I am taking part in the Afasic Cycle Challenge from Yarmouth (Norfolk) to Barmouth (Wales), about 350 miles in total, from 17-23 June 2007 to raise money for Afasic.

Afasic is the UK charity that helps children and young people affected by the hidden disability of speech and language impairments, working for their inclusion in society and supporting their parents and carers. Across the UK there are over 1 million children (2 in every class of 30!) and young people affected by speech and language impairments, which are a hidden, but a very real, disability.

 I realise everyone will no doubt have their own favoured charities and quite possibly you will never have heard of Afasic, but I can assure you, they rely so heavily on donations and urge you to dig deep if at all possible.

The cartoon image doesnt lie!! I have started the arduous task of "training" as the last time I rode a bike in anger was about 10 years ago and the "rear-end" is already "shot"!, We will be cycling 50~60 miles a day, sleeping overnight in tents......something I have never experienced, so being someone that prefers 5 star hotels this could be interesting.

31st march,.. serious training started, cycled way too far, the padding seems to work! however my legs didnt...on arrival home, tried to climb the stairs to get in a bath....the legs didnt want to know!! experiencing a "Douglas Bader" moment!

April...altitude training...ok ok! so i went skliing and didn't go near the 2 wheeled thing!

May...training in earnest....done some long distances but no-where near 60 miles...come to the conclusion the wind...rain and spray from cars....aint a nice experience! & have come to the conclusion this is gonna be a lot tougher than I first thought.....the saddle is starting to get the better of me!!

With 3 weeks to go, I would like to sincerly thank everyone that has sponsered me on line....and to those off-line.....Rabobank & a hell of a lot of its employees....John Powel, John Kirk, Gaz, Emile, Graham & Steve, Bob D, Dezla  the guys at ODL, guys from the 5-a-side and an awful lot of ex-Sanwa friends. and of course my family.....thankyou so so much.....

Just a few days to go before the off, the cycle training continues in earnest whenever time permits.  Most of the "accessories" have been purchased, all sorts of pain relief taking precident! Just praying the weather will be kind to us....especially as there are flood warnings for the midlands over the weekend....glug glug glug!

Last day before the off......A HUGE THANKYOU to the 143 people/companies that have sponsored on & off line.....

 25th JUNE.....back to work...BOOOO...& no sore backside!!...In  a few words my trip was......rewarding/humbling/hard work/wet/sleepless sometimes/enjoyable mostly...and finally I left Great Yarmouth with 7 strangers & arrived in Barmouth with 7 friends....thanks to everyone.

If your not to keen on sponsorship online, please don't let this deter you.....email me your pledge.

chris.hammond@rabobank.com