Wheels for Change – oh my oh my

Having brought my first ever road bike only last weekend I have been sweet talked by a colleague into signing up for the Wheels for Change Barclays initiative. Oh my oh my ... what have I taken on?!?

Wheels for Change is a Barclay’s event where colleagues from all over the country come together on September 9th 2016 to cycle 100km. Starting at the London Olympic park the circuit will take me towards Brentwood and Roxwell before picking up part of the 2014 Stage 3 Tour de France route through Essex. We will be cycling along the edge of Epping Forest before dropping down into Epping itself. We will then commence our ride back towards the Olympic park past Theydon Bois and Loughton.

Having only just understood how all 18 gears work I feel I might have taken on more than I can chew. I have so far managed a 20km ride, and although that went well – I had a cake and coffee stop in the middle - it was only 1/5^th of the event length and I only have 1 month to get myself to an acceptable standard to have any chance of completing this ride. The one thing I am holding onto is the thought that the course is open for 9 hours and I feel I should be able to complete the ride within that time frame... anything over 11k m/hr would be only slightly quicker than walking but regardless I would complete it!

But of course I am not just doing this for the challenge and the fun.  This year Wheels for Change is raising money for the Prince’s Trust, one of Barclays’ UK charity partners. The Prince’s Trust specifically focuses on 13 to 30 year-olds who are unemployed, struggling at school or at risk of exclusion. I would be grateful if you would sponsor me to complete this ride. I have set a personal target for this challenge which is to raise £250 all of which will go to the charity. So please can I ask you to dig deep and donate all that you can regardless of whether it is pennies or pounds – every little will help. You can donate via my just giving page or in cash to me personally.

Thank you

Hannah

xxx