Hills, Spills and the Munchie Monster

We had arranged to meet for a 1pm set off. A couple of the lads have just got new bikes with clip in shoes which they was keen to try out. Remembering my first time with clip ins, I knew this was going to be fun.
Tom (@T_bone86) planned to arrive at mine early to sort out my gears and mud guards. Tom was knocking at my door at 12:30 sharp, and he set to work on my bike. Soon after Kevin (@benno112) and Brownie (@brunone1) turned up on their new bikes. Much to the amusement to Tom and myself, you could tell by their faces that they were nervous when it came to stopping.  We then noticed that Brownie was wearing shorts (nutter). It was freezing!!!

Whilst Tom was carrying out the finishing touches on my bike, my daughter Laila came out to see what was going on. Chatting to the lads she presents them with a drawing each. Everyone knows that when they come to my house, they will leave with one of Laila's drawings. "Trust me on this, she will make sure you leave with it as well, bless her".


Just about to set off, Kevin tells us that he had already been the gym this morning, so he wanted a nice easy 30 miler with no hills. Me being the caring brother agreed.  I suggested one of our previous routes we used to train for the Wembley ride.
we set off and stopped off at the Olton Tavern to pick up Andy (@primal2001).
Kevin and Brownie are still upright on there new bikes after the first few miles, so we are all good. The wind was giving us a bit of a pounding and some parts of the road are still wet so we kept at an easy pace. The miles started ticking over nicely and we started to warming up nicely.
The route that I had in my head started to look a little different. Yes! I didn't have a clue which direction gave us the easiest route. So in true form I blagged the lads into thinking I knew where I was going.
Where is Sat Nav Allen when you need him?
He was sat at home, full of cold medicating himself with as much Stella as he could get down his gullet. (Get well soon big man)
My wrong directions led us straight towards all the hills I was hoping to avoid. The look on Kevin's and Brownies face told a story instantly. I don't think they are my friend anymore.
We managed to get up that hill only to find another soon after.
The thing is with clip in shoes, you can't just take your foot off the pedal when you start to wobble. This proved very difficult for the lads as they had to drop into there lowest gear, and have no choice but to push on up the hill.
We had a rest at the top. Kevin & Brownie had a few choice words about my route which I best not repeat. Haha
We got to Chadwick end (about 15 miles in) and decided to take a break. The conversation quickly turned to the two events we are already booked on. The Mad march Hare (73miles) and Cyclist V Cancer (100 miles). Reflecting back on how we were getting on today these sort of distances are going to be hard for us to reach. Reality hits that we are going to have to put some serious miles in for us to even attempt this.

As we do in these situations, we joke about how unfit we are, but in the front of our minds we know we HAVE to put the effort in. I decided to do a quick interview with the lads to see how they was feeling.

Theres Snow stopping us in 2013

Hi all. We are back again. Have you missed us? Are you ready for my bad gramma and terrible England?

First of all can I thank you for all your support in 2012 for our Brum to Wembley event. We raised over £20,485.16 thanks to all your generosity and smashed our original target.

This years plan is to jump on some organised events throughout the year and raise some serious cash for our inspirational Harry Moseley Charity. We have another BIG event in mind for 2014. So we are using 2013 as a year long training session for this bad boy journey. Lol.
So far we have booked on "the Mad March Hare" (74 miles) and booking up on a Monster 100 mile event in Stratford-upon-Avon. see links below
As you are all aware we are not professionals in the least when it comes to cycling and as previous blogs show we get easily distracted by things such as pubs, beer, pies and anything else which stops us from becoming athletes. So I'm sure 2013 will be as eventful as 2012.

So let's get this thing rolling.

After a lot of Facebook & twitter chat all week between some of the team regarding whether and when people can get out, we still don't have a clue when we are getting out. Standard!!!
Some people could only do Saturday and some only Sunday. Myself and Tom decided on the Saturday (as snow was due on that evening) putting Sunday out of the question for a spin.
We spotted that @cultracing (bike shop) was trying to get numbers together for a Saturday morning spin. Tom and myself decided to pop along to try it out. I didn't tell my wife as I'm banned from the shop. Last time I went there (just to look at the bikes) I ended up with a new road bike, pedals, shoes, water bottle and cage. Thus maxing the credit card out to my wife's horror. Lol. (It's only money Honey, LOVE YOU) #hopeshebroughtthat
7.30am Tom came to my house to pick me up. We were buzzing at the fact we were getting out again but also a bit nervous due to not being on a bike since the start of December. The festive period has caused us to gain a few rolls and will surely have an impact on our "so called" fitness.
Bikes loaded in the van, we headed off to @cultracing shop in Earlswood (nice plug or what?)
We hit the M42 for two junctions and we could not see a thing due to the sudden down pour of snow. Are we going to get there and the ride is called off? We arrived at the shop and met a few of the other riders. All waiting for the gaffas Paul & Mel to decide to go ahead or not.
The decision was "ALL GO". Only down to Mel quoting shop rule no.5
Which is "stop being a wimp and harden the @£*+ up"
Who was we to argue with that!!!!
We quickly posed for a team photo for @cultracing (I'm good at this plugging stuff) and off we set.


@bcfcboz @t_bone86

The Horn of Plenty

A few things before I start rambling on, most of the riders managed to get down to the Birmingham City Football ground before the Chelsea game on Tuesday 6 March, for our photo shoot to promote CyclingforHarry, Birmingham City are supporting us in a few ways, watch this space!!!

On Monday 5 March, @melcastle69 and myself (@bcfcboz) met with @combuteit to discuss ideas about our new website, watch this space!!

On Saturday 10 March, I met up with Tim Andrews @hwoodmonster to bat out a few ideas about our cycling event, watch this space!!!

Now if you can stop watching this space and read the rest of the blog that would be lovely.

I couple of the riders managed to get out mid week and clock up a few miles, knowing that they would be busy or working over the weekend, there was also a few casualties @icemanblueboy still not well enough to train after his Hernia operation, @l4rk1n has been hit with a bout of man flu, @benno112 is not allowed out of his better half’s sight as she is about to drop!  @davespittle is under strict instruction to paint his whole house before his big day on Friday 16 March.  This is the sign of things to come @davespittle, trust me one speaks from experience.  Then @larks99 was sitting on a sun lounger on a roof top complete with pool supping a cold one in Tenerife.  The rest were playing football or hung over. 

Sunday morning is here and the weather is sweet! I get a tweet off @primal2001 (Andy) one of our Twitter followers to see if we are out for our normal stint.  Andy comes out regular with @alanjamesuk to join us in our practice runs.  Giving him a hell yeah, I arranged to meet him outside the Olton Tavern pub at 10:15 am. 

Whilst eating my scrambled egg and ham on toast I see that early bird @davejbrady is already out.  He has work at 11 so cant join us.  But his company Sytner Birmingham are sponsoring us, so I can forgive him.  He’s tearing up the miles with an average of 14.8mph.  Nice going buddy and fair play for getting out again at that time of the morning.  Saying that, my pep talks I was sending to him would have helped him out. Lol

@will_coyne, @brunone1 and @heathy79 are all due to meet at mine for 09:45 am.  @will_coyne (Kids) turns up eager beaver at 09:30 am telling me he has only had 4 hours kip but he will be okay because he has stocked up with Mars Bars.  Due to the problems 2 weeks ago regarding the tyres on the @larknlarks matching bikes I asked Will if he had got any spare inner tubes, his reply was “nah mate I will be alright”.  Brownie and Ray both turned up in their T-Shirts and #HHHO vests.  There was me and Will in our thermal tops, t-shirt and vest, there was a bit of a wind chill going on so Will and I think we are doing the right thing.  I kissed the wife and kid goodbye and off we set. 

Will starts to show concern about his tyre pressure in his front tyre I quickly suggest popping to Halfords to get him a spare inner tube before heading to meet @primal2001 and @melcastle69.  By the time we got to Halfords Will and myself realised that the thermal tops we were wearing underneath our shirts and vests was maybe a step too far, but hey ho I am fat and can do with all the help I can get LOL. 

@heathy79 and @will_coyne disappear into Halfords complete with bikes and ten minutes later emerge with a free part service on @heathy79 bike and some sort of slime tyre for Will’s bike.  An £8.99 bargain.  So now Will has his spare inner tube, but nowhere to put it!  Between the 4 of us it took about 5-10 minutes for us to decide how we were going to carry it with us, so eventually Will ends up carrying it around his neck like a bullet strap, as his pouch was full of Mars bars!   (his bike pouch you dirty lot – Kids)

Off we head to meet the others, at the Olton Tavern.  A quick hello and off we go!  We start making some good time and distance and before you know it we are 6 mile into a planned 40 mile bike ride.  We get to this T Junction and I am leading the pack I have a look and all I can see is a motorbike coming from the distance on my left, I proceed only to hear this motorbike’s wimpey horn sounding frantically as if he was going to take me out (not to the isle of Fernando’s) he was no where near me, but obviously not keen on cyclists crossing his path.  I get across the T Junctions and the rest of the group are taking the mick out of me because of my not so near death experience.  Panic over we start chewing the miles up. 

Things are going surprisingly well, I mention this to @brunone1 so we decide to start making our own entertainment as you are all aware @brunone1 is armed with a bright blue ridiculously sounding horn.  Everybody he came across got the “horn of plenty” people walking their dogs, other cyclists, people walking, joggers, and random sheep in fields.  The horn of plenty was accepted in different ways, some with a smile, some with a “morning”, some with a look of disgust and some with a plain old “baahhh” (that’s a sheep by the way).  Approaching 17 miles we all know this part is full of hills, still feeling the affects of Bronchitis @melcastle69 hits the hills and struggles, over the first one, but we all know the second one is the killer hill.  We manage to get up slowly but surely whilst @melcastle69 takes the dismount approach LOL.  In all fairness if we had all done that we would have got up it a lot quicker ourselves.  At the top of the hill its time for a break, out comes the chocolate and drinks.  Things are going that well we haven’t even had an opportunity to take any photos yet, out came the phone. 

 

@melcastle69 & @primal2001

 

@brunone1 & @heathy79



@will_coyne & @brunone1

This is the stage were we sold Dave Davies a bracelet two weeks ago and the legend ended up donating £50 to our absolute delight.  Talk about having a tingle down my spine when I seen that on the Justgiving site and reading his message – hats off to you Dave!  Mint.

Off we go again Will has caned his 6 Mars Bars (other chocolate bars are available).  Kids! 

Again making good speed in the distance we see a bunch of lady cyclists all kitted out in Hi-Vis pink and yellow cycling jerseys, @brunone1 honks his horn of plenty and the reaction from these ladies is a fit of laughter.  As we ride by I shout out (loving the plug) “FOLLOW CYCLINGFORHARRY” but concentrating on these lovely ladies and trying to get my plug across I nearly take @melcastle69 out in the process.  That’s two near misses. 

Further up the road we see these two hikers climbing over one of those wooden gates up pops @brunone1 honking his horn right at the time the lady cocks her leg over the gate LOL, which was received in another fit of laughter.  The next near miss was yours truly again, my bike cHARRYot seems to be having a problem to get into its highest gear I hit a country lane with nothing in front of me so I start looking down at the cogs on my bike to see if I can solve the issue, then I hear a bellow “Benno” at that point I look up and see another cyclist heading straight towards me.  I take evasive action whilst saying sorry to the response of “you stupid idiot”.  A bit harsh but this bloke must have met me before Ha Ha Ha. 

Nearly at Chadwick End and its time to say “goodbye” to @melcastle69, 3 more miles and she’s off home.  We have a quick convo about trying to hit the 40 miles so we come up with a plan to change the normal route and head towards Solihull and Damson Wood to add those extra few miles on.  So we do as discussed, we get to the back of the Land Rover and head through Elmdon Park and I realise that we are still gonna be about 5 mile short of our target, so instead of going straight through the park whilst leading the group I decide to take them on a wild goose chase.   We go around the lake, and back to the entrance of the park only to double back on ourselves, to head back towards the Wheatsheaf.  By this time @brunone1 is moaning like a baby before we know it we are back by the

Coventry Road

. 

A little parched after hitting 35 miles I lead them towards the Olton Tavern, as you are aware @bblackwell77 cycles round distributing many of our posters.  After a conversation earlier in the week @bblackwell77 told me that the Tavern are very interested in Helping Harry Help Others and our CyclingForHarry event.  So who am I to stand in the way of publicising the event further!  @heathy79 and myself walked up to the bar whilst the Kid and Moaner was outside in the beer garden. 

It was apparent that @bblackwell77 had been here and that the Landlady Vicky Higgins was happy to help promote our event.  Not only are there posters all around the place, a business card sized flyer for CyclingForHarry is handed out with every food purchase.  For this effort we had to make sure we sampled their produce accordingly!  5 pints later we ran out of money so we had to leave.  Staring at two more miles on the saddle, we get to the Wheatsheaf and the lights are just changing to red, a car pulls up alongside the curb forcing @heathy79 nearly onto the path.  In all fairness to @heathy79 he keeps his calm taps softly the passenger window and asks “did you not see me?” and bless this lady’s cotton’s she replied back with “No I didn’t – Sorry”.   I think @heathy79 was expecting some sort of argument but ended up laughing at this ladies mistake. 

Arriving home we clocked over 37 miles. 

Shower and chocolate milkshake required! 

NUMBER 47 RANKED IN THE UK RANKINGS ON #FOLLOWFRIDAY THIS WEEK

thanks all for your #FF's I do look forward to Fridays.

Keep an eye out for @sp2a and there TIP tweets.  They are betting on all Cheltenham Races with all winnings going to #CyclingForHarry.  http://www.sp2a.co.uk/news.aspx

Don't Forget The Pit Stop

@bcfcboz, @brunone1, @benno112, @bblackwell77, @heels4089, @l4rk1n, @heathy79, @will_coyne, @larks99, @g1bbo85, @allenjamesuk, @primal2001

I woke at 7.30am Sunday morning and shot out of bed like a big kid ready for today's group cycle.  I knew that at least 10 of us were out for a spin and was expecting a fun outing.  I head straight to the bathroom to go about the normal morning routine.  Spotting the fact that through the patterned glass it was bright outside. "yes!! at last the sun is shining for our session".  I finish up and go into the front room to locate my cycling Lycra.  With one twist of the window blinds my mood changes.  i look out of the window to see this:-

I couldn't believe it!!! what is going on with this weather.  I have a quick look on twitter to find @Simonbanner72 tweeting "WTF why have we got snow again? Are you sure you are going training @cyclingforharry".
and then to see that he kicked his wife out of bed at 4.23am to make him a cup of tea!   haha - he is a strange villa fan (love ya Si)

The messages started to come in from all angles. Twitter, facebook and text.  What are we doing Bri?? Are we still going out??
I put my weather head on and could see that the sun was trying to make an appearance, so I gave the nod to carry on with the days outing.  Even if we had to really take it slow.
9.30am @benno112 & @g1bbo85 turn up full of beans and ready to go.  Soon after @bblackwell77 turns up in what i can only describe as the most creased pair of tracksuit bottoms I have ever seen!!!!
I think he slept in them. lol.
Whilst we are all mocking @bblackwell about his lack of iron ownage @heathy79 turns up.  Not in his jeans for a change. lol.  But at least his tracksuit bottoms had been ironed!!!
Then arrives @brunone1 quickly followed by @l4rk1n, @larks99 & THE KID @will_coyne.
@l4rk1n starts raving on about his gears not working.  So after 5 minutes, a pair of long nose pliers and a phillips screw driver that problem was fixed.
previous to that @l4rk1n and @larks99 had been having a fight with one of there back tyres before leaving the house.  Managing to burst two inner tubes before getting on there bikes.   I was going to ask how? but i don't think they even knew, so i left it. haha.
We have not even started yet!!!!!!!!

Even still, we manage to set off on time at 10am.  We head to the Wheatsheaf to pick up @heels4089.  We get across the traffic lights and there he is waiting.  A quick hello and off we go to meet our keen twitter followers @allenjamesuk & @primal2001



@allenjamesuk & @Primal2001

 A pair of top boys!!! they have been out with us a number of times now and join in nicely with our banter.
I MADE THEM POSE LIKE THAT haha

I decided to do the same route we have done for the last couple of weeks knowing that its 34ish mile.  Plus the fact we are close to soilhul hospital if @l4rk1n has a heart attack.
We get roughly 4 miles in and we are at the end of Lugtrout Lane where we hang a left towards the start of the country roads.  Myself and @heels4089 are deep in conversation. (daddy talk) Then look back to see we've lost half of the riders already. 
G1bbo85's chain had came off but they soon rectified that issue and caught up.
The miles start ticking over nicely.  Even @L4rk1n was keeping a steady pace due to Mars Bar intake already.
We hit 12 mile and a couple are starting to slow a little.  But this is also due to the road we are on having a long steady incline that seems to hurt more than a hill. (if that makes sense).  We stop and take a quick 2 minute breather and take some fluids on board, and I release some into a hedge. haha (too much info). 
We set off again and I look down the line and think to myself - We would look awesome in HHHO T-shirts.  That way people will not just see us as a bunch of nutters on bikes.  But more of  'A bunch of nutters fund raising for Harry on bikes'
This is something i need to sort ASAP!!!
We hit 16 mile and @heels4089 has to shoot off.  Something to do with nappy changing and him doing the ironing.  So he says his farewells and off we go.  We travel a further mile and decide its time to stop.
The chocolate bars and Skittles were popped open and the drinks got sunk.


@will_coyne (kid) & @larks99




@l4rk1n, @bblackwell77 & @g1bbo85



Camp @g1bbo85 & @brunone1(moaner)



@bcfcboz (me) fag ash Lil (Heathy79) and dancing @larks99



Always on his phone @bblackwell77



there's only one @heathy79





Back: @heathy79, @will_coyne, @larks99,@l4rk1n,@bblackwell
Front: @benno112, @g1bbo85, @bcfcboz, @brunone1



We had the usual banter and chat about the previous 17 mile and had a silly suggestion about how to break up the second 17 mile.  But all will be revealed. lol

We start off again.  Bearing in mind last week we stopped off at the same point and said to each other that this was not the best place to stop.  This is because as soon as we head off from here we hit two silly hills.  This is not good after having a rest.  In fact its absolutely STUPID!!! But hay ho! we are by no means professional cyclists as you will see later.

We battle up those hills and get to the top to hear that @l4rk1n (The ravin gezza) had got off his bike and ran up the last hill. lol.

We wait for him.  But as soon as he gets to us we head off again. haha giving him no chance to catch his breathe.

the miles start ticking over again at a steady pace when we hit another horrible incline.  These are pants #fact.

I cycle alongside my brother @benno112 and come up with a plan.  A few more miles tick over and we hit Chadwick End.  We come to a T junction and we find ourselves adjacent to The Reservoir Pub.  Now who'd have guessed that. haha.  At that point I turn to the rest of the group and shout "Anyone got any money on them?"

Good old @l4rk1n shouts out "I've got a score on me" then @brunone says "iv'e got a fiver on me, why?"

At that point I directed the team straight into the pub car park. lol.

After a quick whip round It was obvious is was pints all round.

A few of us walk into the bar.  All in full Lycra with helmets to boot.  The barmaid whilst laughing asks the standard question. "yes gents, what can i get you?" So @g1bbo85 comes out with "a 12 seater taxi please" lol

You should have seen the look on her face.

7 Carling, 2 Stella, 1 strongbow & a Monster energy drink and a 10 Penny mix up for the Kid (@will_coyne) outside please. 

We pay the lady and head to the beer garden

We did get some funny looks from a few of the customers.  Anyway, after a quick discussion about the fact we cant do this at halfway on the day we neck our pints and off we set again.

Is it possible to be drunk off a pint? That next mile or so was a killer. lol.

We're approaching the main road in Shirley, not too far now until we get home.  Well at least I thought.  Thinking everyone was behind me again, I get to an island and turn left. 

I know where I'm going. lol. I look back and half the group are with me.  Where are the two Larkins and @Heathy79?????

We wait for 5 minutes and then phone them.  @larks99 answers the phone and tells us they did a right at the island towards Solihull.  We told them that we would meet them at the wheatsheaf. 

@bblackwell heads off because he's already late getting back.  So we head to the Wheatsheaf talking about the extra 5 mile those #numpties have put on there journey by doing a right at the island. lol.

15 minutes we wait and then they turn up.  Not giving them time to stop, we dust off the next 2 mile together parting ways when close to our houses.

Top draw and a great effort by all involved. 

Unfortunately due to work and illness a few of the riders could not get out on their bikes, as usual @icemanblueboy has been rowing, swimming, running, hedgehopping, knock door running and cylcing in the gym.  Neil AKA the man with no Twitter has done over 30 miles in 2 outings on his bike, and @melcastle69 churned out over 12 miles after a bout of Bronchitis. 

Bring on next week!!!!