Jaj is out there, Wilson is at the Gym, Pat is quiet, Bennett is fighting the hills of Ireland and Seth is emailing everyone telling us how his bike isn’t working and it’s snowing outside!

Final plans in place down at the pub.   Van livery in progress, gear on order, Pat is panicking about where and when he should be.   All under control.   B& B’s booked and final routes sorted 

Andy and Jaj do some fine tuning - new chains, sprocket and stem for Andy to ease him up the hills and stop breaking his back bent over double (no boy racer any more)

Set off at 7.45am Andy and Ian cover 114 miles returning at 7pm in the dark.   Trip takes us up to Ashbourne, on to Biggin along the Tissington Trail.   A long climb for about 10 miles into the wind.   We make time on the way back raising the overall average from 13mph to 13.7 mph.   Yet another puncture for Ian coming out of a massive climb in Draycott in the Clay. 8034 calories burnt

Jaj sets off in the morning and covers a solid 70 miles.  Ian and Andy do an afternoon trip - 53 miles in the pouring rain - not good but an insight into what its like when wet!   Need some new waterproof gear!

Back to back 100 mile training runs through the Warwickshire countryside has now been achieved.  The weather was relatively kind albeit the wind was a bit fierce.   No incidents to report other than a few sore knees.   Nothing that a hot bath and an early night can’t sort out.  

Many debates about which route to go north of Edinburgh - a few choices - one goes straight over the Grampians and I know I’m stupid but I know a problem when I see one.   Thanks to David the chauffeur - he’s cracked a much better alternative for us - tracking alongside the A9 into Inverness

Support van sorted - courtesy of Pat - driver - Jaj’s Dad - thanks Eddie.   Hundreds of litres of energy drinks, energy bars and gels on order.   We’ll each need refueling approximately 8000 calories per day…that’s a lot of chips!

Only a month to go - Friday and Saturday - plan to ride a back to back 100 miles a route which takes down through Coventry, south of Stratford and round in a loop back through Meriden … weather forecast not good!

We hit the local papers - Jaj’s picture is reminiscent of Stephen Hawkins.

Sponsorship is now underway… people are being really generous - thankyou to all so far.