Karen Miller
Karen's mad cycling adventures no 2!!
Fundraising for PROSTATE CANCER UK
Story
As some of you know I love cycling, but not as much as I love my family and friends. So when Dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer in December 2015 it was a real blow, particularly as he hadn't really displayed any of the classic symptoms.
I had seen this ride advertised back in 2015 and thought what a great idea but had no real reason to do the ride. 2016 just passed in a blur, until I saw the ride repeatedly advertised on Facebook and thought I really should sign up, thinking even if I don't raise a huge amount then at least maybe one more person knows the symptoms and can get early treatment, because that is the key for survival. Another friend of the family was diagnosed with prostate cancer in December 2016 and this has made me more determined to get the message out there. I did this ride for the first time in 2017 year and had the hardest but most enjoyable day on the bike in a long time, so I decided to ride it again in 2018, and again had the hardest but most enjoyable day on the bike including being dragged along at 22 mph with a group of better cyclists. So I decided to do this again this year and I will next year too as it is the south of France!!
So what am I doing, I hear you ask, well I'm riding the 1st stage of the 2019 Tour de France, 7 days before the professionals do. Starting and finishing in Brussels, the ride is 192kms (about 120 miles) and will take me around 9 hours to complete (I hope!!). I'll have 12 hours to complete the ride in. The pro's will complete this ride in about 4 to 5 hours. The ride takes in 2 cobbled climbs the Muur van Geraardsbergen 1km long at an average gradient of 9.3% with a max gradient of 19.8% (Muur means wall!!). and the Bosberg just under 1km long at an average gradient of 5.8% with a max gradient of 11%.
Here is the route: https://www.relive.cc/view/r100000142227
Here are the cobbled climbs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcGTMxLRcR4
Dad, Glynn, all the other men and families I know that have been affected by this, I'm doing this for you and for all men to have access to information about this disease so that they can get treatment early if necessary.
Please sponsor me, and give me as much encouragement to get out there and train as much as possible.
Please see the following website for more details on prostate cancer and where your money will be going. www.prostatecanceruk.org
I had seen this ride advertised back in 2015 and thought what a great idea but had no real reason to do the ride. 2016 just passed in a blur, until I saw the ride repeatedly advertised on Facebook and thought I really should sign up, thinking even if I don't raise a huge amount then at least maybe one more person knows the symptoms and can get early treatment, because that is the key for survival. Another friend of the family was diagnosed with prostate cancer in December 2016 and this has made me more determined to get the message out there. I did this ride for the first time in 2017 year and had the hardest but most enjoyable day on the bike in a long time, so I decided to ride it again in 2018, and again had the hardest but most enjoyable day on the bike including being dragged along at 22 mph with a group of better cyclists. So I decided to do this again this year and I will next year too as it is the south of France!!
So what am I doing, I hear you ask, well I'm riding the 1st stage of the 2019 Tour de France, 7 days before the professionals do. Starting and finishing in Brussels, the ride is 192kms (about 120 miles) and will take me around 9 hours to complete (I hope!!). I'll have 12 hours to complete the ride in. The pro's will complete this ride in about 4 to 5 hours. The ride takes in 2 cobbled climbs the Muur van Geraardsbergen 1km long at an average gradient of 9.3% with a max gradient of 19.8% (Muur means wall!!). and the Bosberg just under 1km long at an average gradient of 5.8% with a max gradient of 11%.
Here is the route: https://www.relive.cc/view/r100000142227
Here are the cobbled climbs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcGTMxLRcR4
Dad, Glynn, all the other men and families I know that have been affected by this, I'm doing this for you and for all men to have access to information about this disease so that they can get treatment early if necessary.
Please sponsor me, and give me as much encouragement to get out there and train as much as possible.
Please see the following website for more details on prostate cancer and where your money will be going. www.prostatecanceruk.org