Up at 5.45am for the 40min drive down to the start after a breakfast of tea and toast. Was a beautiful sunny day with a strong easterly breeze (annoyingly...) What happened to the Westerley wind which is supposed to assist you starting from lands End? Got log sheet stamped and team photo taken and was ready to set off at 9.15 into a strong head wind. Temperature was already hitting the 70's and only getting hotter. Starting with the rolling Cornwall countryside before hitting the big long hills everyone talks about. Got onto the A30 duel-carriageway, where I would be for the next 80miles...head down and slog it out as the temperatues rises. 40 miles in got my first puncture, 45 miles in - 2nd puncture, 60 miles, 3rd...Changed tyre as well as tube this time,hope this would help it hold out. Kept slogging the miles out, lots of debris on the road and with the high temperatures and carrying extra weight this was wrecking my tyres. Made it 30 miles before the 4th puncture struck, couldn't believe it, 90 mins wasted in total to changing tubes.Had us ed all my spare tubes in one afternoon. Kept putting the miles in but it felt like I was riding on egg shells, waiting for the next one to strike. Managed to last out the last miles made it to Okehampton retained station at 7.30. Shower, fish and chips then made a bed up from chairs , to tired to fix punctures so they'll have to wait till the morning.
Facts and Figures -
Lands End - Okehampton (101.06 miles)
Saddle Time - 07:48:57Average Speed - 12.9mph
Max Speed - 38.07mph
High Temperature - 90.7F
Leave 09.15 Arrive 19.30
Punctures - 4
Road Victims(LEJOG cycles passed) - 1
Highs - Getting Started
Having the station to myself at the end of a long hot day.
Lows - 1st puncture
2nd,3rd,4th puntures...
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