LEJOG solo with Steve L

I want to thank my family for their patience during this last few months as everything has been about planning this bike ride. Especially my wife who has taken the massive task of contacting and recontacting the various churches, youth hostels and bed and breakfast that I am meeting with and staying at. I almost (but not quite) think that the bike ride will be the easier bit!

I was just thinking that I should maybe introduce you to the creator of all my pains and the deliverer of my body from end to end of this our sceptred isle, mainland Britain! After much deliberation, that is what I do when I have to spend any money at all! I invested a well timed company bonus into upgrading my daily conveyance to work, my bicycle, for this beautiful contraption. Designed in California USA, made in Taiwan or somewhere and bought by me in Southampton England! Reading other accounts of peoples experience travelling from Lands End to John O'Groats I hit upon the idea of using a mountain bike. In the first place because that is what I already owned and second because one person anyway had done the same thing and been very pleased to have so many gears to use, and indeed used them all! Then I discovered a style of mountain bike called a '29er', for the very simple reason that it has 29" inch diameter wheels. Slightly bigger than a road racing bike wheel ...

Only a few weeks ago some people I was meeting with told me that I should try to get myself on the radio to promote my ride and the Teenage Cancer Trust charity that I am raising money for. As much as I liked the idea, I do not really think of myself as someone that talks to an audience of people across the airwaves. That is a job for others, not a mere mortal such as I! Not so true! My Vicar, Mark called only a day or two after that chat and low and behold passed a message to Carri that he had planned a chat wih Keith the station director for the two of us. And that this would be about my bike ride and that he would sit in the back ground and chip in if needed. Keith cleverly put us at our ease and then proceeded with the interview as though we were just chatting over the kitchen table. Twenty minutes flew by and it was all over, as easy as that! I havn't had the courage to listen to it myself yet, so maybe you can let me know how it sounds when you see me next? Here is the interv...

My aim is to cycle about 60 to 70 miles a day and then to meet up with a local church in the town or village that is my destination for that day. Having worked as a volunteer on our youth project for the last ten years I thought it would be a brilliant opportunity to meet people outside of my usual circle of aquaintance and find out what they are doing with the youth in their area. Dare I say to keep them off the streets! But what I actually mean from my point of view anyway is to let them know that someone actually cares that they have somewhere safe to go to meet up with their friends for a good laugh and some socialising. Whilst my route is planned and I have canvassed the churches in those towns or villages I have been surprised at how few have felt able to respond with a yes to my request for a chat about what they do, with the comment that they do not really have any young people in their area and that they do not have any youthwork of that kind going on. I must say that I though...

I have wanted to attempt to cycle from Lands end to John O'Goats for several years and this is the year to finally give it a go. Since going public with my intention I have been quite overwhelmed by the generocity of some of the people around me, little but significant things! A suspension saddle post, loaned for the support of the more significant thing in my life. And the focus of many jokes so far! Special handle bar extension bars to allow me to almost lie down on the job when my arms get tired! Actually called Aero-bars they have taken me a while to get used to but now give me a great tucked in possition when I am carreening almost uncontrollably down any hill that presents itself, usually after a very hard and slow ride up the other side! My friend Dave who paid for my new transmission set when I discovered that the original chain and cogs were all worn out. Thanks Dave. My parents who are going on holiday to Cornwall and have shuffled their itinerary round to suit dropping m...