Epilogue

A wonderful adventure and a fantastic achievement. LEJOG is a proper challenge in that it tests not just your physical fitness but your ability to keep your body supplied with fuel; your mental toughness and on an unsupported ride, such as this, your ability to look after the health of both yourself and your bicycle.

Each day we used up to 4000 calories during the ride alone and each day we had to ensure we put them all back. Carbohydrates for quick energy release; electrolytes to stop the on set of cramp; water to keep the body hydrated and protein after the ride to help the muscle tissue repair and strengthen.

Days are long (we averaged 66 miles per day) and invariably a good morning would be followed by a bad afternoon or vice versa. My mind goes back to our second day on Dartmoor in 30mph winds and torrential rain when it would have been so easy to give it all up. In those situations it's an ability to think no further than the next mile that counts, a belief in your own ability to get through anything that's thrown at you and keep a smile on your face. Chris is an example to us all of that sort of tenacity. Chris couldn't do hills. Whilst in Cornwall, he'd try every hill before collapsing in a heap, composing himself and trying again. It was like watching a blue bottle trying to get through a glass window. I'll never know how he got from Par Sands, through 30mph winds, a raft of 15% hills and incesant, torrential rain to reach Mortonhampstead as the sun went down. For much of the trip we suspected that Chris had a secret support crew who'd turn up and ferry him to the next location. The truth is that Chris journeyed to each stage point on a treadmill of true grit. Knowing Chris, he'll have a philosophy for this, something about eating elephants and doing not trying and only having one life and...but it's not the philosophy but the actions that count and for me Chris's achievement was truly exceptional.

There are those who will tell you that you need to train for months for LEJOG, putting thousands of miles in is the only way to ensure you are capable of completing the challenge. I'd probably be one of those guys. For those of you reading this blog who'd love to take on LEJOG but can't do the hours of preparation then...meet Eddie. To say that Eddie bought his bike on the way to Lands End for the start of the tour, would be an overstatement but not by much. Eddie's 220 miles of training probably started the week before we left. His knowledge of cycling was once recorded on the top of a match head and his understanding of the challenge in front of us has justifiably been compared to Kerry Kantona's comprehension of algorithmic expression. But Eddie never doubted his ability to complete this venture, life is a series of loosely calculated risks for him, he knew he was very fit, he had a bike and if he kept the sun over his shoulders he was reasonably sure of the direction he should take. And that was enough for him to give it a go. Eddie finished the challenge even stronger than he started it. In truth he could have done it all again and he did it with a grin from ear to ear, the odd practical joke and a willingness to share his "Voice of an Eagle" with all those who'd listen or were unfortunate enough to be in ear shot! Whilst his dad was away, Harry, Eddie's son, took off his stabilisers and rode his bike for the first time. Inspirational isn't he Harry?

You can't help but wonder at the distances involved. 928 miles and I guess somewhere in the region of 90 hours in the saddle. On reflection, of course, the odds were in favour of us falling off a few times. According to our survey that happens once in every 18 hours of cycling. We got two punctures, the chain fell off once every 20 hours and every 900 miles or so one of us crashed in to a car, broke his bike or had to give up. That, unfortunately, was my fate. On reflection, a padded racing seat and a back up vehicle with a spare bike would have guaranteed a finish but part of the fun of this adventure was it's unsupported nature. I'll go back in the next few weeks and complete the last few days, how could I not given the amazing sponsorship and support we've received from all of our friends. I'm disappointed I couldn't finish it all in one go but I wouldn't change the experience for the world.
...and next year...we'll see!