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Important Note: This trip will be entirely self-funded. Any support that you give will go 100% directly to Cancer Research UK.

In September I'm driving down to Italy to collect Ali for our favourite event, L'eroica vintage cycling.

I was looking for a challenge on the way and noticed that as I started to look at the options, I was getting a bit nervous. Now clearly, I am getting a bit old because I've never worried about anything like this before; maybe I could actually fail...or worse still bottle out!

I haven't done anything significant for charity for 3 years, so I decided that the commitment of doing some fundraising would make sure that I get may arse properly into gear! Now, if you're a 200 mile per week club rider, this may sound like a holiday...it doesn't from where I'm sitting!

So, here's the plan. On September 25-26-27 I will ride 3 big mountain passes in 3 consecutive days, as follows:

Day 1: Offenpass, 17km of climbing + 921mtr climb. This will be a reasonably steady day to get over the drive. You can see the route here: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/20214935 

Day 2: Passo dello Stelvio, 25km of climbing + 1872mtr climb. This is the big one, possibly the most famous cycling climb in the world and includes 48 tightly spaced hairpins at the famous Trafoi Windings. The Stelvio tops out at 2770 mtrs. This means that the weather and altitude can add to the challenge. Unless it's dangerous, I will do it. Here's the route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/9440634

Day 3: Monte Grappa, 24km of climbing + 1620mtr climb. One of the most legendary Italian climbs and the site of one of their most important battles early in the 20th century. The summit is the site of an incredible commemorative monument. Whilst not as high as the Stelvio, the Grappa is long, steep and much of the road is poor quality, add to this day 3 tiredness and I'm expecting this to be the hardest bit. See the route here: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/19710911

So the 3 day total is:

Uphill distance: 66km / 41 miles

Height Climbed: 4413mtrs / 14,478 feet

Average 6.6% 

So, that's it. If you sponsor me I will complete the routes and will only stop if illness or weather conditions make it dangerous to continue (in which case I will make up the distance and climb on the way home.)

Finally, it was the loss of my fit and healthy 59 year old sister to cancer which first got me into this. It's still the scourge of rich and poor, young and old, there's brilliant research going on, but it's always limited by funds. By supporting cancer research, we improve the chances of all people, everywhere, for good. Sounds like a good investment to me?