5 Things You Can Do in the Next 5 Minutes to Be Happier in the Next 5 Days | Going on the Ride of Your Life

5 Things You Can Do in the Next 5 Minutes to Be Happier in the Next 5 Days | Going on the Ride of Your Life

Monday: Arrival at Castorama

Castorama's Bruno arrived at the hotel this morning to guide us out of the city center to Templemars where Castorama is based - a short 6 mile ride.  We wanted to arrive in Castorama when people would be at work - and so we could meet our colleagues as the objective of the Ultimate Commute.  Just outside, we moved into an arrow formation & turned a corner to see - and hear - so many of Castorama's team welcoming us over the finish line.  Cheers, clapping, flags, horns - and I suspect a few tears.  It felt so good to finish, but all of us were on a high.

So many people were asking us about the trip - how was it, had we enjoyed it - and congratulating us.

Bikes onto van, goodbyes & back to the UK.

Sunday: Dover to Lille

Vicky was up early this morning - taking this shot of the sunrise near the hotel.  We got the bikes loaded onto the van last night, so all that was left to do today was to squeeze the bags in there too.  The support crew then headed for vehicle boarding whilst we went to the foot passenger entrance.

I was determined we were going to have a better day from a navigational perspective today, so bought a map the minute we boarded - and we spent plenty of time working out the route.  Meanwhile, Tracey was working on yet more massages, making use of one of the benches on the ferry.  Not entirely sure what our fellow passengers thought about half naked men being massaged in front of them! Calm, sunny and surprisingly quick crossing.

I had a mini crisis when we arrived in Calais - Sarah & Victoria couldn't get the car to the foot passenger terminal.  Luckily Roy could in the van, so we all had our bikes and most people had kit - however, my shorts, shoes and GPS watch were in Victoria's car.  It was looking as if I'd be either doing the first bit of the ride balancing trainers on SPD pedals or getting a ride in the van, but Vicky had a spare pair of SPD shoes that just happened to be my size.  Happy days.

Despite route planning, we had a false start trying to find the right road out of Calais which led to a few extra miles and taking a different road parallel to the planned one to Gravelines.  Very agricultural, very flat and despite even more roadkill rats, picturesque.  We whizzed along, making much better progress than I anticipated.  Eventually met the car by Bourbourg where I changed into my own kit (thanks again Vicky) and Sarah led the cyclists through the rather complicated town southwards.

There were a couple of glitches.  Victoria & Sarah couldn't find an open supermarket - so refuelling was limited to what was left from yesterday.  We were to have a break in Cassel, a picturesque village on a hill, but the roads into it were all closed.  There was a benefit as the road up to Cassel would have been extremely steep - instead, we had more gradual climbs.

In Bailleul, Victoria and Sarah finally found a patisserie open so we enjoyed some very tasty bread and pastries.  Hayley was so relieved to have "non oat based food" - there's a great photo of her with french bread in one hand, a banana in the other, with her legs getting a quick massage from Tracey to be added here.

The villages and towns were fairly easy to navigate - and very attractive.  As we got closer to Lille, the villages merged into its suburbs and the support team took the very brave decision to guide each group in.  Maneuvering a Luton van around busy city streets slowly enough for bikes to follow on the wrong side of the road required some impressive driving from Roy - helped out by Tracey and Julia!  The final bit through the old town took us over cobbles - I was pining for my mountain bike.

Got to the very basic budget hotel, all in by about 7, and we decided that the bikes would be safer in our rooms than in the van.

The final night so we went out for a meal and lots of Flanders beer, celebrating effectively completing the ride.

Saturday - Paddington to Dover

2 new cyclists joined us today, BioRegional's Hayley and Kingfisher's Net Positive Director Nick Folland. Nick took on the job of getting us out of central London - with a little sight seeing on the way.  Hyde Park, the Mall - and we took a moment for photos outside Buckingham Palace.  Past Parliament & along the Embankment to Tower Bridge which we crossed.

Then it all got a bit complicated trying to get onto the Old Kent Road - including getting a bit confused in Deptford.  Bexleyheath was a bit of a shock - hills!  Shooters Hill was a killer - and at least a couple of us took a walking break there.  Somehow, we got split up into about 4 groups.  Matt & George managed to find a very pleasant sounding cycle route - and got to B&Q Gillingham with comparative ease.  Hayley & I lost the others, only to find them recovering form a couple of sense-of-humour-failures on discovering that there are few bike friendly ways to cross the Medway.  Getting lost is not good - getting lost & doing unnecessary hills is just unfair.  We all found the store eventually, climbing up Chatham Hill, but much later than we expected to.

Another wonderful reception from Pudsey & the B&Q store team - thanks so much B&Q Gillingham.

We made a couple of decisions over our lunch.  The speediest cyclists, including B&Q Dover's Shaun, would set off separately, aiming to get to B&Q Dover so that the store could welcome them at a sensible time.  Shaun would lead so that they could avoid the A2 when it is at its dual carriageway worst after Canterbury and see some of Kent's countryside.  The rest of us would see how we split based on speed.  Despite some amazing speeds of 40mph, the speediest cyclists were actually beaten to the store by George's group who opted to face the A2.  The support team got a bit panicky as Ben vanished for a while - but he found George's group OK.

B&Q Dover welcomed the 2 lead groups and Nick headed off home after chatting to the store's team about Kingfisher's Net Positive programme - a great way to highlight the sustainable transport aspects of our challenge.

At the back, we knew we wouldn't get to the store in time, so headed straight for the hotel in Dover.  We tried a bit of the nasty A2, but got a sense that we may end up joining the vast quantities of roadkill we were passing (how many rats have died there?).  We headed for the hills instead, and felt instantly happier and safer.  Mike's chain broke & he opted to wait for the support van to pick him up, kept company by a couple of kids & their dogs.   The light was fading as we cut back onto the A2 for a less than pleasant push onto Dover, with David doing an amazing job, keeping us together and navigating all at once.  Vicky kept Rick going with some really impressive coaching.

Tracey worked hard all evening with a queue of cyclists benefiting from her sports massage skills.  She didn't get to finish until gone 11 - definitely dedicated.

88 miles for me & Hayley - but everyone ended up with very different distances due to the navigational challenges!

Friday – Setting off from B&Q House

What a send off!  I don’t think any of us expected to see so many of our B&Q House colleagues come to cheer us on our way – and I don’t think I was the only one to feel quite emotional to receive such amazing support.

We’d started the day early with breakfast & a briefing in the canteen, followed by a warm up session ably led by B&Q Gym’s Tracey Prynne.  Bags were loaded onto the van, maps handed out – and some photos and filming, before going into B&Q House’s Heart Space – and seeing all the balconies and floor space packed full with supporters.  Pudsey was there too of course!

Ian Herrett, B&Q’s Commercial Director wished us well on our ride.  He mentioned the bit in our briefing notes about how cyclists take an average of 18% fewer days off sick.  The Mayor of Eastleigh, Rupert Kyrle,  decided that Lille was in France and was really complimentary about our efforts to promote sustainable transport.  And Pudsey waved.

Our colleagues formed a guard of honour down the cycle path from the offices to the road – and we were on our way.  So many different speeds in the team – we’ve got keen club cyclists like Richard and Andres, ultra fit cyclists like Vicky – and steady-but-not-quite-as-speedy cyclists like me!  We split into 2 groups.

Glorious sunshine as we worked our way north east through Winchester and then through beautiful rolling Hampshire countryside – the Candovers and Ellisfield. Through Odiham and then up to Fleet, we arrived at B&Q Farnborough to an enthusiastic reception from the store team.  Pudsey was already there – raising more sponsorship from colleagues and customers.

After lunch, the rain began and we set off, following Victoria in the support car to negotiate up to the A30.  The support van came into its own as Mike got his first puncture of the day by Virginia Water, rushing to his rescue, only to find that he’d pretty much fixed it!

We regrouped at Royal Holloway to face the entry to Greater London – figuring we’d be safer as a big group.  I can’t pretend that it was my favourite part of the day, with planes landing over our heads by Heathrow – and then getting to navigate London streets and London traffic in the wet.  Julia had a toe clip incident, falling off, but luckily no harm done & she bravely jumped straight on her bike again.  Mike had yet another puncture near Bayswater –and Julia had one yards from the finish point.

Just as we got to Paddington, the sun came out again.  Our CEO Martyn Phillips and People Director Fraser Longden were there to greet us along with a surprising number of Kingfisher colleagues, given that it was late-ish on a Friday.  Mary and JV from Kingfisher had cakes and tea lined up for us – and we were allowed to store our bikes over night in the canteen.

Dinner at an Italian restaurant.  Very intrigued that a beautiful young woman materialised to chat closely with Andres!

Training in public - with Pudsey

Banners up, spinning bikes borrowed, surprise bake sale - and Pudsey in attendance. We launched the Ultimate Commute today in B&Q House, catching colleagues as they made their way to the canteen at lunch time.

Lots of interest, questions about our training, the route and the ride - and about chafing!

It's all about me!!!

David Griffin's team surprised him by bringing in a selection of home made cakes for sale - with all proceeds going towards our sponsorship target.  The chocolate refrigerator cake was particularly appreciated by David!  He did his best to burn off the calories when with Julia, he took on an hour stint on the spinning bikes.

Sarah, Pudsey & Vicky

Sharon and Ben took over the bikes at 12:30, Gin and Victoria at 1, with Sarah and Vicky picking up the final shift at 1:15.
Sarah & Victoria are in the support team on the actual ride - so it was great that they had the chance to do a little cycling!

Ben, Pudsey & Sharon

Smarter Travel in Action

Rather than jumping into cabs to get between design shows, the B&Q lighting team tried out boris bikes in London this week - great to see imaginative business travel!