The organisers of a well-established Berkshire cycling event recently commissioned us to do a makeover of their existing Bikeathon website in good time for this year’s event in June. Having taken part in several cycling events myself (just a few!) this work was right up my street. Of course my own experience meant I could completely appreciate the more specific requirements of a major cycling event website and we were thrilled to be invited to tender.
Unfortunately, a bad cold prevented me from taking up my place on the Fred Whitton Challenge in the Lakes. I was gutted as this was to be a major part of my training for the Etape.
Looking around for a comparable training ride in the UK which would be taking place before mid July I came across the Dragon Ride in South Wales happening in early June. The ride terrain is very similar to the Etape stages, and covers a gruelling 144 miles in the Brecon Beacons. In between times, I put in as much local mileage as possible.
As a very keen amateur cyclist and one time runner, over the years I have taken on several challenges from the London Marathon in my running days, to several years on my trusty bike around our local roads with the odd annual cycling challenge, which to date has included rides such as Mont Ventoux in the Alps, Col du Tourmalet in the Pyrenees and The Fred Whitton Challenge last year in the Lake District.
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