Max, William and Philip sent this dramatic account of their ride and we could think of no better way to display it than in their own words:

"We are closing in on £4,000 raised (inc. cheques and cash donations) for DDMT which is fantastic.

Overall the ride was a great success as we completed the 966 miles in the 6 allocated days.  On reaching John O’Groats, the overriding feeling was one of relief rather than happiness or achievement as it had been a 6 day battle with weather, mechanical issues, our Garmin computers and nutrition (not to mention mileage)!

However, looking back on it now, I think all three of us feel a huge sense of achievement.

A few choice bits of info/stats from the ride:

6 day calorie counter

84,754        (Will’s heart rate monitor)

Average cycle time per day

13.5 hours  (inc. stops)

Average miles per day

161

Total ascent

11,871m

Punctures

1     (amazingly)

Mechanical failures

2     (without the spare bike one of us definitely wouldn’t have finished in the 6 days)

Best meal(s)

Cheese and ham Panini  (warm nr Portreath) /  Pizza Hut    (in the rain at Hoghton, nr Preston)

Least idyllic location(s)

Preston, Bridgewater

Most Idyllic location(s)

Cornwall, Devon, Sutherland & Caithness

Longest day

Day 4 – 191 miles  [Milnthorpe to Balloch, Loch Lomond via Lake
District (Kirkstone Pass) and Glasgow)

Worst rain

Day 5 – The entire day for 145 miles  (Balloch to Drumnadrochit over
Glen Coe/Rannoch Moor)


Worst wind

Day 6 – from Brora to John O’Groats (approx. 85 miles

Worst road surfaces

Scotland (pretty much all)

Biggest route fail

River Clyde pedestrian tunnel, Glasgow (had return through it to get
back on course at 7pm after about 170 miles)


Once again, thank you for you for your generous sponsorship and support with the ride. We had initial hopes of being able to update a blog each night and send emails updating on progress. However, there wasn’t sufficient time nor energy levels to contemplate this kind of activity let alone do it.

A final thank you must also go to our one man support team of Charlie Paddick who fed, watered and lube’d us throughout.

For anybody more interested in our chosen charity, the DDMT, please  visit our justgiving page.

Best

Max, William and Philip"

And a HUGE thank you from all of us at DDMT boys.