Crossing France by bike to buy bikes for the world!

In 2004 I cycled from Land's End to John O'Groats to show that I could do it even at almost 50 years of age, in 2012 I was on the bike again from Sheffield to Budapest, cycling back to my job with UNHCR, and now in 2022 I am off again, this time over 900 miles from the north-west coast of France, Pointe St Mathieu, to the Mediterranean at the Spanish border.

 Map of planned route

Why? Well, there is no specific reason this time other than because long-distance cycle rides are a very special activity. Day after day of just sitting on the bike, thinking about the next destination, enjoying the scenery, watching what goes on around you, and forgetting about the general stuff of life.

I had actually planned this ride for May, 2020, but Covid 19 thwarted my plans. Two years later, it is time. My original plan was to ride unsupported, taking my trusty one-person tent and camping near pizza restaurants, but this time I have a support vehicle, our VW campervan, Rosie, to be driven by Helen. I have already mapped out a route for completing the journey in 14 days of cycling, and in theory each day I will set off for our destination and, after a day of sightseeing, relaxing, reading, and whatever, Helen will drive the 50 or 60 miles to arrive at the same place at around the same time. The best laid plans of mice and men…

Whenever people take on a challenge such as this there is an assumption that they will be doing it to raise money for some cause close to their heart. My LEJoG raised money for UNICEF and the Sheffield-Budapest ride raised money for the UNHCR Syrian refugee response, and this time I am going to be pedalling for World Bicycle Relief, an NGO which provides bicycles to communities in low income countries, primarily in Africa, but also in South America and Southeast Asia. These bicycles have been specially designed to be strong and easy to maintain, to be low cost, and to be able to carry heavy loads or several people. They can also be ridden by both women and men.

QR code for fundraising page!

It has been suggested that the bicycle is the most important invention in modern history. It made it possible for people to travel longer distances to get to work and school. It made it possible to meet and mate with people from out of your own gene pool. And it played a hugely important part in female emancipation, allowing women to travel between villages and towns and to organise. And in our time of rising carbon dioxide levels and potentially catastrophic climate change, the bicycle offers a new way for zero emission urban transportation.

So I hope that in some small way that the bicycles that my own bike ride will provide will help future generations in other countries to prosper.

Today is August 16, and on Friday, August 26 we will be sailing from Plymouth to Roscoff. August 27 is Day 1.