Entries categorized as ‘LEJOG’
It has certainly been a while since my last blog post, over a month in-fact, which is a little scary. But it has been a pretty busy month with lots going on, and somehow, I just haven’t found the time.
However, LEJOG training has begun… the joys of hours on the bike are something that I have to look forward to, and if this morning’s ride is anything to go by, its going to be a long and wet route to completing the end to end journey next year.
First things first. I have bought a new bike, which is below, and which I am really pleased with. I did toy with the idea of taking on the trip on my mountain bike, but a combination of it being far too heavy, and almost eight years old, made me think that actually I should take the plunge into buying a road bike. The plan for next year involves my brother driving the support car behind me, so I’m keeping everything else as light as possible. The guys at Snow & Rock in Birmingham City Centre were really helpful, plenty of advice for someone who has no clue about these things. However, two weeks ago I spent a few hours talking and getting lots of advice and after trying a few models, ended up with what its below:
White, Fast & Light
So far, I am really impressed with the choice. Its Italian, feels fantastic on the open road and is realitively simple to ride. Once I go used to clip pedals (stopping at my first set of traffic lights was an experience) I haven’t looked back. In really bears no comparison to the old weight of the mountain bike, which I am sorry to say, has been stripped and may never see the road again… but it served me well!
So this morning I took on another cycle route, I’m building up the miles slowly while I get used to the bike and riding on the roads again. It was pouring down with rain, and there were plenty of cars who were keen to ensure that should the rain not be getting me wet enough, they would help out by driving through the puddles just that little quicker. But I put in some good miles this morning, miles which I am sure will pay off next summer.
So training has begun, new bike, new shoes and new routes… there is no going back now.
Categories: LEJOG · Personal
Tagged: cycle, Lands End John O Groats, LEJOG, New bike, road bike
I’ve just come across this handy wordpress gadget which means I can now easily blog from my iPhone. The main wordpress edit function allows you to do this already, but this interface is a lot easier to use. So this is my first mobile blog, the first of many I hope… Great for LEJOG!
Its WordPress for iPhone, and you can have a look at it here.
Categories: LEJOG · Personal
Tagged: iPhone, wordpress for iphone
Making Wishes… for me its always something that has involved a lamp, a genie or a well, but this week, the process of making a wish has been at the forefront of my thinking. For example, if you were asked to wish for one thing, absolutely anything in the world, money no object… what would it be? I’m not going to give you my answer, you have to think of your own! However, this week, Stef and Andrew Dubber have been working on the I So Wish Website, an idea which is still only a few days old, but is already up and running. Its been fantastic to be involved, and through a curious twist of fate, it could be something that I could continue to be involved with after my time as the Apprentice is up.
On Saturday night, Laura and I were privilaged to be guests at the Midlands Corporate Finance Charity Ball, which was in aid of the Make A Wish Foundation. The foundation basically grant wishes to terminally ill children, helping them and their families. A child can wish for anything, from Playstations to holidays in Florida, and the Charity do all that they can to make their wish come true. A fantastic cause as you will agree.
Well, mentioning this to Stef this morning, it turns out that he and Dubber have already been talking about a potential tie up with the charity, so I am spending my morning trying to link up with my contacts and see if we can get this moving! If you have not seen the site as yet, do take a look… its quite an experience looking at what other people wish for, and Dubber has even written an E-Book about how you can make your wishes come true.
So I hope to be writing more about the Foundation in the future, and the fantastic work that they do. Perhaps I may have even found the charity I will be completing Lands End to John O’Groats for next year.
Categories: Graduate Apprentice · LEJOG · Personal
Tagged: Andrew Dubber, birminghamuk, Dubber, isowish, LEJOG, make a wish foundation, New Site, Stef
This week should be a good one, and I am really looking forward to it. I will be starting stage two of my training for LEJOG, which basically means I will be running in the morning before heading to work… I just hope that the weather holds! Stef will be in New York on Webby related business until Thursday, and I am going to be spending the week testing the new site making sure we are ready for the up-comming launch! I’m also going to be taking some time to talk to our Alpha testers to see how things are going!
However, this week I will also be part of the interview panel for the 2008 Graduate Apprentice, or my replacement! Its come around so quickly I can hardly believe, but I have had a truly fantastic year, and I look forward to passing onto the challenge to the next candidate! The interviews take place on Friday, so good luck to all of those involved!
Laura also finishes her LPC exams on Wednesday, which will be brilliant and means we can both begin to enjoy the summer. I will be heading up to Durham on Saturday for Durham Regatta to take part in an alumni race and to catch up with some old friends! There is also the Big Digital Debate on Monday, and I will be meeting up with Giles at LMM to catch up… so in all, there is a lot going on this week, and a lot to look forward to!
Categories: Graduate Apprentice · LEJOG · Personal
Tagged: Big Digital Debate, Durham Regatta, Graduate Apprentice, Interviews, LEJOG, LMM, LPC
In the summer of next year, I am planning to cycle from one end of the country to the other… it will affectionally be known as LEJOG. It is approximately 1000 miles, dependent on the route that we take. We will be my friend Tom Kay who I have known since secondary school and who has already made his way across America on a bike, and me, a bit of a fitness nut now that I can’t row and someone who gets bored easily so wanted to plan a trip! As a warm up cycle, I will be taking part in the Forest of Arden Cycle on the 27th April, the 60 mile route. This ride will be in aid of Action Medical Research, but will also be a test of how fit I really am… results will no doubt follow! Details on the ride can be found here:
http://www.action.org.uk/get_involved/forest_of_arden
Categories: LEJOG · Lifestyle · Personal
