The New ‘Sports Car’…
It used to be that the ‘mid-life crisis’ resulted in the typical British male going out and buying a sports car or motor bike…  Apparently the ‘new’ mid-life crisis indicator is doing some kind of charity challenge!

Well, having talked for several years about doing an ‘Etap du Tour’ and now having reached the grand age of 51 without having done so, I finally decided to combine the typical Etap climbs into one cycling session from hell.

Macmillan Cancer Support has organised a five day trip called ‘Conquer the Alps’ which I have signed up to do from the 15^{thto the 19th} September.  After travelling out to Geneva on the 15^th, we spend the next three days doing two mountain climbs - covering about 70 miles -  per day.  There are several recognisable names amongst the peaks, but the most iconic is on the last day and is the final climb up Alp d’Huez.  A challenge in its own right, the fact is that this comes after the Galibier in the morning and having already suffered [conquered?!] the other days beforehand… Ah well, ‘no pain no gain’ seems to be the often quoted consolation – madness may be more apt!

So what can you do to help?  If you are really quick, you could have me ‘Sectioned’ and stop me doing the ride (that has some appeal on a number of fronts to various people!).  Failing that, you may like to sponsor me and help make my forthcoming pain worthwhile for someone else who could be suffering from Cancer and in need of the help of the Macmillan charity.

My target has been set to cover the minimum that the Charity expect me to raise based on the costs of organising such an event.  I appreciate that times have been tough for many people and so I am only asking that you give what you can afford - I know that it will make a huge difference to someone who may be less fortunate than we are.

Day1     Getting me and the bike to Geneva

Day 2    Bonneville – Col des Aravis – Col des Saisies – Albertville

Day 3   Albertville – Col de la Madeleine – Col du Telegraphe – Valloire

Day 4    Valloire – Col du Galibier – Alpe d'Huez

Day 5    Getting me and some aching muscles home...
 

Thank you in anticipation – I would offer to take you for a ride in my sports car, but I don’t have one…

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