Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.
My work colleagues and I are cycling 90 miles on tandems from Ma Boyles Oyster Bar in Liverpool to the Hartshead Moor Working Mens Club in Hartshead on 2 October 2009 in aid of Cancer Research UK. We all value your help and support. The tandems have been kindly lent to us by Bradbury Fields in Liverpool.
Donating through Just Giving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.
So please dig deep and donate now.
Great news Eamon secured a large donation from a well known travel company and they are ice lolly.com.
After the ride 12/10/09
The event was a great sucess for Eamon and Callum who completed the journey by tandem in one day on the 1st October. Well done guys from all the Peddalers!!!
On the 2nd October the rest of us attempted the impossible to travel accross country to Clecheaton Yorkshire via the trans pennine trail, in one day, on tandems and bikes, in groups and stages, off road and on road, by car and by mini bus, in the rain and in the dark!! We made it in the end, tired wet and late for the party but "made up" that we arrived safe and had good time doing so.
Since the ride lots of emails and thoughts have been shared amonst the team and we'd like to share these with you and thank all those who who have donated. Thank you and read on........
To be added
Colin's training update 20/9/09
Spike Island to Stretford – 21 miles (Sunday 20 Sep)From Spike Island in the shadow of the Runcorn Bridge, the sun exposed the natural beauty of the harbour in all its glory.
Crossing the park to take up the trail brought an instant smile to my face – canal to the left, river to the right.
The trail bisects the canal and the meandering Mersey River – spoilt for views but the river and marshes won for the most part.
Felt like royalty – escorted on the left by a flotilla of ducks, swans and coots, and a fly-past on my right by a squadron of finches, hedge sparrows and the occasional glittering dragonfly rising and dipping in search of scran – my favourites.
There were viewing points for serious twitchers – but only time for a fleeting view for me.
Moving on to the Fiddlers Ferry power station, stopped to gaze in awe at the majesty of the huge cooling towers. Never seen them from such close proximity before.
The pub at Fiddlers Ferry looked inviting – cracking view of sailing boats across the waters from the grassy banks of the pub garden.
The trail itself is quite challenging if a steady pace is required – much stopping and slowing for overgrowth, passing trail users (though it was Sunday!) – plus the restrictive bike gates! I swear they grow closer together as the trail goes on! Got stung under the chin – but I held on to complete the ride …
Some MTB’rs not so courteous – may have to watch out for them. About 30% of the trail was loose gravel surfaced - left my bones a bit rattled (think one or two may have shaken loose!) Passed through some glorious woodland.
There are some tight spots where negotiating bad traffic is required – the warnings on the map (red triangles) absolutely mean it! Dismount and walk it – ‘specially at the A50! (Calum and Eamon beware)
Had to re-align my bearings once or twice (had the TPT map with me) – but soon realised that if you get lost – just follow the horse droppings! You will have to stop to allow horses passage – just as with young kids on bikes – they wander all over the place! Dogs didn’t cause me any problems – but I can’t understand why the circling buzzards stayed with me all the way. Did they know something I didn’t …
I did stop and talk to lots of people and called in to see some old friends on my way back through Widnes – so the time’s not important. But I will be taking my MTB for surety and comfort, I think – not the road bike as yesterday.
I intend to try some more of the trail before the date of the run ‘cos I loved it! 60 miles on the day, 40 of those on the trail – reckon I’m gonna be seeing much more of the TPT in the future …
See y’all at the meet,
C.
Eamon training update. 7/9/09
The story so far is mixed. Training was initially inhibited by my awaiting an operation on my leg in July. Prior to this I had done a fair bit in the Veladrome (or as it is better known the exercise Bike in my Bedroom at my dad’s). Calum my tandem partner and I had also familiarised ourselves with the tandem picking it up quickly! Although some members of the Preston Peddlers found the whole riding tandem experience a bit strange and daunting! Fortunately so far no body has come to any harm.
Our first major training ride was on the 15 of August.
A group of around 7 of us went out and had our first look at the trans penine way. The ride went well with all except one of us on tandems. We covered a good 25 plus miles. During the ride we stopped off at a visitors centre for cake and coffee. Those of you who know me are probably reeling now and thinking we must have been in a dry county. No we weren’t, it was after 11 AM and we had only 20 minutes earlier past a pub. My mood was furthered effected by the cost of a bottle of orange (£2.50) and I didn’t even pay! Overall the ride was a success though and gave me confidence in my leg as it was only 2 weeks since the operation.
The following week we managed to borrow a Tandem. This was kindly lent to us by Bradburry fields. They are also lending us the tandems for the actual ride on the 2 October. We rode the tandem from Bradbury fields in to town centre where I live. This was only a 6 miles ride but did leave me a touch nervous! It was rush our and the passing Lorries in particular were a concern! We got the tandem safely to my residence. This meant we could go out more often and train and as both Calum and I had the week off we were out the very next day. Early though! It was 's first home game and we couldn't risk being late on parade. We had a spin along the front, stopped at a pub and were safely back for 1.30 and safely ensconced in the first national by 3pm - kick off was at 8.
Over the next week both the Veladrome and tandem were put to use and this stood me in good stead for the next major ride. This was on 05/09/09. I was worried as although I had done the above mentioned training my frequent working away meant I hadn't done as much as I would have liked. This time a group of 5 of us went out. Again it was 25 plus miles and it went well. There was no coffee and cakes stop and the bacon sandwich consumed prior to departure stood me in good stead. The previous evening I also sampled a few guiniss to up my iron levels. This may be a tactic employed the night before the ride as every good engine needs fuel! Anyway we were out for 3 hrs. I felt good after it and Issues previously experienced re a painful posterior were not so apparent. the first thing I did after the ride on the 15th was have a hot soapy bath this time only needed a shower and sitting down was fine! I will though be investing in a good pair of cycling shorts before the next ride. This is planned for 13/09/09.
Watch this space for future updates and notes from other peddlers.
EP 7/9/09
