Following the unsatisfactory conclusion of the Marmotte (the Galibier is a hard cycle but the top end is a harder walk- even though the views are simply breathtaking) I was looking for a challenge to round the season off.

Anna happened to mention that the husband of an old colleague of hers was going to be riding the 24 hour event at Brands Hatch in September and that he might be looking for someone to make up the numbers.

Having just paid the entry fee for the event it's too late to back out now. We'll be riding as a team of four- so probably a minimum of six hours each depending on how we work things out- which will probably mean over 100 miles each- the event starts at 3pm on 15th September and runs right through the night.

I have already been referred to by Peter (the organiser and team leader) as a 'mountain goat' (sorry but I am going to have to disabuse everyone of that notion)- but reckon that it'll be a good chance to put my own perception of myself (that I am a diesel with no acceleration and awful climbing style- and arguably terrible emission problems) to the test.

The team is riding for Cancer Research UK- a very personal subject for me- and I shall of course be riding in memory of my father, Gordon.

It looks like a great event- I think it is going to be a lot of fun- I also think that we all probably need our heads examined- and that the free sports massage is going to come in very handy indeed.

Now, where's the beer tent?