Sally D

Well last night lasted a bit longer than I expected.

Me and the good lady went to a 30th birthday party of the wife of a very good friend. As I was meant to be in work first thing I took the sensible option of driving. Planning to leave early and get some much needed kip before riding include morning.
Well that didn't happen, when we go there a few people from by ours were having to get a taxi back so I offered a lift meaning that I ended up out till gone one driving one normal person, one who couldn't stay awake and one that wouldn't shut up.
To top it off she'd had a couple and was all wide awake and happy. I'll let her off with that as it was nice to see her out and enjoying herself, full of confidence and back to her old self.

I really wasn't up for the 5:30 wake up or the cycle in but it wasn't too bad.
http://bit.ly/n31TcJ

Anyway thanks to James & Sally D for a great night.

Nice ride in

It was a bit chilly this morning, made even worse by the fact that I had no gloves and had hands like claws when I got to town.

http://sportypal.com/Workouts/Details/1400901?key=1f4ef4b39f0b0410c52a3f68fb7ec0dc66516f61

Day 5 - 65 miles

Today started out like pretty much every other day, a hill and rain. I’ve found my legs though as I’m powering up these hills with no trouble at all. I’ve left everyone I’ve been riding with behind so I’m looking for new friends now.
We left Lisieux and headed on to Bernay, along the route we stopped for a water break and had a talk from Chris Barker the commandant at Selly Oak who told us all about his role and how he’d seen a shortfall in the care received and what he’s done to change it. It’s amazing how much difference one person can make.
From here we continued on until we reached Bernay which is where a lot of the resistance came from. We had talks from two of the FANY’s and SOE’s from the day. After this there was a wreath laying.
It was just onwards and upwards after this towards Evreix, more hills, more rain and more pain……until! We did it, we found a local bar, had a couple of drinks then moved on, and then me and Geoff found another bar wit everyone outside so we had a few more drinks. When we went to leave one of the lads had a puncture so as Geoff was in a different hotel I told him to go on. We sorted the puncture and continued on, as we hit the final hill I put my feet down to get a good hard start and both feet came out of my clips (I’d ruined the bottom of my shoes with all the walking so I couldn’t clip into my pedals) I fell with all my weight onto the cross bar, the pedal hit my shin then span round and hit my calf……..PAIN! I got tot the top of the hill and Chris asked if I was okay, at which point I was shedding a tear. Ah well at least I made it, so this evening has been all about checking that nothing is swelling and hobbling around.

For further info please mail me on yimmin@btinternet.com

Day 4 - 78 miles

Today shall officially be known as Hell Day!
We thought it was going to be pretty laid back with an 8:30 start but then the hills came and came and came some more, then came the rain.
The day itself was pretty cool we stopped at a Canadian cemetery for a walk around and a water break, from there we moved onto Montormel where Uncle John and Sgt Major Andy Newel told us of how they had been wounded in action, in WW2 and Afghanistan, this was followed by a wreath laying.
From here the day seemed to get better, the hills were all down and the rain was just drizzle but then the big hills arrived. I may need to see the physio after tea. So all in all not much happened but we hit the miles hard.

For further info please mail me on yimmin@btinternet.com

Day 3 - 50 miles

Today was one of the easy days, we just had about 50 miles to cover and it was all pretty flat. There was the standard cheeky hill at the start then onto the real speed cycling, we averaged about 20 mph today.

We started the day with a short trip from Bayeux up to Arromaches where we were treated to a visit to the museum and a 360 cinema show, this was amazing, it was a video of the landings but all around you. We also had a wreath laying at the coast where a habour was built in a few days by the british forces. There we were also treated to a talk from Uncle John who had been part of the invasion.

After lunch we moved onto Mereville where we visited an Gun Battery defence which was in use as part of the Nazi's Atlantic wall built to defend continental Europe from Allied invasion. It was one of the first places to be attacked by Allied forces on D Day.

Onwards we travelled to Pegasus Bridge where a ceremony was held at the sight of the liberation and then a second at the Café Gondrée which is now run by Arlette Gondrée, who was a small child living in the home when it was liberated. Free drinks were laid on by Madam Gondrée.

From here we travelled on to Caen to our hotels, it was here that I struggled to find the white markers and ended up 5km away from where I needed to be...ah well!

For further info please mail me on yimmin@btinternet.com

Day 2 - 75 miles

Today was a stupidly early start, anout 6:30, so after a fine breakfast from Basil & Sybil we got the coach back into the harbour and collected our bike (mine was now fixed) and waited fo the off to leave Cherbourg.

After waiting for 20 minutes at the first set of lights we finally got on our way. The ride had begun! I was felling great, looked the business in my new kit and had my bike back running like a dream. Then it happened....the first hill, it was a monster! 200 meters up and it felt like riding up a wall. Once we got over this the day just got better. We arrived in St Mere-Eglise which claims to be the 1st town liberated on D Day where 3 Paratroopers came down with the masses but ended up getting caught on the church steeple. 1 died, 1 cut himself away and the 3rd was up there for 2 hours before being caught by the Germans and becoming a POW before the Americans claimed the town. Here we were treated to guided tours, visits to the Para museum and a show from the Red Devils.

After the air display there was a wreath laying ceremony with a father whose son died in conflict a year to the day. A speech was also given by an American officer who'd come over for the trip.

Following on from this we were led out of the town by a group of Harley Davidsons and headed up to Colleville-sur-Mere where we visited the American Cemetery and Memorial where we held a wreath laying and had talks from two service men from the D Day landings. This was a very emotional event that really brought home the hardship and sacerfice that those men went through.

Following on from thsi we headed the last 16 miles into Bayeux where we took our hotels and rested out weary legs. The hotel was much nicer this time and we got fed. Now I'm off for a well deserved beer.

For further info please mail me on yimmin@btinternet.com

Day 1 - 5 miles

Today was brilliant, a nice gentle start and some amazing sights and tours.
We left the hotel and headed up to Southwick Park to register and get all our admin sorted. About 2 miles into the journey the part that I bent yesterday decided to go into my wheel causing it to jam up and also gave me a puncture. So this is it, I've fallen, broke something and had a puncture, that's it for me now nothing else will happen all week.
After walking about 3 miles with my bike on my back I arrived at Southwick Park to be greeted by Dave in a van coming to collect me...too little to late. He did take the bike away and gave me a spare while it was repaired. I'm yet to get the bill!
Once I got sorted out I registered, got my T-shirt and all my bits and enjoyed the bay at Southwick, we were given a tour of the Map room where, on 5 June 1944, General Dwight D. Eisenhower made the historic and risky decision to launch the D Day invasion. We were then treated to a spot of lunch whilst one of the bands played to us. After a quick meet and greet with the organisers and a quick briefing we went back outside to get ready for the off.
At the leaving ceremony there were speeches by Ross Kemp, Bryn Parry and Mrs Gregory who was at Southwick Park when Eisenhower gave the Green Light for the D-Day landings. As the old Artillery guns set us off we headed down to the Ferry port to cross over to Cherbourg.


Once we arrived in Cherbourg we all head our seperate ways on coaches to get to our hotels, this is what I was greeted by;Basil Faulty would have been gutted with this place. There was no bar, no restaurant and being a bank holiday nowhere was open. Good times! Ah well off to bed to get set for the first big day

For further info please mail me on yimmin@btinternet.com

It Begins.

Well it's been an eventful start, 8 hours on trains from Liverpool to Coventry to Euston then a mad ride across London with all our kit to Watersloo then onto Portsmouth then to Cosham. During the ride ascross London I had my first and only accident of the week, cracked my helmet and bent some bits. Got here in one piece though so got on the lash.

For further info please mail me on yimmin@btinternet.com

Plutus UK Ltd Save The Day

Yesterday I received confirmation of our final sponsor for the kit for the ride.
Kenny at Plutus UK Ltd has agreed to fund the final amount to ensure that we can get the kit made whilst donating a healthy amout to Help for Heroes. Here's a little something about Plutus UK Ltd from their website
When you're putting your trust in someone to look after your stock or delivery of consignments. Our main services include:
:: Contract Packing
:: Bonded Warehousing Solutions
:: Archiving
:: Bonded Bulk Liquid Storage (Hazardous Material)
As an independent business, Plutus was established in 1993 and has enjoyed impressive growth by providing efficient solutions to wide range of clients.
Operating on a 24 hour, 365 day a year basis, our service reflects a total commitment to our customers' needs.
We're large enough to cope yet small enough to care, and ideally situated at a prime logistical location with access to Liverpool Docks and main motorway networks.

I've been in touch with Andrew at Custom Cycle Clothing and he's getting the final design drawn up, as soon as this is done we can get it made and get out and about to show them off. A few people taking part in the ride have asked about buying some of the kit for themselves so I've agreed that if they let me know before our order goes in we can add some bits for them so if you like the design just let me know and we can order more if need be.
For further info please mail me on yimmin@btinternet.com

Aquity Have Done It Again

Again Aquity Special Forces Kit Supplies have been a great source of support, they have provided me with a hydration pack and 2 pairs of sunglasses to be used as prizes on the charity night.

I want to thanks all the staff at the store and I hope that you will help them out and pay a visit to their website and pick up a bargain. Here's a little bit of info from their website:

Special Forces Kit Store provides Specialist Tactical Equipment for Military, PSD and Civilian Operators. All products in our Kit Store are thoroughly field tested and extensively used by Special Forces Units worldwide.
We specialize in the supply of ballistic protection armour. Our equipment capability research team keep abreast of the latest body armour technology allowing us to obtain the most covert/overt, low profile vests in the world as used by Special Forces Units.
All our armour is accredited to the minimum of NIJ (National Institute of Justice Level) IIIA. Our SF range offers in addition extremely high V50 fragmentation ratings whilst still offering lightweight properties. Bulldog Armour has the British Home Office rating of HG2 and stab/spike resistance of KR2. It offers a 10 year manufacturer guarantee and has waterproof properties. AQUITY is also the supplier of England’s Armour including the England’s covert vest and the award winning Inflatable Body Armour System IBAS®
The ballistic helmets listed in our kit store are the Bulldog Gentex Style based on Gentex TBH and the Bulldog SF helmet. All ballistic items offer the minimum standard military levels required. We have large stocks of British Airborne Para Helmets and can obtain most british military styles if requested.
AQUITY also offer the unique service of personalising your assault vest with any of our soft armour range. We have the armour specifically cut to fit your carrier or assault vest. We have large stocks of armour cut to fit most of the BlackHawk tactical range such as the Tactical Cutaway Vest, Cutaway Plate Carrier and the Plate Carrier or Heli Vest. Other vests include the Paraclete RAV and the Warrior Assault Systems RICAS vest, Eagle Industries MARCIRAS and CIRAS. If you have a carrier not mentioned we can consider armouring it for you to your specifications.
We stock a wide range of BlackHawk items, any that are not shown in our kit store can be ordered in specifically pending a waiting period. Other products in our store include – Red I Laser, 5.11, TAS Tactical Adjustment Systems, Garmin, Original Eickhorn, Lowa boots, Adidas GSG9 boots, 5.11 boots, Body Armour and Bullet proof vests.

For further info please mail me on yimmin@btinternet.com

Wall-E Gone!

The auction for the Wall-E promotional display model has ended and reached £26.34 so that will be added to the total for Help for Heroes.
Thanks to everyone who put in a bid.

For further info please mail me on yimmin@btinternet.com

Still Seeking Sponsorship

I've been speaking with the compaby that are planning to make my cycling kit as it's getting close and we're still without a main sponsor. He's agreed to drop the price a little in return for his logo on the design. With this in mind we can now drop the main sponsor contribution from £600 to £400 allowing us to get the kit made up but also have a good amount to give to Help for Heroes.
We are now asking anyone with a business or in a position to act on behalf of a business to get in touch.
So far we have Howdens Joinery, Clarks BMW Bikes and Cycle In Style supporting us.
For further info please mail me on yimmin@btinternet.com

12 Hours to Go On Wall-E

The eBay auction has just 12 hours left to run and it's only at £5.50, if you loved the film now's the time to get the real thing.
Click on the link below and get a bid in.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&item=300294439482
Don't forget all the money goes to Help for Heroes

For further info please mail me on yimmin@btinternet.com

WALL-E Promotional Display Auction Live NOW!

The auction's live now!
Get yourself to eBay and have a look and get a bid in. If you know anyone who would love to have this in their house/room/bar please forward this link onto you?

For further info please mail me on yimmin@btinternet.com

2 Sponsors Sorted - Clarks Motorcycles & Howdens Joinery

Geoff and myself have managed to sourse the 1st of our kit sponsors. Both Clarks Motorcycles & Howdens Joinery have agreed to donate £200 each to help cover the cost of our kit and to support Help for Heroes. We just need to source the last Primary sponsor for £600 so we can get the kit in production and get out there and start wearing it.





Clarks is a BMW motorcycle dealer in Birmingham, around 12 months ago it was taken over by the current MD Daniel Morgan who has tried to adopt a fresh new approach to the business.
The deal in both new & used bikes and all the accessories you could imagine. Check out the website or pop along to meet the friendly team and see the great offers they have on.




The Howdens Joinery Company offers a range of kitchens and joinery products specifically designed to meet the needs of modern living; complete with a full range of accessories, built-in appliances, work surfaces, sinks and taps.

For further info please mail me on yimmin@btinternet.com

Wall-E Comes To Town

I've managed to get hold of a display from the feature film WALL-E, this is a massive display and would look great in a kids playroom or even in the corner of any student house. The box on the left is the size of a pallett and holds WALL-E to keep him safe. I'm going to be auctioning him off from Monday on eBay so check out my link at the top right to buy wristbands and you will find the auction there.

All money raised from the sale will be going straight into the collection for my bike ride to raise money for Help for Heroes. Keep your eye on the site to find out more.

For further info please mail me on yimmin@btinternet.com

Prize Number 1

I was given my 1st prize this week. Thanks again to all the staff at The Fulwood Arms again for their kind donation of a meal for two.
The Fulwood Arms can be found directly facing the entrance to Sefton Park Lake on Aigburth Road. It has a stunning Victorian Burlesque interior with gilt mirrors, chandeliers, velvet curtains, antique bar and Pre-Raphaelite wall papers. It offers a wide range of cask ales, beers, spirits and wines with food being served from 12 noon - 8pm 7 days a week.
I've been in a few times and really enjoyed myself, the foods great and the place has a laid back atmosphere.

Hopefully this is just the start of it. I'm planning on getting loads more prizes.

For further info please mail me on yimmin@btinternet.com

It's a Pair Now

I've been speaking with another rider in this years BBBR. Geoff is 41 years old and lives in Northwich, Cheshire with his wife and 2 children, Geoff is a former soldier of the Royal Army Ordnance Corps who served for 5 years including tours of Cyprus and Germany.
Geoff is on board with the kit and is now also looking for sponsors so we're now looking for either £1000 or 3 sponsors of £600, £200 & £200. This means that whoever helps us out will be getting local press around the Liverpool, Northwich and surrounding areas. If anyone else on the ride is interested please get in touch with me.

I've mailed a couple of local cycle clubs tonight to try and get some training buddies as the long lonely night rides really get to me. This could also be another great way to tap into some sponsorship.

For further info please mail me on yimmin@btinternet.com

Advertising Sponsor Required

I'm looking for some sponsors for a shirt I want to get made up. I'm looking for 3 sponsors to provide money for the shirt and Help for Heroes in return for their logo on the kit. I'm offering 1 large chest or back logo for offers of £300 upwards and 2 sponsors of £100 upwards for an arm and leg logo. These prices are based upon a kit for myself but I may have another rider joining in so I would be asking for £600 and £200 to cover the additional costs and ensuring that the charity gets a decent amount.

This is a mock up of the shirt to give people an idea of how it might look. If you have a business of know of someone who would be interested please point them in my direction.

Santa Dash - DONE!

The 1st tasks done now, I got round the 5km course in 25 minutes. I may have been quicker if it wasn't for the huge numbers of runners I was stuck behind.

Of the money raised for the dash the 1st £20 has to go to the Echo's chosen charity but anything else will be going into the Help for Heroes Pot.

Every year I do this and I've not managed to get a photo of myself yet.

All by myself, Gonna be all by myself.

It seems like I'm the only one out of the people I met last year that is able to take part in this years ride so the team has been reduced to just me. I'd still like to get a kit made up and would very much like a sponsor to help me out. Above is a design that was drawn up for me by Andrew Saunders at http://www.cycleinstyle.org/. As soon as I can get someone to help me out with the costs I want to get an order in. Anywhere that you see text on the design is where the Just Giving, Help for Heroes and sponsor details can be included.
I'll be writing to as many companies as I can in the local area to see if any of them would be willing to help me out with a sponsorship deal so I can get the kit made up. As the numbers have dropped I'm thinking that the prices are going to have to go up. I'd like to get 1 sponsor of at least £300 and 2 of at least £100 to cover the cost of production but also making sure the charity gets something out of it. If someone is willing to help out please get in touch, if I can get more I would be made up.

In May 2008, 275 Help for Heroes cyclists, including a team from the Tri service rehabilitation centre at Headley Court, cycled through the battlefields of Northern France to link the actions of servicemen and women of the past with those of today. By the time we reached the shores of England hundreds of other riders joined us at Whitehall and we all rode past The Cenotaph, the ride had raised more that £1.3m for Help for Heroes.

In May 2009 Help for Heroes are doing another ride, The Band of Brothers Bike Ride. 300 of us will ride through the Normandy battlefields to commemorate the Allies’ liberation of Europe 65 years ago. With us will be teams from our Allies of today, wounded servicemen from America, Canada and France as well as our own from Headley Court.

The ride will be a challenge, France is not flat, for some it will be life changing but for all it will certainly be one of the most worthwhile things they have ever done. We will ride alongside brave men and women whose lives have also changed forever through their injuries and we will have the satisfaction of knowing that we will be helping raise money for them and hundreds like them.

Whilst remembering the efforts of all the WWII heroes, we are doing this ride to remember and care for the wounded soldiers of today. Each rider has pledged to raise money for Help for Heroes and by taking part we will be making a significant contribution towards the H4H cause. Last year I managed to raise just over £3500 so I've upped the ante this year and set a target of £5000.

At the moment I'm just waiting on the actual details and route of the ride and also on confirmation from a few people who I rode with last year as we are looking at the possibility of a team effort.

As soon as I know more I'll get the details on here.

To start the money coming in I'm taking part in the Liverpool Santa Dash for the 5th year on the 7th of December. As I'm still waiting on info about the team entry I haven't set up a just giving page yet so please visit my Facebook page which allows you to make donations. FACEBOOK

Confirmed

I've just received an email advising me that I've got my place for the Band Of Brother Bike ride in May 2009. I've also entered into the 2008 Santa Dash in Liverpool and also the 2009 Liverpool Half Marathon.

I'm hoping to find out if anyone else has been able to get places for the ride this year to see if the team is going to happen before I set up the Just Giving site. But in the meantime I can still accept sponsorship and donations via my facebook page and also the good old fashioned cash.

Watch this space for more information