The Bikes

We've both bought a new bike this year, ready for the challenge.

Sue's bike is a Dawes Horizon:

http://www.dawescycles.com/p-105-horizon.aspx

The 2008 model in blue with Shimano Sora/Alivio gears. She has the smallest size - 48cm - and changed the saddle for a ladies model. It was bought from Spa Cycles in Harrogate. I'd recommend a visit there, if you're in the market for a new tourer. They let you test ride them on the road outside the shop and are happy to change components and adjust things to suit.



Trevor's bike is a Ridgeback Panorama:

http://www.ridgeback.co.uk/index.php?seriesID=41&show_bike=TRUE

Though mine is the 2008 model in gunmetal grey. It's a mix of Shimano Tiagra/XT and Deore, bought from Freewheel Cycles in Nottingham. Mine is the 58cm model and I've changed the saddle for a Brooks B17 leather saddle.

Who we are

An explanation of who we are.

A married couple from Nottingham, with 2 grown up children - one at Uni but still living at home, the other off to Uni in September.

I (Trevor) am a lifelong cyclist, a member of the Sherwood Cycling Club. I'll be 50 this year and I've been cycling since I was 14.

My wife (Sue) is 43. We have done quite a bit of cycling as a family, and Sue's been taking it a bit more seriously over the last year. In September, 2008, we cycled from Nottingham to Skegness (80 miles), a long held ambition for my wife. We ride regualrly at the weekends, usually covering 50-60 miles a day. We also cycle to work.

An End to End Bicycle Adventure

My wife and I have decided to join the ranks of the End-to-Enders and cycle from one end of the country to the other. So we're starting our ride from John O Groats on Saturday 15th May 2009.

We are taking around 20 days to complete the 900 odd mile journey to Lands End, hopefully arriving on 3rd June 2009.

Our route will be as follows:

Day 0 - Travel from home to Wick

Day 1 - Wick-John O Groats -Bettyhill via Thurso & Melvich

Day 2 - Bettyhill to Bonar Bridge via Lairg

Day 3 - Bonar Bridge to Drumnadrochit

Day 4 - Drumnadrochit to Inchree via Fort Augustus and Fort William

Day 5 - Inchree to Luss (Loch Lomond) via Glencoe and Rannoch Moor

Day 6 - Luss to Hamilton via Glasgow

Day 7 - Hamilton to Lockerbie

Day 8 - Lockerbie to Shap

Day 9 - Shap to Whalley

Day 10 - Whalley to Crewe

Day 11 - Crewe to Ludlow

Day 12 - Rest day at Ludlow

Day 13 - Ludlow to Coleford

Day 14 - Coleford to Chew Stoke via Severn Bridge

Day 15 - Chew Stoke to Tiverton

Day 16 - Tiverton to Okehampton

Day 17 - Okehampton to St Austell

Day 18 - St Austell to Penzance

Day 19 - Penzance to Land End

Day 20 - Travel home from Penzance