So here we are again! Hot on the heels of our well-publicised Boris Vs. Ventoux challenge (http://youtu.be/HUWCeAzkc2Q) the 'Boris Boys' are at it again, but this time we're going bigger!! For our next challenge, appropriately named Boris Vs. NYC, we're aiming to take a New York City 'Boris' bike (more accurately named Citibike) up arguably the toughest climb in North America, the Mt. Washington Auto Road. Renowned for its breathtaking scenery and spectacular drive, it is also infamously known for its relentless gradient (averaging 12% over 12kms with sections of 16-22%) and its frightening weather conditions (known as the Home of the World's Worst Weather, with the 2nd highest wind speeds ever recorded on earth... 231mph!). Please read below for more details....

So, the plan is on the 10th July 2014, to challenge ourselves to a 36-hr adventure which includes a BA flight from London to New York's JFK airport; picking up a New York Citibike, driving to the foot of Mt Washington in New Hampshire; attempting to ride the 50lb/23kg bike (exact same spec as London's Boris bikes) to the top of Mt Washington (likely to be 2-3 hrs) and then retrace our steps back to London's Heathrow airport within a 36-hr timeframe. Based on our schedule we have 25 minutes to spare if all goes well.  It could very well go down to the wire again but this time we want to enlighten New Yorkers just what is possible on their 'Boris' equivalents and, in the process, raise as much money as we can for a very worthy cause.

After our successful campaign last year, we are again supporting Macmillan Cancer Support so we are asking anyone who reads this to give generously and help all those affected by cancer; including my father Brian who continues to live with the disease.  In the US we are supporting the Livestrong Foundation which again supports all those affected by cancer; see http://laf.livestrong.org/goto/rob-holden .

This challenge could also not be possible without help from a variety of sources; so thanks goes to my employers HRH Geology; my local and the best bike shop in Britain SigmaSports.com; Castelli clothing, Mizuno shoes, Timbuk2 bags, Garmin, British Airways and Helene Patounas Nutrition.  Also thanks to my coach Rob Mortlock (Head Coach at the Lee Valley VeloPark in East London). This is a team effort for a worthy cause; the BORISvsNYC team consists of Rob Holden (Boris Pilot....again... how did that happen?!), Matt Winstone (Producer & Operations Manager), Ian Laurie (Cameraman #1/Film Editor), and the new boy Jay Whitfield (Cameraman #2).