Well December turned out to be a very busy month indeed! Not only have I shelled out my hard earned pennies for the bike I’m going to use, but we’ve also managed to sort out the RV (or ‘large camper van’, if you prefer the slightly more British terminology!) as well.

For some time I’d been researching into road bikes and as a result of which, I’d narrowed my focus onto bikes with slightly more relaxed frame geometry as opposed to the out and out racer, and had pretty well made my mind up that the frame should be made from titanium (I’ll add another section to the website very soon with more details on bike).

It was around the end of November when I found SundayBicycles.co.uk, who are a British company specialising in titanium road bikes. Having dropped an email to Greg Roche, who owns and runs the company (and who is also incidentally a professional cyclist), we then began to discuss the build of the bike and Greg was very helpful with suggestions about what components would best suit my needs.

By the end of December I was ready to hand over my card details and arrange a delivery date for what will be my pride and joy for a very long time!

It has to be said that Greg and Sunday Bicycles have gone out of their way to help me – not only have they helped with the cost of the bike, but they’ve also supplied me with some spares for the bike, as well kitting me out with Sunday Bicycles shorts, jersey and gloves (both winter and summer pairs!). On top of all this, Greg, with his years of experience has also been a great person to ask about training and nutrition.

I really would like to offer a huge thank you to Sunday Bicycles for everything they’ve done and I hope I can go some way to repaying their interest and kindness during this challenge.

Aside from sorting the bike, Amy (that’s my wife in case I haven’t introduced you!) has been looking into camper vans for the trip, and we’ve managed to secure the support of CruiseAmerica.co.uk, who are one of the largest RV/Camper rental agencies in the U.S. We’ve booked a 30ft long RV that’ll comfortably sleep six, which should leave enough room for me and the bike whilst Amy and her parents sleep outside! Like I said, that bike is going to be my pride and joy for a loooong time……..

Cruise America have included all four of us (Amy, Pam, Brian and me) on the named driver list as part of the deal they’ve given us, and with this in mind, I’ve suggested that if I’m going to be on the insurance, we could all swap between cycling and driving during the trip! Suffice to say, I was reminded in no uncertain terms that the only time I’m allowed near the RV will be either when I’m asleep, or when I’m watching it drive off and leave me each morning!

I’ve also managed to put in some decent training over Christmas as well. Admittedly, it’s been mainly on the turbo trainer in the garage, but it does mean I’ve been able to control my heart rate much better whilst riding, although staring at the garage wall does tend to lose it’s appeal after the second hour!

I’m hoping the training I’m doing will carry me through January a little bit, as we’ve got a holiday to Lapland booked, Amy’s off to Canada with her work for a week (so the diet won’t be great whilst she’s away?!), and I’ve been told at work that I might be required to go to Italy.

I also need to contact Greg from Sunday Bicycles in the New Year to arrange delivery of the bike – although the way it’s looking, it might be difficult to find a time when either Amy or I are actually in!