Days ridden: 4
Miles ridden: 124.5
Average mph: 16.5

Couple of good 25 mile training rides this week and then 60 miles. We had some friends staying for the Bank Holiday weekend so I did not get to do the long ride on Sunday, but on the Monday. It was warm, sunny and with a cooling wind. The first 50 miles I felt fine, then not so good for the final ten. I was stopping every 20 miles for a small feed and 5 minute rest, so I do not think I was running out of fuel. I might have been lacking some vital-to-me ingredient though, so I shall have to experiment a little there. I have also tended now to keep my speed down and get into a touring rhythm, which accounts for my average speed coming down.

Since we have only a couple of weeks to go before we set off, I thought I should annoy my friends again with another e-mail to get those who have not yet sponsored me to do so.

‘In only three weeks time I shall be cycling around the battlefields of northern France for Help for Heroes. Being the persistent guy that I am, I felt it my duty to give those of you who have not yet got around to sponsoring me the chance to do so before the big ride!

Despite the recent announcement by the government that they will be funding Headley Court with £24 million, Help for Heroes still needs to raise £6 million for the much needed hydrotherapy pool. They have already collected a marvellous £4.5 million in six months.

My fellow Viking Julian Pollard and I will be riding our bicycles with 298 others from Caen to Dunkirk, visiting a number of battlefield sites on the way. This is a distance of 350 miles, to be covered in five days from the 26th of this month. You can find out more at http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/bbbr.html.

I have been following a training regime which has me cycling four times a week, working up the distances I ride. I am feeling the benefits now and it becomes easier the more miles I do – honestly! If you feel so inclined, you can read my weekly training blog at http://timwilkes.blog.co.uk

Thank you again to all of you have kindly donated to Help for Heroes so far. What I would dearly like is for those of you who are hesitating before donating, to contact me and let’s see if I can go to France having reached my personal target of £7,500. Or you can donate easily at www.justgiving.com/timwilkes’

Next weekend I have two days in the saddle doing a 25 miles followed by 65 miles ride. Gearing myself up for that!