A few weeks ago Tracey and I retrieved our touring bikes from storage. Believe it or not they had sat there for 5 years since we returned from the 4000 mile trans-USA challenge in 2016. It was so nice to see them again after all of this time. Amazing memories flashed through my head as we inspected them , long flat days in Kansas, beautiful scenery and challenging mountains in Colorado, bright lights and iconic buildings in New York and above all, kind and generous people all the way across the country.

Although the bikes look in great shape I know there are issues with them – the front wheel on my bike is worn out with a noisy hub, the back wheel is a temporary stand in to replace a near collapsing original late in the ride.  Traceys bike has again tired wheels and both need new brakes and possibly chains. Next stop is therefore our go to bike shop in this area – Pedalheads Cycles in Knaresbrough. Rob who runs the shop is a friendly, enthusiastic and highly skilled mechanic as well as a very lovely bloke all round.

Towards the end of this year / early next year, Rob is very kindly going to work with me to get me up to speed with maintenance / repair in advance of our next big fundraiser for Doctors Without Borders. In May or June next year, Tracey and I plan to  set off on the 4700 mile Arctic to Mediterranean ride (depending on a number of variables).

We are very excited at both the prospect of this challenge and of raising a huge amount of money for MSF.

The vital work done by Doctors Without Borders  only happens because people like you care enough about others to donate your hard earned money. This is never forgotten and you have my endless gratitude.