A bunch of us from work were able to take part again in Blackpool's 'Ride The Lights' evening last Tuesday: you get to share The Promenade with thousands of other eejits on two wheels (although there were a few on unicycles bombing along!) and see the World Famous Illuminations* up close.
(*That's what it says here, honest.)
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| Blackpool's North Pier ahoy. |
I was just glad to stay upright during the event, what with all the stopping and starting and the odd random manoeuvre!
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| Although you take your life in your hands, it is a unique experience. |
It was both sobering and inspiring to see quite a few amputees taking part too which brought me to mind of the help that your donations give to ex-service men and women. Good on you...
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| The equally-world famous Big One! |
The other Good Cause that we're helping is
Bloodwise, and they've designated September as 'Blood Cancer Awareness Month'. Yeah I know- it doesn't sound like a bunch of laughs but the idea is to make people realise what it is and also how treatable it is.
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| Nope, I didn't know either. |
Bloodwise's site has a load of case-studies and patient stories: I don't want to start and cherry-pick from people's real-life experiences, but it is beyond doubt that the money raised does real good.
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| They put it a little better than I can. |
As the time to crack on with this malarkey is almost here, I dropped my bike off with local maestro-mechanic Mr
Colin Gardner, who used to look after Bradley Wiggins' bikes once upon a time. Wonder whatever happened to him, then? Oh aye, he got himself a Skoda.
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| At least Colin is still going strong! |
Anyway, my bike is pretty much exactly the same as it was for last year's US trek, save for a new saddle which was a necessary change as I managed to break the existing one a couple of weeks ago. I *am* a bit lighter, honest...em, are you gonna finish that pie?
Six years on and a few trips later, the only original parts left on it are the seat post, collar and shifters. Oh, and the frame. But apart from that...
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| Lairy bar tape. Will be grey after a day or two! |
Funnily enough, my packing list is almost exactly the same too: just take the gels out of this photo and swap out the Combat Stress jersey for a Royal British Legion number and we're all set!
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| Always that nagging feeling: what have I forgotten/why did I pack so much? |
In other (good) news: a few years back I cycled across the US in a supported ride organised by the splendid folks at
America By Bicycle, and was thrilled to learn that there is a decent chance that our paths will cross again on this trek. They are doing a similar trip to mine, so I'm looking forward to catching-up somewhere in Oregon. There, that's nailed-down then, hah-hah!
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| Yep, these panniers add 15kgs, easy! |
Okey-dokey, I think we're all set. Your sponsorship has been bang-on yet again, and I hope that we can ease the total north as I go south! See you in a bit...
A belting number: Ferry's vocals in the last verse kill me, hah-hah!
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