Final 60kms ( 38 miles in old money) today at a gentle pace, final venture out before I set-off for the London to Paris ride.

That's about 1,450 miles covered since buying the road bike back in April, first month spent on the turbo-trainer and the scary reality of being exhausted after merely 5 miles outside in the REAL world on my first venture out.

Such a lot of progress since those first few weeks out where I genuinely started to worry about whether I'd be able to do this at all.

Can't say I haven't put the training in, so I've prepared myself as much as possible. Even those 4 Sportives/fun rides I've done the last 4 Sundays in a row have been enjoyable, and each has been another milestone passed...

Big thanks has to go out to my colleague Lee who has accompanied me on many Sundays, helping me build up the mileage along the way.

We'll see if the blog works as planned from across the other side of ze channel: if so perhaps you should all read the updates in the manner of Arthur Bostrom* for added authenticity!!

*policeman in Allo-Allo

So, general consensus is to take it easy now for the remaining time before cycling out of London next Wednesday morning, 7am.
Having racked-up over 1,400 miles since buying the road-bike back in April, I'm still wondering whether it's enough. Living in hilly Northumberland, the training-rides have been ideal, but as I'm sure others will testify, seems no matter how many hills you climb, they still don't get [much] easier!
Sunday's Great North Bike Ride was my last organised event until L2P. Told myself that as this one was much flatter than previous 3, I was going to go for a quicker pace and try and blast it, providing there wasn't a gale blowing-in off the North Sea. Seahouses to Tynemouth in 2hrs 58mins - wooo, well-chuffed with that!!
I have to say, the slight nervousness and trepidation at the start of my very first Sportive, 4 weeks ago, was very quickly banished and the sense of achievement at completing the [hilly] 68 miles around Northumberland, in what was a respectable time, is still a pleasant memory - arriving in Paris is going to be on another level!! 

Took part in another event on Sunday 25th (4th in a row), the Great North Bike Ride.
Set myself the [ambitious] target of finishing in 3 hours, and I completed the 56 mile ride in 2hrs 58mins.

York 100 for ActionMedical. My third sportive in 3 consecutive Sundays.

Did the "Classic" route, 68 miles - 4hrs 42 mins, out of York uni and east over the Yorkshire Wolds. Through Malton, past Castle Howard and the Hawardian Hills, and finally back to York university.

After battling into a headwind for the first half, I'd have expected to have had a helping tailwind for at least SOME of the route, but no....

Mega hills (2,000mtrs of climbing) + headwind = exhausted!!

Finished the 70 miles in 5hrs 5mins. reckon it could have been 4:45 or even 4:40 without the constant struggle against the wind, but oh here come the excuses!!!