Finally here!

well everyone, up at 4am this morning, picked up in the van, ferry across the pond and a 4 hour drive means we are finally here.

Arrived in Cork about 3pm so just settling down for a relaxing evening before the big strain tomorrow.

Weather forecast is warm and no rain till about 5pm, so should be all good...... bring it on

it's finally here !

I can't believe it's time to pack our bags, load the van and set sail for Ireland tomorrow morning.

Well done to all the boys and thank you for all the support we have had over the last 6 months.

Let's hope all the training has paid off..... for the Guinness not the riding !!!!

I can't wait, don't think I'll sleep tonight......

Sunday stoll

Nice Sunday morning ride today, missed most of the rain (thank god) Andy managed to pick up another puncture, he has a fine collection now. And improved on his personal best of only Fifty swear words and one broken thumb.

One week to go

Getting ready for the big build up now. Last run out tomoz early start meeting the boys. Cannot believe how quickly the start as come around. Fingers crossed for some nice weather and lets hope Ricky puts his hand in is pocket and buys a few rounds, if not me and Andy will use straws to nick his drink.

Keep on running......

When setting off on a training run it is always a good idea to remember unless you run in a very big circle that sooner or later you will need to turn around, twice in three days I have managed to achieve this so my nice six milers have turned into wopping twelves......next time I will take some taxi money.

Tatton Park Cruise

Just got back in after a 56 mile (fell off twice) epic ride upto Tatton Park with Andy P.
It was a beautiful ride on a glorious day until I somehow fell off my bike twice and smashed my phone in.
Now I am not saying it is Karma but Andy found this very amusing, especially when he seen the state of my
phone so It was unfortunate for himself that he picked up a puncture on the way back and had to get his pump going for extra training(ha ha ha). If you read this Andy remember no texts please I can't B***** read them.lol

Hats off to Andy

I would like to praise one of my fellow riders, Andy P. Last week he hit over 125 miles training come
rain or shine, personally I think he must have rode to the train station and counted in a return ticket to wales
but they all count.lol

To sleep or to ride.........

Alarm clock went off at 5.30am, my eyes flicked open for two seconds then the brief battle with
the snooze button was over. I was well and truly beaten and re-woke at 8.30am with three kids jumping
on the bed.

wheres steve gone

well done today boys a good 50 now light nights get more rides in./

by the way has anyone seen steve he can,t still be having a pee behind that bush?

Ouchhh

50 miles today a good run with some nice climbs, but think I av broken my Bum Bridge.lol

It's 4.45am........Up for training

OMG..... it's 4.45am on Sunday morning and the alarm clock has just gone off to get me up for training.

It's really 5.45am as the clocks went forward last night but it not really that if you see what I mean.

Must go the boys are waiting !

Ste

Website update

Thanks Dave the website look's much better , Just from updating the little bits.

Thanks Ricky

Website update

Thanks Dave the website looks a lot better just from changing the little bits.

Thanks alot. Ricky

first 50

just done 50 miles in the wind legs feel heavy but feel ok cant wait for sat and suns rides.

Paul Darbyshire's Munster cycle ride training day 2

Trailer for our Munster cycle ride for Paul Darbyshire

Jodrell Bank cyclosportive - 12/03/2011

Wow, what a day!

I was really worried about entering this event, especially as I was doing it on my own and it being the furthest distance I have attempted.

Still up at six in the morning, bike and kit into the car and off.

I couldn't believe the amount of people there, over 500 riders so much so I had to park in a housing estate nearby.

Registered with race control, got a free goody bag, kitted up and made my way to the start.

I wasn't sure what to so just jumped on the end of a group of 5 or 6 and headed out.


Stephen Scott rider number 242 who had never been on a road bike a month ago heading out to do 50 miles around the Cheshire countryside...... to say I was nervous was an under statement.

I soon realised that the group were much quicker than me, so I let them go and settled into my own pace.

I soon warmed up and 'the jam' on the ipod helped me to keep a good rhythm going. It was reasonably flat for the first 25 miles and the food stop soon came up.

I had managed to complete the 25 in 1hr 38 Min's with an average speed of 14.7mph, I was chuffed.

I felt good, no aches or pains and tucked into a hot cross bun, a banana and a flap jack. I set off on the next 25 full enthusiasm and got my head down to try and keep up a pace.

I knew that in the last 10 miles it was generally a climb so I tried to conserve some energy for that.

Problem was that the climbs started pretty much after 30 miles and we had turned into the wind.......

For each climb there was a descent but I was finding it much harder to recover so I decided to stop at 37 miles and have a break.

I must say that at this point the sun had come out the tour around Jodrell bank had been great and the scenery stunning.

So after a quick 5 minutes I set off again, my average speed was dropping all the time, I still seem unable to keep the momentum going in the first half of a hill and then it's just pain till reach the top and everyone overtook me.... ARH!!!!

Never the less I just gritted my teeth and got on with.

I had to stop a few times half way up but the the most thrilling section was out of Macclesfield, probably 2/3 miles all down hill.

Now going downhill for me at speed seems to be a forte for me!

'Tuck in and make the most of it' I thought and forget the brakes...... 38.4 miles an hour - fantastic, I overtook most who had over taken me.

Then the final climbs through Prestbury out to Bollington through country lanes near Adlington and back to the lesuire centre at Poyton.

I was ecstatic.... I really had done it, my first 50 miler.

Average 13 mph, 50.24 miles result.

It took everything out of me but I am so proud of myself as it feels I am making real progress.

Roll on the miles now !

Ste.........

P.S. check out the web site below, results will be on there soon, probably last but I don't care

http://cyclosportivejodrellbank.blogspot.com/

good luck Scotty

Good luck to Steve scott who has been drastically let down by us and has been stitched up doing a 50 mile bike in the morning in the wind and rain on his own!!!!! we all nodded and said "Yes Steve" when he asked are we doing it,,,,But no instead Scotty is taking one for the team. .........Scotty we salute you.

hard days on the turbo trainer

quotes of the week

oh no not another ******* hill

just turn up.

use your d.o.b

ive sorted a van nearly.

cant get into my small ring.

i will fix it rob been on the net just tighten these up.

rob dont let ricky touch your bike again,

welsh hill's???

why are they so steep? Myself and 15 year old son tried out the welsh hills on Sunday.... Oxygen and a mask needed for me, 'fitboy' waited for me at the top!!! How steep you may ask, 31.9 mph freewheeling down hill on crappy mountain bike, that's how steep. Still a good ride and some great photos I will post when I know how.....

Lazy Rob

Rob, stop eating biscuits and do some exercise-you've got a major bike ride in a few weeks xxx

Paul Darbyshire's Munster cycle ride training day 1

Website up and running

The website is now up and running, I would like to give a big thanks to Dave Stewart for all his help in achieving this, top man Dave thanks for all you have done mate top site well impressed.

This weekend is the first real test, me and Andy went out for a run earlier today(not the best decision) and
meeting up with Andy, Ricky and Steve again early tomoz. This is the first time I have tried two good run's on consecutive days(extra padding I think),

Just finished 5-a-side with Ricky, done myself a injury playing in goal and one of fingers is well swollen, I think Ricky done it on purpose so he can stay in front of me on the bike. Ps I forgot to mention yesterday Ricky managed to fall off his bike, he managed to remember to unclip his right foot but unfortunately forgot to unclip his left foot and went over like Ronaldo in the box.lol.