To be honest, as fully qualified MAMILs (Middle Aged Men In Lycra) we were planning to do this just for 'fun'. 900 miles in 9 days isn't everybody's idea of fun but Dave Hunt, Julian Sambles and me felt it was time to try.

Then work started building a new special school on the campus of Charnwood College, where I work.  It still hadn't crossed my mind that I would raise any money towards it - after all, hadn't the local authority kept £9 million aside for this? 

Then Ashmount Head Teacher, Dave Thomas, came and spoke to our staff and students, explaining how excited everyone was to be moving into such a lovely building but they still needed lots more money for all the specialised kit needed to go inside it.  Lightbulb moment - what an opportunity to help by turning this into a charity ride.  So please give generously to what is going to be a fantastic new facility for 125 of Loughborough's children with very specific needs.