2) Bike SatNav and route planning

After getting lost a couple of times following small scale maps on the TPT, I researched bike satnavs and selected a model just before Christmas :)

My chosen model was a Garmin GPSmap62st. It is very rugged about the size of a walkie-talkie or a 1980's mobile phone. The 62 has rubber buttons to scroll through the menus. This is much better when cycling rather than the touch screen models.

Two more benefits of the 62st is that I got a deal with pre-loaded basic maps of UK and Europe, and it also comes with a slot for an SD card to store lots of data.

The most important data is map tracks. It is possible to create a planned route on the computer using cycle map websites and then download the route to the Garmin. When cycling the route is highlighted on the colour screen. No voice instructions are given (which would be annoying anyway) but it is easy to glance down and follow the route. I have already tested it on local rides and found it to be really accurate to a few feet!

1) A bike ride from Alsager in UK to Wengen in Switzerland

In October 2012, Paul decided to cycle the Trans Pennine Trail (TPT) from Southport to Hornsea. Click Here for TPT website  The route was 217 miles but with slight detours to hotels, shops or simply getting lost, the distance covered was actually 231 miles. The journey was completed in 4 days and was a great sense of achievement. Here are a couple of photos:

Day 1 - Runcorn Bridge

Day 4 - Humber Bridge

On a holiday in Australia the following month, Tom & James congratulated their dad and asked what his next big bike ride was. "How about cycling from Alsager to Wengen?" they joked. And then the idea started......

After studying maps and cycle routes, the idea became a plan for sometime in the summer of 2013. Watch this space!