And so it begins...

Across Glasgow and the country beyond various aged relatives sat crouched over their computers fingers hovering over 'the big red button' in order to try and get me a place on the Tour de Force. A charity challenge to cycle the entire 100th running of the Tour de France. Within 20 minutes the places were sold out, but thanks to my cadre of silver surfers I managed to procure a place.

In a scene repeated in kitchens across the country my uncle Sandy, sits crouched, like a viper about to strike, ready to press that 'big red button'.

I very nearly managed to secure two entries. Doing the dam thing once will be tough enough. Not sure that twice would be possible.
The physical toll on my family has not been recorded. Although there are rumours of hernia for uncle John, a slipped disc for aunty Linda and I think the excitement may have resulted in a bout of incontinence in my mother.
I must confess to being both excited and trepidus about the whole endevour (cycling the tour rather than my mothers incontinence). But the Tour route is just amazing.
I haven't really had time to digest it all yet but the immediate highlights for me will obviously be the chance to sample the 21 hair pins of 'The Alpe'. Twice - Its nice of them to give me a chance to beat my PB so soon after setting it...
My old friend Ventoux. With a 150mile pre amble - just to make sure the muscles have been properly basted in a marinade of lactic acid before we start the climb.
The Port de Pailheres in the Pyrenees, her and I have some unfinished business!
The cycle through the hopefully sunny south of France, Corsica, Nice, then the Pyrenees.
Mont St Michel, the Glandon and the Madelaine.
3,360km after the start, a finish in Paris on Bastille day.
The Grand Boucle looks to be grand indeed.

The route of the 2013 tour.

So... 7 months and a whole lot of time to be spent on the bike between now and the Grand Depart, it'll be some journey.