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In March 2011, just after Gary moved to Cape Town, he and I decided to do the 109km Cape Argus Cycle Tour. It's an annual event, starting and finishing in Cape Town. With as many as 35,000 cyclists taking part, it's the world's largest individually timed cycle race.

Since then we've completed the race together three times - on mountain bikes (while hungover), on racing bikes (with proper training), and in 2014 we did it on folding Bromptons (because vintage Penny Farthings were beyond our budget). In the spirit of doing something different each year, we decided that 2015 is the year of the tandem. Neither of us has ever ridden a tandem - let alone together - so it's quite likely that if we survive we'll have a good story to tell.

Last year we raised over £1,200 for MasiCorp, a charity that works in the township of Masiphumelele near Cape Town. Many of the township's 38,000 residents are still struggling from the legacy of apartheid, and MasiCorp helps lift them out of poverty through education. This township is on the route the Argus race takes, and many of the residents line the streets to watch the weird foreigners whizz by. As we trundled through the outskirts of Masiphumelele 12 months ago we were met by howls of derision from kids as young as four. Clearly the sight of two six-foot, bald and bearded white men on what looked like kids' bikes was a highlight of the day. With their contempt still ringing in our ears, we decided that we have no choice but to support the same cause again.

Last year we finished the race on 16-inch wheels because the money we raised meant that failure was not an option. It would be fantastic if you can help us remove that option from the table this time too!

Many thanks from Geoff and Gary