'The Lycra Lads'
Big Bike Ride 2014
Rob Page
Barry Shea
ABOUT US
After 10 years of being one of those runners that goes round and round I finally got cheesed with all of the injuries and so took to a spin bike to keep me right minded, those of you that know me best know that I require at least 4 bouts of intense exercise each week. Those that live with me know that if I do not get the requisite amount of exercise I truly am down in the mouth.
One cold winter evening whilst outside on the spin I noticed on facebook that Rob was taking part in a sportive and that got me interested. Having competed in the Dorset Road League for my running I still had the need to foment my competitive zeal so I tapped him up, the next thing I know we are talking about riding the length of the country and I did not even own a bike yet.
Once a bike was purchased it was about getting used to a less than comfy saddle, once that was achieved during the summer of 2013 I was hook line and sinker in love with cycling.
The thought of trying something so physically challenging appeals to me as I race towards 40 so why not, it also gave me the chance to catch up with an old pal. Time passes by in such a rush, it only seems like 10 years ago that we were cycling to school together; kids have arrived since then and with Poppy and Jude the same age it added further weight to what was already going to be a great experience having them along with us. More on that point below.
Now cycling the length of the country takes a time, which means annual leave which means approaching the Wife carefully when suggesting I have an idea for next year's “holiday”. It is to my favourite pescatarian’s great credit that she has been game on for this project since the start and for that and a whole load of other things I am truly thankful and lucky to call Laurie my Wife, so thanks again Mrs!
So there we have it in May of 2014 myself my family, dog included and some good friends will travel the length of this great country of ours, some in a motor home and 2 on bikes.
Wish us luck and a tail wind.
Having learnt to ride a bike aged 5 and growing up enjoying many a school summer holiday messing about all day with my friends on our BMX’s and Mountain Bikes I started to get a bit more interested in Bikes and Cycling and at the age of 14 I decided to build my own Road Bike from scratch. It was the best bike I had ever seen, and more importantly it was fast...!!
But once I hit 17 and learnt to drive my cycling took a bit of a back seat.
Fast forward about 12 years and the desire to get back on a bike had returned. So I spent the next few years taking part in vaious Charity bike rides like the London to Brighton on a slightly chunky Claud Butler Mountain bike which I still own and love today. But in 2012 I decided it was time for a bigger challenge than just a few Charity bike rides so I bought a Boardman Road Bike and I completed numerous Sportive’s and training rides in the build up to taking part in a 300mile cycle from London to Paris and I was hooked all over again.
I was then looking for a bigger challenge and the idea of cycling the full length of this entire country from Land’s End to John O Groats seemed like the ultimate cycling challenge, but who would be mad enough to do it with me? Through the power of Social Media I discovered that my old school mate Barry was quitting running and thinking of taking up cycling, a few emails and text messages later and it appeared he was indeed mad enough and it was game on..!!
Now cycling can be a fairly solitary experience sometimes which is arguably part of its appeal, but an epic adventure like this just has to be shared. So after much discussion and deliberation between Barry, myself and our better halves it was decided that this should be a family affair.
So on Sat 10th May 2014 we will set off from West Sussex and head to John O Groats, Scotland for an Epic 1000mile 10 Day bike ride all the way down to Land’s End, Cornwall with the Support Crew of the Page Family (Becky, Poppy and little baby Harry) and the Shea Family (Laurie, Jude & Max) in 2 motor homes to keep us fed and watered.
Now all we have to do is keep fit over the next few months and it’s onwards and upwards.