Introduction to the Blog

I guess a short introduction is required. This is now my second charity cycle stint of the year and as with the Bristol 2 Paris trip I will update this blog with up to the minute details and progress of pre-ride prep and of course the main event.

So, why cycle from London to Liverpool I here you say? Haven't you had enough fun for the year?

Well it went a little like this. Whilst returning from Paris jaunt my good lady wife mentioned that a group of gents from her work (Novera Energy) were embarking on a charity ride of their own and were looking for volunteers/victims. Maybe it was the high from completion of 358 miles or maybe just the smell of summer but before I could even think about the hills and rain and wind I was signed up. Liz was of course asked but let's just say that even with the mention of pedals she starts to shiver and break out in a cold sweat before running for the door.

Ok, so on to the most important part of the introduction, the charity which is Christies Hospital Manchester and The John Pearson Tribute Fund. And rather than telling you in my own words why this is such a wonderful cause please take a look at this JustGiving page and of course please feel free to contribute, large or small.

Now, with just one week to go I must say that I'm a little worried out my legs. I've been a on a few training rides and I guess I thought that after Paris I would be still fine and that wonderful thing called fitness would just hang around till, say, Christmas. Oh how I was wrong, and it all started on our week away in Italy.

As on previous trips I hired a bike and went out for a few early morning jaunts before it got too warm (Liz calls me a wierdo, but hey, I see it as attention), the pic at the top is from the end of my ride from Spedalicchio to Monte Santa Maria Tiberina. Good eh? And here is the route.

...and then this is the view of me, not so good.

So as soon as I was back home I started to do some training rides, you know nothing too taxing, 20-25 miles and it hurt, a lot, especially Weston Hill in Bath.

I must say though that with all this whinging I am still looking forward to it and of course meeting everybody involved. I'm sure during the course of the journey they will all feature here in some shape or form, but for the record they are (in no particular order): Ronnie Manek, Keith Gains, Jay Manek, Rishi Shah, John Howson, John Hewson, Stephen Holdroyd, Adrian Robinson, Gregory Gibbs, Mike Redhead & Michael Neofytou.