Climbing hills for those that can't.

My last post detailed my training ride on Sunday when I climbed up the Malverns, a total of 701 metres ascending, straining to turn the pedals against the slope and the pull of gravity.

Why?

People ask me why I do these challenges and where I find the energy and time to train, when every night is a night of broken sleep, every day is hard work dealing with the demands of twins, each of whom have their own difficulties and disabilities.

The reason is simple.

George Leigh Mallory was asked why he wished to climb Everest in 1924...'Because it's there' he replied.

Why do I do these challenges, cycling and running from Worcester to Liverpool and back, climbing Kilimanjaro and now cycling to London and back?

Because I can.

I have been blessed with an ability that many do not have. I can walk, I can run, I can cycle, feed and dress myself, tell someone how I feel, ask for things, communicate my needs and enjoy a full life, free of physical and mental limitations.

Milla is unable to do these things. Thousands of others live with cerebral palsy to varying degrees. All of them need help and support - some to be able to lead an independent life, some to to do the most basic everyday things. Feeding, dressing, going to the toilet, getting around.

I'm lucky to have my health and to be physically fit. I'm am lucky to be in a position to undertake these challenges and to try to raise money to support Scope to help people living with cerebral palsy.

I will be setting off for London at 6:30 on Saturday 24th April and coming back on Monday 26th April. I would love to raise more money for Scope through donations to my web page. If you can help with any donation I will be very grateful.

Thank you.

Tony.

You can donate online at;

www.justgiving.com/tonyfrobisher2

5am, Flapjacks and 50 miles

Saturday morning...eager to get out for a training ride, but thwarted in my tracks by two determined daughters. They beat me in getting up at 5am and thereby ensuring my training ride had to be a far lower priority than sugar puffs, milk and medicines. Fair enough.

So, to pass the time I turned my hand to the craft of baking. Flapjacks; nectar in syrup and oats. A weekend treat, especially as biscuits, chocolate, sweets are off limits Monday to Friday. Quick mix of the ingredients and 20 minutes at 170c and the gooey, sticky loveliness was ready.

Eventually I was able to get out for a fast 19 miles circuit around Broadheath, which was but a mere warm up to this mornings mountain stage.

Sunday morning...

Clocks moved forward.The alarm clock sounds and I'm up with the larks. Actually I think the larks were still asleep. In real money I set off at 6am (7am British Summer Time). Thankfully Louisa and Milla decided that a bit more sleep and a lie in on Sunday was a good idea and I made haste, wolfing down a bowl of porridge and a mug of tea.

Climb, climb, climb...

Worcester to the Malvern Hills and back. 27.3 miles and a shed load of climbing. Excellent training for the ride to London. After reaching Malvern Link, the road starts a continual, inexorable climb up to Great Malvern where, following a brief respite on a short flat section, the road starts the climb up the Wyche Cutting, one of the road passes over the Malverns. This road is a steady drag, not too steep, with a few switchbacks - a really good test for the legs.

Make no bones about it, the Wyche is long and it hurts. The route has been used by the Tour of Britain professional cycle race.

The weather was stunning - a milky sun, rising through the morning mist of the Vale of Evesham. Beautiful views to my left, just about visible through the clouds of breath as I panted and struggled in a low gear. But I made it to the top without stopping.

Across to the Malvern Hills hotel where I had a sip of water and was rudely interrupted by two barking dogs, who were not pleased to see me and backed up everything I said in my last post!

A scary descent followed. I took it easily as there are so many potholes, though I have hit 45mp/h before on the same descent.

Not satisfied with climbing the Wyche Cutting once, I went up and over it for a second time before a fast descent through West Malvern and back over to Worcester.

The stats;

27.3 miles, average speed around 12mp/h (yes, this is slow, but you try cycling up the Malverns)

Climbing - ascent 701 metres. Let's put that into context, Skiddaw in the Lake District is 709m and Hellvelyn is 712m.

Calories burnt: 3,464

So, in two days I've done nearly 50 miles on the bike and a ton of climbing. All necessary training for the big ride to London and back.

Things I've noticed while riding;

1. Your fingers might warm up when riding in the chilly cold morning air, but your toes stay frozen. Time for some warmer socks.

2. Dogs are still cyclists' worst enemies.

3. An 'easy climb' is an oxymoron and a downright lie.

4. Descending may be quicker the climbing, but it is far more dangerous, demands more concentration and a change of underpants.

5. The UK's roads are in an absolutely terrible state, cracks, potholes, rough surfaces. Awful. You have to swerve so as not to hit them, and this is not good when there is an 18 wheel juggernaut bearing down on you.

6. I need more Sudocrem to stop chafing in the nether regions.

7. Cycling makes your hands tingle - pressure on the nerve at the base of the thumb, induced by white knuckle descents off the Malverns.

8. Cycling makes your meat and two veg go numb / frozen as well. Good job I have already had children. Next time I'll break it off and put it in my pocket.

9. I need two bowls of porridge - by the end of this ride I was starting to 'bonk' (run out of energy).

10. Shaven legs do not necessarily decrease drag or increase speed, but do help you look as if you dress in drag at the weekends..

Blog post finished. Now where's that cup of tea and who has eaten all the flapjacks? Louisa....?

See you soon,

Tony.

Dog Gone Damned Dogs

Dogs, mans' best friend, maybe. Cyclists worst enemy, definitely.

What is it about a bicycle that brings out the aggressive or curious instinct in our four-legged friends?

It's not that a cyclist on a bike vaguely resembles any breed of dog known to man (though possibly one or two mutated breeds on show at Crufts could bear a passing resemblance). Is it the sight of a fast moving object, whizzing towards a dog, that triggers the instinct to chase, attack, bite, kill?

I feel that dogs are just jealous. They can't ride a bike - their paws wouldn't reach the pedals and they are useless at ringing the bell - and this is a source of frustration and anger. This is coupled with the fact that a bicycle has an instant connection in the canine psyche; an association with postmen.

I suppose if I look at it from a culinary point of view, a shapely calf and ankle could be mistaken for a juicy, meaty bone.

Whatever way you look at dogs, you can't help but be wary of them as you cycle past them.

A while ago I was savagely bitten on the knees and ankles by a stupid, young, aggressive mutt with sharp teeth and not the sharpest of brains. The owner casually, evidently not the sharpest of brains either, sauntered after his pet and despite my painful protests, failed to drag the dog off my legs before I received one or two more nips. No apology. The next time I encountered the same dog + owner he had put a lead on it, but it was still straining to have another munch.

I won't repeat the expletive filled response I used after I had escaped the clutches of the Beast of St. Peter's.

Since then, I have been very aware of the stupidity of dogs. Those that don't attack you decide that diving under your front wheel at the last second is a good game or follow you barking wildly.

More than that, I have become tuned into the stupidity of the owners. They come into a number of categories;

1. Couldn't-give-a-toss Owners. You know the ones. Dogs as weapons, off the leash, great big mastiffs with drooling rabid mouths. These owners would far less pick up a doggie poo and put it in the dog bin, than smear your face with it. If I see one of them, I usually turn around and cycle the other way.

2. Oh-oops-sorry -about-that Owners. Terribly sorry, didn't see Randy mount your leg as you cycled by and begin to copulate with your ankles. I think I have a tissue here, somewhere. Randy, do leave the poor chap alone. Come to Mumsie, I've got a ickle biccie-wiccie for you.
Enough said.

3. What's-your-problem? Owners. Excuse me, you do realise this is a cycle path and that if I ring my bell it is an audible warning for you and your mangy hound to GET OUT OF MY WAY BEFORE I RUN YOU DOWN, YOU MUPPET!!!!. 'Yeah', they reply, 'we was 'ere first. Your problem, not mine.'

4. Considerate-lovely-people Owners. How wonderful it is when you ring your bell and the owner runs faster than Usain Bolt with a tailwind and dives headfirst into a quagmire to grab hold of their dog, just so they can avoid any type of accident, disaster or confrontation. They even look up as you pass and say 'Ooh sorry about that'.

Dogs. Either keep them on a lead if you are on a cycle path or don't be surprised if they end up in a Korean restaurant on a plate next to the Kim Chi.

Here endeth the lesson.

Blog you later Fro Fo's

Tony

The Perils of Pillocks in Cars

Ah, he's only on a bicycle, he can't be going that fast, I'll just nip across the junction ahead of him.....phew! that was close, I nearly took him out, didn't think you could be so fast on a bike....

Instant idiot, just add motor car / bus / lorry / white van. Honestly, the way people drive, with scant regard for the humble cyclist is nothing short of criminal...and in many cases probably is criminal.

Why is it car drivers ALWAYS assume they are going to be faster than some Lycra-clad, behelmeted cyclists?

It is not difficult to keep up with traffic in urban areas, it is relatively easy to pedal along at 20mph on the flat and touch 30mph on a short descent.

But, no, the motor car driver, cocooned in his or her metal box reckons that they can always nip in front, have enough room to get past - especially at traffic calming zones - and can always turn left in front of a cyclist in time.

A few months ago while cycling to work I was knocked off my bike in such a fashion. I was doing 20+mph on a slight downhill, approaching a junction when one of Worcester's finest prize dick-for-brains in a standard, 'I'm-a-Muppet' van decided he had enough time, speed, room etc to overtake me and turn left. He didn't and I ended up crashing into the side of the van and falling in a heap on the road.

I was unhurt, a bit shaken up, and more than a bit annoyed. The aforementioned amoeba got out of his van and looking at me on the road offered his apologies and concern in the most appropriate way he knew how.

He smiled the widest of grins, stuck a 'thumbs up' in my direction and said 'Alright????'.

My retort, measured in its choice of words, was 'Yes, I'm alright, you're lucky that I am, you didn't see me then as you overtook me? Alright?! Don't you think sorry is a good word in this situation?!'

The missing link mustered all his brain power and looked quizzically at me and said 'Oh, sorry....alright?!' (thumbs up gesture repeated).

I've had the odd 'near miss' as they call incidents involving aircraft passing within 1km of each other. Lorries, trucks, juggernauts...whatever you call them, they are not exactly quick off the mark. But the numpties that drive them always see a cyclist and a little light comes on in their cabin like heads 'Er, calculate, distance, speed = time, likelihood of accident...er, no, can't do maths, I'm only a truck driver...What the hell, I'm bigger than they are, I'll risk it.'

I end with an amusing footnote.

I enjoy the company of various singers, bands, groups, duos from the worlds of rock, metal, blues, pop, funk, reggae, classical, folk, indie, world, chill out etc etc through the wonderful medium of compressed music files (MP3 players...what did we do before their timely invention...I remember, I carted about 30 cassettes and a Sony Walkman overland from Hong Kong to Athens...play one side, change and turn over, put cassette back in box, select new cassette, start process again. Was this in medieval times? Nay Sir, twas back in 1996)...anyway I digress.

Kids...pay attention! I don't condone listening to an MP3 while cycling - I like a bit of Morrissey or Jamiroquai to keep the pedals turning. Of course, the volume is never so loud that I can't hear someone yell abuse as they drive by 'Get off the road, you *@"&!!!!!'.

I enjoy struggling up the hills with a good tune. It so happens that as I fell to the floor, having been knocked off by Mr. P Enis, my MP3 was still merrily playing away. In my anger I had to suppress a laugh..oh the irony. I heard the magnificent, anthemic rock n roll of Australia's finest export (after Kylie and Jason).

Track No.1 AC/DC....Highway to Hell.

Why am I doing this.....?

Long painful hills sapping your energy.....the cold and rain making every turn of the pedal an immense effort ....chilly headwinds slowing you down....London still miles and hours away.
I will have a PEST accompany me to London and back.

Pain and Effort, Suffering and Tiredness - for what reason?

Pain - it's only temporary, it's only for a couple of days, I'll soon forget it.
Effort - you get out what you put in, in this life I believe
Suffering - it's nothing compared to the constant struggle Milla & others with disability face
Tiredness - try broken sleep for 3.5 years, this will be a rest in comparison!

When you look at Milla, who, despite all her difficulties, illness and needs remains a happy, smiling, gorgeous girl, then cycling to London and back is all worthwhile. I'd cycle to the moon and back for her and her sister, Louisa. The donations have surpassed my target and are now at £2,105. Please give more if you can. Thank you. Tony.

www.justgiving.com/tonyfrobisher2

What a difference a bike makes

Today was a bright, sunny, warm, but windy day in Worcester.

On Friday, I had taken delivery of my new bike - a Trek 7.0 Hybrid bike, with lovely semi-slick tyres that make you go just that little bit faster than the chunky knobbly tyres I had plodded around on my old bike.

Trek is the brand of bike ridden by and endorsed by Lance Armstrong. Could I match his performance on my first ride. Considering he rides a bike that retails for around the £8,000 price range and mine was, let's be honest, nowhere near £8k, I doubted myself and Lance would be on an equal footing.

The route I chose was a nice 20 miles circuit to the wonderful riverside town of Upton-Upon-Severn. It's a nice route, with the Malverns Hills keeping you company all the way and plenty of short sharp climbs, together with Severn Stoke Hill - a lengthy, but not too steep drag.

Starting off the bike, the legs, the handling all felt good. A decent head of steam was generated and I was soon flying down the A38 into a headwind - the curse of all cyclists. But I still made Upton 10 minutes faster than I had done before.

20 miles in 1 hr 14 mins. OK, I'm not going to win the prologue of the Tour de France at that speed (average 16mph), but for my 41 year old legs, with severely broken sleep due to Milla being unwell and no lunch (my fault), it was a good effort.

First ride out and I loved the bike. 20 miles done, but London is 5.5 times that distance and there are more lumps and bumps between Worcester and London than on a ploughed field.

I've christened the bike 'The Hill Eater' - a bit of positive thinking, but it genuinely was smoother, more comfortable and faster in going up hill than my old bike. Happy days.

To end, a salutary warning to fellow cyclists. Lycra is comfortable, a nice chamois padding is a luxury you can ill afford to be without. But even a 20 mile ride needs a bit of lubricating. Forgot to put some Sudocrem on and realised I should have done. Lesson learnt. I don't want red raw, cracked walnuts and saddle sore the size of onions. Ordinary onions, I don't mean Graeme Onions, the England cricketer - that would be impressive - he is a big bloke.

Next training ride I shall be enjoying the pleasures of the Malverns.... a lovely switch back climb up the Wyche Cutting. Anyone care to join me?

See you soon.

Tony.

Cycling for charity - everyone's at it

Sport Relief. A brilliant idea.

Take well known personalities from the world of British TV and radio and set them an incredibly hard sporting challenge, in order to raise large amounts of money for charity projects in the UK and in some of the world's poorest countries.

I've just watched 6 celebrities cycle the length of Britain in a non-stop relay, taking 26 mile (40km) turns day and night for 4 days. Snow storms, killer climbs, night time temperatures of -15 C, severe lack of sleep and fatigue did not stop them completing the challenge and raising over £1,000,000 for charity projects under the Sport Relief banner.

This, for me, is where the BBC comes into its own - it has the power to motivate people to get behind charitable causes and to raise awareness of the plight of others. Everyone wants to see celebrities suffer, move far out of their comfort zone, but ultimately succeed. This year not only have there been challenges like the cycling challenge, but a BBC presenter, Christine Bleakley, became the first woman to water ski from the UK to France and a comedian, Eddie Izzard, ran around Britain - 43 marathons in 51 days. Astonishing.

These feats of endurance, stamina, blood, guts and determination are hugely inspirational and motivating. My cycling challenge is drawing closer and seeing what the celebrities have done has spurred me on.

I had thought about skirting around a fairly large hill in the Cotswolds - Fish Hill, near Broadway. But after watching David Walliams struggle up Kirkstone Pass, the longest and steepest climb in the UK, in the freezing cold of night I'd feel a bit of a fraud if I didn't give it a go.

Well done the cycling celebrities....I have your self same determination, though not quite the back up team of mechanics, medics and co-riders. I will have the redoubtable Simon Whitton (pictured with me on my last cycling charity challenge in 2007) force feeding me Mars Bars and shouting at me from the warmth of a car to keep going.

IF you can still support me and donate, please do - and thank you.

www.justgiving.com/tonyfrobisher2

So come on Fish Hill, bring it on. I'm looking forward to making your acquaintance in April. Be gentle with me.

Tony

To shave or not to shave, that is the question.

To shave or not to shave? A dilemma of significant concern to me prior to my ride. D0 I shave or not?

Now, I am not talking facial shaving. A bit of stubble goes well with the bandana and sunglasses look.

No, I am talking down below. No, not there you smutty oiks, further down below. The legs, the shins, calves, knees and thighs.

Ask any true Scotsman what he wears under his kilt and the answer should be an unequivocal 'nothing' (In fact a friend of mine has just climbed up Kilimanjaro in his kilt - it's Ok, he has already had his children). Ask any true cyclist to show you his legs and they will be as smooth as a freshly laid silk sheet, not a whisker, hair or tuft in sight.

Why? Well, any cyclist has experienced a brief meeting with Mr. Tar Mac - accidents happen and there is nothing worse than getting cut legs, scraped knees and trying to clean them when they are full of dirt, small stones, thorns etc.

This is my dilemma. If I shave I will have the legs of Cameron Diaz and the chest and back of Robin Williams. Summer running in running vests always strikes fear in me (and the population of Worcester) as a 'Yeti on Holiday' picture could appear in the Worcester News.

I suppose as I shave my head, I could go for the 2 for 1 deal and do the legs at the same time.

All I need to do then is to book in for the colonic irrigation, the chemical peel and the BS&C....back, sack and crack. Video never to be published.

Good night, sleep tight.

Tony.

Le Bicyclette Est Mort

Oh dear.

Just when I thought all my bike needed was a quick change of tyres and a new inner tube, I discover that my trusted Claude Butler Mercury is in serious mechanical trouble.

Bottom bracket gone, chain set in need of replacement, rear wheel rim badly damaged, gear cables need replacing and so on and so on.....

The long and short of it is that the bike can be fixed - but at a cost...we're talking £280 plus or minus the odd quid here and there. So, with that in mind, a more appealing solution presents itself.

A new bicycle.

For the same price as the repair I can get myself a nice new bike, with all the things I need - semi-slick tyres for fast road riding, light frame to compensate for my 41 year old frame, lifetime guarantee.

If anyone wants to sponsor me and pay for the bike, I'll get your photo, company, logo, whatever emblazoned on my challenge t-shirts!. I'd even get your face tatooed across my bottom and ride naked to London so that the following motorists get a good look at my benevolent sponsors as I struggle up the Cotswolds and Chiltern Hills.

So, new bike it is. Take the plunge and do it. Put it this way, if I don't invest in a bike, I'm not running all the way there and back.

Tony.

Shanks' Pony for a bikeless Frobi

What's the key element in training to ride a bike to London and back....? Yes, a bike. I suppose 2 working legs attached to a fully functioning torso and mental faculty helps, but inessence to cycle you need a bike.

Mine's currently 'wheels akimbo', spread-eagled in the garden with a folorn look on its saddle. Puncture to the back wheel and a stubborn, can't be budged back tyre have stopped my training for a day or two.

So, I will be trudging slowly to the bike shop, people whispering audibly, 'why aren't you riding it instead of pushing it?, ya plonker!'

I have booked the bike in for 'the works' - full service, tyre change, gear cable change, strip down, shampoo and set. I hope it will look as good as new tomorrow and will be considerably easy to ride, more economical on the legs and faster as a result.

I had considered buying a brand new bicyclette for my soiree and petit sojourn to Londres... (at this rate it could be Paris), but I'd love to have a new bike, but I have to be cost conscious and save the pennies. It means that on the day of the cycling challenge I can have an extra bottle of Lucozade Sport and some performance enhancing drugs...(in my case, a liberal supply of Dextrose tablets and Mars Bars).

Just remembered, I must buy a good supply of Savlon and Sudocrem; not for Louisa and Milla, but to oil the love spuds and prevent saddle sores. There nothing worse on a long ride than having a touch of the cyclist dinosaur...'Saddlesorearse'.

Good night good people.

Blog you later.

Tony.

Target Reached

Great News!

I set out to raise £2,000 for Scope and last night, thanks to the wonderful support of so many friends, I have achieved a fundraising total of £2,000.

In three separate fundraising events in the last three years I have now raised £10,000 for charity.

The work does not stop now and I would love to be able to raise more for Scope and to help people living with cerebral palsy, like my daughter, Milla.

A huge thank you to everyone who has got behind me. You will be the wind that pushes me to London and drags me up the Cotswold and Chiltern Hills in April.

Lots of love,

Tony.

Up and Running

Hello and thanks for reading my blog. At the moment I am thanking only myself for reading this, but I hope in time my friends spread far and wide around the world will take the time to follow what I am up to.

SO, I am now a blogger...I was a jogger, but I had a knee operation last November and that has put pay to any running for a while. So, two letters changed and I now blog, not jog. But, I am still actively cycling and will be taking on the challenge of cycling 400km in 2 days from Worcester to london and back in order to support and raise money for Scope; the UK's leading chairty that helps people with cerebral palsy.

You can read more about the challenge and sponsor me by clicking the link to my charity donation page or go to:

www.justgiving.com/tonyfrobisher2

Right, that's it for now....things to do.

Later FroFos (Frobi Followers)

Tony