February has proved to be a good month for training. I’ve been out on both Saturdays and Sundays of every weekend and I’m getting in some decent turbo sessions on the weekday evenings.

We’ve added some pictures of the first ride on the Sunday Bicycles Silk Road bike that I’ll be using for the challenge (see First Ride in the Gallery section). You’ll notice from the images that I’m also wearing the cycling kit that Sunday Bicycles kindly supplied and I have to say that I felt quite professional breezing around on the new bike in my team kit. I’m sure however, that anybody who actually witnessed me wheezing up the slightest of inclines would have probably thought otherwise!

Now I’ve got the bike (and some fancy cycling kit!) we’ve started putting more focus into the publicity side of the trip, and to this end, my parents (that’s Joan and Dave to you!) have been in contact with the Western Gazette, who are keen to run a picture and a story about the challenge. Amy and I have had a photographer visit who took some pictures of us with the bike (and me in my new cycling attire!). She even wanted some action shots so I wobbled around our road trying not to catch my front wheel with each pedal stroke (road bikes aren’t designed for emergency u-turns!), so expect to see a picture of me in the Western Gazette displaying the facial expression of a man trying to multi-task! On the plus side it’ll still be better than the shot she took where I was scratching my arse.

I’m sure the neighbours must have wondered what on earth was going on as I emerged from the house fully kitted, and with a photographer in pursuit, only to ride around the block twice and then go back in the house again!

I still need to speak to the actual reporter before the story gets printed, but it’s definitely a step in the right direction and we’re hoping to generate quite a bit of interest when the article goes to print. Hopefully not all of it will be from weirdo’s who just want a picture of me in spandex?!

We’re also (I say ‘we’, I really mean Amy!) starting to plan the next fundraising party which will probably be the 12th of April at the Johnson Park Sports and Social club again. We’re (again, Amy!) thinking of a Spring-themed event, so if anybody has any ideas for what we could include please get in touch and help us out.

Amy has also been busy writing letters to local businesses asking for their support and we would love to hear from anyone who would like to get involved in what we’re doing.

Right, it’s time I went for a bike ride so I’ll see you later.