First I need to explain why I’m doing something so unpleasant as spending 14 days off my bike.

Sciatica is something I’ve had before. Pain down the back of one leg is caused by a nerve being compressed in my lower back (something to do with running mechanics, and how my back is formed – I won’t bore you). Once it’s irritated, experience tells me that it won’t get better unless I stop cycling and running.

So – the experiment begins. Day one is not so bad – I’ve got some good training behind me, a couple of early season events under my belt, so I accept what’s to come, but I know it’s going to become more difficult.