The Ride Up Britain

All In

2008-05-19T10:29:00.001+01:00

Just A Bit Further crossed the line @ 11:30pm last night after a
massive push on the last day. They chose to stay overnight in JoG &
are now proudly wearing their finishers medals for the team photos.
Fantastic effort folks, what an amazing performance. Marcus.

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WELL DONE GUYS & GIRLS

2008-05-19T09:33:00.000+01:00

Just a quick note to say a massive well done to everyone that took part in
the RUB - from the blog it looks like you all had a lot of fun doing it,
and most importantly you raised a shed load of cash in the process for a
great charity.

What's next??

Andy & Andy

=======
Performance Cycles
www.performancecycles.co.uk
e andy.kirk@performancecycles.co.uk
t: +44 (0) 1793 886400
m +44 (0) 7971 190494
skype: kirky007

Team Update - Just a Little Bit Further

2008-05-19T09:16:00.001+01:00

I've just spoken to Chris Williams, and his team has an ETA of approx. 11pm. Fantastic effort, well done everyone! Wendy.

Team Storm & Flow Reach the Finish @ 19:10 on 18/5/08

2008-05-18T19:27:00.000+01:00

70 miles to go!!!

2008-05-18T14:32:00.000+01:00

We're all clean

2008-05-18T12:33:00.002+01:00

Thanks to Inverness Leisure centre for letting Team Vortex use their
showers. They are now just about presentable enough to be released
back into society.  However Marcus's socks have escaped & were last
seen heading for the hills. Do not approach without suitable biohazard
protection.

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Bottom Burps!!!

2008-05-18T12:32:00.001+01:00

Alex S, will you please stop farting in the van and save it for outside! You're making our clothes decompose! Martin D

The End is Nigh...

2008-05-18T12:23:00.001+01:00

Only 80 miles left to go, and the sun has finally made it's first appearance since we set off. The camper stinks to high heavens so definitely rather be on the bike. Keep the sponsorship coming in to make this incredible test of endurance all the more worthwhile! Martin D

As Heard On Radio1

2008-05-18T07:51:00.001+01:00

Marcus has his 30 seconds of fame.

We've Done It

2008-05-18T05:34:00.000+01:00

5:17 and we roll into John O'Groats.

Ow what a beautiful morning!!!

Big thank you

2008-05-18T02:27:00.001+01:00

Just a quick Big Thank You to Guy from the riders - what a boost to our moral as well as the charity pot ! Well Done to you !

We're heading down to near Fort William in the van right now to start our run at about 3:30 a.m. (hopefully !) once Andy and Alex B get there.

It's pretty cold tonight - about 2 deg. - but looking forward to seeing Loch Ness at dawn.

Looks like Vortex should be finished around 6 - well done guys ( 'n' girl ) great effort.

Alex S

Team Vortex Comet Strikes Again

2008-05-18T01:38:00.001+01:00

Marcus aka The Comet has just broken the speed of light on his bike.

Can I have what ever he's drinking!!

The end is near

2008-05-18T00:20:00.001+01:00

Saturday Midnight

Scotland

2008-05-18T00:11:00.001+01:00

If Scotland wasn't so damn big we'd be there by now.

Team Vortex

Final Push

2008-05-18T00:00:00.001+01:00

Saturday 11.15 pm.

Sun just finished setting, still some light in the western sky and full moon rising. Partical cloud no wind to speak of. About 100 miles of easy riding left....

I need a poo!!!

2008-05-17T23:51:00.000+01:00

Fantastic News!

2008-05-17T22:03:00.003+01:00

As our teams are doing absolutely brilliantly, I thought I'd post some fantastic news!

A shareholder in Hydro has pledged to support the RUB by matching the total raised and his grant-making charity has pledged to support the RUB by matching the total raised from sponsorship, to a max of £7,500!! Thank you so very much on behalf of all the team members and Hydro for your amazing generosity to WaterAid.

Wendy.

Mystery Solved

2008-05-17T20:45:00.000+01:00

Team Vortex has just spied Nessy.

She's made a rare appearance in support of the Ride Up Britain.

Team Storm's Progress

2008-05-17T20:10:00.000+01:00

Finished the run near Kilmarnock at around 6:45 p.m. Sat.

If we could stop getting lost we 'd be doing much better !

Can't remember exactly where this pic was taken but it was Sat. A.m. Near Carlisle.

Our van smells too !

Alex S

Ben Nevis

2008-05-17T18:54:00.000+01:00

Good to get a nice evening to see the local sights. 100 miles to go!

The sun has just come out

2008-05-17T17:27:00.001+01:00

And we're on our way to Loch Ness.

Getting there

2008-05-17T14:49:00.000+01:00

Saturday 2:47pm everything in the van smells. Better to be riding!

Gav and Niel make friends with the locals

2008-05-17T14:47:00.002+01:00

Ask us when we're in the pub.

Team Vortex

The Team Vortex Office or better known as Mission Control

2008-05-17T14:44:00.000+01:00

Home sweet home. I think we're all going to miss her when she goes.

Team Vortex

Anyone got some Fabreze?

2008-05-17T12:23:00.001+01:00

"Scotland Stinks!", "No Phil that's our van".  Things are getting a
bit wiffy in the Vortex vehicle as they cruise up Loch Lomand.
12:20pm.

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Team StormFlow

2008-05-17T10:26:00.000+01:00

Windermere 7am 17th!

Breakfast time

2008-05-17T08:24:00.001+01:00

Whilst Marcus is out doing his 30 miles the rest of the team are enjoying a well earned bacon sandwich and a mug of tea.

We're in another country

2008-05-17T02:33:00.001+01:00

We've just got to Scotland. 2:30am

Team Vortex

Kirkstone Pass. Done

2008-05-17T00:40:00.001+01:00

Going well. Now out the Lake District and in Penwith

Team Vortex

Nearly Half way - I think !

2008-05-16T19:22:00.000+01:00

Colin and I should be starting from Chester at around 7:30 p.m. This evening (Friday) all being well. Alex B and Martin D have both been ill but seem to be on the mend (must have been all that Stella we had in our water bottles last night ! )

Weather has been a bit rubbish and the inside of the van looks like it's been in an accident and rolled down a hill a few times.

Here's some pics of Colin and Dave in the front of the van.

Alex S

Calm Down!

2008-05-16T16:01:00.001+01:00

Gav is lost in Liverpool, I hope he makes it out with his wheels! 4pm

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Just a Bit Further Team Update

2008-05-16T14:22:00.000+01:00

Chris Williams' team was at Ludlow at 1pm! Making brilliant progress although very tired! Well done everyone.

Wendy.

Putting the Power in Power Nap

2008-05-16T12:21:00.000+01:00

Or as we like to call it, catching flies.

Laundrette

2008-05-16T10:52:00.001+01:00

We've found one. Now have dry smelly clothing.

Team Vortex

Raindrops keep falling on my head

2008-05-16T09:34:00.001+01:00

Team Vortex are soggy after a damp morning but are heading for better
weather up North. Just passed Ludlow.

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This is hard !

2008-05-16T05:34:00.001+01:00

Not the cycling - it's all the bits in between - trying to eat, trying to drink (ran out of water !) etc.

Great fun though - going to try and sleep now for the 1st time since I left home at 5;00 a.m. Yesterday.

Alex S

This is hard !

2008-05-16T05:30:00.000+01:00

Not the cycling - it's all the bits in between - trying to eat, trying to drink (ran out of water !) etc.

Great fun though - going to try and sleep now for the 1st time since I left home at 5;00 a.m. Yesterday.

Alex S

Team Vortex

2008-05-16T04:08:00.001+01:00

4am between Bath and stroud

Grave Yard Shift

2008-05-16T02:41:00.001+01:00

Marcus just made excellent time to the top of the Mendips and now Phil is off the conquer Bath and beyond.

Team Vortex

2008-05-15T22:25:00.000+01:00

Night falls....the hard riding continues

Team Vortex drinks tea

2008-05-15T19:07:00.001+01:00

Mmm tea

Progress Day 1

2008-05-15T18:42:00.000+01:00

Marcus Munford put on an impressive und rid and leads the forth leg for Team Vortex, almost 100 miles under the tires so far. Ripping!

Team Stormflow Update

2008-05-15T18:25:00.000+01:00

Andy and Alex B set a new speed record on the first leg

Alex and Colin got hopelessly lost on their leg

Martin is a moron and didn't pack a sleeping bag or shoes. He does make good pasta though.

Wayne and Farris up next in a few hours.

More info to follow......

Team Vortex first change over

2008-05-15T14:01:00.001+01:00

We've just swapped over after the first leg and Marcus and Neil don't look like they have broken into a sweat. They raced Chris and burnt him off round St Ives.

Team Flow

2008-05-15T08:57:00.000+01:00

We're on our way to Cornwall

2008-05-15T08:44:00.001+01:00

Team Vortex stopping for a motivational bacon sandwich.

2008-05-15T08:32:00.000+01:00

Dave is sorting out the tea for us riders. It chucked it down all night but its just stopped raining so we are all hoping for the best! 3.5 hours to go....

Team Storm

Good Luck Boys!

2008-05-14T17:28:00.000+01:00

Good luck everyone and enjoy the ride! Some fab countryside to see. Take care, Wendy x

GOOD LUCK...

2008-05-14T17:11:00.000+01:00

Good luck to all the riders in taking part in the Ride up Britain, the
hard work is of fundraising is done, so now it's time to enjoy the ride –
fingers crossed the weather holds out for you!! From Andy & Andy at
Performance Cycles

=======
Andy Kirk
Performance Cycles
www.performancecycles.co.uk
e andy.kirk@performancecycles.co.uk
t: +44 (0) 1793 886400
m +44 (0) 7971 190494
skype: kirky007

Sponsorship Total

2008-05-14T16:17:00.000+01:00

With only a few hours to go until we set off the sponsorship total is nearing £6,000 across all 4 teams. This is great news for WaterAid and will make the next few days of effort really worthwhile.

Marcus

Full Carbon

2008-05-14T14:38:00.000+01:00

Just to start off the bike envy-here's mine.

Test the system !

2008-05-13T22:02:00.001+01:00

Main reason for this message is to test the system and see that I can update the blog remotely. I've just checked the weather forecast and unless Marcus likes being wet I don't share his optimism. Still can't wait to get started !

Alex S

Sun in shining

2008-05-13T15:49:00.000+01:00

It's sunny In Clevedon and looking good for the weather for the ride.

Thank goodness!

2 Days To Go

2008-05-13T09:51:00.001+01:00

It's only two days to go before the off. Yay