Day 8 - Almost Done

Day 8 - Fort William to Kyle of Sutherland, 111 miles with 5,301 ft total climb.

Brian reported:

"Good day. Weather was quite good. Two big climbs, very tough and steep. Walked a bit on one. No real rain today - yea! Ready for it to be over, but very glad I did it. Last ride will be challenging too."

I saw some photos from the Deloitte RAB site. They went through some beautiful scenery, including Loch Ness.

 Brian sounds very tired. Tomorrow is the last day. Yes, it does look challenging.

Kyle of Sutherland to John O'Groats, 104 miles - 4,140 ft total climb

 

Let's cheer Brian on to the finish. Thanks for keeping him in your thoughts.

Joo Hooi

 

Day 7 - More Is In You

Check out this great description from Deloitte Ride Across Britain site with lovely pictures from Day 7. Incredible what all the riders did!

http://www.rideacrossbritain.com/2012/09/more-is-in-you/

Joo Hooi

Day 7 - 134 Miles and Mountains in Scotland!

This morning I saw that they had altered the route to make it even longer than the already daunting 127 miles. From the Deloitte RAB Live site this morning:

"... 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..."

Oh, boy! That was not reassuring. Then all through the afternoon the Riders Time link did not work so I could not find out how Brian was doing during the day.

Finally at 4:58 p.m. I received an email from Brian. HE DID IT!

"Long day 134 miles. Incredibly windy: 30/40 mph gusts and headwind for most of the day, rain from time to time. Wet (from sweat) and cold while riding. Even though I had 5 layers on. Climbed thousands of feet: 2 mountain nowain (whatever that means, maybe a typo?) passes. Started at 6:15 finished at 7:25. Meeting lots of nice people. Very tired. Going to bed."  

I cannot believe it. This was the most challenging day of all. 7 days done, only 2 more to go. I am amazed and proud.

Joo Hooi

Day 6 - Scotland!

Photo (above) and report from Brian at the end of Day 6 - Penrith to Glasgow:

"A very good day today. 104 miles. Best time. Big group riding together. Did not rain - a miracle! It is cold and very, very windy. I wear 4 layers, and it's not enough. Feet very cold. Bottom is ok; that too is a miracle. Hills not too steep today. Biggest challenge is tomorrow. Lots of climbing and 127 miles. A very long day."

Last night's base camp was in the beautiful Hutton in the Forest. Makes me think of Robin Hood, Maid Marian, etc.

When the riders go to bed, this is what the bicycles do.

627 miles completed. Only 342 more miles to go. Tomorrow Day 7 Glasgow to Fort William, a grueling ride ahead - longest (127 miles - are they crazy?) and the most number of feet of climbs (6,017 ft total climb).

Thanks for supporting Brian in this crazy endeavor. When he comes back, I am going to burn his passport!

Joo Hooi

Day 5 - A Big Mountain Conquered!

Day 5 - 104 Miles from Haydock to Penrith with a Big Mountain Finish

The day started rainy and cold. Here is a tweet from a rider:

"No two ways about it. It's wet. Plain wet. A day for sitting by a fire ..."

Here is the sun trying to shine through at Pit Stop 1:

Another picture at Pit Stop 2: 

 

At least one rider declared it inhumane and quit, “Conditions were very harsh with driving rain, not enjoyable so called it a day and came home.”

But not our Brian, no quitter he, although as we all would have said, "There is no shame in that!"

He went all the way, "Long day, cold rain, for 5 hours rode in city traffic. For 2 hours big mountain, then pedal broke. All good, to bed now."

He finished 104 miles and bought new pedals! What a guy. He should have brought another bike along with him considering all the new stuff he is having to buy.

If you are wondering what he means when he says "to bed", here is their little green village. Good night, Brian from all of us here on the other side of the big pond.

Brian has completed 527 miles out of 969 total miles, over half done. Tomorrow, Day 6 is 100 miles with 3,353 feet of total climb should be a relatively easy day before a real brute on Day 7.

Joo Hooi

Day 4 Ride - Another Long but Good Day to Haydock

Day 4 Ride - 106 miles from Ludlow to Haydock.

Here's a photo from the start of the day. Some people are riding recumbent bikes. I wonder how they do in the hills.

Here's a report from Brian that I got in a text at 2:24 p.m. our time:

"Made it fine today. VERY COLD. 18 mph cross/headwind... Tire blew at one point. Very hard to keep warm and it rained occasionally too. Long day but good day. Have met some very nice people... Tomorrow is a hard day. We climb a 1.1 km mountain."

I asked about the state of his rear end and he said it is doing pretty well! That's very good.

If you are wondering what Brian is referring to about the mountain tomorrow, check out this profile of tomorrow's ride. 1.1 km is 3,609 feet in our units.

Yikes! He needs to pace himself.

Joo Hooi Albritton

Beautiful Photos from Day 3

Day 3 was truly a spectacular ride for Deloitte RAB. Thanks to a photographer from a helicopter, we have these incredible pictures:

http://www.flickr.com//photos/thresholdsportsuk/sets/72157631503643840/show/

Today, Day 4 with 106 miles has the least amount of climbing so should be easier. I checked RAB Live and Brian has started and is going. It is now 12:20 p.m. there so a few hours of riding is already done. I will send a update at the end of the day.

Joo Hooi