Cycling Through Every County in the UK – Part 4

Flat routes and tailwinds? Really?!

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▶ 2002(?!) Airborne Valkyrie

be on on you’re on hello welcome to another video this is the fourth video this is day seven uh going up Flatlands day today so I’m wearing my Simon Warren ride the mall 100 climb special jersey cuz soon as I go up a curb I’ve done it um yeah about 275k 276k to do today should I get it right um legs are aching knees are aching i’ve got a really sore left hand the pad of my hand is aching so I’m going to change position on the bike hopefully but I need to get a wiggle on cuz I’ve got people joining me that was very tiny wasn’t it the van’s auto renew thing so it’s last full day with this hero and um yeah let’s go find a hill there isn’t any it’s a cool hello my name is Scott otherwise known as Cycle the Nation this is the latest in my idiotic challenges i am here on Dartm ready to start my Cycle the Nation challenge proper 109 counties 15 days 3,610 km with 3.9 Everests of climbing come and join me for the whole journey [Music] okay so the basic premise of today we’re in sne I’ve got to travel eastwards pick up Suffuk and Norfolk that’ll be round about RF Lake and H Milton Hall and then I’ve cut back west which is going to be into a headwind to get to near Stanford in Rland then it’s basically uh north northwest all the way up through Lincolnshire just cutting into Nottinghamshire finishing up in Whitwell in our county um I’m broken at the moment i’m feeling broken sleep pen exists my brain’s not working but I slept really well so that’s a bonus this left hand’s a problem already uh yeah hoping the painkillers kick in really quickly and then the metal blockers start working [Music] my little buddy back there cyclist miner he is utterly filthy but he’s not getting washed unless you can’t see him um he needs to ah keep all of his patina on from this ride oh I really don’t want to complain but Jesus don’t know what to do about this now I can do Oh stoping’s not an option just to uh just put up with it won’t I [Music] [Music] yeah I’m most definitely having some crises this morning some of them in the brain some of them in the legs uh but the brain ones are caused by the legs some of them but that’s them anyway uh yeah everything’s hurting um I’m an hour in and I’ve got to the uh out out stage and having the mental battle of what the hell am I doing you’re damaging yourself you can’t do this this is impossible i’m feeling really lonely [ __ ] yeah I have to hit on a bit wow i’ve got people joining me today but I just want to get today and tomorrow out the way i can have a bit of a rest afternoon when I’m on the flight oh Jesus Christ sorry h [Music] it’s 5 miles to a gone for the sign and I can uh I can see which one [Music] stop [Music] [Music] huge farm absolutely huge [Music] i guess that’s suffic oh that wind’s naughty when you haven’t got it open yet oh okay [Music] so here’s a question for you guys and girls as I try and take my mind off the usual there’s hundreds of thousands of acres here obviously it’s all flat horrible farmland horrible is that what I mean um I mean look at it just everywhere you look flat who decided where the roads went and how did they make that decision cuz it could have gone I’m assuming anywhere stop one i’m putting no effort in i think I’m 114 watts which is 115 is awful but from 70k in 2 and 1/2 hours 29 and a half km an hour um as you know I’m saw though trying to keep every watt in the tank for tomorrow take a flat way and then banking up right so you’re right next to Lake Heath at the moment well between Lake Heath and Milton we’re actually at Lakeen Heath by the village and it’s an RAF base and there’s a lot taking off at the moment but we can’t see it cuz they’re just going what a glorious glorious noise [Music] oh it’s just awesome i love it fighters So thoughts is definitely a day for getting thoughts out today although it’s not halfway days wise i’ve already gone past the um halfway distance wise i think I did that yesterday so that’s epic um I’ve got people coming to meet me soon as well don’t know how long they’ll be cuz basically they’re riding backwards along my course to meet me i hope they don’t mind the um somewhat lethargic pace that I’m doing well I say that i mean I’m averaging 29 1/2 ks an hour which is what 18 6 m an hour but it’s flat and I’ve got a tailwind in so I just can’t i can put power down but a it hurts b I don’t see any point in trying at the moment the pace I’m going I’m going to be where I need to be in very good time should everything go to plan no what’s left of that time what a mess [Music] fortunately this isn’t going to be all day jesus otherwise I’ have been another Wales but sunny oh that’s grim [Music] ah yeah so the headwinds have returned and they’re bloody horrible that’s at 21 ks an hour hardly moving at all something to break up this wind and the noise ah [Music] squirrel for the first time in many days I’ve got company uh you’ve met Ryan before and and Nathan behind um Ryan is the guy that set me up on this bike he has FTP foot pedal bike fit in Whittley on one of the Whittley war uh wheelers is it yeah so they got to join me for a bit just some sweet blessed relief cuz I’ve had an emotional day this morning nice little people with me to chat to we’re not saying anything about the wind just need more hedges around here don’t we yeah [Music] and this is March isn’t it yeah it’s March march in May so we’re here at the Meridian this is center of the country here’s the pole i’ve seen this on Google Maps i’ve ridden past it once before didn’t realize it was there funny enough sponsored by the Royal Bank of Scotland okay there’s quite a few of those in our big network the green wheel oh okay there’s there’s a thousand of them really yeah you can actually do a ride to try and see as many as you can oh Jesus national Cycle Network thanks i’d like to tell you something different but I can’t it’s still flat and it’s still windy but that’s uh that’s the fence for you [Music] did I actually record any of that right lunchtop half 11 way ahead of schedule um well yeah ahead of schedule 140ks in huge thanks to Ryan and Nathan from Willy again ftp bike fit if you need a bike fit around here proof is this that it works that is perfect i’ve done 2100 K in 6 days so far 6 and 1 half days um I’ve only got very slight undercarriage issues but you’re gonna when you do that amount of mileage um yeah cannot recommend highly enough and thank you again to Nathan for joining us he’s had a had a morning out on his bike yeah in in the nice weather blowing at me now so yeah time for pot noodle and some cake and stuff and uh head up north i can say north soon I think officially out the Midlands when you get past i have to get past Manchester to call it north so proper north right a little bit too long spent there but we are ahead of schedule and it’s lovely to talk to people particularly when they’re really nice so thank you again to Ryan and shout out to Nathan for coming along keeping me company for a bit [Music] the sh of Lincoln right so Sod’s law is always a thing isn’t it so I’ve been churning away into this headwind for 45 minutes or so i’m just about to turn right so it’s going to become a crossy tailwind and what’s happening It’s going to be protected by the trees so don’t get it get Now I know for a fact that I’m in Rutland cuz I’ve searched this village what hill [Music] heat heat [Music] oh dear right I am just outside Grandanthm last stop i’m having a mid-after afternoon lull i’m having them every afternoon i know it’s a crash think I probably had too many biscuits and this is the drop after the sugar spike didn’t take enough gels uh and I’ve used just about all of my liquids haven’t I i think it’s only about 60k to go from here i say only it feels like quite a long way right now cuz despite Thank you this despite it being a really flat day it’s well any of you guys that live in flat areas will know it’s just an incessant relentless you don’t get a break it’s horrible give me the hills any day i need um wow my face is dirty woohoo not feeling horrible my knee’s feeling slightly better thank you Ryan imagine that somebody who does bike fits and knows what he’s doing regarding body position on a bike dude I thought that a bicycle it’s 2 and 1 half hours i’ll see you in a couple of minutes i haven’t got effort to put in that’s a problem if I push anything now stuff’s going to come out of me never fix so a quick little diversion emergency stop at a garden center and I’ve got 65k to go i think about 400 m that’s my knee’s starting to heal a bit so obviously a good rest tonight is going to help might put some anti-inflammatories in so now sleeping went to a sleeping mud gig a couple of years ago they were awesome um yeah just want to get a rigle on so I can get some recovery going tonight immediately oh it actually transpires that we’ve had a bit of an issue this morning as well somebody was going to be meeting me um he arrived at the meat point at like4 9 thinking I’d be there about then unfortunately I blew through there half an hour beforehand yeah he sort of took an estimation of what time I would be somewhere and because of the tailwinds I think I went straight through that’s a bit of a shame but these things happen [Music] that was a cheeky little 12enter oh just getting a bit of a bit of a drizzle it’s actually really nice [Music] on these roads the why you use 32 mil tires these are appalling these roads i’m just to the east of Grand I think uh [Music] just need to stop for a minute i’ve got about 30k to go yeah I just need to stop for a minute head’s battered okay I’ve just seen a sign for Sheffield does that mean I can say we’re in the north i don’t know i’m not sure doesn’t feel like the north oh it’s pretty down there a minute i’m too hot didn’t think I’d be saying that again this week after some of these days but this base lay has been on and off a couple of times today take it back off and uh see if it’ll fit in me back pocket it’s going to be a sensible thing to do i am absolutely knackered today i just need to sleep that’s all I need to do with all of this in a minute oh God almighty let’s get you away that’s a bit better today’s battered me it’s easy bloody day i preferred to snow down here day by a long shot and there was not quite well 50% more climbing it’s just flat riding crap what could I do with a sagaloo right now spinach for power potatoes for carbs [Music] hello [Music] i think this is Sherwood Forest [Music] finally on the last stretch oh [ __ ] if I don’t run over a dead badger um yeah 5k to go just going down a very quiet A60 don’t know why it’s so quiet i thought an A- road would be busy at half past 6 but guess everyone’s going on for tea already darisher that’s why I came to Whitwell so I’ll be dipping in and out here but well staying here tonight before I head up into the Yorkshire tomorrow morning [Music] oh 278.4 kilometers and a massive 1,158 my heart rate’s 106 today another one lower i’ve put no effort in today i dislike that day intensely because it’s so flat and relentless i need to get better at flat riding but then again I’ve been riding for 10 hour over 10 hours again today yeah 10 hours 20 minutes as far as I’m concerned that’s the biggest week I’ve ever had i’ve done this much distance and this much elevation this week i might put me total average heart rate on i’ve perked up a little bit in the last hour i think it’s cuz I know I’m nearly here and a bit mint cake and another gel but I’m definitely ruined but I’ve just missed a shower so that’s good anyway right i’ll see you in a second [Music] come on come on morning folks you’re all right it’s day eight that means it’s week two uh I’m going to give you a sit rep on the bike that’s the easiest thing to do i can’t open this it’s inside out um Whitwell in Derby Derby just in derby derby derby i know it’s down here uh up to Newcastle today i’ve got downhill uphill downhill mainly uphill it’s a very very gentle long drag up to Newcastle it’s only 1850 m of elevation today and it’s 10 km less so it’s 263 km should be i say that it will be um I’m going to explain things about my body when I’m on the bike um it is actually is it the correct time it is 6:01 wow don’t know how we’ve done that um ow right i’ll see you on the bike okay so the camera doesn’t like me this morning it’s shut off three times sit rep is bit of a disaster zone at the moment um my right knee is boogered there’s no easy way to get around that one it’s lovely um yeah right knee’s hurting hopefully that’s going to improve i’m going to warm into it uh it shouldn’t get too much worse because the saddle obviously moved forward with Ryan helping me again yesterday it’s obviously slipped forward over time split back over time so yeah that is awful i decide to try and put more than like 250 watts through it it really shouts at me so that’s going to be a problem on the hills there’s a not many today but there’s a few um left hand that I’m holding you with at the moment if I It’s down here where I’ve been putting pressure through that’s making my third finger pretty damn numb i’m struggling to grip anything and I’m having to swap hands now with the camera bear with Sorry I had it oh sorry had a descent to do ah uh what else undercarriage in the GoPro’s deciding not this morning it’s too cold there’s the noise um well yeah underc carriage isn’t got isn’t great doesn’t matter what you wear i’ve been wearing shell bibs all week they are absolutely amazing even the cheaper ones fantastic things but we’re in the saddle this long on crappy road surfaces we’re going to get some uh head head’s not there today it’s going to get there i hope i’m on I think the edge of an emotional breakdown again but I guess see due today on stop three so chain away for that and then got a lot to do tonight to get prepared to fly to Shhatland tomorrow but the weather looks nice today it’s general crossy tailwind for the vast majority of the day so we’re trying to take advantage of that anyway I’m going to try and get some miles in my legs and I’ll come back to you [Music] oh and my little guy back there he’s clinging on for dear life po booger uh you won’t be able to get any FPV from him this morning because the GoPro’s died so hopefully we’ll get something this afternoon [Music] definitely up north it’s lovely to hear a northern voice last night not I’ve got anything against anyone else obviously but felt a bit more like home i don’t actually feel that bad knees starting to tear up a bit whether it’s cuz the fact that I’m moving it or the painkillers are kicking or the mental block started to happen i’m happy with that where am I wicley see in the town names are starting to be northern now wicersly [Music] do [Music] now I’m a northerner and I’m a proud northerner but this morning the roads just on the road is just littered with crap mainly again McDonald’s boxes empty cans of terrible booze like really low quality booze this is a beautiful country i’m trying not to have a right i’m trying to be positive let’s let’s keep let’s keep where we live beautiful shall we doesn’t stay like that if you cover it in stuff does it i’m actually feeling all right it’s just this is this is aching it is what it is nobody to crack on this has been much much more my style of riding this morning you know it’s very much like the uh like the Dells it’s uh up down up down up down up down like a ride 90 uh yeah pedal pedal pedal have a down down pedal pedal pedal have a down didn’t make it any Well some people hate it i think it’s easier that’s why it’s power up a hill i said power i don’t have any but yeah get that and then a lovely descent to reward you the flat lands to the south i’m heading a bit towards that though towards the uh east bit to ponen near ghoul back to the um just to catch east riding and follow the coast not follow the coast that’ll be way too far to follow my way up to Newcastle so got a bit of flat coming oh [ __ ] I’ve taken a wrong turn too busy gasing [Music] [Music] well I’ve just realized this magical tailwind hasn’t really appeared yet where the hell is it oh big power station over there [Music] pollington my first rest stops here somewhere i think I need to find a public convenience cuz I’ve not got to the rule yet could be an issue [Music] that’s half of the issue with modern society as I mentioned the you’ll have probably seen a lot of rubbish lying around just lying in the roads around here um public toilets basically aren’t any anymore not seen any that are open so check that out that’s me um because they get destroyed by let’s be frank [ __ ] um it’s not right is it i’m winging this morning i don’t know why I actually feel all right i mean it’s just disappointment in humans sometimes we can be better as a race than this so yeah let’s try to be locals have said there’s a pub just down the road that do breakfast for the fisherman which tells me I might be able to go to the loop i’ll have to ask very nicely brilliant life savers thank you that’s really appreciated that no problem yeah uh where am I king’s Head Hollington get yourself there what a lovely atmosphere in there even though it’s like 9:00 in the morning brilliant right Remy yeah just need to put that on and get wiggle on [Music] oh that’s better you’ve got stuff on you uh oh knee no I’ve been a lot worse let’s just say that so 2 and 1 half hoursish to the next stop with any luck yes it’s flat yes it’s boring but today is the last one of those and I’m feeling a bit more chipper at the moment i’m sure I’m holding something back for later but kindness of humans always helps and that was yet another example of that so thank you again come on in [Music] of course the power station is Drax the biggest in the uh in the UK I think oh and in other news my friend should be awake again about there have a look that cyclist one’s camera been turned back on let’s have a look here he is there you go cool [Music] i’ve just entered Balo [Music] wow it stinks well it looks like it could be on this road for a while on the uh A19 between sort of Selby Balby up to York wow looks like Sputnik this is called Solar System Way it’s 10 milesi south of York getting off that really busy road um I mean I don’t mind busy it’s just a noise look at this wow this looks awesome uh yeah just doing my absolute braining just constant noise said it so many times in the past busy a roads they’re fine to use people are respectful in the main it’s just bloody noisy it’s horrible it’s like being constantly screamed at but this is a great alternative despite might being able to pick up a bit of muck here and there but clean it out later squirrel i forgot to mention I’ve uh I passed 2,000 km 7 days and half a morning ow hurts don’t do it stupid idea [Music] well that was in no uncertain terms an epic epic path and I think I still had another well I think it was at least another 5 milesi that will take me all the way to York I guess unfortunately I have to come off it cuz I’m uh coming through now went straight straight through the center of York as I look I think I’m going to try and find a bike shop cuz I still haven’t got my self dino plugs i bought a kit beforehand and I’ve never been able to find it in the van which is annoying me but you know I’ll have two sets that’ll be your race car then i guess to the beautiful city see the outer wall just there [Music] why should they do that a motorbike will idle without you having to go why we don’t do it with cars and we’re back on the A90 okie dokie busy busy lot of cyclists around here though [Music] yeah there’s 112.6ks that means about 18 to rest up and we’re going that’s going to be 40ish minutes me shouting at me again as is the uh back of my knee top of my calf damn good stretch needed I think hello hello hello hello has anyone seen a hill i’ve lost I’ve lost any hills hello no no no [Music] time jacob’s got all his stuff out cuz this is the last time I’ll see him he’s actually got a sad face on but uh yeah it’s been immense what time is it half 11 making good time making good time it’s a very gentle uphill for the last like 20k like very gentle so go up a bit down a bit up a bit down a bit oh it’s just a gradual up which has been quite good and the wind’s picking up oh god re this is the back of this leg here because I’m not standing up it’s not getting stretched and it really needs to stretch so I’m going to stretch it now whilst doing well after eating my healthy lunch and uh then get get on i don’t want to be too early i don’t want to go too fast it sounds mental i mean after this Jacob’s got to run and meet J at Scotch Corner and then re Jude’s got to reintercept me on the third stop i think it’ll be all right okay that’s half an hour spent I’m going to have to do quicker stops tomorrow cuz airport shuttle run and all that market and everything was ready for me here as well so I might be might be bred for lunch tomorrow okay thank you dude no worries absolutely invaluable um yeah I say without him this wasn’t possible so I’ll see you in a week well hopefully I’ll be in slightly better condition or it might be far far worse miss him got to miss Jacob he’s been awesome this week thank you mate really thank you that’s my appreciation oh just gone there’s a gut off in the hillside over there i get a glimpse of it every now and again don’t know what it is never known of anything like that around here the only ones I know of tell right the shorter second half of a day today so I’ve got 132 km to go no obviously we can’t see it from here through the trees there ready is it a horse is it a cow is it a cat anyway yeah so onwards to the next stop hopefully Dude’s going to be there so uh the driver swap is quite it’s the critical time but he should be okay jacob’s got an hour and 15 to drive to Scotch Glor jude’s going to be there in about half an hour apparently and then she’s only got half an hour to the first restaurant which should take me well with this tailwind between 2 and 1 half and 3 hours tops I think i can’t remember exactly where it is but either way let’s just try and get try and get my head in the groove and block out this pain again [Music] it’s moments like now when I have to just get my head down ass up ignore the pain just get into some sort of well I say rhythm i’m breathing in but um the first half an hour 20 minutes after a rest stop is painful because I’ve not been pedaling it’s totally easier to pedalish from a knee than it is to not have to start again it just wants to seize up immediately so just keep pedaling that [Music] a gorgeous place newbie whisk [Music] now this is where the delicate balance for fueling comes into comes to the four really um it’s about 1 hour since lunch but traditionally in the afternoons is when I’ve run out of beans for a while i think it’s because I’ve been leaving it too long to have something so I’ve just popped a gel in i’m just trying to balance um being full feeling sick but not running out of energy that it’s not the it’s not the easiest game in the world and it’s to find out that I’ve definitely not got mastered yet [Music] i have company again this is Dave hello everyone tell Go on tell us about yourself well I’m a local 32 full-time student just about to graduate all about riding bikes going fast apart from going up hills going down on the other hand all about going down hills oh okay my kind of guy there’s nothing really much to say about me other than I like bikes last bikes last beer faster so if they was hoping to join me all the way to Newcastle uh I’ll be going up towards the New Airport I think i’m not can’t remember to be honest my brain smashed so yeah I’ve got company which helps take away the uh thinking about pain all day so we’re going to get a rigle on this tailwind’s actually growing getting stronger as the day goes which is awesome do I see him overhaul yes I do yes what a guy county Durham that’s how you pronounce it [Music] i get to see my wife in a couple of minutes call me doggy [Music] so the first stop I’m supposed to be doing with my dear wife I’ve given her bum details so it’s a completely the wrong place so I’ve had to just do a quick redirect what are the stats you know 212k i’ve only got 50k left mohawk and I’ve only got 500 m more climbing to do 27.7 ks an hour that’s just over 17 mph for day eight I’ll take it it’s a tailwind well they don’t need to know that they can edit that tailwinds don’t exist only have a headwind only headwind yeah only headwind so I’m just going to wait here and keep an eye out for her we’ve only got 47k to go and 420 m of climbing which is flat well you gate head that’s all gates you look got painkillers do you want any no no i’m all right now i needed some before but gone now i nearly messaged you to say if you bring any but you been on the road already i’ve been bringing me run on bag with all me same i don’t even know the town I’m in to speak yeah didn’t think I was coming this close [Music] i always driven past it i thought I wonder how close it actually is have to get a photo with it as well that’s awesome [Music] well it’s my last mile today i don’t know how many you’ve got left to do yet but a few my mileage currently is 86 and my total is going to be straight you’ve got 40 miles ahead to do now that’s like 70 mi disgusting i’d be getting a straight Stand to see bus stop not in use it’s good job ain’t it end ride i believe so woo oh I need to charge everything this my power battery heart rate thing that’s lasted the same as my tires uh that’s done 80 hours i think many hours something like that dismissed so let’s have a look at some stats shall we under 9 and 1/2 hours riding that’s perspective for 260k that’s 164 miles I think something like that that’s That’s what That’s what your GPX said yeah so that’s very very good average heart rate is the interesting one i’m not giving out power numbers cuz they’re pitiful cuz everything’s safe 104 barely it’s getting every day it’s barely three i’m in zone one yeah the the max maximum heart rate 143 today that’s why that’s climbing hills yeah yeah yeah happy days so clear Dave’s got well you’ve got about 50 yards of tailwind hey doggy hey darling hello so yes that is the end of day eight or indeed video four if you prefer should turn so you can see me um yeah i’m actually feeling better now tomorrow the start of the next video it’s a big rush i’ve got to get to Newcastle airport no I’m at Newcastle airport i’ve got to get to Edinburgh airport should I fly oh I didn’t record that last bit as I was saying I’ve got to get from here at Newcastle airport i’m just at the premier in to Edinburgh airport flights are half two so I can get to Shhatland we’re going to Shhatland tomorrow that’s going to be cool so I’m going to go cuz I’m rabbiting on cuz I’m very good at that um actually feeling okay so I think might do some recovery and stuff so I’m going go and see my doggy look at that idiot there