On note from Tam - on my way home...

Hello everyone,

So its all over and everyone should be home safe and sound by now...
Although I will probably have more to say as the time goes on and I catch up on some sleep - for now I would like to say the BIGGEST THANKS to all the great cyclists and our support team!!
It was a fantastic week with great highs, some lows and many many laughs- so thank you to all of you who were part of it either riding , supporting , sponsoring etc!!

I am looking forward to collating all our pics and stats so that I can post them here as soon as possible. ..but please feel free to use/comment on the blog as much as you like...

My best wishes to you all

Tammy
PS I am already missing all the ducklings!!

WE'VE DONE IT! TRAT update, day 6 pm - Pierre

Hurray!

 

We’ve done it. The group crossed the line at John O’Groats just after 8:00pm, having cycled 153 miles since Aviemore. The final 75 miles were just stunning with great weather, tail wind, and clear views over the North Sea. There were some cracking climbs too out of Hemsdale – our last opportunities to chase Bruce at flat-out climbing speed. Loved it. I wish Britain was hillier. BST should really consider a Lands End to John o’Groats that takes in the Alps on the way…

 

After fixing a last minute puncture before Wick (which provided the local midges with an opportunity to have cyclists’ blood for dinner), Neil found some new energy and took a 20 miles turn at the front to bring the excited group to the end of the country. Fewer and fewer “EASE UP” shouts could be heard from Erica (the group public address system – and a great wee lassie!) as even tired riders decided to get a move on. We took our wind jackets off to look good (very important) as a group on the finish line, and cycled through a shower of champagne whilst Hiten’s car stereo blasted Scottish bagpipes music! I am sure I was not alone in shedding a few tears of joy behind my shades. Called Jenny, Mike and texted my friends. Then drank champagne and paused for the obligatory pictures. TRAT 2008 was in the bag.

 

WHAT A RIDE! Britain is actually quite a big country.

 

We stayed at the “famous” Sandra’s budget Backpakers hostel in Thurso – which provided the group with an opportunity for hysterical laughter. Does this place really exist in Scotland? If you are curious about it, go and check it out for yourself!

 

Here are, then, the final stats for the 2008 TRAT:

881 miles cycled, incl 5 miles navigational error at Carlisle (and not even a sore bum)

56 hours 45’ in the saddle – LEJOG could be cycled a lot faster. I’ll try again.

9675 metres of total ascent (equivalent to climbing Mount Everest + 1 Munro, from sea level, in 6 days)

30,000 kcal of energy burnt (by each rider) – the equivalent of 10 marathons, or 14 days of food.

 

Bloody brilliant. I will never forget this ride. And all the children it will have helped in South Africa.

 

Pierre

 

 

 

Nearly There!!!

Right....am off from Golspie to John O'Groats to see them cross the finish line!

Next Blog.....John O'Groats!

Regards to you all...

Hiten

Some more photos

Mike Rainton calling Lowestoft College

Approaching the end! Can we make it? 70+ miles to go.

Howard is going like a rocket! What a tremendous team effort....fantastic support....and a great atmosphere.

Many thanks to all my magnificent Foundation Students, colleagues, and friends and family who have helped me raise £2000+

Many, Many thanks

You are the best!

Michael Rainton

Howard's day 6 lunch

80 miles done today and only 70+ to go. It's been amazing how far we have come in 6 days.

800 miles clocked up and we have seen some interesting characters and very amazing people along the way. egetarians rule and the food we have eaten to do this has clocked up £3000. The group have been fantastic and have put up with my one liners all the way!

See you all soon.

Alay alay

H

ps - i've lost a stone!

Day 6 - Alex

Dear Mum, Dad, Saskia & the fur balls.

Have filled the stomach to the brim again hopefully for the last time - need some fruit and veg!

70+ miles to go - legs quite stiff, right knee swollen but 6 Ibuprofen a day works a treat!

Looking at sinking 6 real ales & a few drams of the good stuff tonight followed by 48 hours solid sleep!

See you all soon

luv Alex

from Bruce

....Nearly There!!!

It's been emotional.

love Bruce

Ant's Blog 27th June

Northern Scotland - the Final Frontier!

Gorgeous weather, scenery just fantastic and hardly any people!

So looking forward to seeing you guys again.

Huge hugs to all

Love Ant xxx

From Charlotte - day 6

Dear Mum

My bum looks like a baboon's backside. please send large tub of Sudocream to John O'Groats.

Love Charlotte XX

From Erica - day 6....

..and finally I manage to put a message on the blog. we're at our final lunchstop 11/12 of the way here...woo hoo!

I think I am actually going to make it. Can't wait to start celebrations tonight and will carry on celebrating for the next four weeks!

It's been an absolutely fantastic six days, albeit a little painful and exhausting from time to time. There's been sweat and tears, but fortunately no blood!

Thanks a million for all the the encouraging texts and messages,they've really helped!

See you soon

Erica

From Pierre - Day 5pm & Day 6am UPDATE

It took over 10 hopurs of riding yesterday to reach Aviemore: it's some distance from Biggar! A lot of groans and 'ease up' shouts were heard at the back of the peloton - and a lot of other strange noises too (some people seem to be using propulsion engines...).

The chips at Kingussie were the fattest ones I have ever seen - and delicious too they were.

Last night ''Athletes Angels' were just stunning.....

Start at 6.30 am this morning - through to Inverness (with a 40mph downhill section). We were overtaken by minis doing LEJOG, tractors doing LEJOG and also a granny cycling LEJOG. Any slower and i'll officially lose my balance. Now at St Andrew's church in Golspie having a fab lunch.We're 75 miles away from target and still feeling great (at least one of us are....)

Pierre

The Final Push! day 6 Golspie Lunchstop

(14.40 hrs)

Dear Friends,

...and so the final push from our lunchstop at Golspie to the promised land of John O'Groats has finally begun!

After an absolutely amazing hospitable reception at Golspie in the local St Andrews Church, with the ladies of the parish laying on a huge variety of cakes and puddings for the team, the riders set off around 14.15 for the final 70+ miles of their 6 day journey.

The weather here in the Northern corner of Scotland today could not be better, with blue skies, a warm sun, and light winds.

Even after 5 and a half days of cycling, the team looked in wonderful spirits and were eager to eat up the miles to their final destination.

So upwards and onwards they go.........

But before they left, here are a few words above they asked me to blog on their behalf, before setting off...

.......................next blog John O'Groats!

Kind regards

Hiten

Jonathan's first entry

y e



Fifth day, lunch and I finally get around to making some contribution to the blog.

We've been very lucky with the weather, wind behind almost all the way. Been through nearly every emotion since Land's End nevertheless but thanks to my ever cheery disposition I manage to lift everyone's spirits whenever things get tough, and you shouldn't listen to anyone who says any different.

Present positions

King of the downhill : Sam
King of the hills: Me probably, but I let Bruce take the honours on Shap
Best old, old timer: Mike
Best French cyclist: Pierre just edges it
Best Scot after me: Neil
Most relaxed (slowest): Chris

I'll make up the others later. Mike the race director wants us back on the road. Aviemore calls.

Jonathan

Colinton Reunion + Biking Chaos - Pierre's update, DAY 5 am

It was SO nice to leave Biggar in the beautiful light this morning, and push through to Edinburgh. There by the side of the road, a whole bunch of people came to support us: my wife Jenny, two daughters Zoe (11, who served us cakes), and the wee one Marie (6, who told me "you're not smelling good, papa...), Ian & Glen, local school children and lots of work colleagues: boss Colin (who surely would look good on a bike), cyclist-to be Gill, two bike nuts Craig & Gemma, who joined us for a few miles and did some work at the front a little... Great. We were a little late to join then in Colinton as fellow English TRATters kept stopping to enjoy the views. Perhaps they were just tied. As we cycled crossed the Lanark road, Brian and Pam were there too with a gigantic PIERRE sign. Wow!

This thing really is turning into a complete bike chaos. 3 of my wheels are doing the trip, Mike is using Andy's bike, and Andy, the other Mike's bike (what is that about?). Wheels keep breaking to bits, chains bursting (all these muscular thighs give them a hard time 9 hours per day), rims bukcling etc. Yesterday, I even wore someone's shorts I discovered in the evening (and he wore mine...). We share gels, sweat, bike oil (also works well as sun cream), tubes etc. This really is team work.

We are now in Bridge of Earn, just south of Perth, and about to push on up the road to Aviemore (some 85 miles away I believe - a doddle), when more Athlete Angels are lining up to attend to our muscular bodies. This is the life. Could I ever get tired of it?

Pierre

Grabbing lunch and an internet fix...

Really quick post as we've stopped for lunch four miles south of Perth and the lovely people of our support crew have got a 3G laptop set up for us.

We crossed the forth road bridge this morning and the weather's holding. We've got a fair wind behind us still and we passed the 1000km mark about 10km ago. I feel so much better than I did 1000km into the PBP, that's for sure.

It's a long one today, so we'll be out fairly late, but up here it doesn't get dark until... well, pretty much it doesn't get dark at all this time of year they tell me, so I think we'll be okay. I don't mind not getting so much sleep tonight as we've only got tomorrow to go before we hit JOG!!!

Thank you to everyone who's sending texts of support - they're keeping me going and it's really great to hear my mobile pinging away. Also, big thanks to Anth from YACF, who sorted out a spare Shimano 7 speed back wheel for Mike as we passed through Edinburgh this morning with about 90 minutes notice. What a result!

Going to get lunch now. 6000 calories a day means I have to do a lot of this:

Nom nom nom

Charlotte
xx

DAY 4 update from Pierre

Bad news today folks: Neil & I were beaten twice by an Englishman (Bruce!), up the two highest hills: Shap & the climb out of Moffat. We finished together at the top of Shap (just north of Kendal), some say, 4 minutes behind him. Bruce pretends he could have been sooner at the top, had he not had to fix a puncture on the way. Right! Neil & I were delayed too by having to rebuild our wheels... Anyhow, we all played had he time to play a game of chess or two before the rest of contigent arrived, some 20 minutes later...

Bishop Simeon Trust has explicitally fordidden any "bonking" amongst the TRAT riders. So as you can imagine, food is high on our agendas. I caught Bruce injecting himself with porridge this morning - a substance banned by the organisers (it enhances performance). Breakfast at 5:30, sausage roll at 8:30, bigmac & chips at 10:30, 3 bowls of soup at Gretna, stuffed bananas (with peanut butter and jam - a south african special) before Moffat at 2:00, cakes at 4:00 and then a huge dinner. None of us can just believe how hungry we always are!

Today was testing in many ways (in addition to the physical effort): weather turned awful at Carlisle when we all turned into drowned rats on bikes. This carried on for the best part of the day until Moffat, when miraculously the sun made an apparition and made the countryside look stunning. Just before Broughton, Neil broke his chain and rear derailleur! A bike is not much use without these: I towed him for a few miles to Broughton when we rejoined the group and the support van where an improvised bike swap was organised... We reached our destination at 7:30, some 13 hours after leaving Kendal (not all of that was cycling, I hasten to add). Thankfully the team was great and so was BST support. And hey: we're in Scotland at last, and ready to push on to Aviemore tomorrow.

Pierre

Day 4 just about over at 10pm.

Said goodbye to the Nuns of Levens at about 6am and some tired legs set off the hills.

Bruce continues to hold the Polka Dot jersey having seen off the Scots & the French on Shap Fell and the Devil's Beef Tub (nr Moffat).

Weather appalling as we departed the grim North of Carlisle, and Scotland welcomed the peloton with more rain and even more HGVs.

Riders and bikes still holding up well, but I think the next 2 days are going to be LONG.

Team spirit is just fantastic and the support team are treating us like roylaty - huge thanks to all

Love to Lizzie, Toby & Theo....and if you get a chance some cortisone on arrival at Luton would be fantastic.

YouTube video now online!

Hello everyone

We're in Toftcombs House in Biggar and it's rather posh here. We've just had dinner and I've had some time to find an internet connection. Hurrah! We're online again!

I just thought you'd like a link to the thread on YACF where one of the members has posted a fantastic YouTube video of us all on day 2, just north of Bristol.

You can read the whole thread here - along with one or two comments from members...

Charlotte

Dear all TRAT observers

A massive APOLOGIES for the lack on contact/posts on this blog - due to the route and ack of 3 signal our dongle has been super useless!!

However we have just stopped off in Gretna after a great yet quite wet morning to upload some pics that I hope will speak for themselves... They're a range of shots from Day 2 , 3 and 4.

I know others hope to Blog this evening at our night stop in Biggar, so I am hoping you will all get more "interesting" news from them later...

For now ....

Cheers ,

Tammy

FW: TRAT update day 3

 

 

 

DAY 3 - 440 miles in the bag.

Day of rest today. Only 145 miles (4000ft of ascent) to Kendal, cycling passed Liverpool etc. This is a flat country (read boring) with lots of roundabouts and drivers in a rush. Weather conditions were again perfect: sunny and a south wind. We travelled at over 16mph as a group all the way up. Today, I developed the art of wheelsucking.

New conversations have emerged in the group: how much food one can eat, body parts becoming numb... more specifically:
the rear. One rider has even developed a new skill: applying cream to sensitive parts on the fly. Very handy on the TRAT.

There is definitely an English/Scottish/French "thing" going on this ride... with each nation being equally represented at the top of each climb. English TRATters are probably wondering if all Scots speak with a french accent. We have to wait till tomorrow to find out...

Bruce offered me a kind present tonight: a 3 amp fuse he found at the bottom of his tool box - "in case you need it if you blow one tomorrow". No such luck my friend. Tomorrow, we are off to Scotland.

Pierre

FW: TRAT update, days 2

 

 

DAY 2

The team cycled 155 miles on Monday from Taunton to Much Wenlock, over what was described to us a "slightly lumpy" terrain... Total ascent was 5500ft, and calories burnt also 5500. Some lumpy terrain that! At the end of the day some hills were so tough that swearing was even heard in the peloton.

We reached our destination at nearly 8pm, having cycled 9.5 hours (av speed 16.5 mph). Bed was in an isolated barn, half a mile up a path at the top of highest hill around. Cyclocross to the finish! And also 3 punctures.

But it was all worth it, as 3 "Athlete Angels" were waiting for us, ready for action. Super. We each swallowed at least 2 plates of pasta ( I did 3) and then went to bed.

Moment of the day: being greeted by a whole classroom of children as we cycled to Gloucester's town square at lunchtime.

Pierre

Lands End

...and here we go!

...early Morning at Lands End!

Day 1 update from Pierre & Neil

We made a great start to the TRAT today: we enjoyed stunning views of the sea in the morning light as we left Lands End, and all of us were delighted to have finally crossed the starting line after the group photo: training is officially over - this is the real thing.

Weather was good all day, with sunshine most of the day and a unbelievable tail wind for whole of the 155 miles: it does not get much better! Total ascent today was 9000 ft and calories burnt in excess of 5000kcal. Cornwall and Devon definitely are not flat. The 12 cyclists worked together well, and the BST support team was fab.

An ideal start, and we are told, this was the toughest day! Only 140 miles on the menu tomorrow

Pierre & Neil

So they’re off…

They were safely away at 6:50 with a bit of a tail wind, semi-blue skies and some sunshine!!
Whilst some were showing some nerves- the team was in good spirits and all 12 were just so keen to “get this show on the road” and make a start for Launceston – our first lunch stop at about 12.

I will be sure to upload more pics and give more updates as soon as we have chatted to the cylists en-route!

Best wishes ,
Tam

PS Alex and Joe your Dad sends a big hug and hello!!

We're on the road again......!!!

Hello Riders and loved ones everywhere!

And so it has all begun...!

On a wet and grey morning at Watford Junction this morning, we pulled up our convoy and collected the our riders for the the long drive down to Land End.

On board the minibus, driven by our support team of Brian and Barbara, are Erica, Charlotte, Chris, Howard and Alex, and Sam.

The main support vehicle, driven by Allan Flowers, is on it's way to Swindon as I write, to pick up Race director, Mike Hopkins. And myself and Tammy are in the small support/safety vehicle just behind the minibus on our way south.

And with the wonders of this mobile internet access, I hope to be able to update the progress of the ride along the journey.

Until the next post....I wish you all well!

Kind regards

Hiten
07932 733014

"Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative and creation, there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred.

A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favour all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance which no man could have dreamed would have come his way.

Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it.

Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.

Begin it now."

William Hutchinson Murray

Scottish Mountaineer

(18 March 1913–19 March 1996)

Quoted in

The Scottish Himalayan Expedition (1951)

Dear Friends,

After many months of preparation, the time has finally arrived to bring all of those thousands of miles of training, which have involved, indeed for many of you, blood, sweat, tears, and the inevitable sacrifice in time, emotion, and distance within the lives of your families and loved ones….to this moment in time. The beginning.

You are aware that you’ve already cycled a quarter of the circumference around the world in training before you even arrive at the starting line at Lands End. It’s truly a remarkable achievement. Your dedication, passion, and commitment to the challenge has been truly inspiring.

As you bring your training and experience to that moment that begins at 6am on the morning of the 22^nd June 2008, and whilst your eyes focus on that point Northwards, I hope you may be able find a moment of quiet to reflect on The Race Against Time, and what your ride and sponsorship will mean to people who will benefit from your endeavours, but may never know of you and your boldness, power and genius in participating in this event. Maybe herein lies the magic, for it positively changes lives, for the thousands we can help at least, and hence why your sponsorship money remains paramount, and will continue to do so.

It is a genuine race against time, and with the statistics that you have become familiar with, it’s hard to reconcile what statements such as, ’11 teachers dying every day’, and, ‘5.7 million orphans predicted by 2015’, as a result of the HIV/AIDS pandemic in South Africa actually mean. What use would calculating a total for the statement, ‘every 15 seconds an African dies of HIV.AIDS’ over the time you have trained for the event, if it remained unchallenged?

So, perhaps the greatest challenge you have committed to undertake, is to challenge the status quo of HIV/AIDS in South Africa, and to provide real hope, real change, and real tangible help and support to those that would otherwise receive nothing against the tide of this almost unreal pandemic. Nothing is ever insignificant. Of course, that is the real heart that underlays The Race Against Time, and I hope in the years to come when you remember this event, you’ll remember yourselves as, not only superb athletes that faced a challenge of physical and metal endurance, but also as individuals that did not leave a great concern unchallenged.

So it is with genuine gratitude from everyone here at the Bishop Simeon Trust, for your dedication, inspiration, and determined spirit in supporting us and helping us carry on the important work in supporting the many beneficiaries living difficult lives in South Africa. And whilst the next few days of your lives will involve a grueling adrenaline filled 6 day challenge, with aches and pains, and sore bottoms, and 900 miles of adventure, we also hope that they are filled more so with fun, laughter, friendship, and a freedom of spirit and memories that remain with you for a lifetime.

From everyone at The Bishop Simeon Trust……wishing you a safe, enjoyable, and good old-fashioned grand adventure!

Kind regards and all of our best.

BST

To the riders of The Race Against Time 2008

When I set this up in 2003 I had no idea that it would inspire a passion in so many people to do the end to end in this short time.

This is the first year I've not been involved in TRAT since it started and it's fantastic to hear all the news about your training and

how many of you are riding this year - not to mention the wonderful bikes you might be riding as well. Reading the messages

Stuart has passed on fills me with the same sort of excitement I had in 2003. There must be an anxiety there as well, as there

often is before you embark on something as exciting and daunting as this challenge.

I wanted to write to you to wish you all every success on your journey in The Race Against Time 2008, both individually and

as a whole team. I hope the weather is kind to you and especially that you get a great tail wind on the last day up Helmsdale

and Berrydale! This is a wonderful country with great beauty all the way through - seeing it at 15mph is special and you'll

dine out on it for years to come. You are doing a most fantastic thing for a great cause and my heart will be with you every

mile of the way until you reach John O'Groats.

So good luck, keep strong in your body and especially your mind, and God Speed all the way!

Ciaran

Established in 1989 to continue the vision and courageous work of Simeon Nkoane the Trust enables us to make a difference in the lives of South Africans who remain caught in poverty, without education or a chance to thrive. It funds formal and informal education projects, training for young people, adult literacy, training for small business start-ups, pre-schools, and care projects for adults and children in HIV affected families to name a few. HIV in South Africa has exploded into all areas of work, and the Trust has responded to its local partners’ initiatives in tackling the impact on the poorest people.

I have been personally involved with the Trust since its inception and am convinced the quality of the work it does in hidden areas of South Africa, in places other funders do not reach. Last year, over 3,000 people were directly helped with education and care of all kinds. Since 1994 the Trust has supported vital community projects run by local people and estimates that it has reached more than 20,000 people through its grants.

In every generation we are called to respond to the hungry cry of the child, to the hunger for education, to the redressing of injustice. The Bishop Simeon Trust is doing that every day, with your help. We can, of course, only surmount the difficulties that remain in South Africa after 48 years of legalised racism, with your hands holding ours. If you can, I urge you to support the Trust.

Emeritus Archbishop Desmond Tutu