Riding one of the most distinguished (and heavier) bikes on tour, Mike’s imperturbable nature meant that he was never fazed by any “slight” detour. Just kept on peddling and with hardly a complaint. A “veteran” cyclist
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Not having ridden on the roads for many years, after a horrific bike crash when younger, Stewart threw himself into the event and managed not to have a fall this time. A slight wobble on day 2 but quickly back in the saddle
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Buying a bike for the event and turning up for the training in his tricky bottoms, we were worried that Joe didn’t know what he’d let himself in for. We needn’t have worried. By the end, once we’d sorted out his saddle height, he looked a proper cyclist and even voluntarily took the longer route to Strickland, on day 1
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One of our elder statesmen Bob is a veteran of earlier Masonic Cycling Events. Unstoppable on his tourer. One of the quiet mem of the team, he was always ready with a smile and some encouragement
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Brian (Sgt Major) Bullock. Marshalling the riders at the back Brian’s Forces background proved invaluable. Allways there with a helpful “shout” of encouragement. Only stayed back there so he couldn’t get the team lost – left that honour to GavNav – oh – and he couldn’t keep up with Mandy!
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Mandy (Spinning) Bullock. Fittest rider in the group by some margin. Was heard to apologise for overtaking all of the peloton every time we came to a hill. We didn’t swear at her too much!
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Frank (wall killer) Charlton. Franks previous experience in support driving proved invaluable. At least he was able to find the team on day 1! Looked a little sheepish after he sat down for breakfast on day 3, after he had demolished a section of dry stone wall though
Jonathan Cubello – Loudest brakes on the tour. Jonathan has no computer so he’ll probably never see this profile! “sorry, sorry” was the refrain, every time he squealed to a halt.
Michaels old style “racer” (yes with the gear changers on the down bar) coasted through the event. He coped with all surfaces and whilst shaken was never stirred Having purchased a brand new bike not long before the event Graham was slightly perturbed on the morning of day 2 when he discovered every spoke was loose on the front wheel. Repaired by Halfords in Penrith, Graham was quickly riding back through the Peloton
Michael (I’m raging) Graham – slightly overheating as the weather improved on day 1, Michael had a few choice words for GavNAv when he was then taken 10 miles “off piste”. Having taken up cycling for the event Michaels spirit kept him going on even the most arduous climbs
Richard’s knees and hips had been playing up even before the event started. With plenty of painkillers however he kept battling on and thoroughly enjoyed the technical mountain biking, in particular, on Stanhope Moors A former King of the Mountains in the Tour of Britain, despite being the oldest member of the party, Eddie breezed through the event. He was also invaluable as our unpaid bike mechanic!
Having bought he wrong bike Paul’s subsequent ebay purchase stood him in good stead. Another of our riders taking up cycling for the first time Paul’s running background gave him a good set of lungs – at least that was what those sharing his room thought when the industrial snoring started….
The I.T. man of the group, its thanks to Steve that the blog has found an online home. Always had a phone camera in hand and a smile on his face. Route maps on his Garmin were useless when we were lost though
GavNav – despite one or two “minor” issues – the team got to the finish. That’s all anyone needs to know! Sworn at, and lambasted throughout, Gav managed to keep smiling whenever he was asked – how far is it to go. The reply was always “4 or 5 miles and a bit hilly”
Having an inexplicable desire to throw himself over – must be the background in professional football – Mike particularly enjoyed the rougher paths. So suitable for his carbon road bike (not)
Another of our riders who made the whole event look easy.
Even when his tyre spontaneously deflated when stationery. Always ready with a chicken run story too! A veteran of the C2C event, Steven was suffering from injury before the ride started and rode as much as possible. He was then full of helpful comments about where the next hill was situated!
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Mike (stalled again) Cockerton. Some difficulty getting the van moving but always on hand with supplies and encouragement
Mick Drake – after losing most of the fluid from his hydraulic brakes Mick was literally unstoppable. Another of our quiet men, Mick threw himself into the event with hardly a complaint.
Craig was injured by a competitor on day 2. Stopping sharply, he was struck form behind and promptly fell into the nettles by the side of the path. Unperturbed Craig battled on, hives and all.
Accompanied by the odd beep from his insulin pump David rode the whole event with a smile on his face. Always on hand with a helpful comment. His mountain bike tackled the rougher slopes with ease
With plenty of miles under his belt Stephen made the hills look easy, even the rubble strewn slope at Rookhope. A great riding partner up the length of Hartside Pass. Classic thumbs up picture on the moor top (oh – I’ve cropped off the thumbs here)
Having completed the C2C only the year before, over 2 days, and being a keen runner, Robert was another of our fitter riders. His internal sat nav was also somewhat more reliable than the GavNav, at least it was when we could keep up with him
Chris trained religiously for the event. With his riding partner he covered – oh 10 miles in total. Nevertheless he smiled throughout. Even when he went to Blackhill rather than Consett!
James “Electric Jim” Pendrey – “will it be ok if I ride a power assisted bike” he asked. “Jealousy will be the only issue” I replied - and we were jealous – every time he coasted up those hills. Nearly knocked him off when he commented that one hill was “a bit tough”
Another of our Support team, Paul had the unenviable task of dragging John Thompson away from the coffee shops. When he works out how to use a ratchet strap the bike loading task will be a breeze in the future.
Another of our religious trainers, having covered half of Chris’s 10 miles, Vince was still building his bike on the night before the event. Made it look easy though. Age definitely on his side
Gutted that he’d not decided to ride the event, John took his bat home and refused to meet up with any of the team on the first morning. Settled down later though and is buying a bike for the next ride. Thank you John for all of the support & encouragement, the vans, the snacks, dinner etc etc etc etc…….
Exploding/disintegrating tyres were not enough to halt Nigel. He had one of the most eventful rides with punctures and crashes also included. His ready smile will stand him in good stead in the Stewards Lodge. He is also in for a pay out if the antiques roadshow team ever value his bike
Having slept (sorry – lain awake) in the snoring boiler room, on night one, it took Stephen some time to recover. By day 3 however he was back to his smiling, if somewhat saddle sore, self.
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