Day 2 - Pontypool-Hereford-Swindon

Day 2  - 99.1 miles , 4,792 ft elevation

Lots of climbing but we get a cuppa at Jason's parents which will be nice.

Day 1 - Done - Cycle routes and wind

Well the first day is done 97 miles in the bag 400 to go. The day started early at 6.00 as we met at the Abicare office for the start. Even at that time we had people to wave us of which was a great way to start. All smiles as we left but would they last?

We have done the first 35 miles in our training rides so new the terrain well and kept up a good pace. We had planned to be at the Bradford on Avon office at 9.45 but we arrived early at 9.10 so decided to go for Bacon rolls and Coffee so off to Bath's Bakery. When we go to the office we were met by a number of smiley people and it really helped.

Then it was off into uncharted territory. We joined the canal path heading for Bath. At the start the path was very bumpy, muddy and with lots of stones. For Jason's bike it was no problem but for the two road bikes we were asking for a puncture. Fate smiled on us and we got through the first part without incident and then the cycle path improved and just after Bath we joined the old railway line for Bristol. The path was fantastic and so using cycle path's we travelled 14 miles on flat and car less roads. If you are in the area and fancy a cycle I highly recommend it.

A few miles later as 66 for the day we stopped for lunch at the Swan in Tockington. Due to the good pace we had made we got there ahead of schedule allowing us to have a leisurely lunch.

We were only a few miles from the old Severn Bridge and we were soon their. The wind had been our constant companion throughout the day but trees and hedgerow had minimised its effect. The bridge was a different kettle of fish. A south westerly hit us side on with full force and it was a struggle to keep a straight line.

Then we were in Wales and almost immediately we began to climb. Nothing to steep but long and constant until we reached the top and stopped for a break with some Alpacas.

Then we had a long descent into Usk. Our support vehicle clocked us at 40 miles per hour. The support vehicle is being driven by Sandra and Martin and they have been fantastic. Arranging office visits, tweeting (#abicare500) and carrying all manner of stuff including a stash of Toffees and Jelly Babies.

The wind then had one last trick to play by blowing directly into our faces making life particularly hard between Usk and Little Mill. Then we were on the last leg and arrived at the Pontypool office to another enthusiastic reception, Thank you.

Day 1 done. Tomorrow we are off to Swindon via Hereford.

Spire FM report on the Ride

Salisbury-care-company-get-in-the-saddle-for-a-charity-close-to-their-hearts/

Day 1 - Salisbury to Pontypool

First day of the Abicare 500 ride for Dementia UK takes us from the Salisbury office to the Pontypool office taking in Bradford on Avon on the way.

The plan is to take a 5 minute break every hour and a 10-15 minute one every two hours or so. Ideally we would plan to get about 65-70 miles before a lunch break of about 1.5 hours.

It's not a race so we haven't planned for high speeds and they will obviously vary if we are going up a hill or on the flat.

That's the plan before we start time will tell whether that is how it unfolds. Its the wind that is the real unknown and could affect us a lot.

Our time table for the day is therefore as follows:

So we hope to be at the Bradford on Avon office just before 9am for a bacon bap at Bath Bakery and we will cross into Wales just after 3pm. Wales brings the biggest climb of the day rising to 700ft with 15 miles to go. Arriving in Pontypool just after 6pm.

Weather Forecast
Cloudy but likely to be mostly dry. Possible showers. Temp between 12-20C. Wind - Gusty

Full details of the ride can be found at:

https://www.strava.com/routes/4238149

The Abicare ride is for Dementia UK and donations can be made on:

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Abicare500

Waiting for the Grand Depart

My bike is back from Stonehenge Cycles and it's all shiny and serviced.  I went out for a 10 mile ride to check it out and it's clearly all ready to go.

The real question is am I?

Training's done and we set off on Monday at 6.30. The training has been "fun" . Saturdays and Sundays this year have mostly been 6.30am meets for increasingly long rides. I have ridden on my own at times but mostly with others Anne-Marie and Jason of course but also Simon, Forest, Caroline and the Mighty Men. It has made such a difference to my ability to get up each morning so thank you it's been a huge help.

My house is littered with Lycra, bikes and bike parts and I have been out for hours each week. The family have been supportive and can't wait to see me at the finish line.

This weekend is just about taking it easy and loading up a few carbs, fish and potato salad tonight.

Then we are off on Monday at 6.30pm. Cycling up to Bradford Upon Avon, over to the Severn, cross the bridge into Wales and then on to Pontypool.

We are planning to keep you posted on our progress here but also on Twitter. Look for us under #abicare500

Video post

Here is a video post about the upcoming ride.

https://animoto.com/play/oX30FbAyORaOmyMmdmF3yQ

Thanks to Rachael for putting it together.

Training time is almost over. Tapering is the phrase for next week ie short (10 mile rides) only. Then we are off. The local paper is covering us. Its really happening !!!

http://www.salisburyjournal.co.uk/news/14582171.Abicare_staff_saddle_up_for_five_day_cycle_challenge/?ref=mr&lp=8

About Dementia

We are delighted to be doing the ride for Dementia UK. Dementia knows no social, economic, ethnic or geographical boundaries and is likely to affect us all either directly or through a loved one. The care of those with dementia is of paramount importance and is a key focus for Abicare. Dementia UK and Abicare's aim is to make specialist care available to all families affected by dementia.

Click on the link below for more information regarding Dementia.

https://www.dementiauk.org/understanding-dementia/about-dementia/

It would be great if you could support us by sponsoring us on out just giving page:


https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Abicare500

Swanage Ride Details

108.7 miles, 4,304 ft elevation

For full details go to:
https://www.strava.com/activities/605055493

Fish and Chips in Swanage

With a month to go we took a day off work to stretch our legs and do a 100 mile ride. Riding the century is a landmark for any cyclist and as none of us had done it yet it was time to go past 100 miles especially as we have to do it for 5 days in a row in July.

The plan was to cycle down to Swanage for a fish and chip lunch and then head back to Salisbury.

We met at 6.30 with the first part of the trip into the New Forest.

The New Forest is a fantastic place to ride quiet roads with lovely scenery. To get into the forest you need to head out of Downton on a testing climb but once in the forest its a joy to ride and take in the views.

Jason is very insistent on proper breaks and regular stops for food. As we were cycling all day these breaks were very important and welcome.

Even the locals came to see what we were up to...

The roads in the forest are quiet and this allowed Anne-Marie the opportunity for a selfie.

                                                                                                               

The New Forest is vast and you really appreciate it as you pass through it on a bike. At 40 miles we left the forest and headed to the coast arriving at the sea at Hengistbury Head.

We cycled for 6.5 miles on the promenade alongside a continous sandy beach to Sandbanks and the houses of the rich and famous to catch the ferry across to Studland.

It was then only a steep climb until we were rolling into Swanage. 60 miles in and it was time for lunch. Swanage is a  a traditional seaside town and Fish and Chip shops were in plentiful supply so we parked up and got lunch.

Apart from the seagulls taking a liking to Jason's fish, lunch was uneventful but a great break. Someone saw us in our Dementia UK shirts and asked why we were out. Jason explained and the lady said her friend had just been diagnosed wirg dementia and kindly offred to sponsor us.

Over too quickly we were soon off again.

We knew the rough route for the day. Through the forest, hit the sea, head right and then North to go home but for more details we relied on Google Maps on the mobile and early on it didn't let us down but it had a brain fade getting us out of Poole and at the same time it started to rain!  Just as our humour was being tested to the limit a cycle route all the way to Wimborne Minster appeared as if by magic.

Back off and running we got back just after 6pm a little sore but with 100 miles under our belt (108.7 miles to be exact). Another milestone done as we get nearer to July 11th and the start of the Abicare500 ride for Dementia UK.

Postscript - We rode again on Saturday and Sunday clocking up another 50 miles

Day 5 - Wickham - Wimborne Minster - Salisbury

Day 5 - Jul 15th - 100.1 miles 4,653 ft gained. Winding route back to Salisbury  through the New Forest via Wimborne Minster. Once back its time for a beer!

Full Details on:  https://www.strava.com/routes/4238907

West Wiltshire Animal Rescue

Saturday 24th April
A lovely sunny morming saw Jason, Anne-Marie and I off on another training ride. Joined by Simon the four of us met up at 7:30 with the intention of exploring West Wiltshire for a 50 mile ride.
We headed out of Salisbury along the Wylye valley following the route we will take on our first day
 (11th July).

Once Church Bottom was behind us we had lovely, quiet flat roads. Quiet that is until with much squaking and flapping we saw two Buzzards. One flew away as we approached, the other however was trapped on a barbed wire fence by it's wing and no amount of flapping would allow it to free itself.

Straight away Anne-Marie with the assistance of Jason took control.

Its big talons and beak were held still and it's wing unhooked. It flew off with no obvious problems and the other buzzard flew in and off they went. They are really majestic birds and I didn't appreciate the size until up close.

You would assume that with such a good deed Anne-Marie's karma would be set  fair but 25 miles in at Warminster she had a puncture. Its not our first and won't be our last but surely given her Animal Rescue act it shouldn't have happened today.

All sorted it was time to head back, it is always a bit demoralising coming back the way you came so off we headed to the Deveralls because we had a vague notion that that way would lead home.

After some missteps, the A303 is a very busy road and should be avoided by cyclists, with the use of Google maps we came back to Salisbury via Wilton.

57.5 miles done on a very plesant Saturday morning.

Full Details on:  https://www.strava.com/activities/554159242

Day 4 - Aldershot - Handcross - Worthing - Wickham

Day 4 - Heading east as far as Worthing then its back west and on the way home. 104.2 miles for the day and 4,188 feet elevation gain.

Full details on:  https://www.strava.com/routes/4238346

Training tips Tuesday: Cycling in the rain

https://roadcyclinguk.com/how-to/technique/blog-five-tips-for-wet-weather-cycling.html

Hi, Billy Salmon, here. It feels weird writing about cycling in the rain, having worn shorts for the first time this year today, however we all know about British weather. It could very well be raining tomorrow! Well, don't worry, I'm here to help. Here are five tips for cycling in the rain. Enjoy!

Day 3 - Swindon-Oxford-Basingstoke-Aldershot

Day 3- First 100 mile day. With Chain Hill smack in the middle of the day and the week! Its not a flat day. 100.3 miles 4,606ft elevation gain.  

Full Details on:  https://www.strava.com/routes/4238277

Descending

During a long ride there are tough uphill slogs but there are also descents that rest the legs. While there always seems to be more ups than downs it is a welcome break. On a really long drop like the one going into Coombe Bissett there is a real adreneline rush as you speed down the hill.

Watch out for pot holes because coming off at 30 mph in lycra would be no fun.

Chapeau to these riders flying down the mountain at 100km per hour there is no way I would do that, Jason might though!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4aMTp6-WKU&nohtml5=False

Training tips Wednesday (?): Eating whilst on the move

http://www.bicycling.com/food/eat-light-your-bike

Hi, Billy Salmon here. After the Easter weekend, I thought everyone deserved a little rest, maybe even eat some chocolate while you're at it. However all good things must come to end; it's time to saddle up again! To ease you back into it though, here's an article about eating on your bike, unfortunately they're not talking about your Easter eggs! Nevertheless, enjoy.

A Tour of Three Counties

Training - A tour of three counties 

Forest Paget, a friend from St Paul's (the church I attend), who eats huge hills for breakfast, offered to help me on a longer ride on Thursday morning. I find juggling family life, work life and this cycling malarkey quite challenging. So arranging time to get out for a good long ride can be an exercise in 4th dimensional logistics. However, on Thursday everything conspired to work in my favour. Teenagers had been put to bed late and so would be in suspended animation till early October, our dogs had been taken out for a brief relief walk, Mrs. B. was obliviously touring in the land of Nod and I had booked Thursday as a holiday from work. Four hours of no-other-commitments 'me time' whoohoo!

I crept out of bed at quarter past six. That this would be my longest ride this year was playing on my mind and the usual excuses for not getting up, queued up and traitorously presented themselves as escape routes. But... the sun was shining and the road called (well actually Forest called to make sure I wasn't chickening out). 

I set  out to the sound of commuters scraping the frost from their cars. The cold was a shock to the system but soon lost its bite as I cycled up past Old Sarum castle and over St Mark's hill (a high point in Salisbury) to meet with Forest, in Laverstock. Forest, ever cheery especially at far-too-early-o-clock, handed me a water bottle and we were off.

We weaved past the early morning commuters using convoluted hidden cycle paths and lanes, which are revealed only to the fully initiated cycling Illuminati, and headed up towards Salisbury hospital. We dodged occasional abandoned wheelchairs and zimmer frames and were soon out of the fumes and on country lanes into the glorious Wiltshire countryside.

The first major challenge was Coombe Hill which rises out of Coombe Bissett. Forest has an orgaised mind and has classified hills in to various groups. The some examples of these groups are: 

• Snakes - winding from side to side
• Slow worms -  These sap your energy with long slow climbs
• Scorpions - Nasty bitey things with a final sting in the tail. 
• you get the picture.... 

Coombe Hill is classified as a bastard.

As we crested Coombe Hill, we were treated to spectacular panoramic views of the rolling valleys of the Western Downs. The great strain of the hill behind us we relaxed into the ride with the road rising up to meet us the wind at our backs and the sun warming our faces. I finally realised why people get up early and do this as a leisure activity. Nothing could be wrong in the world when a day was as perfect as this. Villages passed us by dripping with English springtime beauty. This land was blessed with far more than it's fair share of quaintness. Picture chattering brooks running through the daffodil festooned lawns in the gardens of thatched cottages. Somewhere, possibly in the West Midlands, there is a Dorian Grey-style village that is getting shabbier by the day just to keep these preternaturally pretty villages young and fresh.

We crossed in to Hampshire and broke the ride at Damerham where Forest has a house which he lets out for holiday lets. He had some swap-over laundry that needed to be set running. Time for a strategic banana! The banana is a miracle fruit which has everything a weary cyclist could want, sugars to pep you up, carbohydrates for long, slow release energy and vitamins and salts replacing those you burn out on the ride; not forgetting of course that they are yellow and humorously shaped.
.
Bananas consumed, we were off again, bound for Dorset. Dorset is a county of dairy products and hills. Some of the hills are roaming with herds the factories of those dairy products. We rolled down to Cranbourne, only 4 miles from the Abicare Dorset office in Wimbourne. In a few months, that will be one of the stops on our BIG RIDE. I was not quite ready to think seriously about that yet, so we decided that this was far enough. Also with the time marching on, our families would be surfacing soon and demanding the continuance of normal Daddy duties.

At the farthest point of our journey we passed a small Victorian chapel building that had been restored to full health. Today it is used as an artist's studio. The artist has re-named the chapel as the "Naughty Boy Studio". 

The unusual name is derived from the film: The Life of Brian. The thinking being that when people turn up at the chapel looking for The Messiah they will now only find the artist, at which point they will say: 

"He's not the messiah, he's a very..."

So now homeward via another banana stop at Damerham where we removed the now-finished laundry. The homeward journey is less clear in my memory; pain does that to a chap. There were certainly many hills and I suspect that we crossed the Alps and Himalayas at some point. Viewing the beautiful countryside was difficult due to the tears streaming from my weeping eyes and the beautiful birdsong in the villages was drowned out a little by the sound of my wailing cries. Indeed the hammering from my heart brought the locals out to see if the MOD were artillery testing. Letters were sent to the editor. "It's a disgrace, & shouldn't be allowed.."

Finally having dropped Forest back at Laverstock with a wry thank-you for helping me through the highs and lows of the ride, I crested my old nemesis the Old Sarum hill. This hill has a character all of its own. It invites you on saying, "I'm only a small hill, look I'll even make it easy for you by having this lovely castle on top for you to focus on and everything" and then just as you think you'll get there it becomes steep and saps the last vestiges of any reserve energy you have. A bit like pulling the chair from under the bottom of a person just sitting down. So I wobbled back along the last mile to my house, completely spent but very happy the task had been achieved and the end was here.

50.0 miles in  4:13 hours with an overall climb of 2480ft

.

Day 2 - Pontypool - Hereford - Swindon

Back over the border and off to Swindon via Hereford. 99.1 miles and 4,792 ft of elevation, the biggest day of climbing of the week.

Full details on: https://www.strava.com/routes/4238184

Training tips Tuesday: Cycling uphill

http://cyclinguphill.com/cycle-uphill-techniques/

Hi, Billy Salmon, here. I wish I could promise you that the route was entirely downhill, but unfortunately this isn't the case. Learning to cope with hills might even be the most difficult aspect of your ride, so luckily for you, this website provides 7 simple tips to stop you from huffing and puffing, red faced, all the way to the finish line.

Dementia UK

Dementia UK is a charitable organisation helping families face dementia. The riders of the Abicare 500 mile challange are proud to be raising money for Dementia UK. You can help by sponsoring us at our just giving page:

https://www.justgiving.com/Abicare500

Day 1 - Salisbury - Bradford on Avon - Pontypool

Day 1 is a 95.3 mile ride visiting the Bradford on Avon and Pontypool offices. 4,401 ft of elevation gained. It's the shortest ride of the week so hopefully it will be a nice start.
There are however big climbs once in Wales the last of which Strava calls the "Hill of Death" !!!

Full details on: https://www.strava.com/routes/4238149

Training tips Tuesday: Cycling to work

https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/knowledge/skills/commuting-leisure/article/izn20131017-Commuting-Why-dont-you-ride-to-work--0 

Hi, Billy Salmon, here. If you're preparing for the big ride or even just trying to get fitter, cycling to work may be the best answer for you. This article aims to provide answers for all doubts and questions you may have for the commute (and don't worry; the website says it's suitable for beginners!)

Did you know?

There are an estimated 46.8 million people worldwide living with dementia in 2015. This number will almost double every 20 years, reaching 74.7 million in 2030 and 131.5 million in 2050.

The Route

On July 11th we set of on the Abicare 500 mile challenge for Dementia UK. The plan is to visit each of Abicare's offices from Pontypool in the west to Worthing in the east. 500 miles in 5 days climbing a total of 22,500 ft.

The route will be:

Day 1 - Salisbury-Bradford on Avon-Pontypool

Day 2 - Pontypool - Hereford - Swindon

Day 3 - Swindon - Oxford - Thatcham - Basingstoke - Farnham

Day 4 - Farnham - Handcross - Worthing - Wickham

Day 5 - Wickham - Eastleigh - Wimborne Minster - Salisbury

Day 6 - Sofa

Training tips Tuesday: get fitter, ride faster and go further!

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/fitness/training/cycling-training-plans-153049

Hi, Billy Salmon, here. For the second instalment of training tips Tuesday, I have found an article on the best training plans, written by a professional coach. I'm sure that nobody here will need it, being in peak physical fitness, but make sure you take a look, just in case.

Training tips Tuesday: How to ride long distance

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TTGRLcXFyk

Hi, Billy Salmon, here. In order to help the Abicare team prepare for summer, I have decided to post helpful tricks and tips for those brave men and women taking part. So please enjoy, what I hope, is the first episode of a long running series.

How to keep training interesting

I am due to do a 45 minute ride on Saturday and 2 hour ride on Sunday. Lots of rides between now and July so might do this to keep it interesting .....

http://indy100.independent.co.uk/article/a-man-is-making-creative-drawings-on-maps-using-his-bike-and-gps--ZkbZ_HOXmCe

And so it begins .....

The meeting was almost finished just any other business to go. The meeting had gone well, actions I had been given were manageable and it was finishing just in time for lunch.

"Right its our tenth anniversary next year what shall we do?"

It was agreed that we should really push a charity and look to raise lots of money and awareness. Meeting almost done my sandwich was calling.

"Yes but what can we do to raise money?"

Someone suggested a bike ride.

We could cycle to all the offices I whispered to Anne-Marie.

That's when my actions from the meeting went through the roof.

"YES that's it let's cycle to all the offices in the summer"

All the offices it transpires means a 500 mile cycle around Wales and the South of England in 5 days.

The ride is in July starting and ending in Salisbury but taking in Pontypool in the west and Worthing in the east. Anne Marie, Liz, Jason and myself are cycling the full trip but I do hope we get lots of riders doing parts of the trip.

No one is ready to do the ride yet so there is lots of training to be done. The aim of this blog is to keep you updated about our progress and let you know about the brilliant and and worthy charity we will ride for Dementia UK.

And so it begins ......

Matthew