My Father retired from the Ride & Stride when he was 70 so this is my 13th year. We cycle in aid of a church and the Friends of Essex Churches FOECT. In my case All Saints Rettendon. FOECT is a charity that provides grants for Churches that need repairs. Particularly where  there is an immediate need for cash.

I thought it would be a good idea to do something different this year. I decided that instead of riding around the local area and visiting 30 or so Churches and doing about 50 miles that I could just about cycle from Home to Rettendon All Saints which is the church that I ride for. That is 63 miles lots more hills though. 

Then I thought it would be good idea to add in a few other Churches that figured in the family history. That meant Terling where father was born and brought up and Maldon where the parents married and local big Church to Mother's home. Of course adding those suddenly meant the ride was 75 miles. 

I seriously considered adding 25 more miles to it but then realised that I would run out of time as I am not fast, rather slow in fact. The time available is 9am-5pm and because we sign in at each Church we pass there are perhaps 2-4 minutes of being stationary every on average 3 miles or so. With a break for lunch we would lose 100 minutes or so from our 8 hours. That leaves us with 6 hours 20 minutes. which at 12 mph is about 75 miles and at 14 mph is 88 miles. 

My Cousin said that he would like to come along for the ride as well just for the challenge. He is also not too speedy so we are well matched. 

I know this is for charity but the challenge for me is pretty immense as it would be a lot further than I have ridden before and with hills something we are barely aware of in our part of Suffolk. It would also mean that I had done a trip with a lot of family memories involved. The rest of the route is still being decided. The decisions are being taken based on how steep is it can we find a way round it? 

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