Dan Hawker here.

So I read Helen and Andrew's posts, and I thought for a minute I'd come to some weird AUDAX / Macho Film specialist blogspot.

My training has been slightly more hit and miss. I did a bit of carbo loading last night - had a couple of slices of bread - very nice they were. I might have a sandwich for lunch. Yesterday I managed to cycle into the office and back (50 mile round trip), which was great Hoping to get this up to 2 journeys per week. Got a new saddle at the weekend which I've yet to fit, but looks much more gel-filled than my other razor blade.

Recommendations from me for the ride include - eyewear if it's windy and you don't want to be crying all the time. Cycling gloves - much more comfortable than bare hands and better grip - go for crotcheted back in the warm weather. Anything from www.rapha.cc, which is the coolest cycle gear site in the world.

When I'm on my turbo trainer, I like to put on some TdF classics from the Armstrong era - the climb up Mont Ventoux in 2002 is a good one (although Virenque beats him).