I have had an idea and, having run this past the powers that be (thanks Garlick), I have been given permission to see whether any of you are interested in joining in.

This year I did the Help For Heroes Hero Ride and had a great time even though I did it on my own. I know that several of you also did this as well. For those of you who don’t know about this event, the idea is that cyclists from all over the country (and abroad) cycle their own way into London and then congregate to cycle the last 10 miles through London together to Horse Guards Parade. The length of the route to the meeting point is entirely up to you. Some people literally just turned up for the last 10 miles and others cycled from as far as Edinburgh and France. Most of us did something in the middle according to our abilities. Obviously being a Help For Heroes event the idea is that people raise money for the charity by paying to enter the event and by raising sponsorship.

So, I have had an idea for a Pistonheads team entering the event - or more accurately two teams. The idea would be that we have an on road team for roadies (provisionally called “Pistonheads In Tights”, or “PHIT”) and an off road team for MTBs (provisionally called “Pistonheads All Terrain”, or “PHAT”). The two teams would set off at a predetermined time and ride two separate routes into London and hopefully meet up at around the same time to cycle in the last 10 miles with the other riders.

I would suggest doing a reasonable amount of miles but not so many that can’t be done in a few hours (which then avoids cycling over two days and therefore having to organise accommodation etc). To give you some idea of what I did this year, I cycled am much off road as possible on my mountain bike by doing most of the Lee Navigation Canal into London and totalled around 45 miles. Being a canal path it was off road but also suitable for putting the miles in. Obviously the Roadie team would have a longer route to take into account the higher average speed that they have compared to us poor souls on heavy bikes with knobbly tyres.

To get you in the mood here is a video of what to expect for the last ten miles when we cycle with everybody else. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LA4vkIFdXRo&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Help+for+Heroes&utm_campaign=2640098_CHALLENGES+-+Breaking+News+Issue+8&dm_i=1DW2,1KL42,92J5XW,5ES2C,1

So, here is your chance to have some fun, raise some cash, wear your Pistonheads jersey en masse (possibly the new one – woo hoo!) and, just as important, start another list. Who is up for it?

Peter

I'm interested. I'll start a list

1. Steve vRS - PHIT

I'll need to check dates, I assume this is planning for a prospective 2014 event?

I've done the AMR Bristol to London (Sandown Park) sportive and its quite easy as you follow the A4 for most of the way. There is a bit of climbing around Marlborough but thats it. I'd suggest following their route for most of the journey(GPX should be available) for anyone coming from the west/south west and then fudge it to get through West London and join the main route.

One way van hire back from London for anyone heading south west sorts out getting the bikes home too...

And fix the formatting on that table, if you're going to have a table, make it look tidy!!

I would give it a go. As said speed not my strong point so will be at the back but still trying to keep up!

Subject to dates i would be up for the Roadie version

^^ snap

Oops. Not sure why that didn't work but thanks for fixing for me.

Depending on the dates, I'm up for the PHAT. Plenty of time to get some miles in and the fitness up!

Sounds good.

PHIT	PHAT
Pesders	Mikeyplum
S6PNJ	.
Steve vRS	.
Johnny	.

Count me in the PHIT club