18.50 pm - gears break

I'm gritting my teeth - I can't change gear on the bike and the end is within a whisker. I am not going to be defeated so close to the end.

I have to push the bike for part of the way, but there's enough go left in her to get me into Chobham Rugby Club.

I cross the finish line as close to 7pm on the dot as is humanly possibly.

Everyone was cheering, the kids ran over to get me, they gave me a medal and I cried into organiser Jennifer's t-shirt (sorry Jen).

It may not have been Olympic time, but for me this was an Olympic sized challenge.

Had I practised a little more on hillier terrain, I might have known that the bike couldn't cope. I might have made better time. But then again, with a broken bike, I might never have made the start line.