Going nowhere ??:(

UPDATE 16 March 2010

Im waiting for a decision from my employer as to whether a September launch date is possible. Unfortunately Ive got to wait until June to get this decision which may leave a tight schedule for organising the charities, sponsorships etc. But we'll make it!

I'd had over three weeks off the bike due to a UK Visit and moving house, and then the next weekend the rain wouldn't let off. So was another week before I got on the bike again!

I have literally been going nowhere!


But last weekend, the skies cleared and the sun was out, so did a nice re-introduction cycle, a 50km trip just get back into the swing of things. The biggest obsticle being a collapsed bridge totally blocking the only route up to Castellar which was prettty mad! The rain had washed it away! Still, that didnt stop me getting to the other side! Was really glad to be back on the bike!

More Riding

After doing the Sierra Bermeja mountain last Saturday. I decided to get straight back onto the bike the day after. Now If i'm to cycle from Gibraltar up to the UK. Then I need to cover some mileage in a day and do a full day ride rather than just an afternoon ride. So a nice 135km route - Ronda the Long Way round as I called it was devised. From Estepona to Casares to Gaucin to Ronda to San Pedro to Estepona. To say that was a marathon was an understatement. I blame the terrain though. It was mountain terrain. 135k on the flat should be a lot easier! The other problem was that it was bloody freezing up the top of those mountains! I didnt learn from the day before to wrap up warm, and I didnt take enough food either! 10 hours 20 minutes of cycling, and ended up having to cycle from San Pedro to Estepona down the busy A7/N340 road in the dark, which was a mad dash at the end! I did suffer the next couple of days after doing that. But woah what a ride it was. It did not put me off going further... to Yorkshire!

Today I decided to do an easier route and a change of scene from climbing mountains all the

time. I drove the bike to Los Barrios and went from there to Tarifa. Tarifa is the most southernly spot in europe. It is in essence, the

Edge of Europe with just a 35 minute ferry seperating two completely different cultures. It was actually so great cycling down into tarifa listening to French speaking, Arabic music Morrocon radio stations and looking over there to a different land. It was so clear today you could make out buildings and practically see cars driving over there. The photos didnt pick this out unfortunately. It just made me want to put the bike on the ferry and go there! So today was a nice 75km run which wasn't too mountainous. However in contrast to last week, I did find it rather hot at times. Even in February the temperature was 21c. Tarifa gave such a reward at the end with its white sandy beaches.

Im now off the bike for 3 weeks due to going to the UK (by plane!) and moving house down here which is going to occupy the next few weekends. Ive been randomly playing with the tracker at the side here updating my position every now and again. It seems to be working well! Twitter updates plus Flickr update giving a little slideshow are all working well and updateable anywhere via my mobile. So all good there!

Sierra Bermeja Conquered!

Someone told me that that Pyrenees were a bit hilly. So I decided I should go out and see if I can manage a hill. Overlooking Estepona is the Sierra Bermaja. It looms 1400meters above sea level. So I figured that'd be a good starting point and I'd give it a try.

By browsing through forums and stuff, it seems that it could be a good idea to change the montain bike tyres for thinner road tyres. Less bobbly bits on the tyre means less friction on the road giving an easier ride. So I figured why not and went and got some new tyres and inner tubes. Fitted them to the bike (with difficulty) and set off!

I managed to the top of Sierra Bermaja without any problem! It was actually easier than I thought. Its a 20km (12 mile) climb up to 1400 metres (4600 feet). The views from up there are amazing. What I hadn't prepared for was such a huge drop in temperature and an icy wind. I literally couldnt feel my fingers. I didn't stay up there long as I wanted to as fast as possible get back down to a lower, warmer altitude! I think I'm going to do my Gibraltar to Yorkshire trip in September now. The UK will be freezing come end of October! So err no thanks! Id rather be warmer!