Still not very good at posting on here often am I? Anyway, training has actually been going quite well but I still have a tale of puncture woe…

First up, did a big ride a few weeks ago taking in both Box Hill and Leith Hill – was pretty pleased with my efforts I must admit as it was comfortably over 100km. Of course, having finally invested in a puncture repair kit I didn’t need it, but that soon changed.

I’m currently in the middle of some time away from London. I had a train booked to come back last Thursday afternoon so went out training to do 80km before the train and then would have another ride the following day. Just 10 miles from home, BANG – the rear tyre let go with a massive hole in it. Quick puncture repair job and inner tube relocation got me another five miles before it went again, and by now I was pushed for time and down to my final two patches. Used one to repair the puncture and the other to cover the hole from the inside and made it home. That fix didn’t last though as I tried to belt it to the station and – long story slightly short – I missed my train by 6 minutes and was out of pocket another £35 for a new ticket.

Anyway, since then I’ve replaced the rear tyre and all seems good, got some good training rides in around Somerset – some nice steep climbs out here – and feeling like I’m edging closer to the bare minimum needed for the challenge.

The next big step is a training ride from Zurich to Milan via Liechtenstein and Austria over four days. The Alps should be good practice, as should long days in the saddle and a bit of company from a crazy guy cycling from Spa to Monza. If all goes to plan we’ll get a day off in Milan too to recover ahead of working the GP weekend. I leave for that ride two weeks on Saturday, I’ll land back from that on the Monday and then five days later it’s time to head out on the challenge, it’s that close!

Just £400 to go on the fundraising before I can officially ride, so I’m going to be auctioning off more stuff on eBay next week and still have an awesome prize from Williams to pick up too. Really feels like the final push now.