Trigger's Bike: Build and Ride 300 miles
Gideon Burrows is raising money for The Brain Tumour Charity
Story
Happy New Year 2020!
I have an entirely selfish but fun New Year's resolution, which I hope you will help me achieve.
I'm going to build a second hand bike, from scratch, then ride it from Holywood High Street (Northern Ireland) to Cork High Street (ROI), some 300 miles. I'm calling the project Trigger's Bike.
Every part of the bike will be second hand, and from a different pre-loved cycle.
Rules of the Resolution:
- Every part of the bike will be second hand, except for four cables which will be new for safety.
- Except for an established set (for example, a pair of brake levers) every component, from top to bottom, wheels, tyres, frame, seat post and seat will be taken from a different pre-loved bike.
- I will strip every part, and re-build the new bike myself, part by part. (I am a self-employed bicycle mechanic, btw)
- The ride to Cork will be entirely self-sufficient, carrying all my own gear, with B&B or hostel overnight stops.
-The ride will take place when the bike is ready, over an estimated four days.
I aim to raise some money for The Brain Tumour Charity. In 2012 I was diagnosed with a oligodendroglioma brain tumour, that can not be operated on and, unless things change radically, will eventually end my life.
I received nearly a year of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, here in Belfast, in 2016 when the brain tumour took a turn for the worse.
During that time, I began working as a volunteer bicycle mechanic to keep me sane and active, and to deal with depression.
I've since then been lucky enough to make fixing bikes my part-time job, despite living with fatigue, depressive episodes and a daily drugs regime to control epileptic seizures.
Please donate to a fantastic and extremely important cause.
If you happen to have any pre-loved bike parts that you think might be suitable for the project, please let me know. Not one part will be wasted, as anything I can't use will be taken to the bike re:cycle project.
Thanks for all your support.
Gideon Burrows
The Brain Tumour Charity is the world's leading brain tumour charity and the largest dedicated funder of research into brain tumours globally. Committed to saving and improving lives, were moving further, faster to help every single person affected by a brain tumour.We're set on finding new treatments, offering the highest level of support and driving urgent change. And were doing it right now. Because we understand that when you, or someone you love, is diagnosed with a brain tumour a cure really can't wait.