US alcoholics tend to have really good ideas and tend to act on impulse.

April this year I had a really good idea - I bought a pedal cycle.

First couple trips out less than 2 miles each, ended with me vomiting by the side of the road. But I perservered, because I wanted one day to go to a meeting on my pushie.

In May, a guy that I used to manage throust a flyer under my nose and suggested that I hadn't a cat in hell's chance of completing a 47 mile ride between Glasgow and Edinburgh. Acting on impulse of course I said - Wanna F'ing bet!

So a month a go as my fitness improved and skills also improved, I went and spent a shed load of money on the lightest road bike I could afford.

I moved house three weeks ago and did next to no training for those three weeks but at 0920 this morning I pulled out of Glasgow Green and just five hours later I cycled into Murrayfield Stadium in Emdinburgh - 47 miles later (actually did 49 miles as I got a bit lost)

I only stopped for a total of 33 minutes, in two places - Linlithgo Palace and at the start of the last ten miles - to bulk up on protein shakes and water.

I got a little base medal finishers medal, a goody bag which included shampoo and conditioner (just right for a baldy man) and a great sense of achievement. I've raised over £500 for my favourite charity, but more importantly, I did something that I really thought I'd fail at (especially the last climb at 5 miles to go)

So what's this got to do with AA? I couldn't be bothered to take on a challege that I might fail at back in the dark days, but now, I'm willing to try - and if I fail? as long as I've done my best I'm a happy bloke.

So I'm stiff, achy, dammit actually in pain, but inside, I feel great. Definitely doing it again next year and aiming for a total time of 4h30. By the time I'm 60, I want to have a go at the sportive - all 110 miles of it.