My original 'story' (below) seems a flight of fancy in Covid-related hindsight. Oh well. 

As a result of the pandemic, the seven children's charities that stood to benefit from 150 sponsored riders heading to Amsterdam next weekend are in trouble. Like all charities this year, much of their income has dried up.

To try and help them as much as possible, O2e are holding a "Virtual Amsterdam' event between 15-30th September. Running, walking, swimming or riding, participants will aim to amass 250 points (representing the miles we were due to ride). With some trepidation, I am going to commit to cycling the 250 miles in that fortnight, either on the road or on a spinning bike. 

Many of you kindly sponsored me earlier in the year, and I don't ask any more of you now. Thank you again. You will, however, be my main source of motivation and keep me (relatively) honest! 

If you haven't yet sponsored me, please consider doing so, even if only a few £.

Right, I'm off to iron my lycra and apply a layer of chamois butt'r...

This was the plan originally:

OK, this is a bit of a long story, but bear with me...

2020 is the year I turn 60. In recognition of this, and to give me a goal to improve my fitness (and waistline), I propose to undertake a number of cycling challenges. In so doing, I will be very mindful of two of my dearest friends who didn't quite manage to become sexagenarians (which sounds to me, frankly, to be an elderly sex worker). Both sadly missed and a permanent reminder to 'seize the day'!

Already my plans for cycling trips and events have somewhat been derailed by the dreaded Covid-19, and my training put back by toenail surgery (TMI?), but I do intend to continue with a number of big rides if at all possible:

•In May, I will improve my time up Sa Batalla in Mallorca. This 'switchback' mountain road isn't the nastiest but is still 390m of elevation over 8km of road. I did it so slowly last year that by the time I made the top, the bike rental had expired and my ride mates had quite forgotten who I was...

(This one is looking VERY unlikely right now)

•In July is the BRC Hills Challenge. For the avoidance of any doubt it has hills and it's, er,  a challenge.

•In August I have a place for Prudential Ride London (100 miles). This includes both Box Hill (a long grind) and Leith Hill (a total bastard).

•In September I will join the O2e Big Kev's Ride Dunkirk to Amsterdam which consists of 250 miles over three days. Flat maybe, but against an inevitable headwind all the way.

I will undertake all of these in aid of O2e - a wonderful community of volunteers raising funds for charities working to improve the lives of children who are in need of help with disability or illness. O2e is 'ordinary to extraordinary' as it seeks to push people out of their comfort zone in raising funds. The list above, with its unfortunately frequent reference to hills and long distances, will certainly do that for me. 

Whilst some riders can knock off 'centuries' easily, I have only ever done one 100+ mile ride, and I ain't getting any younger. I know I will need your support to steel my resolve, and the knowledge of your attention throughout the year to keep me honest.