Got a question?
A tutor from Midlands training specialists Performance Through People (PTP) has completed his own mini ‘Tour de France’ cycle ride to help raise funds for a local charity.
The mammoth 312-miles cycled by Dave Price was more than the equivalent of riding from his workplace at PTP Training’s Walsall offices all the way to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.
His personal efforts were part of total of 14,858 miles achieved in journeys by 51 members of the Alsager Harlequins cycling club, including uphill climbs of 614,881 feet – equal to just over 21 ascents of Mount Everest.
The keen cyclists have raised more than £850 for The Alice Charity, which supports vulnerable and disadvantaged families across Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-Under-Lyme.
Dave, who is learning and development tutor at PTP Training, explained that the Alsager Harlequins’ mammoth cycle rides all took place in and around the Midlands, but at the same time as the Tour de France in July.
He said: “We designated Sunday 16 July as the equivalent ‘Queen Stage’, which in the Tour de France is the toughest stage in terms of distance and elevation.
“It was the day that all members were going to go out and really push themselves to achieve personal targets.
“Unfortunately, this coincided with a close friend’s daughter’s 18th birthday party, in Surrey, which meant that I needed to do my big day on the Saturday, on my own.
“The weather that day was dreadful, windy and very wet, and not very conducive to a 7am start, but I pulled on my waterproof jacket and got ready to face the elements.
“When I opened our back gate, I found three of the guys from the club waiting for me outside – they had decided that I shouldn’t have to do the ride on my own and had come out in the appalling conditions to ride with me.
“This was a tremendous lift, but I couldn’t help wishing it had been three more ‘average’ chaps, rather than some of the club’s quickest!
“However, despite being literally soaked through to the skin at the end, I managed my fastest ever time for 50 miles and so ‘Chapeau’ to Steve, Richard and John for their comradeship!”
Dave added: “We all love cycling but we weren’t just doing this for fun. We were committed to raising as much money as we could The Alice Charity, a local charity which does great work supporting families in times of crisis.”