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
Tag: PD
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
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
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
Teams, Good Causes and Outstanding Individuals
By John Anderson I start my first blog for a good reason. I am keeping Alison company. Despite having covered 115km today into a headwind, she has decided to stay in tonight to catch up on things! She is undoubtedly an outstanding individual. She has energised, planned then organised a fantastic challenge to cycle from … Continue reading Teams, Good Causes and Outstanding Individuals
‘Warm Up’ – Day 3
15th June 2023 Hursley to Worthing Distance: 54 miles / 88km Climb: 1328ft / 405m Total Distance Cycled:148 miles / 239km It took some persuasion but eventually everyone agreed to meet this morning at 5.30am for a 6am start. By 9am, we'd covered 30km and had a picnic breakfast. We were joined today by Julia, … Continue reading ‘Warm Up’ – Day 3
‘Warm Up’ – Day 2
14th June 2023 Ramsbury to Hursley Distance: 41 miles / 66km Climb: 1519ft / 463m Total Distance Cycled: 94 miles / 151km Today felt too hot, too hilly, too far, took too long, too late back to the hotel. I was too wobbly and too tired to go any faster. BUT it was also through … Continue reading ‘Warm Up’ – Day 2
Buzzing
With only 10 days to go until we set off from Cheltenham and 13 days until we start our journey from Brighton, there is a palpable feel of excitement amongst the team. Our WhatsApp group chat is buzzing as we share stories about our training rides, compare notes on our respective packing lists, talk technical … Continue reading Buzzing
Variation on a Theme
Variety has been the theme for this week's cycle training. First the Wattbike at home, then cycling along a stretch of the East Coast of Scotland and finally a few days cycling in Madrid. The training mileage wasn't high, compared to some recent weeks but over a variety of terrains, in a variety of conditions, … Continue reading Variation on a Theme
Brighton to Barcelona
With only 138 days to go, it feels like the right time to introduce the Brighton to Barcelona team. We are a group of 20 cyclists plus our guide. We will set off on 16th June this year and cycle an average of 106km each day until reaching Barcelona on 2nd July in time to … Continue reading Brighton to Barcelona
New Year, New Challenge
Fabulous artwork by the very fabulous Jonny Acheson (https://jonnyachesonart.com) I love a challenge and thrive on the planning, preparation and training that goes with each new one. It gives me a sense of being in control - even if I'm not, challenges my brain and body - which can only be a good thing and … Continue reading New Year, New Challenge
Film ’22
Barry Norman, I most definitely am not. Nevertheless, this week I have found myself becoming a film critic. And what an exciting week it has been for those of us living with Parkinson's who love nothing more than to indulge in a spot of symptom comparison with others. Two TV programmes provided us with an … Continue reading Film ’22
It All Adds Up
Today, my blog received its 10,000th view this year. Before I get carried away, I acknowledge that this falls quite short of the 5 million views required to officially become a viral TikTok sensation. A mere 4,990,000 views short to be precise. Oh, and it took me nine months to achieve this, rather than the … Continue reading It All Adds Up
‘Old’ Friends
Image Source: Bright/Kauffman/Crane I met a friend for coffee recently. Our conversation flowed easily, we were both relaxed in each other's company and we talked like 'old' friends. We shared a deep understanding of the many challenges we each face while living with Parkinson's before we had even started to speak. From a previous conversation, … Continue reading ‘Old’ Friends
Reflections of The Raid Alpine
Exercise, the only thing that has been shown to delay disease progression in Parkinson's, should, in theory, be easy to commit to doing on a daily basis. Yet at times it can still be difficult to find the motivation to exercise, particularly on a cold, wet, windy winter's day. In the autumn of 2019, signing … Continue reading Reflections of The Raid Alpine
Rory’s Reflections
Reflections - The Raid Alpine 2022 by Rory Chappell I was part of the support crew for a group of five cyclists as they took on The Raid Alpine. 770km long. Over 18,000m of climb. Geneva to Nice. I had never even heard of such a challenge, nor would I have thought it would be … Continue reading Rory’s Reflections
Raid Alpine – Day 10
Setting off in already blistering sunshine, our last day proved one of the hottest. Perhaps a little blasé about having 'only' 834m of climb to do, by the time I was 15km into the ride, already on the wrong road, still leaning heavily on my right hand side in a very lop sided fashion with … Continue reading Raid Alpine – Day 10
Raid Alpine – Day 9
Distance 83km. Elevation 1700m. Our penultimate day saw us leave according to our speed. That was Claire and I setting off first for a ride that would take us 8 and 9 hours respectively. The others who are much quicker were rewarded by a slightly more leisurely breakfast and had still caught up with us … Continue reading Raid Alpine – Day 9
Raid Alpine – Day 8
We expected today to be our toughest challenge for many reasons. Longest rideBiggest climbSearing heatExisting saddle sores, blisters, aches and painsFatigue from the previous seven days hard cycling To add another challenge to the day, was for our support team, Callum and Rory when an erratic / maniac driver tried to overtake the van they … Continue reading Raid Alpine – Day 8
Raid Alpine – Day 7
Guillestre to Jausier. Distance 42km. Elevation 1154m. Our shortest day and we made the most of it. An early start saw the men powering up the hill by lunchtime whilst the girls took the same early start but a more leisurely approach. I'd like to say we did so from choice but my legs were … Continue reading Raid Alpine – Day 7
The Raid Alpine – Day 6
Col du Lautaret to Guillestre. Distance 81km. Elevation 1392m. What a fantastic day! Today we 'bagged' Col d'Izoard. 19.1km uphill during which we climbed 1173m. At a peak gradient of 11% and an overall average of 6%, it was tough. No nice pictures at the top as it simply resembled a building site. A huge … Continue reading The Raid Alpine – Day 6
Raid Alpine – Day 5
Distance Elevation Gain By Rory Chappell (Support Team) ‘Switchbacks are overshadowed by persistence.’ An early start for the cyclists to get a handle on the day ahead: the biggest climb so far. After breakfast, they hit the tarmac and pedalled along to the town of Saint-Michel-de-Maurienne. They waited for a top up of water from … Continue reading Raid Alpine – Day 5
Raid Alpine – Day 4
Bourg St ~Maurice to Lansleberg-Mont-Cenis Distance 83km, Elevation Gained 2,238m 'Over the Col and Far Away' By Rory Chappell (Support Team) The day started early high above Bourg Saint Maurice with a fantastic breakfast at our overnight stop, Montagn’Arcs. Joined by the fresh talent from Bolton, Neil and Jane, the cyclists set off up to … Continue reading Raid Alpine – Day 4
The Raid Alpine
Day 4 - 'Only' I desperately wanted to get to the top of Col d'Iseran, our 'only' Col of the day. 'Only' 2,200m of climb over 'only' 47km, with temperatures peaking at 'only' 28 degrees, with absolutely no shade. At every km on each Col, there is a marker depicting the distance to the top … Continue reading The Raid Alpine
Raid Alpine – Day 3
Day 3 - missing from our original blog series as exhaustion crept in and time ran out. For completeness, I've compiled this from a few scribbled notes to support my hazy memory, as Col after Col, the days seemed to morph into one. Today was to be our toughest so far. 75km, hilly from the … Continue reading Raid Alpine – Day 3
Challenging Times 
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