The meerkat plane spotter

Friday. Arrived in Lancaster after a hot but reasonably quick and flat ride. The route that has been put together by Velodays (see sidebar) is perfect. Just enough civilisation when needed but mainly country lanes. I can't recommend Velodays strongly enough. I text Neil at noon when I'm reasonably sure of how far I can get that day and he books a room for me near (or in!) a pub with somewhere to eat nearby and then sends directions. It means I don't worry about any logistics and I know that if I have a problem then it will be sorted. This is the way to do LeJoG, especially if solo and unsupported.

Bike is holding up well, as am I, but we are both starting to creak just a little bit with about 500 miles down and 500 to go. My main worry is that I'm finding it hard to clip out of the right pedal and this can lead to the meerkat plane spotter problem.

Let me explain. Cycling shoes have a metal cleat on the sole that attaches the shoe, and thus the rider, to the pedal. This makes pedalling more efficient. When you set off, you push your foot down and forward and then you're clipped in. When you stop, you clip out by flicking your heel outward and you are then detached from the pedal. The most important thing to remember is to clip out before you come to a halt, otherwise .....

When I first started cycling I managed just fine until the day I passed through the buzzing metropolis of downtown Bidford-on-Avon one Sunday afternoon on a training run. The local teenagers, seeking excitement, had gathered at the crossroads to watch the traffic lights change. I approached and was about to clip out when a car cut in front of me and I braked quicker and harder than I had expected to. I was focusing on the car, and about to offer some advice, when it happened.

The best way to picture this is to imagine a meerkat watching a Boeing 707 flying directly toward and then over it. The meerkat looks up, tilts its head back, bit further, bit further..... and then just falls over. And that's what I did. I slowed, stopped and then with both feet on the pedals and both hands gripping the handlebars, I simply keeled over pavement side. The locals just could not believe their luck. I muttered something about all the pro's doing this on Le Tour but it fell on deaf ears.

Anyway, I digress. It hasn't happened yet and, with luck, it won't happen again. On to Carlisle tomorrow through the nice flat Lake District. I might try to cross the border and make Gretna so that I can be sure of arriving in Biggar in time for the England vs. Germany game on Sunday. Bound to find a pub in Scotland in which I can shout at the tele with a few like minded souls. Just hoping the wind changes direction by the morning and is with me for the first time on the ride.

Those all important numbers:

Distance: 117.47 km
Cumulative distance: 826.6 km
Ride time: 5h 21m 34s
Max speed: 57.6 kph
Bottom bracket: creaking
Right knee: hot, sore and noisy on the downstroke