This year has been full of change. I left permanent employment (aka retired) in May of this year. They say you need to think about 4 things when you retire. What is your purpose? Are you financially ok? What about socialisation? Finally, what about self actualisation? I sort of thought I would be ok but struggled far more than I anticipated. I found the loss of structure and interactions with people really impactful. I tried to get a couple of non-exec jobs and failed. One thing that was an anchor was cycling.

I did really enjoy doing the Solstice Sprint (1000km loop starting in Warwick and heading through Wales) even though I had to scratch around 700km in because of broken spokes and a buckled wheel. In fact I enjoyed it so much I went back and finished it in one go from where I stopped in Llandudno (320km in one day).

Not long after that I was entered into the Great British Divide but scratched after just two days mainly because of my mood. I felt low and lost. A simple puncture overwhelmed me. I returned home disconsolate and down. It prompted me to withdraw from the Alps Divide as I felt if I couldn’t do the GBD what hope did I have.

Linda asked, “So what will you do instead?”. I shrugged and replied I would do something next year. She said, “But you love doing these events and it does you so much good”. Not what I was expecting! I then spoke to Niel Copeland, my coach, and he did a brilliant analysis of my fears, expectations and options with me. I realised I was allowing my mental mood to stop me from doing what I loved. I emailed the organisers and rescued my place on the event.

Niel also lent me his Evoc bike bag; a serious bit of kit. It made packing the Scott Spark pretty easy (especially with some help from Jim). So on the 4th of September I started the transfer to Menton, on the Côte d’Azur. Trains to Gatwick, a stay in the Premier Inn and then an Easy Jet flight to Nice, a train to Menton and then a short, steep walk up the hill to the La Vallaya Apartment.

Others began to arrive, Martin, Haico, Paul and Niel by car with Darren arriving later. Jo and JoJo, and Stuart. Only Stuart was staying elsewhere in the old town so it was a very sociable location.

Niel proposed a warm up ride on the Friday. I had managed to put my bike together (with a bit of help) and was keen to find out what lay ahead.

(The Evoc bag came with a bike stand that could be taken out as shown!)

Five of us were prepped and ready by the Friday so rode through Menton, past the start of the race and up the first climb. It was a lovely day and I was soon steaming on the climb. It was sustained, steep and, although I didn’t know it at the time, we only did half of the climb. We stopped at St Agnes for lunch and had platters of meat and cheese and bread and salad – delicious!

The descent back to Menton was a whizzy delight and that evening Niel cooked dinner for us all and we drank alcohol free beer as the sun started to set over the Med.

L-R: JoB, Stuart, Me, JoJo, Paul, Niel, Martin, Haico, Darren. The Turn Cycling crew.