Bryan, Vince, Glyn, Roo, crazy Pete, Alan, Steve Chapman. Steve
Lowes, Stu (the driver)
various machines, racers, hybrids, mountain bikes,and a large
mini bus
to raise as much as possible for Macmillan Cancer Research and
to have fun doing so.
 We
set off from Workington around lunchtime on the 24th june, the
lovely weather the met office promised had'nt materialised, we
had to settle for overcast and drizzly, once we had navigated
our way badly out of the harbour we set off on the cyle path for
Keswick our lunchtime stop, the highlight of this section being
the descent at wythrop wood to Bassenthwaite an adrenalin junkies
delight.
Once at Keswick we refeulled with a selection of health foods,
mars bars, pies, chips etc, before setting out for our overnight
in Penrith. It was now that the weather decided to do its worst
and in true lakeland style the heavens opened and didn't stop
till we arrived in Penrith at the excellent Albany House Band
B.
After a hungover brekfast, and some oiling of our rusty chains
we were off on our day of climbing the worst of the hills.
Down came the rain again as we took on Hartside with a much welcomed
lunch stop at the summit, then off again into the rain and wind
to Garragill,Nenthead, and finally our second nights stop at the
superb Allenheads Inn.(thanks to the 4 lads from Oxfordshire for
their donation to our cause)
Made it just in time for Englands second round game against Equador...phew.
 still
no sign of the sun as we set out on our final day, hungover again,
well at least the worst of the climbs were over, weren,t they?
Alas no we still had to scale Crawleyside bank out of Stanhope,
the worst climb of all, still once at the top we had the fantastic
waskerley Way waiting for us, miles and miles of downhill traffic
free path.
Lunch at Consett, then down on the Derwent to the Tyne.The sun
decided to finally shine on us with three miles to go, on to Tynemouth
for our champagne finish.
punctures-
nil
broken bones -nil
sore bums
-8
unscheduled dismounts
-7
Laughs
- lots.
money raised
- lots
and - a great time had by all.
Bryan Tait
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