RideLondon-Surrey 100 Sponsor Update - 7 Days to go!

Further to my last update, I am so grateful for your generosity in supporting me with my fund raising efforts and inspiring me to cycle on. You have not only encouraged me to get out training and pedal an unprecedented - in my short cycling career - 500 miles during the month of July but you’ve also now raised a staggering £1,200 towards Diabetes research, the charity I have chosen to ride for on the RideLondon Surrey 100, taking place in, unbelievably, just 7 days.

My RideLondon training commenced for real in May!

I wrote in my blog back in May of the 2.9 million in the UK who are currently diagnosed with diabetes, that's 4.5% of the population and that how In the next 10 years, it is forecast that this figure will rise to 4 million!  

Here are some other facts about diabetes:

• 347 million people worldwide have diabetes

• In 2004, an estimated 3.4 million people died from consequences of high fasting blood sugar

• More than 80% of diabetes deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries

• WHO projects that diabetes will be the 7th leading cause of death in 2030 

• Healthy diet, regular physical activity, maintaining a normal body weight and avoiding tobacco use can prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes.

[Source the World Health Organisation]

As you will know, my mother was diagnosed with late-onset Type 1 diabetes 10 years ago and this is why has I have been inspired to raise money for Diabetes UK to fund more research into better ways to care for people with diabetes and into the cause of Types 1 diabetes.

So, at the time of writing, in just one week my ride will be complete … it is hard to believe that all these months of preparation will soon be complete. On the day, for those of you able to get to London, Team Diabetes have produced a supporter’s pack which can be found here: https://regonline.activeeurope.com/custImages/360000/360523/Ride%20London/RideLondon_CheerersPack_SignOff1807_nomarks.pdf

The timeline proposed by Team Diabetes for the day is: 

7am–10.30am – Kingston Bridge Cheer Point 10am–5pm – Millbank Cheer Point 11am–6.30pm – Cool Down Party

And having worked through the logistics with my RideLondon buddy, Jason - over coffee and cake, mid training ride this weekend - these are our expected times at the various checkpoints:

07:55 Start

09:40  First Hub Molesey (26 mi)

11:05  Hub 2 Newlands Corner (47 mi) 

11:45  Leith Hill (57 mi)

12:30  Box Hill (68 mi)

12:55  Hub 3 Leatherhead (75 mi)

14:35  Finish The Mall (100 mi)

This is based on an average of 16 mph and no stops.

And here is the full route .. http://www.prudentialridelondon.co.uk/Assets/London+Marathon+Digital+Assets/2014+Routes/2014_Prudential_RideLondon-Surrey_100_and_Classic_Routes_Map.pdf

The RideLondon Route

You can catch up on my training ride musings, photos and videos — yes I’ve been practising some more with my new video camera ahead of the day — via my blog here .. http://tourdefitness.blogspot.co.uk.  

Wifi and energy willing, I will keep you posted over the RideLondon weekend with blog & FaceBook updates, and perhaps a Tweet or two .. my twitter address is readboj, adopted from my 'green screen' days that many of my IT colleagues will appreciate!