Day ten... the very last day!

The night before the big finale... the core team all went for one last meal together at a lovely Thai restaurant in the centre of Bath.  Just before going off to bed, we all sat down in the hotel bar deliberating over whether we should introduce a shorter route of 55 miles.  The reasoning behind this was to ensure that the core team and day riders would all arrive in time for the big 3pm welcome party (well this didn't work but I'll come onto that).  Shortly after arranging the new route we all headed off to bed ready for the last day where we would be joined by a further 30 day riders.

The last day had arrived.  We enjoyed our last breakfast together joined by a few guests including Gary Shaughnessy.  The sun was shining through the windows, the wind was fairly light and 30 day riders were waiting outside to join us.  With only 75 miles to go, the feeling in the camp was good!

Just prior to setting off, a riders briefing occurred where Kim went through the do's and don'ts, the routes for the day and where the breaks would be.

So, here we go then - 4 teams set off:-  75 mile fast group, 75 mile intermediate group, 75 mile social group and the new 55 mile group.

Within the first 2 miles of leaving Bath it became apparent that this would not be an easy 55 / 75 miles.  Bath Love a hill - blimey!!! The weather was lush, all groups sticking together and making good time.  

After a quick lunch stop we set off again at 1.20pm so it was going to make it tight to finish by 3pm. 

The ride was tougher for some than anticipated, so all riders and support vehicles were finally in Swindon by 4.30pm.... the main thing is that everyone was safe and accounted for.

A fantastic welcome awaited our arrival with music playing, people clapping, food ready to be devoured, charity partners and family in the crowds and bucks fizz ready.  After a short medal ceremony, spraying of the champagne and possibly the best ice cream ive ever eaten this would finally mark the end of another amazing BC&IT challenge.

After spending 10 days riding 1040 miles, 73 hours in the saddle, 18000 feet climbed, wind, rain and lots of sun cream, I can safely say that this been the toughest challenge the team have encountered since the inception of our challenges.  However, this was counteracted by spending time with an amazing support crew, 21 core team members, my lovely wife and 50 odd day riders. 

We currently stand at £93,500 and are on course to raise the target of £100,000.  To everyone - thank you so much for taking part as a core or day rider, following us around the country on twitter and Z-Net or donating.  You truly are making a massive difference to people less fortunate than ourselves!

Thanks for reading! - Time for a rest and to start the thinking / planning for next year.

Jason (Foyle)

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Day number 8...Charlie reveals all on 'chaingate'!

I guess I'm a lucky one as today was a short day, so I'm guessing not a lot can happen in a 56 mile day? Well yeah that's right actually! Had a lovely 'lie in' until 7.45 Saturday morning, and we set off just after 9.

The day would have been smooth except that half way into the route in the middle of a hill Andre changed up a gear too many and mangled his bike chain! After 45 minutes of Steve trying to pry out his chain from between the cassette and the wheel (NOT where a chain is supposed to be) we had success and were able to carry on - not before Steve had cleaned his now black hands from Andre's legendary filthy chain!

Cycling 5 miles round the bull ring in Brun took over an hour and brought back memories of London last year when it took us 2 hours to do 12 miles! Turns out Birmingham people don't like cyclists pretty much the same as all other city dwellers, shouting at cyclists is practically a sport it seems.

When we finally turned up at the hotel, we traipsed through in our grubby, smelly cycling kit straight into a wedding reception on its way out for photos... awkward. It was tempting to help ourselves to some free wine but there were too many staff around who would notice!

Yesterday was a tough and looong day which I am glad to be rid of, we've had some beautiful scenery over the last week thanks to Steve's great routes!

Hoping the last 175 miles are not too hilly (mentally and physically scarred from Kirkstone pass) and kind on my bum! Really looking forward to the end now :)

Charlie

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David dishes the 'dirt' on day seven!

Day 7, my final day.... well morning.  The weather was looking positive, only a mild headwind and no rain on the horizon.  This morning was full of mixed emotions, excited as at Liverpool I would see my family, but then a bit sad as I would be leaving a great bunch of new friends behind.

We started in Blackpool and I forgot to fill my bottles so had to play catch up to get to the Tower, in typical challenge attitude, no man gets left behind and, Jason waited to ride me back to the group. What an example to set to my two colleagues from TCS Claims who joined us as day riders.  Once at the Tower it was photo time before we set out to Liverpool, it was at this point we all split into our usual groups.  Throughout my 6 days so far I have cycled with the intermediate group and day 7 would be no different.  On leaving Blackpool we met with a Peugeot 107 driver who clearly had a complex that our peloton of bike was probably worth at least 5 times the value of his car.  The driver and his chums were less than polite and at several points were waving their arms around like angry apes in the jungle.  After we left them behind the pace was good and I was starting to think that Flacky had been ill whilst working out today's route, all real roads so far and we were about 30 miles in.

This soon changed and our road bikes started to weep as we went off road to terrain more suited to a monster truck. Lovely views and a great laugh but as we had come to realise over many of our days, our British cycle routes are in need of some real TLC.

Other than the 107, the bumpy route into the outskirts of Liverpool, John and Charlie having punctures, Wattsy's bike falling apart, and Jamie missing his bottle cage so dropping the bottle whilst riding along, our morning was event free. Just some good cycling, some chatting and laughs along the way.

Into Liverpool and onto the Echo Wheel. Here we were met with cheers from my family before I said my goodbyes, good lucks and grabbed my luggage.  Off the the guys went to get lunch and for me it was back to normality, no more sore arse (well the pain will ease) and no more lycra for a few days.

Thanks to everyone on the challenge, I have made some great friends and I really do hope that another is thought of for next year. I would definitely come back and tell others to join me.

From Endsleigh's only core rider, goodbye for now and good luck to the rest of the team for the final days.

Oh and I am gutted as I didn't see Noodles fall just before lunch, he is a falling legend!

Bye
David (Haigh)

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9 days, and over 900 miles done, only 1 day left!

We've done 9 days of the ride now, and over 900 miles.  Today was the 8th hundred mile ride in 9 days, and as we came through the Cotswolds, we had to ride some of the hills.  But this is home for me, and the knowledge that I could be home in a car in 20 minutes, or less than an hour's ride didn't distract too much from the beautiful views!  I seemed to get a bit more strength from actually knowing where I was, and what was coming, which definitely helped!

By the end of the day's riding, my brakes have worn so much that they weren't gripping the wheels even when squeezing the levers as hard as possible.  I've managed to tighten them up so I should survive the final day tomorrow.  I never thought I'd say it, but it is going to be so nice to get into Swindon tomorrow and the Tricentres will never look so good!

We were very lucky with the weather today, and had a really good run from Birmingham down to Cheltenham.  The fast group just saw the others pull away from Cheltenham racecourse as we arrived and had to stop for our obligatory 'landmark' photo.  We all but caught them again on the Shurdington Road but were stuck behind the queue of traffic behind them!  As we went round the corner into Endsleigh I nearly had my head taken off by the barrier as the guy wasn't expecting us to appear as well!  Fortunately it was quickly lifted for the rest of the group and we all had a fantastic welcome at Endsleigh and a great barbecue. 

This afternoon the hills really started up to Painswick to Stroud and then out of Nailsworth, but the final 10 miles were along the Bath-Bristol Railway path and we had a race with a steam train! 

At the Roman Baths we took our fast group picture and got another comedy one with someone who didn't make it!:

I want to give a shout out to the support team who have been immense for the whole challenge - keeping us topped up with food and drink, helping out with mechanical issues (we haven't had too many in the fast group, but the other groups have had quite a few!), and making sure our bags make it to the end place and everything is sorted out ready for us to arrive.  Yesterday we caught up with Ita and Sophie at Stafford Castle - thanks guys for all your efforsts!:

Tomorrow evening we'll finally have finished the challenge, and ridden 1000 miles - if you're in Swindon, then it will be great to see you when we arrive at 3pm.  Thanks to everyone out there for the support you've given me and all the other riders - I can speak for everyone when I say it really means a lot and has kept us going!  Lots of day riders are joining us tomorrow morning for the ride to Swindon via Stonehenge so there will be big crowds of us on the road, which should make the final day pretty special…

francis

Hills hills and more hills

Hills, hills and more hills

Today we travelled from Stockton on tees to Carlisle a mere 99 miles. Elevation is not something I've ever been concerned about but today's hills made it feel like we on are way to Olympus. The rigors this puts on your body and bike is immerse, my pedals gave away after so much pushing and everyone thighs were burning with the non stop climbing. We did get to pass Hadrian's wall which led me to admire the construction I can't imagine how much effort it would have taken to build, it's not a job I would apply for, I never even want to see those hills again.

On our lunch break we were reminded of the generosity of people donating to the Zurich Community Trust as two elderly gentlemen enquired what we were doing and dug deep into their pockets, a great reminder of why we are going through this pain and the difference it will make.

Tomorrow is going to be hard with yes.... more hills! ...but with everyone's support we will get through it.

John Connell

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Day 5 complete with 98.38 miles going up and down hills. Hit 40.3 mph going down hill, so glad I brought  a spare set of brake pads! Today was awful with relentless winds against you all the way to the hotel completing 5982ft of climbing!

Today was full events. The day didn't start well for Jason, he had a puncture over night. Secondly, we saw plenty on animals on the road from sheep, a chicken and a rabbit. 'Why did the chicken cross the road? To crash into cyclists'. A chicken almost crashed into a group when going downhill. Luckily it was fine. Thirdly, Andre Morrison's vintage bike had a puncture going down hill with a massive BANG! It took over an hour to get equipment and spares from the support van.! Overall the whole cycle ride was exhausting and we all need a rest.

Tomorrow will consist of more climbing than today! It's going to be painful!

Eric Kwok

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More than planned in store for our riders on day four!

So today saw us set off from Sheffield towards Stockton on Tees! A very early start, with everyone eating hearty breakfasts at 630am! Most people with puffy eyes and mixed emotions! But Jason got us all ready and we set off in high spirits at 7 for our 111mile ride!

I was in the middle group, but we all set out together as we tried to follow the sun, or at least blue skies!(Day was predicted for grey clouds and storms)

However what was suppose to be a normal route turned out to be more like off roading! Our adventures took us through farm lands, a forest that had very wet cobbled stones, dirt tracks with loads of pot holes, over a fence  and all the time it was raining!!(Funny funny)

We also had to make a few detours as we could not ride down some of the roads which meant we ended up doing 119miles! But hey, we did it, all in the name of charity/ZCT!

My group was awesome, as everyone was getting really tired towards the end and just wanted their beds and a warm shower,but we kept each other going! It was tough!

The best thing at the end of such a long day, was seeing everyone again around the table smiling, knowing we had just done over 400 miles and we still enthusiastic to get the next few days done!
Bring it on! And keep sponsoring!

Thank you kim! X

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