I want to know are you taking part in any charity rides this year or have you done previously?

Feel free to plug your justgiving page!

I first mentioned Nightrider style events last year and they seem to have grown in popularity. This years event is sponsoring the Lymphoma Association who work on supporting lymphatic cancer patients and increasing awareness about lymphoma, the UK’s fifth most commonly diagnosed cancer.

This years ride takes place on the 11th of June and covers 100km around London at night. The ride begins and ends at Crystal Palace where riders are treated to a well earned breakfast.

The route takes you around London’s most famous landmarks such as Big Ben, the London Eye and the Buckingham Palace. It’s a fully supported and well sign posted.

All money raised will be donated to Lymphoma Association.

Please contact the fundraising team for an information pack 01296 619419 or email fundraising@lymphomas.org.uk.

http://www.lymphomas.org.uk/help/Nightrider.asp

So what is it that Andreas thought you might be interested in reading about? Is it a London Cyclist matter? Not exactly. But it is a cycling matter, and it started in London. And ended, four days later, in Paris.

Last summer I branched out, you see. I’ve ridden a bike all my life but I would never have called myself a "cyclist". And I’d never done anything that could have been considered much of a distance. But a friend of mine was organising a new London to Paris ride for charity, Arch to Arc, in aid of the James Whale Fund for Kidney Cancer. And somehow he persuaded me to sign up.

Now, the vast majority of my cycling at that point was just pootling round town only a couple of miles at a time. A cycle commuter, yes, but one whose commute was about a mile and a half. And riding an 18-year-old mountain bike. How was I going to cope with such a challenge? I had no idea. But you know what? I did it. And I loved it.

This time last year my training started in earnest. Over the course of just a few months I built my rides up until near the end I was going out for 20 or 30 miles at a time, about three times a week. Still on my old faithful bike. And that was about it in the way of training.

And then, early one morning last June at Marble Arch, I met my fellow Arch to Arc riders for the first time. There were just eleven of us, from a wide range of cycling backgrounds. A few were experienced club cyclists, but I was pleased to discover that a couple had hardly ridden since childhood; I wasn’t going to be the least experienced cyclist in the group! (But I was riding the oldest and heaviest bike.) The early start was necessary as day one was our longest day: 87 miles from Marble Arch to Dover. My longest ever ride, with another three days ahead. But it was beautiful. A bit hilly towards the end (of course) but we all made it in one piece and slept well in the hotel at the docks.

Another early start the next morning, to catch the first ferry, and soon enough we were cycling on the other side of the road for 72 miles from Boulogne to Abbeville. Beautiful rolling countryside, amazing weather, and becoming friends with my fellow cyclists. All along the route we were looked after by a great support crew who regularly kept us topped up with water and put on on fantastic spreads for our lunch breaks.

Day three was a beautiful meandering route, 64 miles from Abbeville to Beauvais, taking in Poppy fields of the Somme Valley and other beautiful scenery. And a few beer stops. Day four was relatively easy, about 45 miles from Beauvais to Paris. The fact that I could consider 45 miles to be a relatively light day said something about how I’d progressed in my cycling. And arriving in Paris was such a thrill. Such an achievement. As I said above, I loved it. If you’re interested to read my more detailed reports on each day’s ride, you can see them on my own blog here.

So, why suddenly decide to write about it now, nine months after the even? Can you guess? Yes, you got it: it’s time to sign up for this year’s ride. We’re doing it again, 23rd to 26th June 2011, and there are limited spaces available. You can read all about how to sign up on the Arch to Arc website.

Don’t think you can do it? Of course you can. I did. So can you.

If you want a bit more encouragement, at least watch this beautiful video that was shot last year:

Sign up on the Arch to Arc website.

Of course when I say I “always find myself” I sound like some sort of crazed sleep walker who is always wondering around the streets of London at 5am. I can assure you that is not the case.

On Saturday 19th of June, when the weather has warmed up a little and it is not constantly pitch black, a 100km charity cycle ride is going to take place. The company behind it is ClassicTours and some of the proceeds will be donated to charity. As far as I know there is a limit of 300 cyclists and around 75 have already signed up. So if you want to take part you better be quick!

The amount you have to raise is fairly easy to achieve with a minimum of £175. As it is a 100km (62 miles) challenge you will need to do at least a little bit of training before hand not to tire out too early.

The route starts at 11pm from Crystal Palace and covers some very famous landmarks including: Tower Bridge, a deserted City of London and Buckingham Palace. It is a circular route so you finish at the starting point.

The route will be road based and the organisers will be providing route sign-posting and support.

To sign up visit the: Nightrider Challenge page

Source: Road Cycling UK

Other charity events..

• The Tour of Britain charity rides

Also of interest..

• London Underground vs Bike – who will win?
• Winter cycling gloves – keeping your hands warm
• Why I love my local bike shop

The aim of the event is to raise awareness of climate change in a fun and creative way – ultimately leading Londoners to take action. The fun part comes in the form of a cinema powered by 10 cyclists organised by Magnificent Revolution. Well it wouldn’t be eco friendly without that part would it?

Time: Doors will open at 7:30, 6th August
Venue: Laban, Creekside, London, SE8 3DZ
Price: Free – just e-mail Sophie if you want to book a free spot.

For those readers not in London or not able to view this showing the film is also been shown elsewhere so check on the website. Trailer shown below:

6:45, alarm goes off. Not a great start to a Sunday, my Sundays rarely start before midday. ho-hum. Anyway, it’s downstairs for porridge before putting the bike in the car and heading an hour north, for today was the 65 mile JDRF cycle challenge.

The weather forecast wasn’t great, with some showers predicted, but with a 10am start, I was hopeful of missing the worst. What I didn’t expect was a monsoon, lasting from 9:45 until about 11:00, soaking everyone through and turning what could have been a pleasant day into a thoroughly miserable one. I was aiming for 4 hours, an average speed of 16.25mph with no breaks.

Unfortunately, my speedo enjoyed the rain even less than I did, packing up with a mile down-and 64 to go. Cue the car overtaking me through the deepest puddle in the Malverns, soaking my legs and shoes with cold, muddy water. Take the hint motorists, you have wipers and heaters; cyclists don’t.

Happily, by the time I’d reached the first rest stop after 20 miles, the rain had gone away and the sun had come out. Checking the time, I’d done the distance in 80 minutes, 15mph, not enough. Time to get a spurt on.

The second leg was a happier affair, the sun shone, and I averaged 17mph, even with a few hills and a bit of wind. It was hard going, but with the speedo coming back to life it was easier to pace myself, and keep to a constant-ish speed. I passed a group of riders that had left an hour earlier than we had, and sailed straight past them at the 40 mile stage. That felt good. Reaching the second rest stop after 42 miles was a nice feeling, Mr Andrews from JDRF awaited me with his selection of nutri-grains, tracker bars and bananas on display, so I loaded up, adding to the jelly babies and homemade flapjacks consumed so far. Hard constant cycling burns somewhere between 600 and 800 calories per hour, and I’m a bit of a fan of eating. Seemed like as good a time as any.

45 miles came and went, and the rain came and stayed. For the remaining time it was probably the most miserable time I’ve ever had on a bike. The roads became increasingly rough and undulating, full of pot holes and whatever had fallen off the last farm truck that passed that way, the wind picked up, I lost all sensation in my feet, and my speedo gave up again. The company who ran the event on the day (it wasn’t JDRF) had decided not to put mile markers out; your motivation evaporates quickly when you have no idea how far you’ve been, how fast you’re going, and how far you have to go.

I made it back to the centre in 4 hours, 28 minutes. It’s a little slower than I wanted to go, but I think i’m allowed to make excuses. It’s an average of 14.5mph, including my two short stops for food and water bottle refills. I’d showered, changed, had a brew with the parents who arrived at the finish line, then driven the hour or so back home; and they were still people on the course.

I’d meant to keep a video diary of the day and take my camera on the course, but I dared not risk it. I took my phone for emergencies in a sealed waterproof bag, and that’s full of condensation, so I apologise for a lack of photographic evidence. Instead, I’ve attached a picture of a rainy road-that’ll do for now. The nice people from JDRF took some pics and I shall upload those to the group as soon as I can, but for now, I’d like to say thank you to JDRF for the organisation of the event, Andy Blackmore for the training advice and help, but most of all thank you to every single person who has put their hand in their pocket and donated to my fund at justgiving.com/edbarrow. Even when the going got really hard with 50 miles down, back aching, muscles screaming, I still averaged 12mph on the final section. The only reason I could keep those pedals turning was to show you guys that this really was a challenge, personally, physically and mentally. I took it seriously and that the generosity you have shown really does mean a lot. I’m not the one who has done anything special-you are.

From my heart-thank you.
Ed xx
http://www.justgiving.com/edbarrow