The Tour de France.  180 professional cyclists riding 2500km in 20 stages over 3 weeks. 

The Etape du Tour.  9,000 amateurs (including one foolhardy Yorkshireman) riding just one of this year's stages on the 20th of July.  Not just any old stage though, but 175km through Provence from Montelimar finishing on the top of the mythical Mount Ventoux at 1,912m http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mont_Ventoux.  

Sadly there's no lift to the top, just a 22km climb with an average gradient of 8%.  It'll take the professionals about 5 and a half hours to do the whole stage.  It'll probably take me 8.  Expect me to be walking a bit like John Wayne the next day...

Riding up a big hill in France takes a bit of preparation so I've been putting in lots of hours on the bike over the last 6 months which as Miranda has pointed out 'isn't the best way to prepare for a wedding', but my motivation has been doing something that I always wanted to do and also raising some cash for a really good cause.  In this instance, that's Get Kids Going who provide the equipment and the facilities to give those people less fortunate than me the chance to get out and do some sport.

So, please keep your fingers crossed for a stong tail wind on the 20th and please consider helping me to raise some money for a great cause.

thanks

Cycling Si   

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