The Photo Shoot

I didn't do much riding over the weekend. I decided that my garden needed doing so I settled down for some easy, relaxing toiling of the soil and planting 'new life'......I was bloody knackered when I'd finished. Whoever said that gardening was easy was either super fit or lying. I think it was probably all that bending...oh hey madam, it's like a Carry On sketch. I must admit my garden looks better and hopefully everything will grow, which is the obvious intention.
The weather these last few days has been horrendous for cycling, I nearly got blown off on Monday, Oh hey I'm at it again....sorry can't help it I was brought up watching Frankie Howard and the Carry On team...Oh hey titter ye not. I feel really guilty that I haven't been out riding but hopefully the weather should settle over the next few days and I will be out again.
The Warrington Guardian came to work to do a photo shoot of me in my cycle gear. The photographer was being all creative and he asked me to sit next to my bike as it was lying on the grass. It felt slightly pornographic to me but he's the expert and it turned out really well, I hope, we'll wait until Thursday when the paper is on sale.
Some of my students had watched the event and asked me what it was about. I told them it was a photo shoot for the centre page of Lycra Weekly, a fetish magazine on sale in all reputable adult shops. Although I don't think they really believed me, they weren't a hundred percent sure.
I've posted a video of the photo shoot for your viewing.

Lovely day

I've been riding over the last couple of days and it's been fantastic. Today was particularly beautiful. The English countryside in spring is a sight to behold...I know I'm going on a bit and sounding all poetic, but you can't get away from the fact there is nowhere is the world to compare with an English Spring Day.
I went to see my bother in his hairdressing salon yesterday. A very nice lady came in for a hair cut and we got talking. It doesn't take me much, I will talk to anyone. Her son had ridden around America for three months a couple of years ago. He said he met some fantastic people, especially a group of Hells Angels, who he beat in an arm wrestling contest. That is something I wouldn't do.....I'd let them win...not that I would have any choice. My youngest son, Thomas used to beat me when he was about fifteen, he's always been a strong lad. Daniel, my son who is in the army passed his course on Friday and is hopefully on the way home this weekend on leave. It's a night out for the O'Brien boys....and their dad.I tend to embarrass them, but that's what parents are for don't you think? It's always a bad sign when I dance. Whenever I go out I promise myself that I won't dance but always end up doing so...maybe I'm just a rhythmic animal...or pissed.
I booked the final flight of my journey today, from New York to Malaga via Dublin.It was cheaper to book from America than England, which always annoys me. Why is it we always seem to get ripped off in this country?...anyway it's sorted. I can put my cycle through as luggage. I was a little worried about not being able to get it on the plane, but I'm happy now it's done.
I was chatting with one of my work colleagues today and he will be in New York with his partner on the 29th July, the same time as I am.They have agreed to be my welcoming committee in New York, which is great. It will be nice to see a familiar face after four weeks of cycling.
I am off to see a film tonight at the Lowery in Manchester. It's about two soldiers who have difficulty getting into a pub whilst on leave. My son experienced something similar once in Warrington on a night out. I was fuming, he was about to go on tour to Iraq and we couldn't get in the pub for a drink. It's a big problem and should be sorted. I can't understand why a military ID is not proof of identity in a pub...it's a mad world we live in. Anyway I'm going to speak to the writer/directer of the film to see if I can get any publicity for my ride....do you think that is mercenary? It is in support of a charity close to both our hearts so I don't feel too guilty.

Did eighty miles, not quite the hundred....but close.

I went for a nice ride on Sunday. The weather was lovely, the daffodils in full bloom, the birds singing in the sky.....and me knackered on my bike. Actually it wasn't that bad. In fact I felt really comfortable. My bum was a little sore but apart from that it was fine. I fell off again, twice in a couple of days. This time I fell onto pavement so it hurt a little more than the first time but it was as embarrassing. I was crossing the road via a cycle path on the East Lancs. One guy gave me the nod to cross but the guy in the car next to him, who was not young, sped off as I was about to cross the road....down I went like a sack of spuds....he wasn't a gentleman at all, and I told him so...as you can imagine.
I couldn't believe how many other cyclists were on the road on Sunday, there were hundreds. I was overtaken quite a few times by guys on really nifty road bikes...and an elderly woman with a full shopping basket on the front of her handle bars. I told you I was slow.
It was a good day out. The riverside at Chester is great. I noticed that the guys who run the pleasure cruises up the river have wear captains uniforms. Does that mean then can marry me.....not me in particular but you know what I mean.
I had a cheese burger and a can of coke for my dinner, hardly healthy but filling. I am going to have to get used to eating and drinking more regularly. I tend to wait until I am thirsty or hungry before I have something...apparently not the thing to do. I've been reading a few articles in a bike magazine I was given. It advised me not to do my expected total daily distance on my practice runs. I intend to do between forty and fifty miles a day from now on. There will be some days when I won't be able to do that.....work commitments etc but I am going to try.
As I have already said it will be as much psychological as it is psychical. I have noticed I am a lot stronger on the way back than I am when I am cycling away from home. Perhaps I was a homing pigeon in a previous life, or just a home bird at heart.
We're having a meeting on Wednesday to reassess our strategy...it means pizza, beer and chatting about how we move the project forward. I get the feeling that it is going a little flat...but it will be sorted.

I finally fell off

I went for my usual early ride, which was fantastic this morning. The weather was great, for a change. I was cycling merrily along the road when I received a phone call on my mobile. By the time I had stopped (What a good law abiding citizen I am)I had missed the call. I knew it was from my eldest son, who is about to go on exercise and I won't be able to speak to him for a week. Perhaps it was telepathy or I'm like many parents...I just knew. It was him and I missed it. I was concentrating so much on trying to get my phone out of my pocket I failed to realise that I had my new cleats on the soles of cycling shoes.....It was too late I started to fall sidewards, which I did with he grace of a tortured water buffalo in labour. I was so embarrassed, it was more embarrassing as I tried to get up, still attached to my peddles. In the end I just lay there laughing, which probably was the best policy. There must be loads of motorists who went into work today saying....I say a stupid cyclist falling on his ar*e and laughing about it. Well it was me. Wayne O'Brien at thecharityride.com get used to it. That type of thing happens to me all the time. I did eventually speak to my son before he went on exercise and he's feeling great...really up for it..well done son I'm so proud of you.
I am going to the student union bar tonight to shave someone's head, for Red Nose Day. I used to be a hairdresser as you know...I can feel myself becoming all camp again....again...it never left me.
I'm going to try and do a long ride this weekend. It is supposed to be nice on Sunday so I'm trying for the hundred...we'll see. I will let you know.

Met a guy from Spain

I went for my 20+ mile ride this morning and felt great. It was a beautiful morning and my cleats were fantastic, cheers Dave from the Bike Factory. I'm going down there next week with a camera crew to film him putting some stuff on my bike. It should be interesting, although I do feel a bit funny about getting something for free. I know it's what sponsorship is about, but you know what I mean, it's never happened to me before. When I was given my shoes, I just left the shop. It seemed funny not going to the till. I half expected someone to chase me shouting "I know where you live". Oh happy times scrumping for apples in my youth.
I went to Peninsula Barracks to see about the arrangements for when I come back home on my bike. They were fantastic, they will organise a 'home coming' in the barracks, although security will have to be tighter than usual because of the recent events in Ireland. Peninsula Barracks is a fascinating place with a proud and honourable history. My uncle Ken was in the South Lancs in 1946.There were based at Peninsula Barracks. There were photos on the wall taken about that time. It was really interesting to see what he would have seen all those years ago.
As I was leaving the barracks I bumped into a guy who used to come in my hairdressing salon (That's another story) many years ago. I asked him had he been on holiday (It's a hairdressing joke). There was a guy in the car with him and I was telling them both about my charity cycle ride. The other guy, who I had never met before turned out to have a home in Spain and has invited me to stay when I am riding through that country. It's amazing how friendly people can be. He was really interesting to talk to and I suppose that is what attracted me to this particular adventure. I expect, well at least hope that I am going to meet some incredible people on my travels.
I'm off to visit my uncle Ken, who is in hospital at the moment. Later on I'm going to do another cycle ride, probably about the same distance as this morning. I don't mind cycling at night, the roads are less busy and I have lights. I just need to build up the mileage. Train hard, fight easy so the saying goes....not that I am going to do any fighting, well at least I hope not.

A practice ride

The students at the Warrington Campus were doing a charity ride from the Chester Campus back to the Warrington Campus. I decided to tag along, I thought it would be good practice. It was the first really long ride on my new bike. It was really windy on the way to Chester, which made it a lot harder, but at least the ride back was relatively easy. Andy Nixon, my colleague from the Warrington Campus came along and I was glad of the company. We had to be at the Chester Campus for 9.30am. Some students had very kindly offered to film the event, which was interesting for them and us. It felt really odd being in front of rather than behind the camera. When I get nervous I giggle, I know it's immature but nah nanana nah.
We did a short interview at the beginning of the ride, then a couple of others a little later on. I have definitely got a face for radio. There is one sequence when I am waiting to be interviewed and I am chewing a chocolate bar....I look like a camel chewing grass. I am never going to eat in public again. I've not put that shot in the video for the website...but I could be persuaded, just to give you a laugh...or make you sick. We were both knackered but Andy still managed to look cool, how does he do it? Maybe it's the shades, when I wear them I look like a hit man from Mothercare.
Halfway home we stopped at a public toilet, which was a clean modern building and looked highly respectable. Andy was looking after the bikes while I went into the loo first.It was more crowded than some of the pubs I've been in on a Sunday afternoon. Perhaps they had a special offer on....two for a penny. It was like a George Michael Video. I felt very vulnerable, stood there dressed in Lycra mid wee, which never seemed to end. Andy went in talking loudly about his wife and child....just so that the message was clear.
We continued on our merry way....sorry, we rode off in the rain relieved in more ways than one and managed to finish the ride about an hour later. I felt really good after about four hours riding, which is a good sign. If the weather had been better I could have easily done the ride again, which would have matched my expected daily riding distance once I start the journey in America. I understand that it will be a daily routine, which will be hard, but I am expecting that. I know it will be a psychological as well a psychical test of character.
My eldest son who is in the army is on a promotion course at the moment. I know that he is being 'beasted' constantly. He can put up with the pain, it's the will to continue that is hard. I have discussed it with him at length and he has prepared for it, but it is only when you are at that level of exhaustion that you can decide if you have the will to carry on. He has done so far and I am very proud of him. I will obviously reach that stage at some point. He will be my inspiration and I can only hope that I can mirror his achievement......only time will tell.....and you will be there to see it, whatever happens.

Video Killed The Radio Star (An old song)

I got up really early this morning so that I could cycle into Liverpool for my interview with City Talk FM at 7.30am. I put the alarm on really early then stayed awake all night wondering if it was going to go off, I'm knackered now. My alarm is really loud, it sounds a bit like a prison siren when someone is trying to escape. I half expect searchlights to appear on the outside of my house, but it never happens, perhaps they catch them before I'm fully awake. The ride into Liverpool was fun, a little cold this morning but I soon warmed up. I thought that the buses in Warrington were anti-cyclist but the buses in Liverpool take some beating. One came that close to me I thought I might have to pay the fare.
The City Tower is amazing and really high, apparently it used to be a revolving restaurant. I'm amazed how people kept their food down, maybe it was a sixties thing. Now it is the home of City FM. I don't suppose that they get many interviews with people suffering from vertigo, but the view is brilliant. The presenter on the show was Kim Hughes, who used to be a presenter on Granada TV. She was really nice and made me feel comfortable. After the initial nerves had died down I was ok.... I thought I was but you may beg to differ. I admit I do sound as camp as a row of tents. It's funny how we all hate to hear ourselves on tape, I agree completely. In the past I have been told that I have a face for radio now I know that I have a voice for newspapers, but I'm not worried now I have my new bike. I can cycle my insecurities away.
I was going to ride to the Bike Factory in Chester today to collect my shoes, but they have not arrived yet and now it will probably be Monday when I pick them up. I was hoping to built up my mileage with a trip to Chester and back, I did forty two miles this morning and really enjoyed it. I will probably do another twenty tonight, although I do want to visit my uncle Ken in hospital. He's gone in for a couple of days but should be out after the weekend.
I'm looking forward to the student charity ride on Sunday. I'm getting some student volunteers to film the event so we should have some good footage early next week.
I've got my gear on ( think what you may) and I'm ready to cog on (you need to be a Warringtonian to know what that means) so I'm off.

Got my new bicycle

I went to to pick up my new bike today. I travelled down to Chester on the university mini bus and couldn't wait to get there. I kept asking the driver "are we nearly there yet" like the big kid I am. The shop, the Bike Factory is being refurbished at the moment but it is an impressive shop, large with loads of fantastic gear. I felt like a kid in a toffee shop. Dave, the owner and the staff were fantastic and couldn't do enough to help me. They set the bike up for my size and offered to give me some great accessories, panniers and racks, shoes, with cleates, which will be difficult to get used to but they will be really helpful on my ride.I'm going back to the shop over the weekend to collect my shoes, they didn't have my size in the shop and in a couple of weeks I'm having the front and rear paniers fitted.
The bike is fantastic, British racing car green, I know the colour does not really matter but it looks great, thanks once again Dawes Cycles. I suppose it's a guy thing, or maybe its a girl thing and I'm in touch with my feminine side? The ride back from Chester to Warrington was fun, although I need to get used to the bike. I've been riding a mountain bike for the last few years and riding a tourer is different, but I'm sure I will get used to it very quickly. It began to snow as I rode through Frodsham and all I could think about was the fact that my bike was getting wet, I'm becoming a sentimental old git, but what's the harm? I can't belive that I've finally got the bike that I am going to ride over six thousand miles on. It will be my constant companion for the next six months. I might be really cheesy and give it a name....any suggestions?
I'm being interviewed on City Talk FM on Friday Morning at 7.45am. It's live so I will have to watch my language. I might even use my telephone voice. I'll probably start off with good intentions then slip into my Orford accent, not that there is anything wrong with that, you will listen won't yo!
I'm cycling into Liverpool in the morning but have to get back to university for some editing workshops. I should have plenty of time and it will keep me fit.
The students union at the university are doing a charity bike ride from the Chester Campus to the Warrington Campus on Sunday so I've been invited to take part. I will cycle to Chester then cycle back with the rest of them, it should be fun and it will be a fifty mile round trip, good training. Andy, the technician at work may come along, it will be the 'Lycra Lads' once again, great stuff.
I've included some pictures, as you can see I can get rather giddy when I get excited.