Thanks for visiting!

In about 9 weeks time, we're heading off again on the Fireflies Tour - though revamped and overhauled to enhance our suffering.   Rather than starting in Geneva, the red peloton will set off from Innsbruck on our 1000km schlep to Cannes.  Geography tells me this will have us traversing great swathes of the Italian, Swiss and French Alps - as in previous years clocking up a massive 80,000ft of climbing.  

As this is my fourth Tour on the trot, I do have an inkling of what's to come, though this doesn't make it any easier, this is quite simply a ridiculous challenge for anyone. 

As always - this is to raise much needed funds and awareness for Bloodwise and their pioneering research into beating blood cancers.

As in the last couple of years, I'm extremely lucky that nobody close to me is currently affected by cancer, though it is still so prevalent, it's impossible to escape the feeling that it's going to drop at some point, rather like jury service, but really really shit. 

But this isn't negative - Fireflies has raised a colossal amount of money for Bloodwise in it's 19 years - this is making a real difference, but needs to continue.

There are about 40 riders in this years tour - 3 times last year's intake - this is enormously encouraging that more and more people want to be part of this.  The commitment involved takes a huge toll, physically and mentally - and on friends and family who, every year, see us go missing every weekend for months on end.  For those of you out there thinking this is a cycling holiday - next year is the 20th anniversary and there's a saddle waiting for you in the pain cave.

Every penny donated goes directly to Bloodwise.  The riders pay for our own rides, and our own lycra.  However small, it's all huge to us. So do give whatever you can, and thanks in advance.

For those who suffer, we ride (again). 

Steve x