I think I'm about to be diagnosed with cancer, and I'm fairly scared.

BBB – You're right, I'll shut up.

Because with gears, I'd have pissed on all your chips… 8)

If a chepstow stop would be helpful, drop me a line.
cheers

I've followed this thread for some time and also now feel compelled to post. Your attitude and commitment in the circumstances are genuinely inspirational and I wish you all the luck in the world.

I hope you don't mind but I've shared your story with colleaugues and on other forums to try and raise awareness and help with your fundraising.

Look forward to seeing your route/schedule as it would be an honour to come along & offer some encouragement.

Nobby – Cheers fella, thats ace!

Donation after the salary cheque (first one for 15 months!) goes through on Friday… Good to meet you on Sunday. I'll let you know when I'm organising a ride and we'll do one. 8)

Nobby – what other forums have you posted my story on? I'm about to post on a few other forums (BikeRadar, road.cc, lfgss etc) and I don't want to replicate and look like a scrounging ****t… 😕

drop me a mail again pete and ill see if i can offer any help in the way of kit etc….

mite be able to get some scottish pr also….

I've been off STW for the best part of a year, so I've just seen this today, and have spent the last 2 hours reading this from the beginning.

It's rare that I'm stuck for words, but this is one of those times. I can only say that the way you (and by this I mean you and your wife) have dealt with this is magnificant.

I've never met you, probably never will, but I'm more than happy to contribute. Have a good ride, and keep on fighting.

bed food beer – east lancs / rossendale area if req also have van for pickup to and fro if req
email should be in profile g

Stuck it on my Facebook wall, with instructions for a full read-through (of your bits, not our wifflings) and then a call to justgiving arms. Friends of friends of friends etc. Viral marketing-schmarketing etc.

Funny day yesterday!

I'm trying to accumulate miles in training for the JOGLE. In reality, I ride a road bike badly. I mean really badly. Watching me ride is more uncomfortable that a horse in a wetsuit with an erection. There are reasons for this.

1) I don't understand gears. I have been riding SS for so long that the basic principle of changing to go up and down hills is lost on me. Feel free to laugh if you see an 17st ape grinding up a hill on the big ring because he was too retarded to change.

2) Skinny tyres. 700C x 23 to be precise. Where is the shock absorbtion? I wouldn't mind if I still had hair on my nutsack – at least that might take the sting out of it. But seriously; I could ride over a gnat's cock at the moment and it would make my teeth rattle.

3) The roads. Forgive my ignorance. I thought the money I paid in Vehicle Excise Duty was supposed to go towards the upkeep of the highways? Apparently not it would seem. I had to fight the urge to bunnyhop over potholes knowing that my fragile steed would probably fold and disappear up my anus. And so many different types of tarmac! Jeez…

4) Drivers. Some are great. Plenty of room, a smile, half decent approach speed and plenty of awareness. However, a brief note to the old lady that passed me on the road from Tunbridge Wells to Edenbridge in the old Toyota Starlet. If its bright red, has a flashing light, and is moving rapidly in front of you, chances are its probably not a figment of your imagination. Therefore if you clip it, you'll probably kill it. It being me.

I was supposed to be doing about 40 miles. Fairly hilly, Wadhurst-Frant-Langton Green-Edenbridge-Lingfield(Cup of tea at the old mans)Edenbridge-Tunbridge Wells-Frant-Wadhurst. But a nice ride nonetheless. Everything was fairly smooth until I got to Cowden, where a double snakebite ended my journey.

Ended my journey you say? What about your spare tube fella? Why didn't you just change the tube and get on with it? Because apparently when you pack your camelbak its vital that you check you're packing a road tube and not just shoving a 26" tube in.

In true Bullheart tradition it took me nearly three hours to walk the eight miles to my old man's place in Lingfield.

In my disco slippers.

In the heat.

I have a blister on my right foot that is bigger and pinker than a baboons arse.

Bloody JOGLE….

And somehow I've split the rim too.

Bollocks.

Ooh phones just chimed to remind me to donate.

On to it now.

Here for anyone else interested.

http://www.justgiving.com/TheBullheartJOGLE2010

And somehow I've split the rim too.

Have you thought about a new saddle?

(to deal with the roughness of the roads obviously, no smutty double entendre's round here)

No I hadn't.

The saddle is pretty comfy. And I have a Charge Spoon if things really do get bad.

I'm thinking of upping the volume of the tyre to a 28. What do you reckon?

28, if it'll fit do it, there will be a little bit of an air chamber there.

I'll put my neck on the line and say that anyone who isn't stick thin doesn't look pretty on a road bike, we just look oddly proportioned!

VED is pretty much now just another form of general taxation or even environmental tax, so I'm afraid your VED hasn't done much for the potholes. Don't forget to record the location of each pothole you find, then you can report them to the appropriate local authority on your return home.

New saddle might be good, but just make sure you avoid a problem like this:

Tyres – if you can't fit a 28, then you still ought to be able to get a 25 on. It will make a difference from a 23.

Don't jam the pressures up to the max, but remember, you're a big man, so enough pressure will help avoid flats. I'd aim for a minimum of 100psi.

Ride – You'll get used to the hard ride. If you're struggling, consider double taping the bars. You can also get gel pads to go under the bar tape.

Gears – the big ring is the only one for you, Bullheart.[/url].

That is the greatest website I've ever seen. Period.

I laughed so much I nearly pissed myself. Epic, jaw-dropping and hysterical all in one go.

Jesus. 😯

Epic, jaw-dropping and hysterical all in one go.

It's your calling, fella.

Small donation made –
Another contact in south-west Edinburgh / Pentlands here; accommodation, storage, tea, beer etc. all yours for the asking.
Would be an honour to ride a few miles in support of your efforts too – will keep an eye out for the route.

Petesgaff – Is you email in profile correct? if so, YGM.

Ahhhhh that didn't arf make me laff, and reminded me why I ony have mountain bikes!!

Donated. Don't forget my offer of food/refueling at Bristol and I'd love to ride out with you for a bit too!

I knew this thread had to go downhill sooner or later ( pun intended ), you're all talking about tyres again 🙂

End of the month and payday so they'll be some pennies from me and mr bunnyhop tomorrow.

bunnyhop x

I did Lejog last year and would do it gain tomorrow. I fitted a pair of Mavic Kysirium Equipe wheels and never shed or losened a spoke over the 935 miles we did on it. The other lads ran my spare wheels at various times whilst their wheels were being fixed.
As for weight/tyre choice I was 17 stone and switched to 25mm Michelin Krylon Carbon tyres-used them for the training and the ride and they were brilliant in the dry and wet. I had one slow puncture on a very worn (read flattened tread) rear when I crossed some sharp edged glass and despite some horrendous roads ran at 110psi never pinched.
The worst thing for me was the saddle sores that took days to clear/not hurt so loads of chamois cream and Assos shorts is the key. (My altura Progel ones set the sores off).
And donation is on the way, you still inspire me and no doubt many others to MTFU when we bitch about our trivial problems.
Enjoy it its a fantastic experience. 😛

Donated all I can mate.

Best of luck to you, your an inspiration.

Unbelievable response from all of you regarding the JustGiving page, offering places to stay and riding with us. A lot of folk are asking about the route, and I was going to post it on Sunday night after our 'Team Bullheart' meeting. But here are the basic details;

Day 0 – Sun 25.07.10
John O’Groats

Day 1 – Mon 26.07.10
Tongue

Day 2 – Tues 27.07.10
Culrain

Day 3 – Wed 28.07.10
Loch Ness
x
Day 4 – Thurs 29.07.10
Glencoe

Day 5 – Fri 30.07.10
Killearn

Day 6 – Sat 31.07.10
New Lanark

Day 7 – Sun 01.08.10
Carlisle

Day 8 – Mon 02.08.10
Slaidburn
Clitheroe

Day 9 – Tues 03.08.10
Chester

Day 11 – Thurs 04.08.10
Clun

Day 12 – Fri 05.08.10
Goodrich

Day 13 – Sat 06.08.10
Street

Day 14 – Sun 07.08.10
Okehampton

Day 15 – Mon 07.08.10
Perranporth

Day 16 – Tues 08.08.10
Penzance

If we pass near you and you fancy joining up with us, or have a garden big enough for our tent, or a comfy floor, give me a shout and we'll adjust the itinerary.

And don't forget to pass on the JustGiving link to all your friends!

http://www.justgiving.com/TheBullheartJOGLE2010

Cheers folks,

Mark

I think you've got the dates slightly out of kilter towards the end. Nevertheless I'll make sure I get to Okehampton for a ride along.

When you ride from Goodridge to Street – do you know yet what road you'll be taking around or through Bristol? I can ride from Bristol to Street with you if it's welcomed.

If only I had known about your Cowden situation I'm only in Chiddingstone, A lot neaer than Lingfield, good luck on your ride, will be contributing. Ride like the wind. If you fancy company I have a 08 trek which has never been ridden since new, could be a good reason to dust it off.

Inspiring read as always
donation done and disseminated on facebook

Payday has arrived so I've gladly made a donation to what is a great cause.

Will try to meet up with Team Fradgley when you get to Devon/Cornwall border to ride along until you drop me on the first hill 😥

Have donated. Wasn't gonna bother as its all a bit pathetic n that, but then you had to put a picture of a dog on your donation page and I can't resist a cute pup *goes all giddly*.
.
.
.
.
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Of course its not pathetic at all, far from it. As long as you remember to bin the road bike afterwards… 🙂

Anyone thought about piecing this thread together into a book or something?

It is a great journey through time sort of story and would be an inspiration for anyone going through similar stuff.

Done the ligaments in my foot. Can't stand on it at the mo; JOGLE in 8 weeks.

In a fairly dark place right now…

Noooooo, come on fella. There's hundreds on here rely on you for positive thinking.
It takes two weeks to lose any long ride fitness
The rest will do you good
Road shoes are reet stiff soled, so may support the injury
Swimming is a good way to train too
It'll hurt to walk to the fridge while resting, so the beer/cheese and crackers consumption will be kept at bay..

There's more – come on folks, your positive thoughts need channeling

oooh, what did you do ?

Hopefully will heal plenty soon enough to keep on schedule, and a bit of cross-training in the meantime won't hurt (how about a swim? – oh, shit, now you'll be entering a triathlon 😉 )

I'm pretty sure that finishing something like this relies more on guts & pigheadedness than training miles so I reckon you'll be fine Mark

Chin up mate – reassess in a week AND DON'T GIVE UP IN-BETWEEN, you know you can do this

Don't worry too much. I'll cut the f*cking foot off, remove a crank arm and do it with one leg if I have to – I just wish it hadn't happened. Absolutely innocuous too; getting into bed, rotated and it popped.

Twatting bastard foot.

I'm very angry.

Tape the bugger up and you'll be fine. I would love to accompany you lot for the day between new lanark and carlisle.

Just left you a few quid, Mark, and you and the support team would be very welcome to stay at our place. We live just outside Skipton, not that far from Clitheroe, got beds, showers and food if that's any use to your itinerary? Claire