Got in the mood for next weekend's trip to Paris for the final stage of the Tour de France today by taking part in the London Bikeathon -- a 26 mile pedal from Chelsea to Mile End and back.

A labyrinthine route through the back roads of East London didn't make for a particularly satisfying (or speedy) ride, although the event was good practice for my cycle across Death Valley in November.

I'm also getting in the Tour de France mood by reading Daniel Coyle's fascinating book, Lance Armstrong's War, which lays out in intricate detail just what an astounding piece of human machinery Armstrong is.

I've rarely looked forward to an assignment as much as I'm looking to next Sunday's piece of cycling history on the Champs Elysees.