This is how it all got started

At the end of September 2012 I completed a cycle from Portsmouth 2 Penzance a total of 273 miles! Raising some money for Children In Need was the Plan. 

This was also to be a personal challenge for me as I haven't been cycling in over 25 years and that was only for fun nothing serious since I had a paper round!!. 

On top of that I have a prolapsed disc ( I was 46 years old at the time) and at the start of 2012 a bit over weight, well actually lot over weight really. Since then I've lost nearly 3 stone! 

So after the dipping of my feet into the cycle challenge I decided to do the big one, John O'Groats 2 Lands End on May 6th 2013, around 1000 miles! This time I had company, Colin, a friend from work, who has said he is as mad as I am and would like to come! This time the ride was in memory of the sad passing of my mum on 17th of April in this year having lost her fight with terminal Bowel Cancer. This was only six months after her diagnosis. She was such a brave lady , deciding to not have any treatment and ride it out at home for as long as she could. this was the first time i’d really heard of Bowel Cancer and my first event raising money ( I have promoted and raised money for this brilliant charity ever since) . Mum really encouraged me during the prep and I know she was with me along the way. 

She did an interview with Radio Solent before she passed and here is the link if you wish to hear what she had to say.

https://soundcloud.com/nicholas-christie-2/radiosolentlivemay3rd2013

My first ride is also documented here on this blog 

https://p2p-picnic4u.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2013-05-09T19:50:00%2B01:00&max-results=7

Having completed the ride under difficult circumstances ( read details in the blog link) I then decided it would be just rude not to go back the other way!!! so in May 2015, with a new friend, Pete and with Dave driving a support vehicle ( luxury) we planed the classic Lands End to John O'Groats, also known as LEJOG. Mad ? yes I think we must have been. 

I guess you'd call it the sequel.

Well job done, more lovely money raised for Beating Bowel cancer £5500 this time.

So what next? well after 18 months of pretty nasty back issues, which forced me to stop cycling for a couple of years I'm back! Although my mode of transport is now a Trike. Having been off the bike for so long the slow process of getting fit for the next Charity bike ride is starting to take shape. This time I’m taking on St Malo (Northern France) to Nice (Southern France) Just under 1000 miles and climbing the famous Mont Ventoux which will be a huge challenge at over 12 miles of climbing !!

So please follow me and spread the word via social media and lets raise more money for Bowel Cancer :-)