Story
As you know I am taking part in a Norwood bike ride across part of Brazil, leaving next Saturday and the time has come for me to try and raise sponsorship for both myself and Martin, who I am going to be riding tandem with.
Martin has Downs Syndrome, along with many of the residents that Norwood cares for. Every year on the international bike rides, approximately five tandem teams take part in the challenge, to show the many fundraisers that Norwood's approach to learning disabilities, which fundamentally involves integrating them into normal society, really works. The sense of achievement that the residents who ride tandem feel on completing a ride is overwhelming and many of the solo riders comment that seeing the tandem teams complete the rides, is one of the main reasons they come back, year after year.
For me, this will probably be the biggest challenge I have ever undertaken, and I've done a few stupid things in my time! Martin is one of the most rewarding partners to have, but he is also one of the most difficult. He does not help me peddle at all! At best he will allow me to peddle freely, but he also likes to provide resistance or lock his legs as we're going up a hill. He also finds communicating a problem and will remove his helmet and throw it in the road on hills when he is tired.
I have only ridden with him once before, which was the Hampton Court to Hove ride in July. Within twenty miles, we were the very last people on the ride, but slowly I managed to get into his head and we finished over an hour and a half ahead of the last rider. I have subsequently found out that as yet, no one has volunteered to take Martin on an international ride, because he is so challenging. But I know that we can do it, and the sense of achievement that we will both feel on completing the ride will make all the hard work worth while. It was surprising to me that the physical part is really only half the battle and it is the mental challenge of motivating Martin and keeping him happy which is really the tough bit. The ride will take part over six days and will basically be six London to Brighton rides in a row, but off-road and in very steep and hot conditions. It really is going to be the most phenomenal experience and a seriously tough challenge and we are both extremely excited. (well... maybe me a little more than Martin!). As a tandem rider, I not only have to raise money for my personal sponsorship, but I also have to raise funds to cover the cost of taking Martin on the ride, which is an additional £1600. Any amount that you can pledge, no matter how small, will be going to a fantastic cause and will make a huge difference. With all my love and thanks Joel
Martin has Downs Syndrome, along with many of the residents that Norwood cares for. Every year on the international bike rides, approximately five tandem teams take part in the challenge, to show the many fundraisers that Norwood's approach to learning disabilities, which fundamentally involves integrating them into normal society, really works. The sense of achievement that the residents who ride tandem feel on completing a ride is overwhelming and many of the solo riders comment that seeing the tandem teams complete the rides, is one of the main reasons they come back, year after year.
For me, this will probably be the biggest challenge I have ever undertaken, and I've done a few stupid things in my time! Martin is one of the most rewarding partners to have, but he is also one of the most difficult. He does not help me peddle at all! At best he will allow me to peddle freely, but he also likes to provide resistance or lock his legs as we're going up a hill. He also finds communicating a problem and will remove his helmet and throw it in the road on hills when he is tired.
I have only ridden with him once before, which was the Hampton Court to Hove ride in July. Within twenty miles, we were the very last people on the ride, but slowly I managed to get into his head and we finished over an hour and a half ahead of the last rider. I have subsequently found out that as yet, no one has volunteered to take Martin on an international ride, because he is so challenging. But I know that we can do it, and the sense of achievement that we will both feel on completing the ride will make all the hard work worth while. It was surprising to me that the physical part is really only half the battle and it is the mental challenge of motivating Martin and keeping him happy which is really the tough bit. The ride will take part over six days and will basically be six London to Brighton rides in a row, but off-road and in very steep and hot conditions. It really is going to be the most phenomenal experience and a seriously tough challenge and we are both extremely excited. (well... maybe me a little more than Martin!). As a tandem rider, I not only have to raise money for my personal sponsorship, but I also have to raise funds to cover the cost of taking Martin on the ride, which is an additional £1600. Any amount that you can pledge, no matter how small, will be going to a fantastic cause and will make a huge difference. With all my love and thanks Joel