OK, so there’s a lot to catch up on with this post but it’s been a very busy time. Here’s the build-up:

Firstly, after the last post I managed to get past the minimum amount required to do the ride and even set a higher target for the fundraising. Some great car parts from both Williams (now auctioned off) and Marussia (still to go) mean I’m now aiming for £4,500.

Having achieved that milestone I set off to train out in the Alps with Mr Stobart of Lotus fame. A long day in the saddle from Zurich to the Lichtenstein border had me worried, but I soon settled in to consecutive days on the bike and we even climbed to 2,066m on the San Bernadino pass on day three. I was pretty proud of that, and then day four was about 135km around the Italian lakes down to Monza, so all in all great training for me and I was on the bike every day in and out of the circuit too (though I lost the race of a lap of the track).

Then, disaster struck. I came down with man flu in the week before the ride, really bad Wednesday and Thursday before flying on the Saturday. As any man can attest, it’s draining, but after a dash up to Leafield to get the bike back on the Friday night (thanks to some speedy driving from station-Caterham factory-station by Jim from Charlbury) I made it to Heathrow on time to fly out to start the challenge…