Hello all,

I’m undertaking a serious challenge on the 15th of July for the British Heart Foundation – cycling with two friends from university from London to Brussels in under 24 hours!

The enormity of this task is just hitting home – 240 miles of almost constant cycling on mostly foreign roads at ridiculous times in the morning, and probably blistering heat during the day, means we’ve really had to start some serious training (you know, watching hilarious clips of funny men in lycra falling over in the Tour de France on youTube ).

Not being content with this challenge, the British Heart Foundation set us a sponsorship target of £3600, 80% of which has to be donated by the 1st of June.

We haven’t done badly so far, in fact we have raised just short of £800 and we’re at the beginning of May. But we still have a long way to go, and we really need the help of anyone and everyone! So I'm coming to all you locostbuilders cap in hand, as I've heard you are the most generous people in allllll of the world

We’re trying to raise as much money as possible for the BHF’s fight against heart and circulatory disease, which is still more likely to kill than any other serious illness, including cancer. We all think this is a great cause, having each known someone close who has been affected.

If you would like to donate (and we very much hope you do!) then the easiest way is online, at our Justgiving site:


[align=center]Justgiving.com/steakhouseteam[/align]


Any amount would be gratefully received and much appreciated.

We have a facebook page (search for ‘Taha, James and Raoul are cycling from London to Brussels’) and will be setting up a Twitter account very soon so you can follow our progress as we near the challenge on the 15th of July.

Thanking you in advance,


James H,
Taha
Raoul

are you sure you will be able to average 10mph on a bike for 24 hours? not including breaks for food + toilet etc

how do you cross the channel? eurostar? from loindon to brussels?

Go on James.
Good on you.

My much smaller challenge is in June and I'm really looking forwards to it.

P.S. I reckon you'll do it easily.
An average of 10mph is fine if sleeping isn't going to be something you'll be looking to do.
All the best, and mostly importantly, get stuck in and enjoy it.

quote:

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Originally posted by daniel mason
are you sure you will be able to average 10mph on a bike for 24 hours? not including breaks for food + toilet etc

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I suggested to the guys we could peddle really fast just before dover. Then there's the option of fitting a bike engine (BEPb?) to get up enough speed, I ruled out a pinto as its not called a boat anchor for nothing...

In the end we'll have to settle for the sensible ferry. Pffft

Thanks zilspeed! I shall do my best

donated a little bit to help you out...

ill give you donation moneys next week friday when i get paid.

i was born with 2 heart conditions which is like 1 in a 1000 chance, had an operation at 11 and was recognised whilst i was young by a local GP in north devon belive it or not... (our GP's now are rubbish)

as the operation has stopped me from dieing at the age of 30 ish (10 years away) id love to help out as much as possible, even if the BHF didnt help at birth or younger years, they supplied a whole new building to the hospital in bristol i go to which is fantastic. (im still unsure why i go to a hospital in bristol when i live in london, but i really like the consultant i have)

so yes, money coming your way on friday weather you make it or not, thanks for raising money

thanks
chris

Good cause. I'll happily donate as circulatory disease was part of my mums trouble last year.

Distance is perfectly doable in a day (done 249 in 12hrs myself) but still a big challenge. Do you have any cycling experiance or training advice? Happy to help if you need it just u2u.

Thanks so much Graeme, Chris and Adithorp!

I haven't done any long distances before, so any advice would be good. Training consists of cycling around as much as poss in the hills where I live, but i'm back down in London from today so I need to get myself a decent road bike and get on it as much as I can.

I'll send you a u2u adithorp tonight when I get to London re training

Thanks again

James

My dad died of a heart attack at about my age so happy to sponsor you!

Good luck

Stu

A couple of quid from me


Quite a big challenge, riding for that length of time is going to be hard. Looks like you're in a big group, so 15mph is quite comfortable, but your legs are going to need some miles over the next couple of months.

(I'm in the same boat - riding the etape in the alps on 11th July and need to get some serious training in this month )

Good luck,

Tim.

There are some very philanthropic people on Locostbuilders! Thanks Stu and Tim, its very very much appreciated!

So far I've raised £39 from this site, and more promised which is great, but please don't stop in your generosity

Thanks again

James

We've raised £1700 so far, so thanks to everyone who has donated

We've got under 2 weeks to our first deadline on the 1st of June to raise £2990, and I'm sorry to say that we're starting to struggle a little! Fingers crossed we'll make the total, anybody know any famous footballers we could blackmail?