Charity

Disability Challengers South Downs Bike Ride

Hi Everyone,

Dave & I have completed the cycle ride! 

Day 1 - We set off from sunny Eastbourne, full of enthusiasm, on Thursday morning 1st July and made relatively good time until Dave fell off a his bike on a particularly treacherous bit of the route.  A few hours later we lost the path twice and had to retrace our steps which added about two & a half hours to the days ride (most of which was uphill!).  We arrived in Pyecombe that evening tired and a little annoyed (slight understatement) that we had lost precious time.  

Day 2 - We started with a long steep climb up chalky white paths to Devils Dyke and then enjoyed the stunning views from the top of the downs.  The fields of wheat edged with borders of poppies and others with the blue haze of flax in flower are a sight that will stay with me. 

The cycle paths were an interesting mix of grass covered downland (like cycling on a **** pile carpet), beaten chalk with large lumps of flint (like cycling on large irregular ball bearings) and joy of joys a few short stretches of concrete or tarmac (what a relief!).

Just outside of Washington disaster struck when my chain broke and although we had inner tubes, new tyres etc. etc. - no chain links or tool to fix the chain.  Luckily some other cyclists helped us out by donating a chain link & the use of fixing tool thingy and luckily too I had managed to persuade Dave, my partner, to come along on the ride as he fixed the chain in a jiffy!  Dave says that I am not using my gears properly and I need a little more training....... that is the polite translation.

We pushed on to Cocking and enjoyed a lovely bottle of cider after a long and hard ride.

Day 3 - We set off from Cocking (after I had realised I had left the route map on the dining room table - doh! - thankfully the route is reasonably well signposted) feeling a little daunted by the 37 miles we had still yet to cover.  Fatigue was setting in a little and our limbs (and other parts!) were tired and sore. 

After negotiating the appalling signage in Queen Elizabeth Country Park, we made the long steep climb up Butser Hill (accomplished on bike by Dave, I pushing!) - when half way up, again my chain broke.  This time we were prepared and Dave had new link & tool at the ready - but would it go in? No - that was it - we thought that our target of 3 days was over.  However - Dave is made of steel and would not give up until suddenly it popped into place.  Now with 2 repaired links - of different makes - my chain was clunky and we weren't sure it would last the 30 miles to Winchester.

We were at a low point when we were met by two friends (armed with chocolate), Clive & Cathy, who joined us for part of the route.  Boosted by their company (and half a cider in Exton) we gritted our teeth and pushed on for Winchester.  Tiredness had really now crept in and after a slight lapse in concentration I fell off rather spectacularly (although no-one witnessed it - shame really, as I bet it was a great sight) and the bike ended up in a ditch on one side of the path and I on the other.  Luckily the end was in sight and the bike, although battered, was still in one piece (and so was I!)  So I clambered back on and rather wobbly and in a bit of a bad temper, completed the ride into Winchester.

On arriving in Winchester the city was alive with people celebrating, there was a large stage in the city centre and music was playing everywhere!  Had they heard we were completing our magnificent challenge?  No - we had forgotten it was Winchesters Annual Hat Fair.  We were sore, tired and ratty but chuffed to bits that we had done it.

Thanks go to: Felix for getting out of bed at 6.30am & taking us to Eastbourne; Toni for sorting us out and generally mothering us on Day 1/2; Paul, Mark and Neil for bike parts and tool loan; Shelley for scooping us up in Cocking; Richard for parking & use of his house and Clive & Cathy for boosting our spirits and sugar levels on the last day.  My very, very special thanks & love go to Dave for tagging along and putting up with me.  Without his support, chivvying, bike fixing & organising, I would not have been able to complete the challenge.

Above all our thanks go to everyone who has donated to the challenge.  Disability Challengers will put the money to good use.

And finally remember that if you have not donated there is still time!  I will be collecting donations until the end of July.

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