My other bike's a Cervelo...

I want to do some structured training over the summer to get a base level of fitness so I can do some of Oliver's overnighters,

I haven't done an Oliver over-nighter yet but I wouldn't worry about feeling unfit. From the sounds of it they tend to be at a comfortable pace for everyone.

Erm, yes, why do they seem to have developed a reputation for requiring 'structured training'? Any young(ish) person who's moderately fit can do a ride of 70 miles. It's really not too difficult. On rides I lead, whoever comes along will be looked after and we'll wait for everyone.

On the last one, there were only a few of us, and we were a fast group getting out of London (tailwind and all that), but I think Dropout, moth, and I took about four hours for thirty-odd miles from Gatwick to Shoreham, simply because going slowly made it more enjoyable! In fact, that's part of the point of a night ride, to savour the atmosphere. So don't be worried about coming along, mooks. No-one will frown at you for wanting to go more slowly.

Hopefully, in the summer we'll get a larger group together again. I think I'll only be able to do the next overnighter at the beginning of May, but I'll see and announce something when I have a cunning plan.