There's been no blog for me on the Mila website for the last couple of weeks whilst I've been taking part in the GM Fundraising Rome 2 Home charity bike ride raising money for the Hope House Children’s hospice in Oswestry.

We left the Coliseum in Rome on 11 June in temperatures around 30ºC but soon hit the worst weather which southern France has experienced for generations which made things pretty unpleasant for a few days, but overall it was a fantastic experience.

Climbing Mount Ventoux along the way – one of the most infamous stages on the Tour de France – was a major personal achievement for all of us and I’m pleased to say that all 18 riders in the team made it to the top. Well done to Ian McInnes who made it in a little over 1 hour and 20 minutes and John Olkiewicz who made it in a little over 1 hour and 30 minutes.

<
We arrived at Hope House last Saturday to a fantastic reception which made all the training and hard work worthwhile - see the picture above.

I want to use this post to say a huge Thank You to all those customers, colleagues, friends and suppliers who helped me to raise more than £12000 for the charity (more than any other individual rider!).

Without your donations, there'd simply be no point to the ride, so thanks very much for making those long days riding in the pouring rain really mean something.

If you want to see some photos from the ride and read more about the horrors of the French weather, then go to www.richardgyde.com.

Richard