Round the world cyclist James Bowthorpe is now in Istanbul resting for 36 hours before the next leg of his journey. Since setting off March 29th (three weeks ago today) he has ridden through France, Belgium, Germany, Poland, the Ukraine, Romania, Bulgaria and now Turkey, the next leg of his journey will take him through Turkey and then across Iran towards Pakistan and India. His goal is to ride 18,000 around the world in 150 days.
Along the way he has encountered, headwinds in France, Belgium and Romania. James has a daily target of 120 miles, early on the combination of wind, and some early technical issues held him back but as his legs have gotten stronger he has clawed back the deficit. If he keeps to his schedule James will be on course to break the round the world cycling record record set by fellow Briton, Mark Beaumont. The Scot rode around the world in 195 days last year.
James is riding a Santos aluminium touring bike fitted with a belt drive, he reports that the drive has stretched, (as expected) but that he will now be rectifying that in Istanbul. In fact, his main problems have not been with his equipment, as he said on Twitter, “my heel has been my achilles heel” – heel pain has proved a problem, and he has asked for advice on tendonitis.
Memorable moments so far include saddle sores in Poland, "woody Guthrie, Bound For Glory" graffiti on some pipework in a small Polish town, going to the wrong border crossing into the Ukraine and having to take a 22Km detour to the right one, Romanian warngins of bandits in the mountains between Bulgaria and Turkey, in fact he bumped into a friend that runs a recording studio near James's home.
James is riding to raise money and awareness of research into Parkinson's Disease, he has set himself a target of £1.8m and if you would like to make a donation you can do so via his website: www.globecycle.org you can also follow his progress on Twitter http:twitter.com/GlobeCycle.
I struggled to find MTB flat shoes that fit my duck-like feet, and buying regular trainers is a pain enough. When I tried to look at road shoes...
That pleb's mouth needs getting punched for the foul chat and display of completely unprovoked agression in front of a child.
'ramp', not 'cramp'
Nice idea. Il Lombardia: la classica delle foglie morte. Because that name, Lake Como in autumn, Coppi and proper climbs.
It might have stretched to that metre, and I suspect it was only available for active travel capital projects - but the general public just see...
Well now I've heard the excuses and had time to digest them I'm not impressed to say the least....
Definitely legal and a number of teams have used them, I remember an interview with IPT's chief technician a couple of years back where he revealed...
I cycled up Marsh Lane yesterday, and went through the bus gate behind the new number 16 bus (temple meads to kingswood via barton hill). So that...
I share that hope too. I think it's slightly more complicated as the lower courts ordered that he had to be returned and now the Supreme Court have...