Blazing Saddles did it again, 507 gruelling miles pumping their legs whilst sitting on a narrow strip of plastic. They completed the Wessex Heartbeat Challenge in October and are already getting the training in for next year (the fact that most of this takes place down the pub is another matter!).

This was Glen's 8th Challenge, Dave's 5th, Vaughan's 3rd and Nigel’s first (Nigel kindly stepped in at the last minute to make up the team after one of the original members had to pull out due to a bereavement). Glen, Dave and Nigel are pretty experienced cyclists with a good level of fitness (for their age!), but Vaughan, having allowed himself to be distracted by golf over the summer, only started training at the end of August, despite being a middle aged large man!
We didn’t break any cycling records in , but we were drug free (alcohol excluded of course!).
Lest you think this was one big excuse for a booze up, here's a brief synopsis of the trials we had to face.
We arrived at Portsmouth docks on a windy, wet evening. The prospects for a smooth crossing did not look good! In fact it was a pretty unpleasant crossing. The team didn’t need to make use of sick bags, but they didn’t get much sleep either.

We started the first day of the Challenge at 0805 with Vaughan first up on the bike. 147 miles of quite hilly terrain through the Suisse Normande (the bit of Normandy that resemble the Alps!). It wasn’t long before the weather turned against us and we had to cycle through driving wind and rain. Despite this, we finished the first day while it was still light for the first time ever!

After getting some food (and more alcohol) down us it was time to crash down because we were up at 6 for a 7:00am start the next day!

The second day we had only 190 miles to face! Glen, having taken it easy the first day was first up in the dark as punishment! Thankfully, the weather changed for the better and stayed that way for the last two days. We made good speed, or at least we thought we did. One of the teams had time to go for a 3 course lunch and another team put up a gazebo on the route and invited trailing teams as they came past for a drink and nibbles, and they still finish ahead of us!

The 3rd day saw another early start. Vaughan found himself first off again and this time was grateful to the others who went ahead and kept him on the correct path despite his numerous attempts to get lost in the dark! At one point the team van pulled up behind Vaughan to give him the benefit of their headlights. After a minute of this he waved them past, and as they pulled alongside and asked why, he politely explained (with the help of a few expletives) that he'd paid forty quid for his bike light and wanted to jolly well make use of it!
170 miles later Glen brought us home to the finish, and we were able to celebrate with a bottle of bubbly, or 4! 

On the last evening there were the usual speeches and prizes. One of the ladies' teams,  appropriately named 'Rear View', gave their annual award for the best one. They don't let the matter of cycling 500 miles distract them from the serious task of analysing and judging the variously shaped rears in padded lycra. Blazing Saddles yet again missed out on the top prize, but Dave did get a mention for his ‘Highly Commendable’ rear view! Glen almost made formal protest – he was sure there had been a case of mistaken identity. It was not a prize for the best OLD arse, Glen!

I haven't mentioned Nigel much have I? Well, Nigel just liked to share things - his sweat when he sat next to you in the van following a stint on the bike, and his front and rear views as he strutted around the various apartments we stayed in, whilst in the buff! Thanks for the experience. Oh and I'd better mention that Nigel, Dave and Glen voted to give Vaughan the room with the double bed on the last night, despite them having to suffer another night in bunk beds! I'd like to say it was an act of self sacrifice or motivated by kindness. Suffice to say that Nigel had to get up the previous night to put in his ear plugs!

We all paid £240 each for the pleasure. This covered the ferry, accommodation, breakfast and well earned dinners! Gresham have demonstrated their commitment to this event by sponsoring us again, providing our support van, petrol and incidentals. Without this help we wouldn't have been able to do this.
All this means that nothing that you give through this web site is used on any costs for this event. This is a fundamental premise of the organisers.
If you want to know more about the event go to:  www.heartbeatcyclechallenge.org.uk/pages/loire.html

Why have we chosen the Oxford Children's Hospital Campaign?
Vaughan's friends daughter, Megan, was born with Pfeiffer syndrome, an extremely rare condition  which meant she was born without a fontanelle, or soft spot, like other babies. The bones of her skull had already fused, leaving no room for her brain to grow.
Because of the wonderful care she has had at Oxford Children's Hospital (already 8 operations in her young 10 years), Megan has been able to develop into a bright and happy young girl.

What are we trying to achieve with our fundraising? Go to this site  - www.chox.org.uk - and see what a dedicated, world class Children's hospital based on one site can mean for children and their families during anxious times of serious illness. 
 
Thank you so much for visiting our fundraising page. Please dig deep and sponsor us online.

Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor us: Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals Charitable Funds will receive your money faster and, if you are a taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you.

Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals Charitable Funds campaign have provided assurance that all moneys donated through this page will go to the Children's Hospital Campaign.

Thanks to all those who sponsored us, and if you haven't yet done so, please sponsor us now!

Many thanks for your support.