9 blokes on bikes - Binsted to Le Mans in 24 hours

9 blokes on bikes - Binsted to Le Mans in 24 hours

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Hoolio

Original Poster:

1,143 posts

221 months

Tuesday 9th February 2016
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I’m a long-standing PHer and am also incredibly unfit, the last time I visited a gym was in 2004. This was actually to get lunch, they had a café on site that sold awesome sandwiches! I’m also known to enjoy a beer or two along with the odd cigarette (or 20) and the last time I rode a bike the penny-farthing was de rigueur!

I’m also a Dad and my amazing son Fraser who is a 6 year old petrolhead goes to a great school, Binsted Church of England School, Hampshire.

I love Le Mans and try to get to la Sarthe every year for the 24 hour race, I’ve even done Le Mans and back in a day with a mate in his Morgan Aero Supersports as we we’re both maxed out at work so couldn’t take any time off. It was only natural then that Fraser and my wife (Sam) decided it would be a perfectly sensible idea for me to cycle 240 kilometres in 24 hours from Binsted to Le Mans to watch the 24 hours and help raise money for the Binsted School Big Build!

To share this pain (and to provide a good excuse for a lads Sunday morning out), I’ve roped in another 7 petrolhead dad’s from the school and the deputy-head as well as a support crew consisting of a paramedic, a first-aider and the local vicar - collectively we’re known as Le Monty Cyclists. Some have described this challenge as The Cannonball Run on bikes, others as the definition of insanity!

We are determined to raise as much money for the school as possible so please DONATE NOW and for more information go to our website and follow us on twitter

TIMINGS OF THE RIDE: We leave Binsted on Wednesday 15th June about 5pm, cycle down to Portsmouth to catch the overnight ferry to Caen and then on to Le Mans arriving in Houx Annexe sometime on Thursday afternoon (16th). If you see us on the way down make sure you give us a wave!

A BIT MORE DETAIL ABOUT WHAT WE WILL DO WITH THE MONEY: The school currently has 91 children being taught in only 3 classrooms. This has meant that there are 2 year groups in each classroom and recently years 4, 5 & 6 together. To meet the current demands of the national curriculum and to continue to provide high quality education and adequate sports facilities, the school desperately needs to build an additional classroom in the summer 2016. There isn’t any government funding available so all the money for the build cost (estimated at £113k) needs to be raised by the parents.

Thanks for reading and your support!

Hoolio

Original Poster:

1,143 posts

221 months

Monday 25th April 2016
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Training is coming along nicely, despite several injuries, and we racked up our first 100 miler on Saturday.

A little over 8 weeks until we leave for Le Mans. BRING IT ON - but please can we have nice weather wink

Hoolio

Original Poster:

1,143 posts

221 months

yellowjack

17,073 posts

166 months

Thursday 16th June 2016
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A nice big PistonHeads 'smilie' spotted on Mr Jennings' polo shirt (he's a teacher at Binsted School) while he was being interviewed for BBC South local news this morning!

thumbup

How's this all going?

idiotgap

2,112 posts

133 months

Thursday 16th June 2016
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yellowjack said:
A nice big PistonHeads 'smilie' spotted on Mr Jennings' polo shirt (he's a teacher at Binsted School) while he was being interviewed for BBC South local news this morning!

thumbup

How's this all going?
Some screen grabs from the news



yellowjack

17,073 posts

166 months

Thursday 16th June 2016
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Well they seem to be rolling OK. Garmin Live Feed here...

http://livetrack.garmin.com/session/1bc7b3c1-b24a-...

...just follow the blue dot!

They must have had a break or something, because the average speed has fallen from 14.x mph to 12.x mph in the last hour or so. Best of luck to them, both on the ride and in their fundraising efforts. Great legacy to leave for future intakes of local kids, even when your own have left the school and moved on. smile

Hoolio

Original Poster:

1,143 posts

221 months

Friday 17th June 2016
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We arrived in Le Mans around 4pm yesterday afternoon meaning we completed the challenge within 24hrs and raised over 40k I'm doing so!

Very lucky with the weather, only a little rain on the ride.

Enjoyed several cold ones last night and looking forward to a great weekend's racing.

yellowjack

17,073 posts

166 months

Friday 17th June 2016
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