Sunderland dentist Michael Oliver coast to coast challenge 2010

The date ...... Friday September 10th 2010
The place ....  Whitehaven , Cumbria to Sunderland , Tyne and Wear.
The task .....  150 miles of cycling

Olivers Dental Studio owner Michael Oliver foolishly accepted the challenge of his friend Steve from London and Harry Hall of Reds Hair and Beauty Sunderland to cross the country on his mountain bike at the ripe old age of 50yrs. Ego stepped in as he accepted the challenge to ride with these two experienced cyclists and of course the old fella decided to do it without training. Mistake number one...

Starting at the official kick off point at Whitehaven having loaded up with a chicken bhuna in the town the night before could be considered as mistake number two. Not the tactics of Lance Armstrong I'm sure. Whitehaven was like the M25 at the start but the c2c course soon thinned the field as we climbed up towards the Lake District. Destination Glennridding on Lake Ulswater for day one was manageable ,only just, with a comfy bed in a good old fashioned band b a godsend for the aching bones. Soaked to the skin but a good days cycling. At the back of  Michaels mind was the much hyped second leg from the lakes over Hartside Pass and down to Stanhope ,Weardale .

Michaels quote at the top of the gruelling leg to this Pennine summit " if I had seen a farmer with a shot gun I would have begged him to shoot  me "  Long periods in 21st gear on steep hills tests the metal especially when those who had abandoned their bikes to walk were travelling faster - but "I did not walk". Conned into thinking the pass marked the beginning of the long downhill to Sunderland, Michael was disturbed to find several more shocking ascents on the 69 mile ride to Stanhope.
Some gorgeous scenery but the price was a rear that could not be sat upon.
Day three was the home leg and apart from the torture of an early morning climb out of Stanhope the joy of a downhill journey to Sunderland. c2c fans will be familiar with a lovely old converted railway route all the way to Sunderland. It was a lovely day and after the hard work over three days Michaels home town had never looked better to him particularly the last section around the shrine that is the Stadium of Light.
Tradition has it that you have to dip your wheel in the sea to complete at Sunderland , and so to conclude a great three days .....

Another box ticked for this ageing dentist..

Would he do it again? - no chance
Should you do it ?  You bet, a fantastic experience.
Thanks to best pal, Steve Williamson for his effort in organising and convincing Michael that this was sensible to do
To Steve's wife Joan for her logistics, photography and morale boosting.
To Harry Hall for the laughs and Marshall Hall for making these three old blokes feel fitter than they otherwise thought.