Please take the time to read this as I would love to share with you my main personal goal for 2022.
Over the last two years, many sporting activities and charitable events have been put on hold due to government guidelines. So, I have had plenty of time to research and plan my next adventure.
On Sunday 7 August 2022, I will be cycling from London to Edinburgh and then back to London aiming to do so within 125 hours, that is just over 5 days to cover over 1,500 kilometres in total distance arriving back in London on 12 August 2022 or before.
The event is called London Edinburgh London (LEL) 2022 and takes place every four years. The last LEL event was in 2017 and now 2022 due to last year’s pandemic.
There are 2,053 riders registered, 1,197 from the UK and other riders coming from 115 other nations!
You can see the route I will be taking on the map. It covers 932 miles, or around 186 miles each day. The ride is unsupported and there are 13 checkpoints to ride through on the way up and back down. The roads are not closed and there are no route signs or portaloos!
But you are provided with a GPX file and cue sheet. Each checkpoint is manned with volunteers who provide hot food, maintenance support and such like.
Sleeping facilities are basic – camp beds in school sports halls that sort of thing, but given the distances covered there will be little opportunity to get much sleep or recovery.
Supporting St Luke’s Hospice and The Brain Tumour Charity
As well as taking part in such a fantastic event I would like to try and help two very worthy charities. I will be raising money for St Luke’s Hospice Plymouth (reg 280681) here in the Southwest and the national charity The Brain Tumour Charity (reg 1150054).
Both of these charities do incredible work to support people when they need it most and are worthy causes.
3 ways you can offer your support
As always, if you can offer your support, it would be appreciated and mean a lot to me. Here are some ways you can do so:
- Join me at the start line on 7 August 2022 at Debden, Loughton, Essex, IG10 2LD. Full details and timings to follow.
- Meet me at the finish on 12 August 2022 at Debden, Loughton, Essex, IG10 2LD. Full details and timings to follow.
- Donate to my Just Giving pages for St Luke’s Hospice Plymouth or The Brain Tumour Charity and leave a message of support. If not that is fine as well!
If you are a taxpayer, please tick the Gift Aid box, so that both you and the charity will receive a tax break. If it is a company donation you cannot use gift aid although the donation is tax-deductible which your accountant can claim for you.
Of course, just like investments, there are risks to consider: there are no guarantees, there are other road users, there could be potholes, punctures, and the weather in Scotland will be very different to down south. Then, of course, there is the small matter of saddle sores and such like. All I can do is prepare the best that I can and give it my all.
Can I manage 186 miles in a day? Yes.
But can I manage that distance for five consecutive days on very little sleep? I will not know until I try.
My main objective is to complete the ride inside the time scale if possible and raise a good sum for both charities.
I promise to keep you up to date on my training up until the event.
This is going to be life-changing!
Thank you for reading this.