Cyclists in the saddle for 170-mile challenge (From Gazette & Herald)

Cyclists in the saddle for 170-mile challenge

10:25am Wednesday 20th March 2013 in News

A GROUP of 15 keen cyclists from Ryedale and beyond are planning to ride the “Way of the Roses” – 170 miles in one day – all in the name of charity.

The event, organised by Darren Felgate, of the Malton Wheelers Road Club and account executive at McClarrons insurance brokers, aims to raise £3,000 for Ryedale Special Families.

Sponsored by Malton-based insurance brokers, McClarrons Ltd, the group will leave the Irish Sea coast at Morecambe on the morning of Saturday, June 22, and begin making their way across the country along the “Way of the Roses” Sustrans route.

The route will take riders through the Lune Valley, the Forest of Bowland, Yorkshire Dales National Park, Nidderdale, the Vale of York and the Yorkshire Wolds before completing the ride later that day on the North Sea coast at Bridlington.

Darren said: “The coast-to-coast ride is something that I’ve wanted to do for quite a while, but it was only last summer when I got involved with the Malton Wheelers that I had access to a group of people who might want to do something similar.

“I initially put the idea out on Facebook and within 15 minutes I already had a few people who said they were interested and things just spiralled from there.

“Raising money for Ryedale Special Families seemed the logical step when I heard that another member of the Malton Wheelers, Steve Kneeshaw, had first-hand experience of the assistance that they provide.”

Darren said that during the winter months, Team McClarrons has been training hard putting in the miles out on the road and enduring indoor sessions on the turbo trainer.

“The real training will start now and as a group we have a few big rides planned, including the 82-mile Heart of the Wolds Sportive on April 28 and a 140-mile ride planned for May,” he said.

“We are going to train together as a group where possible to make sure that we can all complete the 170 miles together on the day.”

Sean McClarron, McClarron’s managing director, said: “As a local company, we are well aware of the great work that Ryedale Special Families do and we are fully supporting Darren and his team in this challenge.

“We wish all riders the best of luck in what I am sure will be an exciting weekend.”

The team would like to thank McClarrons Ltd for sponsoring the team jerseys, Big Bear Bikes of Pickering who will be providing a support van for the weekend, Ryedale Special Families for the hire of their minibus and Grip Cycles of Scarborough who will be providing riders with energy gels and supplements to help them on the day.

To sponsor the group, visit their Just Giving page at www.justgiving.com/teammcclarrons

To follow the team in the lead up to their ride, visit www.facebook.com/#!/groups/314866675280144/ or for more information, email darrenfelgate@rocketmail.com