Hi,
Annie gave a me a generous donation today which brings the total of money actually given so far to over £100 - £104 to be exact. I also have a number of people who are pledged to payout once I do the trip. Now is your chnace to 'Help William reach a £1,000' so I am asking you the audience to phone (or email) a friend - William and pledge your support for this mad cycle trip. 1p a mile comes to £10 assuming I complete all 1,000 miles of the trip!
Meanwhile I am doing another of my circular cycle trips to Alderley Edge around and back again tomorrow and I'll wroite soemthing hot off the bike when I finish.
Matt Seaton - who I wrote to about postmodern cycling - has curiously gone back to Flann O'Brien in his weekly Guardian cycling column. He quotes form his Mollycule Theory "people who spend most of their natural lives riding iron bicycles oveer the rocky roadsteads of thsi parish get their personalities mixed up with the personaliites of their bikes as a result of the interchange of mollycules of each of them".
Best to all,
Bill on bike
Thursday, 3 May 2007
Monday, 30 April 2007
Traffic cones... on my head
OK,
So I met up with my old friend Rob Spicer and his partner Louise who crossed my palm with silver well £10 actually which is a great vote of confidence in me and my LEJOG trip - you too can pledge sponsorship here - just post a comment or email me: william.west@manchester.ac.uk or send a message by snail mail. Make cheques out to Energy Stream Charitable Trust who are acting as my banker and let me know if you pay tax and are willing to an Gift Aid it.
Anyway Rob, whose family claim to be descents from relatives of Anne Boleyn - and I always wondered why he had a twitch in his neck(!) got into the spirit of me dressed as Neil Tennent from the Pet Shop Boys and suggested not only wearing the long leather coat from West End Girls (I'm there already!) but also wearing a traffic cone like they did in the video of Go West wasn't it - I'll check it out on my DVD of Pets videos. This is a definite photo opportunity so watch this space.
So we can re-word Go West - "Cycle North, in the open air, Cycle North where the skiers are grey, Cycle North is where I'm going today, Cycle North in the setting sun, Cycle North..." As you know Emily and I are in a family choir that are based at her school that meets once a month on a Sunday to sing. Are you with me? A video clip of the family choir singing Cycle North complete with traffic cones on their heads. Wow!
Best to all,
Bill on bike
So I met up with my old friend Rob Spicer and his partner Louise who crossed my palm with silver well £10 actually which is a great vote of confidence in me and my LEJOG trip - you too can pledge sponsorship here - just post a comment or email me: william.west@manchester.ac.uk or send a message by snail mail. Make cheques out to Energy Stream Charitable Trust who are acting as my banker and let me know if you pay tax and are willing to an Gift Aid it.
Anyway Rob, whose family claim to be descents from relatives of Anne Boleyn - and I always wondered why he had a twitch in his neck(!) got into the spirit of me dressed as Neil Tennent from the Pet Shop Boys and suggested not only wearing the long leather coat from West End Girls (I'm there already!) but also wearing a traffic cone like they did in the video of Go West wasn't it - I'll check it out on my DVD of Pets videos. This is a definite photo opportunity so watch this space.
So we can re-word Go West - "Cycle North, in the open air, Cycle North where the skiers are grey, Cycle North is where I'm going today, Cycle North in the setting sun, Cycle North..." As you know Emily and I are in a family choir that are based at her school that meets once a month on a Sunday to sing. Are you with me? A video clip of the family choir singing Cycle North complete with traffic cones on their heads. Wow!
Best to all,
Bill on bike
Thursday, 26 April 2007
You were always on my bike
Hi,
yesterday my colleague Mike dropped into my office and had his ususal inspirational impact on me. He led me to see that I should choose the characters I become on my bike for your sponsorship.
So these are my choices at present:
* Neil Tennant of the Pet Shop Boys singing "It's a... it's a... it's a hill." Ideally I would wear my cool long winter coat and get into the mood of the West End Girls video in which Neil wears his cool long coat but in August it would not be cool!
* Elvis - "You were always on my bike" I reckon I do a good Elvis mumble of "Thank you very much" but Sheila says it sounds like Tommy Cooper. Not sure how practical the Los Vegas gear would be but I would enjoy wearing it.
* Noel Coward as alrady indicated in a previous post, in my dressing gown, clutching a cigarette holder and disclaiming "Mad dogs and cyclists go out in the midday sun"
OK it gets weirder now:
* Oliver Cromwell complete with a zit on his chin. His troops known as Ironsides were mounted on bikes. The trouble was when they got knocked off their bikes getting back on in a suit of armour was not easy!
* I wondered about Churchill - "We will cycle on the beaches" and "Never in the field on human cycling..." but Grace who always has something to say suggested I do Tim Brooke-Taylor of the Goodies. He did use to wear a union jack waistcoat and once did a rather poor Churchill impression.
* Grace also wanted me to do Rocky the Chicken out of Chicken Run, he does actually ride a bike and sing "I'm the kinda guy who cycles around" not sure about the outfit though.
* Grace also suggested I do Boudicca and yes I could fit kitchen knives to my bike wheels but her outfit does not appeal to me.
* Sheila wants me to do one of the Proclaimers "I would cycle 1000 miles".
I am open to suggestions on this one and as ever to your comments posted to the blog or to me by email are most welcome.
Best to all,
Bill on bike
yesterday my colleague Mike dropped into my office and had his ususal inspirational impact on me. He led me to see that I should choose the characters I become on my bike for your sponsorship.
So these are my choices at present:
* Neil Tennant of the Pet Shop Boys singing "It's a... it's a... it's a hill." Ideally I would wear my cool long winter coat and get into the mood of the West End Girls video in which Neil wears his cool long coat but in August it would not be cool!
* Elvis - "You were always on my bike" I reckon I do a good Elvis mumble of "Thank you very much" but Sheila says it sounds like Tommy Cooper. Not sure how practical the Los Vegas gear would be but I would enjoy wearing it.
* Noel Coward as alrady indicated in a previous post, in my dressing gown, clutching a cigarette holder and disclaiming "Mad dogs and cyclists go out in the midday sun"
OK it gets weirder now:
* Oliver Cromwell complete with a zit on his chin. His troops known as Ironsides were mounted on bikes. The trouble was when they got knocked off their bikes getting back on in a suit of armour was not easy!
* I wondered about Churchill - "We will cycle on the beaches" and "Never in the field on human cycling..." but Grace who always has something to say suggested I do Tim Brooke-Taylor of the Goodies. He did use to wear a union jack waistcoat and once did a rather poor Churchill impression.
* Grace also wanted me to do Rocky the Chicken out of Chicken Run, he does actually ride a bike and sing "I'm the kinda guy who cycles around" not sure about the outfit though.
* Grace also suggested I do Boudicca and yes I could fit kitchen knives to my bike wheels but her outfit does not appeal to me.
* Sheila wants me to do one of the Proclaimers "I would cycle 1000 miles".
I am open to suggestions on this one and as ever to your comments posted to the blog or to me by email are most welcome.
Best to all,
Bill on bike
Wednesday, 25 April 2007
If I fall off the pig gets it
Lunch with my old mate Keith who I have half talked into cycling some of the route with me on the day after I reach Knutsford. Keith knows a bit more about bikes than me and has been a great source of information including the wild 'French Revolutions' book. A friend of his is just back from a bike competition in Barcelona in which everyone rode on those bikes with small wheels and wore suits and ties!
I showed off my recent purchases of cycle mittens to Keith and he came up with the memorable line 'If I fall off the pig gets it!' not that my mittens are pigskin but I like the line. I also bought some cycling shoes, my first ever pair they are Shimano and feel great on the bike but weird off it as they kind of rock.
Keith is insistent that I use a mob to update my blog on route, he wont accept the occasionally post from friends houses or internet cafes. I think he is right, you dear readers deserve my comments hot from the roadside or ditch! 217 brave souls have so far visited this site these last 2 months. It's changed my life if not yours,
Best to all,
Bill on bike
I showed off my recent purchases of cycle mittens to Keith and he came up with the memorable line 'If I fall off the pig gets it!' not that my mittens are pigskin but I like the line. I also bought some cycling shoes, my first ever pair they are Shimano and feel great on the bike but weird off it as they kind of rock.
Keith is insistent that I use a mob to update my blog on route, he wont accept the occasionally post from friends houses or internet cafes. I think he is right, you dear readers deserve my comments hot from the roadside or ditch! 217 brave souls have so far visited this site these last 2 months. It's changed my life if not yours,
Best to all,
Bill on bike
Soaring spirits
Hi,
the sun shines and my spirits soar as I ride into work having dropped my daughter off at school after a walk through the park, everything is in blossom and I rejoice in the closeness to nature that I enjoy on foot or on bike.
This contrasts with wrestling with web sites with Sheila last night as we try and track down a mobile home for the 2nd week of my LEJOG trip. Being a bit 60s I fancy a VW campervan but Sheila wants the comfort and space of something bigger and when I complain about the driving of such a beast she points out rightly that she will be doing most of the driving.
In Yesterday's blog I mentioned my research paper on Kenyan students experiences of beginning a Masters in Counselling programme about to be published in British Journal of Guidance and Counselling. Well because of copyright laws I can't offer you a link to my paper but if you email I'll send you a copy - william.west@manchester.ac.uk.
Best to all,
Bill on bike
the sun shines and my spirits soar as I ride into work having dropped my daughter off at school after a walk through the park, everything is in blossom and I rejoice in the closeness to nature that I enjoy on foot or on bike.
This contrasts with wrestling with web sites with Sheila last night as we try and track down a mobile home for the 2nd week of my LEJOG trip. Being a bit 60s I fancy a VW campervan but Sheila wants the comfort and space of something bigger and when I complain about the driving of such a beast she points out rightly that she will be doing most of the driving.
In Yesterday's blog I mentioned my research paper on Kenyan students experiences of beginning a Masters in Counselling programme about to be published in British Journal of Guidance and Counselling. Well because of copyright laws I can't offer you a link to my paper but if you email I'll send you a copy - william.west@manchester.ac.uk.
Best to all,
Bill on bike
Tuesday, 24 April 2007
More shower dodging and a route
Hi,
Well it rained steadily when I left work for my appointment with Dee and then again onto to Grace's school to pick her up from the after school club (which has the unfortunate name of C.O.S.H!)and walk in the rain through the park home. Grace usually likes to sit on my saddle whilst I push the bike - that's the way to travel!
After one of my trips to Kenya in 2005 I wrote an article with Colin Feltham who was with me about our impressions of Kenya and its counselling scene for Therapy Today. You should be able to get the article viva this link: http://www.therapytoday.net/archive/nov2005/cover_feature4.html
I have just had a more academic paper published based on a focus group interview with some Kenyan students starting a Masters in Counselling Studies programme with KAPC and once I figure it out I will give a link to it here.
Meanwhile this weeks CTC newsletter has a great link to a You tube video about fixed wheel cycliong in San Franscisco:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H63FivObTLM&mode=related&search
I have more or less figured the outline of a route and schedule based on the CTC B & B route which avoid main roads and is scenic. I will probably fine tune it with some bits of the National Cycle Network. Sheila and I are currently figuring places to stay B & Bs and camping first week, campervan second week. If all goes amazing well and I manage a regular 70 miles per day the schedule would be:
Day 1 (Friday 3rd August) Lands End to Wadebridge
Day 2 to South Molton
Day 3 to Cheddar
Day 4 to Ross-on-Wye
Day 5 to Much Wenlock
Day 6 to Knutsford
Day 7 to High Bentham
Day 8 to Brampton
Day 9 to Peebles
Day 10 to Dunning
Day 11 to Braemar
Day 12 to Culloden
Day 13 to Altnaharra
Day 14 to John O'Groats!
Best to all,
Bill on bike
Well it rained steadily when I left work for my appointment with Dee and then again onto to Grace's school to pick her up from the after school club (which has the unfortunate name of C.O.S.H!)and walk in the rain through the park home. Grace usually likes to sit on my saddle whilst I push the bike - that's the way to travel!
After one of my trips to Kenya in 2005 I wrote an article with Colin Feltham who was with me about our impressions of Kenya and its counselling scene for Therapy Today. You should be able to get the article viva this link: http://www.therapytoday.net/archive/nov2005/cover_feature4.html
I have just had a more academic paper published based on a focus group interview with some Kenyan students starting a Masters in Counselling Studies programme with KAPC and once I figure it out I will give a link to it here.
Meanwhile this weeks CTC newsletter has a great link to a You tube video about fixed wheel cycliong in San Franscisco:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H63FivObTLM&mode=related&search
I have more or less figured the outline of a route and schedule based on the CTC B & B route which avoid main roads and is scenic. I will probably fine tune it with some bits of the National Cycle Network. Sheila and I are currently figuring places to stay B & Bs and camping first week, campervan second week. If all goes amazing well and I manage a regular 70 miles per day the schedule would be:
Day 1 (Friday 3rd August) Lands End to Wadebridge
Day 2 to South Molton
Day 3 to Cheddar
Day 4 to Ross-on-Wye
Day 5 to Much Wenlock
Day 6 to Knutsford
Day 7 to High Bentham
Day 8 to Brampton
Day 9 to Peebles
Day 10 to Dunning
Day 11 to Braemar
Day 12 to Culloden
Day 13 to Altnaharra
Day 14 to John O'Groats!
Best to all,
Bill on bike
Monday, 23 April 2007
Dodging showers
Well,
when I got up this morning it was still raining - it rained a lot here on Sunday - but it eased off just as I was about to leave the house and catch a bus. So I leapt on the bike and got here relatively dry. I dodn't mind getting really wet on the way home but wet feet and hair is no fun. So I guess I need spare shoes and a towel here along with the shirt and trousers in my office. I don't mind getting wet, well at least briefly whilst cycling. It's getting off the bike wet I don't like. Will see how this pans out on my LEJOG trip which is bound to be wet some of the time.
I have a rough list of places to stay on the trip which will involve B and Bs and camping the first week and then a camper van in the second week. I'll post these (hoped for) destinations in a day or two. It is all getting a bit scary and real and at times I think I am mad. However, I do feel fitter than ever. I am attracting a lot of comments especially from women about my sleeker look! It's not really whippet like, well apart from knees to feet. My thighs are taking that curious cycling shape which has to be seen to be believed - but I'll share you that dubious pleasure by NOT posting a photo!
My only remaining concern is being able to cycle day after day and whether my Capricornian knee joints will cope - they feel like they need oiling - any thoughts? All this will become clearer as I step up my preparations over the next few months. I am looking forward to my next training day run around Alderley Edge and aim to have a few shorter trips at weekends or in these lengthening evenings.
Best to all,
Bill on bike
when I got up this morning it was still raining - it rained a lot here on Sunday - but it eased off just as I was about to leave the house and catch a bus. So I leapt on the bike and got here relatively dry. I dodn't mind getting really wet on the way home but wet feet and hair is no fun. So I guess I need spare shoes and a towel here along with the shirt and trousers in my office. I don't mind getting wet, well at least briefly whilst cycling. It's getting off the bike wet I don't like. Will see how this pans out on my LEJOG trip which is bound to be wet some of the time.
I have a rough list of places to stay on the trip which will involve B and Bs and camping the first week and then a camper van in the second week. I'll post these (hoped for) destinations in a day or two. It is all getting a bit scary and real and at times I think I am mad. However, I do feel fitter than ever. I am attracting a lot of comments especially from women about my sleeker look! It's not really whippet like, well apart from knees to feet. My thighs are taking that curious cycling shape which has to be seen to be believed - but I'll share you that dubious pleasure by NOT posting a photo!
My only remaining concern is being able to cycle day after day and whether my Capricornian knee joints will cope - they feel like they need oiling - any thoughts? All this will become clearer as I step up my preparations over the next few months. I am looking forward to my next training day run around Alderley Edge and aim to have a few shorter trips at weekends or in these lengthening evenings.
Best to all,
Bill on bike
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
