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John123 · Joined: 05 Nov 2006 Posts: 53 Location: Heald Green

John
Good to hear from you again. Glad you are still progressing well. I hope the next few weeks at altitude will not be too demanding. My son Chris and I found one day in the Alps, quite searching when we did L'Etape du Tour in 1998. We crossed the Col de la Croix de Fer. the Telegraph and the Galibier, before finishing the Stage up Les Deux Alps. All at altitude, but I think the Andes will top that lot.
Have you seen any other travellers since thos in your Photo?
Finally, just to cheer you up. Your Wheelers' subs are due!!! I will pay them for you ( for now! )
Cheers

John123

JB · Joined: 29 Jan 2007 Posts: 6

John Brown Again. Thanks John, Is that 20 pounds I owe you.
Think last time I wrote I was still in Argentina, just climbing up to the Altiplano, I remember feeling pretty awful as I was trying to remember what my password was to get on this forum. I was probably around 3000m then. It was the start of 6 weeks where I don't think I dropped below 3500m. Riding the bike seemed a whole new experience. The slightest rise in the road would leave you panting like you'd ran a pb for 400m. Once I entered Boliva the nature of the whole trip changed completly. I was use to drinking a nice coffee and crispy croissants for breakfast. I entered Boliva in the morning, stamped in the country by a man in rags, and took breakfast sat on a tool in the street eating fried dough. Done by a fat woman in a bowler hat. The riding was then on pretty bad gravel roads. It was hot, but I could still get pop, sold from peasants in mud huts.

Right now i'm still in Peru. I've dropped from the mountains down to the coast. It was 50 miles of continuous downhill. I started in a hailstorm, where the hail stung my legs and finished in the driest desert you could imagine. So that's where I am, I've rode about 1600k up the coast. Including a 220k stint without a town or place to buy a drink. I was thinking of camping somewhere that day, but halfway through I met a tricycle motortaxi, the driver had ran out of petrol, so I gave him mine I use for the camping stove. That meant I was definately not camping. The scenary rarely changed, sand dune after sand dune. But tomorrow I should reach the Ecadourian border. From there i'll start the climb up into the mountains again.

I Know about what happen to Coxy, and it spooked me a bit. But to be honest i've been impressed by the warmness of the people. When I was on the altiplano going through villages of mud huts. My arm got knackard from all the waving at people who wanted to run alongside and say hello as I rode along.
I did have one idiot though who wanted to rob me in Lima but I was too shrewed for him and I gave him the slip.

John

John123 · Joined: 05 Nov 2006 Posts: 53 Location: Heald Green

John.
Very glad to receive your first message since early March.
Looking at the map you seem to be three quarters of the way up to your goal. What a ride!!!
I hope all your experiences will now be good ones and you will keep your wits about you in case some are not.
Last Sunday was the Northern 12 Stage at Sunderland. We were 5th, with solid runs from everyone. We could have done with you though.
Next Saturday it's Sutton Park. Andi won our 10km at Littleton Road yesterday in 29.40. Tarus and Rob backed him up for 1st Team. There were nearly 600 runners.
Still aghast at your progress. Take care of youself.

John 123

roadrunner · Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2007 7:42 am Post subject:

Hey John,
Andi here. Boy you have mssed te fun of the 12 stage in which we could do with you. Talking to Croasedale on Frday. Make sure you are back in time for Europeans!!!! Also speaking with Barlow last night. (Team manager of GM fell team not ex chairman of FRA!) Told me you were expecting to be back for IC Fell which is 15th May, but seems very early for you to return. If you are back, are we going for a Greater Manchester clean sweep again? Its on the Crowden Horseshoe course, so I am sure you will know the route. Just up road from my house.
You bike ride puts the ones I do up and down the country pak to shame!!!!! One question I do have, have you got any good at wheelies since spending so ong on your bke?!?
See you when you get back in UK.
Andi

John123 · Joined: 05 Nov 2006 Posts: 53 Location: Heald Green

John
Just another quick note in the hope you will catch it whilst you are in Equador.
I have been looking at the route through the high ground and it looks as if it passes close to Cotopaxi 5897m which is the world's highest active volcano. I remember it from Geography at school and have just had it up on Google. Stunning views from distance. I hope you see some of the same. Your altitude training will be legendary!!!
Keep battling.
Cheers for now.
John123

duncanjak · Joined: 22 Oct 2006 Posts: 66 Location: Worsley, Salford

Hi all John has arrived in Quito, spoke with him tonight, hes now got a three week break before flying back, Anna is arriving tonight.

He had a great time and looking forwards to a relaxing three weeks...... YEAH, I'll believe that when I see it!

John123 · Joined: 05 Nov 2006 Posts: 53 Location: Heald Green

Very relieved he has arrived at his destination.
Must admit I'm glad he didn't attempt Columbia!!

Thanks for the info, Duncan.

John123

JB · Joined: 29 Jan 2007 Posts: 6

Hi Everyone, well the boy made it. When I last wrote I was still in Peru, but heading to the border on Ecuador the next day. I had enjoyed fast riding in Peru for around 1600k up the coast. Flattish but with a wind that gathered as the day went on. Sometimes i'd cruise along at 40k/h. As soon as I crossed the border the climate changed to humid sticky sweat your bollocks off in 5 minutes type of weather. The worst thing was the road though. For 850k I never had a single meter of flat road. I was constantly climbing and dropping between 3500m and 2000m, some of it ridiculously steep. I'd go from boiling to freezing in minutes. Some days I finished the day and just crawled knackard into bed.

The last couple of days felt easy, it was great to finally arrive in Quito, yesterday I rode out without any bags out to the equator. I wanted to get the photo of the bike next to the equator sign. It just felt like the obvious place to finish. It was hard to describe how I felt. Ushuaia seemed so far away. It was a 30k ride back to Quito. I decided to use the bus lane as the road was so busy. I had to race the buses so not to get run-down, I was speeding along at 50k/h just feeling so fit without any bags on the back.

John D put me in some races for the wheelers. Let me see how I do over 25mile.

John

John123 · Joined: 05 Nov 2006 Posts: 53 Location: Heald Green

john
Just seen your latest posting. Glad you are feeling so fit. I'm not surprised!
Regarding races, we have club events out in Cheshire every other Thursday evening, starting on 10thMay. They are only 10milers, although we have a Hll Climb up the Cat and Fiddle in July. Should be up your street now, its only 6mles!
Open events you will have to enter on your own although I will give you the nod how to go about it. Entries have to be in two weeks before an event, but you have to enter individually. You choose your own preferences from a Handbook which has races in Cheshire and all over England. The Wheelers also promote a 50 which is on a Saturday evening 5pm start in early June. If you don't ride it you are expected to marshall!!
Something to think about.
Have a good few weeks holiday.
See you when you get back.
John123

John123 · Joined: 05 Nov 2006 Posts: 53 Location: Heald Green

PS
Club Events enter on the night £1.50.