Performance supplements

Our trainer taking things seriously, taking us via the fetherston arms after the most arduous an tremendously hilly 'flat ride' ever suggested. Shortly after a pint of performance Harvey fell off, shortly after that he hit a pot hole and got a puncture...all in the space of 3miles.

Our trainer, looking after his lungs!

After 3hours of setting up his bike, r' mate Putterz is finally ready to take us out!

New posters...and donation by text!

Planning

 

We have maps! Progress.

Donaueschingen (the source) to Passau, 559km
Passau to Vienna, 340km

Vienna to Budapest, 306km
Budapest to Black Sea, 1670km

The First three sections are well covered, have a map/guide book each and plenty on info on the web. The last section is less well trodden, longer than the first three combined, and gets just one guide!

The first 100km are the hardest....right?

This Sunday I did my first ever 100 km ride, on a fixed gear too, from Lille, France to Oudenaarde, Belgium.  Perhaps a bit late in the day with less than 7 weeks before we set off...

It was definitely well worth doing, learning valuable lessons...

1. My hands really hurt during and after the ride, but I am pleased to report that 2 days later the feeling has returned in all but the little finger of my right hand!

2. It was very hot (and sweaty!) we're going to have to carry a lot of water with us on the bikes....

3. 100km is a long way.

4. You should always, ALWAYS wear suncream.

Elswick Hopper Refurbishment

It turns out the 1960's hopper I bought was in pretty bad nick. After stripping the entire thing down, I began to think that maybe I should stick to my original bike, and keep the Elswick as a refurbishment project. This leaves me training on my current bike, but the Elswick hopper isn't out of the race just yet!

 if i get it up and running in time, I might just take it with me.....but maybe without the cottered cranks, don't fancy taking a hammer on the trip to keep them tight...!

stripping off the junk.

choosing my steed.

Sweaty

 

Old bikes and panniers

 

Once the idea was planted, we were always going to take these old bikes, but they can be a nightmare. A huge part of the challenge is going to be getting the bikes to the finish in one piece, avoiding getting stuck in rural Serbia without a suitably irregular French part. Above is my flat mate Jim (in charge of logistics) helping me with a job I'm pretending I know how to do.  

 

A rack has been fitted to the fixie, is that sacrilege? It was originally a racing bike, so no bosses on the seat stays means they get hashed on like so. They passed the initial 'shake to validate sturdiness' test excellently.

 

Ortlieb Roller Back panniers in the sale to adorn said new rack? Go on then! In black, to help us go faster, and get any foodstuffs inside suitably sweaty.

 

Test ride (remember to do up all buckles) went well after minor adjustments. Again with the older bikes, and using just one gear, we really need pack light. Luckily the apparent carrying capacity for a 5 week trip is alarmingly small!

Does anyone have a 3 person tent we can borrow? I mean a tiny one. A ninja tent.

...?

Freshjive Moving Pictures - Bicycle Seat from freshjive on Vimeo.

Special Delivery!

Harvey receives his saddle from Flora in Manchester - time to start breaking it in!