tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7623879897731718732011-04-22T06:17:44.572+01:00Foolishly cycling from one end of Ireland to the other in April 2009. Oh yes.Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06197675565087759016noreply@blogger.comBlogger201100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762387989773171873.post-40799376169082990742009-04-12T16:51:00.003+01:002009-04-12T17:24:48.681+01:00

Finished the ride yesterday bathed in sunshine in the beautiful landscape of southern Ireland, quite a difference from the rainstorms earlier in the week. It was such a good day that for a few hours the travails of the road gave way to a glowing sense of achievement and reward - or putting it bluntly, the fantastic road and scenery made me forget about a sensation not dissimilar to getting my

Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06197675565087759016noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762387989773171873.post-54307704827566515272009-04-10T17:53:00.003+01:002009-04-10T18:46:09.712+01:00

As has been pointed out to me many times one of my greatest skills is apologising. So I'll say sorry for the slightly tardy update of what has been happening thus far...Tuesday night: Great meal in Sligo after a frankly horrific bike ride in windy rainy weather, banter with some total wanker called Eric in a hotel lounge and a fairly good sleep. My legs hurt a great deal.Wednesday: I wake up with

Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06197675565087759016noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762387989773171873.post-19490718867699237932009-04-07T18:47:00.004+01:002009-04-07T19:00:25.361+01:00

Here are Gary's exclusive thoughts on today's cycling fun (note how he glosses over his inappropriate behaviour after I was forced to share a double bed with him last night. Mel you have my deep and eternal sympathy):"Any hopes that the curvature of the earth would assist our ride were dashedby a 60 mile up hill ride with strong head Winds and heavy rain.Couple that with sleep deprivation from

Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06197675565087759016noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762387989773171873.post-84737046228522332402009-04-06T17:58:00.001+01:002009-04-06T18:05:27.044+01:00

A summary of the first day:- Set off after a peaceful night of competitive snoring.- down to malin with me worrying endlessly- through cardonnagh and up the long gradual slope, into a rainstorm that I wouldn't describe as torrential, but it was definitely on the way to it.- down a hill and along the coast for breakfast in Muff, yes it was very damp there.- confusing couple of hours where we went

Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06197675565087759016noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762387989773171873.post-48061287574693880852009-04-05T18:44:00.001+01:002009-04-05T18:44:13.342+01:00

After a really good journey up from Dublin. With only ray's snoring and semi-conscious talk of "fluffy kittens". We are now in the malin hotel, having checked out our very nice hostel just up the road. We may have a go in the reflexology room later.Tomorrows ride looks ace, check out this quick bit of scenery...

Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06197675565087759016noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762387989773171873.post-49958367477444360802009-04-05T10:56:00.001+01:002009-04-05T10:56:28.794+01:00

Sat in a car in a queue in the lovely welsh port of holyhead, having somehow missed our ferry. Despite getting up at the sort of time that I usually go to bed at. Here is an action shot of what is going on...

Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06197675565087759016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762387989773171873.post-69379915899762908882009-03-24T18:16:00.003Z2009-03-24T18:29:24.808Z

The second Project: Lard, weigh-in (in association with PCM Limited) led to a frankly depressing outcome as you can tell from a quick glance at the chart below. It seems that the incredibly ascetic lifestyle I have been living - the sort of thing that even a particularly dull, vegan, silent monk would probably describe as "way depressing" - has had the net effect of actually making me heavier.

Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06197675565087759016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762387989773171873.post-11068766004361121352009-03-18T19:08:00.010Z2009-03-18T19:49:50.289Z

In order to encourage everyone to part with a bit more cash for Acorns Children’s Hospice, a number of marvellous local businesses have been generous enough to offer us some exclusive treats for us to auction off.Each of the items described below can be bid on by sending an e-mail to garyharvey@warwickshire.gov.uk with the lot number and name, the amount you would like to bid and your contact

Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06197675565087759016noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762387989773171873.post-1348734465061435082009-03-13T16:37:00.002Z2009-03-13T16:40:56.052Z

People cycle for many different reasons; some to commute, some for fitness, some because “society” with its many “rules” deems them unsafe to hold any form of driving license ever since that unfortunate and widely mis-understood incident involving the bottle of brandy, the lamppost and the 23 year-old Lithuanian girl in the boot.  Ahem, anyway, the thoughtful and scientific questionnaire that

Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06197675565087759016noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762387989773171873.post-90856385745193912162009-03-01T14:56:00.003Z2009-03-01T15:11:54.137Z

As trailed previously, the initiation of Project: Lard (in association with PCM) took place today. Eshewing offers from Sky, Setanta and BBC News 24 to stage it at some big casino in Vegas, the weigh-in eventually took place in the exclusive "James and Sarah Pearson's Bathroom" before a packed audience of no-one.The shocking news is that I tip the scales at a frighteningly chunky 14st 4lbs (or

Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06197675565087759016noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762387989773171873.post-28045041377655341092009-02-27T17:54:00.003Z2009-02-27T18:30:18.334Z

Word has reached me that Gary is feeling a bit down following our punishing and exhaustive breakfast-eating/cycling training so this weekend I am going to make an extra special effort to cast aside my "that bloke looks like he's just been given a week to live... and he's spending it in Tipton" demeanour and make everything a lot more fun this week! (look I'm even using exclamation marks and

Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06197675565087759016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762387989773171873.post-77376284090939586062009-02-23T19:00:00.005Z2009-02-23T19:34:41.690Z

In honour of the extremely generous pledge of a marvellous £100.00 from Gordon of Proctor and Chester Measurement Limited, in just one week we will be launching Project: Lard, or "Can Jim lose some weight in order to get up a load of Irish hills without requiring medical assistance?" (Project: Lard seemed snappier).At the start of March, some sort of weigh in will take place, probably using some

Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06197675565087759016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762387989773171873.post-71747112333098970832009-02-23T18:41:00.002Z2009-02-23T18:59:11.344Z

This weekend's training was a barn-storming, groin-ruining run around the Ettington and Stratford area, highlights included:No-one else turning up. You lightweights.Me moaning about my legs hurting, probably because for the first time on a Saturday morning I didn't have a hangover to distract me.A big bloody hill.Slightly homo-erotic conversation about the relative development of thigh muscles on

Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06197675565087759016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762387989773171873.post-49733011798839631372009-02-17T18:14:00.005Z2009-02-17T20:38:09.280Z

The dashing looking chap to the right is Mr Ray Duffy: Gentleman of business, renowned Leamington bon-viveur, Rafa Benitez impersonator and most importantly a man who has both time on his hands and a car that we can put a bike rack on.Ray will be driving what I feel we should designate "Support Vehicle One" during our week on the road - providing much needed assistance in a number of critical

Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06197675565087759016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762387989773171873.post-18391835081757628442009-02-17T13:38:00.002Z2009-02-17T13:40:27.784Z

Thanks to all who have sponsored us so far, the first £100 is now raised, just a further £9900 to go to reach our target. Please forward our page to as many people as possible to help us achieve this.

Gazzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00086746973161436776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762387989773171873.post-10542757132507117672009-02-16T12:56:00.002Z2009-02-16T12:57:56.567Z

Good news, the Leamington Courier have secured the bragging rights to publish our much anticipated tour of Ireland. More to follow...

Gazzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00086746973161436776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762387989773171873.post-26059346303450442382009-02-13T14:03:00.003Z2009-02-13T14:13:46.805Z

As per the last few weekends we will be heading off for what we are choosing to term "training" this usually involves a morning's cycling in order to justify an incredibly unhealthy all-day breakfast at the end.Tomorrow we will be setting off at midday and doing 40-50 miles at a fairly leisurely pace, so the breakfast is out - an equally healthy and nutritious substitute will no doubt be

Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06197675565087759016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762387989773171873.post-87097275332385099862009-02-12T18:24:00.004Z2009-02-12T19:03:00.326Z

Although we haven't finalised the route yet - here is a quick map to give you an idea of the nature of the beast we intend to tame.The plan is to start at Malin Head right up at the top and then spend 6 days getting down to Mizen Head, right down at the bottom. Conventional wisdom states that you really should do it the other way round due to some reason involving likely prevailing winds. However

Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06197675565087759016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762387989773171873.post-40722460811989044232009-02-11T07:49:00.002Z2009-02-11T07:52:22.642Z

Nice one Jim, this looks great.Went to the gym last night and set the bike to level 20 (out of 25) and on a steep hill, managed half an hour but now cannot walk, I sought on mince instead!!

Gazzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00086746973161436776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762387989773171873.post-33875946931058968792009-02-10T17:23:00.000Z2009-02-10T17:46:44.413Z

... like so many things in my life - in a pub. Somehow it all seemed like such a good idea at the time; we jump on our bikes and have a bit of an international jaunt, sinking plenty of booze, effortlessly charming the local barmaids, raising stacks of cash for charity and getting supremely fit all at once. Piece of piss.Fast forward to a freezing Saturday morning in January, wheezing as I drag my

Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06197675565087759016noreply@blogger.com0