(Please click the 'read more' link below to ensure you that have seen everything!)

10/05/10

What a great event, well organised and a friendly, relaxed atmosphere. I managed to get round in 8 hours 20 minutes and so am pretty pleased with myself. Climbing Hardknott Pass at the end of the day was not easy but somehow I managed to heave myself over the thing without walking. There was no way that this wasn't going to happen, partly because of the training but predominantly because of the support and sponsorship I've had from you all throughout. Thank-you!

03/05/10

Thank-you for your support to date, I have been blown away by your generosity and have 'upped' my fundraising target on two occasions! Thanks also to Kath & Melvin for your cheque, I will post it directly to Macmillan.

Training has been going well, over 2000 miles now since January with one ride topping the 100 mile mark. Last weekend we rode the whole of the Fred Whitton over two days and in every kind of weather. I got off to a bad start by colliding with a wall whilst descending Kirkstone Pass, not sure if I've broken or just bruised my ribs but they're slowly getting better. One more big ride after work tomorrow with Tim and then I need to force myself to wind down my efforts, not easy since I am now addicted! I am slightly intimidated by the scale of this event, not so much the hardcore route as the number of participants (1000+). It is the first serious cyclosportive event that I've entered. No real plan yet for next Sunday except to enjoy it...but sub-9 hours and no walking would be fab :-)

Oh and because I've raised more than £500 I am guaranteed a place next year if I want it...doh! ;-)

12/04/10

Yes yes I know that it's not a photo of me on my bike but the only one I have is even more terrible than this one of my pasty white legs from last Saturday (10th April). Have a dig around here if you must and you'll find it :-P

On 9th May I am taking part in the Fred Whitton Challenge, a ridiculous 112-mile bike ride in the Lake District which takes in six of the major road passes including Hardknott Pass, the steepest road in England. This is an annual single-day event which includes 14000 ft of climbing, half of the height of Mount Everest! Exercise, food and beer consumption have all increased exponentially and I've clocked up 1600 miles since January with rides of up to 80 miles and 8500 ft of ascent. I was feeling pretty fit too until I tried to cycle up Hardknott Pass the other week and honestly thought I was going to explode. Somehow though I made it without walking, the question now is will I manage it after a 100-mile warm-up?! I am excited and nervous in equal measure, determined to do this but well aware that it is beyond anything I've ever attempted before.

And now for the important stuff. Cancer touches everyone. My dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer a few weeks ago and my sister's father-in-law is also affected by this awful disease. This is our chance to fight back. If you would like to sponsor me or just give a donation and raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support then please please do so.

Thank-you for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Mike

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

So please dig deep and donate whatever you can now.