On Saturday I went on a 2 and 3/4 hour bike ride with my mate Kral around the Scorton area. This is on the western outer rim of the trough of Bowland with some spectacular scenery and challenging riding due to the undulating nature of the terrain.

Towards the end of the ride coming down a steep incline I failed to notice a ” cyclists dismount at this point” sign placed before a ford due to the speed I was travelling – needless to say I went flying into the river crossing the road, wrecked the front wheel of my hand cycle and my limbs went everywhere! Fortunately Kral was able to cycle back to the car, pick it up and get me and the remnants of my bike out of the water and into the car. Nevertheless it was a terrific ride and enormous fun.

Yesterday I had my first proper go in my racing chair. I will attach some photos of the chair and me in it but the first thing I realised is how hard it is to get into! As I am 6 ft 3″ I have long legs and these have to be tucked directly under my body. I eventually got into the chair and pushed from my house to Southport Pier and back with my wife, lucy , joinging me on her bike. A completely different pushing technique is required to that in my everyday chair and I shall post the best technique when I know myself – I am hoping to get a better idea in 2 weeks after the Disabled athletes training camp  with British Triathlon.

At present I am entered into the Great Manchester Run in mid May and I am sure I will complete it without difficultly however my time could be dreadful! I am competing in that race for ASPIRE – the Spinal Cord Injury Charity.

Anyway for my first real go in a racing chair yesterday could have been alot worse! 

Over Easter I was lucky enough to spend a couple of days down in Pembrokeshire where my parents live with my sister. A great time was had by all particularly me as I was able to indulge in both eating many puddings and pretty rigorous exercise on my handcycle along the hilly coastal roads of South West Wales. I can recommend the ‘Shed’ restaurant in Porthgain as a wonderful setting to have dinner, indeed it was voted seafood restaurant of the year in 2006.

Skiing ‘La Vallee Blanche’ was by far the highlight of this year’s skiing.

The run is probably the most famous off-piste run in the world, down the glaciers of Mont Blanc requiring you to ski around huge seracs, boulders and crevasses on top of glaciers to the Chamonix valley.

I caught the cable car up to the Aiguille Du midi with Lucy and my guide Doume. We then took a lift to a viewing platform at 3880 metres which provides a stunning panorama of all the alps, into Switzerland and Italy.

We climbed down to the start of the run through an ice tunnel and down the Arete, which is pretty hair raising. Crampons were worn as were harnesses and we descended all roped together. The ridge has a 40% incline either side so falling is not a good idea. Doume guided me down the ridge with great skill to start the run down the Geant Glacier.

We all had to have avalanche transceivers which highlighted the dangers of the run, even on such a perfect, cloudless day.

The Geant Glacier turns into the Glacier du Tacul however before this point we traversed the moraine taking us to the Rufuge du Requin for lunch at 2516 metres. It is a spectacularly positioned restaurant above the Valley facing the seracs du Geant, arete des perides, le mont mallet, aiguille du tacul and le dent du Geant.

After lunch we joined the Glacier du Tacul which merges with the Glacier de Les chaux to become the Mer de Glace. The snow although not ‘piste-bashed’ was excellent to ski however constant vigilance was required to ensure we did not fall into the numerous crevasses.

As the lack of snow stopped us skiing into Chamonix itself we took a bubble to the Montenvers railway to drop down into the valley itself…..what a day!

Have a look at the photos page for videos as well as photos!

I am back skiing in the French Alps next week. Although paralysed I am able to ski with my family and friends through the use of a sit ski – please see gallery below.