Pedalling for a purpose: a journey from The Lakes to Leeds
An inside scoop of Rob and Charlie’s cycle to UKREiiF with Club Peloton
In recent weeks, Rob Westcott and Charlie Cameron in our London studio, swapped comfort for challenge, taking on a gruelling 163km ride all the way from the Lakes to the UKREiiF in Leeds, cycling with Club Peloton.
Every mile pedalled was to raise funds for Cyclists Fighting Cancer, a charity transforming the lives of young people facing cancer through the power of cycling.
By the end of the ride, their achievement spoke for itself, but it was their personal experience that truly defined the journey.
To find out more, we asked them a few questions about the highs, lows, and what the challenge meant to them.
Here is what Charlie and Rob had to say.
What made you decide to take on this challenge?
Charlie: I’ve been wanting to take on a bit of a challenge for a while, having never done more than a day’s cycling before so this felt like a good length challenge to push me out of my comfort zone.
Rob: It seemed like a great opportunity to combine cycling with meeting new people in the industry and getting to know them. Not only that, but it gave me a reason to get outside and do something active that is good for me but also for a good cause.
What was the most difficult moment and what was the most rewarding?
Charlie: Definitely the hills. On day two, there was one very steep climb once we’d entered a more urban area with lots of cars, which made it trickier. The most rewarding moment was probably getting to the top of some moorland after about 16km of climbing. This was the part I was most nervous for and I completed it!
Rob: The most difficult part was definitely all of the uphills, but it was rewarding when we finally made it to the hotel after the first day. It had been a very long day as it included the train journey from London, and I think we were all ready to relax.
How did you motivate yourself to keep pushing through when it got tough?
Charlie: I think by thinking of all the donations I’d received and that everyone around me was doing it so I could too.
Rob: I usually find it okay to motivate myself when I knew how far I had left to go and could see the distance going down. Thankfully we didn’t get lost because it’s a lot harder when the distance extends unexpectedly. Being with other people was helpful.
How did you prepare for the ride, both physically and mentally?
Charlie: I tried to get out on my bike a lot before the ride in preparation and sought out as many hills as I could find around London.
Rob: I cycled to the studio from home in Hertfordshire (about 55km) about four times in the week before the ride, and I supplemented this with a few longer rides on the weekend. Mentally, knowing that I had done the training was reassuring.
Why was this charity important to you personally?
Charlie: I think it’s amazing to give young people a small amount of joy and distraction in tough times and a bike not only gives them hopefully a lot of joy but an opportunity to get outside in the fresh air and keep active.
Rob: During the cycle, I was able to ride with the founder of the charity which was really inspiring, and I think it is amazing that this charity can give these young people a distraction whilst they are going through so much.
What would you say to encourage others to support or get involved?
Charlie: It’s a great accomplishment to have achieved a challenge and to also have met so many likeminded and great people!
Rob: If you enjoy being social and talking to lots of people, this is an amazing opportunity to combine that with fitness. It also provided a relaxed environment where we could network with clients but also build friendships.
Is there anything you would do differently if you were to do it again?
Charlie: More hill training!
Rob: I thought it went well overall, and it is nice to feel accomplished when you do something difficult. But maybe next time I’d bring a wider selection of foods, to motivate me more!
Lastly, What was your favourite cycling snack to fuel with?
Charlie: Sweets along the way and cake at the mandatory coffee stop!
Rob: Definitely jelly babies. Lots of them!
These answers from Rob and Charlie only go to show that this challenge meant way more than just completing a difficult ride. It showed real perseverance, teamwork and spirit.
The ride is the latest in Team Civic’s ongoing support of Club Peloton’s cycling effort and if you’d like to support their fundraising efforts, any donation, would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you to everyone who has supported Rob and Charlie and followed along every step of the way.
