tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87062922826991692972024-03-05T05:56:58.918+00:00Chris on a Bike!I'm cycling 300 miles from London to Paris for Amnesty International. Check the progress of my training and fundraising, leading up to the main event in June 2012.Chris Whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16137426884096922110noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8706292282699169297.post-68638784030216120392012-06-13T15:16:00.002+01:002012-06-13T15:16:11.648+01:00London to Paris routes<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here are Days 2, 3 and 4 from my GPS app. Annoyingly I failed to get Day 1 for various reasons:</span><br />
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<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="405" scrolling="no" src="http://app.strava.com/runs/10289650/embed/b023595bbb4349bd1af4f658f525a218bd8a577b" width="590"></iframe><br /><br />
<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="405" scrolling="no" src="http://app.strava.com/runs/10354397/embed/342032b505ba4a895ad19ae829a6a04f670cfc98" width="590"></iframe><br /><br />
<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="405" scrolling="no" src="http://app.strava.com/runs/10425229/embed/32eeeea33298364d3a3adea758ae24871e8c3899" width="590"></iframe>
</div>Chris Whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16137426884096922110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8706292282699169297.post-10133649942032825712012-05-08T14:27:00.001+01:002012-05-08T14:27:21.536+01:00London to Cambridge<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the last month I've been building up my fitness by going to spin classes. Then on Sunday, Will and I set off from London and rode over 60 miles to Cambridge. It was my first long ride and it was easy until the hills and rain spoilt the fun. We stayed overnight in a hostel and cycled back yesterday, managing to beat our time convincingly.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here is most of our trip on the way there. Annoyingly my phone battery died before the end, which is why there's a straight line for the last section and why it's only showing 58.6 miles...</span></div>
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<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="405" scrolling="no" src="http://app.strava.com/runs/8112479/embed/557c4e0239550a551ecd2caedbae9b89dea32f1d" width="590"></iframe></div>
</div>Chris Whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16137426884096922110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8706292282699169297.post-56746353644185066432012-02-20T12:42:00.000+00:002012-02-20T12:42:19.551+00:00First proper ride<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I finally started my cycling training!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It wasn't really far but it's a start. As you can see from the map below, we cycled from Brighton out to Shoreham and back. It was a lovely sunny day and my new bike was great to ride. I do have a bit of a sore bum, but we won't talk about that.</span><br />
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<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="405" scrolling="no" src="http://app.strava.com/runs/4333446/embed/4161edd0032b99a26676934cfa45b7415ce2af72" width="590"></iframe></div>Chris Whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16137426884096922110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8706292282699169297.post-66667459665001109012012-02-03T13:00:00.000+00:002012-02-03T14:34:54.237+00:00New Bike!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
After doing some research, testing different models and shopping around, I finally settled on the Specialized Secteur road bike. It wasn't cheap but it will hopefully be worth it over the next few months. The Cycle2work scheme helped though!<br />
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I picked it up earlier this week and tomorrow I will be attempting my first proper bike ride. I can't wait! Fingers crossed I don't fall off...<br />
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<br /></div>Chris Whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16137426884096922110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8706292282699169297.post-13646032415518140802012-01-04T15:01:00.002+00:002012-01-05T16:34:41.440+00:00New Shoes!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here are my new shiny running shoes, which I got on Christmas Day! :D</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'll be going on my first run this weekend.</span><br />
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<br /></div>Chris Whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16137426884096922110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8706292282699169297.post-91618530412677811572011-12-20T11:00:00.000+00:002011-12-22T12:44:58.655+00:00Run!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As part of my training, I've decided to ditch the gym and start running. Obviously my main training will be cycling, but I thought I'd mix it up a bit. Plus, I still don't have a bike :)</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've heard that good running shoes are vital and I want to make sure I do this well. So yesterday I went to</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> a shop called 'Run' in Hove, which had been recommended by a friend, where they film you running to analyse what type of running shoe you need.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In jeans and a hoodie, wearing special lightweight shoes, I ran up the high street whilst being filmed. As I expected, my feet pronate (rotate) as I run, so I need running shoes that make up for it.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I tried on 3 different pairs of shoes, each time running around the (surprisingly large) block. I was stuck between 2 of the pairs, so I ran around the block a 4th time wearing one of each. I ended up going with the Nikes, which just felt the most comfortable.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My parents are getting me them for Christmas, so I will post a photo when I get them. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now I've got to decide on a running app for my iPhone!</span><br />
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<img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYj5paQx7cj-3I8TNhyphenhyphenqDr8kiXJvEZITezD3bmEzaADtd4GlAjE5eSqhHzpcRZqwYK0iWcddBwtSTho1hnPytkjkudnIym6ENQ1qzsXNeiq7YkOAwJS4hTOKvr7TbnoQFrwAyUer9kX4-L/s320/run.jpg" width="320" /></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>Chris Whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16137426884096922110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8706292282699169297.post-3905679325666342962011-12-19T12:00:00.000+00:002011-12-22T12:59:27.980+00:00London to Paris!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let's start at the very beginning. My good friend Will asked if anyone was interested in cycling <i>300 miles</i> from London to Paris for <a href="http://www.amnesty.org.uk/" target="_blank">Amnesty International</a>, a charity he has been involved with lots. I immediately expressed interest as it ticked a lot of boxes in one go:</span><br />
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<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've been wanting to do something more for charity. In fact, Will and I have been talking about other ideas for a year or more.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have major wanderlust.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I want to get fitter. There's only so far I can get by playing football twice a week and occasionally going to the gym... I need a goal! (Yes, I know that playing football gives me a goal too)</span></li>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />I was a definite yes before I had even found out the details of the trip. Everything seemed perfect, except the large amount of money (<i>£1400</i>) I have to raise in only a few months (and the slight problem that I don't actually own a bike). Convinced I could at least get close to that amount, I paid the deposit and sent off the forms.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is where the hard work starts. On this blog I will be charting my attempts at fundraising and getting fitter.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you feel like donating already, I've made it extra-easy for you to give money. Either go to my </span><a href="http://www.justgiving.com/Chris-on-a-Bike" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">JustGiving page</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> or just text "</span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">WARD66 £5</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">" (or any other amount) to </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">70070</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. Amnesty International is a really great cause, they help protect human rights around the world where basic rights, which we take for granted, aren't available to all. <a href="http://www.amnesty.org.uk/content.asp?CategoryID=10010" target="_blank">Click here to see some of the amazing work they do.</a></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.amnesty.org.uk/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="96" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipjgQdol9BYi5ZNEzPix3CZhfl1ZZbrbfr6zKey8T25L-NyCorHYvCT-zcZcn6cmdg9W8VLsv4Ny3BA3W2x6WHVkISLbypuJd5yg87p-ENucdpsQ1mwWprIIFcgh8x45xDNVsPuaWnVUP0/s320/Amnesty-International-logo.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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