It's time to go on a cycle ride.........not just any old cycle ride though............

On Friday June 11th 2010, I will be setting off from London, and with a good following wind, I will arrive in Paris on Sunday 13th June - probably exhausted and with a numb rear end!!!

There are two reasons for undertaking this challenge - the most important being to raise money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) which is the leading charitable organisation in the world with the primary objective of finding the cure for type 1 (juvenile) diabetes and its complications. 

Type 1 diabetes is a chronic, life threatening condition which has a lifelong impact on those diagnosed with it and their families.  It normally strikes children and stays with them for the rest of thier lives.

Living with type 1 diabetes is challenging in itself, but for a child, is an added complication and challenge to face whilst growing up.

My son, Jake, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes aged 13 and will have to monitor his blood sugar levels and inject himself with insulin at every meal time for the rest of his life.

The second (and somewhat less important reason) probably stems from a minor mid-life crisis - do I have what it takes to do the training, raise the money and complete the challenge ........... watch this space and we'll find out!!

Training has started in earnest - well I was out on my bike for an hour today and arrived back home with a shiny red face - so, onward and upwards!

Training update - 12th Jan 2010 - snow has stopped play for the last week, no more training done........

Training update - 21st February 2010 - another 10 miles today, and with the addition of proper cycling shorts, my backside is very very grateful....  Need to progress in both speed and distance.

Training update - 29th March 2010 - an hour and half today, and I didn't have to stop going up the hill to the main road today (good job the traffic lights were red when I got to the top!).  Still need to speed up a bit though, and increase the length of time spent in the saddle.