Yes I know, that’s truly a rubbish title, but it had to be done at some point in the trip so we may as well get it over and done with early.

This week I will be mostly cycling from São Paulo to Rio – well, almost Rio – in aid of the British Heart Foundation.  2015 was a busy year for heart attacks you see, and this is for my Dad who is still with us thanks to the work of the BHF and the good medical teams of the north of England. 

Anyway, I digress.  The last cycle trip to India I did less training than the trip before that to Vietnam and Cambodia.  This trip I have done almost none save a months worth of going to the gym a couple of times a week and getting out on the bike a total of four times.  Turkey is not a great place to train for a long distance cycle ride.  Most days I fear for my life when driving the car let alone using the roads on a bike.

Anyway, this will therefore probably be the greatest challenge of all to keep my cycling enthusiasm when I’m totally knackered and never want to see the bike again.  I think I’ll be OK.  The thrill of finally making it into the Southern Hemisphere and the peer pressure of keeping up with a small group so as not to miss the first round of G&T’s will, I’m sure, spur me on to pedal pedal pedal.

It is with a stroke of luck that only us 7 cycling buddies from previous trips have made the booking for the Brazilian Adventure.  If I can’t cycle with him, then these are the people I would want to be cycling with.

We are now well on our way.  I’m posting this from 38,000ft; I guess it was worth doubling back and flying from London to São Paulo via Frankfurt for free in-flight wifi and Star Alliance air miles 😉