As of yesterday the ballot for RideLondon is once again open for the Great British public to chance their arms at gaining one of the 25000 available places for July 2016.

But I won’t be one of them, or at least thats what I thought!

After this years ride and my second running of the route I had made the decision to hang up my jersey when it comes to such a large and popular event, and instead focus on some of the hundreds of smaller events run across the UK and Europe. The only trouble is Mrs Rouleur had other ideas!! Whilst I was one of the unlucky losers last year who didn’t get a ballot place (AGAIN) Mrs Rouleur got her ballot entry at the first time of asking.

But there proved to be just one problem, her ability to walk in sandals! About 3 months before RideLondon 2015 she somehow managed to break her 5th Metatarsal (the most famous of bones in the body thanks to a long line of injured England players over the years). How you ask? Well simply by walking around the car.

Whilst myself and Toddler Rouleur aka the future Rainbow jersey waited patiently in the car we started to hear some strange sounds coming from our driveway and upon checking to see exactly what animal needed to be put out of its misery I discovered Mrs Rouleur in a heap on the floor. Not only had she rolled her ankle but she had somehow come down with her weight on the top of her foot. A broken bone later and her place was deferred until 2016.

And now it seems that despite my stories of travelling landfill sites, fruit shortages and ‘Lycra Louts’ she is determined to complete this still wonderful event next year.

So being a rather awesome Roly (if I do say so myself) I have therefore agreed to fumigate the jersey one last time and my ballot entry has already been placed. BUT it could mean that I complete my hatrick of RideLondon’s again riding for one of the very many charities who have protected places.

Over the years I, like many other (much more incredible) people, have raised money for a number of different charities. In my ‘Skinny Rouleur’ days myself, the future Mrs Rouleur and one of our wonderful friends (lets call her Miss Fitter than the average Rouleur) raised money for a very small local charity called Parity riding from Farnborough Hampshire, to its twin town Meudon on the outskirts of Paris. As we all worked at the same place it meant fundraising was a lesson in perseverance (read ‘bugging the hell out of people’. Other events/rides came and went and the battle of getting people to part with their hard earned cash became increasingly difficult, particularly as money became tighter and the sheer number of people trying to ‘do their bit’ has seemingly increased ten fold.

I am not blessed with a very creative brain for fundraising ideas nor am I blessed with corporate sponsors who in one fell swoop (and massive donation) can win me a trip to the Olympic Velodrome as a top fundraiser as per some fellow team members last year (yes I am seeing the computer screen through the eyes of the incredible hulk right now). Instead what I rely on are the same wonderful group of friends, family and colleagues to put up with yet another email, yet another crazy event, yet another bake sale (I am slowly turning work colleagues in to a department of Rolys).

This year to encourage people to part with their cash I even added a Cycle Europe challenge to make me stand out from the crowd and maximise funds for the incredible Shooting Star Chase.

So what if my luck is still out next year and I need a charity place. What can I do to convince people to donate for one of my chosen causes yet again? Perhaps ‘Everest’ on Alpe de Huez? Hmmm I might be on to something (though lets not mention anything to Mrs Rouleur just yet……………..).

One thing is for sure whatever happens I know that if I ride for a charity next year I can count on some incredible people to once again reach in to their pockets and help me to help a very worthwhile cause. For this and for all of your amazing support and donations I truly thank you.

Of course next year you might all be saved by the ballot, but if I do come a bugging, please blame Mrs Rouleur.