Arrived in the U.K.

First, let me thank everyone who turned out for the Bon Voyage Party. It was great to visit and share with everyone the plans, training, goals and nervous anticipation of my journey. Thanks to all those that attended and donated. Together we raised an additional $1,075 for the charities, putting us over $15K. This prompted me to raise my goal from $15K to $18K.
After a smooth flight on Southwest to Chicago, there was a slight delay from Virgin Atlantic before our final departure at 6:50 p.m. I was only able to sleep two hours on the plane and today I'm feeling a little jet lag. I arrived at the Bicycle Workshop on time and the folks there did a wonderful job of getting my bike ready and were able to store my cycle case for me while I'm on the ride.
It was a cold and dreary day in London (45 degrees), but I was able to get my train tickets at Paddington Station, mailed some packages to my sister, rode my bike back to my hotel room from the bike shop, and see a  little of the Kensington/ Notting Hill area. I must have walked about five miles today, which felt great after being cramped on an airplane for eight hours.
This evening I ventured over to Covent Garden to a map shop called Stanton's. Then I wandered down to the bustling theatre district and ate a pasta dinner to start building up my carbs for riding. Great people watching, and the food was pretty good also. Now for a good nights sleep ( on UK time) and up early to catch the train to Penzance. More tomorrow.......

CUDOS to The Bike Rack Staff!!!

    The Bike Rack Team - Tom, Owner (not pictured), Rex, Michael, Jacqueline and J.C.

A special thank you to the team at the Bike Rack. Since I started planning for this trip, the entire staff has gone out of their way to give me great advice and support as I have prepared for the ride. They are all very knowledgable, and are avid riders themselves. In addition, Tom and the staff donated their time to prepping my bike for the journey. Thanks guys, I really appreciate your support of my ride in Simon's honor.

Last workout before LEJOG

So today was my last spin class before I start LEJOG. Felt great and especially happy that my extended hamstring muscle has fully healed. I also quit coffee last week and feel so much better for it. 

I dropped my bike off at the Bike Rack today. They'll give the bike a tune-up, put on new tires and brake pads, clean and oil the chain and then break the bike down so that it fits into the carrying case. I'm hoping the fenders and racks will fit also. If not, I will have to put them in my suitcase. I' m planning to pre-pack my panniers with my gear and then put the panniers in my suitcase. The airline allows 50lb for the suitcase and 70lb for the bike and it's case. Trying to tie up all the loose ends and preparations before I leave, so that Tamar does not have too many things to worry about while I' m gone. Everyone I run into has been so supportive of my journey and intrigued by all that is necessary to prepare for a ride such as this. One of the things most people don't realize is that I'll be climbing almost 17,000 feet above sea level (higher than Mt. Everest) over the fourteen days. Luckily I'll also be going downhill that same distance also. Look forward to seeing some of you at the Bon Voyage Party Wednesday night. 89 percent of my Fundraising goal to date. Hope Wednesday night makes it 100 percent. Thanks so much to all that have donated or pledged to date. You're all awesome!

Bumble Bee on the Trace

Since my last post I worked out twice at St. D's in spin classes. Today I took advantage of the wonderful weather and went out mid morning north on the Trace for a 30 mile ride. I felt great, especially not carrying the panniers. It's certainly so much easier without additional weight. Finished the ride in just of two hours. Average speed 14.5 mph and burned 1003 calories. Ironically when I got back to the Inn, about 20 travel agents from the UK and Europe stopped by on a tour hosted by the Jackson CVB and MDA Tourism. As many Brits do the LEJOG ride, they were all familiar with my ride and route.
Yesterday, Cassandra Mickens of the Clarion Ledger wrote a very nice article about my ride. Click this link Clarion Ledger to read it.
Just 10 days before I leave for the U.K. Next Wednesday, May 22nd there will be a Bon Voyage party in the Library Lounge from 5-8p.m. Complimentary appetizers will be served, and the first round is on us for anyone donating to the charities. I hope you will stop by for the send off.

Back to back centuries...I'm ready for LEJOG

So after a hearty breakfast and wonderful hospitality from my friends Ron & Eleanor Fry at the Devereaux Shields House B&B, I set out on my return journey home to Jackson. I headed north on Hwy. 61 and picked up the Trace about 6 miles north of Natchez. It rained about 50 percent of the time coming home, but the wind was more distracting than the rain. In fact I enjoy riding in the rain because it keeps you cool. The wind was directly in my face all the way home adding to the challenge of distance. I chose not to to stop for lunch but just snacked every half hour along the way. With all the rain, twice I ran across trees that were downed across the road, but the Park Service was quick to respond and get them cleared. From this trip, I have learned that I need to reduce the weight in my panniers from the current 30lbs to under 20lbs. With my bike weighing 47 lbs, that's a total of 67 lbs I have to cycle up hills. Luckily I was able to use my 27 gears on the bike and was able to navigate the steeper grades without being too winded. I also need to drink more water than Gatorade. I drank too much Gatorade on this ride that gave me too much gas and built up salt in my system that created bloating. All in all great lessons learned on the two day trip and it definitely has given me the confidence to complete LEJOG. I plan to let my body recoup from this trip and probably not ride for at least a week. Here are some photos from my trip down the Trace.

Century Ride to Natchez

First a few thanks! Thanks to John Swanson, our bartender in the Library Lounge. Last night was John's last, as he accepted a position as Bar Manager at the new Miso. John donated his last night tips to the Simon Sharp Eagle Fund, so,thank you John! Secondly thanks to Ron and Eleanor Fry, owners of the Devereaux Shields House B&B in Natchez. Ron and Eleanor were so willing to accommodate me while on my ride. The accommodations are immaculate and relaxing and Ron & Eleanor are such gracious hosts. And thank you to my wonderful wife, Tamar. After realizing I left my overnight toiletry bag, she drove all the way to Port Gibson to give it to me.( I think she was worried I didn't have my BP pills).
So today, besides making it safely to Natchez, I learned a few lessons. 1) Don't pass up an opportunity to pick up water or something to drink. 2) Find a way to pack lighter. My packs are way too heavy and I have to reduce the weight. 3) Don't wear rain gear unless it's pouring. I was perspiring more from wearing my rain gear than from the rain or heat. 4) Put on sunscreen even if the sun is not out.
Today I was fortunate that the rain held off until five miles before Natchez. Smooth sailing most of the way, but I definitely had too much weight on the bike. This is something I have to reduce if I am going to make it in the UK. I really love riding the Natchez Trace. It's peaceful, you're with nature and the roads are relatively quiet. I especially like the bridge overpasses. These are great spots to take a break and a snack. You can place your bike against the concrete bridge rail and easily get back on your bike as you carry on your journey. Of course, I'm thoroughly exhausted, but hope after a good nights rest, I'll be ready to do it all again. I took some photos along he Trace but forgot the adapter from my IPhone to IPad.
More tomorrow about the return journey home.

Holy Cow.....Adding gear makes a difference!

So overall this was a good week of training. Started with a 35 mile ride on the Trace on Monday. Went to the gym at St. D's on Tuesday and along with riding a bike,, I did some upper body strength lifting. Wednesday I did a spin class at St. D's - brutal but effective. Rested Thursday, and Friday cycled 50.7 miles south on the Trace. I decided to load up my panniers (bags that I will carry my gear/ clothes etc.) each with a 5 lb brick. That's 20 lbs additional weight. Well what a shock that was.
Having ridden the Trace often now, I know what gears work well on particular hills. But with the addition of the weight on the bike, that all went by the wayside. I'm really going to have to watch what I pack to keep the additional weight to a minimum. After 25 miles, I pulled over and took the two bricks out of the back panniers and I could immediately feel the difference. They say it's best to load the front panniers heavier than the back for easier cycling. anyway going up hill requires a lot lower gears when carrying additional weight. This was a good test prior to my 100 miler to Natchez and then back the next day this coming Wednesday. Planning to rest until then. The other thing that affected me yesterday was the heat. 86 degrees in the sun. I had to stop at one point on the way home and get in the shade to cool down. They say only mad dogs and Englishman go out in the midday sun  and you know which one I am. The forecasters are calling for rain on Wednesday which I would rather have than 86 degree and strong sun. Staying hydrated is more of a challenge in the direct heat also. Stay tuned for Natchez and my first 100 miler!

Back in the Saddle...Two new firsts.....

Spent five days this past week in Charleston, SC attending PAII Leadership Conference and Board Meetings. We stayed at the Inn on Middleton Place, a beautiful 2,000 acre complex with spectacular gardens, stables and steeped in history. I ran around on their free cycles but did not get a real workout in. However, Saturday was a gorgeous day and I was able to squeeze in a quick 40.2 miles in between functions. Smooth sailing up until 11 miles and then the pollen really affected me and my eyes started swelling and burning. On top of that, suddenly I caught a bug in my right eye that temporarily blinded me. I stopped and poured water in my eye and the bug was cleared. This is the first time I experienced either one of these distractions. Felt strong most of the ride, although I'm still experiencing pain from the extended hamstring pull. Only 34 days to go. Thank you again to all of you who have sponsored me. We're at 33 percent of the goal and climbing. Please pass along to your acquaintances this sponsoring opportunity. Hoping to cycle 60 plus miles on Monday.....

86 miles Record Ride

Yesterday was a beautiful da, sunny and in the seventies, perfect riding weather. I planned to ride to Utica, MS and back. Took the Natchez Trace South from Ridgeland leaving just after 11am. Arrived in Utica at 2:30 pm clocking just over 42 miles. I wasn't sure at that point that I would make it back. After taking a 20 minute rest and eating French fries and a snickers bar I was ready for the return ride. Hwy 27 is pretty dangerous, with 18 wheeler truckers and a narrow burm on the road with grooves to stop drivers falling asleep, but not conducive for cyclists. Managed to get back on the Trace and stayed hydrated and fueled all the way. Within 10 miles of getting back to Ridgeland I experienced a pretty strong headwind that slowed me down quite a bit coming in. Anyway completed 86.4 miles in 6 hours 20 minutes. Climbed 4,275 ft and burned 2,748 calories. Average speed of 13.6 mph and ave. pace of 4:24 minute miles. I was really exhausted when I returned home, but recovered well after a good nights sleep. Woke up with a sunburn. I'll remember to put sunscreen on next time.

46 Days to LEJOG

With just 46 days left to train, I mixed it up with three 30 mile rides, 2 spin classes and 2 days at the gym riding cycle and lifting since my last post. Spin class has to be the toughest work out of all, but gets the heart rate going and builds stamina. I took the bike into the Bike Rack yesterday to add a couple of gadgets. I also had them install a flag pole. It's a fiberglass pole that breaks down into three sticks. When put together it has a fluorescent flag that potrudes 10ft over the bike. In the UK there are several roads that have brick walls or hedges above car  height. The flag will make the bike more visible to cars on turns that will hopefully prevent me from being hit. I also added a Garmin GPS. It tracks lots of things like cadence, heart rate (if I'm wearing a strap around my chest), elevation, mileage, and calories burned among other things. Garmin can also be picked up by UK GPS tracking. We have been getting several bike groups from Vermont Bike Tours at the Inn and I do a briefing every Sunday evening about the history of the Inn and a little about Mississippi. The cyclists have been particularly interested about my upcoming ride as many of them have been cycling in Europe before. More soon...

Sunny Days are here again!

Great day out yesterday although a little warm at 76 degrees. Decided to cycle from the Inn and went out towards Lakeland drive, then through north Jackson along Old Canton Road and Pear Orchard up to the reservoir. Took the Ridegeland trails onto the Trace and headed north for about 12 miles. At the 20 mile point, I turned around and headed back south on the Trace until Highland Colony. Crossed Highland Colony at I-220 onto Hanging Moss Road until Meadowood and then back to the Inn through Fondren. It was good to experience rush hour traffic, as I am sure to encounter it sometime in the UK. I didn't find it too difficult except for the bad roads having to dodge potholes and gravel. In town, too, car drivers are not apt to give you the three feet they do on the Trace, so there is no room for error and you have to stay close to the curb.Completed 40.2 miles in 2 hrs 59 mins. at 13.5 mph average speed. Climbed 2142 ft and burned 1269 calories. Pushed the ride a little too hard and was a little overheated when finished. I wore my winter undershirt and I think it kept in the body heat. Now we are switching from winter to summer temperatures, I'll have to remember to consume a lot more liquids.
Booked the majority of my B & B stays and the train to Penzance. Now I just have to finalize the last leg of my trip back from John O'Groats to London via St. Andrews. I'm really getting both excited and nervous about the trip. I'll feel a lot more confidance after the Natchez overnight. More soon...

Where does all the time go?

Well it's been almost two weeks since my last posting. YES, I have been riding, although not as much as I would like. But I have put in a couple of 60 mile rides and five 30 mile rides along with a couple of days in the gym. Of course the weather has been unseasonably cold, and we've been spending quite a bit of time following up on the hail storm damage. Our adjuster says we need complete new roofs along with the replacement of some air conditioners, repainting about a third of the building, broken windows, broken outdoor lamp globes etc. It's amazing what damage a golf ball size hail can cause. Anyway back to cycling.
Only 53 days left before I fly Virgin to the U.K.  By now my legs are rock solid and I'm holding my weight around 140 lbs. The real test now comes in getting a couple of 100 mile rides in (which if you haven't yet figured out takes approximately 9 hours of riding - a full day). For those in the metro Jackson area, we're planning a little Bon Voyage party on May 22nd. Free appetizers and complimentary first drink to those who stop by and make a small donation to the charities. The party is from 5-9p.m., so if you feel the urge, please stop by and wish me luck! Thanks to all of you who have donated to the charities to date. I am truly grateful for your generosity and support! I have booked some of my accomodations, but need to finalize them all on Monday. Now busy getting ready for over 400pp visiting us for Easter Brunch. Happy Easter and/or Passover to all. More soon.......

Final route for all to see

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/2247459

We had a pretty severe hail storm here this afternoon. Trying to clean up, contact the insurance folks and document the damage. So I thought you may be interested in my actual route. You can open the document above in google chrome and follow along. 1,022 miles all told. Riding tomorrow if the weather cooperates.

Back to Back First

So after returning home I'm finally back in the saddle and completed two rides back to back. Yesterday afternoon I went north on the Trace. The weather was beautiful, warm 75 degrees (eat your heart out Dan) with very little wind. The first time out not wearing a jacket or arm and leg warmers felt exhilarating. Completed 31.2 miles in 2 hrs. 8 minutes with an average pace of 4:8/mile. Climbed 1654 ft in elevation and burned 1040 calories.
This morning I headed out early, this time south on the Trace. There was a mean head wind of at least 20 mph that made the ride a lot harder than yesterday. Another warm, sunny day though, and besides the wind I had a good ride overall. Completed 30.4 miles in 2 hrs. 15 mins. with an average pace of 4:28/mile. Climbed 1486 ft (although that South stretch of road seems hillier than the North), and burned 956 calories.
The wind was so strong today, I could smell the distinct aroma of cow dung from a farm a few hundred yards away. There is some really pretty farmland down this stretch of the Trace.
So I met with Scotta from Butterfly Yoga Friday. She thinks I may have a pulled or have an inflamed hamstring attachment that is causing the pain in the muscle by the bone on my butt (pelvic cavity). She said it may take anywhere from six weeks to a couple of months to heal. Scotta gave me some Yoga exercises to help strengthen the muscle area. Between that and my right foot, I'm hoping both will heal before my journey in late May. While both are painful, I just will grin and bear it as I continue to train. If I'm leaning forward on the ride it's not too bad, but when I sit up to drink water or just change position I can really feel it.
This weekend I have to finailize my route and get my accomodations booked. With less than 68 days to go, time is flying by. I now have over 1,000 miles of riding either on the bicycle or on the gym bike.
I am also looking at other ways to garner support. If you are members of any clubs or organizations that may be interested in my journey, the preparation,training, planning etc. please let me know and I am more than happy to come and speak about the experience. Please tell your friends about my journey and the opportunity to support the charities even if it is a small amount, every little bit helps. Thanks again to all of you that have pledged or donated. I really appreciate your support and I'm really getting excited about the ride in the U.K. Please don't forget Simon in this endeavor!

On the road again!

So it's been too long since my last post and I apologize for not communicating sooner. Last week was super busy at the Inn, therefore not allowing me to get out for extended periods and ride. However,I did take my first Spin Class at St. D's Health Club on Monday. It was an intense 45 minute routine that was in some ways tougher than a 40 mile ride on the road. Although you are setting your own pace, the instructor somewhat guilts you into keeping up with everyone else, and you end up pushing a lot harder than you would if you were alone. At least that's how my body felt after the workout. Friday I left for Chicago for a conference for URJ (Union of Reformed Judaism). I was able to get two workouts in at the gym both averaging 20 miles on the bike. It's now Monday evening and I'm in Baltimore. I'm attending the Mid Atlantic Conference of Innkeepers and a PAII Inn-keeping Foundation Board Meeting. This is really playing havoc on my cycling regimen, but I'll just have to work much harder when I return to Jackson on Thursday. Plan to hit the gym again tomorrow morning and get a work out in on the bike. I much prefer riding outside on the road than working out in the gym, but any workout is better than no workout. More soon....I promise.

81 days to Bon Voyage

With just 81 days left of training, I'm feeling pretty good about my conditioning. After a weekend of two weddings, a Bar Association dinner, a fundraiser for Little Lighthouse (210 pp.) and two Bridal Showers, plus dinner and the lounge, I wasn't sure I had the energy to ride this afternoon. However, I didn't want to let the fans down (or myself), so I headed up to familiar territory on the Natchez Trace. It was a chilly 47 degrees starting out about 1:30 p.m. I headed north and had a smooth yet windy ride in sunny, cool weather, with light traffic on the Trace. Completed 42 miles in 2 hrs. 58 minutes at an ave speed of 13.5 mph. Climbed 2005 ft in elevation and burned 1273 calories with an ave. pace of 4:26 mins/mile. Felt weak several points along the way, but snacked on goo, bananas and raisins and was able to sustain myself for the ride. After just over two months of training, I have figured out I have an issue with my spine. I have sciatica on my left side (bum), yet it does not go down my leg. The only thing I can attribute this to is that my alignment is off. I hate chiropractors (only tried one once), so I'm going to take Tamar's advice and schedule a visit with Scotta Brady at Butterfly Yoga .
Hopefully she will be able to help me "straighten" me out! I'm working towards building my endurance over the next eight weeks and then completing two Jackson to Natchez overnight  rides on the Natchez Trace (101 miles), fully loaded with gear, at the end of April and early May. Thanks to all the recent sponsors. Together we have reached 24 percent of the $30K goal. Let's keep it going. Please tell your friends. More soon........

Chilly Willy

So I finally was able to get out today after a busy week at the Inn, and weather that was not very conducive to cycling. It was a cool 47 degrees (for Mississippi), at Noon so I decided to stay off the Trace and ride the Ridgeland bike paths. One reason was because there was a cold wind and the trees on the path protect you from the wind. Secondly, with everything else going on this week, I didn't feel very focused for riding and wanted to avoid traffic. There was practically nobody on the bike paths and I didn't have to think a lot about running into walkers or cyclists. Good day to bundle up with arm and leg warmers to protect me from the cold. When you ride a cycle, the cold air feels probably 20 degrees cooler on a bike than walking. I started north and went as far as I could before the path came to a dead end and then I turned around and went back to where I started. Then headed south and dead ended before turning around and returning to the Natchez Center in Ridgeland. Completed 22.3 miles in  1 hr. 42 mins. Climbed 1230 ft. and burned 691 calories. with an average speed of 13.1 mph. I have figured out that drinking water with Emergen-C gives me gas while I'm riding, so I'm back to drinking plain water on the ride. I've been riding this week without my panniers, so I'll have to get them back on the bike and start loading them with weight to experience how it will be when I am in England. I hope you will consider supporting the charities and sponsoring my ride. Any donation is welcome! Two weddings this weekend, but hope to get in a 60 mile plus ride. Stay tuned........

And the Oscar goes to......

So I'm recovering from today's ride while sitting here on the couch watching the Oscars. Today was a mixed bag. I started on the Trace heading South towards Natchez all the way to Raymond, MS. Had a smooth ride down with what seemed to be downhill riding all the way. Completed the first 30 miles in 1hr.45 mins. and then hit a tough headwind with many hills on the way back. Completed 50.1 miles in 3 hrs 44 mins. with ave. speed  of 13.4 mph. Rode 2,425 ft. in elevations burning 1,575 calories. It was  such a beautiful day, cool at 50 degress but not a cloud in the sky. Put on the leggings and arm warmers on the way out, but when it warmed up around noon, I was able to take them off. As you can see from the photo, I chose to ride without my panniers today. (For those that don't know, panniers are the packs that we store are clothing, etc and hang on the sides of the racks on the bike). My goal is to get a ride to Natchez & back the next day by late April. It's 101 miles from Jackson to Natchez, so that should be a good pre-LEJOG ride. All for now...

Prize if you're paying attention

So for those of you reading my blog, the first person to comment on the blog as to the correct location in the UK of the photo on the middle of my header on the blog home page, wins dinner for two in Sophia's Restaurant! Hint: It's a popular tourist region to visit! Good Luck!

Boy Scout....but not prepared today!

After heavy storms yesterday, the sun came through and at 58 degrees made for a good day for a ride. Wanted to get a long ride in after resting for two days, so took off north again on the Natchez Trace. Went 30 miles and then doubled back. The wind was crazy as it was pretty strong in my face going up and seemed to be the same intensity coming back the other way. At about 38 miles the sky got very dark and pretty steady rain continued through the rest of my ride. I believed the weather forecasters and did not come prepared with rain gear, so I suffered through the remainder of the ride. I actually don't mind the rain, just have to be extra careful with the traffic, puddles etc. Cycling in the middle of the day (I began at 11:00 a.m.), there is a lot less traffic on the Trace. I still kept a 4 min. 10 sec./mile pace and once again I 'm feeling it this evening. I still have not learned my lesson to slow things down. Anyway was happy to reach my new milestone of 60.4 miles? YEAH! Finished in 4 hrs. 11 minutes with average speed of 14.4 mph. climbing 2,940ft. and burning 2,001 calories. Once again except for a couple of steeper hills, I never really felt winded. Being four hours on the bike though, I did feel it in my back and shoulders after the ride. I'm at 20% of my goal raising money for the charities thanks to everyone's support. Still have a ways to go, but confidant I will get there. Thanks for all your support! More later....