So with just over a week to go before my very own Grand Depart I have realised something, something important, something profound, something down right shocking…………….. I am not even nearly ready for this challenge!!

Its in my name, ‘The Roly Rouleur’ not ‘The Incredibly Fit and Featherweight Rouleur’, oh why oh why do I get myself in to these things!!

My life is littered with these challenges, half-marathons run on very little training, taking on a black slope ski run without having ever skiied before (ask my challenge ride partner about this and the tears of laughter will begin to flow!), walking 25 miles for no reason other than just to do it, with you guessed it, no training, zero, nada, none!! But they also have one thing in common, I have always finished them!!

Shockingly I have been in training of sorts for this 600 mile cycle challenge (lets forget about the other 150 miles for now, you will here enough about them at a later date!) but as with everything I could have done more. The ride described in ‘So Drowsy’ has really played havoc with my head, what if i have another bad day, or two, or three, what will I do?????

And there is a very easy answer to this………….

I am stubborn, beyond belief, particularly when people don’t think I can do something. And I am pleased to say so too is my ride partner (who could perhaps be described as even more Roly than me). Lots of people have already questioned if we can do it, won’t it be too hot, too far, too difficult, aren’t you too fat, and we say BRING IT ON, these comments are essentially our riding fuel.

Could we have trained more? Yes, but will we complete it anyway?? 100% yes (barring injuries of course), we are just too stubborn not to!!

Please check out http://www.justgiving/philip-keel for details on how to sponsor me for the amazing Shooting Star Chase, http://www.shootingstarchase.org.uk @SSChospices