Day 5 & 6 - Rest days

Took it easy after the big queezy. Gave the legs a rest. Recovered psychologically from the English defeat. Suffered some pointed barbs on Facebook from some of my Teutonic friends and engaged in some retail therapy down at the local bike store.

Changed my saddle for the latest in ass technology. Some nerd in Sweden with way too much time on his hands figured out that the thinness of the saddle does not cause the pain. Apparently the issue is the pressure points. You have a couple of nerves right around the ass bones and if the saddle is not properly fitted, then it's " A Thousand Years on a Horseback" by Major Bumsore. The bike store salesman ushers me over to the saddle-fitting section and confidently eases me onto a heat pad that calculates the width of my seat bones, "to the millimeter". He then fits me up with the thinnest saddle I have ever seen.

"Are you sure that is gonna be more comfortable than the one I have right now, which is pretty thin by the way," I ask him.

"A lot of research has gone into this saddle," the bike shop salesman replied, shoving the literature in my hands.

How could I argue with that? He must have been on his school debating team.

I also purchased some very cool bars that allow you to ease onto your elbows on long straight roads. Changed the black tape around the handle bars for some dashing lime green to match the colour of the bike frame. Added another bottle of water. Hooked up two mini-tanks of air that instantly pump up a flat tire. And lastly, succumbed to another pair of black lycra padded shorts as per the advice of my training coach, Rufus.

I am now fully kitted.

Enjoy the video from the day of the big ride.

Day 4 - The 40 mile Ride

It adds up quickly. Cadogan Square to Richmond Park - 7.3 miles. Four times round Richmond Park at 6.9 miles per circuit - that's 27.6 miles. Then the slow, tired slog back home, that's another 7.3 miles. 41.2 miles.

I broke into the park from Sheen Lane and it was like slipping into a parallel world. With the heat shimmering over the long, tall brown grass and the deer nestling under the shades of the generous trees, one could have easily mistook SW19 for Africa. Due to the smooth roads - a rarity around here - the Richmond Park circuit is very popular with cyclist enthusiasts. The going is challenging, with plenty of hills to humble even the fittest riders. I was told by a fellow cyclist with gargantuan thighs that "20 minutes is fast and if you can't break 30 you are going too slow."

In all it took me 3hrs45mins to make it back home. I averaged 11 miles an hour. When I finally got my incredibly sore behind off the saddle and slithered onto my kitchen floor, I could not imagine that in two weeks I would have to do double what I had just done. Four days in a row.

So I did what any sane person would do: had a smoothie, showered and watched Germany thrash England 4-1.

Day 3 - Rest Day

Today my legs felt a little stiff, a little wobbly, a little in need of some TLC. So I met with some friends for lunch, worked surprisingly efficiently between 3 and 6 and then went out for dinner in Soho at Boca Di Lupo with some other friends. Polished off a Bellini, several glasses of tasty Californian white wine and after dinner a delicious J&B and Coke. Now that is what I call training.

Now lying here in bed, with a glass of Alka Seltzer by my side, I really feel that I am psychologically ready for this mammoth bike ride.

Confidence is a beautiful thing.

Day 2

Tried out Hyde Park today instead of Battersea to step up the pace a little and cycle 15 miles. Slipped into the park at the top of Sloane Street and tucked into a line of cyclists streaming up towards the Serpentine Gallery. As I crossed the road over to Kensington Gardens, a cabbie waved me on, I hesitated, then he moved, so I stopped and because I have special cycling shoes that are clipped into the pedals I could not take them off in time and slowly, inexorably and embarrassingly tipped over right in the middle of the road. To add insult to injury a woman rode straight into me and landed on my head.

I dusted myself off and put in a solid training ride. Another glorious day in Blighty. Who says the weather sucks in England. Speaking of England: we made it into the round of 16!!! Amazing. Next we meet our old nemesis, Germany. It's going to be tough, but they can be beaten. If Serbia can do it, so can we.

Day 1 - Training Report

Had a good first ride. I left Cadogan Square at around 5:30pm and headed over the bridge to Battersea Park in the thick of the evening commute. Lots of honking and stress, but once I reached the sanctuary of the park, it was a different story. It was an spectacular evening along the banks of the river Thames and the mishmash of London was out to enjoy this rare gift of summer. Hippies practiced yoga, lovers canoodled on the grass, and pale tattooed shavs loitered with a glazed look in their eye brought by an afternoon of persistent drinking.

It has been 5 years since I did a triathlon in NYC and I did not feel too bad. The fact that was I was being overtaken by flat-footed commuters on rickety bicycles was kind of embarrassing, but I was strictly following my trainers orders - pedal fast in high gear which does slow you down. I am now back at my house watching my son eat his supper. He loves my green cycling shirt. Says its cool. Not a bad first day.

Check out the video below.

The Beginning

Dear Friends,

I am now beginning the training for the London to Land's End Bike Ride for charity. I would like to thank all of you who have been so generous. £3,778 raised!!!!! Please continue to send in money. Let's see if we can make it to £5,000. Log onto http://www.justgiving.com/anthony-vanger. Now comes the hard part - doing the race. 318 miles, from Heathrow to Land's End. Four days. That's 80 miles a day.


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Usually one begins training at least 3 months before such a Herculean task. But unfortunately my bicycle got stuck in NYC and it only arrived a couple of days ago. So I have two whole weeks to get in shape. Today is Day 1 of training. As per my conditioning and mental coach Rufus, I shall begin by cycling a couple of times around Battersea Park. Not more than 10 miles, at a fast clip, to get my legs used to the piston-like motion.

I shall take a couple of pictures, maybe even tie my Flip video to the front of my bike and post some video. I will keep posting blogs as the training proceeds and of course will be blogging every night from the road once the race begins.

Thanks for reading and please tell your friends to donate by logging onto www.justgiving.com/Anthony-Vanger.