My Activity Tracking
6,791
kms
My target 5000 kms
3 days in the Vercors done - Next the Alps!!
Last weekend I was joined by Bedford friends Ben, Tom and Mark for 3 fantastic days in the Vercors. A region not so well known by cyclists, it offers challenging climbs and wonderful landscapes that can rival the Alps!Mont Ventoux and Gorges de la Nesque - done!
Fantastic last weekend with Mark Williams (CICC)! After a warm up ride on Friday evening we headed off to Bedoin early Sat and 'knocked the bastard off' - ok it's not Everest but in cycling terms it feels like it. From Bedoin after a few kms of scenic riding, we headed into the forest for the toughest part - nearly 10k of mostly over 9%. It was the unchanging nature that was the hardest on the body. Coming out at Chalet Renard was very welcome, especially as there was no significant wind, and after a short stop to put the body into a different position (and pee and nutrition!), we headed up the last kms of the famous 'moonscape'. A fantastic descent followed via Sault and the Gorges de la Nesque - if you do Ventoux any old way don't come back the same way. 'Unfortunately' no riding the next day due to lots of rain but I finished off the trip with an excellent 80k from Mark's in the Lac de Verdon area. Thanks to Mark and Claire for their wonderful hospitality and I am now starting to feel like the Cykelnerven challenge is achievable! Onwards to the Vercors for the last big test before the Alps. Thanks to readers and sponsors, I will update after the Vercors in a couple of weeks.We are in the 'Build' phase!
"Build" is a bit of Danone jargon, but for Cykelnerven training it means something else. This is when we need to ramp up the training substantially. I'm well on track for elevation, having done >23,000m since Nov, but lagging a bit on KM targets (see training graph). But with the better weather I'm getting out for some longer rides and averaged 150k/week for the past 3 weeks. If you want more detail on my rides and praise or spur me on, you can follow me on Strava - https://www.strava.com/athletes/1609501. Next update could have details of the Ventoux trip end of April.Update on preparations
The train is booked for June to Geneva, we have had a run-through of the route with the head trainer and things are on track in my training (I think!). Christmas was not great weather, too windy and wet as well as the food and drink distractions, but in Jan I have been doing two virtual rides in the week, one of them a tough time-trial, and getting out on the weekend for 40-60k. As the weather gets warmer, will step up the distance (nice weekend coming and will aim for a 150k ride Sunday). I am planning 2 days up and around Ventoux in April, 3 days with UK cycling buddies in the Vercors in May, so on top of my usual riding I am hoping these will set me up well for June. Last climb (Col de la Loge) looks like a killer with one bit hitting 24%(!) so whatever the preparation it's going to be hard. Thanks for all the support, moral and financial and will update more along the way.I'm fundraising for a world without MS
Hi,
Thanks for coming to my page! Next June, I'm taking part in one of the world's toughest cycling challenges, the Cykelnerven.
Cykelnerven is famed as Europe’s most unique and challenging charity cycling event. I'll be riding 400km over the toughest mountain climbs of this year’s Tour de France.
I'm taking part in the Cykelnerven to raise money for research and cure of Multiple Sclerosis. Please join me in the fight against MS by contributing to my page.
Thank you for your support!
Thank you to my Sponsors
€26
Lisa Pennington
€20
Thomas Barwood
Day 2 complete. Day 2 payment.
€52
Mrs J Bratchell Owens
Go John go! Amazing for you to do this and what a sense of achievement 👏👍💪 🚴
€52
Adrian & Felicity Clarke
Good luck! The training will pay off and you’ll really appreciate the downhills
€78
Lionel Hobbs
Go for it John.... With all that training, I'm counting on you!! L
€25
Andrew Macdonald
Good luck with this fantastic cycle challenge and well done for raising money for a good cause 👍
€30
Linsay Matson
€25
Isla Low
Good Luck John!! All the best, from the Isla and family x
€10.40
Anonymous
€52
David Bassett
Go bro x
€52
Pamela Wilger
You got this John!
€26
Bizhan
Very impressive! Don't forget to enjoy the scenery!
€26
Simon Hardie
Great views from the top of a hill
€31.20
Caroline Andrewes
Good luck John! Love Caroline, Mark and Jess
€104
Alan King
Good luck John, I'll be thinking of you.
€104
June Morrish
Good luck John!
€40
Thomas Barwood
Day 3 complete. Payment 3 made. Knock out a big one tomorrow JB and clean me out!
€100
John Bassett
€25
Emmanuelle Baranger
All my best wishes John, we will follow you in this long journey
€26
Brigette & Magnus Ahlman
Goodluck. Stay safe
€25
Dessislava Filcheva
Good luck and the whole Fish family is supporting you!!!! Have a wonderful 2024
€52
Teresa Harte
Best of luck, John. We'll be thinking of you.
€52
Paul Wilson
You are an inspiration to all of us Cruisers.
€60.59
Liz Campbell
For a special guy with a special cause.
€10.40
Brett Stansfield
Good luck John I'm sure you will nail it.
€26
Don Schaffner
Go John go!
€26
Andrew Limbert
Best wishes John. You are on tremendous form so you don’t need luck!
€52
Mark T
Very best of luck John 💪
€40
Alex And Heather
Good luck, John! Sounds like an unforgettable challenge. Can't wait to hear all about it.
€26
Davide Mazzucchelli
Buona fortuna !
€104
Gary Acuff
You can do it, John!
€115
Mark T
A grand “chapeau” to you John for completing the ride. I know how tough I found day 3 in the Vercors and couldn’t imagine doing what you did a couple of weeks later! Inspiring stuff.
€26
Yvonne Stedman
Best of luck John, no problem to you!
€104
Aaron O'sullivan
Best of luck John, a worthy challenge and a worthy cause!
€52
Rahul Dogra
Best wishes John!
€26
Lynn Mcintyre
Best of luck John! Just keep thinking about the view at the top of the hill xxx
€62.40
Sarah & Ned
Best of luck John, some big hills there!
€104
Mark Williams
€52
Stephen Little
Best of luck John.
€20.80
Zak Clarke
Hi John, Good luck with your epic ride!! I have always enjoyed CICC rides with you and wish I was undertaking the challenge!
€104
The Morrishes
Good luck John,you've done the training, now spin it up those hills. We'll be with you in spirit, courage mon ami.
€25
Kim And Pat
Huge achievement John - arohanui, Kim and Pat x
€50
Helen And David
Happy cycling bro
€25
René
Well done so far John. Keep up the good work with those kms and at least you don’t have to worry about dragging my sorry a**e up those hills in June!😉👍😎
€62.40
Wayne Ricketts
Good luck mate
€10
Thomas Barwood
Day 1 done JB. Amount doubles tomorrow so get your skates on.
€52
Martyn Hilton
Good luck John. Massive effort already with all the training. I’m sure you are going to do brilliantly with this challenge !!
€5
William Bassett
€52
Mat And Sarah
Great stuff John, iron legs
€57.20
Gorris Leon
Wishing you a successful run!
€104
Sian
Amazing challenge, wishing you every success
€25
Deb Smith
congratulations John, an amazing effort. Apologies for the delayed contribution. Unfortunately I lost my wallet and had to cancel all my card so was a bit stuck until i got my new ones through. Hope to see you in Toronto to celebrate your amazing achievement.
€100
Noel And Ingrid
We wish you all the best John on your epic ride!
€30
Anonymous
Good luck John
€104
Kate And Ian Beaton
Good Luck John! What an amazing thing to go for. We hope you get time to enjoy the views. Just beware of any fords….
€20.80
Jim Woolhouse
Good luck with the ride!
€26
Tony And Julia Bones
John, Alan King, your father in law is a good friend of ours and being cyclists we appreciate the enormity of the challenge for a good cause. Go smash it !! Tony and Julia Bones
€104
Hamish Bassett
Good luck mate! xo
€922
Safetycircle
€50
Sean Hurst
Looking forward to joining you for some of your training rides!
€104
Katie & Lawrie Chapman
Good luck John! May the wind be with you! xxx
€104
Kbmg
Everything that goes up, must come down. This is a key rule in cycling up mountains. You're welcome. X
€52
Matthew Billingham
All the best on the ride John. You'll nail it!
€26
Mark Bassett
Congratulations on a fantastic project John! Ride safely.
€31.20
Natasha
Keep pedalling John. Good luck
€52
Ian Sells
Rather you than me, but I’m confident you’ll smash this cycling challenge…
€104
Oz And Claire
Great work John!
€52
Phil Macleod
€20.80
Ben Rawlinson
Great challenge John!
€31.20
Helen Matthews
Glad the preparation and training are going well, John. You’ve got this! Helen x
€52
Tim Gould
€50
Jane Dahlstrom And Chris Nolan
For a great cause. All the best. Jane and Chris.
€52
Angelika Tritscher
Keep going!!!!
€26
Stella Constantatos
Go John, go!!
€25
Helen M
Good luck John! Looking forward to seeing you very soon!
Sounds like an epic John and for a great cause. Good luck and we'll done. X