Julian Hoskins Child-Safe Sponsored Cycle 2007

Woke up feeling less tired and stiff than the previous couple of days. I put it down to the curry and beer as oppose to the carbohydrate rubbish I have previously been eating. Started out for Stafford and felt fine for about 25 miles before loosing all energy and power – “bonking” as cyclists call it. This was probably because I had not stopped earlier to eat. Continued up through the Midlands via Wolverhampton and struggled into Stafford extremely weary. Slept well.

Unfortunately one of the lads had an accident going through Wolverhampton. He skidded on some oil and grazed his arm, back and legs although luckily he is OK.

Woke up today to find the wind had at last changed direction and would be helping us. This was just as well as my legs were feeling like lead (luckily this was the shortest day of the trip). After a charity photoshoot we had a late start from Portishead. We left at about 10.30am and cycled to Gloucester via Thornbury and stopped for lunch at about 2pm just past Gloucester, having covered 48 miles. That left just another 10 miles to Tewkesbury where we are spending the evening. Apart from feeling tired everyone seems in reasonable shape and looking forward to watching the Liverpool game tonight with a few drinks.

Left accommodation at police headquarters in Exeter about 9.15am. Immediately got lost around the back country lanes of Devon putting about 5 miles onto the route. Eventually got to Okehampton and then joined the A38 at Wellington.
Wind is still against us and blowing harder down the A38 but it's a beautiful sunny day so we stopped for a well earned lunch somewhere between Taunton and Bridgewater after completing 46 miles.

After lunch, headed up towards Bristol. Although the wind was still against us we managed to pick up speed having left the hills of Devon behind. Went through Taunton, Bridgwater, and then got to Cheddar. I had spent a lot of the winter training there and I knew better than to go up the gorge! We wended our way to Portishead via Winscombe, Congresbury, Yatton and Clevedon. Posted 85 miles and relieved to get home to my wife and family for some good food and a night in my own bed. Maximum speed today 30 mph.

Woke up and looked at the forecast on breakfast TV. To my horror wind was now coming from the north east, exactly what I did not want, should have done it the other way around!
I knew today would be particularly gruelling because of the rolling Devon countryside - lovely to look at but tough on the legs.

After 20 miles dodging lorries on the A30, turned off through quieter roads and reached Exeter at approximately 4pm. In fact, despite the headwind, it was not as difficult as I expected.
Looking forward to heading to Bristol tomorrow. I may not have been wind-assisted but at least I have not as yet been rained upon (no doubt asking for trouble).

Average speed 14.8 mph. Maximum 38 mph.

Packed up vehicles and left Bristol for Lands End at 8am. Arrived about 1pm. After the unpleasant ritual of applying sudacream to the cycling shorts (a necessary ritual) set off. The prevailing south westerly wind (which would have helped) was coming more from the west/north west which meant we were going into the wind for much of the time. We started out too quickly (average 18 mph for first hour) but ended the day at a more comfortable 15 mph average. Arrived in Bodmin about 6.30pm. 60 miles covered in the afternoon at an average speed of 15.8 mph maximum 35.6mph. A resolution not to drink did not even get past day one, which no doubt helped a sound night's sleep.

November and December were spent achieving basic fitness levels by cycling to work, the odd spin class and cycling on a turbo trainer. I also rode for approximately two hours at the weekend.
In January I did little in the week but cycled between 30 and 40 miles at the weekend.
Between February and the end of March I increased the weekend rides up to 85 miles.
In the weeks before the ride I rode both Saturday and Sunday 70 – 80 miles each day.

At the end of October I met Pete Gibbons at a friend’s house. He told me he was helping put a party together to cycle Lands End to John O’Groats in an attempt to raise money for Child-Safe. After a few glasses of wine I was persuaded. I had bought a road bike that summer but in truth had rarely sat on it since purchase.

On 21 May 2007, together with ten other masochists, I am attempting to cycle from Lands End to John O'Groats in 12 days in order to raise as much money as possible for Child-Safe.

Child-Safe actively promotes the safety, welfare and pastoral care of children and young people involved in sport, community groups and travel. It is a fantastic charity and every pound you have donated helps make a difference to a child's life Thank you for all the support and encouragement.