Meek's LE2JOG


Land's End to John O'Groats - Saturday 28th July to Monday 6th August 2012


10 days
983 miles
speed average 13.9 mph
climbed 37,361 feet
cadence average 76 rpm - 321,205 revolutions
(as recorded by the Garmin)

punctures:
5 - Gav x3, Paul and Haydn

torch photo contributions and donations £2,000

guest riders:
Adrian, Damen, John, Mike, Simon, Nick, James, Jen and a host of others - thank you

support:
van & fuel provided by David Wilson Homes - driven by Alex
bus & trailer provided by Bulk Builders Merchants - driven by Alan & Dale, Malcolm & Carol
bus (no trailer) - driven by Carol
cars - Anne & David, Mel & Sue, Alan, John, John
physiotherapists - Jen, Jane, Stewart

new addiction:
banana milk - thanks Carol


The Finish

With ten days of long distance cycling behind us, we reached Wick and the final run in to John O' Groats. I recorded the last hour or so on a video camera and prepared a one minute trailer to whet the appetite.

The 15 minute movie was on general release a few days later.


Ian Meek


It's fair to say that none of this would have happened without the tenacity and enthusiasm of our friend Ian, who sadly passed away on 1st August 2012 at St. Gemma's Hospice in Leeds. Ian achieved so much to raise awareness of brain tumours taking the issue to the highest levels of government. He inspired so many others to participate in his various events and was instrumental in generating a considerable amount of money for BTRS.

I first met Ian in John Smiths' car park in Tadcaster on Friday 29th April 2011 as we gathered to travel to Bristol for our 200 mile ride back to Bingley. Whilst I didn't really get to speak to Ian on the ride, I did get to know him better during the preparation phase for this much bigger enterprise.

Without any real training, I joined a group walking the Three Peaks in April. Coming down from Whernside I was beginning to find the going difficult and Ingleborough seemed a very long way off. Ian and his family were supporting the walkers and I met them at the end of a lane. My lasting memory of Ian comes from that moment, he obviously saw my poor state and did his best to help. He insisted on walking up the lane with me to point out the way and gently provided encouragement with soft kind words that propelled me on for the remainder of the walk. His taking the time to do this was such a simple act, yet something I'll never forget.

We managed to visit Ian at St. Gemmas on Tuesday evening and I'm so pleased that we did. It was almost as if he was hanging on until the team arrived and he knew that we were safe. It was not lost on us all that he died on Yorkshire Day; the very day that we were in Leeds to celebrate; the reason we'd cycled up the east side of the country; the day for which so much had been planned. 1st August will now have far more meaning for everyone involved with the ride.

Let's Cure Brain Tumours


Read more about the ride.