Building up to the Ride

Today is my very last day before starting the GDMR & my 65 birthday. Its been well over a year in the planning and now, finally my bike is packed & tested, plus loaded with 3 days supplies. All in – about 30 kg. Tomorrow the adventure begins!

I feel the time is right to credit some of those people who got me to this start line. – Better I do this while fresh & positive rather than later on when cold, wet, lost and knackered.

First, thank’s Shona & Rich (Keep Pedalling, Manchester) for building my awesome bike (Salsa Fargo) & sharing your mass of knowledge; thanks Roy & Rory (Swynertons Cycles, Fenton) for helping set up the bloody Garmin Edge (a challenge equal to the GDMBR any-day) & for boxing my bike for the trip; thanks Paul Burton, for introducing me to Bearbones & their Welsh Ride Thing – my only multi-day ride so far but what a learning curve!! Bouncing seatbags, exploding tyres, excess baggage, essential kit – all addressed?! Thanks John Weckoski, for transporting me the length & breath of Pittsburgh (& for the metres of ducktape required to repair the battered bike box for my onward journey to Calgary). And most importantly, thanks Christine (my wife), for all your support and help – and for your understanding my need for this adventure.