Jon Snow issues 1,000 mile winter cycling challenge

Winter is coming... and Jon Snow wants to know, are you ready to ride out the cold weather?

Before any Game of Thrones fans get excited, it's not that Jon Snow (although for all we know, Kit Harington will approve of the challenge).

ITV presenter and cyclist - the original Jon Snow - wants you to put your grit and pedal power to the ultimate test to ride 1,000 miles between 1 November and 31 January for Cycling Down Dementia.

Here's a short video message from Jon introducing the challenge:

Ride 1 000 miles this winter and raise funds for dementia research.

Two distances are on offer as part of the challenges, Pioneer at 300 miles and the Epic at 1000 miles. Whichever you choose, you'll be raising funds for Alzheimer's Research UK and life-changing dementia research.

UK Cycling Events are partners in the challenge, and their sportive series runs year-round, offering an excellent way to rack up some miles in good company throughout the winter.

So let's see, raising funds for much-needed medical research, while laying down some serious base miles to see you into the new year in peak condition?

Sounds like a win-win to us.