Nick Jackson reports on TeamCHAC’s successful completion of the 50km KM Big Bike Ride
TeamCHAC successfully completed the Kent Messenger 50km Big Bike Ride Sunday 11 October. ‘Success’ means having made it round the course without the need for medical attention; we put in a fair bit of training over the preceding weeks but had no aspirations to a fast time. (Though I’m ashamed how pleased I am that my 87th place was one ahead of young Nick Piška, whom I beat by a comfortable 0.5 sec). Only the two of us could make it on the day but we did not feel we were short-changing sponsors – we have as much tonnage between us as an average three- or slight four-person team. And it was nice for us not to have the pace set by super-fit colleagues.
The shape of the route on the map we were given at the start looked disconcertingly like we were to circumnavigate Africa. The reality was less daunting but still quite a stretch – Waldershare, Eythorne, Chillenden, Ickham, Wickhambreaux, Grove, Richborough, Sandwich. The last 25km or so on the flat terrain of Thanet was fine but the first 25km, on the Downs, had been pretty demanding. Signage was a bit sparse and difficult to follow until we got the hang of it despite Nick Piška’s surprising scouting skills. One or two other teams went spectacularly wrong early on and may still be out there looking for Betteshanger.
A 50km route around East Kent or circumnavigation of Africa?
Some parts of the course were a real struggle for us. It’s trite and insulting to compare a breathless few minutes on a bike with the far greater struggles of CHAC’s clients facing homelessness. But no apologies for the comparison if helps our fund-raising. Many thanks to everyone who has sponsored us already. It’s not too late to sponsor us retrospectively – please do keep the money coming in.
