Story
<p><strong>5 men.....1,000 miles......3 days.... </strong></p>
<p><strong>They say its not possible....well those who know us do!</strong></p>
<p>".....you've tried the cabbage soup, the Atkins, the GI & the south beach diets... You've weight-watched, calorie-counted, alternated between red & green days & endured the ritual humilation of weekly weigh-ins... You've Zumba'd, body pumped & PDX90'd until you've collapsed in exhaustion... But love, that middle-age spread just keeps on spreading!!"</p>
<p>And thats how it all started....</p>
<p>One night over a romantic dinner, one of the wives - who'll remain nameless- but who is blessed with an elfin-like physique thanks to a fast metabolism(!) - turned to her husband, demanded he put down his laverbread & told him that it was time he shaped up...!</p>
<p>The rest as they say is history... bound by the spirit of male brotherhood & solidarity (you insult one of us, you insult us all!) & inspired by Bradley Wiggins & the British Cycling team, <strong>Team Pie</strong> was born & our Trans-Pennine challenge began....</p>
<p>A route was plotted & a date was set: Southport to Hornsea - 346km (215 miles in old money!) in 3 days. OK, its hardly the Tour de France - but then again, we're hardly finely tuned athletes! But it's a challenge nonetheless....over 70 miles a day each - a whopping 1,075 miles between us in total!. Thats a long time in the saddle & an awful lot of pressure resting on one rather delicate area for an awfully long time!. </p>
<p>But this isn't just an excuse for us to carb-load, take on plenty of 'fluids', shave our legs and recapture our Adonis-like physiques of yester-year...no really its not!. We're also doing our bit for charity too...</p>
<p>We're looking to raise over £2,000 for Derian House Children's Hospice - a local charity that focuses on specialist palliative respite & terminal care for children who may not live to reach adulthood. It's a charity we admire greatly - we're all Dads - there but for the grace of God and all that.....</p>
<p>Please give generously! Without your support, we fear that come day two when we awake from our slumber - aching, sore & slightly hungover - it's only the thought of letting down the people who've sponsored us that'll stop us catching the train home.</p>
<p>Thanks for your support....x</p>
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<p>So who are <strong>Team Pie</strong>? Left to right on the pic we have.....</p>
<p><strong>Chris Male</strong> - whilst he shares the same forename as Sir 'Chris' Hoy & does have a nice sideline in Gold Medalions (Winner of Best Newcomer, European Elvis Championship 2010 - just look at that silky, shiny quiff!), Mr Male was sadly blessed with the thighs of a woman....</p>
<p><strong>David Schofield</strong> - our experienced endurance athlete & resident ornithologist (HONK!). He's organised, commited & the only one who's actually done any training to date. He'd never admit it but he's gagging to capture the Yellow Jersey!</p>
<p><strong>Nigel Mair</strong> - the Ying to David's Yang....if he was any more laid back Nigel would be horizontal! He's a fella who never gets flustered - a humble man blessed with an even-temper, good-humor and the patience of a Saint....(have you met Vicky!?!?).</p>
<p><strong>Gordon Shepard </strong>- unofficial team medic & an expert on chaffing & boils..... Oh how we look forward to G's daily rant on why this year is going to be Liverpool's year!</p>
<p><strong>Dominic Holt-Gregson</strong> - the baby of the team... the only one under 40 & 5ft!...as thick of thigh as he is of head, he's the one on the bike with stabalisers and tassles on the handlebars!</p>
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