London to Paris - The Halifax to Gloucester ride

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Its always the way. Last week it was lovely sunshine; this week its been raining enough to refloat the Ark. Fortunately Thursday morning was only in drizzle.

I rode to Dewbury station to catch a train to Sowerby Bridge and rode to Halifax from there, doing 7 rather than the full 17 miles to work as normal. I was a bit nervous of how I would cope with riding 100+ miles in a day.

This trip was organised by Adam, who works in one of our Gloucester offices. He had managed to persuade one of his colleagues, Lee, to join him and Adam's mother (Jane) had offered to drive a support vehicle.

The Thursday morning in the hills was a bit damp, but only drizzle so not too bad. By early afternoon it had cheered up. Lee was struggling though, having confessed to not riding a bike much. The most he had done was one ride of 40 miles with Adam in Gloucester! So much for my worrying!

Fortunately, Jane was doing a great job with the support vehicle - meeting us about every 10 miles. So we pressed on regardless, trying to limit the pace so that Lee could keep up but inevitably he was riding at his limit all the time. Somewhat surprisingly though, he managed 40 miles through the worst of the hills to Macclesfield before cramp got him and he needed a break in the car.

Adam and I continued on in ever-improving weather through the lanes around Rudyard Lake and up some quite stiff climbs. By this time, the sun was starting to break through and Adam even took off his rain jacket. (I wasn't wearing one - I hate the things and only wear them when its really wet) We covered a further 20 miles or so up hill and down dale until Stoke where, cramp eased, Lee rejoined us for the next 25 miles.

We had intended to call in at the office in Pendeford (just outside Wolverhampton) but time was against us - it was nearing 6pm. So we stopped at a place called Hyde Lea, just south of Stafford, where Lee and Adam put their bikes on the car ready to take them to the hotel.

I looked at the cycle computer and it said 90.5 miles - including my 7 miles in the morning. The hotel we were staying in was about 10 miles away and I was feeling good. I couldn't resist and, despite having picked up a slow puncture, decided to ride the remaining miles to make it a century. So I did.

So we finished the day at about 7pm and went for a wash and a meal. After the meal, I had a puncture to mend before going to bed. I was really pleased as I still felt great despite 100 miles on a mountain bike. (I still don't get why we rode mountain bikes Adam!)

Next morning, having fixed the puncture, we set off again. Lee did really well again riding with us. He must have been hurting by this time as we weren't really hanging around and the terrain is quite 'lumpy'. (Not hilly, understand... those were yesterday)

Sensibly, in my view, Lee took another break after 23 miles, and loaded his bike on the car again. Jane was doing a great job tracking our progress and popping up every now and again so we could fill drinks bottles or just a great excuse to stop.

Adam and I pressed on. The roads were rolling and I was feeling really good so we kept the pace high. Adam suggested 20 mph, and I took this to mean an average of... so we really pushed on. Unfortunately, I think we misunderstood each other but it did get the miles done.

As we rode through Worcester, there were crowds of people lining the streets and on the bridges. Now I know what the end of a stage of the Tour de France must feel like. But, of course, they weren't there for us but for the returning soldiers from Afghanistan.

In Tewkesbury, we took a brief stop to refill the water bottles and Lee joined us again to ride the final 23 miles to Gloucester.

What a reception at the Gloucester office. I was expecting a couple of people out, but no. Loads of people, all cheering; balloons; champagne; photographs. (I nicked some of the biscuits from the tin, by the way. I'd have taken the whole tin but couldn't fit it in my bag)

Jane took me back to Cheltenham Spa station and I caught the (delayed) 15:12 back to Wakefield and rode home.

Total distance 185 miles in 2 days. Really pleased, because there have been no ill effects and I felt great at the end of each day. Things are really looking good and it has encouraged me to get out a bit more.

Next update will be when I have more news on the fundraising front.