I have an incurable blood cancer known as multiple myeloma. In 2009, at University College London Hospital, I received six months' of chemotherapy followed by a stem cell transplant, which was funded under the NHS  by the Cancer Drugs Fund. This was very successful and gave me good, partial remission that lasted until April 2013, when I entered a Myeloma UK drug trial of another six months of chemo. I am now again in partial remission and feeling fit and healthy.

Since then I have been doing some gentle cycling, including day trips with a local cycling club in Brighton. Inspired by Le Tour d'England, I purchased a second-hand road bike and registered for the Challenge Cancer Cycle - London to Brighton Moonride, starting at 10pm on 20 September, from the Olympic Lee Valley VeloPark to the top of Brighton Racecourse. I recently started the recommended cycle training plan to get me fit for the100km night ride within the next couple of months. As an intermediate cyclist, my first goal was to achieve 22 miles at an average speed of 10-12mph, which I just managed by the end of July.

24 August. There is now just four weeks to go before the ride and the training regime is starting to get a bit tougher, although I am still managing to stay on program to complete the full distance. However, cycling for 6-8 hours at 10mph is very different from my weekend, social cycling group, when we aim to cycle about 5 miles to a coffee stop, a further five to a pub lunch, and then usually about ten miles to tea and cakes and the train home. This week's target is a 47 mile long ride and a total of 84 miles during the week. Next week I can start to reduce the distance a little but the program demands a bit more speed. Over the weekend I started training for the climbs over the North and South Downs by going to South Wales and found some really challenging hills in the Rhondda Valley during a couple of 20 mile circuits from BlaenIlechau.

13 September. Just a week to go and getting fitter, I now roughly know the route of the ride from the Olympic Velodrome,  to Mitcham, Crawley, Burgess Hill and then on to the Finish at Brighton Racecourse. Assuming that we will have to climb up over Ditchling Beacon, I tried the ascent from Ditchling and actually made it to the top last week. However, I may have to walk up on the morning of the event after a sixty mile ride from London.

17 Sept. I suppose it's a bit like marathon training - all the hard work has now been done, and apart from a few final days of carb-packing and nerves, I can rest until the ride. Last week I was supposed to do a bit more speed work, which you can view in the video clip in the Gallery.

Yesterday I went up to the Olympic Park to recce the journey by train and the start on the Velodrome road circuit. Now I can simply relax until Saturday evening.

Monday 22 Sept.Phew! That was more exhausting than I thought it would be, but I made it! To add to the challenge, despite a fair weather forecast, it rained for six of the eight-hour ride.

All along the route I passed cyclists repairing punctures, broken down or fallen on the side of the road from the slippery surface. Driving through the busy streets of London, even at 2am, was still the most hazardous, although cycling at night along dark, country lanes was equally frightening, and not everyone had lights as strong as mine.

At the 65km  rest stop, the queue for hot food was more than 15 minutes, so I used that extra time to just relax and chew a few more protein bars and energy gels. By now, everyone was preparing themselves for the long climb over Ditchling Beacon, and when we finally got to the top for a short rest, thinking that the worse was over, nobody wanted to hear that the final climb up Freshfield Road would be just as hard, with the finish almost in sight. I made it most of the way up, apart from the final 100m. I also walked the final bend of the Beacon, but even Sir Bradley Wiggins said the hill was tough when he climbed it during the Tour of Britain a few weeks ago.

What a relief to eventually arrive at Brighton Racecourse and go through the finish line. Another long queue for breakfast, so after a glass of sparkling wine, I racked my bike on our car and Terri drove me home, where I had a long bath and spent the rest of Sunday in bed, every muscle and bone burning, but with a great sense of achievement..

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There is a link to some video clips that I took during the ride from the last picture in my Gallery, or at

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-2nH616zNc

This ride was a big thank you to everyone working in cancer research and especially to the UCLH Myeloma Team who have worked so tirelessly to give me such a good life for the past four years.

 Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.