It seems a long time since I was in the warm and sunny climate of Orlando. Christmas and New Year have been and gone and we are now left with just a few months to get ready for the 2014 season. So how have things been?

The gym work has been going really well. I am still getting stronger each week but as suspected the week on week gains are only small, now that we are so many weeks into it.

Stretching is showing improvements although my calves are still tight. Due to an increase in the amount of cycling I am now doing this is likely to be an ongoing battle and possibly one that I may never win. Why the increase in cycling? Read on…

I have not practiced as much as I normally would but the sessions that I have done have been great. I’ve been focusing on the right arm routing trying to keep my shoulder open throughout the swing.

This is starting to pay off; the next step will be to learn to turn onto the ball with more force starting with the hips.

So why the increase in cycling?

In November a very good friend and my best friends’ dad sadly and suddenly passed away. Brian was a student of mine and along with being a keen golfer he also loved his cycling. Brian often rode cycle challenges in order to raise money for charity, he was always thinking of others. In July of this year he was due to ride Stage 1 of the 2014 Tour de France – The Help the Hospices Grand Départ – Yorkshire Tour Challenge.

In his memory, and to continue Brian’s great work in supporting the Seve Ballesteros Foundation, his son Rob and myself will be riding all 125 miles of the opening stage. The grueling route from Leeds to Harrogate takes in the twisting, narrow stone-walled roads of the Yorkshire Dales National Park with 9000 vertical feet of challenging climbs!

Neither Rob nor I were keen cyclists, Rob didn’t even own a bike and I prefer the bogs of Kentmere to the roads! But we are committed to follow in Brian’s footsteps. Training has begun and since getting back to the UK mid December I have done over 500 miles with another 2000 miles scheduled before the big day.

Brian’s aim was to raise money for the Seve Ballesteros Foundation. The money raised will be going to help fund the pioneering research being undertaken by Professor Steven Clifford and his team at the Northern Institute for Cancer Research in Newcastle.

To read more about the research or to Sponsor us Click Here

You can keep track of my training by following me on Strava or you can keep reading these blogs were I will keep you updated!

Happy golfing and cycling!

Andrew