UPDATE - 17th Dec 2008 - I finally completed the Cycle Challenge/Bici Sin Rodilla 2008 at about 2.30pm CT today, by returning to the Woodlands Mall where I started on the 1st March!  The last week involved riding in sub-zero temperatures and was quite hard although I did not find the actual cycling as hard as I had expected after 6 weeks of not riding...I am feeling quite relieved and very happy to have finally finished and will be flying home to the UK on Sun 21st.  If you are interested to read more about the journey, I plan to start writing a retrospective diary about the trip on the Veninos website and the Veninos Facebook page in January...

UPDATE - 9th Dec 2008 - I am back in Dallas and will start riding again tomorrow the final stretch back to Houston via Austin.  Somewhat apprehensive as I have not been able to ride the bike  much in the past few weeks.  It is also VERY cold hear - about freezing - and it even snowed this evening!!  Winds were 15-30 mph today when I rode to do a TV interview - not great biking conditions.  However, ONLY 400 miles left to do...

UPDATE - 26th Oct 2008 - I have completed 8460 miles and I have reached Dallas on the bike.  I have attended my "official finish party" in Houston today althought I have abotu 400 miles to go!!  I am now going to interrupt the bike trip to revisit the East Coast (by car!) and will do the final Dalllas-Austin-Houston leg of the bike challenge in early December.

UPDATE - 4th Oct 2008 - currently in LAS VEGAS.  I have passed the 7000 mile mark and am aiming to finish in Houston on 26th Oct.  However that means riding at least 75 miles a day for the next 20 days so not certain I can make it in that time frame....Temperature has just started to cool (by which I mean under 100 degrees) but  last 10 days or so were 100+ each day in the desert.  One day involved cycling 111 miles and for 110 miles of that there was nothing but desert; not even a rest area with shade!

The end is almost in sight!!

UPDATE - 6th Sept 2008 - currently in MONTEREY, CA.  I have finally crossed the US and reached the Pacific Coast.  I have also passed the 6000 mile mark, leaving about 2500 to go...Think I have now repaired about 28 punctures...

UPDATE - 6th June 2008 - currently in CHICAGO.  Approx 3450 miles completed (including 92 miles in one day to reach Chicago!!). Think I have now repaired about 12 punctures...

UPDATE -  7th May 2008 - I have cycled as far as Philadelphia but will be in NY for a few days.  Approx 2500 miles completed and 7 punctures repaired; my pedal also fell off this week!UPDATE - 1st April 2008 - I HAVE REACHED MIAMI.  Approx 1350 miles completed and 4 punctures repaired...

Para espanol, ve abajo...

If you are a tax payer in the UK, please go to www.justgiving.com/cycleusa2008

Thank you for visiting my fundraising page!

Have to say upfront that this will not be a display of sporting prowess.  Stamina is my only hope...This venture will definitely involve some walking and pushing the bike up hills and mountains...Not really been on a bike for 12 years and when I finally go the dusty old specimen out of the shed, it was rusty and had 2 flat tyres.  Sitting it it made me discover new bits of my anatomy...

Having worked with street and shanty town children in Venezuela though, I know that these children need our support and our understanding to help them improve their lives...So I hope that by raising awareness, as well as funds, this pedal-mania will ultimately help VENINOS to help these children.  I will set off from Houston, Texas on 1st March 2008.  The plan is to cycle approximately 9000 miles via Miami, Washington DC, New York, Cleveland, Chicago, Denver, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, Las Vegas, Oklahoma City, Dallas, Austin and back to Houston.  I hope to get back to Houston on 18th October 2008 (but no promises yet!).

You can view my online diary and photos at www.veninos.org/cyclechallengeUSA2008.  You can also learn about the projects VENINOS is currently sponsoring.

Donating through this website is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to support my fundraising efforts.

Many thanks for your support -- and don't forget to forward this to anyone who you think might want to donate too!

Si pagas impuestos en Gran Bretana, por favor dirígete a la siguiente dirección: www.justgiving.com/cycleusa2008

 Muchas gracias por visitar mi página!

 Debo decir de antemano que este reto no es sinónimo de mi destreza atlética... Mi voluntad y determinación son mi única esperanza... Esta aventura definitivamente incluirá caminar un poco y hasta empujar mi bicicleta en las subidas de algunas montañas... Tenía 12 años sin montarme en una bicicleta y cuando finalmente saqué mi vieja y polvorienta bicicleta del garaje, tenía los dos cauchos dañados.

 He trabajado varios años con niños de la calle y barrios pobres de Venezuela, y sé que ellos necesitan nuestro apoyo y entendimiento para mejorar sus vidas... Espero poder difundir este mensaje y recibir muchas contribuciones durante esta aventura en la que me embarco, para que a través de VENIÑOS, todos podamos ayudar a esos niños que tanto lo necesitan!

 Saldré de Houston, Texas el 1ero de Marzo del 2008. El plan incluye recorrer en bicicleta aproximadamente 9000 millas (casi 14500 kilómetros) pasando por Miami, Washington DC, NY, Cleveland, Chicago, Denver, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, LA, San Diego, Las Vegas, Oklahoma City, Dallas, Austin y de regreso a Houston. Espero estar de regreso en Houston el 18 de Octubre del 2008 (aunque no puedo prometerlo todavía!).

 Puedes ver mi diario digital y fotos en:  www.veninos.org/cyclechallengeUSA2008. 

 También puedes aprender sobre los proyectos que VENIÑOS esta financiando en este momento.

 Donar a través de esta página es fácil, rápido y muy seguro. 

 Así que no esperes más y ayúdame a ayudar a aquellos que tanto lo necesitan.

 Muchísimas gracias por tu valiosa contribución,