Sometimes as I hit the steepest gradients no amount of weight or muscle power will turn the pedals. So with the experience of my Yorkshire Dales cycle ride in 2008 I visited my local bike shop – Cycle Heaven – for advice. I could fit a smaller chainring on my crankset. So there’s one on order which will hopefully give me that lower gear for the hills.

If this is all too technical for you – this isn’t technical at all. I’m cycling Coast to Coast to raise money for two charities. Visit the Justgiving pages I have set up and be kind enough to make a donation. Let me assure that none of this money is going into the cost of a new chainwheel. Every penny you donate goes to the charity except for a small admin cost taken by the website.

Funzi and Bodo Trust – funding medical help for a community stricken by cholera

Riding Lights Theatre Company – funding adventurous theatre productions by this Christian based company