Guest blog

A fundraising 46 mile bike ride
26/07/2011

Sunburn? Insect bites? Blisters?

They can only be three slightly unsavoury souvenirs from the recent OWL charity bike ride from Sawston to Papworth Everard. It wasn't quite the Tour of France. But 46 miles is a long way. And 46 miles when it's 25 degrees is hard work. Very hard work.

The warm and friendly greeting from Dan Cowlishaw and some of his mates in Huntingdon helped give us six riders a bit of a boost when things were starting to flag.

Incidents? Apart from being abandoned by Will and Callum from OWL Bikes in the middle of nowhere, the day was a stress free zone. Stress free as long as ride organiser Cathy was allowed to be at the front with co-rider Sam.

If there is a cycling Heaven in Cambridgeshire, it must be the track along most of the new guided bus route. It is brilliant. It is wide and smooth and just like cycling in France. Except when it ran out near St Ives, and got all bumpy, and my sore backside got even sorer and I lost my precious speedo.

Ultimately, the OWL team raised the best part of £1,000 for a new Wii and some other much needed equipment at their centre. You can still support us by donating online on Cathy's Just Giving page.

And for me? Well I am suitably prepared for the London to Cambridge ride. If the blisters heal in time.

David Martin