Attempted to enter the record books

So last weekend I make a valiant attempt to enter the record books as Bishops Stortfords first man in space.

My attempt was launched not from a conventional rocket launch pad but from the top of a steep earth mound. My propellant was not rocket fuel but pedal power, from my mountain bike.

The concept was that if whilst accelerating down the steep earth mound one jams ones front tyre, one will then get flung at some speed and height over the handlebars and ultimately achieve lunar orbit. Alas, in my case gravity proved too much and after a second or so of free flight I hit the frozen ground like a 75kg sack of potatoes, making a fine "crump" noise as my internal organs bashed together and all the air in my body was expelled. I did for a few seconds think I had achieved lunar orbit as there were a dazzling display of stars in my eyes but alas everything then went black for a while...

For a while whilst I lay there flat out on the ground unable to move I thought it was going to be ambulance time but thankfully not, just a badly bashed head, shoulder & ribcage, along with a glancing blow to the knee as my bike cartwheeled over the top of me.

And my abiding memory - the three lads playing footie in the field, one of them shouted out "ooh, that's gotta hurt". Yup, you were right - it hurt then and it still does now, 10 days later. Alas I'm going to have to scrub the first training ride of the season which was this weekend in Brighton, hurts too much to do a serious ride.

Can you climb Everest on a bike?

Well no, not exactly.

So for 2009 I have signed up for the Raid Pyrénéen, a 710km trip over 5 days from Biscay to the Med. Pretty easy on the flat though alas mother nature decided to stick a mountain range in the way. The challange is to traverse the Pyrenees, going over 18 recognised Cols in less than 100 hours. The total climb over the course is circa 11,000 metres, so basically climbling vertically from ground level to the cruising height of a commercial plane. Everest tops out at 8,840m. So no, it's not possible to climb Everest on a bike, but it is possible to climb the equivalent of it.

The organisers describe it as "the Raid Pyreneen is a major challenge, and anybody who successfully gets the medal for completing the ride has something to be very proud of. All in all one of the most challenging - and satisfying - things you can do on two wheels".

http://www.frenchcyclingholidays.com/sport/raids.html

This year I am raising money for Thames Hospicecare, a wonderful place in Windsor where my grandma spent her last couple of weeks earlier this year that is in desperate need of cash to continue their great work.

http://www.thameshospicecare.org.uk/

First training ride Jan 17th - watch this space!