Thanks for stopping by...

I'll try and keep it short. Last May my dad passed away after a pretty horrible couple of years living with prostate cancer. 

That's not to say it was all doom and gloom - will still had some great times as a family, especially as he got to see his first grand child.

However, it was always the elephant in the room that you couldn't ignore and I want to raise some money so other families don't have to go through the same thing.

To that end, I've signed up to the Grand Depart Classic 2019. What's this I hear you ask? It's the entire first stage of this year's Tour De France, and along with my good mate Rich, we'll be riding it a week before the pros give it a go.

A little more about the route then. It covers a total of 192km (120 miles) and features 800 vertical metres of climbing to contend with. This takes in the iconic Flemish climbs of the Bosberg and Muur van Geraardsbergen. This translates to the 'Wall of Geraardsbergen', with the climb made up of horrific cobbles and inclines in some places as steep as 20%. Simply known as the 'Muur' among cyclists, it's regarded as the toughest climb in Belgium. 

Why this challenge? Before my dad became ill, we'd regularly head to Belgium together for a weekend of father/son time, and while it might not sound that rock and roll, it was a chance to spend time together, have some nice (and strong) beers and a good steak, with a bit of photography thrown in for good measure. 

This ride felt like the fitting tribute for him as he loved our trips away, and I certainly intend to raise a beer in his memory once I've crossed the line.