I have been featured on the muchbetteradventures.com website explaining my reasons for joining the Go Ghana Cycle Challenge and how I am preparing for the event. Click here to read the article
Sam at Much Better Adventures has also written a great article on the challenge featuring an interview with Humphrey Barclay the founder of the Friends of Tafo charity. You can also read this article by clicking here
Much better adventures is a website dedicated to more adventurous and challenging holidays and events and I have found the articles on how other people are preparing for their own personal challenges really useful.
Many thanks Sam and the team for your support and keep up the good work!
Monday, 16 May 2011
80 Miles - Longest Training Cycle Weekend So far
At the weekend (14th and 15th May) I cycled 50 miles on Saturday followed by 30 miles on Sunday which was really tough given the really strong wind [(not mine :-) ] and the hills.
On Saturday I cycled to Stourport on Severn which is approx. 20 miles as the crow flies from our house through built-up areas to begin with then out into rolling North Worcestershire hills. I have not visited Stourport before and it was good to explore the town, Severn river and the resident fun fair for a while. The trip back was very hard as I had not really paid attention to the fact that I would be going over the notorious "Lickey Hills" which is the highest point for miles around.
The course was also longer than the 45 miles I had planned but it was a great achievement and I was thoroughly exhausted when I arrived back. Plenty of carbohydrates and energy drink!
The Sunday ride was 30 miles. Although I had planned to do 40 miles there was no "gas in the tank" (especially after the lovely home cooked meal - thanks to Jill and plenty of beers with friends!). After only 30 minutes on the bike I had consumed an energy bar, gel and a bottle of water! Still I pushed on and managed to get through the immense hunger feeling but I did not want to push it beyond 30 miles.
Legs feel like lead today (Monday) and will be resting for a few days and hoping to do 2 x 40 miles this weekend and will ensure I eat more and earlier on the bike this time.
I have also found a new route planning website www.bikehike.co.uk which has more advanced features and will be using this to find a couple of good routes.
On Saturday I cycled to Stourport on Severn which is approx. 20 miles as the crow flies from our house through built-up areas to begin with then out into rolling North Worcestershire hills. I have not visited Stourport before and it was good to explore the town, Severn river and the resident fun fair for a while. The trip back was very hard as I had not really paid attention to the fact that I would be going over the notorious "Lickey Hills" which is the highest point for miles around.
The course was also longer than the 45 miles I had planned but it was a great achievement and I was thoroughly exhausted when I arrived back. Plenty of carbohydrates and energy drink!
The Sunday ride was 30 miles. Although I had planned to do 40 miles there was no "gas in the tank" (especially after the lovely home cooked meal - thanks to Jill and plenty of beers with friends!). After only 30 minutes on the bike I had consumed an energy bar, gel and a bottle of water! Still I pushed on and managed to get through the immense hunger feeling but I did not want to push it beyond 30 miles.
Legs feel like lead today (Monday) and will be resting for a few days and hoping to do 2 x 40 miles this weekend and will ensure I eat more and earlier on the bike this time.
I have also found a new route planning website www.bikehike.co.uk which has more advanced features and will be using this to find a couple of good routes.
Thursday, 21 April 2011
Wow - 50% of target donations received - thankyou!
Many thanks to everyone who has donated so generously so far and helped to raise over £1,500. A huge amount and 50% of my personal target to help provide clean drinking water to the town of Tafo in Ghana.
I am really impressed by everyone's amazing generosity - many thanks! this makes all those hills and sore butt worthwhile.
If you are thinking of donating, time is ticking away to the deadline. Donating is really easy and convenient at http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/NeilHollins.
Best wishes
Neil
I am really impressed by everyone's amazing generosity - many thanks! this makes all those hills and sore butt worthwhile.
If you are thinking of donating, time is ticking away to the deadline. Donating is really easy and convenient at http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/NeilHollins.
Best wishes
Neil
Wednesday, 20 April 2011
600 miles training miles complete this year
I have now clocked up 600 miles on the bike since the beginning of the year and half way to 1,200 mile target.
Hopefully the next 600 miles before the challenge at the end of September will be easier now the weather is better.
So much nicer to be in shorts and t-shirt rather than thermals, gloves and hat!!
Next major milestone is cycling to my parents and back, approximately 100 miles over a weekend. Thankfully not on the same day and Jill and Elise will be in the support vehicle with the 'magic sponge'.
Hopefully the next 600 miles before the challenge at the end of September will be easier now the weather is better.
So much nicer to be in shorts and t-shirt rather than thermals, gloves and hat!!
Next major milestone is cycling to my parents and back, approximately 100 miles over a weekend. Thankfully not on the same day and Jill and Elise will be in the support vehicle with the 'magic sponge'.
Longest cycle yet - 50 miles !!!
Many thanks Mil for a great 50 mile route around the stunning Evesham countryside. This is my longest ever cycle (50 miles in just over 3.5 hours) and was a great challenge but so enjoyable in the glorious April sunshine.
A few less hills would be nice for next time :-)
I learnt a lot from Mil on hydration and nutrition which I am looking forward to applying on our next outing in the coming months.
Cycling with a training buddy was so much more fun than the same olde songs looping on my mp3 player. You can only stand so many 80s classics.
Any other volunteers for some training assistance gratefully welcome.
A few less hills would be nice for next time :-)
I learnt a lot from Mil on hydration and nutrition which I am looking forward to applying on our next outing in the coming months.
Cycling with a training buddy was so much more fun than the same olde songs looping on my mp3 player. You can only stand so many 80s classics.
Any other volunteers for some training assistance gratefully welcome.
Saving Scoobie
On my early morning training cycle yesterday I was confronted by a small, tired, ragged dog (Snowzer) in the middle of the road on my final hill back to home.
I was concerned that the dog would get run over in the morning traffic, so got of my bike (exhausted after 20 miles) and I used my bike to shield him.
I tried to pick him up to carry him to safety but he was not having that!
I managed to direct him to the nearest house where I thought he may have escaped. I eventually awoke the house but he was not a resident. I borrowed a lead and managed to walk dog and bike back home.
We took him to the local vet and thankfully he was micro chipped and 'scoobie' lived about 2 miles to where I found him.
Scoobie and his owners were reunited later in then morning and a happy ending all round!!!
I was concerned that the dog would get run over in the morning traffic, so got of my bike (exhausted after 20 miles) and I used my bike to shield him.
I tried to pick him up to carry him to safety but he was not having that!
I managed to direct him to the nearest house where I thought he may have escaped. I eventually awoke the house but he was not a resident. I borrowed a lead and managed to walk dog and bike back home.
We took him to the local vet and thankfully he was micro chipped and 'scoobie' lived about 2 miles to where I found him.
Scoobie and his owners were reunited later in then morning and a happy ending all round!!!
Tuesday, 18 January 2011
Milestone - a third of target donations received
Many thanks to everyone who has sponsored me to date and help to raise over £1,000 towards my goal of £3,000 to help the people of Kwahu-Tafo receive clean drinking water.
THANKYOU!
This makes all the cold, wet and windy cycling worth while.
THANKYOU!
This makes all the cold, wet and windy cycling worth while.
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