Bikes ready!!!

As the 'start' date looms ever nearer, Gary and I have been making sure that our bikes (if not our bodies) will be up to muster.

We are both taking two bikes, we have the considerable luxury of a 'support vehicle' with cavernous storage facilities. Spare parts, indeed spare bikes, is a rare luxury for End-to-Enders, so we are keen to take advantage.

My old Trek has been in for a service and is now back in tip-top condition - new tyres, new spoke to the front wheel, a new chain and rear casette - it feels good and I am confident it won't let me down. My new Trek has been treated to a new chain - this was maybe not essential - but having covered around 1300 miles on it since the new year, the chain had stretched considerably - with additional training rides, plus the ride itself, damage would have been inflicted on those expensive Ultegra chainrings and gears!

So, with the bikes all preened and beautiful the only worry now is us!!!! - We went out on Friday evening with a group of CAMRA beer enthusiasts - a round trip of around 34 miles for me, which included 8 miles before we started. It was an enjoyable evening - hardly serious training but sometimes it's good to relax, pedal easy and not worry about mileage. Plus we tasted some good beers, visiting The Plough at Stapenhill, The White Lion at Harlaston, The Black Horse at Coton in the Elms and finally The Bulls Head at Rosliston.

This weekend sees us both busy with various 'other stuff' including a 50th Birthday party tonight - riding opportunities are therfore scarce, I think that the hard work we've put in over the last 12 months will stand us in good stead, but I'll be trying to get a few miles in during the coming week.