And so it came to pass Dear Readers, as the early morning clouds drifted serenely over the mighty rolling fells of Latrigg, Blencathra (how much???) and Cat Bells, parting slowly to let the morning sunshine peak through and to reveal the azure blue sky. The sounds of chains against gears and the clipping of shoes against pedals joined with the gentle murmurings of lycra clad people of all ages congregating on the lush green pastures of Fitz Park.

Yes my cycling chums, the day had finally dawned – the Rivers Ride was finally upon us!

The scene was one of organised chaos as team members searched for colleagues in matching lycra, the whirlwind that was Nicola Howells and the other volunteers guiding and coaxing the willing riders to the start line.

The mood was one of high excitement tinged with trepidation at the challenges that lay ahead. Anticipation was high in the Pscyclos camp despite the harbinger of doom and failed weatherman of the team, James Rudd. So convinced was he that thunder and lightening was imminent that he equipped himself with the most efficient earthing tool – his bike!

As our start time approached, the Pscyclos, resplendent in our team colours, joined the tail of the snaking queue. Soon we were in the starting corral with a firm but friendly marshal issuing much needed guidance about which pastel shade of arrow to follow.

And then we were off, along the gently rolling byways alongside Bassenthwaite lake. Soon we were careering through the throbbing metropolis of Cockermouth, cheered on by the cowbell wielding locals (Pscyclo Su’s Mum and Dad). The gently rolling lanes up to Lorton belied the challenge that lay ahead. Nobody told me there was another route up Whinlatter!! This one tested our lung capacity to the maximum and then to place a photographer at the top who wanted you to smile!!! All I could manage was a weary wheeze.

With the climb conquered and the sun on our backs we began the decent, the feeling of the wind through your hair (those of us who have any) was exhilarating especially as we thought the worst was over, but then the winding incline at the foot of Catbells loomed large, but the views across Derwent Water were magnificent, if a little blurred through the cascading beads of perspiration. And so we reached the home stretch from the southern tip of Derwent Water, the legs coursing with renewed energy at the thought of the nearing finish line. It was time for the elite Pscyclos to surge forward. The baby Pscyclo’s youthful vigour thrust him forward and was matched by Andy Watson in a race to break the three hour target. Pscyclo Su and Yours Truly crossing the line just seconds apart. We were soon followed in by Rust Bucket Rudd and the budding musician Pscyclo. A splendid team effort and luck would have it, Jennings had kindly erected their tent next to the NSG tent so it was only a short walk to assist them in emptying the barrel of their finest ale.

And so to the many thanks that made our first experience of the Rivers Ride such a blast:

– My fellow Psyclos – Su, John, Andy, Chris, James, well done, a great team effort, but we were never going to cross the line together were we!!!

– The NSGeese – at least you have now got a target for next year!!!

– The organisers and the multitude of volunteers – we literally couldn’t have done it with out you.

– Finally to you dear readers, for sticking with the ramblings of a middle aged born again Pscyclist. I think we have bonded, our ten month relationship has, I feel, grown into something special, something to treasure and to hold onto either that, or you are just glad its all over and I will finally shut up!! 

So I toast you all and wish you well in your training for next year – SEE YOU ALL THEN!!

Hello again dear readers. Nice to know you have remained loyal during my golfing sojourn to Turkey. I can assure you that cycling was never far from my thoughts as I strode down the lush green fairways and partook liberally of the free beverages. Suffice to say that a few kilometres were ridden in the surroundings of the luxurious spa and leisure complex.

By now my celebrity status amongst the Cumbrian Cognoscenti must be reaching stratospheric proportions following the much publicised photo shoot with my fellow literary giants, The Rivers Ride Bloggers. No doubt the publication of the story in the bastion of journalistic integrity – The Keswick Reminder, will have cemented our celebrity status. Funny how the Nationals haven’t been in contact yet though!!

Well then fellow riders, are we all getting excited with just over a week to go? I was so excited I had to go and spend a ridiculous amount of money on a new bike. Still, it is on interest free credit, but when the Darling Wife discovers how much I’ve spent no doubt she will demand parity and spend the same on shoes and handbags!!

And so the day fast approaches with final preparations and last minute training schedules being completed. Reports from various Psyclos are giving me the confidence that not only will we stand out as finely honed athletes, but will also be the best looking team, resplendent in our new team jerseys!

It was also good to see the baby Psyclo putting in some belated training as he sped past my house and up into the hills of Anglezarke and Rivington. Whilst he was doing that I was up and around the back roads of Brindle and Wheelton, passing along the way, the burnt out shell of a much loved local drinking den, The Dressers Arms. Lets hope she rises from the ashes and we can once again enjoy a few gills of Big Franks best bitter.

Other more worrying news from the Psyclos is that newbie Psyclo James Rudd is struggling to maintain his position in the saddle having fallen off twice during an easy ride over the North York moors. The members of the other lesser known NSG team, the NSGeese, are experiencing similar problems. Perhaps they are oiling the wrong parts of their bikes!!

And so my friends, I will leave you to your preparations, to oil those gears, to grease those cogs and to liberally apply the ointments.

I hope you will all take time out to come and see us at the NSG tent in Fitz park, you might even get to meet a local celebrity!!!

So lets hope the good old British summer can come up trumps and give us the wind at our backs and the sunshine all weekend.

As a wise old friend once said to me “I don’t know if it’s illegal to be handsome and ride a bike at the same time but whatever, I live dangerously”

So be handsome and live dangerously my chums!

Hello again dear readers, you know they always say that you should build up to a big event slowly, let the legs and lungs get acclimatised to a bit of exertion. Well I thought I’d done all that over the past few months, so when a “friend” said she was doing the Coast to Coast from Whitehaven to Tynemouth I jumped on the bandwagon. The trouble is that a piece of paper (map) or computer screen doesn’t really convey the enormity of some of the inclines along the route. Those of you who have had a go at the C2C will recognise Whinlatter, Hartside, Garrigill, Allenheads and Stanhope. All lung bursting climbs that somehow always felt much longer than the short descents that followed! It’s definitely not a route for the fainthearted, or indeed those that haven’t prepared, as it turned out when the originator of the idea jacked in on day 2 when she was in danger of being overtaken by a jogger and she couldn’t stand the pain in her nether regions!!

Although I didn’t finish the full C2C – who wants to trudge through the flat industrial landscape of Tyneside – we did complete 36 miles on day 1, 46 miles on day 2 and 32 on day 3. For those of you into calorie counting that was approximately 7000 calories (it’s amazing what technology can tell you these days). I don’t know where they’ve gone because my waist is still the same size!!

Anyway enough of the serious cycling chat, now that Whinlatter has been conquered what left is there to fear, 38 miles around the highways and byways of Cumbria, a piece of cake – or a large 99 overlooking Bassenthwaite on the way down Whinlatter.

But what of the other Psyclos I hear you cry……..

Whilst I was coughing and wheezing through Cumbria, Northumberland and County Durham, some fellow Psyclos were out and about on their two wheels, budding musician (come on you remember)…….. John Morris was tackling some of the highways and byways around Keswick, 32 miles allegedly. Newbie Psyclo James Rudd did most of the Preston Guild Wheel, strangely missing out the hills (Those familiar to the guild wheel will be thinking what hills?? – exactly!). Disturbingly the other Psyclos have gone silent, perhaps indulging to much in those Easter goodies!!

So there you have it dear readers, a little bit of light training before the main event, we might even slip in another Preston Guild Wheel!

As a wise man once said “if you don’t get a sweat on, it’s not worth botherin'”

Up and at ’em chums.

Hello again my faithful chums, not long now to the fateful day and as the ride date fast approaches, the enormity of the challenge is finally sinking in to such an extent that the Psyclos original line up has been decimated by withdrawals – it’s amazing how many old war wounds suddenly start twitching at the thought of a swift hill climb!!

But fear not dear readers, we’ve abandoned the weak by the wayside and brought in two finely honed athletes to supplement the already formidable team. Who are these hardy souls that will ride under the Psyclos banner I hear you all scream? Be still your beating hearts my chums. We now have in our team a seasoned Cumbrian campaigner and all-round athlete in the form of Su Latham, one of our colleagues from our sister company, Hold Engineering, based in Beckermet. Su will no doubt be familiar with the challenges of the mighty West Cumbrian landscape. She has even sent me a picture of her training!!

The other gullible…… ooops, willing volunteer is our very own Business Development Manager, James Rudd. James is very familiar with the West Cumbrian highways and byways, particularly Corney Fell, where he has had many an adventurous ride (in his car) and has managed to stay on the road on at least a couple of occasions!!!

What of the remaining original members, well make your self a cuppa, take a seat, put your feet up and I’ll give you an update.

John Morris (you remember – the budding musician) has been training well having recently completed a swift 18 miler. His first one for three months.

Chris Hart (yes, the baby Psyclo). I have been reliably informed is actually taking time off work to do some riding. Now that is commitment and dedication the youth of today can learn from.

Andy Watson (our ringer from Silverdell, Ark Environmental, EDS, OCS) has been too busy renaming the company to do any serious riding!

Me? Managed a little 30 miler around the highways and byways of Chorley, Rivington, Horwich & Bolton last weekend and I’m off to do three quarters of the coast to coast over the Easter weekend and then some proper training on the golf courses and bars of the five star resorts of Turkey.

Off now to clean my grips and grooves but remember folks, life is like riding a bike, if you don’t keep moving you fall off!!

Oh God! he’s posted another one, does he ever stop, I hear you all mutter! Well truth be told dear readers – no. When you are on a roll – keep turning.

Do you remember last time I asked for some crisp spring weather? Well He/She up there must have been reading the blog as well as you lovely people and to celebrate I even ironed the lycra.

Suitably galvanised by the sun beating down, a couple of swift 24 milers to Bolton and back along the well formed cycle ruts over Anglezarke and through Horwich got the blood coursing through the veins. It was nice to see the local fire brigade waiting nonchalantly at the top of Anglezarke hill as I wheezed past just struggling to stay upright whilst my lungs were trying to explode out ofmy chest and my knees were screaming for me to stop. Fireman Sam leaning out of the gleaming red engine commented “nice day for it”, to which my reply was difficult to put into words but would have involved oxygen if I could have spoken! Still it was nice of him to ask!

Most recently we (me and the Baby Psyclo plus partners) reprised the 21 miler of the Preston Guild Wheel circuit, starting at the temple of mammon that is the Capitol Centre and finishing leisurely at the renowned Continental Bar. This time the pace was even slower as my Darling Wife was the pace setter and if she peddled into a headbreeze she would stall and fall off!!

So the sponsorship is going well especially after reminding some that they had already sponsored me and also already paid last year. Its looking very good for the Yellow Jersey as I have now topped £200. Fellow Psyclos will also be on course for the Yellow Jersey.

So dear readers and fellow riders all is now set: Accommodation – check, sponsorship – check, bike – check, lycra (padded) – check, Sunshine – TBC

So as a wise man once said “Give a man a fish and feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and feed him for a lifetime. Teach a man to cycle and he will realize fishing is stupid and boring”

Keep those peddles turning!

Happy New Year Dear readers! Are you still with me? Being the hardy bunch I know you are, I’m sure you are still out there hanging onto every precious word. I’ve missed you so much!

So what have you been up to over the dark, wet and windy winter months? Have those sneaky pounds slipped back into the now even tighter lycra leggings? Well my fellow peddlers, the time is nigh to restart those rigid training regimes and the good news is that the Psyclopaths original line up has reformed, much like those hairy prog rockers of the 70’s (showing my age now) are apt to do from time to time!

Commitment is such to the Rivers ride that one of the Psyclos will even be cutting a Spanish siesta short to get to the start line. Even the baby Psyclo has finally come out of email hibernation to inform us of his training rides.

But what of the author I hear you all crying? What have I been upto.

After a full service on the bike I couldn’t wait to get back on the refreshed and newly gleaming two wheels. Enthusiasm was soon replaced with winter gloom as we were battered day after day by the great British winter weather. I don’t mind a little trickle down the back of the neck every now and again but I draw the line when ones face is being constantly wet blasted by horizontal rain. It does wonders for the complexion though, I appear to have lost 10 years off my face!!!

20 miles around the Anglezarke and Rivington moors proved that sitting around eating Christmas pud does little for the knees and calf muscles, as both were screaming for relief during the hill climbs. A 22 speedy mile round trip to the throbbing metropolis that is Bolton and back to the serene calmness of Chorley along the once glorious thoroughfare that is the A6 proved a lot easier.

So we are back with a vengeance, all we need now is a spot of crisp spring weather to get us back in the proverbial saddle, gliding up the slopes and gulping in the fresh country air. I’m knackered even writing it!!

Onwards and upwards dear readers and I’ll leave you with this simple thought “A bike runs on fat and saves you money, a car runs on money and makes you fat!” – Get out there!

We’re back, and you thought we’d just given up didn’t you, go on admit it you did.

Yes, my fellow cycling chums, the great British summer strikes again. We’d all reached our peak of physical and mental fitness – some peaks higher than others – but we were ready!!

So what were we to do to keep sharp? Go on a 36 mile bike ride that’s what. I  met up with fellow Psyclo and budding musician, John Morris, at the infamous Black Dog in Belmont. We used the Dog as the base of our campaign to conquer the trials and tribulation and the rolling hills of the West Pennine moors, Rivington and Horwich. These byways were used in the recent Iron Man race and also the Manchester Commonwealth Games road race, so that was the magnitude of the challenge we set ourselves. And conquer it we did, well not all of it, but a lot of it! After the round trip we settled down to replenish vital lost fluids with a couple of refreshing pints of Jumping Joe’s best bitter whilst basking in the summer sun (for once) and watching the locals at play.

This little ride was followed up by a titanic 46 miler from Chorley, around the Preston Guild Wheel and back to Chorley. I was accompanied this time by the baby of the Psyclos, Chris Hart, and his partner and my work colleague, Laura Horne. Chris and myself were slightly hindered from reaching our full speed by Laura who never really attained maximum comfort on the pencil thin saddle of the borrowed bike.

Post round refreshment was taken in the Continental Bar in Preston, again basking in the summer sun. Chris and I had a problem of getting Laura back onto her bike for the little ride back to the car but we managed after some persuasion.

She enjoyed it so much she even offered to join the Psyclos for the rearranged Rivers Ride!!!!

So as the dark nights draw in (sounds like a film title!) and the temperatures plummet, we have the thought of the revised Rivers Ride date to sustain us throughout the winter months and to remind us why we are cycling in the dark with freezing hands and frozen dew drops developing.

Well dear readers, I’ll leave you with that image and bid you farewell until next time – keep those peddles turning!!!

Welcome back my friends, are you still with me?

Time is now getting short and the hills are getting steeper especially when I’ve just spent two weeks on holiday in the hilliest country in Europe. I’ll bet you are all imagining the magnificent snow capped peaks of Switzerland – The Jungfrau, the Matterhorn, Monte Blanc. Well think again my chums, the hills of the Netherlands were much more demanding, the infamously precipitous Speed Bump! the more tricky Slight Dip in the Cycle Path! I was held back slightly by my training partner (the Darling Wife) who, if cycled any slower, would fall off! So the lack of speed and inclines means that more intense work will have to be completed over the next two weeks. Despite the extreme flatness of the Dutch countryside, it is excellent for distance training and is of course years ahead of the UK when it comes to supporting the cyclist. Perhaps I could host a “fact finding” trip on behalf of the government! I thought I looked rather fetching in bright orange though!!

Reports from other Psyclopaths confirm that training is continuing in earnest, in fact one of our team has already conquered Whinlatter – well done Andy Watson. Methinks a tow rope might be in my backpack. Other Psyclos don’t appear to be embracing the training ethic with the same gusto – giving up after a puncture and getting a lift back! A little more motivation is required methinks – you know who you are Alan and Mark!!

Anyway, time to book the accommodation now the Info Pack has arrived.

See you all in Fitz Park bright and early.

Welcome back dear readers, I’m so happy you are sticking with me for the this voyage of discovery.

The training progresses well, despite the less than fashionable cycle wear – the pit helmet may be discarded for something more in keeping with the athletic physique!! However I find the lycra disturbingly comfortable! The attire performed well during my recent 46 mile round trip to Southport. Yes I know it’s flat but you’ve got to start somewhere! The hills of Rivington and Angelzarke are more of a challenge though and certainly give the old knees a workout.

One disturbing piece of news is that the Bouncing Baby of the team (Chris Hart) seems to think his youth alone will get him through the challenge. I think not young man – get on that bike and ride! I am reliably informed that the remaining Psyclos are pushing themselves to their limits. Whether their limits involve breaking into a sweat is yet to be determined.

The good news is that a reccy has been completed of the infamous Whinlatter – feared by some, admired by others. I can report that, from the comfort of my Alfa, as opposed to the discomfort of my saddle, that the pass is eminently passable. You need not fear the inclines, my fellow athletes, your fears can be allayed.

News hot off the press, another NSG team has thrown down the gauntlet of challenge, The NSGeese. Update on their lack of athleticism will be in the next update. Need to go now and stock up with Vaseline.

And so dear reader, the journey begins. The Rivers Ride came onto our radar some months ago. Methinks it can’t be difficult – rivers generally flow down valley floors so it must be flat. No problem! And so the call went out for willing and not so willing volunteers.

In the meantime further investigation discovered some minor challenges, there was a Pass involved!!! Now, my experiences of Passes particularly in Cumbria are not good. It generally involves inclines, effort and sweat and that was only on foot! I kept these little challenges from the willing volunteers. It was a need to know basis. They would get to know after they had signed up!

And so it came to pass (sorry about the pun) that The Pscylopaths were formed from veterans, young pups, athletes, novices and generally rotund, middle aged malcontents:

John Morris – NSG MD, he who must be obeyed and all round veteran athlete who can knock a decent tune out! Nigel Lowe – NSG Commercial Manager, team captain and finely honed athlete (in his head!), Mark Sheppard – NSG Assurance, budding athlete, Alan Hogan – NSG RPA, former athlete until middle age took hold!! Andy Watson – ringer from Silverdell, well we needed to get someone in who could ride a bike! and finally the bouncing baby of the team, Chris Hart another ringer only brought in to lower the average age!! All up for the challenge (haven’t told them about the pass yet though) and starting the intensive training regime – see you all down the pub then!