Me and my bike

This is my mountain bike. The one I have been doing all my training on so far. I got it for Christmas two years ago from my wife. Prior to that, I hadn't ridden a bike for more than 30 years!

I try to go out twice a week, mostly at the weekends. Even this has been difficult in the snowy weather over Christmas and in January.

I generally do between 10 and 15 miles each time I go out. As I've said before, the furthest I've ever ridden is 21 miles and that was on this bike in the middle of last year. I know I'm going to need to significantly increase the frequency and distance I'm doing as we get nearer to the 21st May! As the weather gets better I will be able to do more in the evenings after work and then much longer rides on Saturdays and Sundays.

When I took the bike to the shop to get it serviced and told the guy I was doing a 90 mile ride for charity he couldn't believe it. He said that riding a mountain bike, with big fat wheels like mine, on the roads, was like driving a tractor versus a car! I know what he means!