Day 0: Land's End

So here I am! In my tent in Land's End with just over 9 hours to go until the big ride begins.

Most of the day was spent travelling down here. The train from London to Penzance was packed with cyclists and there were loads of people waiting for buses and taxis down to Land's End when we arrived so we spent an hour or so wandering around Penzance in the sunshine. When we got a taxi and told the driver where we were going, he told us to expect something like a refugee camp when we arrived...but this is probably the fanciest and best organised refugee camp going. It feels more like being on a giant school trip, albeit one comprised mainly of middle aged men! Since arriving, the itinerary has gone something like this:

- Collect rider wristband from registration desk
- Go to tent desk where you are assigned a tent (already pitched in neat rows) in a colour coded area that corresponds to your wristband
- Pick up self inflating camping mat which is also marked with your rider number and colour
- Go to bike racking area. Bikes have already been transported here in bags/boxes and are laid in rows in colour coded areas
- Find bike and reassemble (I had to take the wheels off to put it in the bike bag for transporting); take to mechanical area to pump tyres and check wheels. On the latter, one of the crew of site mechanics offers to help (and hands me some heavy duty hand wipes to wipe off the chain grease - nice touch)
- Collect timing chip to attach to helmet so i can record my riding times each day
- Ride 2 mins down to the Land's End sign for obligatory photo
- Have dinner. Food was lovely!! Am sure I'll have much more to say about that over the coming days
- Listen to rider briefing from the organisers explaining a million and one other logistical considerations for the coming 9 days. Also have live video link up with chairman of the British paralympic association from the Olympic park to say thanks for all our fundraising. Apparently Sarah Storey of paralympic cycling fame will be joining us on day 5
- Get ready for bed!!

So all in all a fairly busy day! Everyone seems excited and the amazing weather really helps although it is now bloody freezing! Going to be chilly when we set off at 7am tomorrow. On that note, the wake up call is at 5.30 so I need to get to sleep!!

Here are a few photos (guest staring my training buddies Fiona and Victoria). Apologies if some are upside down..doing this on my phone and can't work out how to fix it.