That said, I do enjoy watching the pros cycling on TV, especially in the Tour de France. You simply cannot beat watching a bunch of absolute nutters (because that's what they are) slogging their guts out up l'Alpe d'Huez or the Col du Tourmalet, making suicidally fast descents at 60-70 mph whenever they get the opportunity, and practically killing themselves by cycling more than 2,000 miles in three weeks.
I also enjoy watching TV programmes about cyclists like Mark Beaumont, who has cycled his way around the world. His latest achievement is to have cycled the Americas solo, from Alaska to Argentina. You have to take your hat off to the guy.
Over the last few years, these guys have inspired me to go on a proper bike tour. Nothing competitive, but a tour that would challenge me, and which I would enjoy at the same time. The most I've done until now is a couple of days cycling through the New Forest, which I really enjoyed, but was left wanting more, and I've also cycled the South Downs Way over a weekend, which was bloody hard work.
I decided that it was high time I took the plunge and went on a 'proper' cycle tour, which I would find both challenging and enjoyable, and I am very fortunate that my wife gave her blessing! Having borrowed a number of books from the library, I finally settled on a week-long cycle tour in Spain. That will not come as much of a shock to those of you who know me as, it has to be said, I am something of a Hispanophile. I found a book in the library called, funnily enough, "Cycle Touring In Spain" and when I read through Route 5 - Sierras de Gredos y Guaderrama - I was sold. It's a seven stage circular route from Barajas/Madrid airport, covering over 250 miles and incorporating two mountain passes. The Spanish for the cycling tour of Spain is la Vuelta a España, so I'm going to call my tour of the Madrid outskirts my "Vuelta a Madrid".
I know there will be some of you reading this thinking "what a big girl's blouse, I could do that in two or three days, instead of seven", but that's not the point. I could probably do it in half the time myself, if I got up at the crack of dawn and pedalled all day, but I wouldn't have the time to enjoy it. The point is that I want to give myself a challenge, but have some fun too, and take in the scenery... it's a holiday (of sorts), and it will also be a fantastic opportunity to practice my Spanish, not to mention enjoy the food. And I would also like to take the opportunity to raise some money for charity.
My flights are booked, so it's all systems go. That gives me not very long to get reasonably fit (that's as fit as I'm going to get!), and work out logistics, such as how am I going to get to Gatwick for a 9:30 AM flight with a bike box and all my gear?? I'm sure it'll all work itself out with some careful planning.
