At the end of last year a friend of mine alerted me to a small local event in Isleworth where I had the pleasure to meet Eileen Sheridan, one of the best female long distance cyclists ever (breaking all the records during the late 1940s and 50s). Many of her records still stand.

Meanwhile she is at the respectable age of 90 years, but especially when talking about her incredible Land’s End to John o’Groats record, she is full of fire. She instantly became my hero and my inspiration to help me on my way with my own long distance cycling dreams, although I doubt I could ever speak about them as vividly and entertaining as she can about hers. This woman is amazing!