Bikes East!

The year is absolutely flying by! Already we are up to challenge 8 of 12 - two-thirds of the way through 2012 and our fund raising efforts: https://www.justgiving.com/teams/FCF

August brought the Glasgow to Edinburgh cycle along the Union Canal. From George Square in Glasgow to the Lochrin Basin at Fountainbridge in Edinburgh. Just over 60 miles or nearly 100 km of rough canal path, under and over bridges and across aqueducts before the finish and the promise of a refreshing drink.

Roz was injured unfortunately, in part due to our 3-Peaks exertions and a nasty, troublesome knee complaint. We had the honour and privilege of James McLeod stepping into the breach and joining the team for the challenge in Roz's place. James stepped in only 48hrs before we were due to set off to Glasgow, so quite the knight in shining armour. Well, the bloke on a shiny bike. Roz was the road support on the day and also helped us out with some rather large chocolate bars at timely intervals.

We headed off early on the train from Edinburgh Waverley and were in Glasgow Queen Street around half past eight. At this stage we were feeling pretty well set for the ride ahead, little knowing that the road bikes we had were not exactly suited for the terrain!










Despite the outlook the weather was pretty good and we headed off, via a couple of minor wrong turns, on the long road to Edinburgh via Falkirk. Progress was pretty good and although the surface was bumpy and narrow in places we cracked on to make it to Falkirk a little after 11:00. It was a spectacular sight, a feat of engineering and no, I was not wearing a replica as a cycle helmet!

After Falkirk and the Rough Castle and the Falkirk tunnel, we found the going a bit harder. The surface got worse and was even muddier and narrower than the preceding 30 miles. Roz was around to lift the mood around Linlithgow and the Avon Aqueduct - the second longest in the United Kingdom. Apparently. So after a brief chat and recharge we were off. For about a mile.





Disaster hit us with its full force. Well, calamity attacked with icy vengeance. Okay, mild inconvenience struck! We had a puncture, James' rear wheel gave-in to the pummelling it was getting, from the track of course and not the rider it was carrying. James managed to change the wheel with aplomb while I pointed and waved a bit. We pressed on, passing a few fishermen, more bridges than I cared to count and a floating restaurant.

We were now into the final furlong and were keeping our heads down and ploughing on. While the course was flat it was relentless and the surface did nothing to ease the impact on the bikes or ourselves. After covering 50-odd miles we finally hit Edinburgh and a decent surface for the last leg. The path was noticeably busier, and we cut rather more forlorn figures than the families and couples out to walk dogs and ride along the canal path.







At last, after almost 6 hours of cycling we reached Fountainbridge and a pub with food and drink to revive us. We had a great day for cycling and had managed the journey in time to eat a late lunch before heading home to assess the damage, which was mainly aching and mud splattered limbs. We headed out in the evening to toast our success, largely avoiding stairs.

A tremendous thank you to James for joining me on this challenge and completing his longest ever distance ride only a few weeks after tearing a calf muscle. A legend. Our efforts continue, into September and the Chicago half-marathon - with Roz squeezing in an extra challenge in the weekend just gone with the Glasgow 10k to make up for missing the cycle: she's a warrior alright.








Once again, thank you for all the support, it is really appreciated. We are heading towards the £5k mark in fundraising and continue to be amazed by everyone's generosity.

Bri.