Sarah's South Downs Cycle Blog

Supporter Sarah Russell-Saw has successfully completed her huge feat of cycling the South Downs in 3 days! She set off from Eastbourne on 1st July 2010! - Here is her blog.

Introduction to me...

I am a 45 year old, reasonably fit mother of 2. I was born with mild Spina Bifida which was operated on at birth, I had an operation for congenital hip dislocation at 18 months and had mild scoliosis. All of this, very fortunately, has had only a moderate impact on my life, my left leg & left-side 'core' muscles being weaker than the right so that I find it difficult to keep muscle tone in these areas. One of the reasons for doing this challenge is to improve this.

My main motivation is to give something back as I have been so lucky myself and Disability Challengers fits all the right criteria. I fully support the charity's aim of providing a safe & happy environment in which kids & young people can learn & challenge themselves - and give their carers a well earned rest.

When I visited the centre at Farnham I was impressed by the facilities and the positive & caring attitude of the staff there and more importantly how the kids seemed to be enjoying themselves so much. I would love to help raise money to enable more people to experience this.

My challenge is to raise £2,000 - which I think at present is more daunting than the bike ride itself - if I am honest!

March 2010

Very slow start as just recovering from horrid Winter and nasty virus, so...

First trip out was a couple of weeks ago. Just a tootle (on road) around Frensham & Dockenfield - which was really hard work & left me feeling that I couldn't cycle into Farnham - let alone 100 miles off road.

Next trip out - off to The Holly Tree Surgery in Boundstone where I work - all of 40 mins ride there & back - but there was 1 hill! Rode back in the dark courtesy of Dave, my partner's, bike lights - not used to night riding - made a detour down a little country lane which was quite scary!

Last weekend I was in West Wales where I managed a 10 mile reasonably hilly trip along with my trusty trainer (Dave). I felt as though had improved in fitness - GREAT!

The real problem I have is trying to fit training into a busy life working full time. We are trying to plan our social life around training - so this weekend it is a trip to Winchester on the bikes. This is quite a challenge as over 30 miles each way. I am trying to get out of cycling there and back but my trainer apparently has other plans .....

I am off to work on the bike again - as apparently you have to do at least four reasonably strenuous trips a week to increase your fitness - thanks Dave!

May 2010

Training in April was a bit hit & miss. The cycle to Chichester was foreshortened due to loss of my contact lenses! I did however manage to cycle back from Ropley to Frensham which was a lovely ride.

I took in break in my training to go on a sailing course in Spain, a surprise birthday present. It was fantastic but unfortunately due to the volcanic ash ended up having to sail home on board a friends boat, Little Emily, across the Bay of Biscay! I came back ready to tackle anything but unfortunately ended up with a nasty bug which wiped me out for a week.

So after about 3 weeks out I am back to training and have managed to keep up the cycling to and from work. Also managed a couple of short trips out to Headley which is probably one of my most favourite local rides - the nuts in The Holly Bush at Headley are quite good also!

This week disaster has struck. Firstly, my trusty purple Kona is poorly and I possibly need a new derailer. Secondly, Dave's bike, which I borrowed for a training session, is now in pieces due to my inability to change gear properly. So, 2 bikes, both need repairing and fast!

On a positive note, I now have my virgin money giving page set up - and surprise, surprise - I have been sponsored! Thank you to everyone who has sponsored me so far - and if you haven't already sponsored me - WHY NOT? There are also collection boxes at The Frensham Village Shop and The Holly Tree Surgery on Boundstone Road in Rowledge.

So I now have to pick myself and my bike up - get my Kona baby fixed (and Dave's bike) - and get training!

June 2010

This is my final training blog before the cycle which I will actually start on Thursday 1st July - due to unforeseen circumstances!

June has proved a wonderful month to be out cycling. I have had some fantastic training rides.

We went from Chichester Harbour to Itchenor on the Saltern Way (we had a fantastic crab sandwich at Itchenor!), then onto West Wittering through hoards of people flocking to be beach on a beautiful Saturday afternoon and then cycling back to Itchenor on the coastal path in a golden lit evening with hardly a soul in sight. It shows you only need to get on your bike to get away from the throng.

Another cycle trip started in Godalming and wound it's way around the quiet cuntry roads and bridleways via Witley, Chiddingfold and Hambledon.

Last weekend I cycled right from my doorstep to Frensham Ponds, Churt and over to Thursley - got lost in Hankley common and fell over a few times when my bike just stopped dead - cycling in deep sandy tracks is very challenging!! Another ride on Sunday was over to Ropley via Binstead, Selborne, Newton Valence, Kitwood and finally to Ropley - and that is a lot of hills - so I have discovered. I finally collapsed in Ropley to a fantastic picnic provided by the lovely Dave and a performance by The Rude Mechanicals on Ropley Village Green.

This week - I have to say I am a little sore - in places that are unmentionable - so this weekend it will be a lot of stretching exercises and pilates and a few short little trips on the bike.

One of my inspirations for choosing this route was my Auntie Margaret who sadly died a few weeks ago. A friend had mentioned this route and when we were clearing out Margaret's flat, I came across a pictorial map of the South Downs Way, I thought that this was the route I had to do! I was thrilled when the rest of my family decided to choose my Cycle Challenge for those wishing to donate in Margaret's name.

So, I am now in final preparations for the ride, bar ends for the bike are needed, panniers must be put on (thanks for the loan Tim!) Just how many clothes should I pack? Surley I will need a formal dress for dining in the evenings??

So a relaxing, stretching weekend - and then - BRING IT ON BABY!!!

JULY 2010

Hi Everyone,

Dave & I have completed the cycle ride!

Day 1 - We set off from sunny Eastbourne, full of enthusiasm, on Thursday morning 1st July and made relatively good time until Dave fell off his bike on a particularly treacherous bit of the route. A few hours later we lost the path twice and had to retrace our steps which added about two & a half hours to the days ride (most of which was uphill!). We arrived in Pyecombe that evening tired and a little annoyed (slight understatement) that we had lost precious time.

Day 2 - We started with a long steep climb up chalky white paths to Devils Dyke and then enjoyed the stunning views from the top of the downs. The fields of wheat edged with borders of poppies and others with the blue haze of flax in flower are a sight that will stay with me.
The cycle paths were an interesting mix of grass covered downland (like cycling on a shag pile carpet), beaten chalk with large lumps of flint (like cycling on large irregular ball bearings) and joy of joys, a few short stretches of concrete or tarmac (what a relief!).
Just outside of Washington disaster struck when my chain broke and although we had inner tubes, new tyres etc, etc. - no chain links or tool to fix the chain. Luckily some other cyclists helped us out by donating a chain link & the use of fixing tool thingy and luckily too I had managed to persuade Dave, my partner, to come along on the ride as he fixed the chain in a jiffy! Dave says that I am not using my gears properly and I need a little more training....... that is the polite translation. We pushed on to Cocking and enjoyed a lovely bottle of cider after a long and hard ride.

Day 3 - We set off from Cocking (after I had realised I had left the route map on the dining room table - doh! - thankfully the route is reasonably well signposted) feeling a little daunted by the 37 miles we had still yet to cover. Fatigue was setting in a little and our limbs (and other parts!) were tired and sore. After negotiating the appalling signage in Queen Elizabeth Country Park, we made the long steep climb up Butser Hill (accomplished on bike by Dave, I pushing!) - when half way up, again my chain broke. This time we were prepared and Dave had new link & tool at the ready - but would it go in? No - that was it - we thought that our target of 3 days was over. However - Dave is made of steel and would not give up until suddenly it popped into place. Now with 2 repaired links - of different makes - my chain was clunky and we weren't sure it would last the 30 miles to Winchester.

We were at a low point when we were met by two friends (armed with chocolate), Clive & Cathy, who joined us for part of the route. Boosted by their company (and half a cider in Exton) we gritted our teeth and pushed on for Winchester. Tiredness had really now crept in and after a slight lapse in concentration, I fell off rather spectacularly (although no-one witnessed it - shame really, as I bet it was a great sight) and the bike ended up in a ditch on one side of the path and I on the other. Luckily the end was in sight and the bike, although battered, was still in one piece (and so was I!) So I clambered back on and rather wobbly and in a bit of a bad temper, completed the ride into Winchester.

On arriving in Winchester the city was alive with people celebrating, there was a large stage in the city centre and music was playing everywhere! Had they heard we were completing our magnificent challenge? No - we had forgotten it was Winchesters Annual Hat Fair. We were sore, tired and ratty but chuffed to bits that we had done it.

Thanks go to: Felix for getting out of bed at 6.30am & taking us to Eastbourne; Toni for sorting us out and generally mothering us on Day 1/2; Paul, Mark and Neil for bike parts and tool loan; Shelley for scooping us up in Cocking; Richard for parking & use of his house and Clive & Cathy for boosting our spirits and sugar levels on the last day. My very, very special thanks & love go to Dave for tagging along and putting up with me. Without his support, chivvying, bike fixing & organising, I would not have been able to complete the challenge.

Above all our thanks go to everyone who has donated to the challenge. Disability Challengers will put the money to good use.
And finally remember that if you have not donated there is still time! I will be collecting donations until the end of July.