Young David Arthur will be well-known to regular readers of this site, not merely as a racing man but as a fully-fledged long-distance cyclist, with impressive performances in the Dragon Ride, Dartmoor Classic and Southern Sportive to his name alongside participation in last year’s inaugural Cent Cols Challenge.

Not, then, a chap you’d expect to quail at the prospect of a quick double century in one day across some of the loveliest contryside on southern England. Turns out that solo long-distance riding is, in fact, something of an unknown quantity to our Dave.

“I’m getting a bit nervous about riding all that way on my own” suggests the trepidation of one contemplating an attempt on the round-the world cycling record rather than a seasoned distance man savouring the prospect of not only joining me and a couple of others for our annual autumn tour  but riding to the start point, which will be some not-too-far-flung provincial outpost, while we enjoy the hospitality of the UK rail network.

I’m sure he’ll be alright once he gets going.