50 mile sponsored bike ride for Cancer Research (7-3-09) Day 13

On saturday the 7th of March 2009, 10 bikers cycled from North Ferriby to Hornsea and back. They started at 11:00am from Medici’s to start their 50 mile bike ride for Cancer Research.

The riders were:

Dom Burnett
Jamie Burnett
Matty Edwards
Alex Griffiths (Griff)
David Hardy (Daaave)
Jake Hart
Billy Lawrence
James McCartney (Macca)
Luke McFadden
Ted Munsten

11.05
All was going well on our route down Ferriby to the foreshore. Where we followed the river to the Humber Bridge. After the bridge we went on the road past “San Luca” to join the path which ran parrallel to the Clive Sullivan Way. At this point we had done around 3 miles and everyone was feeling fine, I just had a dreading feeling of failing when I change to my top ring on my bike (racing Billy..) and my chain came off, I looked down and I thought I had snapped it, but all was okay. However, this was the first of many problems ahead.

11.30 – 5miles
We cycled up to the Sainsburies roundabout where we had to push our bikes down the only set of stairs on the route. Being so hardcore, I pushed my bike down, whilst Ted and Billy rode down ( I had nothing to prove everyone knows I’m such a daredevil…)

11.40 – 5.5miles
We followed the forshore past the motorcross section, and past fishermen (who seemed pretty unhappy to see us!) down to the Pod a large retail outlook with Macro PC World (shame I couldn’t go in) and Starbucks! By this point we had been split up into the speedy group at the front, who were panicking that we didn’t have much time, and the group at the back who were taking it steady and enjoying the ride. After a few stern words from me (aha) everything was fine, and we were together as a group again. For me the aim of the ride was obviously to raise money for Cancer Research, but it was also to have fun and for all of us to do it together!

11.45am – 6.6 miles
We turned left at Mr Chu’s (a popular chinese restaurant) where it joined next to the Clive Sullivan again, this is where disaster struck. We were going up the ramp to join the path where I looked down at my back wheel, my heart sank (it really is the most annoying thing when you go biking) it was a Puncture. As I was at the back talking to Griff we had to shout to tell people to stop. I turned my bike upside down and starting unscrewing the wheel (remembering what to do as the previous week I had to repair my back wheel, it took 40minutes!). This was when Jake came to the rescue! He started pulling the tyre off (almost with his bare hands) 5x faster than what I could do, so I left him with Dom to check the tyre, whilst me and Griff got out the new inner tube ready to be put in.

Overall it took around 15mins, everyone set off again and I jumped on my bike. I realised then that my back brake wasn’t clipped in, and clipping it back in needed an allen key! I knew the bikers further ahead were getting annoyed, but within 2 minutes we were biking again so everything was okay… Untill..

11.55am – 7miles
Disaster strikes again, biking along the pavement alongside Jackson St I rode over a curb and felt my back tyre slam, I looked down and my heart sank again. I knew the bikers ahead would have started to become really annoyed. Rude words such as “poo” “turnips and other nasties came pouring out my mouth. Macca who was also becoming aware of the time (We needed to be in Hornsea by 2pm) rushed back to help me do the same tyre again, Jake Macca and Macca’s Dad (support team 1 mile behind) fixed the “Snake Bite” puncture where there are 2 holes in the tyre. We put in a new innertube and set off quickly.

12pm – 7miles
The worst part of the bike ride was going through the streets of Hull, luckily the traffic was okay and we made it safely to spvee street where the rest of the ride was fairly simple.

12.20pm – 8 – 25miles
We were now on the cycle route which was a straight path from Hull all the way to Hornsea, during the path I did some recording and took some photos. We also got split up which caused a very slight comotion, but they everything was okay!

By 1.30 everyone was starving and we could see the Fish and Chip shop! We had arrived!

1.35pm Hornsea (25miles)
Having eaten 2 large fishes and lots of chips, I was full! We were all set to go after filling our water bottles with water brought to us by Jamie and Dom’s parensts!

2.30pm – 25miles
We set off home the way we came, however we had a head wind and the first 6-7 miles was hard work, people were getting tired as we were already 30miles into the ride.

Not only was the wind bad but Dom’s back wheel on his bike had a bearing problem and was like having your brakes on constantly! So people who didn’t feel too tired took it in turns to ride it, and eventually Macca’s Dad (an Iron Man completer!) rode to Starbucks on it.

However, it was obvious the mood wasn’t as high as before, and people were getting tired:

Not looking too happy

Griff Suffers with Cramp! :

4.45pm – 40miles
Starbucks! Having finally finished the long track, we cylced through the center again. We stopped at Starbucks in the Pod for a snack and drink, however all of us were pretty concerned with time so set off 15minutes after arriving.

mmm strawberries and cream

5.30pm – 45miles
Disaster strikes again! Dom’s back wheel wasn’t spinning at all, even trying to spin it by hand was virtually impossible:

5.50pm – 45miles
Dom’s mother kindly brings his other bike so we can carry on. Worryingly it was getting really dark, and only one of us had a backlight. We still had 5 miles to get home!

6.20pm – 50.7 Miles
Success! Everyone completed the 50 mile ride for Cancer Research

Awards!
Hero of the day: Jake, for flying back to help me after my first puncture!
Achievement award: Matty, as this was his first long cycle ride for a long time!
Push Through award: Macca, as he played a football match that morning and had an injury, but he still cylec the full 50miles!
Low Seat award: Ted, having his seat so low he spent most of the time standing!
No hander award: Billy, cycling nearly 50% none handed!
Medic (and monster) award: Luke, for carrying a first aid kit, and nearly 10kg on his back!
Failed bike award: Dom, after his back wheel stopped moving!
Helper award: Griff, lending his inner tube to me!
Monster Award: Jamie, for cycling on Dom’s bike for over a mile!
Fail award: For getting 2 punctures, goes to… David!
At the time of writing this blog we have raised £322 online (JustGiving.com/50) and £300 + offline in sponsors Thanks to everyone who completed the ride with me, and to everyone who has sponsored us!

Now it’s time for the Quiz!

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- David

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