It's a long ride...

[Croxden]

I met in Rochester this morning, a lone cyclist who told me he had started out last night from London and is going to Glasgow with a stop over in Manchester tonight.



It seemed his grandfather cycled down from Glasgow looking for work during the depression and he is making a return journey raising money for the Air Ambulance.


I would have volunteered to go with him but I only had 30 miles worth left in the battery. He was doing a fair lick, made me seem a right old weakling. When someone can do this it is understandable when some look down on us, given a road crew with a supply of batteries I would never attempt such a thing.


I could only wish him well on his journey.

 

[103Alex1]

Something has to 'click' to turn on the determination to push boundaries like that. I think when we have things (relatively) easy or don't have very strong feelings to support a cause it's easy to miss out on the 'trigger' which drives these feats of endurance. Some people feel the need to do it others can't 'get there' mentally very easily.

For me, selfish as it sounds, it's all come from wanting to do stuff for myself rather than for a 'cause'. Now and again I get the urge to take on a challenge and usually see it through. But most of the time I don't feel I have anything left to prove to myself. So maybe I need to take a leaf out of this chap's book and look to others' needs for the necessary motivation. Do hate the publicity of charity fundraising though. I've always 'given' anonymously and discreetly and that's a hard habit to break.

 

[Deleted member 4366]

Hmmm!. Are you sure he wasn't having you on? Or had he accidentally typed Maidstone into his GPS instead of Manchester? I hope you turned him round and pointed him in the right direction!

 

[Artstu]

and if you want a proper challenge, I don't think anyone will ever beat it.

http://www.tommygodwin.com/

 

[Wicky]

Very humbling

and if you want a proper challenge, I don't think anyone will ever beat it.

http://www.tommygodwin.com/

 

[RobF]

I volunteered at the Barnard Castle control of the London Edinburgh London audax.

The first riders reached us about midnight, having left London at 7am - about 240 miles.

A handful stopped for only 30 minutes before pushing on to the next control on the other side of the Pennines.

Being audax, it's not a race, but the fastest guy - a Dutchman - completed the 840 miles in under 67 hours.

 

[flecc]

One of the benefits of age is the excuse "I'm too old these days". Leaves the impression that at one time I might have done it!

 

[neptune]

Sometimes when I read about the amazing feats that some cyclists perform, I feel a bit inadequate. Reminding myself that I am 69 this year does not always help because I never managed any really long journeys when i was young. However being the best is a privilege that can only ever be felt by one person on the planet at any given time.

Conversely, except for one poor wretch, you have the satisfaction of knowing that you are not the worst. You can still set yourself small challenges, and achieve them, and there is still some satisfaction in that. Cycling, whether power assisted or not, is wonderful outdoor hobby, and a pleasant way to travel.

 

[mountainsport]

I volunteered at the Barnard Castle control of the London Edinburgh London audax.

The first riders reached us about midnight, having left London at 7am - about 240 miles.

A handful stopped for only 30 minutes before pushing on to the next control on the other side of the Pennines.

Being audax, it's not a race, but the fastest guy - a Dutchman - completed the 840 miles in under 67 hours.

How do they do it? I mean their 'bums' that is. Anyway, bottoms up to them seriously.

MS.

 

[Gringo]

Well back in the 80's, on a motorcycle (XS650) I was zig-zagging my way from Northampton up to John o' Groats
At 3 different campsites in them there Scotland's, I met two brothers riding a tandem.
Going from Manchester to John o groats, they reckoned on averaging 200 miles a day, as I met them at a different location each time and knowing how far I'd gone, I believed them !
As for charity, I'm sponsoring a network of waterways for lost orphan dolphins.
I don't normally talk about it as I don't do it for personal praise.

 

[mountainsport]

Well back in the 80's, on a motorcycle (XS650) I was zig-zagging my way from Northampton up to John o' Groats
At 3 different campsites in them there Scotland's, I met two brothers riding a tandem.
Going from Manchester to John o groats, they reckoned on averaging 200 miles a day, as I met them at a different location each time and knowing how far I'd gone, I believed them !
As for charity, I'm sponsoring a network of waterways for lost orphan dolphins.
I don't normally talk about it as I don't do it for personal praise.

For personal praise or not still good on you my friend.

MS.