clairedavieswriter

As ready as I’ll ever be, yes and yes.

It’s fair to say that I haven’t gone overboard on the training. Not due to any over-confidence in my fitness but because it’s only a few weeks since a vague notion to do a long ride coalesced into a firm plan to do Lejog, so there hasn’t been much time to prepare the legs – which makes me a little nervous.

I’ll certainly be carrying more weight than I’m used to on a bike tour, even with my Lilliputian panniers. Up to now all our trips have been in high summer, so we gambled on hot dry weather and travelled light, with 2-3kg of luggage attached directly to our bike frames. This time I’ve had to plan for three seasons of British weather (snow might give me pause) and I’m carrying more than twice that.

But I am inspired and somewhat comforted by the knowledge that in 1987 my former headmistress, Anne Mustoe, set off at the age of 54 to cycle 12,000 miles round the world without any training whatsoever. Do look her up if you’re not familiar – she was a classicist by training and her books are a riveting mix of travelogue, history and wry personal observations.

I’m also pleased to say that I’m going to have the occasional bit of company, which will be very welcome and will help calm any ongoing nerves. More on that later.

Tomorrow the plan meets reality – let’s hope it lasts longer than either Mike Tyson or Helmuth von Moltke would have us believe.