Day 1 leaves the start line at Lands End at 7am to cycle the 105 miles to Okehampton. The sign says 874 to John O’Groats but the route we take has an extra 106 odd miles added in – we don’t take the straightest route as that means lots of mountains to climb over!

The route is somewhat “lumpy” and by the end of the day, I will have climbed over 8,200 ft – the most climbing we will do over the whole ride in a single day.

The important thing about today is to pace myself – I don’t want to go out too fast and wear myself out – there are, after all another 8 days to go!

The route rolls from Lands End, following the coastline and then crosses the edges of both Dartmoor and Bodmin moor.. No massive climbs like there are later in the ride, but up and down all day long. This sort of day tends to wear you down more than a day which is focused over a couple of big climbs!

Update 5pm

So day 1 completed… I managed to get off at 6.30am on the dot, and as is my norm went too fast… I was at the first pit stop (34 miles) in about 2 hours..

So, I decided to drop off the group I had been with and do my own thing.. This meant cycling on my own for much of the next 50 miles.

Cornwall is hilly! You’re either going up or down! And the last 30 miles of the day are particularly hilly..

But it’s all done now… Rock on day 2