We did it!!

We are all very proud that we all completed the nearly 50 mile Bike for Books cycle on Saturday!!  It was an amazing ride through beautiful countryside, and PLENTY of hills!!  It was really challenging to do, and equally as rewarding to finish! Thank you all enormously for supporting us in so many ways!

Love Jacqui and the whole Book Aid Bicycle Club team...

Name:      

Age: Younger than I feel. And possibly look.

Role: Head of Fundraising and Communications

Cycling history: 22 miles a day on roads, first bike aged 14, never ridden a charity cycle or organised ride before

Best/worst cycling moment: Best - Breaking the speed limit whilst overtaking a lorry when cycling down one summer’s evening!  Worst: The occasional minor scrape.

Why I am cycling for Book Aid International: Because Books change lives!

An interesting fact about me: The very first book I bought myself (aged 14) was George Orwell’s 1984, and Orwell is part of the reason (a small part, but a part nonetheless) why I named my gorgeous son (twin brother to lovely Lily) George.

Name: Martina Armstrong

Age: 26

Role: Trust & Corporate Fundraiser

Cycling history: 3 years commuting to work in , as a result I can fix a puncture, swerve around inconsiderate drivers, and swear when necessary (under my breath, obviously) at bus drivers and cabbies.

Best/worst cycling moment: Best: Cycling back from the pub in the to our campsite with just the moon and stars lighting the way

Why I am cycling for Book Aid International: Partly because I believe that books change lives but mainly because my boss ‘asked’ me to

An interesting fact about me: I was born orange because my mum ate orange peel throughout her pregnancy and the midwife thought I was jaundiced but my Mum was all like ‘no, it’s just the orange peel.’

Age: 30

Role: I am a Graphic Designer, but I used to work for Book Aid International and loved it!

Cycling history: I was a cyclist for the first half of my life, then started again when I was given a rusty, homeless bike. I’ve never looked back.

Best/worst cycling moment: Best: I’ve got lots! My most recent one is going on a Technicolour architecture ride organised by Lambeth cyclists. Worst: last year, when I had a puncture every other day for about a week. I subsequently bought a new bike (with new tyres!).

Why I am cycling for Book Aid International: Because while I’ll be helping to send books to the poorest countries in Africa, I’ll be having fun with the nicest people in London.

An interesting fact about me: When I was a student, I was hesitating between graphic design and biology.

Name: Richard  Weston

Ageless.

Role: Volunteer co-ordinator

Cycling history: I’ve cycled since I was a little kid.  I’ve done several longish bike rides. Three times from to (180 miles).  Lots of touring around the English countryside and a bit of touring in .

Why I am cycling for Book Aid International: I work for Book Aid, who else would I cycle for?

An interesting fact about me: I’ve worked at Book Aid longer than anyone else.

 

Name: Rob Scott

Age: 40

Role: In what? Life? History? Cycling? In life - general all round fantastic fellow. In history - minimal, I'd say. In cycling - merely a passenger.

Cycling history: Have had an on again off again love affair with cycling; it's on again at the moment. Great way of getting around, and getting to know, .

Best/worst cycling moment: Worst cycling moment was on my birthday when I was about 7 or 8 years old. Had taken my brother's bike and ridden it to school without my parents permission. Came home for lunch that day on the bike, and tried to sneak down the driveway, but my mother caught me and gave me a telling off. I had to walk back to school that day; and felt a bit sad because - once again - I'd been told off on my birthday. Best moment was discovering what a rush cycling can be - endorphins, come cycle with me!

Why I am cycling for Book Aid International: Because I love what Book Aid do. They do fantastic work, sending books and knowledge across the ocean, to the places that want it most. And because my little sister - who works for Book Aid, and is organising the charity ride, and who I'm a bit scared of - made me.

An interesting fact about me: I know absolutely nothing about bike maintenance, so if my bike dies on this charity ride, I'll be walking much of the way. Hopefully they'll save me a sausage at the after-ride barbeque.  

 

Name: Sandrine Coll

Age: a year younger than Lance Armstrong [and a drug-free life!] so anything is possible

Role: librarian in the warehouse

Cycling history: on average about five miles a day, all within the London Borough of Lambeth (I love them!)

Best/worst cycling moment: Best: becoming a born again cyclist after a 20 year gap. Oh, and going on a cycle training course last year: it was an eye opener. Worst: on a ten-day tour of the with my sister and cousins, aged 17. My brakes gave up at the start of a steep downhill stretch (the vision of the front brake jumping out from its socket is still vivid in my mind) and I got to the bottom yelling and at full speed. Really scary. Needless to say, we had set off on our holiday without even a puncture repair kit…

Why I am cycling for Book Aid International: to find out if I can!

An interesting fact about me: I am working on bike-related website to fuel my addiction to bike doctors, bike facts and conversations, and generally anything related to cycling as an alternative means of transport.