Blame it on the weatherman…

Jonathan Jowett, Greggs Company Secretary writes:

Last Saturday saw me ready to face the challenge. I had bought a bike last Summer – a fantastic internet bargain, dual suspension, 18 gears, slightly too small for my frame but heh – if clowns at the circus can do it……….. The bike had not been ridden at all until a few weeks ago (I had decided to accept a job instead of go cycling – bad move (NB pre Greggs ))! And the bike was going so well until said Saturday. In what I think was 18th gear (it might have been first – anyway the one that makes you go the fastest), the chain came off, and the bike ground to a halt. After hobbling to the local bike shop (I think he saw me coming), the bloke scratched his head, let out a long sigh and said “its gone mate. Best you can do is flog it to some kid on Ebay – sold as seen”. Charming I thought. But I’m a lawyer I thought – I cant do that. Anyway, the bloke just happened to have a 23” frame bike with 21 gears “in the sale”. So I was mugged for £200 and off I rode. WHAT A DIFFERENCE! I rode 21 miles that evening.

Got up early the next morning – normal Cheshire weather……wet. And it rained, and it rained. So I read the newspapers, drank coffee (bad move, as I subsequently discovered). Eventually, I had to admit defeat. I’d finished the News of the World crossword in a record two hours, and was forced to accept there was nothing else but to go out and risk it. After 27 miles, I stopped for one of those chocolate covered bars of lard kindly donated by a well-known sports food company. Actually – it really helped! I did another 18 miles, and ended up at home in time for Sunday lunch.

Spent the rest of the afternoon snoozing in the chair watching Graham McDowell win the Welsh Open at Celtic Manor.

ps – let me know if you want the Ebay link!

Logistics, logistics, logistics!

Richard Hutton, Greggs Finance Director, writes:

It’s the question I’ve been ducking, but now we need to work out how to get a dozen bikes to Treforest, near Cardiff, recover them after the first leg and deposit them around the country waiting for their riders,  After that they all need to be returned to the North East for the final leg.  It really would be much easier if everyone just rode the whole thing!

Luckily it’s Nigel (Oldham, Greggs Supply Chain Director) to the rescue.  He’s putting the logistics team on the case so expect lots of computer simulation and talk of route optimisation.  If the answer’s not “a van needs to go to Treforest”  then I’ll eat my lycra shorts.

Only one training weekend to go now.  I chased Robin (Leaver, Retail Operation Manager and fellow 900 miler) round Northumberland on Sunday morning just to check his fitness.  Turns out that as well as looking good in a mankini (last year’s BBC Children in Need fundraiser!) he’s no slouch on a bike.  He does keep a special potion in his drink bottle though.  Not sure what it is and whether we should be having compulsory drug testing just in case.  It’s obviously doing him more good that my Kia Ora though…Richard

Bank Holiday training aftermath…

Scott Jefferson, Greggs Marketing Director, writes:

I set out on my 36 mile ride on Sunday, my previous best being 26 miles.

First couple of hours, no probs, then I felt abit hungry so I stopped off at a pub and had a packet of crisps.  10 mins later by legs gave up on me so I stopped off at another pub and had a pint of water and orange juice.  I asked whether they had a) a mars bar or b) a banana but to no avail.  In the end the landlord took pity on me and gave me 2 Freddo bars – I presume they were for his kids!  Once more replete with energy I completed the 36 mile circuit, coming in bang on 3 hours, not bad after two 5 minute stops, but cycling doesn’t get any easier than in the Vale of York! 

What I have learned…. I thought the energy/fuelling advice from fellow cyclist Richard Hutton, Greggs Finance Director, was macho cycling rubbish, but now I stand corrected – I really did feel the energy drain from me at the 2 hour mark.

Thank you to The Three Hares at Bilborough who probably saved my life!

Where we are heading…

A team of us at Greggs are doing a cycling relay around the UK,  cycling 900+ miles, visiting every Greggs bakery along the way!

Our goal is to raise as much dough (!) as possible for BBC Children in Need and Greggs Breakfast Clubs.  For more details on this visit our website at www.greggs.co.uk

Start date:  Thursday 17th June

Finishing line: Sunday 27th June

please help us raise money by donating via  www.justgiving.com/bakerybikeride