Hi I'm Tabs, and I've gratefully accepted a place to ride the Festive 500 in one go at the auspicious Herne Hill Velodrome. A distance of 500km in 28 hours!
My mind is telling me that I have the will to take on this challenge but my legs are already screaming at me!
I've had a fantastic year of cycling, challenging myself and connecting with new communities. One of my intentions for this year was to build my confidence to cycle through the night, which I'm pleased to say I accomplished and am hoping to assimilate all the skills acquired for this momentous challenge.
I've spent this last year building specific skills on the bike to allow me to ride further allowing me to experience different landscapes in the UK as well as Europe. But none of this would have been possible, without the help of copious individuals providing a fantastic support mechanism, without their support I wouldn't be where I am today.
So why am I doing this?
I will be fundraising to help support the tremendous work that Herne Hill Velodrome continue to do. As well as the charity of my choice, The New Normal.
One of the aspects that I value most about The New Normal is their focus on peer-to-peer support.
Being able to reflect on challenging or vulnerable moments of life with others who listen openly and empathetically can make a world of difference. In these spaces, people aren't just sharing stories – they're fostering genuine connections that help heal and transform.
I've seen first hand how this kind of support makes it easier to talk about difficult topics, and it has shown me how powerful it can be when individuals simply hold space for one another.
