*Friday 31st March

Went out for a short ride this afternoon with Dave and Carl (work mates), clocked up a wee 12 miles, no problem!! I can tell I'm getting fitter, even the "killer" hill (from the M4 motorway flyover up to 14 Locks) seems to be getting slightly easier but it's still a killer!! A little wet and boggy today but at least at wasn't cold!!

Dave was testing out his new bike... very nice it is too!! (made by pixies I believe!!) and Carl was testing out Dave's old bike... that is until he tried to bunny hop a tree!! Didn't quite make it and ended up smashing ALL the back cogs, stripping the teeth and even bending his front gear's.. Gutting!! but at least he was able to ride it home without too much difficulty!!

Received my donated item's from Bike Scene. Specialized bib and team cycle top!! Well chuffed!! Think I may keep the top for training etc... and auction/raffle the bib.

Don't think I'll have time to make it on the bike this weekend, company stocktake Sat & Sun!! Pero es posible if the weathers OK and I'm not too knackered, I may just try and get out after we finish for the day... we'll see

Took a piccy of my mention in the mag (see yesterday's post)

My Spot of Fame in 3D World Magazine

No sponsor's today but hopefully after bugging work mates all weekend, they may just sponsor me to shut me up :)

Until tomorrow

Total fundraising to date: £927.00
Miles Rode Today: 12
Miles Rode Since 16/02/06: 124

Thursday 30th March

Had an email from Jane at Bike Scene this morning, said they were willing to donate a few item's of clothing for training and raffle. Well happy :)

Stop by their site by clicking here

Been working on the "company" page of my site since I got in from work! Worked all day doing the work's website, now I'm working all night doing my own website... this has been my life for the last few week's but it's paying off...

With companies like Endura and Bike Scene helping my cause it's boosted my confidence no end.

And to top it off today, the Editor of 3D World magazine (Jim Thacker) kindly advised me he has put a mention in the mag for me... so my site and cause is now being viewed by a vast audience across the globe, double :)

Had another sponsor today (from a 3D world Reader I may add), thanks John!!

Until tomorrow, remember kids:-

"If it weren't for electricity we'd all be watching television by candlelight." George Gobol

Total fundraising to date: £927.00
Miles Rode Today: 0
Miles Rode Since 16/02/06: 112

Wednesday 29th March

Had an email from Jim @ Endura today, he said they were willing to sponsor me, I'm chuffed as beans!! Really means alot to have such a well known company recognise and help my cause.

Should be able to have some gear for training/challenge and for auction/raffle.

I've brought their clothing before (my Endura Event Overtrousers have kept me dry in the wettest of Welsh winters) and would easily recommend their site a visit if your a serious cyclist, clothing for all weathers!! Click here to visit their site.

Really need to get more letters/emails out. Hopefully with Endura backing me others will follow suite...

1 chuffed bunny

Steve

Total fundraising to date: £922.00
Miles Rode Today: 0
Miles Rode Since 16/02/06: 112

Tuesday 28th March

Couldn't post yesterday, blog entry pages were down, a "technical issue" (AGAIN!!), seems to happen more frequently of late...

Had another £20 sponsor today, thanks Jon!! :)

Still haven't managed to give the smokes up. I know, no excuses really, other than these last few weeks have been hectic to say the least. A combination of work spilling over into personal time, still not getting time to sit down and write my press release, letters to companies, sorting out the cycle4charity.org website, turning fundraising ideas in reality... it's all taking it's toll

Hang on... Steve, that's a p!ss poor excuse!!, you can do better!!

My dog ate my.. no... I was stuck in traf... no... My hous... no... The SAS needed my hel... no... Someone superglued a cigare... no... Paul Mackenna hynotised me into thinking I was a smoke grena... NO!!

Sorry, there is no excuse... I'm just weak!!

And as much as I could really do with a hard slog on the bike to release the tension... I've got rigged into doing a company stock take all weekend :(

Bummer!! said Dougal realising he was a dog...

Total fundraising to date: £922.00
Miles Rode Today: 0
Miles Rode Since 16/02/06: 112

Sunday 26th March

About time... finally figured out how to use my formmail.pl script so now people can email me directly through my site (see contact form)

Didn't go out on the bike today, apart from trying to figure out perl scripting (a first for me) my kit is soaking wet from yesterdays cycling. A poor excuse I know but at least I got my contact form working!! :)

Total fundraising to date: £902.00
Miles Rode Today: 0
Miles Rode Since 16/02/06: 112

*Saturday 25th March

Made it out on the bike today, decided to try Twmbarlam... was only a drizzle when we left (me n Dave) but by the time we got to the top of the mountain it was chucking it down and pretty dam cold with the wind chill.

Only a short 12.5 miles as it was cold, wet, windy and visibility was poor to say the least, as the photos below show:

Despite the rain, Elly still wanted to come Mountain Biking

Ahhh the view to the East

And the West

North?

South??

I give up, fog is disorientating!!

Even though it was a short 12.5, the terrain and inclines made it feel double that. Was good to get out on the bike though, even if the weather sucked!!

Ohh... and Dave fell off!! LOL ever seen a Welshman bellyslid a mountain??

Total fundraising to date: £902.00
Miles Rode Today: 12.5
Miles Rode Since 16/02/06: 112

Friday 24th March

Thank crunchie it's friday, it's been a busy week in work!!

Quite a bit's happened since yesterday/last night... I caved in and decided it time to purchase a hosting server (at a cost to my own pocket).

No more hosting my site on my ISP freespace, no more outages, more traffic, better search engine rankings (type cycle 4 charity in google, I'm tops!!), faster pages loads and to top it all off, 800MB of web space with 10GB monthly traffic.

What does this mean in laymans terms? Well... I can now add more content to the site such as photos, videos, add more complex (for me) page content and not have any limitations on running scripts such as contact me forms etc... I'm well 'appy (sad but hey, I do work in IT)

Had another sponsor today, thanks Si :)

Weather for tomorrow's ride looks like rain and plenty of it... bring it on!!

Total fundraising to date: £902.00
Miles Rode Today: 0
Miles Rode Since 16/02/06: 99.5

Thursday 23rd March

Had the letter regarding my official Cancer Research UK fundraising ID card... alas minus the actual ID card!! One phone call to the Internation Challenge Team later... on it's way :)

Visited another charity fundraising site today, cycleGENEVA (taken from mtb-wales.com forum), 2 friends cycling from South Wales to Geneva raising money for Swansea NHS Trust Hospital, a meer 1000 miles!!

Nice site, inspiring story and considering they were both involved in serious skiing accidents, good on em!! Drop by and show your support.

A friend in work (debating on doing the challenge himself, come on Carl "you can do ittttttt") who has helped me come up with several really good fundraising ideas has come up trumps!!

He's arranged to raffle 2 (that's TWO) free limo rides for my cause.

He's also trying to arrange a "free" 2 week European holiday (you only pay for flights) in a 5 star hotel/appartment and a case of Champagne to auction/raffle.

More info to follow...

He's even offered the loan of his, a'hem, "touring" van on the upcoming events/training practises we have in the pipeline. With a bit of luck I'll be able to get some stickers made up and plaster his van with them during the events to help with advertising :P

Should help with transport to the events plus it's got power supplies, storage and the bonus being he's even built a mini kitchen in the back, brew's on!!

Some planned events include: Welsh 3 Peaks Trek, Absailing and Rock Climbing, SAAB 24hr Race and a few (more local) charity races...

Carl, your a star mate!!

Watch this space...

On another note, Rob in work has handed his notice in. Will be gutted to see him go (he's one of the good guy's). I'll be seeing him in June again anyway, he's our team captain for the SAAB 24hr race, team name: Bob's Bitches :)

No... we're not intending to win (especially with a team name like that), I'll be glad just to complete the race without having a cardiac!!

Still need to sit down and get all the idea's on paper, along with sending out my "still not finished" Press Release to the local media, just don't seem to have time lately :(

Total fundraising to date: £882.00
Miles Rode Today: 0
Miles Rode Since 16/02/06: 99.5

Wednesday 22nd March

Paid my entry fee for the 24hr SAAB SSMM MTB Race today, got Rob off my back at least :)

Still no sponsors for a few day's now :(

Forest of Dean on Saturday look's like it could be off, going to Cwmcarn for round 2 instead, although the weather forecast looks like rain, lots of it!! So.... we'll see

Just picked up my "fixed" wheel, 40p for the spoke, £7.50 for the buckle lol, still at least I can confidently try and pull wheelies again without thinking my wheels about to collapse

Total fundraising to date: £882.00
Miles Rode Today: 0
Miles Rode Since 16/02/06: 99.5

Tuesday 21st March

Busy day today so I've decided not to go to Spanish, sé sé pero estoy muy cansado esta noche

Short one today as theres not much to report

Hopefully going to Forest of Dean this Saturday though :)

Hasta luego mi amigos

Total fundraising to date: £882.00
Miles Rode Today: 0
Miles Rode Since 16/02/06: 99.5

Monday 20th March

No exciting news today, no sponsors, no letters, not even a bill, no nothing, infact, if you notice this notice you may notice that this notice is not worth noticing...

Hmpf, Monday's!!

Still... clocks go forward this weekend (I think? googl... yep, I was right. That's the 26th March, don't forget peeps!!) so I won't have the "it's too dark" excuse anymore :)

Total fundraising to date: £882.00
Miles Rode Today: 0
Miles Rode Since 16/02/06: 99.5

*Sunday 19th March

Didn't make it out on the bike yesterday, was freezing cold and the wind was just a bit too strong for an enjoyable ride, besides which rugby started at 1:30pm and I was drinking my first (of many) beers by 1pm :)

The rest of saturday is a bit of a blurr tbh, I know we (Wales) lost to France and England lost to Ireland but for some strange reason I can't recall anything from about 7:30pm til when I stumbled through the front door at 12:00 eeekk (That'll be the Vodka, or Strongbow??)

Woke up this morning feeling a little under the weather (thats what 10 hrs of drinking does) but managed to get out this afternoon and pedal up a wee 20 miles along the canal. The weather turned out to be perfect, not cold at all (until you stopped!) I lost a spoke :( and Bek had 2 punctures, double :(

Still... nice afternoon out on the bike and my legs weren't aching at all, training must be paying off :)

Total fundraising to date: £882.00
Miles Rode Today: 22.5
Miles Rode Since 16/02/06: 99.5

Friday 17th March

Sorry for the lack of posts for the last 2 days, been really ill!! Tuesday started feeling a bit off, went to bed at 6pm... slept til 3pm the following day, that ain't normal!! Same happened Wednesday, went to bed 7pm ish, alseep til 2:30pm Thursday. Still feel a bit unwell today but at least I made it into work!

Can only describe the feeling as "poisoned" (yep, experienced that before, not nice) but at least it's not bird flu or AID's as Paul Kelly in work (no relation) suggested it may be LOL

Still up for a ride tomorrow, I've got some serious catching up to do. Hope to be back in time for the rubgy though, 3 games tomorrow :)

Had a £50 pledge from a previous Director/Friend, he finally caved in to my email spam and dug deep!! Thanks Jas :)

... and less of the "slim" jokes!! sasquatch arms!! :P

So... if it's not peeing down, snowing or "extremely" cold, on the bike tomorrow :)

Total fundraising to date: £882.00
Miles Rode Today: 0
Miles Rode Since 16/02/06: 77

Tuesday 14th March

Just got back from Spanish class, maaan are verbs hard!! Ar Er Ir, not to mention pasado (past tense). Really am struggling to keep the info retained, even thinking of packing it in and just learning it in my own time by ear!!

Doesn't help having a slog of a day in work then having to go and learn a foreign language!! Some days I feel I just can't be asked!! I still go though :)

Still on for saturday morning Wentwood trail, hope to go out on sunday as well, got some catching up to do

No sponsors today!! Come on peeps, dig deep

Gonna start buggin work mates tomorrow!! (I know who you are, and I've got all your IP addresses logged!!)

Also need to ask the directors about getting the company to sponsor me and if it would be OK to approach our suppliers/customers for donations/sponsoring

I've got loads of ideas to help advertise but I just need the time to get into PM mode (thats Project Manager, not Prime Minister - although I'd probably do a better job!! Don't get me started on politics!!) T-shirts, media downloads, dvd's, calenders, website and graphic design services, mugs, stickers etc...

I'm intending to create a logo and have it put on some t-shirts, could sell advertising space... Hmmm now there's an idea, instead of million pixel website advertising (similar to www.millionpoundgallery.com - see if you can find my site on there)... how about 10,000 pixel t-shirt advertising??

Total fundraising to date: £832.00
Miles Rode Today: 0
Miles Rode Since 16/02/06: 77

Monday 13th March

Nothing much to report today. Still freezing and looks like it'll stay that way for the week.

Phoned Cancer Research UK International Fundraising team to get confirmation regarding payments to them via Justgiving, everything OK there.

Hopefully going to Wentwood Forest this weekend :)

And... looks like we're going to the 24hr Mountain Meyhem in June afterall, well... they've taken the entry fee from Rob's bank account anyway :) Thats as good a confirmation as anything. Hope to be able to raise quite a bit (especially if I can get some t-shirts made up), you can find out more here: http://www.ssmm.co.uk/

No sponsors today :(

Total fundraising to date: £832.00
Miles Rode Today: 0
Miles Rode Since 16/02/06: 77

Sunday 12th March - Snowy Sunday

Gutted!! Really wanted to go out on the bike today, especially as I didn't go yesterday, but I woke up to this today:-

Pretty but not good for riding!

Wales drew with Italy yesterday and to be honest, I should have gone out for a ride instead, wasn't worth watching and the weather was perfect for a day out on the bike. Missed out on a good day :(

Still tempted to go out today though, look's like it could be fun riding over Twmbarlwm in the snow. But...

Excuse 1)
There's a classic film "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea" on TV now and I brought Sainsburys crumpets last night... mmmm, vintage tv, crumpets, cups of tea and time to write some material for the website... and I get to watch England lose to France later this afternoon (lol sorry Dad)

Excuse 2)
It's cold

Excuse 3)
I don't think you can put tea in a Camelbak?

Excuse 4)
Read excuse 1 again

Sainsburys crumpets, classic tv, rugby, cups of tea and time to write some material for the website... Sounds like a plan to me!! :)

Total fundraising to date: £832.00
Miles Rode Today: 0
Miles Rode Since 16/02/06: 77

Friday 10th March

Well... didn't really get time this afternoon to sit down and get into Project Manager mode. Was stuck in work til 5 :(

Did manage to write a good letter template to send to companies, looks well proff.. profes... good!! (wheres the spell checker on this thing??).

Was even going to have the mop chopped this afternoon, alas I'll just have to look like a yeti for another night :)

Had some more sponsors today, thankyou!!

Looks like I'm in for a wet one tomorrow if I do decide to go out on the bike, wet n cold... mmmm looking forward to that one! :D

...or shall I wait til Sunday and stay in to watch the Rugby... hang on, when's Wales playing??.... (open's new window, google.. ahhh)

Bike ride on Sunday it is!!....

"Come on you Reds!!!"

Total fundraising to date: £832.00
Miles Rode Today: 0
Miles Rode Since 16/02/06: 77

Rainy Thursday

It's been raining all day and the forecast doesn't look promising. Still, no matter what the weather, I'm determined to get out on my bike on the weekend and get some more miles on the odometer.

Had another 2 donations today, thankyou!!

Updated the FAQ's page on my site here: http://www.cycle4charity.org, feel free to mail me any of your questions :)

Until tomorrow...

Total fundraising to date: £812.00
Miles Rode Today: 0
Miles Rode Since 16/02/06: 77

A Late Entry

Sorry for no entry yesterday... seemed the blog server was having a few problems... all is back online now :)

Had some more sponsors since tuesday, thankyou!!

Received another package from Cancer Research this morning, T-Shirt, Collection box and some stickers.

Hope to sit down tomorrow some time and get into Project Manager mode. Need to create a template letter for getting companies to sponsor me, finish off my Press Release and contact the South Wales Argus amongst other things...

Should be able to get out on the bike again this weekend and knock up another 30 odd miles at least, but then again... tis rugby this weekend :)

Until later... adios

Total fundraising to date: £802.00
Miles Rode Today: 0
Miles Rode Since 16/02/06: 77

Hoy es Martes 7 de Marzo

Sí, tengo español el las noches de martes :)

Another £10 added to sponsors, thankyou!!

No riding today, didn't finish work til 6 then went straight to spanish class.

Filled out my official Cancer Research fundraising form, need to pop it in the post tomorrow. Should be able to get some donation boxes, posters and t-shirts to help aid the fundraising.

Until tomorrow, hasta luego mi amigos

Total fundraising to date: £787.00
Miles Rode Today: 0
Miles Rode Since 16/02/06: 77

Tell me why, I don't like Mondays...

Well.. normally I do (like mondays that is)... but after my 29 miler yesterday, and the 19 miler on Saturday, my legs are just a tad tender today :)

Had another £20 in sponsors, thankyou!!

Will sit down this week and work out a "plan" on fundraising, really need to get into Project Manager mode...

Still haven't quit smoking!! Gonna try something radical, some kind of subliminal messaging that makes me punch myself in the face everytime I want a ciggie!! That should do the trick :P

Total fundraising to date: £777.00
Miles Rode Today: 0
Miles Rode Since 16/02/06: 77

Can't... feel... feet...

Managed to get out today and knock up 29 miles along the canal. Took 3 hrs and yes, it was very very very cold!! I still can't feel my feet and I've been home for over an hour!!

No sponsors/donations since friday, time to start bugging friends and co-workers :)

I know it's cheeky, but come on, it's for charity!!

Total fundraising to date: £757.00
Miles Rode Today: 29
Miles Rode Since 16/02/06: 77

Steve 1, Forest of Dean 0

Firstly, I'm not sure why but my domain http://www.cycle4charity.org/ is not working and the people who manage it don't work weekends, grrrr!!

Forest of Dean cycle today was wicked!! 19 miles through the forest, amazing scenary and the trails were perfect!!

New Camelbak worked a treat, although I need to learn to drink more!! even after the 2 hrs 20 min cycle, I had only drank 1/2 a litre... I had a 3 ltr pack!! :)

Was a wee bit cold, but nothing to complain about, even saw an Eagle, was huuuge!! Couldn't get close enough to photo it though :(

Anyway, took some piccies:

S'mee

Rob n Dave

Tunnel Vision

Action Shot 1

Argggghh No Brakes!!

Prfff Call That a Jump?!

Are we there yet??

Action Shot 2

Stop Following Me, I'm Lost!!

Hope to get some more mileage tomorrow, so until then...

Total fundraising to date: £757.00
Miles Rode Today: 19
Miles Rode Since 16/02/06: 48

It's the WEEKEND!!

Wooo hoooo it's the weekend already!!

Looking forward to tomorrow's ride, hopefully going to the Forest of Dean (weather pending). If not it'll be along the canal, should be able to get at least 30 miles. And I can finally test my new Camelbak hydration system... wonder if you can put tea in it?? :)

Haven't had any sponsor's today, a bit disappointing but then I shouldn't expect the fundraising to go that smoothly and to reach my target that quickly. Really need to get some flyers put around and posted to local company's.

Contacted a "big" sports centre today about getting membership for my training... won't say the name of the club but put it this way... some people have no heart or sympathy!!

That's one really nice thing about anonymous sponsor's, makes you believe there are still some decent people out there!!

Until tomorrow... hasta luego

Total fundraising to date: £747.00
Miles Rode Today: 0
Miles Rode Since 16/02/06: 29

A late entry

Sorry for no post yesterday, was a quiet one anyway. Nothing to report really, no news from any companies I've contacted... did get my Camelbak MULE and toolkit delivered though :)

The information pack I got sent by ATD was certainly informative... even going as far as telling you what you need to take including a full medical pack (everything bar a defibrillator), clothes, cameras, films, batteries etc... and a bit of history on Vietnam, the politics, the people etc... a very interesting read!!

Still up for the big ride in the Forest of Dean tomorrow, even if it is -5 degrees

Finish work early today so am going to try and go about getting some local companies in on the act. First port of call, the gym!!

Total fundraising to date: £747.00
Miles Rode Today: 0
Miles Rode Since 16/02/06: 29

The White Stuff

I love snow!! brings out the big kid in me and this morning I woke up to a blizzard of the stuff. Was going to say I woke up to 6 inches, but I can just see that being read the wrong way :P

A'hem...

Apart from pulling handbrake turns and doing 360's in the car park, I made a snowman and had a snowball fight with an OAP named Ann, and I won :)

Still haven't managed to knock the fags on the head, although I have halved my normal amount, I'll get there... eventually!!

Went to Halfords this evening to get myself a noggin protector AKA helmet... as I said before, don't care how daft I look I'm not risking the grey matter for anything!!

Had some more sponsors today, thankyou!!

Also signed an application for a 24hr Mountain Meyhem challenge in June/July... what have I got myself in for??

Recieved information pack and a very inspiring mouse mat from Across the Divide today, gonna make a cuppa and have a good read now so until tomorrow...

Adios mi amigos :)

Total fundraising to date: £727.00
Miles Rode Today: 0
Miles Rode Since 16/02/06: 29