7 days to go!!!! oh my goodness I am now starting to feel quite a bit of panic.
Hold on...get a grip and lets just get a handle on this task ahead. I have been spending this week prepping kit, bikes and mindset too.
But First A Thank You
This week I received a lovely jersey given to me by the good people at Myton Hospice, a really nice gesture and they also sent me a biscuit too, to say thank you for my fundraising efforts. I feel so chuffed to be able to raise this money whilst riding my bike and also remain truly grateful for the help that Myton Hospice provided My Brother Nigel and support they gave my mum too. Whilst my family has had a direct link with the hospice I am also grateful of the work and services they provide to many families and loved ones battling Cancer. Myton Hospice - Thank you so much. link to my Just Giving funding page here 5trail centres in 24hrs
The Steeds and their personal mechanic So I am a lucky girl really in that I have a wonderful partner who is not only supporting me during this ride by driving along the routes and around the trail centres too, but he also happens to be a tip top cycle mechanic as well. So when I need to prep and check my bikes I often find that Mark has already thought about it and either done it or ordered the parts that i need to do it. So grateful to Mark and here is my Massive massive thank you to him as without him this challenge would not have been possible. So The bikes.... I have decided (after lots of advice from Mark and Fiona) to take all of my bikes, Yes lucky me I have Road, Cyclocross and MTB - spoilt I know and despite wanting to complete the whole challenge on a cx bike i have succumbed to the fact that I will either break myself or god forbid the bike if I try to do the whole route on the cx bike. So as my cross bike is now heaving a sigh of relief here is my bike and spec check.
CX Brava SLR - Bravo!
The plan for the day is to start the Off road at Hicks lodge on the CX bike. Will have to strap a light to bike and helmet for the trail as we are planning a 5:30am start.
The bike is a Liv Brava 2019 that remains largely original spec apart from a tubeless tyre set up, re laced wheels with bling spokes and nipples. Upgraded gear cables for Jagwire smoother shifting along with a Sram Force rear mech upgrade too. The front chain ring I swapped when I rode peaks the previous year from a 42 to a 38, bit of extra pedal for the steeper parts. Otherwise the bike is running all Original Equipment. The Giant wheelset PX2's never miss a beat and still a light enough option to help when racing too. The SRAM Apex group set came as standard on this model Brava the only upgrade to this I have done is rear mech and wires. What can i say a true beaut of a bike and one that i have ridden long distance, short cx races, road and off road, trail centres 3 peaks and many more and its my go to bike - love the position ride and feel of the whole bike. No changes to the set up for the challenge apart from the fact that it will be let of the trails at Eastridge. I rode the CX bike round Eastridge and it was not the most suitable terrain for a fully rigid bike.
The point and shoot - Giant Propel Adv 2 2016
So my sensible friend Fiona has highly recommended and encouraged the use of my Propel on the longer road sections. To maintain a smoother and more enjoyable ride creating less fatigue in myself than I need to. So I guess the most prep I have done for the road bike would be to use it instead of the cx.
The bike is a Giant Propel Adv 2 and is original
equipment apart from the Dura Ace C24 Road Wheel set along with Schwalbe Duarno Double Defence tyres. The bike is running Shimano 105 group set. I was lucky enough to receive this bike as a pressie for Christmas last year and originally intended to use it for fitness road rides and possibly some time trial training, since i have had the bike i have actually done quite a bit of mileage on it and found myself taking on longer rides on the roads, group rides and i have also seen my fitness improve over all from using and riding the Propel alongside my off road bikes too.
No changes to set up apart form a saddle swap to the lovely SDG allure saddle that i find really comfy. The Propel will be ridden on the road sections of the ride between all the trail centres.
The MTB Obsession - Liv Obsess
I am so glad that part of this challenge is gnarly enough for me to be able to get the MTB involved as this little beauty is an awesome bike to ride. Uphill this bike feels sometimes effortless and a feeling of flowing and floating when you ride down the other side too. Being a hardtail the bike accelerates well and is very responsive, every pedal stroke put in is rewarded.
I have had the Liv Obsess Advanced since 2016 and have raced and rallied it, ridden DH tracks on it too and many trails of off piste away days as well as local loops and Trail centre meet ups. I have upgraded along the years quite a few of the parts. Starting with the Bars from standard ally to Carbon Giant SLR model. The wheels are a rebuild using Halo Vaypour rims along with Hope Pro 2 hubs (ticky ticky) bang in a bit of spoke nipple matching orange too. I added a Giant Contact 125mm dropper seat post, this was a game changer for riding trails when I had this fitted. The drive was originally 2x chain set and that I upgraded to an SLX 1x at the start of this year. A bigger ratio cassette o the back one chain ring on the front. The brakes were also replaced but not upgraded I stuck with the Shimano SLX brakes that originally came on the bike as i get on with them, simply upgraded for a newer version. Maybe this bike is a little bit triggers broom, but necessary as this bike is a bit of a smile inducing bike to ride, always a pleasure to ride and one that I have done quite a lot of riding on.
The Obsess will be taking part in the challenge for Eastridge and Hopton trail centres, allowing me more enjoyment of the trails and saving me some fatigue too as I know I am going to need all the help I can get.
Right off to double check prep, wash and oil the bike children and make ready for the weekend. I will be back to talk kit and spares.
Out riding somewhere.... (or maybe washing bikes)
M