Today I bought a Dell streak Tablet

And it is completely doing my head in. It has come very close to being launched at high speed out of my bedroom window today. However I must persevere or I wont be able to blog while I'm in the States.

A weekend in the land of the Concrete Cow

. . . also known as Milton Keynes which was my home for over 20 years and which probably accounts for my strange Yorkshire accent. It was great to catch up with old friends before my departure but after over eating and drinking for most of the weekend I thought some exercise would be in order. So Saturday was a 27 mile ride to Stoke Goldington with  'Sarah the Spinning Queen'  where I had the pleasure of meeting her Mum and sister Rachel again (who now has two lovely children) who I had not seen for at least 15 years.
Monday was a 45 mile ride south of Milton Keynes with my Godson Jack. All I can say that if you're an old bloke on a bike and you think you're quite fit go out on a ride with a 16 year old teenager to give you a reality check.

Oh and Noel Edmonds will be pleased to know that the concrete cows are still there although they seem to have been relocated to the city centre

Training Log
Rides                   24
Miles                   1107
Average               46
Tea Stops            48

If your freehub breaks 25 miles from home and you've forgotten your wallet

. . . it's really useful to have Spa Cycles finest mechanic riding with you and a friend with a credit card. Apparently it's very rare but it happened to me on the Wednesday EG's ride last week. What appeared to be a harmless little click 10 minutes before lunch escalated to full freehub breakdown. That's the bit that the rear wheel spokes attach to for the uninitiated.
After a detailed inspection by Norman (of Spa Cycles fame) the prognosis did not look good so a trip to the nearest cycle shop was needed. And as luck would have it, Easingwold Cycles was just round the corner.
For a bargain £24.99 they came up with a new rear rim, and they very kindly fitted the cassette tube and tyre from the old wheel free of charge, so I didn't even get my hands dirty!
Problem was I didn't have £24.99 but fortunately Eric the Mad (see EG's ride report Feb 2nd) came to my rescue and stumped up the cash.
Otherwise a very enjoyable ride and another 55 miles on the log.

Training Log

Rides                   22
Miles                   1035
Average               47
Tea Stops            47

Just received a letter from my MP

Only 25 days to go

. . . and my training continues with two more 50 plus rides under my belt. Mother's Day duties meant I had to cut short Sunday's ride so I took out the expedition bike fully loaded and clocked up 35 miles. A very pleasant ride to the cafe at Thorpe Arch and back.

It's been a great week for sponsorship though so I think the features in the Yorkshire Press ( and now the Harrogate Advertiser) are having an impact. Currently over £2300 raised so nearly halfway towards my target. So thanks very much to all of you have donated and of course those of you that are going to but haven't quite got round to it yet :-)

But the best news for me today is that the broken crown that has been giving me grief for the last four weeks has finally been fixed. Thank you Dentist and I hope I don't hear the sound of your drill again for a very long time!

Training Log

Rides                   21
Miles                   980
Average               47
Tea Stops            45

Despite my recent celebrity status

. . . I have still managed to continue the training schedule but obviously I am now having to choose my route very carefully to avoid bringing Harrogate and surrounding area to a standstill.

Nevertheless 62 miles clocked up on Sunday through "Wonderful Wharfedale" including 3000' of ascent and 63 miles yesterday with the EG's to Thirsk and beyond and back. As you can see the numbers are getting bigger.

And by popular demand from my 'more cynical' friends' I have now included a tea stop count.

Training Log

Rides                   19
Miles                   875
Average               46
Tea Stops             42

My 15 minutes of fame

. . .  have finally arrived. Woke up this morning and nearly choked on my porridge to find that the Yorkshire Post and the Yorkshire Evening Post have both run features on my ride. Click on the pictures to see both reports.

And of course this is all down to my wonderful friends at Source Marketing Communications in Leeds. Who would have thought that 45 years later little freckle faced Steve who wanted to play football with the big boys in the playground at Temple Moor School would have such power and influence. I guess I'll have to buy them all yet another drink this weekend!

And as I was walking home after delivering 500 leaflets in Harrogate I came across this!