Back In The Saddle

After 6 weeks of being out of action I managed an hour of off-road riding on the 950 today. The wrist hasn't got all the movement I would like and its a little weak but I'm confident that all will be OK for the Merzouga Rally next month. Cant wait to get back into the dunes again.

Bad timing!

Had a crash on the new Husqvarna 2 weeks ago in training. X-ray's today confirmed that I will be out of action for at least 6 weeks. This isn't great timing as I have the Merzouga Rally coming up, and will miss out on a load of riding training.

I'm staying optimistic but I am also feeling this year is jinked! The Merzouga Rally is a great event and perfect training for navigation and the sand. I hope I can still get to the starting line. My training will continue with running, yoga, and gym work.

John O' Groats To Lands End

As part of my training for the Dakar I cycled from end to end in the UK. We started at John O' Groats, Scotland and finished some 960 miles later in Lands End, Cornwall.

This was my 3rd End To End ride and I'm pretty sure I won't be doing it a 4th time. Scotland was as I remembered it - Very beautiful and friendly. Devon was also as I remember it - very hilly!

We had mixed fortunes with the weather. We had a hurricane named Bertha hit the UK during our ride which was pretty wet and cold, a handful of heavy rain, and unfortunately a strong headwind for a lot of the journey.

The ride was good training with 2 weeks in the saddle causing various aches and pains. The majority of the nights were spent in youth hostels and campsites.

Many thanks to Bugs for accompying me with the cycling and to Tracey who did a fantastic job looking after us. More photos can be found here

Entry confirmed for Dakar 2015

I received this morning the official letter from A.S.O. confirming my registration for the 2015 Dakar Rally. I got a call from my girlfriend explaining that there was a letter from France, and emailed me the contents whilst I was surrounded by sheep in Wales with a broken bike (fuel injector again!). It's been a strange old journey with many highs and lows but the real adventure is yet to begin. I have made many good friends in the last 3 years, run nearly 1,000 miles during training, taken part in 8 international rallies, and broken many bikes! I'm obviously delighted but also rightfully apprehensive. Thanks for everyone's continuing support.

2015 Husqvarna revealed

For 2015 I will be riding a Husqvarna FE450 with the support of Midwest Racing here in the UK.

Midwest Racing have a great racing heritage previously running the Husaberg and now Husqvarna UK race team. I'm very happy to have their support for 2015.

Welsh 2 Day Enduro

Love this famous 2 day event in Wales. Tough but so much fun. Great atmosphere, always meet new friends, and the riding is awesome.

Did the event on my Husaberg 450 which was still in rally trim with the extra fuel tank, and navigation gear. Not the ideal bike for the event but it did the job and I thouroghly enjoyed it. The bike certainly gained some attention with the spectators, marshals, and other riders.

1st day was dry and only lost a couple of minutes helping out a team mate with a sprocket/chain issue. The rain came in that night and totally changed the riding for the next day. Everything was slippery and greasy with mud a plenty. Lost count of the offs in the mud but great fun. Lost a lot of time though in the morning changing/checking the oil filters. Not something you'd usually do in this event, but a mechanical problem in the previous rally meant the bike needed some mechanical sympathy this time round.

Definitely be back next year. Big thanks to the organisers, marshals, and spectators. Just a great event.

More pictures can be found here

John O' Groats To Lands End Map & Itinerary

I'm cycling from John O' Groats to Lands End in August as part of my training for the 2015 Dakar. Here is the itinerary and route map. 

03/08/14. John O' Groats - Tongue
04/08/14. Tongue - Dingwall
05/08/14. Dingwall - Fort William
06/08/14. Fort William - Inveraray
07/08/14. Inveraray - Kilmarnock
08/08/14. Kilmarnock - Annan
09/08/14. Annan - Kendal
10/08/14. Kendal - Warrington
11/08/14. Warrington - Shrewsbury
12/08/14. Shrewsbury - Hereford
13/08/14. Hereford - Clevedon
14/08/14. Clevedon -Cullompton
15/08/14. Cullompton - Liskeard
16/08/14. Liskeard - Lands End

Click on "View Larger Map" below to view the John O'Groats To Lands End Route.



View Larger Map