Personal trainer bikes end to end for charity

PERSONAL trainer, Nigel Pattison, recently completed a charity cycle ride from John O Groats to Lands battling against snow, gale and hurricane, in memory of his late dad and cancer sufferers. Here Nigel explains why he took on the challenge and shares his diary of the nine days.

CHARITY CYCLE RIDE 28TH MARCH TO 5TH APRIL 2010

MY challenge was to cycle 927 miles in nine days unaided from John O Groats to lands End in memory of my Dad Bob.

Dad passed away in June 2006 only nine months after being diagnosed with Motor Neurones Disease. It has taken a while for me to come to terms with the way Dad died so haven?t felt right until now about doing something to raise funds to find a cure for what is a horrible disease.

In addition to raising funds for MND I am raising funds for Cancer Research. With the kind permission of the Hillier family I have done it in memory of Chrissy Hillier a long time member of Racquets Fitness Centre who has been a fantastic supporter of the event.

Whilst as a Personal Trainer I keep myself fit, training for this did involve some slightly longer training sessions particularly at week-ends. As you may remember the beginning of the year was not the best for cycling; ice and snow on a bike are not a good combination.

Not to worry they?ll be no snow at the end of March, oh how wrong!!

Day 1, Gale force winds and driving rain, great for climbing into the Cairngorms. Thankfully the rain stopped mid afternoon and I managed to arrive at my B&B relatively dry.

Day 2, minus 2 but beautiful blue skies. A quick climb to the top of the Cairngorms and then downhill all the way to Edinburgh. Hit the wall twice first at 60 miles but this was all in the head solved it with a sausage roll and a cup of tea! Carried on through Perth and onto Kinross still had 20 miles to go when the wall was a bit more unforgiving. My energy levels were just on empty unfortunately nothing for it but to push on otherwise I would not make my bed for the night! Finally arrived at 5pm!

Day 3, off to Gretna Green today over the Southern Uplands ?mountains?! Fantastic I awake to snow falling, nothing for it but to press on regardless – wouldn?t be a challenge without the odd barrier to get over. Cycling down into Moffat in a blizzard was not pleasant in any way. The broth and tea I had whilst there was just exquisite! Three hours later I arrive in Gretna Green.

Bed & Breakfast. Just a quick note on the B&B?s of the country, they are absolutely fantastic. A typical response was to take my wet clothes away wash and dry them for the morning. Make me a fresh pot of tea and a sandwich before dinner, fab!

Day 4, Longest Day 115 miles this was to include Shap in a blizzard! I can safely say that coming down Shap into Kendal was the scariest thing I have ever done and do not wish to repeat it. Four hours later through rolling hills of Lancashire and stopping in Chorley – what a day, what an achievement; feeling slightly smug.

Day 5, off to Shrewsbury today and in all my planning, a day I was not looking forward to; only because the route took me between Liverpool and Manchester and would be quite built up. However turned out well in the end because they had so many bus lanes and cycle lanes it was one of my best days.

Day 6, Chepstow here we come. Beautiful surroundings with lovely rolling roads on the Welsh English borders. Down side of the day was very heavy rain for an hour around lunchtime. The upside the sun coming out in the afternoon and riding the Wye Valley between Monmouth and Chepstow. This has to be one of the most beautiful roads in the country?

Day 7, back into England across the Severn Bridge which is quite high on a bike? Had to make quite a long climb out of Bristol but then a long descent towards Taunton and Wellington. Finally stopping in Crediton, Devon for the night.

Day 8, nearly there and can?t quite believe it! But on the back of 800 miles one of my hardest days, the reason being nothing is flat in Devon and Cornwall. A lovely 100 mile roller coaster! The upside in the afternoon I took my winter gloves off for the 1st time in the whole trip. The sun came out in Cornwall!

Day 9, only 42 miles to go. What a fantastic morning even though it was very windy 42 miles, was always going to be a pleasure. Coming over the last climb two miles from Lands End with just the Atlantic as a backdrop was a very emotional time. Knowing I could roll to the end having completed the challenge was quite special particularly with Dad up there in my thoughts!

THE END!!

Funds raised to date are