Quite a few people have told me how they would like to do the 10 in 10 ride.....however at this moment the team consists of just three confirmed riders and one support driver....
Now I will be the first to admit that on paper we seem a pretty motley crew...a real recipe for disaster....
We have a 42 year old newbie rider who only took up road cycling in August of this year.......
A two stone overweight 58 year old with only one kidney and a 65 year old cancer survivor...
Then as if to add a cherry on top our support driver will be 5 weeks shy of 70 years of age when we do the ride.....
Now if someone told you that this little group was intending cycling ten countries in ten days you would be forgiven for thinking that they had absolutely no chance of getting half way through the ride let alone completing it.........
But look a little closer and we might just surprise you...
Regular visitors to this blog will be well aware that despite my 65 years and medical history I am perfectly capable of covering long distances against the clock on a bicycle and like to regularly set myself cycling challenges..I love riding hills and I love riding long distances.
John Donoghue (JD) might be overweight at the moment but he will manage to lose that weight...He describes himself as a plodder..not fast and not swift but he does get there.
He has never failed to complete any of the cycling challenges that we have set ourselves over the past five years and I have only known him get off on a hill once in all that time.
That was towards the end of a very hilly 100 mile ride when another 25% beauty just proved to be one too many.....
Dave (the broom) Vaughan is a bit of a legend....70 years old he might well be but he has a wealth of experience in supporting multi day distance cycling events. He has been support driver on a number of our previous rides and he is always my first choice...
Being an ex cyclist himself he understands the needs of the riders...he deals with everything from support to logistics...none better!!
So that brings me to the youngest rider...
Jon Joynes..42 years of age...a manager of a Mothercare store and only took up road riding in August..
He was featured in Cycling weekly in September. It highlighted what was termed as the 'Wiggo Effect' after the TDF and the Olympics and the effect those events had on getting people to take up cycling.
Jon was one of those people inspired to take up the sport.
He set himself the task of riding 2012 miles in his first year of cycling and also aiming to raise £2012 for the 'Save the Children' charity at the same time...
Up until a few weeks ago we had never met before....contact was made via Twitter...
Jon had read about me reaching my 10,000 miles target for the year...
I had tweeted that I would need to look for a new challenge and Jon suggested 'ten countries in ten days'.
As it was his idea it seemed only right that he did the ride too so I suggested it to him......
Jon was making progress on his 2012 miles challenge well ahead of his original schedule and the more he thought about it the more he realized that given some training he could probably complete the 10 in 10....
Anyway the good news is that he decided that he would join us on the ride.......
So that is the current 10 in 10 team....whether anyone else will join us only time will tell... but readers of this blog will be the first to know.....
Now I will be the first to admit that on paper we seem a pretty motley crew...a real recipe for disaster....
We have a 42 year old newbie rider who only took up road cycling in August of this year.......
A two stone overweight 58 year old with only one kidney and a 65 year old cancer survivor...
Then as if to add a cherry on top our support driver will be 5 weeks shy of 70 years of age when we do the ride.....
Now if someone told you that this little group was intending cycling ten countries in ten days you would be forgiven for thinking that they had absolutely no chance of getting half way through the ride let alone completing it.........
But look a little closer and we might just surprise you...
Regular visitors to this blog will be well aware that despite my 65 years and medical history I am perfectly capable of covering long distances against the clock on a bicycle and like to regularly set myself cycling challenges..I love riding hills and I love riding long distances.
John Donoghue (JD) might be overweight at the moment but he will manage to lose that weight...He describes himself as a plodder..not fast and not swift but he does get there.
He has never failed to complete any of the cycling challenges that we have set ourselves over the past five years and I have only known him get off on a hill once in all that time.
That was towards the end of a very hilly 100 mile ride when another 25% beauty just proved to be one too many.....
Dave (the broom) Vaughan is a bit of a legend....70 years old he might well be but he has a wealth of experience in supporting multi day distance cycling events. He has been support driver on a number of our previous rides and he is always my first choice...
Being an ex cyclist himself he understands the needs of the riders...he deals with everything from support to logistics...none better!!
So that brings me to the youngest rider...
Jon Joynes..42 years of age...a manager of a Mothercare store and only took up road riding in August..
 |
| The feature about Jon in Cycling Weekly |
Jon was one of those people inspired to take up the sport.
He set himself the task of riding 2012 miles in his first year of cycling and also aiming to raise £2012 for the 'Save the Children' charity at the same time...
 |
| Jon outside his store in Yeovil Somerset |
Jon had read about me reaching my 10,000 miles target for the year...
I had tweeted that I would need to look for a new challenge and Jon suggested 'ten countries in ten days'.
As it was his idea it seemed only right that he did the ride too so I suggested it to him......
Jon was making progress on his 2012 miles challenge well ahead of his original schedule and the more he thought about it the more he realized that given some training he could probably complete the 10 in 10....
Anyway the good news is that he decided that he would join us on the ride.......
So that is the current 10 in 10 team....whether anyone else will join us only time will tell... but readers of this blog will be the first to know.....
7 comments:
you're just a very good team, but the average age is not to be underestimated if we include your carer seventy, I'm sure you will do a great adventure and you have a great time, strength and fit it all.
roby.
After reading all of your past exploits Trevor i have no doubts at all about you completing this one .GO
Looks like you have an adventure coming up. Great breakdown of the players.
On a Bicycle Tour of Colorado the organizers posted stats on riders, and the majority were 50-70 years old. Many younger riders don't have the time or money to take off on an adventure. So your "motley crew" sounds like the A-Team to me.
This sounds like such a fantastic trip. If only it weren't so far away, I would submit my resume.
Reading of these exploits gives me the inspiration to continue pursuing my own goals. The lesson for me seems to be, Stop Talking about it, and just DO IT ! Well done to you all
*roby*
As you say Roby, it should be a great adventure.....
*John Horner*
I am glad you have positive thoughts on our success John...I always feel a bit aprehensive at the start of a new venture.....
*Jason Castillo*
Thanks for you comments Jason...an adventure indeed....
*jeff*
I think that observation is pretty accurate Jeff..Perhaps we are the A Team after all...
*Michael*
I would be pleased to have you join us Michael..No resume required..!!
*Peter Roberts*
I'm pretty sure that you will achieve all those goals that you have set for yourself Peter...
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