My colleagues / Friends and I completed the C2C cycle ride on
the 01st of October 2006, we traveled up from our workplace Alpine
electronics based in Coventry, with a colleague traveling from
Gothenburg in Sweden to take up the challenge of the C2C. Starting
out at Whitehaven and cycling to Sunderland.
We took up the challenge to raise money for our friend and colleague
(KEVIN PHELPS) who passed away with Leukemia in June of 2006,
we have so far managed to raise £3,500 for the ACLT (African
Caribbean, Leukemia Trust). The money raised will help the ACLT
search for much needed bone marrow donors. For more information
please visit www.aclt.org
With a team of 6 riders - Ewan Grey, Keith Holness, Chris Mumford,
Einar Adachi, Phil Wilkins and Darren Miller - and of course our
support team Natalie O’hara, Ian Adcock and Super Kevin
Hall.
The cycle ride started on Friday the 29th September at 09:45 where
we traveled from Whitehaven to Penrith on day one - a distance
of 56 miles and arrived in Penrith at around 18:00hrs.
We had one person fall off (he comes from Norway). The Tandem
died (not due to the rear weight distribution - Phil was at the
front) and we were fortunate to have taken a wrong turn and bump
into an old guy working on bicycles in a work shop, who managed
to fix the tandem and get back on the road after some light refreshment.
Riding up through the Whinlatter Pass was a truly amazing experience
that I will never forget.
 The
toughest day of physical activity I have ever had in my life.
40 miles of literally ups and downs (bloody more ups than downs).
Climbing up to the top of Hartside, we set off from Penrith at
around 08:30 little did I know size of the task - Ewan knew though.
it seemed to me to be a complete day of climbing the largest peaks
in the North (Thanks Ewan).
However thank to the shear courage and will power of Phil and
the rest of the team we completed the day with only one mechanical
failure Einar's chain broke, Ewan was on hand to quickly fix the
chain and get under shortly after.
With this being late in the day we cycled onto Allenheads where
we were to stay and party ( lots of cider and whisky for some)
for the rest of the evening(and morning). Ewan and Einar where
only just behind us.
 An
early start leaving Allenheads at 08:30 or is that Alienheads
Keith H?
The day started quite tough taking in a couple of tough climbs
before the descent into North East and then onto Sunderland. Ewan
did get a puncture and we were made to cycle to the top of a mountain
only to be told by Ewan we had gone too far, Phil and I didn't
care at this point we were too knackered to argue.
That came a little later when I mentioned to Phil the pathway
bears left, his response was "shut up there are no bears
in England" I had visions of the tandem going one way and
me going the other, Oh I laughed afterwards. After a couple of
long distance descents we managed to get ourselves to Sunderland,
with the help of our trusty support crew Ian Adcock, Natalie O'hara
and Super Kevin Hall. (A Massive Thank you to you guy's.)
I have got to say to the all the riders a big Thank you for the
TURBO BOOST of Chris, Ewan Einar and of Course Keith H, when we
needed it, Phil you have the heart of LION and at no point did
you ever think of giving up, (Cheers Buddy).
Just to finish we did mange to clock up 145 miles over three days,
averaging 10 miles an hour, a task seemingly impossible.
by Darren Miller
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