To the Matlock Mountains

Sunday 19th June 2011

Day 5

The Pedal for Parkinson's Double End-to-End Cycle Challenge

Stratford-upon-Avon (Warwickshire) to Matlock (Derbyshire)

77+ miles

With an estimated 77+ miles to cover, the 5th Day of the Pedal for Parkinson's Double End-to-End Cycle Challenge from Stratford to Matlock promised to be a long one. But first there was a happy task for the Team to accomplish: accompanying the start of a local Fun Ride for Parkinson's UK. This summer's big double End-to-End cycle odyssey for Parkinson's is being used to launch a series of smaller, local fun rides open to everyone; the aim is that these events will become annual fixtures and this year the first open Fun Ride was scheduled to take place on Sunday 19th June in Stratford. Cyclists were invited to come and ride one of two routes, a 20 mile or a 60 mile circuit starting from Stratford, in aid of Parkinson's. Open cycle rides like this are very popular and a great way of generating awareness and funds and the Challenge Team were delighted to lend their support to the estimated 70 or so riders who turned up for this first Parkinson's UK Fun Ride. Les and Chris were there at the start of the Stratford Fun Ride along with Team Leader David Greaves who, on behalf of the Pedal for Parkinson's Challenge Team saw the fun riders off (in dry, bright weather!) with a resounding blast of the starting horn.

Seeing the Fun Riders off meant delaying the start of the 5th stage of the Challenge Team's own ride. With plenty of miles to cover, the Team have been making good, early starts but this was an important commitment. It was decided however to split the Challenge Team into two. Mark, Nigel and Neal took a head start whilst David, Les and Chris deferred their departure so that they could be at the start of the Fun Ride. No doubt inspired by the good weather, the first team set off even earlier than usual at 08h30 leaving their comrades to start at the more decadent hour of 10h15. The chase was then on to Matlock. As it was, at the end, the second team, riding well with a seemingly favourable wind, were only 5 minutes down on their companions.

A day without rain was of course something of a novelty and one that everyone enjoyed. No doubt it helped the Team keep up the good pace that they needed to cover not 77 but another 90+ miles. Another 90+ miles, which this time culminated with a one-in-three climb to the night's lodgings in a house at the top of a very steep hill in Matlock. The house is a wonderful converted Victorian pump house and belongs to Pat and Nicky, friends of Mark Vallance. Like Mark, Pat is a mountain man (evidently mountaineers feel more at home at the top of steep hills). A testing climb at the end of one more near century ride but of course, as so often is the case, the view at the top provided ample reward. "A view to die for" Les said. Les also found encouragement in seeing his friend David Ridding, who lives near Matlock in Wirksworth, turn up on his bike (with fresh legs) to join the riders for the final miles of the day's ride and for the evening's barbecue (at the house at the top of the very steep hill).

After riding nearly 100 miles, there was just one more hill to climb to the finish.*

After the full programme today and the chase through the heart of England to the Matlock Mountains, the heat will be on again with the next, 6th stage, which will take the Team from Derbyshire to Well near Ripon in Yorkshire (home for many of the riders and their support team). In addition to the 80 mile ride, there is talk of a mystery event en route. That sounds like an invitation to keep watching and reading the Team's progress!

Keep tuning in for more exciting instalments of the Pedal for Parkinson's Double End-to-End Cycle Challenge and what the Weasel and Friends did next...

*Another wonderful photograph that I found at http://www.pezcyclingnews.com this time of the 1923 Tour of Lombardy when not only the hills were steep, but the road surfaces were also non existent!