The A-Team

Hi Guys,

Thanks for all the support for the blog yesterday, it's really lovely to get a nice text or a 'like' on facebook.
I really appreciate it.

As I promised yesterday, I want to introduce you to the amazing people who are giving up a huge amount of time, energy and money to come with me on my journey.

Chris Barker is Esther's older Brother.
Chris is a brilliant guy, and he's always looked out for me. He got married last year and is now expecting his first child with his incredible wife Lynda.
Chris has always been into cycling, although he prefers the muddy trails of the hills and mountains to the roads that we will be riding on down to Cornwall.
A few years ago Chris cycled from London to Paris, so we will all be looking towards him as the guy with the experience, but that's what Big Brother's are for . . . . right!

Ade Osoba is one of my wingmen at the wedding.
I met Ade when we were both working at the WORX studios in Parsons Green.
Ade has fallen in love with cycling big time over the last few years. He owns the coolest bike I have ever seen, and can often be found flying around the velodrome track at some crazy pace!
Ade is a great guy, and probably the best person to have around in a crisis. He gives out an illusion of calm, even though inside he might be all over the place. My problem is that I know him too well, so I'm not fooled anymore!

Carl Martin (or Carlos as I will always call him) is another of my wingmen.
I met Carlos a long time ago when we were both stacking shelves at Sainsburys in Warlingham.
Over the years, Carlos and I have developed a friendly sporting rivalry. We regularly play each other at tennis and snooker and also play the occasional round of golf. Our rivalry started on the Sainsburys pool table, when we really should have been working.
Carlos now works as a personal trainer, and although he calls it "a different kind of fitness" he will no doubt be full of energy by the time we roll across the final hills and into Watergate Bay.
Let's just hope that our rivalry is enough to keep me on his tail, and hopefully overtake him on the final stretch!

We are also being joined by my Dad and Esther's Dad who are going to be our support drivers.
As much as I know that they will spend most of the time going from pub to pub and enjoying themselves, the thought that they will be there as our backup, with spare wheels and things is a huge boost.
I really don't know how to say how grateful I am to the both of them, they will be the unsung heroes of our challenge, and are as much a part of the team as us riders. I love the fact that they will both be there.

So there you have it, the A-Team.