Juneathon. Day 21. Not half as bad as expected

Day 21 was an early wake up once again in order to see what damage yesterday's bike ride to Brighton had done to my legs. Well I'm delighted to report that apart from some tightness in the calves (helped by sleeping in some compression socks last night), it was fine. It wasn't quick and it's never pretty but it's done.

Back to yesterday's enjoyable bike ride to Brighton, here's a quick report.

My lovely LG kindly dropped myself, eatingtrees and lots of bits of bikes in a side street in Balham and after putting everything back together, we headed off to Clapham Common for the start. The organisation seemed really good and everything was made VERY easy which must be a tough thing to do with 30000 people on bikes to deal with. The first hour, only 8 miles was covered with all the stop starting but that's to be expected and as long as you're there for a bike ride and not a race, you just expect it and accept it. There's lots of good banter with the police and marshalls too so it doesn't even get frustrating.

There's a few hills one of which is called 'How Lane' which could be cycled up but as they're narrow, eventually someone will walk and then it becomes the equivilent of people braking on the M25. After a few minutes, everyone's walking. A quick toilet break was had around 9 miles but after that, I was determined to get past the half way point before having a break and despite complaints from my backside (and the same complaints coming from eatingtrees) we stopped at 29 and a half miles for flapjacks, peanuts, wine gums and plenty more fluids.

Back on the road and it was Turners Hill that caused the next delay. As everyone seems to stop for a break, it's not even walking pace. It's like trying to get onto the central line during rush hour. Once past that though, it was plain sailing (or cycling) until a couple of miles from The Beacon and just 50 yards from the front, everyone was stopped due to an emergency on the Beacon itself. We were held there for over 50 mins and it turns out that a guy unfortunately collapsed on the way up and subsequentially died. My thoughts are with his family.

The police and marshalls were again really fantastic and helpful and the crowd of bikes (which at this point must have stretched back at least a mile) were then released in batches to ease congestion both up and down the Beacon.

The up is tough. Lots of short, sharp hills that don't flattern out at all. I made it up around a quarter of the way on the single speed beast before I lost momentum by having to go round a few people and that was it. I was walking from then on. I'd like to try it on a geared bike one year as I reckon I could make it!

The other side of Ditchling is a speed freak's dream and after leaving eatingtrees at the top (due to his restricted speed legs) I just free wheeled for fun. Then I scared myself and had to apply the brakes. Checking after, I managed 39.8mph!!! The ride into Brighton was great with all the cheering crouds and we were even serenaded by a guy miming the words to we are the champions, with Queen playing loudly out of the windows of his flat while we waited at the lights.

Onto the sea front and it was completed and great to meet up with LG and LG's Lovely Parents. I wasn't too tired and my legs felt OK but I decided against the run with eatingtrees due to my ability to be sane and not slightly demented.

Again thanks go to a 7 month pregnant LG for driving down to Brighton to take us back so we didn't have to deal with the coach and lorry situation!

June 1st: RUN 5.95km (31:48)
June 2nd: RUN 4.46km (22:31)
June 3rd: BIKE 11.31km (??:??)
June 4th: RUN 5.14km (26:05)
June 5th: BIKE 8.61km (??:??)
June 6th: RUN 5.14km (26:15)
June 7th: RUN 5.14km (25:02)
June 8th: RUN 5.14km (28:33)
June 9th: BIKE 21.65km (approx 53 mins)
June 10th: RUN 2.83km (15:16)
June 11th: RUN 5.14km (25:48)
June 12th: BIKE 24:85km (approx 1:10) 
June 13th: RUN 5.14km (25:56)
June 14th: RUN 5.14km (26:00)
June 15th: RUN 5.14km (25:33) 
June 16th: BIKE 18.58km (45 mins ish)
June 17th: RUN 5.14km (26:23) 
June 18th: RUN 5.14km (26:01) 
June 19th: RUN 5.14km (25:23)
June 20th: BIKE 87.44km (a long, long time) 
June 21st: RUN 5.14km (26:50)