Every year, Herne Hill Velodrome, where me and my daughter ride our bikes, hosts a Festive 500 challenge.
On 27th December at 1pm I'll get on my bike and attempt to ride the entire 500km in one go. That's roughly the distance from my house to Luxembourg - or just over 1,111 laps of the velodrome.
We'll ride through night - in the absolute depths of winter - until we hit 500km.
I’m riding the Festive 500 at Herne Hill Velodrome because I like to do difficult things. Because my dad Tony rode his bike every day for decades and then suddenly one day last year couldn't anymore - and that concentrates your mind a bit about what you can do right now. Because in the middle of the pandemic, my wife kicked me out the door for a bike ride, and three years later I have an amazing community of people who push each other to go further than any of us could go alone. Because I have a lot of lovely friends who I hope will sponsor me to do this very stupid, cold, wet, tiring ride..
All money I raise will be split equally between Brixton Soup Kitchen and Friends of Herne Hill Velodrome - both do fantastic work in a community I’m proud to have been part of my whole life.
So go on, chip in.
On 27th December at 1pm I'll get on my bike and attempt to ride the entire 500km in one go. That's roughly the distance from my house to Luxembourg - or just over 1,111 laps of the velodrome.
We'll ride through night - in the absolute depths of winter - until we hit 500km.
Why on earth am I doing this insane thing?
I grew up in Brixton and have lived in South London, with a few short breaks, ever since. Today, people and families in our community are struggling.I’m riding the Festive 500 at Herne Hill Velodrome because I like to do difficult things. Because my dad Tony rode his bike every day for decades and then suddenly one day last year couldn't anymore - and that concentrates your mind a bit about what you can do right now. Because in the middle of the pandemic, my wife kicked me out the door for a bike ride, and three years later I have an amazing community of people who push each other to go further than any of us could go alone. Because I have a lot of lovely friends who I hope will sponsor me to do this very stupid, cold, wet, tiring ride..
All money I raise will be split equally between Brixton Soup Kitchen and Friends of Herne Hill Velodrome - both do fantastic work in a community I’m proud to have been part of my whole life.
So go on, chip in.
