After lots of 24 hour races as a team and plenty of six and 12 hour solos, Mike and I have both decided that it’s time to go for the big one – 24 hours solo. We reckon that just keeping going will be challenge enough, so we’ve got no intention of actually racing. Hence our choice of charity 24 hour bikeathon CLIC24 (Mendip Hills, Somerset, 12/13 May). CLIC24 isn’t a race, it’s a charity endurance event – riders secure sponsorship, with the money going straight to childrens’ cancer and leukaemia charity CLIC Sargent

Obviously with 12 hour experience, we’re at least half-prepared for this, but we’ll be bringing you some updates of how we’re getting on over the next few weeks. We’re not anticipating doing anything as vulgar as training (at least, Mike isn’t) but there might be a bit more riding than usual, maybe.

So with entry forms sent off and places confirmed, we just need to raise some money. And this is where you, our esteemed readers step in. We’re asking you to dig (as deep as you like) into your pockets and sponsor us. We’ve each set a target of £1,000, but it doesn’t particularly matter if one, the other or both of us doesn’t reach it – whatever we raise goes to CLIC anyway.

And just so we don’t get accused of emotional blackmail, we know how annoying it can be to be constantly pestered for money. If you don’t want to donate (or you want to donate something to someone else), feel free. We won’t think any less of you 🙂 But we’d be grateful for any digital coppers that you could throw our way. And remember that the cunningness that is JustGiving.com means that your donation automatically qualifies for Gift Aid, so CLIC Sargent will get an extra 28p for every £1 stumped up at no extra cost to you. Bargain!