The 12 riders who are setting off from Olympia are faced with a Herculean task. The heat and the long distances repeated day after day will take their toll. This will be a Spartan trip with long days in the saddle and basic accommodation. We will be joined in Lucerne, Switzerland, by 15 more friends. We have teasingly named them the Corinthian Casuals, but in reality they will still be joining us in averaging 85 miles for the second week which is tough going for any cyclist. And we will all be raising funds for the Kent Air Ambulance.

Kings School Canterbury has promised us half of the proceeds from their summer fete. That should be about £1000. Marvellous. Less than six weeks to go before the twelve of us leave for Athens.