A message of support (!) from David’s cycling coach – Steve.

Lands End to John O’Groats Training = 120 hours wearing lycra, 576,000 revolutions of pedals, 40,000ft of climbing and 260 Mars Bars!

For many cyclists this is the pinnacle of their cycling career and is a feather in both amateur and professional cycling caps. It is not to be underestimated as, even for those who are to take the journey on as a leisure ride, they will need some understanding of route planning, equipment selection and above most other things a sacrifice of time, training can be time expensive. Preparing for this event, from the humble beginnings that David has, will require proper dedication and commitment to training. Firstly, so that his derrière can cope but, primarily, so that he doesn’t let himself or others down in the event itself.

The total amount of time I estimate it will take for David to get up to speed will be another 120 hours of being on a bike, at least. That will equate to doing the whole Lands End to John O’Groats route twice, 576,000 revolutions of his legs, so expect his face to get thinner and his thighs to start looking like mating pythons! In training we average 1,000ft of climbing and so by the time David gets to the start line he will have climbed in excess of 40,000 feet, nearly one and half times up Mt Everest. (BTW he doesn’t know this yet!)

Most of us know that food is integral to life but, in events like this, it is vital to fuel the engine demanding extra energy. I have no concerns for David here as he has already proved he can polish off cake at a rapid speed. From now to the start line his energy requirements could be met by living from Dundee cake alone. That said, it would be understood more easily if we measured ‘calories’ by Mars Bars. David will require an excess of 260 Mars Bars between now and the start.

Included in the thrill of learning to ride a road bike are things like wind chill factors some which would make polar bears shiver, near misses from ignorant white van drivers and putting up with awful anecdotes from me, Steve his trainer, who is increasingly enjoying David’s resolve and determination to get on with the job in hand.

If you think this is a pleasant ride perhaps you should attend one of our next training sessions where David will be making at least 5 accents of Boxhill. (BTW he doesn’t know this yet either!)