Getting back on the bike

After six months of trying to find the best bike for the least amount of money I finally settled on one that fit all the criteria as a replacement for my recently departed Specialised. I found someone on ebay who had a little used Bianchi road bike that he souped up and then put under covers in favour of mountain biking. His loss was my gain (for £1600).

Carbon frame: check
Really expensive wheels: check
Other really expensive parts: check
Light as a feather and able to carry me up mountains with minimal effort on my part: we'll see!

I have not been regularly riding for over a year and a half. By regular I mean at least once every fortnight. The purchase of a new bike is an incentive to get back out there and keep the flabby gut in check - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-10965608

Now that I have the bike I need some goal to aim for. Something nice and easy like a 80 miler in the Cotswolds or perhaps a little more ambitious and go for the 110K Dragon Ride in the Welsh Valleys.
Wait, screw that, let's just go straight for the hardest and most prestigious sportive on the calendar - Etape Du Tour.

As luck would have it the registration for 2012 just opened on November 20th. I am now signed up (although I checked the insurance clause that allows you to back out for 11 euros) and shitting my pants at the prospect of trying to get up the Tormalet which does not arrive until 85K in - 2012 Act II of Etape

It will be interesting to see if a 45 year old male carrying 15 pounds of excess fat and minimal iron in the legs from the last two years can train from almost a standing start and make it to the finish of one the toughest stages of the Tour.