Mark Higgins reflects following day 1 of the WRC-BRC charity Cycle from Holyhead to Cardiff to raise money for Spinal Injuries Research and the Wales Air Ambulance.Well, the big day is here, the cycling started this morning! We left Holyhead at 9am and 66 miles later we are at Porthmadog. We went via Valley, Bethel, Menai Bridge and Caernarfon - what a day!
We were quite lucky compared to how hot it's been in some parts of the UK, it was slightly overcast for us in Wales - but still very hot, and humid when you stopped cycling. We all got a good sweat up, that's for sure.
So far it's been how we expected it would, thankfully no surprises, but there have been some steep climbs.
We've had a good pace on though, and Gwyndaf [Evans] has been pushing us to our limits as usual, he's always been fit throughout his rallying career and he obviously enjoys cycling.
I did fall though, at one point I couldn't quite get my feet out of the bike clips quickly enough and went over. I think three of us fell today, but we all got to the end of the day in one piece and we were still laughing.
I wasn't laughing during the night though. I got into my hotel room at one this morning after travelling back to Wales for the cycle, and I was sharing a room with Phil Pugh – good grief, he can snore, by two o'clock I had to go and ask for another room so I could get some sleep!
We've had Welsh TV with us today filming, and tonight we're off to a forum. Bala and Harlech Motor Clubs are hosting the forum and an auction where we're hoping to raise lots more money to add to our sponsorship total. Thanks to everyone who has donated a prize. We're very grateful.
Tomorrow will be one of the hardest days for us as we cycle from Porthmadog to Machynlleth. It's less mileage than today, but there are some big climbs – and we'll have to see what state our legs are in after today! I could certainly do with adding an engine to my bike for the hills tomorrow!
Thanks for your support. If you would like to sponsor us and help raise money for Spinal Injuries Research and the Wales Air Ambulance please go to:
http://www.justgiving.com/wrc-brc/Mark Higgins
