What an absolutely fantastic ride with work colleagues up in the Peak District. Every year World Vision has a staff challenge to raise funds for vulnerable children and communities where we work. This fundraising challenge normally involves hiking - but as I’m better on 2 wheels rather than 2 legs, I offered to lead a cycling companion challenge this year! There was nine of us in total - definitely doing a challenging route - 40 miles & 4000 feet of climbing, with several sharp steep climbs throughout the day, some topping out at 17%. All the riders were absolute troopers and good sports. It was always going to be a challenge because as a group we had never ridden together before – but the ride just flowed, beautiful! Lots of laughs thrown in for good measure.
We started off in Eyam, which is known as the plague village, as it shut itself off from the rest of the world during the bubonic plague in mediaeval times. A fast descent to start but not long before we reached out first serious climb outside Bradwell, this one topping out at 17%, then onward on rolling rollercoaster of roads all the way to Buxton for our first stop.
After the busy roads of Buxton it was just idyllic to get back out in the countryside for a spectacular miles and miles of cycling in a fabulous run down towards Bakewell - famous for its Bakewell pudding. What a day to be alive. Goreous peak district scenery, glorious sunshine.
Once we reached Bakewell, it would’ve been rude not to have stopped and acquired a Bakewell pudding! Well we cyclists need loads of sugar! After Bakewell it was only 10 miles back to Eyam, but concluded with a very long steep climb back up to the Plague village, which basically was between 12%-14% for 2 miles solid. But my goodness, the views and the feeling of achievement was absolutely worth it. This was genuinely a challenge for all the riders today, including myself.
When I did the recce ride back in March, I actually walked a couple of the very steep sections and I was very chuffed today to not stop or walk any. I even manged a top speed today of 40.7 mph!
What great team spirit and camaraderie and all for a brilliant cause - if you can manage to sponsor me - I do know that even a small amount can make a huge difference to children and their communities.
I know I do a lot of cycling but I don’t often do a fundraising page, so any donations my friends can make would be greatly appreciated, thank you. It was great working with you all today – Ageo, my main man, thank you so much for being a super star Ride Assistant, Delphine – on a heavy hybrid and you were an absolute machine! Tony, Kevin Jason also on hybrid bikes, flippin well done! Jose you are also a machine, and David and Paul – you roadies – fantastic. Thank you all – you were amazing.
At the start
Sense of achievement- top of first major climb
Idillyic
Bakewell
Final climb ⬇️
Bad cramp, painful - but definitely worth more donations. He was ok.
Finished! Great achievement 🤩🤩🚴♀️🚴♀️⛰️⛰️