The Curator's Camera:

B2E Wheelers Round Up: here's to the soigneurs

Janet (pictured) and Mad (behind the camera) enjoy the Turner Contemporary.

It's a few days since the B2E Wheelers rolled into Margate and completed their cross country ride and you've seen the round up posts I did on the third and fourth days. It struck me that it would be a good idea to draw it all together and tell you about the trip as a whole, our experiences and how we felt about the ride and its completion. But, in thinking this through it struck me there was a more important story to tell.

So Chris and I cycled across England, covered over 250 miles and climbed above 11,000ft in the four days. A great achievement that my legs and my stomach felt equally. Our supporters also helped us raise over £6,000, a great acheivement for which we are very grateful. But, we couldn't have done any of it without our soigneur team.

My Mum and I have a moment as the ride ends.

For those who don't know, in a cycling team the soigneur is the person who runs around getting food, clothes and supporting the main riders. The words translates roughly as 'one who helps' and no team is complete without them. For Chris and I, Maddy and Janet were invaluable to the completion of the B2E Wheelers' journey. This doesn't happen without them.

Similarly, my Dad has made great progress in the twelve months since he was ill. But, as Chris and I couldn't have done our ride without our soigneur team, so Dad couldn't have achieved all he has done without his. My Mum has been a rock to him and all others, putting hours of emotional and physical support into getting him to where he is today.

We should never forget the vast reserves of dedication, energy and tenacity required to be a carer; to be a soigneur. On the road, in the home or in the hospital this is a role that often goes un-noticed, un-championed, but the achievements of others do not come about without the work and care of these individuals.

So, here's to the soigneurs. Thank you, we couldn't have done it without you.

The Wheelers Roll up to the Turner

I won't build your hopes up, it's a short post again today! Chris and I are done, over 250 miles have been cycled and many photos have been taken at the Turner Contemporary today. We had a great time and have raised over £6,000 for the Heart of Kent Hospice and Meningitis Trust.

There's a longer post in me, talking about how great cycling in England is and the importance of our support team, but tonight it's somewhat beyond me! Instead I'll leave you with pictures of Margate and a tree pretending to be a pumpkin. Thanks to all of you for your generosity and check back tomorrow for a little more story.

Nearly There! The Wheelers roll into Kent

Day three begins with some free advertising for our hotel.

Evening all! A short post tonight as while we are nearly there I can feel the 190 miles Chris and I have already covered, meaning dinner and an early bed call. I will share some photos with you though - if I can squeeze them through my single bar of 3G reception. Here goes...

Another beautiful village

All in all it was another day defined by rolling English hills and picture-postcard villages, you can see the above as evidence. The landscape provided us with a few humorous asides too, not least the rather fetchingly named place you can see below.

Begs the question - how do you wash a slug?

With that, I'm off. I did mean it when I said it would be a short post!

Hills and Dales: actually, just hills

Day 2, Lesson 1 - level crossings hurt when you put 70 miles under your belt the day before.

Greetings from Pulborough! As I write I'm looking over a delightful view down into the area's valleys thinking that it's beautiful but also being reminded just how stiff some of the climbs were today. Indeed, it felt like a whole day of climbing with only a few descents (that said, the ride down into Petersfield was a nice piece of fast riding).

Another amazing ride though, in fact I think I'm in danger of becoming one of those irritating cycling evangelists. I've been a driver now for over 10 years but I feel like I've seen more of the country in the three months since I got my bike back out than I did in all the time before. At the very least I've had more time to look at it and certainly remember it better.

Petersfield market sqaure, where you can find a great all day breakfast. I suggest you avoid it if you have to climb back out of the town though. Trust me (and Chris).

All of which is a bonus given my numerous 'firsts' for today - watercress farms, a game of polo being played, a bird of prey raiding a nest by the side of the road and old English architecture I can't even name. 

Evangelism aside, we're pleased to report that we're now over half way through the B2E Wheelers' cross country excursion. Hopefully the last two days have less climbing than the 8,300 ft we've already climbed, although for all of my complaining here I must confess these two days have reminded me that I actually rather like a climb. Fittingly, I blame my Dad and those camping trips in the Lakes he used to take me on!

I'd love to stay and chat but there's a beer in the bar with my name on it, so I'll sign off. Thanks for checking up on us and, as always, you can find out even more here.

Allez! The B2E Wheelers get going

 

The day has now been and gone, the B2E Wheelers have rolled across their first part of the English countryside and, overall, it has been a success. The last part of that statement is probably not a universal rule, but more on that once we get outside of Hampshire...

Chris and I started the day in Bristol, posing outside the Bristol Museum and Art Gallery before we spent 40 minutes lost and trying to root our way our of Bristol city centre and onto Route 4. However, between the staff of Bristol's Specialized store and a helpful traffic warden (I know) we were put right and soon on the old railway paths zipping to Bath. By the by, if you ever get the chance to do this have a go, the paths and tunnels are great fun and not difficult riding either.

The weather was hot and it was lovely to ride getting sunburn after weeks of training in the cold and rain. That said, our wonderful plan of riding with the prevailing wind has been scuppered by the stiff easterly breeze we rode into all day - and it looks like tomorrow will be the same!

Salisbury - looking stunning today

Aside from lunch in Warminster, coffee in Salisbury and a few gritty sections of A-road the defining characteristic of the day was chocolate-box scenes of thatched villages and early harvests being done. I could keep gushing about this and the weather and how helpful the Garmin GPS systems were but the day wouldn't have worked at all without our dedicated soigneurs (aka the B2E Drivers). They not only ferried equipment, mixed drinks and braved traffic jams but scouted the very best coffee and lunch places in the southern counties (fyi, if you're ever in Salisbury make sure you go to the military museum cafe...).

The day ended, after over 70 miles of cycling, in sunny Dunbridge, the B2E Drivers having found us a pub to de-mob at. After having covered such a distance of cycle paths, A-roads, old railway tunnels and more than a few historic sites we wound down with a long drink in the heart of the English countryside (contemplating what could possibly be in The Wallops).

What goes on in The Wallops? The B2E Wheelers left that to others to find out.

It's been a great start to the ride and things feel good at the moment, tune in tomorrow to see how a second long day of riding feels though. One final thing, we were over the moon to find out this morning that we've now raised over £6,000 for our charities. Thank you all for your support and generosity. It means a lot and we hope to do you proud over the remaining 175 miles.

[PJH]