DYNAMIC DUO AIM TO MAKE IT THIRD TIME LUCKY IN REGION’S ULTIMATE CYCLING CHALLENGE  

Two Portsmouth businessmen are aiming to make it third time lucky this summer when they take on the notorious South Downs Challenge off-road cycle route… in a single day

Brothers Terry and Chris Clemens are hopeful that a combination of the very latest cycling equipment, coupled with meticulous planning and preparation, will help them to succeed in the 110-mile challenge that they narrowly failed to complete as teenagers.

The duo, who own the Fix Auto Portsmouth vehicle repair centre in Ackworth Road, Portsmouth, are currently training for the trial which they’ve turned into a fundraising exercise in aid of the Royal Brompton Hospital’s paediatric unit in London where a family member was treated as a baby.

Starting in Winchester and finishing in Eastbourne, the route covers the complete length of the South Downs and includes cycling up more than 10,000 feet of steep hills, the equivalent of scaling all three of the UK’s highest mountains, Scafell Pike, Snowdon and Ben Nevis.

Terry said: “The South Downs Challenge to cycle from Winchester to Eastbourne in a single day has always been on top of our ‘to-do’ list, especially as we’ve both come agonisingly close to succeeding in it twice before. On both occasions, failing light and a lack of energy less than 10 miles from the finishing line beat us.

“While we are less fit now compared to our younger days, we are older and wiser. With the aid of far superior bikes with full suspension to help prevent fatigue and lights to enable us to continue even when it gets dark, hopefully we’ll get to cross the finishing line in Eastbourne.”

Terry added: “What has started out as a personal goal of ours has developed into a fund raising challenge. As a family we owe the Royal Brompton Hospital a huge debt of gratitude so when Chris and I came up with the challenge, doing it in aid of the paediatric unit which provided life-saving care seemed the obvious thing to do.” 

The brothers hope to raise as much money as possible for the Royal Brompton Hospital’s paediatric unit and have set up this Just Giving donation page.

They plan to attempt the challenge between 1st July and 31st August, choosing the best weather window. Terry & Chris will leave their fundraising page open until end of September.