Here we go ...

All ready (I hope) to set off on the first leg of my ride, to Jedburgh today, my 60th birthday.
It was great, and unexpected, that people at work made a collection and gave it to me on Friday - thank you to all at Carbrook .

Thanks also to everyone else who have sent messages of encouragement and have made a donation, we're up to nearly £1,000 so far.

The webpage at http://tiny.cc/CPC2011 will remain open during my ride, and for some weeks afterwards.

I will be keeping this blog up to date so you can follow my progress.

Thanks again for all your support.

Pete

Last minute preparations and fund-raising

Jeff Hall's have given the bike a full service, including adjusting the tappets, and fitted a new spark plug and rear tyre. I've got spare bulbs and inner tubes, and a throttle cable is on order. They have also given me a pair of waterproof over-trousers as a donation - thank you very much - let's hope I won't need them too often.

The Norwich branch of Compass Point Challenge (my mum) has held a coffee morning, which has raised over £130 with donations still coming in - thanks again.

Thanks to my "offline" donors

Thanks to all of you who have made a donation directly to me, I'll list you below:

Dick S from Transport & Highways
Dennis W from Transport & Highways
Bielawski's Sheffield Trimming Company
Elleri from the Learning Support Service
Verena from Birkendale
Jeff Hall Motorcycles
Greg from Jeff Hall's
Paul T from Transport & Highways
Anne and David
Sue N from Sheffield
Kate B coffee morning
Joyce B from Norwich
Jackie from the Learning Support Service
John M from Transport & Highways
Andy B from Transport & Highways
Nigel M from Transport & Highways
Ian S from Transport & Highways
Collection and donations from all at Carbrook
Hettie in Lincoln
Eleanor
A couple at Dunnet Head
Anne from the Learning Support Service
Biker from Cornwall at Ardnamurchan Point
Potential biker from York at Ardnamurchan Point
Derek and Suzy at Torbay Lodge, Dumfries
Another lady at Torbay Lodge
Margaret from the Learning Support Service
Kathryn and Peter at Pendragon House
Rosie from the Learning Support Service
Norwich ladies
Pete M from Transport & Highways
Dave B formerly from Transport & Highways
Nigel and Barbara

Total now £550.09 - see later post for any later donations

In the news

There's a nice piece about my ride in this week's Sheffield Telegraph

http://www.sheffieldtelegraph.co.uk/news/local/epic_ride_with_an_eye_on_cambodia_1_3736637

 - which shows the value of taking the time to put together a press release. At the time of writing my picture is also gracing the top of the first page of their website - so it must be a slow news week.

and in The Star:

Full Scale Trial

On Wednesday 24th August I carried out a full scale trial run using all the luggage kit, including a can of fuel fixed to the seat with bungee cord. I followed a 90 mile circular route via Doncaster, Gainsborough and Worksop in the morning, and then did it the opposite way round in the afternoon, following a slightly different route. The bike stood up to it very well, and I was able to walk away at the end, and get up for work the next morning - despite doing the whole of the second circuit without a break. The only drama was the fuel can coming loose shortly after the starting the afternoon trip. Fortunately I was able to hang on to it, and stop safely one-handed. I think I have now worked out the right way to strap it on securely.

The first circuit covered 94.6 miles, took 2 hours 58 minutes and used 3.14 litres of fuel - 137 mpg and an average speed of 31.9 mph. The second circuit was 91.5 miles, took 3 hours and 6 minutes and used 3.42 litres - 122 mpg and a 29.5 mph average. In the morning I had been cruising at between 40 and 45 mph, in the evening I upped the speed to cruise at 50 mph, but had to drive through Doncaster in the rush hour. The lesson seems to be - cruising at 40-45 should make my assumed 30 mph average practical, but it would be worth not going through towns at rush hour.

Trial trips and comfier seating

I need to get some practice in before setting off, both to get myself acclimatised and to find out what might go wrong. 


The first trip provided more of the latter than the former. I decided to use the bike for a meeting near Barnsley, a 30 mile round trip, and was making good progress when I got a puncture in the middle of the countryside. Fortunately the AA arrived in 45 minutes and recovered the bike, which looked a bit forlorn in the middle of a large car transporter, to Jeff Halls. They repaired the puncture, sold me some spare inner tubes and allowed me to borrow the workshop manual so I could copy the bits about how to remove the wheels - so I can do it myself in future. I've also ordered a new rear tyre as the existing one probably wouldn't last 2000 miles - a choice between the original type at £105, or a European equivalent at £30 - no choice really.


My second trip was after work, going up to Featherstone to watch Eagles in a Thursday evening match, a 60 mile round trip. All went well except for an awful performance by Eagles, and it was raining most of the way back. It's not nice in the dark and the rain on unfamiliar country lanes. One good thing was the fuel consumption, which seems to be over 110 mpg on a long run. Not so good was how hard the saddle was feeling at the end of the trip. I made a visit to a place I found out about on the Internet, Bielawski's Sheffield Trimming Co., who do car upholstery. They said they could add some more, softer, foam to the seat, and as my trip is for charity they would do it for £40 rather than £60, with the £20 difference being their donation. I took the bike in on Monday morning and collected it with a wider, thicker and softer seat in the evening - it certainly feels more comfortable.

Softer, thicker, wider - appropriate for the rider?

Load lugger?

The box on the back of the bike when I got it can only hold a single helmet, not enough space for a long trip. There are larger Givi boxes available for about £100 or more, but I found good reviews of a 48l box by Tech 7 for about £50. Jeff Hall had one in stock for £49.99, so that is now gracing the back of the bike. It looks a bit big, but it will do the job, together with the throw over panniers I've just ordered.