a physical one. I understand that I need to be in my best condition, but it’s still going to be a bugger to do…that’s where the head and the heart takes over… and that’s where I would like to thank my mum and dad (no longer with us) Thanks for the genes. I’ve taken loads of advice and spoken to experts. I’ve come up with a scientific strategy that will guarantee success… peddle like mad and don’t stop until I get home.
Speaking of difficult, my son who is in British Army passed his pilots course this week (UAV’s, drones to us. ) and is doing a cadre tomorrow. It means that he will be up for promotion. In reality he will be beasted for four weeks and will undergo things that I could only imagine…. I am so proud of him.
As the project becomes more real I will have much more to say. I want to thank you for your support and hope it will get more interesting.

Been for a ride....knackered.

I've been looking at the type of bicycle I'm getting from Dawes...I'm really excited it looks fantastic. I hope it rides as good as it looks...I'll let you know. I know it might seem a little sad that I'm getting so excited but remember that I will be riding on the machine for over two and a half months.... it’s important. I am confident that the cycle will be brilliant. The cycle company have put me on their web site, which is great. The more people who visit the site will ultimately help the cause.
I've increased the training slightly...longer rides, the gym etc. Right from the start I knew that it was going to be a difficult task and I am confident that I will complete it...I have no other choice, not that I am complaining, it will be a great adventure. There are times, usually when I'm tired when I wonder what I've taken on...but hey....'always look on the bright side of life' and I get to wear Lycra.....there's a bit of a theme here. Once I get started and on my way I will be fine, I can't wait. I’ll just keep peddling until I get home. I am not worried about being negative, there are going to be times when it is going to be harder, psychologically than others, but I expect that. I want you to know about it because ultimately we are in this together, if you like it or not.
The police have the CCTV tape of the guy who nicked my bike so with a bit of luck he will be caught……and I’m playing football for Manchester United on Saturday. I understand it’s difficult to apprehend the guy and to be honest the bike is not that brilliant…but it just ******me off that someone could walk onto campus and steal something so easily.
I’ve had a moan and I feel better for it. Perhaps I’m becoming a grumpy old man, or am I already there. ….but I am cycling quite away so give me the benefit of the doubt.

My new wbike

I had a great piece of news yesterday. Lawrence Cox from Dawes Cycles phoned me in response to an email and offered to help. They are supplying a touring bicycle and possibly other items for the ride, which is fantastic news. They said that they had watched my films and appreciated my sense of humour...glad someone does. I've spoken to a number of potential sponsors today and I am waiting to see what happens.
I want to purchase my plane tickets over the next couple of days to finalise my departure dates...then there is no turning back,not that I want to but you know what I mean.
I'm off the the bank tomorrow to open an account so that people can give money on line. I am taking a couple of letters of confirmation from the charities so that the bank doesn't think it's a scam..there seems to be loads of those at the moment. I'm going to ask them if they would like to sponsor me...we you've got to be a little cheeky haven't you. They can only say no. They might like some positive publicity, especially as banks are getting lots of stick at the moment.
I've been to visit the Royal Engineers at Peninsula Barracks in Warrington. I'm looking for a place to finish my ride and it seems ideal, especially as one of the charities is Help For Heroes. The guy I spoke to was very nice and seemed genuinely interested in what I was doing. He'd rowed across the Atlantic for charity, so he knows what its all about. It would be nice to have something to look forward to as I cycle along, we'll see what we can set up.
The nights are getting lighter so it will make the training easier, I hope. I am really looking forward to training on the the cycle that I am going to use for the ride..then I will up the training schedule.
I'll let you know how I get on.

It's snowing

I've borrowed by brothers bike so that I can keep cycling. It's quite old but a very good mountain bike, so thanks Kev. I cycled to Matty's house in Wigan on Sunday night. The snow was really bad but I quite enjoyed the ride, except I had a puncture on the was back. I was feeling a little rough so instead of putting a patch on it I just pumped it up twice and managed to get home. Thank God it was a slow puncture. The editing went really well, as always we had some footage that we didn't use. There have been some comments about my drinking in the pub with my Lycra pants on.....that was the most discrete shot we could use for that scene. The ones we didn't use looked like two ferrets trying to get out of a plastic bag...outrageous.
I spent the night being sick, I suspect that it was a 24hour bug because I feel OK now....Matty phoned me to say he was up last night being ill. It's for the cause mate.
I received a letter from the police confirming that I have reported the stolen bicycle. I don't think I will be seeing that again.I was going to have to get another bicycle anyway but it still angers me that some scumbag has it. I have bought a massive re-enforced cable lock for the bike I have now. Let them get into that if they can.....or maybe I shouldn't tempt fate.
When I get my new bicycle I am not going to let it out of my site. I certainly won't be locking it up anywhere. Where I go it goes. That's the only way to keep it safe.
I've started running again and the toe is holding up. The running is really hard though especially when you haven't done it for a while. I imagine that it will get easier the more I do.
I'm thinking of the next video, which will be about media training.It is obviously going to be a spoof and I'm already looking forward to making it. Watch this space.

The shoot...and nicking my bike.

It was a busy days filming yesterday, we had three locations, two interior and one exterior. The weather was pretty awful but it made it interesting. Ryan,Antony,Matt, Matty and myself were the the crew and it went extremely well, except for the fact that I had my bicycle stolen. I rode into work on it as usual and parked it in a designated bicycle area. Under lock and key I thought that it would be safe, especially as we have quite a few police training recruits on campus at the moment.When I came to pick up my bike at 5.00pm for the shoot it was gone. I initially thought that I had parked it somewhere else, but it eventually dawned on me that someone had stolen it. We quickly organised another bike, well done Ryan who borrowed one from his friend on campus. The campus security have the scumbag who stole the bike on CCTV and the police have been informed.I hope he spends all his life mending punctures.
The first part of the shoot was filming the football sequence, which went very well, thanks to John Boyle, Nav King and the Chester Football Team, cheers lads, you were brilliant, especially the lad who kept shouting 'naughty boy' as they chased me. You had to be there.
It was then off to the Farmers Arms, who were very accommodating. It has recently changed hands and I was impressed. The place looks great and the staff are very friendly.They even supplied us with a massive pizza, which was very tasty. We didn't ask for one, they just put it on the bar for us after we'd finished filming and it was very much appreciated as well as gorgeous.I will definitely be going back. Matt had the last slice and the first and probably the second, that lad can eat.
The final sequence was filmed in my bedroom, which initially stressed Antony. I think he wondered what he had got himself into. I explained that it was not going to be dodgy, it was just a few shots of me and my bike in bed, he went very quiet.
We had a real scream, which is part of the fun. The team were great, we had fun but it was professionally done and on time. In fact we finished 30 minutes before the schedule, well done everyone.
We are editing the footage on Sunday so there should be a film on the web Sunday night.....look out for it. There are pictures of the shoot on face book, take a look and see what went on.
I'm going to have to buy a bike next week, in the mean time I'm stepping up my running, until the arthritic big toe plays up again. It's been an interesting week, may it continue.

Had a really good day

Had a really good day today. As I have probably already said, forgive me if I repeat myself, it’s my age; forgive me if I repeat myself, it’s my age, we are filming the second cycling film for the web. Today we were doing a shoot at ASDA in the Birchwood Shopping Centre. It was an early start because I wanted to cycle up and down the shopping isles, which was obviously a health and safety issue. It would not be possible to do whilst shoppers were in the store. At 7.00am there aren’t any customers about so it makes it easier, we had to finish before 08.00 when the store opened to the public, which we did, thanks to the excellent film crew. The ASDA staff were brilliant and we managed to get a ‘volunteer’ to do some ‘acting‘ for us, despite her reservations, cheers for that.
I must be one of a few people, if any, who has cycled down the isles of ASDA in Lycra…. maybe it could be something they use in their marketing?
It nearly didn’t happen. I met the crew at the campus at 06.45, to pick up the equipment. I then had to ride to the shopping centre on my bicycle, as it was to be included in the shoot. As I was cycling along, at speed towards Birchwood I suddenly encountered a barrier, in the form of a large iron bar across the road , which I had never previously encountered. I applied my brakes with a sudden vigour that indicated the terror I was experiencing (the colour of fear is brown, and it smells) my bicycle went under the barrier and I stopped suddenly with a blow to the chest, and a dent in my dignity. It is amazing however much pain we are in we always look around to see if anyone is looking.
I aim to travel half way around the world but I can’t cycle to ASDA without nearly killing myself…. it does not bode well, which probably makes it more interesting.
We are going to finish the rest of the filming tomorrow so there should be a new film on the web by Sunday, There are photos of today’s shoot on Face book, take a look.
I went to the gym tonight with my youngest son, Thomas. I am going to sound really old and cheesy but it has to be said. I can remember when Thomas was born, which seems like yesterday…. now he is lifting heavier weights than me…what’s happening?
He is helping me to train for the ride, which is obviously important so I am grateful to him…. and I love him…I know, arhrrrrr. But it’s true.
The crew today were brilliant. Matty, Ana, and Dominic you made it fun, which is half the battle, well done….I sound like a teacher don’t I. but you know what I mean.
As I progress it is becoming interesting, which is my intention……watch this space.

The weather is rubbish

It’s been an interesting weekend. I went cycling on Sunday and did about three hours in the saddle. My bottom feels extremely un-sore, which is a good indication that I am doing the right thing. Or is my bottom getting harder?
The journey over the Runcorn Bridge was extremely cold; the wind chill factor was horrendous, I couldn’t get across fast enough. There were a couple of brave souls walking across the bridge and taking photos, good on you. I think I may have mentioned it before but I hate the wind, it always goes in the opposite direction to the one I am riding, or so it seems. However it does make for excellent training, my legs were burning by the time I’d finished my ride.
I didn’t go riding this morning because the roads were very icy. It’s scary enough with the traffic without the ice to contend with. I went for a run instead, the first time for ages. I need to do more, I was knackered. I’m just hoping that my big toe won’t play up…. arthritis and middle age, don’t go there. I need to vary my exercise regime, any ideas? Obviously the weather has not helped but I’m hoping that it will improve shortly…I’m running out of excuses not to train, only kidding…. a psychologist with beg to differ.
I went for a short ride tonight, the weather was rubbish but just felt like getting out. I was passed by a carload of idiots who found it hilarious to lean out of the car widow as they passed and tried to scare me by shouting. This is a regular occurrence for cyclists and would you believe it…. not particularly funny. I hate to be gender specific but it is always lads, normally in a small car that is always overcrowded, usually five or six morons who’s idea of a fun night out is to shout one syllable comments like hey or wow to a cyclist…. get a life.
We are filming for the next ‘spoof’ cycling video this week so it should be on the web site next week, don’t forget to have a look.