Why?

Why have I volunteered to do this challenge? The obvious answer is that I'm having a mid-life crisis (running at 7 years duration and counting). I love riding my bike and always jump at the opportunity to ride somewhere exciting but on this occasion I'm also riding to raise money for an important charity and show my gratitude that my family has been lucky enough (so far) not to need the excellent service that Birmingham Children's Hospital provides to it's patients.
You may also ask if this race provides a significant challenge to a category 3 road racer, it's a valid question and the answer is yes, I know many good 'road racers' that just stick to racing flat races and would avoid climbing mountains like the plague. I happen to enjoy riding in the mountains and will be riding the Maratona to finish as quickly as I possibly can, the mountains will hurt just the same it will for the other team members - as 5 time Tour winner Bernard Hinault once said 'it doesn't get easier, you just go faster'.