Time is passing by quickly and the riders are making their final preparations for the big charity coast-to-coast bike ride next week.

Just 2 days to go now and Wednesdayite member - and Coast to Coast rider - Julian Batty gives his story in this exclusive blog:

"Wow - 'what an exciting opportunity', I thought, as I browsed the article I had stumbled upon relating to the proposed bike ride way back in April!

A 150 mile bike ride across the breath of the UK alongside footballers of whom I idolised through the 1980's and 90's as a young Sheffield Wednesday supporter.

I eagerly and without a second thought got in contact with Peter Shaw, the brains behind the operation, and expressed my eagerness to be included on the trip. Within days, and a heartily good reference from Darryl Keys (which I still owe you for Darryl), Peter contacted me to inform me of the news that I had been accepted on the trip.

And then, and finally then, the reality hit me!! 150miles?? Starting out across in Cumbria?? I must be mad I thought, I haven’t even got a bloomin bike!!

Appropriately, I have a few bits of Gym equipment at home, one piece conveniently being a modernish computerised type exercise bike. So, on with the training - almost straight away!! I built up my fitness over time and in line, reduced my weight also.

Upon the eventual acquisition of the aforementioned road bicycle (and after I had made a few modifications to it), I started out in my 'on the road' preparation for the event. Now, I'm very aware that what quickly became my daily ride to work and back from Norton to town is hardly ground breaking, but the trip home is on a constantly challenging uphill gradient, and I thought at least 'some' good was coming out of my small yet daily efforts.

I was slowly becoming much more comfortable on the bike and felt that my confidence was growing. I took the plunge to hit the next step and attained myself some SPD clippy pedals (and the cycling shoes to boot). I'm not going to tempt fate by saying that I'm now fully comfortable with these as yet. I have had a few very embarrassing tumbles whereby forgetting to release my shoes afore stopping the bike before blind panic kicks in seconds before meeting the road, elbow and knee first, to the amusement of anyone who had the fortune to be watching. But, for the last few weeks all embarrassing tumbles seems to have become a thing of the past and releasing my feet now seems to have become an automatic reaction triggered by using the brakes to slowing down and ultimately stopping (fingers crossed!!).

I've since increased my training, and enjoyed a few days cycling with fellow rider Nigel in the Lake District (those hills do get steep up there!!). I have hit a point of being comfortable completing 30ish mile rides within roughly a 2 hour time frame. That level is roughly the level I was aiming at hitting and at an average of 15mph I am confident that the efforts I have put in will be rewarded over the course of the Coast to Coast. If not, then come Tuesday evening, I’ll sure know about it!! And so, that's it, its Sunday now and from my initial contact with Peter until now seems a lifetime ago (and certainly a fair few lbs ago!!). Cant wait for the ride to start now, just hoping for the weather to be kind to us!!

Thanks to everyone who has shown support for me during my preparation for the ride and those who have so kindly sponsored me on this trip.

Good luck everyone!!

JB"