“You don’t have to be super-fit…” is a reassuring introductory line taken from the cycle guidebook ‘Land’s End to John O’Groats – The Great British Bike Adventure, by Phil Horsley’. I’m wondering if buying as much really expensive equipment as I can and occassionally reading the same first page of our guidebooks (usually on the toilet) counts as training?

Over here in Guernsey we’re slowly building up the miles with lengthy rides around the island several times a week, toughening the cheeks up on as many of the gruelling hills as possible. Although not on a bike, here’s a glimpse of our training circuit.