Day 7 42km / 429m climb A shorter distance today but strong winds conspired with many hills and a few tunnels to ensure that the day was no easier than previous days. A final ferry to Sommarøy, where we spend our penultimate evening together. This time tomorrow, we should have reached Tromsø, our final destination. … Continue reading Mefjordvaer – Sommarøy
Author: The Cyclopath
Andenes – Mefjordvaer
Day 6 52km / 659m climb When reflecting on the day, these are my recollections. There will undoubtedly be twenty-two different perspectives and this is some of what makes being part of the group so interesting. While some of the group seemed undaunted, the days offerings certainly challenged me. The rain, as we left our … Continue reading Andenes – Mefjordvaer
Buknesfjord – Andenes
Day 5 71km / 388m climb I had been looking forward to a shorter and flatter day today - only 71km! It wasn't long ago that this would have been a very big ask of each of us but we have trained hard for many months to undertake this challenge and are confident that we … Continue reading Buknesfjord – Andenes
Stokmarnes – Buknesfjord
Day 4 103.46km / 851m climb Learning point from today. 103.45km is a long, long, long way. At an unseasonably 27oC, the heat burned our skin, roasted our tired limbs and sapped our energy. I started the day with low energy levels which didn't bode well for the scale of the challenge we were to … Continue reading Stokmarnes – Buknesfjord
Svolvaer – Stokmarnes
Day 3 90km / 705m climb Video from today by `Declan O'Brien Hard, hard, hard! We have yet again been blessed with atypically beautiful sunshine for this time of year and it is certainly showing this beautiful country off at its very best. We have the priveledge of cycling with locals, the Norwegian team who … Continue reading Svolvaer – Stokmarnes
Leknes – Svolvaer
Day 2 80km / 710m climb Although just as sunny and the landscape just as beautiful, today felt so much harder. Legs weary from the day before and a very hot, undulating, busy road for the second half of the journey, made things a little less relaxed and a little more difficult. Without a doubt, … Continue reading Leknes – Svolvaer
Sørvågen – Leknes
Day 1 80km / 964m climb It is entirely possible that I have prepared myself for the wrong trip. There was talk of cold weather, (we are above the Arctic Circle) and the possibility of much rain. The need for thermal layers under our team cycling kit and robust waterproof layers for over it. As … Continue reading Sørvågen – Leknes
Bodø – Sørvågen
Day 0 With the woes of yesterday firmly behind us, we awoke to glorious sunshine, a light, warm, breeze and plenty of enthusiasm to reassemble our bikes. This is easily done and we take them on a short test run and then make the late morning ferry to Løtofen and on to Sørvågen. There was … Continue reading Bodø – Sørvågen
All’s Well That Ends Well
A lovely evening meeting with the whole team. There is much good humour as we catch up with old friends, meet new ones and we are all briefed about the cycling challenge that will consume our days and possibly much of our evenings over the next week or so. Assuming we have our bikes of … Continue reading All’s Well That Ends Well
It’s All About The Destination
As wisdom prevails, it’s all about the journey, not the destination. This was proved not to be the case, for today, at least! Today it’s been all about the destination and trying to ensure that our group arrive safely in Bodø and when we arrive, that our bikes arrive at the same destination, preferably at … Continue reading It’s All About The Destination
Countdown
It's seven hours until we set off for our latest adventure and I haven't introduced it yet. With the help of a few statistics, here's an outline of what we have planned. During this year's challenge, we will cycle 635 km cycle through Norway from Bodø to Tromsø. We are a team of twenty-two people, … Continue reading Countdown
An American Adventure
I have had a slightly crazy notion for some time that I would like to cycle across America. It was an entirely uneducated and uninformed notion. I had no idea where I would start or where I would finish. I wasn't sure whether cycling 'across' America meant North - South / South - North or … Continue reading An American Adventure
Not Today!
It is almost a year since I wrote (Clipless Pedalling) about having to stop clipping into my pedals when cycling. I remember feeling a sense of taking a backward step when it happened. Something I didn't want to do but at the time, I felt that I had little choice. My right foot would hover … Continue reading Not Today!
Lost and Found
Never have I been more grateful to have found something that I thought had been permanently lost. By default, I blame most physical and cognitive symptoms that I experience on Parkinson's. As a degenerative, progressive condition, it seems reasonable to assume it is singularly responsible for the insidious and relentless assault on body and mind … Continue reading Lost and Found
Life is a Rollercoaster
'Life is a rollercoaster, you just gotta ride it' sang Ronan Keating. Now, I'm not a huge fan of rollercoasters. Come to think of it, I'm not a huge fan of Ronan Keating either. Ronan was singing about love. I of course, am rambling about Parkinson's (of which I am not a huge fan, either). … Continue reading Life is a Rollercoaster
Explaining not Complaining
I haven't written much lately. Am I bored with writing? No! Have I run out of things to say? Never! Do I have writer's block? No! I think I've got reader's concern. Over recent years, I have found it therapeutic to take a light hearted approach to sharing my experiences of living with Parkinson's, in … Continue reading Explaining not Complaining
One Hundred Hurdles
One hundred daily tasks that can pose problems for people with Parkinson’s. They may be manageable with extra time, difficult or simply impossible to do. Written Communication Writing Typing Texting Filling in forms Signing name IT Using computer mouse Using keyboard Using phone while on the move Scrolling up or down Verbal Communication Speaking animatedly … Continue reading One Hundred Hurdles
Just Do It
Whether Nike ever intended their advertising tagline 'Just Do It' to become a doctrine by which to live or not, it appears to have become just that, extending beyond a sporting mantra to become a 'call to action' applicable to almost every aspect of life. Adapted from the words of a convicted murderer, who, when … Continue reading Just Do It
Teamwork
19 Individuals Geoff Constable (R) Roland Valori Jim Lawson Gary Shaughnessy Julia Woods Rune Vethe Dave & Kathy Tempest Denise Lawson Julian McCarthy Alison Anderson John Anderson Erik Hagenson Rune Bjerke John Bjarte Vethe Caroline & Paul Broekman Steve Iseman Declan O'Brien This was no corporate team building training event. There were no instructions, no … Continue reading Teamwork
The Stats
19 Individuals Geoff Constable (R) Roland Valori Jim Lawson Gary Shaughnessy Julia Woods Rune Vethe Dave & Kathy Tempest Denise Lawson Julian McCarthy Alison Anderson John Anderson Erik Hagenson Rune Bjerke John Bjarte Vethe Caroline & Paul Broekman Steve Iseman Declan O'Brien Nine People Living with Parkinson's Representing the UK, Norway, Canada, USA & Australia … Continue reading The Stats
Day 16
2nd July 2023 Girona to Barcelona Distance: 61 miles / 98km Climb: 2,100ft / 640m Our final day with 100km to cycle to reach Barcelona. We were joined by Claire Lehman, who we had cycled the alps with last year and who had cycled from the UK to Barcelona over the Pyrenees to meet with … Continue reading Day 16
Barcelona
We did it! https://youtu.be/5jTngBk4t48
Day 13
29th June 2023 La Grand-Motte to Nissan-lez-Ensérune Distance: 67 miles / 108km Climb: 1,823ft / 556m Today was by far the hardest day for me, so far. It started badly with a puncture within the first ten minutes which the support team were quick to fix. The roads were unkind, with stretches unpaved and potholed, … Continue reading Day 13
The Med
We have made it to the Med!
Day 11
27th June 2023 Montelimar to Avignon Distance: 64 miles / 102km With our longest day behind us, we had our quickest day today. Perhaps we're all a little fitter and stronger (we should be) but the biggest factor was a strong, at times VERY strong, tail wind, accompanying gently winding, largely traffic free roads and … Continue reading Day 11
Day 10
By Caroline Broekman 26th June 2023 Chanas to Montelimar Distance: 75 miles / 121km Today was a day of fantastic riverside greenway cycle tracks, an amazing tail wind, the possibility of a swim stop and a VERY hot, sunny day. Some set off early to try to beat the heat and arrive at our destination … Continue reading Day 10
Day 9
25th June 2023 Villefranche-sur-Saône to Chanas Distance: 67 miles / 108km Total Distance Cycled: 681 miles / 1,097km Another early start to get a few miles done before the temperature reached well above 30 degrees in the afternoon. The roads were quiet as we left Villefranche-sur-Saône and headed towards Chanas. A wonderful short break at … Continue reading Day 9
Day 8
Our only rest day today. The day was filled with some essential tasks - laundry, bike maintenance and lots of food seemed high on most peoples agendas. Interviews with a local newspaper journalist also took place. Contacting family and friends was also high on everyone's agendas. Family members also made the long journey to Lyon … Continue reading Day 8
Day 7
23rd June 2023 Chalon-sur-Saône to Villefranche-sur-Saône Distance: 68 miles / 110km Climb: 1,490ft / 454m Total Distance Cycled: 615 miles / 989km Today's cycle was along the gorgeous Saône valley, much of it along the river. Today saw myself and Geoff pass the half way mark from Cheltenham to Barcelona but it won't be until … Continue reading Day 7
Day 6
22nd June 2023 Semur-en-Auxois to Chalon-sur-Saône Distance: 65 miles / 105km Climb: 2,040ft / 622m Total Distance Cycled: 441 miles / 710km Another early start today, with a gorgeous ride along Le Longue du Canal de Bourgogne. A lovely but brief stop for refuelling, a few hills and a long descent found us in Beaune … Continue reading Day 6
Challenging Times 
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