P = MV.... The momentum is gathering...

Last Saturday marked Healix's first charity summer ball. It was held in a marquee in Paul's garden and featured entertainment by a band made up of numerous musicians drummed up by Mark Payne. They entertained the crowds  but only after a sumptuous 3 course feast provided by Orange Yard Catering under the care and attention of Barry Scarborough. The food I can honestly say was the best event waitress served food I have ever eaten. You will not find a better catering company in my opinion. I am almost looking for an idea for another event just so we can get them back.  Yummy.

We were all far too busy having a nice time to take many pictures so there is little photographic evidence of the event however here are some snaps of the organising committee setting up (AKA the Beven family and Sasha Hill) and also the meal in progress.

The weather was on our side and the sun came out in time for a champagne reception while we plied the 80 plus guests with alcohol, Paul's daughter Ella and her co partner Lauren Hudson smiled sweetly and sold thousands of raffle tickets. So good were they that we had to make our own when we sold out of 2 books worth. Excellent work girls. 

Matthew, Nicolas and his friends ran the bar and made the most dashing barmen I have seen in a while, no wonder they had queues of women lining up to buy more champagne. 

A good night was had by all and only got even better when the band offered up the chance to front the band to sing Mustang Sally. We were a timid crowd and rather than anyone vying to sing everyone responded well to Charlie Butchers mafia type tactics to extort money by threatening most people with nomination unless they paid up to his campaign to get Paul Beven to sing. I can see why Charlie is the Healix groups Financial Controller. He raised a staggering £640 within a matter of minutes.

We haven't yet managed to do the accounts to come up with a firm total for that raised but it was a significant sum and I promise to update the blog with that figure as soon as I find out the total. 

On Friday before the ball we made a decision to make a donation from the proceeds to the SANDS charity. One of our dear friends and colleagues suffered a very unexpected and tragic loss of their new born son last week. We hope that none of our supporters will mind this diversion of funds to another worthwhile cause. It just seemed like the least we could do for them under the circumstances. Our thoughts and prayers are with them both at this unbearable time. 

On a happier note a couple of things i noticed over the last week made me smile alot. Sometimes you realise the momentum and energy of charity events and fund raising runs deep into all areas of the community and society. Its a way to help teach our children that they must think of others as well as themselves. An important message in a materially obsessed world. This message by involving them in the events seeps in hopefully and becomes the accepted norm.

Two things made me realise that there were children involved in events taking notice of what was happening and it just helped reinforce to me the reasons why I like to do these things. 

At the end of the car wash Keira Walker gave me this beautiful picture that she had sat and drawn for me. It illustrates our bike ride and what an amazing work of art. It has pride of place next to my bed. Thanks Keira :-)

Then on Sunday morning I made my way back to the marquee and spent a few hours clearing up the tables and the mess that was the remains of the party. I had to smile again as I noticed this on the table. 

Paul tells me it was Ella who created it. A beautiful recreation of the British Heart Foundation logo made from the heart table confetti... 

The week was to get even better though. On numerous occasions this week I have heard my favourite sound..the noise of pennies dropping on a table that my phone makes when a donation is received with JustGiving. We have taken approximately £1400 in other donations, some from individuals and some from companies who have been kind enough to support us. THANK YOU ALL.

A fantastic week and the momentum feels as though its mounting up, with luck it will carry us south as far as  Gibraltar...

PS PB coming home tonight, 45 mins I think that might be my best ever. Training is clearly paying dividends. It felt great, I could have continued to Dover without stopping. Boy I love my bike.

A Raffle to be proud of....

Saturday this week (25th June) is the Summer Ball in a fabulous Marquee in Paul's Garden. Final Preparations are all coming together and we are all getting quite excited at the thought of a party. The weather is looking a lot better than was predicted last week and we may enjoy champagne in the Garden afterall.

I have just printed out the vouchers for the some of the raffle prizes and its quite amazing the things we have on offer. Here's a taster...

 · 2 return flights to New York

· 1 night stay at the Carlton Mitre Hotel, Hampton Court.

· 2 tickets to Kempton Racecourse

· A Private horse-riding lesson (for children)

· A private sightseeing helicopter ride.

· Dinner for 2 at Little Italy, Kingston-Upon-Thames

· A case of champagne

· A private portrait session with Seemephotography.com

· Dinner for 2 at The Bear Hotel, Esher

· Annual Multi-Trip Travel Insurance Policy for 2

· Private golf lesson at Royal Wimbledon Golf Club

· A weekend stay at a beautiful home on The Gower Peninsula, Wales

· 2 return flights to Budapest with accommodation

· Meal for 2 at Carluccios Esher, meal

Then the entertainment for the evening will be provided by 'Souled Out' a 9 piece band headed by Mark Payne. Mark is the brother of Ann who organised last weeks car wash. What an amazing family to know...! How lucky I am to count them all as friends and I am totally indebited to their generosity and help. Thanks guys, I owe you several big favours.

Its not too late to get yourself a ticket. £50 for the whole evening with Dinner and Champagne reception or £15 to join us after 21.00hrs for the dancing and music.

I am really looking forward to it and shall have to get up early Saturday to get some training miles in as somehow I think Sunday might be tricky!

The ball marks the end of the fund raising events. (I am sure some of you will be relieved to know!). Apart from a street collection in Saffron Walden in a few weeks, that's it! Well I count the collection as training as I am planning to take my turbo trainer and sit in the market square pedalling and collecting at the same time.

Training is going ok and although of late fund raising has been the main activity I have been increasing my weekly mileage and increasing the ride to work in the mornings. This morning I did 20 miles on the way to work, its not a huge amount but the fact that I can do the a fifth to a third of a days total mileage before breakfast without even blinking is slightly reassuring but its nothing like what we will have to do day in day out I appreciate. I am getting a good 150 miles in during my commuting week and trying to fit in longer weekend rides as well as a few runs during the week. Laps of Richmond Park on the way to work are never a hardship. Its such a beautiful spot I could just keep going around and around.

In July the mileage will increase again as we have a trip to Paris planned as well as Lands End to John O'Groats. I am hoping that will give me another decent block of miles and training and then we will be almost ready to start.

My biggest worry is the tension in my shoulders and neck which I tend to feel after a long day in the saddle and when carrying laptops around in my backpack routinely. I am sure alot of it is the general bike fit and set up and so with that I have booked myseld a session with the bike whisperer to try to optimise my riding position. Time will be invested well in this particular area of research as comfort day in and day out will be a major issue. Anything I can do now to reduce those nagging pains will make the time on the bike more comfortable.

Hope to see you at the ball on Saturday.

Saffy City Fire Station Car Wash - Sat 18th June

Saffron Walden is the town where I grew up and the place I still call home. Most of my family still live there. The fire station is in the middle of the town and has a prime position on the one way street through the town centre. Occasionaly they offer a charity the opportunity to raise some funds by using the station facilities and turning it into a car wash. Saturday was our turn thanks to the organisation of Ann & Gary Walker.



L-R Marlon Geen, Gary Walker, Oscar Geen



All of Saturday from 10-4hrs we were lucky enough to commandeer the forecourt at the station which Gary had turned into the perfect car wash with rinse and soaping stations. Fire Hoses are pretty powerful things I have discovered. Oscar is holding the hose that we used to rinse the cars down as they arrived. We had to be careful not to blast them off the forecourt! . One of the firemen painted a fabulous sign to tempt the passing motorists in.

All sorts of tactics were used to tempt them in..!

Aside from the periodic showers we had a great day. There was quite a team with some of the firemen, Oscar, Silas and Marlon (my nephews), Christine my sister and various other volunteers and helpers. Everyone worked like trojans to wash the cars which had been press ganged lured in to have a wash. Donations were accepted in exchange for the wash and we were turning them around thick and fast. Many hands really does make light work and I think I can legitimately call it cross training as by the end of the day we were all pretty weary. We were kept going though by 'Calzone' pizzas who very kindly boosted my order to 3 pizzas from 2 when he realised what we were up to (at no extra cost). Also Dorringtons the bakers delivered cakes to the hungry workers which were devoured so quickly I didnt even see them! :-)

It was a fun day and at the end of the day Marlon counted up a pile of wet money which totalled £371.29. I gave Gary and Ann £100 to donate towards the firefighters charity. So thats another £271.29. Mum and dad have also been given some donations from other very generous bowlers and I am in posession of another £45.00 from them. So that's a total of £316.29 for this weekend.

On Friday night I manged to make it to a barn dance in the gardens of Alice Olley's house on Sewards End. Alice and Charlie were hosting what looked to be the Essex version of Glastonbury with the amount of tents and gazebos erected to shelter all from the incessant rain. It was a barn dance to raise money for the Village hall and an announcement was made at the end to remind everyone to come to the car wash the next day at the fire station. On hearing of the event and that it was part of the 'Clock 2 Rock' fundraising efforts a gentleman pressed 50pence into my hand and said. "you must take this". In so many ways this was such a generous donation and its the little things like this that I find so utterly humbling at times. He had without a pause heard of the trip put his hand in his pocket and given me what he found there. Amazing. It may have been a single 50 pence piece but it counts and it helps. Then there were the others who came out and spent their saturday rolling up their sleeves and washing cars all day long. People I have never met before too.  

As I cycle my way up the long hills and roads en route to Gibraltar I know that I will take comnfort and strength in relecting on these moments when the humanity and generosity of total strangers is so apparent. I will think of all of these people and they will help me achieve my goal.

THANK YOU SAFFRON WALDEN, what an amazing community you are. 

The rest of the weekend was spent celebrating Natashas 10th birthday with some camping in the garden of Suzanne and Bunchers (good friends of old) house in Ashdon. We had a fun evening sat around the campfire and after some horseriding and driving practice on the farm roads we headed back to London with some very weary 10 year olds and even more weary adults! What a fun weekend full of adventure and activity. Life is for living and thats certainly what we did this weekend.

The last thing to say is of course Happy Fathers day to my dad. Dad you are the best, admittedly I am slightly biased but it was lovely to be able to see you today and tell you that in person.

PS Have lost a stone now, so the power to weight ratio on the bike is definately improving. Happy days....

Car Wash

Morning all, a late note to tell you that we are holding our fingers crossed for the weather this morning as there is a charity car wash at Saffron Walden (otherwise known as Saffy City) Fire Station.

So come on down and get your car washed for a donation to our cause. My lovely nephews will be there to help. 10-16.00hrs today.

Lastly a good luck to Gill today who is riding the London to Brighton bike ride tomorrow. I hope the shorts fit ok. :-)


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Mike Webb I love you.......!

Sundays training was a tortuous 'training' ride in the Chilterns. The Chitern 100. There were plenty of nutters there doing the full 100 but Paul and I very sensibly it seems opted for the 75 mile ride. I don't I could have done the 100. By Sunday morning after a day of shaking my collection tin in Balham I was shattered and didn't feel as though I was too energised Sunday morning as it was. It went from bad to worse as the hills were relentless one after the other and i mean hills. 10-15% slopes on most of them i think would be a fair assessment. I am delighted to say the SRAM Apex groupset I managed to put on my bike worked a treat and probably saved my life, Well it saved me getting to the point where suicide was the the only option at least. Whoever designed that course was clearly a man. A woman could never be that cruel. To make you slog to the top of a hill only to effectively turn around and ride back down it again before taking the next turn in the road back up. Over and over and over....Getting my drift? 

It was certainly as much of a mental test as well as a physical one and I think I passed it. Well we both survived unbeaten by the hills and rolled home having to stop just yards before the finish for some cars which were obstructing the finish. Imagine my distain to find then my final time was 6 hours and 13 seconds, Doh! If the car hadn't got in the way it would have been under 6 hours. Oh well there's always next year...errrr then again I may be busy this time next year relaxing on a beach somewhere. :-) 

The beauty of a ride like that though is the car ride home (thanks Paul for driving), knowing that you have not only ticked the exercise box for the day but also if the bike computer is to be believed, have 4736 calories of credit to munch your way through for dinner. So that means a meal of pretty well whatever you want to eat!! Yay....Home for fish pie and a nice glass of white wine. Heavenly. 

Here is the bike computer stats for the day. I wasn't fast but I did it. 

So Monday morning came and the rain was dripping outside, my shoulders were aching and my legs were asking what level of torture to expect today when as I sat putting my waterproof overshoes on I heard the fantastic little tinkle of money dropping to the table. Its the sound the Just giving app on my phone makes when someone donates and call me sad but its the most satisfying sound in the whole world and makes me more excited that Christmas when I was 5. 

"Mike Webb has just donated £1000 to your page" OMG ...........!!!!! Did I read that right...? "Mike Webb has just donated £1000 to your page" Yes i certainly did. Mike Webb of Mondial Assistance is someone to whom we have very close personal and business links to at Healix. He is a man who understands and appreciates very well the incredible work the BHF does everyday. He is also clearly a very generous man and so here's a great big public THANK YOU Mike. I owe you a beer or 20. 

I managed to snatch a few minutes of his time today to express my personal gratitude and it was amazing how within a few seconds all the pain and suffering of Sunday suddenly seemed to melt away and it just became a valuable days training. Well my head thinks that, my legs are yet to be persuaded.....

It's been a long week

I don't know about you but my bones are aching and my muscles are tense. It's been a busy week of work, bike building and fund raising. I can't believe it was a bank holiday on Monday as it feels like the same length week as usual.

JK's Bianchi after respray

I am delighted to say that after a couple of hiccups I think I have finally completed the bike build. It was all going too smoothly until I reassembled the headset but it just wasn't right. Too much play and I couldn't work out what was wrong. It seems some parts might have been left on the forks and not come back from the respray or it did come back and I chucked them out when I recycled the bike box and bubble wrap at the dump. Whoops! In all honesty I think this was more likely.  If I only I had kept the box until after the build? Que sera sera.. I then went to install the 11-32 Cassette on the rear wheel and it was banging all over the place like a Salvation Army tambourine. Odd! A bit of googling and I realised I need to add spacers to plug the gap of a shimano hub on a Mavic rim with a SRAM cassette. I rifled around in the shed and the cellar, found and tried Shimano cassette spacers as well as campag ones but nope, still too much wobble. Calling in to SigmaSports in Kingston I picked up a Mavic adapter ring. Hey presto the cassette now fitted. Then the rear gears wouldnt run smoothly. I realigned and adjusted until I was blue in the face. I was sure I had done everything I had been told by Downland Cycles on my maintenance course and by reading SRAM's installation instructions. Just to be totally sure I watched as many online u tube clips as I could find. Yep, I had done as I was told. (by the way I dont know who those people are that record and upload videos of the most obscure things but boy I am glad they are dedicated enough to do them). So at this point I had a headset that just didnt feel right and rear gears that wouldnt adjust smoothly. Great..! Time for the experts.

Our local bike shop in Hampton (Birdie Bikes) is a fabulous LBS (Local Bike Shop). The boys in there are so helpful and friendly and never fail to come up trumps to solve problems. I called them up and dropped the bike around leaving it with Adam to see what he thought of it. Just as I got back to the office I found my new wheelset with Shimano hub had arrived and suspecting that the wheel Gary had lent me was not just 'noisy' but a dud, I legged it back to drop off the new rear wheel. How irritated do you think I was to find that in my hurry I had put down the rear wheel and taken the front wheel back to Birdie Bikes. DOH!!!!!!! Anyway Adam soon called to tell me the news. Yes I must have been missing a part from the headset and yes it was the faulty rear wheel. OK some good news some bad. I took the bike home, ordered a new headset from Ribblecycles and then had to sit and wait. Today it arrived and after getting some help to knock out the frame cups I reinstalled the new headset and it now works beautifully. Finally I think I have a working bike to ride on Sunday in the Chiltern 100. Phew that was a close call. All those hills on my Ribble with no front shifter working was not appealing.

What a drama but hopefully it was worth the wait.

So tired, that's it for me for now. Another long day tomorrow but it will start well with a ride on my beautiful revamped Bianchi. :-)