Century Cycle Challenge

I am grateful to the friends who gave money to Water Aid and Open Hands (a Leicester City Charity for Asylum Seekers and people who need a friendly face).  You helped me raise about £300.  Open Hands received about £5000 from the event.

Here is the story.

Margaret's Cousin, Dave Bennett has a very nice bike with flattened spokes(!) and fibre glass front forks.

Dave leading his team into the sea
at Brancaster.

He lead a team last year from Leicester into the sea at Brancaster in Norfolk with the Century Cycle Challenge.

This year I bought a folding bike with the 'Cycle to Work' Scheme.  It is designed for long distance cycling, with the option of catching the bus home.  (If interested, see more at www.airnimal.eu)

This year I joined Dave's team.

We took the whole think very seriously, training hard, even in the rain.  On one fateful occasion, our pelaton collapsed and Dave's front forks snapped in two.  There is a heavy cost to all this crazy business.

Dave's expensive front forks.

On the 4th of May about 500 bike set off from a beautiful hilltop manor house called Neville Holt.

Neville Holt (at the top of a steep hill)

The first 50 miles took us to the outskirts of the Rockingham race course, past Kirby Hall (English Heritage) and under the Welland Viaduct (longest in England).  Then Up to Morcott, and into Rutland.  We stopped at Rutland Water for and energy boost of bananas and rather dubious freebies of 'cycle food', such as the 'Lance Lozenge' and the 'EPO energybar'.  After this we got back to Neville Holt in no time averaging 14mhp.

Rockingham Speedway

Kirby Hall

The welland Viaduct

Rutland Water

The second fifty miles was slower for me, and I soon found myself in the 'B' team.  Our time was affected by a number of my team mates taking a tumble.  One damaged his wheel and had to drop out.  I found myself counting off the hills (six hills to go...)

It was lovely to be supported by Margaret and the girls, with Dave's wife Fran, and Sophie and James.  When I got home I was relieved to find I still had an energybar in my back pocket, which helped me get up the stairs to bed.

This is at the lunch stop

Only one crazy person per family

Starting second 50 miles in the rain

Struggling in at 100 miles

Most of the team at the end in silly jerseys