We haven’t put any posts up for a while but we have been training hard. Since the last post a number of things have happened.

Lucy in Steeple Claydon churchyard

Firstly we went on an organised cycle ride which was a bit of a wake-up call. We were slower than all the other cyclists and found the hills a real challenge. It didn’t help that it was raining heavily all morning and some of the other cyclists were on flashy road bikes. We expected to do better.

Following on from this rather depressing cycle ride, we took advice and joined a gym. With only eight weeks to go until the challenge we realised that we needed help. We therefore got a personal trainer to devise an intensive and gruelling exercise regime designed to get us back on track. We exchanged our leisurely weekday cycles for punishing gym sessions and started drinking protein shakes.

Tim takes a break to see the donkeys

At the weekends we have been doing long rides. Usually our 55 mile circular route through Quainton or variations on this. We have also tried some interval training and fartlek training as well as sprints and hill training.

It is very hard to know if this is making a difference. We feel that the hills are easier and that we are much fitter. After our long rides we feel fine the next day. However it is a long way from London to Paris. The proof of the pudding will be in the eating. And we intend to eat a lot of puddings once this is all over, or French pastries at least!