We decide on our challenge

Before Christmas my old pal Sarah B and I decided we needed to Do Something. She likes walking (I don't), I like swimming (she doesn't) and we both like cycling. A cycle ride it is then... Sarah came up with Ride The Night, a 100km bike ride through the night in London to raise funds for women's cancer charities. Sorted! We both duly entered and promised to start training. I did, and was doing very nicely, then I got the flu...

So, this week training started again. London is flat, Monmouthshire isn't. I figure if I can get to 30 miles around here then I will be Absolutely Fine. I started on Wednesday with a two mile loop - my legs didn't actually fall off, which was good. On Thursday I did two loops which by my reckoning made four miles. Yay!

On Friday I decided to try for three loops until Mopsi told me that what she really really wanted more than anything in the whole wide world was to come with me. So we went in the opposite direction, found some hills and mud and had a lovely time. About 4 miles I think, but with added hills and sludge.

Today it snowed. As I'm now in 'full training' mode (which means I'm currently enthusiastic, it probably won't last) I thought I'd try cycling in the snow.

It started well...

And then I tried to corner...

Note Mopsi rushing to my aid. Or not - what she actually wanted to do was roll around in the snow with me - she thought it was a BRILLIANT idea!

No bones broken though - phew!

I put the bike back in the barn...

The organisers of Ride The Night emailed a few weeks ago to say that people were concerned about the hills. Apparently there's one that is 1.5% gradient (seriously? Does that even count as a hill...) and the other one (so just the two then) is 7% for half a mile.

Which means London is flat. 60 miles will be simple.

Won't it?

If you have a penny or two to sponsor me, thank you!