When stroke strikes, part of your brain shuts down. And so does a part of you. Life changes instantly and recovery is tough. But the brain can adapt. Our specialist support, research and campaigning are only possible with the courage and determination of the stroke community. With more donations and support from you, we can rebuild even more lives.

Jef's note - Pete Beadle was a fellow RC glider enthusiast whom I respected before and after his stroke. Whilst his stroke was debilitating, Pete was a very strong minded individual and he overcame the difficulties that his massive stroke put in his way. 

His left arm was virtually useless. 

Two hands are so necessary for flying a radio controlled model aircraft, you would think it impossible to do with only one working hand.

Pete worked out how to do it.

Pressing "Ctrl Alt Del" on a computer, virtually impossible single handed. Pete worked out a way.

Tying his walking boot laces. Pete engineered a way of doing it single-handed. 

No matter what obstacle was put in his way, he rose to the challenge and overcame it.

In January of this year he lost his life, aged 73. The UK gliding community has lost a magnificent character.

That's why I am doing this in Pete's name.  

It is my intention to ride 150miles on Essex and Suffolk roads on 1st June 2021.

I am doing it in June, so that the ride can be done in daylight. I expect it to take no less than 12.5hours of riding, plus stoppages. I consume water at a variable rate according to the weather, but in 11-18degC, moderately breezy, 80% cloud conditions, I will need to drink a gallon (4.5litres) of water over the 12.5 hours, think about that volume of water. Hopefully the weather will be hotter than that, and I will need more.  If it rains, I may need some protective clothing, so I will need luggage in which to stow the waterproofs, when it is not raining. I'm not saying this will be difficult to achieve, because compared to what Pete went through daily, this is a walk in the park. I will be carrying spare innertubes, chain, cables, etc. This is not an efficient lightweight bicycle, it's an old steel bike with mudguards, lights, etc. and I weigh around 16st 9lb. This year I was 62 years old.

Updated 27/05/21 -

Yesterday, as it was one week to go to the Pete Beadle ride, I had my last tough training day, which I spent mountain biking off road, leaving home at 9am and getting back at 4pm. The day before I had my 2nd CoVid-19 jab. I did find yesterday even more tiring than usual, hopefully that was just the effect of the jab.

Off road cycling is, I find, a better training for long road rides, than doing road rides on efficient solo bikes. My wife and I also have a semi-recumbent tandem; time spent riding that in hilly areas, has greatly increased my performance on solo road bikes too. 

Sunday before last, I did a 65 mile route on a lightweight bike, which I rarely use. I expected a speed of between 15 and 16mph and an overall time of 4 hours and 30-ish minutes including stoppages, based on previous experience (before I started mountain biking). It was a big surprise when I completed the ride at a moving average speed of 17.5mph (10-20% faster than expected) and an overall time of 3hours and 52minutes. Between now and next Tuesday I will only do very gentle exercise, so that I am fully fit for my longest ever day in the saddle. 

For the Pete Beadle ride, I have planned a route which should give me convenient stopping points at 70 miles, 100 miles, and 130 miles (approximately), for recharging my body with food and drink. As I live in South East Essex, where the traffic is very unforgiving of tired old cyclists, I aim to get back to the area after 7pm, when the worst of the traffic has finished. It is my intention to leave home around 5am and arrive at the first stop (Stonham Barns) around 11am. Around an hour spent relaxing there, and a gentle pace for the next 30 miles should take me to 2.30pm for the next stop, of around half an hour. It will then take two hours to get back to Maldon (5pm) where the Wetherspoons will be visited for some food and more drink. I will then be setting off for the last 23.5miles around 6pm, if everything goes according to plan and will arrive home around 8pm. 

Please give something to the Stroke Association UK in Pete's name, and if me doing this ride is in any way helping you to justify a donation, please do it through this fundraising page.

Updated 4/6/21