Sunday, 5 October. 19.5 miles, average speed 15.1mph, weight 15 stone 5lb.

First, some great news. This Wrynose thing is going to be a long haul, but my first sponsors have signed up and I am reminded why I’m doing this. Your encouragement means a lot; thank you. If you’re new to the blog and would like to help, please click here.

Right. Back to the training. We had to change our route due to floods, but in general it was an OK ride. I felt we finished strong, and we did not lose any time on the last uphill section.

But what is it about cars that drive past at speed and cut in just in front of you? It happened not once but twice, cars seeming to aim to just miss us with their wing mirrors. We always obey the rules of the road, we never jump lights or ride on pavements, we try to be courteous at all times, and, although we are not required to, we are always happy to thin out when we hear traffic coming. But some drivers – a minority – just don’t want us on the road. Their lack of tolerance and their inability to think through the possible consequences of what they’re doing is alarming. It’s not Grand Theft Auto out there – we’re flesh and blood.

Speaking of which, still 15st 5lb. It is just possible that the excess baggage I’ve collected over the years is turning into solid muscle…