The weak autumnal sun is warming my toned but now weary body. The gentle tailwind is like a friend’s hand on my back, taking the sting out of the climbing. To the right the loch, shimmering azure, improbably Mediterranean. To the left an abandoned croft. Ahead my 2 riding companions sharing a silent joke, their shadows silently mirroring their fluid progress along the otherwise deserted road.

John o’Groats is under an hour away.  We have already got the emotional bit out of the way at our last coffee stop to avoid having to do it publicly as we crossed the finish line. Thanking each other for the support when we were finding the going tough, for the camaraderie and the laughs, for the extra layers of clothing loaned, for the longer stints ridden at the front into the wind, for the best line to follow on those crazy descents.

We have done it! Lands End to John o’Groats in 9 days without a break. Almost 1,000 miles ridden and 41,872 feet climbed, averaging 106 miles per day some of it in seriously challenging rain and wind. 700 riders and 300 supporting us all with a common goal – to finish the Deloitte Ride Across Britain 2012.

For me not finishing was out of the question.  I had signed up 9 months earlier. As a 60 yr old veteran of numerous cycling events I knew I needed a really serious challenge if I was to raise £10,000 in sponsorship for the Sam Keen Foundation.  The SKF was set up following the recent death of my nephew from malignant melanoma. The money is to fund research at the Royal Marsden Hospital. The RAB ticked all the boxes; tough surely especially with camping, the iconic End to End route and although the default charity was the very worthwhile British Paralympic Association, there was no problem riding for my own preferred charity. I had a lot riding on this event.

But I nearly didn’t even start.. In April I needed surgery to restore function to my right hand which had suddenly lost all power. I had never heard of Handlebar Palsy, but years of cycling had caught up with me. I was told my condition might be permanent but was very lucky and the operation worked. It had meant though a period off the bike and a dent in my confidence. It was not until July that I was able to ride normally so I only had 2 months to catch up.

The day eventually came and we were at Lands End. It was only then that I began to appreciate the huge amount of organisation that goes into making an event of this size possible. The camp itself looked like a cross between a rock festival and a refugee camp. Row upon row of identical green pop up tents pitched with geometrical precision., an enormous dining marquee, secure bike parking (guard on duty round the clock and you and only remove a bike bearing the same number as your wrist band), Wi fi, hot showers, mechanic area, medical tent, massages, information point, chill out area, free newspapers.

Day 1. 5.30 am and we wake to Freddy Mercury singing that he wants to ride his bicycle.  So do I – bring it on!

Day 4 and a bad start. Riding 106 miles on 2 hours sleep is not in the training manual.  I was pretty miserable when dawn broke and it was time to do it all again.

But the support of others is powerful medicine, one being an Olympic gold medalist, although she did not realize the therapeutic effect she had on me. I had dragged my weary self rather late to the catering tent and, looking up sadly from my bowl of porridge saw that Rebecca Romero was sitting  opposite me. We chatted and the extraordinary magic of this event regained its hold on me.

Day 5. As I sat in the warmth of the catering tent after another grueling day it was hard to reconcile this with the scene outside, a cross between Glastonbury the Somme.

Tonight’s base camp was under 6 inches of water and we had been warned to prepare for a challenging night. The crew had done an excellent job of mitigating our discomfort but you can’t drain a swamp overnight.

The drying room was an Aladdin’s cave of posh, fetid Lycra and cycle shoes.

My cunning plan (and there was so much that smacked of an episode of Blackadder) was to keep wearing my sodden cycling shoes but inside them to have layers of socks, survival foil and a freezer bag. This way I keep my ordinary shoes dry. The penalty might be trench foot but you can’t have everything.

Rush hour Wigan in torrential rain,  really attacking  the first 30 miles to keep warm and being rewarded by eventually emerging on to rural roads again.

At one point Sarah Storey sped past. I jumped on her wheel and stayed in her exalted company for 15 minutes before dropping back to resume my rightful place in the anonymous peloton.

Climbing Shap Fell the rain was replaced by sunshine. The views were great but so was the effort needed due to the gradient and the cold strong head wind all the way up, and down. I did not know then that this was only a taster of what was to come.

Day 7. Hamilton to Fort William. This was always going to be the Queen Stage because of the distance and the remoteness of the region. 135 miles and the weather overnight had been atrocious with gale force winds bringing in squally showers all night. You notice that sort of thing in a tent. Breakfast was a sober affair with lots of worried, sleep deprived faces – and with good reason.

Amazingly the weather turned in our favour while we climbed up to Rannoch Moor with some sun and of course truly magnificent scenery. But the riding was brutal because of the ferocity of the headwind and occasional sidewind gusts projecting us across the road and we had to work very hard to make any progress. Both up and down! There is particular unfairness having to fight your way down a long descent after a gruelling climb but that is what Glencoe dealt us.

This had to be one of the hardest days I have ever had on a bike but one of the most rewarding too. It was truly uplifting to see riders helping and encouraging others and applauding in the slower riders who didn’t arrive in camp until after 8.00 pm

Day 9. The end of any journey can prove to be an anticlimax and waking up at 4.40am to the sound of rain falling on the tent didn’t help dispel the slight mood of sadness that had settled on the group at last night’s final briefing.

We have been living in a bubble during the RAB and bubbles have to burst. We will rush off to catch our transfers and carry on where we left off in the parallel universe where our normal lives exist. So for one last time I haul myself out of my cosy sleeping bag and prepare for another 104 miles. A task that would have been a lot easier if I had not mislaid my head torch some time during the night. Working by feel I locate my gear. then stagger over to the catering tent and join the line of other Lycra zombies shuffling along to fill digestive fuel tanks with quantities of food that would be obscene in any other context but on planet RAB represent Darwinian necessity.

Shuffle out for queue for loos (courtesy of the imaginatively named company WC in Fields), then a spot of communal outdoor teeth brushing. Fill water bottles. Locate my tent. With no torch I can’t read my tent number on my wrist band. In the rain and in my semi comatose state the search is akin to trying to locate one individual pebble on a beach. Pack my dank belongings and stagger over to dump my bag on the baggage transport. Re-unite with my poor bike, left out in the racking overnight at the mercy of the wind and the rain after another hammering day. You should only be for Sunday best and reside indoors displayed as a work of art. How will I ever make up to you for this abuse?

Roll out gently, no-one speaking yet, only sound is the mesmeric and strangely empowering ‘whissh’ noise as the high pressure tyres glide along the smooth, damp Tarmac.

We slowly increase speed and come to life. Snippets of conversation are caught as we overtake slower moving groups. We get up to cruising speed, someone starts singing to themselves, jokes from previous days are recycled. All peppered with the shouted warnings and signals of bunch riding. Must look and sound very odd to any pedestrian we pass. “HOLE”, “ON YOUR RIGHT”, “BUMP”, “GRAVEL” etc.

The rain clears and the weak northern sun pastel washes over the breathtakingly beautiful countryside. I am pleased I gambled well and renounced full wet weather gear. We reach the sea and continue along the ‘grippy’ cornich road. The water is an unreal deep blue.  Getting closer to the finish.  Our trio agree we need a coffee stop at the half way point. Knowing the end is so close is quite bitter/sweet. We are pretty exhausted and although by now are doubtlessly highly trained to cope with day after day of century rides, home and a different type of normality beckons.

We saddle up and finish what we started 9 days ago, gliding on towards JOG with the sun still shining on the glittering water. I hear the pipes droning and see the finish line ahead. People are cheering and waving at me. It feels good. We three friends cross the line together. We hear our names being announced over the tannoy system. There are medals hanging round our necks. Hugs all round. Pictures at the JOG sign. The crew are lining the finish area and performing a Mexican Wave style ‘wiggle dance’ as riders come in. I try to thank as many as I can before packing the bike and gratefully accepting a lift back to Inverness.

I have done it! In doing so I have now raised over £5,000 for The Sam Keen Foundation’s fight against malignant melanoma.

The organisation of the RAB itself was quite amazing. There were many challenges but the Deloitte RAB Team took it all in their stride with superb project management so that when there were problems it had all been factored in and there was a contingency plan. It seemed that there was an almost military precision about everything although the atmosphere was one of kindliness and support and this permeated through to the riders so that most of us saw it as our mutual responsibility to see each other through.

The guys on security duty at the bike pen, the caterers, the Birmingham University sports physiotherapy students giving free massages,  the medical team, constantly on standby with the Sudocrem and Vaseline, the Halfords bike mechanics who worked right through the night, the allocators of tents and dispensers of Powerade and information, the tent erectors, the shower attendants with their daily squeegee juggling act, the feed stop people, the front of house speakers at the briefings, the guest ‘celebrity’ speakers – everyone had one thing in common – a shared desire to make this event special and ensure that as far as possible each and every rider made it to John o’ Groats. They all really cared and this led to 700 riders pulling together and helping each other get through.

It was a privilege to take part and to witness so many relatively novice cyclists battle through day after very long day.

To quote one of my riding partners, the Ride Across Britain 2012 was a truly life enhancing experience.

Richard Barcan

This article is abridged and adapted from my Blog http://rabonrab.blogspot.co.uk/

To read about The Sam Keen Foundation please visit http://www.thesamkeenfoundation.com/

Cycling wise I’ve hit the road with a bump. We hired a 1972 VW camper van to tour Devon after Christmas – wonderful way to spend some family time by the way. The thing is, with a top speed of 50 mph and 3 munchkins in the back you learn to take things in and dwell longer and deeper at your destination. Anyway I digress. I decided to drive the camper back from Taunton to Okehampton and cycle back home – a piffling 60 miles for a RABber. Pas de problem mon dieu. Except there was one tiny tiny thing missing…..yup training & preparation. This became very evident as Devon’s hills started to work their magic. The language got colourful along with the frustratometer hitting the red zone. When you’ve been fit and then turned into a lazy git this is what happens. When I eventually got home Mrs Mack thought I’d emigrated to Australia.

Ah my lovely RAB 2013ers, you have much to look forward to, but please take heed from the tears I added to the flooded Devon hills today. As our Lord Andy Cook says, training is about regular and often. Andy is in Lanzarote (another tough assignment) for one of his cycling camps – these are a fantastic way to get your RAB base fitness in by the way. If you stick to the programme you will be the fitter and stronger than you thought possible and this is the key to enjoying the whole experience. We also have our Threshold training weekends when you can come and meet the crew and get familiar with how the ride will be. They’re good fun as cycling in groups is so much better.

The truth is post Deloitte RAB it’s been difficult to get motivated so I have signed up for a half iron man in September with Maz and the Threshold crew which will keep us fit enough to ride a stage or two with the Class of 2013. It’s all about having the goals there to get you out in these winter months.

More is in you

O’Conners of Okehampton are the camper people btw, if you fancy a little sojourn VW style.

‘The Deloitte Ride Across Britain was quite simply one of the most incredible and enjoyable experiences of my life following competing at the Olympic Games in London 2012.  The way the population created such a fantastic feeling of Britopia with such organisation, patriotism, and panache was unbelievable.

With my patriotism hat on, I set off on the Deloitte RAB with the idea that it would be such a great way to really see the rest of GREAT BRITAIN.  The only other expectation being that I would have to cycle over 100 miles day and get used to sleeping in a tent.  In the back of my head I imagined it almost as a post games training camp, but for once out of my own choice.

Well I couldn’t have imagined anything further from the truth.  From the moment I got off the train in Penzance and arrived at base camp one I was blown away by the organisation and infrastructure of the nomadic village laid out before my eyes.  Row upon row of an army of tents laid out with military precision, a fantastic food marquee where you could fulfil your culinary desires to your hearts content and for those as disorganised as myself spare bottles full of PowerAde for the next day.  This was capped off by the two main concerns of anyone who taken part in a long cycling trip, the piece de résistance: luxurious portable toilets and most importantly powerful hot showers.

My first impression was only be surpassed time and time again over the next 10-days, riding some of the most beautiful roads in the country with the route sign posting in fantastic detail, leaving me only to worry about my stamina and the timing of my next feed. Every bend in the road, or crest of a Cornwall hill met me with breath taking views has given me memories that are just special and rewarding as the Olympic Games themselves. The more pain I was in, the better the reward was, that’s what made it special. This was where I learned so much about the greatness within people, from the smiling members of the Threshold team greeting you with a cup of warm soup, to the courage and tenacity of the other riders in the event.

I watched a mother of two young children, a whippet of woman, who had never undertaken a physical challenge of this scale before in her life, day after day leave the camp at the crack of dawn and roll in at dusk to the next base camp.  I was amazed that she did not take off on one unusually windy day, let alone finish the ride.  Yet every evening sat round the dining tables tucking into our 6000-calorie extravaganza she had a grin from ear to ear.  She showed me how much this event can help an ordinary person like herself find so much more than they ever believed within themselves.  That in itself has inspired to want to find more ways in which I can explore even deeper within my self what I am capable of, and what better way to do it than on a bike.

The views at Glen Coe, the Highlands of Scotland, the ascent up through cheddar gorge, reaching the top of Shap Fell in the pouring rain, and the great friendships I made along the ride I will take away with me forever.  The Deloitte Ride Across Britain is one of the most incredible life changing experiences that have had the pleasure to be part and I can’t wait to be part of the next one.’

In order to ensure people could meet their connections, we opened the start line at 5.30am and the first riders headed out onto the dark roads with their rear lights blinking off into the distance. However, it wasn’t long before the sun was up and, other than a heavy passing shower, the day was set fine for the final run in to the most Northerly point of Britain.

The route North from Kyle of Sutherland is one of the most dramatic day’s riding in the UK. The route heads North on single-track roads winding it’s way along the River Naver until it hits the coast and heads East to the finish line. The views as the riders cycled in the sunshine with the wind at their back were incredible. The North Sea glittered in unseasonal sunshine with the Orkneys rising from the sea and the white lighthouses marking the headlands off into the distance.

In fast conditions, it wasn’t long until the first rider crested the ridge and dropped down to the finishing arch. After over 960 miles of hard graft through all conditions the sense of achievement was overwhelming for everyone. As more riders arrived in ever larger groups the scenes at the finish line were hugely emotional. Wives welcomed husbands, children hugged fathers, parents welcomed daughters and proud grandparents waited in anticipation for the rider they had come to see complete the challenge.

The variation in the emotions of the riders when they cross the finish line is huge. For the fittest completing the challenge is within their limits and it is about the position they have attained or the time they have set. For others it is the culmination of a fundraising challenge to which they have dedicated themselves for months. For some it is about regaining self-respect and confidence after a hard time in their lives and for others it is a celebration of shared experience with new friends. Bear hugs, high fives, tears and cheering filled the air around John o’Groats for about 5 hours as the music played and people grabbed cold beers before having their photo taken by the John O’Groats sign. All too soon the final riders came in with their escort of chaperones.

All too soon after the last rider arrived it was time to pack up bikes and load the trucks for the trip down South. It had been an incredible week for everyone with the usual mix of hard times and camaraderie. To explain the mood to those who were not there will always be hard. However, for those who went through the journey of Deloitte Ride Across Britain 2012 the memories will remain of a group of people brought together with one single goal and a single minded focus to try and achieve it. It is testament to the dedication and focus of the riders that over 95% of those who took part crossed the finish line this year. There will always be those who watch from the sidelines and say they could have done it, but there are not many who actually step up and take the challenge on. Deloitte RAB is for those who want to take that step and we take enormous pride in helping those who step up reach that goal.

We look forward to seeing many of you again in the future whether for a beer, a cycle or another Threshold event. Until then remember More Is In You.

Enter for 2013

Entries for the 2013 Deloitte Ride Across Britain open on Wednesday, 19th September at 1200. You can enter online here. If you would like to know more then have a look around the website or give us a ring on 0845 486 2012.

The route headed North East from our basecamp in the shadow of Ben Nevis (not that you could tell because of the low cloud), past the commando memorial in the Great Glen and then onto the banks of Loch Lochy and onto Loch Oich. The water was being whipped up into white horses which crashed against the edge of the road, but with the wind on the back the riders were eating up the miles in stark contrast to the battles of the previous day. Andy had promised another incredible day of scenery and we were not disappointed. In previous years we have been unable to take the less used route along the Southern edge of Loch Ness due to a music festival. However, this year we had the all clear and what a route it was.

Winding up a steep climb away from the Loch itself on a single track road the vistas opened up before the riders. Expanses of heather, open moorland and gnarled, windswept trees were interspersed by smaller Lochs nestled in the crags and dips. The scenery pushed them all on until they crested the climb and saw the road rolling away into the distance in front of them. Despite the hundreds of miles in the legs already, riders couldn’t suppress whoops and cheers as they tore off down the long descent, much to the despair of the multiple riders battling into the teeth of the wind coming up the other side as part of a local adventure race.

A quick stop later it was time to push on towards Inverness and round Beauly Firth. Days like Day 8 are the ones where you think you have earned the tailwind and and sunshine and can just enjoy the experience. Riders were reporting being about 4mph above their average as they sailed along with much less effort than before. That wasn’t to say it was easy though; 111 miles never is. The visually spectacular sting in the tail of the stage was the climb from Cromarty Firth up and over to Dornoch Firth. This climbed up high again at a steady gradient before finally coming over the top of the ridge and revealing a monumental view down across the estuary valley. Although the wind was howling across the top and the riders had to head West and push into it a bit more, the sight in front of them, the bright sunshine and the short distance left meant there was little complaining.

Then it was just the crossing of Bonar Bridge and just a couple of miles to the green field base camp at Kyle of Sutherland. With dry grass underfoot and the sun slowly going down over the now familiar set up, it was time to reflect a little on what everyone had achieved. Just 8 days previously we had set out from Land’s End in the mist unsure of what the elements would have in store for us all.  Since then the riders have been sunburned, frozen, parched, drenched and pretty much everything in between. We always hope the final base camp is dry and with the sun setting and the wind dropping over the hills last night we were treated to a fantastic finish. Riders were sat outside in the sunshine exchanging stories and daring to let themselves think that it is nearly over. Just 104 miles remain between them and their goal. It’s never over until the fat lady sings, but we can hear her doing a few arpeggios in the distance.

Day 9 –Kyle of Sutherland to John O’Groats, 104 miles

The final day takes riders from Kyle of Sutherland to John O’Groats. Leaving basecamp to head North they will cycle past Loch Shin and the famous Shin falls before riding through Lairgs and onto Strath Tirry and the remote pub “Crags Inn”. Next they’ll travel alongside the most picturesque and beautiful Loch Naver to Betty Hill and the Northern Coast of Scotland. The views along the coast road here riding in an easterly direction are truly fabulous. The view of the Orkney Islands on a good day is a fitting climax to the whole ride.

At breakfast there was a stoney silence as the riders ate at the earlier time of 5am and contemplated the challenge they were about to undertake. The advice of the team around kit, nutrition, safety, lights and pacing were all being heeded with people looking more wrapped up than usual against the elements. From the warmth of the dining tent the groups moved huddled to the start line as the wind and morning rain swept over them and final checks were done on the bikes that were to take them all that distance. Finally it was time to start the longest day.

The first section through Glasgow was a necessary requirement, but after that the scenery began to open up. Simultaneously the rain began to ease and the rich greens and purples and greys of the Scottish scenery began to be lit by stunning patches of sunlight and dotted with rainbows. At that point we could feel we were in for something special.With the number of pit stops doubled we were able to get reports of progress from all the riders throughout the day. After leaving them in the pre-dawn darkness in mute apprehension, the mood at the pit stops was entirely different. Inspired by the gradual easing of the rain and also the highlands rising up around them the mood was unified and resolute.

The day 7 route is arguably the most spectacular of the entire ride as it takes in the glorious scenery of the Trossachs and then up along the River Fillan and onto Rannoch Moor, Glen Coe and the Bridge of Orchy. For those who haven’t been up to this part of Scotland the sheer scale of the scenery is hard to describe. The enormous glacial valleys stretch for miles with the ribbon of tarmac guiding the riders as they are dwarfed by the towering mountains on either side. The mix of surging rivers and waterfalls, wide expanses of wind blown rock and heather and the deep, steel grey, wind tousled lochs were the perfect setting for the riders to rise up and meet the challenge in front of them.

Although progress was good from all the riders and reports from pit stop 2 were of good spirits, it wouldn’t be a truly epic day unless the weather held something in reserve. As the riders crested the climb at Glen Coe they met their match. Instead of an incredible sweeping descent, riders were greeted with a headwind which has been described as anything from between 30 and 80mph. Reports of people going 8mph downhill in their lowest chain ring were not uncommon. This seemed to be the sternest psychological test of the day with the relentless noise and buffeting of the wind draining the courage of all as they pushed on for hour after an hour into the endless wind.It was only when they hit the final pit stop at 116 miles that the road turned East and the wind was on their backs that the riders dared to believe they were nearly there. Pure elation and relief replaced the focus and grit of the preceding marathon effort as they were blown toward the base camp whooping and cheering as they went.

We had said the night before that the main priority was the safety of the riders, followed by getting as many of them across the line as we could. Keeping a close eye on rider fatigue, weather and road conditions we kept the chaperones, NEG riders and medi-bikes out on the road as the final courageous riders pushed on as night fell. Only 1h 30m behind the cut off we welcomed in the last rider. The feeling of seeing the last rider come in off the mountain surrounded by the dedicated support team was incredible. Everyone had risen to a massive challenge and performed.

The evening tents were buzzing with talk despite the extreme fatigue. The stories being told were getting taller every minute; the roads steepening and the headwind strengthening with every passing beer. A day like yesterday is what Deloitte Ride Across Britain is all about. There is no other event out there which brings so many people together and galvanizes them into a unit which can then achieve so much as one. People came in yesterday who swore they would not be able to finish the day. Strong riders rode on the front of weaker groups to bring them off the mountain. The boasts were not of time you got in, but the people you helped. Those people coming across the finishing line after 135 miles elated despite saying it was the hardest thing they have ever done are the true spirit of MORE IS IN YOU.

Roll on the final 2 days.

Day 8 –Fort William to Kyle of Sutherland, 111 miles

Riding from Fort William to Kyle of Sutherland begins by passing through the Great Glen and the memorial of the unknown soldier prior, to the first pit stop of the day at Fort Augustus. The route then follows alongside the banks of Loch Ness before cutting inland through Beauly to ride alongside the Cromarty Firth and ending up at Kyle of Sutherland. We continue to head into the wild north of Scotland as people give way to nature and the views unfold in front of the riders.

It was with relief that day 6 dawned clear and dry and the riders could get on the road again. After a damp start it was good to see people smiling as the bodies warmed up and the smooth flat roads took them towards Carlisle. It always seems that the lowest point for riders is when they stumble out of bed at 5.30am when the sky is still dark and the cold of the night is in the bones. However, after a pee, some tea or coffee, some porridge, cooked breakfast and a brushing of teeth the sky is bright again and they are ready to ride another 100 miles. Considering the majority of people spend their time in heated or air-conditioned offices, it is extraordinary how much time people spend discussing the weather. For Deloitte RAB riders though the difference between wind, rain, hot and cold is enormous. It affects everything from how you sleep, to what it is like on the camp. That said, the class of 2012 are a philosophical bunch and are taking it all in their stride.

The route of Day 6 took people along a steady flat stage up into Scotland. This meant that we had quiet wide roads for people to gather together and ride as one as the Scottish hills began to rise around them. The reports of the group-riding coming in remain positive with one example where a chaperone rode up to a group without his official gear on and the riders who had started the week with minimal knowledge were welcomed him in, explained rider etiquette, calls and hand signals before he politely informed them he was a highly experienced cycling coach. A proud moment for Route Director Andy Cook.

With far fewer traffic lights or junctions to contend with the pace was quick with all the riders in well before the broom wagon cut off at 7pm. After the wet of Hutton-in-the-Forest it was a welcome relief to be on solid ground at Hamilton racecourse. The site was equipped with the usual things, but with a comfy bar, a huge dining tent and plenty of dry floor the riders spread out and basked in the warmth in preparation for a big Day 7

Due to wanting to get the riders through Glasgow when they were fresh, Day 7 had always been scheduled as big one. We made the call early to put in a ‘Queen stage’ of 127 miles. However, with the inclement weather causing a landslide and over-running bridge works on the route we have had to extend this to 134 miles! During the briefing there was a tense atmosphere as the team ran through the coming day. The focus for everyone was to be on two things.

1. Safety of all riders on the road and at basecamps.
2. Ensuring we get as many people across the line as we can

In a change from the usual light-hearted banter, it was a time to all focus in and to do everything possible to ensure the above. Advice on kit and nutrition strategies from James Cracknell was accompanied by pacing advice from Andy Cook and also an appeal to the riders to help one another. With bad weather forecast, Day 7 may well be the defining day of the ride. Nobody will remember the fastest person, but all will remember those who help others in a dark patch and get them across the finish line as one. A day for More Is In You.

Day 7 –Hamilton to Fort William, 134 miles

Riding from Hamilton Racecourse to Fort William is on a par with the first two days of the Ride with regard to toughness. The day begins with riders tackling the Glasgow suburbs to the East of the city, prior to crossing the Campsie Fells, skirting the edge of the Trossachs and passing through Glen Ogle. Then, they will cross Rannoch Moor and the famous Glen Coe Pass before finishing for the night at Fort William. The final ten miles of the day are flat! However, this is the longest stage on Deloitte RAB at 134 miles. It should be noted that the climbs in Scotland are much less steep but tend to go on longer… With strong Westerly winds in prospect it’s going to be a tough one.

However, as usual the chain gang assembled at the start in a variety of waterproof jackets, overshoes and other neon paraphernalia although flippers and goggles might have been more suitable with the amount of rain falling. The start of the day was one of only a few sections of Deloitte Ride Across Britain where we need to go through more built up areas and once Wigan and Preston were out of the way we headed into the Lakes. However, the day was a little different with James Cracknell and Sarah Storey joining in. Despite the weather, Sarah spent the day riding through the field chatting to people while those daring enough looked to hop onto her back wheel for a few miles/metres and experience what it is like riding with a multiple Paralympic gold medalist. It was great to have both James and Sarah there as people who have been involved with the ride from the beginning. The fact that they picked a miserable weather day to ride and kept smiling throughout showed the respect they have for all those who are doing the whole lot.

The challenge of the day was always going to be the climb at Shap. This is one of the most famous climbs in England, and was being used by the Tour of Britain at the same time as us. As the climb approached the sodden riders gritted their teeth and started the steady 9 mile climb.  For the earlier riders this climb was shrouded in cloud and rain and they wasted no time at the top before descending the 25 miles to the basecamp at Hutton in the Forest near Penrith. However, for those in the middle of the pack they were treated to a fly past from some of Britain’s top cyclists with Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish both taking part in this year’s Tour. After they had flown through the riders continued to crest the pass with those towards the back end of the field enjoying clearing skies and incredible vistas of the Lake District on all sides.

Everyone welcomed the basecamp coming into view with the stunning stately home overlooking the tents with the hills of the Lake District sunlit in the distance. After a very long cold and wet day people wanted to get warm, dry and fed before resting the legs. Luckily the rain stopped around 4pm and although the ground remained wet the water was now under foot rather than falling from above. As the crew wrestled with the impact of the extreme rainfall the riders showed a great spirit as they helped one another lifting rucksacks, improvised waterproof overshoes with plastic bags and patiently waiting in the shower queue as riders languished in the relief of a proper hot wash. The evening entertainment was provided by a mix of James Bond on DVD in the chill out bar and some choice anecdotes from James Cracknell, Alex Partridge and British Paralympic Association Chairman Tim Reddish. Some of the anecdotes would not be ideal for retelling in a blog that children might read, but it provided welcome respite and perspective for what the riders were going though as they passed the 500 mile and halfway markers.

Day 6 – Hutton-in-the-Forest to Hamilton– 104 miles

Riding from Hutton-in-the-Forest to Hamilton riders will pass through Carlisle and then into Scotland for the first time. On the route they’ll pass Gretna Green, Lockerbie and the Annan Dale, providing fantastic views of the Lowther Hills. It is upon the approach to Glasgow and the Clyde Valley that we will will stop for the night at Hamilton racecourse, on the southern edge of Glasgow in preparation for a big day on the road for Day 7.

The 106 mile route between Ludlow and Haydock racecourses is the flattest of the entire week.  This allowed everyone from the fastest to slowest in the field to continue to hone their group riding skills as they pushed on past the Stipperstones and onto the Cheshire plains. Passing canals, harvested fields and beautiful villages the rain seemed to hold clear until the afternoon when the occasional heavy shower gave people a drenching , before the sun would quickly come back out drying them off again quickly.

Two of the heroes of the day were Tim Farr and Sean Rose who both joined us for the day on hand-cycles. Sean had just retired from competing at Paralympic level while Tim was using it as part of his preparation for Sochi 2014 where he hopes to represent ParalympicsGB in the downhill skiing events. Seeing these guys out on the road once again reminded everyone the graft that goes into being a Paralympic athlete. Sean summed it up concisely on crossing the finish line when he pronounced, “Arrrrgh, my tits feel like crisps.”

They weren’t the only ones joining us last night though. Deloitte Ride Across Britain veteran, British Paralympic Association ambassador and Paralympic legend Sarah Storey and her husband Barney also joined us for the evening briefing. Boasting a higher position in the London 2012 Paralympic Games medal table than Canada, they chatted to everyone about their experiences of the last few weeks and also a bit of insight into how they felt when they were participating inDeloitteRAB previously. Despite there being a lot of tired legs in the crowd the standing ovation echoed across the racecourse.

Day 5: Haydock to Penrith- 106 miles

Riding from Haydock Park to Hutton-in-the-Forest (Penrith), riders will have passed through Wigan and Preston with the scenery becoming more pleasurable with fantastic views across the Fylde coast to Blackpool Tower and inland to the edge of the Pennines. Prior to joining the A6 the Ride travels in a northerly direction just before Keswick. The route then takes in the world famous Shap Climb from the steep side, providing great views of the Lake District prior to a great finish to Hutton-in-the-Forest.

As if that wasn’t enough sight seeing for one day our route is also going to be crossing the path of today’s Tour of Britain. It seems only right that these two events cross. One showcasing the best British cycling talent there is with Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish leading the charge, and the other one taking riders through the best of British scenery. We do have to point out though that with Sarah and Barney Storey, James Cracknell and Alex Partridge all riding in the Deloitte RAB peloton on Day 5 there is no contest to which one boasts the most Olympic and Paralympic medals!

From Pit Stop 1 riders then pushed on with a steep climb to the edge of the Wye Valley before descending down to a hidden gem of a road running alongside the river itself. Despite the recent heavy rain having washed some silt into the road that required some care to negotiate, the views at the bottom were incredible with the river winding it’s way alongside the riders. It was a new road for this year’s event and the overall response was fantastic. Indeed, when asked to describe it in a few words Dave from the Advanced Route Team was left speechless saying simply, “Errrr…Hmmm… It was just REALLY beautiful.”*

One of the key things about Deloitte Ride Across Britain is the sense of support for one another that develops over the 9 days. From the start we set out to foster a sense of responsibility and respect not only between the riders, but also the crew. At the pit-stops it was evident this was developing well with the riders beginning to watch out for one other giving clear warnings of road conditions, showing sensible riding patterns and also respecting other drivers. With the continued growth of cycling in the UK we feel it is a key responsibility for the team to teach these skills with the experienced chaperones working with the various groups.

After the section up the verdant Wye Valley it was time to press on towards Ludlow with the hills opening up and becoming more rolling as the riders ate up the counties: Somerset, Gloucestershire, Monmouthshire, Herefordshire and Shropshire all being ticked off.

With a slightly shorter day and a nice tailwind many riders were in camp early to Ludlow racecourse. Once again the usual Deloitte RAB setup awaited with plenty of afternoon tea before a great dinner. We were also lucky enough to be joined by some extraordinary athletes who will be riding stage 4 with us. We had two British skiiers, Tim Farr (going for Paralympics at Sochi 2014) and Sean Rose (Turin Paralympics 2006), who will be with us on hand cycles. We also had multiple Olympic medalist rower/cyclist/ironman triathlete Rebecca Romero and full-time Deloitte employee and top Para triathlete Claire Cunningham. It was humbling to hear from people like this who showed what sacrifices it takes to achieve something at their level. Claire ran through her day which started with a 4.30am session then full time work until a short training session at lunch, before an afternoon of work and a final session afterwards. It put a lot in perspective for many of us and we all hope to see her stand atop the podium in Rio in 4 years time when Para Triathlon is included in the Paralympics for the first time. And if that wasn’t enough Rebecca, then ran us through some of the things she learnt from her attempt with Threshold co-founder James Cracknell to break the record for the fastest time from Land’s End to John O’Groats. Although ultimately it was unsuccessful, her recounting of the emotional journey she went on had the room silenced as they tried to digest the concept of completing DeloitteRAB in under 50 hours non-stop!

The rain came in last night as the riders slept and it looks like the weather may have turned a bit. But as the saying goes: “There is no such thing as bad weather, just inappropriate clothing.”

Day 4 – Ludlow to Haydock – 106 miles

On the ride from Ludlow to Haydock Park the route crosses the edge of the Stipperstones prior to entering the Shropshire and Cheshire Plains during the middle part of the day. Day 4 has the least amount of climbing of the whole Ride and after an undulating start to the day it will flatten out considerably before Knutsford. The approach to Haydock Park for the end of the stage is in slightly more suburban surroundings as the route dissects the land between Manchester and Liverpool, passing over the Manchester ship canal before another race course base camp.

*In Dave’s defence he was asked this at 5.40am this morning while loading vehicles