Hello,

It's almost that silly season again (no, I don't mean The Stones out on tour) when I attempt a fairly ill-advised cycling challenge.
These have gotten steadily worse as the years have passed but this one marks a new low point: in fact that scraping sound is the very bottom of the barrel taking a hit, hah-hah!



While I'm here, a massive thank you to all the super-generous IORRians who have donated in the past: last year's Tour de France madness raised over £4500...all down to you.

This year I'm cycling solo and unsupported from Seattle to Miami, starting on September 11th and finishing 28 days later, all being well/the stars align!
That means a daily average of 135 miles with 4500' of climbing. In my language that equals 'ouch!'.



I want to raise funds to help two causes:

- 'Bloodwise' is the new name for what used to be the 'Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research', the UK's specialist blood cancer charity. Since 1960 these guys have been going after all 137 types of blood cancers and helping people affected by the disease.
They fund world-class research; provide practical and emotional support to patients and their loved ones; and raise awareness of blood cancer.

- 'Combat Stress' help the many combat veterans who are suffering the invisible wounds of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) whilst serving their country. In years past, we have supported charities that help service people with physical injuries (e.g. 'Help For Heroes') but it is obvious that the unseen psychological injuries are at least as important.



If you can spare the price of a glass of wine, a decent coffee or a pint (or even better, all three!) then please click on the links below...

To donate to Bloodwise please click on this!

To donate to Combat Stress please click on this!

Thanks for indulging me with this: BV has kindly allowed this O/T...I hope that it doesn't annoy or upset any IORRians...you are a very generous bunch!



I'm keeping a blog as usual: to be read only if you've *really* nothing better to do!

Click here for SimonN's blog!

All the best and thanks a bundle,

Simon.



Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 2016-07-08 21:40 by SimonN.

Well done Simon ,to all your fantastic efforts over the years for such great causes.

This is certainly another epic journey, and I'm sure we will see some great pics and hear some interesting comments on your travels starting September 11th in Seattle.

You're doing an incredible job, Si.

Looking forward to the reports

Wishing you all the best for this extensive journey.

And please don't take any "Lance Armstrong" shortcuts!

Unbelievable Simon.

As I put on the donation page, you are totally nuts. You are also not getting any younger and I really hope the next collection will not be in order to pay your bills in a convalescent home.

But that said, you are also AN ABSOLUTE HERO - and I intend to see that one day your name will be in lights - saying Simon B. Goode tonight. Go go...go Simon go go go.

Holy Crap! I can't hardly even conceive of what you're going to do. I don't have my wallet here at the office but will make a point over the next few days to get to the donation sites and contribute.

Keep us up to date and I'll make sure that my family and I are at least spiritually cheering you on as you head through Memphis (350 miles from us) but still "our state" that we'll be happy and honored to have you cycle through!

Peace,
Mr DJA

Wow that's amazing cycling across the states is an idea I had myself a few years ago and maybe one day I will.

How can we donate?

Nate

Quote
Nate
Wow that's amazing cycling across the states is an idea I had myself a few years ago and maybe one day I will.

How can we donate?

Nate

There's a couple of links on Simon's opening thread.

Quote
odean73

Quote
Nate
Wow that's amazing cycling across the states is an idea I had myself a few years ago and maybe one day I will.

How can we donate?

Nate

There's a couple of links on Simon's opening thread.

Great thanks

Nate

Simon, I'll for sure donate some. Best of luck to you in your journey through the US.

Simon, I would not want to drive that - let alone ride it!

Looks like you will going right by my house (Palm Beach), so will be rooting you on as I relax by my pool with a few beers and of course the Stones playing (loudly).

Good luck and thanks for your effort...

Good luck Simon! A young friend survived a very agressive form of leukaemia a few years ago, this research is so important. Safe travels.

There you go, Simon.

All the best.

Keep Right On.

Hello,

Just less than 50 days until wagons roll, so fear has set-in, hah-hah! It also means my second blog update which will waste four minutes of your life Click here for SimonN's blog!

I've been reading Chris Boardman's autobiography and like you, reckoned he would be pretty much the last bloke to have a solid-ish Stones connection: maybe some of you learned IORRians are way ahead of me here but anyway...it turns out that Alan Dunn gets involved- I hope these scans are legible!



Alan was a racer himself many moons ago and was introduced to Chris by a mutual friend...



In 1994 Chris and his family headed out to Florida for a holiday and Alan offered to host them at The Stones' show at the Joe Robbie stadium...the PPV one? Anyway...



I include this last scan just because this is *exactly* how I want Merckx to behave, hah-hah! (Which means it is exactly what we'd all be doing!)



Massive thanks to Silver Dagger, Odean73, SomeTorontoGirl and an anonyomus sponsor: you guys do indeed rock and make all this nawse worth it!

Cheers,

Simon,



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2016-07-23 12:16 by SimonN.

About time to get this thread to page 1 again

-------------------
Keep On Rolling

Absolutely!

Hi Hans & Bard & all fragrant IORRians everywhere,

I concur, hah-hah! A big thank you to you two guys and also to Latebloomer and GuessWho for pitching-in (yet) again...I can't tell you just how much I, and more importantly, the charities appreciate it. You make a positive difference, I promise.

Just over 3 weeks to go and I've shed a bit of timber and am thoroughly fed-up of cycling the same old, same old roads around here. Guess all that will change soon enough, hah-hah!

I have posted the third blog update here: [fstss2016.blogspot.co.uk] for those of you who really don't mind losing 3 minutes from their day.






The sponsorship links are: [mydonate.bt.com]

...and: [mydonate.bt.com]

As is always the way with these daft challenges, now the fear has set in. I'd be lying if I said that I wasn't seriously wondering if all this is a 'bridge too far'. What I can guarantee you is that I'll throw the kitchen sink at it!

In the meantime...back to watching The Olympics (in between cycling myself, hah-hah!). Here is me modelling one of Steve Redgrave's haul...from Sydney, I think. And yeah, it was heavy, hah-hah!



Cheers,

Simon.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2016-08-16 15:33 by SimonN.

I done an hour tonight on my bike,and feel knackered.

Best of luck, Simon.

PS I reckon you deserve that gold medal.

What bike do you use, simon?

Does your cycling helmet say "I've been 10,000 miles, been in 15 states"???

WOW!!
Good luck ... Have a safe trip.

Hi STG, schillid & odean73,

Thank you, thank you kindly...especially Mike for throwing a bundle in the hat yet again...I can't thank you enough mate. If anyone is ever sceptical about whether they're wasting their time and money trying to find a cure for cancers, I received this e-mail from a sponsor today:

"Yes I will happily sponsor you. It’s nice to see Blood Cancer on the map too as this sometimes get overlooked.

FYI my brother had Non Hodgkins Lymphoma, luckily he was able to have my stem cells and platelets, which later on cured his cancer. The treatments now are expanding and improving.

So this is another reason to donate...J."

Brings you short, doesn't it?

In answer to STG's question- nope, and I don't think it'll take 7 days for my eyes to be all a glaze one I get underway, hah-hah!

Mike- my bike is one I got on a cycle-to-work scheme in 2011 for a grand, a Kinesis T2. The only parts that remain are the frame, forks and seat post...all the rest have worn-out and been replaced, hah-hah!

I'll write one more blog post before the off and give this a bump back-up then: in the meantime let us all stay upright and in good nick!

Cheers,

Simon.

Nice blog, Simon. Great pictures too

-------------------
Keep On Rolling

Hi Folks,

Sorry for the lack of updates, although you may well be quite content with that, hah-hah! I'm now in Alabama and have about another 800 miles to go, and fly out of Miami on the 12th October...time is tight, right?

The latest blog's Song Of The Day features one that you *might* know...

[fstss2016.blogspot.com]

Once again, a massive thank you to you generous IORRians who have donated- you have made a difference...good on you!

All the best,

Simon.

Quote
SimonN
Hi Folks,

Sorry for the lack of updates, although you may well be quite content with that, hah-hah! I'm now in Alabama and have about another 800 miles to go, and fly out of Miami on the 12th October...time is tight, right?

The latest blog's Song Of The Day features one that you *might* know...

[fstss2016.blogspot.com]

Once again, a massive thank you to you generous IORRians who have donated- you have made a difference...good on you!

All the best,

Simon.

Nice one, Simon.

Hi Folks,

We've only gone and done it! Tougher than I reckoned it might be but there you go...



As ever, I owe a debt to a ton of people here at IORR: on behalf of the two charities, thank you IORRians so much for digging-deep time and again...you have made a positive difference, so good on you!

If anyone would still like to help, then the links are...

[mydonate.bt.com]

[mydonate.bt.com]

And a bit thank you to our generous host Bjornulf, for allowing me to pester you guys!

See you down the road/at a show!

All the best,

Simon,

ps shoddy blog at [fstss2016.blogspot.com]



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2017-08-19 20:52 by SimonN.

Congrats Simon! If you have a few more spare tubes you can likely hang a right and make Vegas in time for the last gig!

Yes a big congratulations, Simon.

Well done on finishing and charity work.

A big congratulations, as usual, Simon - your rides are always mind-boggling but this one takes the biscuit!

Now I think you've earned yourself a side trip to Vegas nest week