Junior O2er’s Big Cycle Adventure Weekend
The weekend of 6/7 June saw 15 children aged between 7 and 9 years and accompanied by 9 Dads undertake a cycle ride along just about the entire length of the Downs Link Cycle Route. Starting out in bright sunshine at Bramley Station the group cycled for 35 miles due south to the village of Steyning, where they spent a well-deserved restful evening, before retracing their steps for another gruelling 35 miles the following day, making 70 miles in all.
The Downs Link Cycle Route links the North Downs Way at St Martha’s Hill, Surrey, with the South Downs Way near Steyning, West Sussex. It provides an invaluable nature reserve which forms a green corridor and follows the trail of former railway lines. So the route is relatively flat and mainly off road, which makes it safe for the youngsters. Nevertheless this was a massive challenge for such young children, especially since the weather was very hot, particularly on the Saturday.
We needn’t have worried; the children seemed to thoroughly enjoy eating up the miles, racing each other to be at the front and at times singing along in groups to their favourite songs “…..we all live in a yellow submarine…” and “one thousand green bottles, sitting on a wall….” etc. It was lovely to watch them so obviously enjoying such a challenge. There were some inevitable spills, with Lexi and Leah probably earning the joint distinctions of the biggest individual tumbles, whilst Luka seemed to want to make every corner a tumble corner. The irony of John “the jump” Milne suggesting that his son take things a bit easier was not lost on anyone.
Regular masterclasses in puncture repair were given by Claus (thanks for keeping us all going) whilst the prize for the most punctures, by some country mile, went to Mark Schofield. Indeed Mark had so many punctures there were vicious rumours circulating that his inner tubes were made from soapy water bubbles. Mark, my offer of £10 for your bike still stands, you know it makes sense.
Particular mention goes to the youngest member of the group, young Thomas, at 6 years old, who slowly and steadily ate up the miles and maintained a fantastic determination to finish the course in spite of the fact that his legs were going twice as fast as everyone elses. Indeed Thomas’s enthusiasm was contagious and we were all delighted when he led us home for the last half mile, back to the welcome sight of the old station at Bramley (our finishing point) and the warm embraces (that would be for the kids) of the Mums who had arranged a surprise welcoming party for the children.
I offer special mentions to Chris, who was the cheeriest Dad over the 2 days, Slatts who set the whole thing up and Paul Green who dutifully followed the last cyclist all the way round to make sure we lost noone and everyone finished.
This was a big challenge for such young children, none of whom had cycled anything like this distance previously. Their determination to finish never waivered, all 15 children completed the course and we expect to raise in the region of £8,000 for terminally ill and disabled children in the process.
Well done to one and all!
The weekend of 6/7 June saw 15 children aged between 7 and 9 years and accompanied by 9 Dads undertake a cycle ride along just about the entire length of the Downs Link Cycle Route. Starting out in bright sunshine at Bramley Station the group cycled for 35 miles due south to the village of Steyning, where they spent a well-deserved restful evening, before retracing their steps for another gruelling 35 miles the following day, making 70 miles in all.
The Downs Link Cycle Route links the North Downs Way at St Martha’s Hill, Surrey, with the South Downs Way near Steyning, West Sussex. It provides an invaluable nature reserve which forms a green corridor and follows the trail of former railway lines. So the route is relatively flat and mainly off road, which makes it safe for the youngsters. Nevertheless this was a massive challenge for such young children, especially since the weather was very hot, particularly on the Saturday.
We needn’t have worried; the children seemed to thoroughly enjoy eating up the miles, racing each other to be at the front and at times singing along in groups to their favourite songs “…..we all live in a yellow submarine…” and “one thousand green bottles, sitting on a wall….” etc. It was lovely to watch them so obviously enjoying such a challenge. There were some inevitable spills, with Lexi and Leah probably earning the joint distinctions of the biggest individual tumbles, whilst Luka seemed to want to make every corner a tumble corner. The irony of John “the jump” Milne suggesting that his son take things a bit easier was not lost on anyone.
Regular masterclasses in puncture repair were given by Claus (thanks for keeping us all going) whilst the prize for the most punctures, by some country mile, went to Mark Schofield. Indeed Mark had so many punctures there were vicious rumours circulating that his inner tubes were made from soapy water bubbles. Mark, my offer of £10 for your bike still stands, you know it makes sense.
Particular mention goes to the youngest member of the group, young Thomas, at 6 years old, who slowly and steadily ate up the miles and maintained a fantastic determination to finish the course in spite of the fact that his legs were going twice as fast as everyone elses. Indeed Thomas’s enthusiasm was contagious and we were all delighted when he led us home for the last half mile, back to the welcome sight of the old station at Bramley (our finishing point) and the warm embraces (that would be for the kids) of the Mums who had arranged a surprise welcoming party for the children.
I offer special mentions to Chris, who was the cheeriest Dad over the 2 days, Slatts who set the whole thing up and Paul Green who dutifully followed the last cyclist all the way round to make sure we lost noone and everyone finished.
This was a big challenge for such young children, none of whom had cycled anything like this distance previously. Their determination to finish never waivered, all 15 children completed the course and we expect to raise in the region of £8,000 for terminally ill and disabled children in the process.
Well done to one and all!
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