Cycle4Nik – A Life Changing Weekend

The statistics below can be used to describe our cycle4Nik experience from North to South Wales over St David’s Day 2014 weekend:

• 14 hours cycled
• 3 days 
• 182 miles
• 2.6 miles climbed 
• 12,070 calories burnt 
• 15 full cyclists 
• 26 individual stage cyclists 
• £12,000 raised.
  
  

Pictures also tell their own story. 

However, I hope my few words will also add a different dimension to the ones above.

It was an epic weekend full of amazing memories, stunning scenery, challenging climbs and loads of laughs.

It had taken 4 months to plan and was Gareth Cole's idea, who works at the Seren Group. He suggested cycling from North to South Wales to raise funds for a former member of staff who has a rare form of cancer... and it snowballed from there. A frantic couple of months then ensued which saw budgets sorted, route agreed, accommodation and transport booked, a race night organised to generate more funds and lots of marketing and promoting of the ride. The support from the sector was immense. Lots of people were up for the ride and HAs also wanted to support us through sponsoring or helping out with refreshments en route. We couldn’t have done this without their support.

So we had a team, we had a route (which proved one of the most hardest things to sort) – and now we had to train. 30 December saw our first group ride and we experienced gales, driving rain and a massive ascent up Lyngynidor mountain to finish us off. I can remember the look on everyone’s faces as we all clambered back into our cars. They were not happy faces.

And so it continued. Week after week, regular weekend training rides. We were all busy. We all had full time jobs, families, other priorities, but there was not one member of the team that did not take part in any group ride – such was the commitment of the team. I can recall out of 10 weeks of training that there were only two sunny days. We cycled in snow, ice, driving rain, 40 mph winds against us and hailstones – but it did make us stronger. I know that the North Wales team also made it out on a number of training rides.

We were really sorry to lose Tony Clark from Monmouthshire Housing who broke his hip ball joint on an icy training ride, and also Sean Davey (UES Energy) had to pull out in the final week due to a serious health scare (he is now thankfully OK).

After many miles of training, we were ready to set off and we left Newport with the knowledge that severe yellow weather warnings were in place for North Wales – our day 1 start. If ever we needed the weather gods to be kind to us, it was now.

We all awoke on Day 1 to find the amazing sight of no snow and glorious sun. Yes – our prayers had been answered. Final checks to our bikes and a few words of thanks and final route plans took place, and then we were off. I remember looking at Gareth as we started with 31 riders and thinking - yes, this was really happening – we both smiled knowing that after all the months of planning, we were about to start our amazing journey. It was great to ride off with the North Wales team and others from Mid Wales HA and CT Clwyd. The day was full of stunning views, one steep climb and lots of smiles. We all finished the ride with just one puncture and celebrated in the Royal Ship Inn with a pint (or two).

Day 2 saw the only day rider from Mid Wales HA join us for what was going to be one of the most challenging rides we had all faced. Our breakfast had barely had a chance to go down when we were climbing half a mile into the start of the ride. That was tough. We then faced the longest climb up a snow topped mountain. That was lung busting. And to finish us off, another three hours of big climbs and few descents on a cycle route back to Llandrindod Wells. When hardened cyclists remarked that they found that day one of the most difficult rides they had cycled, it made the aches and pains a little easier. It also made the Stella go down easier too!

Day 3 saw driving rain and harsh winds welcoming us for our last day, along with three full day riders. They were horrible conditions but it was fitting that we had trained all winter – why shouldn’t we finish off the ride in rain and gales? This was our longest day and we faced Lyngynidor mountain again before our lunch stop. We all found it hard, but again completed it and knew that it was literally downhill all the way to Newport. We were joined for the final 26 miles by a further 10 cyclists and it was an amazing feeling to see the long peloton of cyclists all focused on getting to Newport. These last 26 miles should have been the most straightforward route of the three days, but somehow we lost a few cyclists and someone also came off – maybe it was just the adrenalin and knowing that the finish was in sight. I have to mention Richard Thomas from Cardiff Care & Repair  – he got lost and I took a call from him saying “I lost you all but managed to find Bannatynes. I’m hiding behind a tree – I’ll come out when I see you coming!”. That was a funny moment.

And so we ended our journey at Bannatynes Newport at 4.30pm on 2 March where we were noisily and proudly greeted by friends and family. The sense of achievement at what we had actually achieved was so overwhelming. We had cycled from North to South Wales for Nik and raised £12,000. Her dad (Terry) was there to meet us and he moved us all to tears with his words about his daughter and what we had done for her. Truly unforgettable.

Reflecting on the journey, team members have written messages for Nik. Here are two of my favorites which encapsulate how we all feel:

Nik, without realising, you’ve changed our lives and made us better people. Thank you so much.

It was an honour to be able to ride for you from North to South Wales. Having not met you but hearing the kind words people have said about you and the impact you have had upon their lives made this challenge special. It was a pleasure to be part of the experience.

So what is the legacy of the ride? Well, over £12,000 was raised and will be handed to the Hope for Nik fund this month. This money will be used to help support Nik and her family. North Wales HA are setting up their own bike club. Mid Wales HA are also looking to do regular rides, and the South Wales team are planning more rides and social events. The Cycle4Nik journey didn’t stop on 2 March... it has simply continued.

On behalf of the Cycle4nik team, thank you everyone for your support, good wishes and generosity.


Phillipa Knowles
Director of Central Services
Community Housing Cymru Group

Cycle4Nik... it's almost time!

On 10 October 2013, I received an email from Gareth Cole, Head of Continuous Improvement at the Seren Group. He had an idea to raise funds for one of Seren’s former employees who has a very rare form of cancer. She is an amazing person with two young sons. Tragically, because of where she lives, she can’t access funding for treatment.

'Let’s cycle from North to South Wales and raise funds for her,' he suggested. And so Cycle4Nik was started! Little did we know then how much this ride would captivate, inspire, unite and bring together so many people from across the whole of Wales. We roped in Sean Davey from UES Energy as we knew he was an excellent cyclist who liked a drink and a laugh... all great qualities for a race planner.

We had our first planning meeting in November where we hoped that maybe we could attract 12 cyclists from within the housing sector to cycle the 200 or so miles from North to South Wales during St David’s Day weekend. We took a stab at wanting to raise £5k for Nik, her treatment and her family. However, this week we have planned the last minute arrangements and we amazingly have 16 full cyclists and 23 cyclists taking part in individual stages. We are already well over the £5k total and hope that money still continues to pour in after the ride.

The hotels have been booked, transport and logistics sorted, Tshirts all printed, and the team has put in a tremendous amount of time and effort training every weekend since the end of December through rain, sleet, snow, gales and yes... sometimes, some sun.

We have been so touched and moved by the response and support of the housing sector. Led by Community Housing Cymru, Seren Group and UES Energy, the team has also been helped on its way by:

North Wales Housing, CT Clwyd, Mid Wales HA, CT Eryri, RCT Homes, Taff HA, Newydd HA, Wales & West HA, Tai Calon and Melin Homes.

The journey to get here has been hard. It’s taken lots of man hours in planning the ride and the fantastic race night to generate more money for the fund, promoting and ensuring that everything is covered.

We’ve had falls, bikes falling apart, loads of punctures, tears, hangovers, tantrums and were all devastated when Tony Clark had to pull out after fracturing his ball joint in his hip with a very bad fall on black ice two weeks before we left. And only on Tuesday, Sean Davey had to pull out due to a serious medical condition. We are all devastated for him and wish him well over the next few months.

However, there have also been massive highs too...

Highlights for me so far include:

1. Receiving all the cyclist’s profiles and finding out what they were most (and least) looking forward to on the ride and why they were cycling for Nik... Truly moving.

2. Writing a personal intro to every one of the cyclists... what an honour.

3. Seeing the race night packed out and feeling the love and support in the room.

4. Training, bonding and being inspired by the other team members.

5. Seeing the money that has been donated online on our go fund me page which has been growing on a daily basis... http://www.gofundme.com/Hope4NikkiCycle

6. And just the feeling of knowing that very soon we are going to be a part of something very special and life changing.

So, as we set off on our journey today, I’d like to take this opportunity on behalf of Cycle4Nik of thanking everyone who has made this possible. And to our fellow cyclists, whether you are doing the full route or just the one, you are doing an amazing thing and you are amazing people. Have fun, enjoy every mile, stay safe and whoever gets in first... gets the first round.

Phillipa Knowles
Director of Central Services, CHC Group 

London to Paris 2013 - Cycling Challenge for Homeless International

I have given birth, run three London marathons, and won a bronze medal at the 1990 Commonwealth Games in New Zealand (and not in that order), but I can honestly say that none of them compare to how I felt during and after my bike ride from London to Paris earlier this month.

I turned 40 last year and wanted a challenge to mark this occasion, and cycling to Paris sounded like “fun”. So myself and two colleagues signed up to raise funds for the great work that Homeless International do, whilst cycling 316 miles.

Being a novice cyclist, I had to conquer a number of challenges: buy a bike, get used to cycling on the road, not being too self conscious when wearing padded lycra shorts, learn how to change an inner tube, and learn some cycling routes. I trained really hard from January onwards, out in all weathers, and completed my first 100 mile race in Stratford Upon Avon a week and a half before I left for London. That was a significant milestone for me and gave me a big confidence boost as I waited at 6.30am with 79 other cyclists on Blackheath Common, London, the familiar start of the London Marathon.

I wore my Welsh shirt with pride on Day 1. We covered 87 miles from London to Dover and then onwards to our hotel in Calais. We faced torrential rain 10 miles prior to Dover and, fittingly enough, it continued as we got off the ferry from Calais. The hills were also another challenge on Day 1 which left my legs exhausted as I hit the bar in our Calais hotel that first evening. I heard Stella had healing powers! We’d been up from 5am and arrived at the hotel at 9.30pm that evening... a very long day.

Day 2 saw us travel from Calais to Arras – another 83 miles in the seat with the most awful weather conditions and hills. 30mph winds against us for the first 50 miles and torrential rain for the last 30 miles. Drowned rats doesn’t come anywhere near describing how we looked and felt after Day 2, but the sense of team spirit and unification bonded all the cyclists together.

Day 3 was described as one of the easiest days for us, but this is where I hit my wall or “bonk” in cycling terms. I felt every one of those 81 miles. Whilst the rain stayed away, we were followed all the way by 30 degree heat. During my 7 ½ hours in the saddle that day, I did doubt whether I would be able to make it. I was pulled through by my fellow cycling buddies and also by remembering the overwhelming support I had at home. I made it to Compeigne for a well deserved Stella or two.

Day 4 should have been the easiest day with only 65 miles, especially with the lure of finishing at the Eiffel Tower. However, I felt sick for the first 30 miles or so. Again, my team mates kept with me, enticing me with hugs, jelly babies, and lots of banter. So at 3pm, after cycling 316 miles, I fulfilled my turning 40 challenge by hoisting my bike over my head with the Eiffel Tower as my backdrop.

This challenge was not only physically tough, but also mentally tough. I found demons in my head playing tricks with me. Starting out at 7am and trying not to count down the miles. Being away from my 12 year old son was also hard. However, the sense of achievement and accomplishment and the knowledge that I’d raised £4,200 for Homeless International made it all worthwhile.

Things I’ve learnt from the challenge? Stella does not have healing powers. Lycra padded shorts are a godsend. If you ever get your cycling shoes wet, put newspaper in them and they will dry overnight.

The luckiest thing that happened to me on the whole ride was that I didn’t get a puncture. 316 miles, puncture free, until I put my bike in the garage when I got home and noticed my front tyre was flat. How lucky was that?

My next challenge will be walking the Three National Peaks in July with a group of work colleagues to raise funds for Diabetes UK and then the Cardiff Half Marathon in October. And now that I have the cycling bug, I’m sure I will be entering a few races between now and December.

The hardest challenge I think I face is… not having a challenge!


Phillipa Knowles
Director of Central Services

You can still sponsor Phillipa and Homeless International here.