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‘Force 4 Life’ is in memory of four great friends lost to cancer – colleague and mentor Bill Mitchell, girlfriend Roya Doane, and friend from student days Ian Hall, in 2024. In 2020, at the beginning of COVID, Ian and I lost our good friend Steve Butt.

Sadly almost 1 in 2 of us will face a possible cancer diagnosis in our lifetime. Through cycling (the 100 mile Nello ride) and my own losses I came across the cancer charity Force in Exeter www.forcecancercharity.co.uk. They do great work funding and supporting cancer research and helping those with cancer and their families.

I pondered last winter how I might best use my passions for cycling and travel to help Force. I came up with the idea to cycle 4 events, in 4 countries, on 4 different bikes, for 4 friends. Hence my ‘Force 4 Life’ challenge.

2024 was an emotional roller coaster. Having done little cycling, my fitness had dropped off and weight put on. I had no idea in January of what I was capable, especially as I’d been suffering from a chest infection for months. To guide my event selection I looked for rides over differing terrain that would test bike skills, speed and endurance.

My first was the 264 km Colnago Classic in early April. A randonée around the beautiful Italian Lake Garda, followed by a 110 km 1900 m climb sportive through the mountains (in freezing rain) in 4hrs 38 mins on my Massi carbon/alloy race bike.

The second event was a stage of the 2025 Tour de France: a 173 km ride on 9 July starting in Vassy in the Calvados region of Normandy. We took a hilly route up to the Stage 5 Caen to Caen time trial (TT) and returned along the Velo Vert green route. Cycling the actual TT course immediately after the Tour was very special as we had to dodge the supporters, gendarmes and motor homes before a glorious run of 33 km across rolling countryside.

The third event was the Tour de 4, Sir Chris Hoy’s 100 km charity ride, from Glasgow on 7 September. I met Sir Chris in 2022 at the Goodwood Revival when we rode out together on the l’Eroica Brittania 30 km trial route, and was delighted to have him sign my Force shirt after the ride. The Tour de 4 went through the magnificent Scottish Lowlands and on this occasion I rode my steel touring bike.

My final event was the 237 km Kernow Way in West Cornwall at the beginning of October. The ride comprises three loops (totally 300 km +) on roads, tracks and bridleways with short steep climbs/descents. Based near Helston we rode the Lizard Peninsular on the first day, north to Redruth, Portreath and Camborne on the second day, and west to Lands End and St Just on the final day. I used my alloy suspension mountain bike, essential for the off-road sections.

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