"Twenty or so volunteers met on a breezy morning at Brockenhurst Railway Station in readiness for "the big ride" through the New Forest.  Some were clearly enthusiastic, others were like me. I couldn't help but be struck by the irony of starting from a railway station, having been railroaded into this by my far too enthusiatic wife - one of the many Collaborative Lawyers from Wiltshire, Hampshire & Dorset taking part.

The preparations could have been better. A structured fitness regime, building steadily towards the pinnacle of the ride itself? Nope- more like a single last-minute attendance at the gym driven by panic, two days previously. 20 minutes & 6.6 kilometers (surely that can't be right?) on the gym bike & I re-emerged feeling totally knackered, with the dawning realisation that I had perhaps left things a little late.  

"Twenty one miles", I kept saying to myself, "Twenty one miles". I should like to be able to say that I was driven by both worthwhile causes, but I have to confess that I didn't give either a second thought. "Twenty one miles". What have I done!

Father-in-law, equally as enthusiastic as his daughter, but perhaps a tad fitter (just a tad my sweet) loaned me the kit. So I would at least look the part. Sure, the padded pants looked particularly stupid as I put them on,... and promptly found I couldn't breathe! Borrowing kit from a man who has undertaken 5 cycling holidays in the past 6 years, including 2 not-so-gentle jaunts across the Alps was indeed a schoolboy error.  Off with the pants & on with the "baggy shorts".  Baggy for Colin perhaps, skin tight on me.

Being as efficient as ever, my wife Caroline had organised a photographer from a local rag. Great, now there's a permanent testimony to this madness. Whilst waiting for the ritual shoot, I noticed Emma Wilders-Pratt wearing similar shorts but with far more panache, as should be the case. Go away Emma, people will see us & make the obvious comparison!

Photos done, & Debby Emery called us in for a few last-minute instructions.  The first bit would be uphill (just what I wanted to hear - not) followed by a mile or so over a shingle path. "You know, the sort that you get on a beach". My mind drifted back to those never-to-be forgotten childhood excursions to the East Coast and its shingle beaches. You know, the sort that would make your feet bleed. Consequently, the rest of Debby's pep talk passed me by.

And then we were off. Or rather, the rest of the group began the jaunt whilst I waited for wife & father-in-law to return from the toilets. Good move that - at least we wouldn't have an audience!

The wait did enable me to quizz Jonathan Talbot, who had already "done the circuit" earlier that day, mad fool. "Follow the green arrows & just continue straight on". Sounded simple enough. Any questions? Yes, "would we be back in time for the cup final?" Jonathan re-assured me, whilst managing to disguise a "surely they're not that slow" sort of look. Thanks Jonathan.

Then finally we were off. Turned left off the road, then the uphill bit. Then the chain came off (Caroline). At this point, Colin showed his worth - amazing what you can do with a twig.

And we were off again. And then the first puncture (Caroline). Call Colin again! We hadn't even gone a mile & I had a cup final to get to!!

You would have thought that after three false dawns, the remainder would have been a tortuous struggle, but in fact I was pleasantly surprised. Cycling is a wonderful way to discover the New Forest, which it has to be said was looking particularly stunning.  The weather was also extremely kind to us, no rain but not too hot and the wind was, in the main, helpful rather than a hindrance.

Whilst twenty one miles is perhaps a little excessive, we all made it and we felt particularly pleased with ourselves. Of course, it's not exactly trekking in the Andes, but it was a worthwhile venture, even though the pledge to "do this sort of thing more often" will inevitably recede over time.

The bonus was catching up with some old aquaintances and meeting a few  more. Thanks to Din Printer for keeping us entertained and for preventing me from sending some ramblers in the wrong direction towards Lyndhurst. Sue (Sutherland) - what happened to the short cut? Tricia (Gower) - I didn't find your husband & his vaseline rub? And Andrew (Mercer), did you find Lisa (Carter)?
    
The denouement? A slightly uncomfortable feeling in my rear quarters this morning coupled with what has already been described as a "ginger gait" whatever that may be!

I am sure that we have achieved the desired publicity for Collab as well as raising money for the NSPCC. Many thanks to those that sponsored me - it is much appreciated & I enjoyed reading your comments on the website.

And finally, did I make it back for the cup final?  Er, unfortunately yes." Terry Frost 21/05/07

Further details of Collaborative Law can be found at www.collaborativefamilylawyers.co.uk and sponsorship for the NSPCC at www.justgiving.com/collaborativefamilylawyers.