Stuart's Charity Bearded cycle

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		Day5 - The final push Not sure what it was today, had a good nights sleep and set off at 0650 in stunning weather and lovely countryside, I knew I had another 4000ft today so I was waiting on the killer ascents like yesterday but they never came. It's clear that the Scottish roads are of decent gradient and the Northumberland roads are built over the highest peak they could see! The hardest ascent was Carter Bar which takes you to the border and to about 1400ft above sea level but it was 3 miles long and you could easily grind away at it. All in all I felt good today and coming over the pentlands at the Edinburgh 12 miles sign you got a cracking view of Arthurs Seat and the Castle, that made me smile widely, 45 minutes later I was having a beer at the castle entrance. Some facts Nearly £3000 for Cancer Research UK (thank you) 5 days (4 and a half really) 28000 calories burnt 425 miles 43.7mph top downhill speed (great fun) 104miles most in a day No punctures!!! It's been a bit of a journey but enjoyable, anyone could do this if they are reasonably bike fit and does a bit of preparation, if you are thinking about it, I have 10 tips for you ..... 1. Don't change your saddle, your arse will hurt anyway 2. Don't believe your sat nav, take a map and check it every 2 hours 3. Don't book any accommodation other than your first night. You will soon change your philosophy from "can I make 70 miles today" to "how far can I get by 1800" and your legs will get used to it 4. Get panniers, don't use a backpack, no matter how good 5. Eat a full cooked breakfast even if you don't fancy it 6. Plan your water supply well, never let yourself run out, ever 7. Don't bother with all that additive stuff it's rubbish and expensive water is fine 8. Make sure you have enough energy food, go bars, gels are good or just Jaffa cakes are the same! Eat little and often 9. 3 pints of Guinness helps!!! 10. Sleep is your friend
		04AUG 18:55 Day 4: oh my god, there can't be that many hills in existence? From the outset leaving Darlington I started what ended as a 70 mile journey with a total climb of 5300ft and it was painful, the only good think was the long steep feisty downhills where you can get the bike over 40mph, that good fun, until the next hill 30 seconds later. 8 miles to the border, 68m to Edinburgh and more hills, hopefully I'll make it in the 5 days, barring any disasters, that's the plan, there will be some good photo opportunities tomorrow. highlights of today were the incredible scenery, the fast descents and a pub called the Bull in Risdale which was a lifesaver with soup and toasties which gave me enough energy to go the last 15 miles. If anyone is thinking about doing this, my advice is think really hard, but anything is worth doing for the benefit of others .........
		03AUG 18:31 "The 3 pints of Guiness paid off as I managed 97 miles today, so I'm 20 miles ahead of the plan having covered 280 miles, there is about 140 to go but over some significant hills so tomorrow is anyones guess. Highlights of today were getting further north (always a highlight) cycling along the ridge looking at the Yorkshire Dales on one side and the North Yorkshire Moors on the other, very inspiring. I did pass a woman on a bie who I was struggling to catch up with and it seemed she was cycling one handed? When I passed her she was smoking a fag with the other, this was in Goole, which just by the name of it I had expectaions of it, the battleship grey 'Welcome to Goole sign' fitted my thoughts well and my average speed increased somewhat. If you got lost in Yorkshire how would you get out as you can't understand anyone? So far though it's amazing how your legs get used to it, although my backside has some cathing up to do, wish me luck for tomorrow, I can hear the hils calling my name..." 03AUG 08.25 "I think I'm going to get to the point today where sitting on the bike is more comfortable than being off it! Anyway it seems that the attractive scenery starts at loncoln and its been nice ever since. Had 3 pints of Guiness last night so lets see what difference that makes :/ Here we go again, next stop York for lunch..."
		02AUG 20.10 Firstly a big thank you to Paul who runs the Abbey Hotel in Crowland for letting me stay for free, I'll donate the fee later to charity. "lost my USB plug so everything ran out today, need to find a pc shop tomorrow, but he kind man in he guest house is charging them all up for me. Covered 190 miles so far and tomorrow I have nothing booked so will see how far I get. Body tired but ok."
		01AUG 20:12 "My sat nav threw me a dummy today so added 10 miles to my journey, total 104 miles 10 hours (plenty of stops) 4 litres of water and a steak and kidney pie with chips and mushy peas in an unsceduled pub stop(couldn't say no). London is truly a dump until you get 5 miles out of the M25 perimeter, after that its rolling hills surrounded by wheat crops, then the fens surrounded by more wheat crops, no take your breath awat scenery yet.... The highlight of the day, getting that bloke who had juts come off shift to take a picture of me with a fake beard with my iphone, not sure if he was going to take the picture or call the police." Stu 01AUG 07:00 "I've got the Crown Jewells and i'm off!"

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