Here’s my latest wacky charity challenge – a solo/unsupported cycle time trial. This is not an official event… Just me in my usual style, jumping on the bike, and cycling as far south as possible from home in one 24-hour period.
I’ll leave home in Kelsall, Cheshire, at 18:30 and finish tomorrow at 18:30. All stops included in the time. All gear carried on the bike and food collected en-route with minimal stops. By setting off in the night I give myself the sunrise to look forward to (and more alertness when the roads are dark and deserted) but it will be a lonely and long few hours trying not to nod off on the saddle. My previous best is 160 miles. I want to double this.
“Why on earth?!” … Well, my Cho Oyu expedition (6th highest peak in the world) is just four weeks away. I haven’t done anything hard for a while. For some reassurance and a boost of confidence, I need to get myself back into the challenge mindset, test my endurance and remind myself that I can still scrape the barrel when the going gets tough. Once I’m back in the Himalayas I’m going to depend on it more than ever. Like with fitness I think the mind has to be trained too – read more about my training on my latest blog here…
I can proudly announce that over the next 9 months I will be fundraising for Young Minds, a mental health charity, so these spontaneous challenges are part of this journey to make a much-needed difference to the lives of young people.
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The priority is to make sure I don’t push the boat out and compromise myself before the expedition. But how far will I get? OK – time to get spinning. So I’ll leave you with a quote…
“If an idea is not at first absurd, then there is no hope for it” – Albert Einstein
Go go go Alex.. Don’t stop peddling till your feet get wet in the sea.. Best wishes the Henshall family
Good luck for the ride. Just wondering if the previous best of 160 miles was part of the Everesting cycle you did earlier last year ? Be sure to strava the ride otherwise it didn’t happen haha
Hey stainforth,
its me jesus christ again.
Thought i would give you kudos on your 24 hour bike ride, which i honestly do mean. I aim to do one myself in the future with my previous longest ride being my everesting cycle. However I will need to ask how you only managed 268 miles in 24 hours when you train 30 hours a week. quote from your last blog post. Thats quite the low average speed even if the course decently hilly.
I have friends that have done the same distance exactly in 12 hour TT’s and they are on standard road bikes. No special TT gear on courses with decent hills.
This is just an enquiry into your training, and i really dont wish to come across as if i am slating your effort here, its still an amazing achievement however you cant tell me you train 30 hours a week and only manage that distance.
Hope all goes well for cho oyu and any future bike rides, coming from a cyclist through and through and really hope you do this challenge again.
sincerely, The prophet Allah in the east
Hi Lewis Donovan.
You obviously haven’t heard of an IP address over in the East of Merthyr Tydfil. Actually I’m pretty sure that’s south Wales!
Perhaps if you put the same effort into your own training you would see some good improvements. You know, actions speak louder than words…
I won’t be offended if you stop commenting 🙂
Alex