We managed to find this summary of the 2018 Maggies Everesting Challenge, written by former club member Alex Pierce...
Having completed a 225-mile coast to coast ride from Newcastle to Liverpool last year, it took some time for us to think of an even more gruelling challenge for our riders to take on in the second semester. We decided to attempt an Everest challenge. The concept is simple, climb 1 hill repeatedly without sleep until you have climbed 8,848m vertically. However, the sheer physical and mental stress of this challenge makes it the stuff of legend, requiring pure grit and strength of mind to conquer. Very few people have attempted such a feat, let alone completed it. On 26 th March, 2 individual riders and a relay team (3 riders) headed into the peak district to attempt the challenge. They would have to climb up and down Peaslows, a one mile hill at 10% average grade, 56 times in order to get to 8,848m. That is 56 miles, uphill, at an average gradient of 10%. This was a day of extreme ups and downs for both the riders and the support team. Keeping the body running long enough to sustain riding at high torque for such a long period of time, required a significant degree of foresight. Despite the support team’s best efforts to keep everyone hydrated and fuelled, none of us truly understood how difficult the challenge would be. As the evening started the draw in, the dropping temperature brought with it serious challenges. Will, our kit sec and best hope of completing the challenge, started to really suffer. The drop in his body temperature combined with the sheer effort he was exerting started to cause his body to shut down. At 10 hours into the challenge and after climbing 7000 meters, he collapsed in the back of the car thinking he could go no further. After being checked over, it took everyone involved to encourage him to get through the mental block and back onto the bike to complete the final 12 laps of the climb. Members of the support team rode with him until he started to find his rhythm again and three hours later he successfully managed to complete the challenge. Only one person had ever accomplished an Everest on Peaslows before, and Will beat their record, completing the challenge in a total time of 13 hours 44 minutes (with a total riding time of 12 hours). The relay team finished their effort shortly after, but the light had completely drawn in. Ed was several hundred meters away from completing the challenge, but with all the dangers of riding in the dark in the peak district we began to doubt whether he would succeed. He was stern with determination and several hours later he crossed the finish line (with just enough energy to lift his bike above his head for a picture). All in all, it was a gruelling but successful challenge. With 26,544 meters climbed in total, all of our riders were suffering in the car home and Ed felt he had discovered “a whole different dimension of pain”. The stats speak for themselves. Over 111 miles completed, 8,848 meters climbed and around 7,500m calories burned. However, this challenge was nothing compared with the difficulty faced by the hundreds of people diagnosed with cancer in the UK each and every day, and we are proud to have raised another £325 for Maggie’s from this event so far. Over the last academic year, we are once again, proud to have been able to support Maggie’s Manchester, a charity that provides well-being support for cancer patients. As a club we repeated our yearly 24-hour static cycle fundraiser outside the student’s union, completed the legendary ‘Everesting Challenge’ and took part in the Manchester 10km run. We have raised a total of £1123.70 since last September, making the total we have raised for Maggie’s over the last few years a whopping £5480! 24 Hour Static Cycle It kicked off with the 24-hour static cycle on the 8th November, an event that brings out all members of the club, with a minimum of one rider on a static turbo trainer outside the Students Union at any one time. The event was a success raising £651.20. We look forward to repeating this event again in October, it not only raises the profile of Maggie’s but brings the club out together in support of this wonderful charity. Everesting Challenge – Check out https://everesting.cc for the full details of the challenge. In April a few of our riders took a leap of faith and headed over to Nepal to climb Everest. Well not exactly… In the cycling world it’s known as the ‘Everesting Challenge’, a challenge where each rider has to ascend the total height of Everest (8848 metres) during one bike ride within the time space of 24 hours. We woke up at 5am on the 26th March and headed over to the closest thing we have to the Himalayas (Peak District); to the infamous climb known as Peaslows that has an average gradient of 10% over 1 mile. To climb the height of Everest our riders had to ride up Peaslows 56 times, covering a total distance of over 110 miles.Only two of our riders (Ed and Will) were able to complete it. Seeing them undertake it was certainly something many of us will remember, but unfortunately for them something they may not remember – with Ed’s famous last words at the end of the challenge being "I can’t remember the last 5 hours”. It was a success raising a total of £472.50. It will be hard to top this legendary challenge, but we fully intend to do something like this next year (details of which will be announced of the coming months). Great Manchester 10km Run Some of our riders took off their cleats and joined in the ‘purple wave’, full of university students, staff and until recently Maggie’s supporters. With the recent rebranding of Maggie’s from purple to orange, part of our goal for the coming year is to change it to an orange wave instead! The run is a rare opportunity to push yourself alongside people of all ages and backgrounds across the north west. It is also one of the rare non-cycling related events that us cyclists look forward to each year.
Elevation profile of Will's Everest Challenge ride...
Over 2 years since our last blog and we’re back… Firstly a big congratulations to everyone receiving their A level results last week, we can’t wait to welcome you to Manchester and introduce you to some of the best roads to cycle on in the country! Whether you want to get fit, ride socially, learn how to race, ride in a velodrome, enjoy mountain biking or just enjoy riding your bike Manchester is the best place to do it.
As for the mountain bikers, they regularly head out on weekends to the peaks and have previously been to Scotland, Brecon Beacons and the Lake district for action packed weekenders. Here's a throwback to when they hit up the Manchester BMX centre back in 2011! .To stay up to date we recommend you join our Facebook groups below...
It's an exciting time for us a club, exams are over, days are getting longer and warmer, and the racing season is only just around the corner. (Plus looking forward to the spring training camp!)
I lead the A ride on a 50 mile loop to Macclesfield (STRAVA), up the cat and fiddle climb, descending in to Buxton and then heading home. Overall it was an enjoyable ride, although it might have been to early to head in to the peaks, as nearly all of us froze on the descents, especially me, who optimistically chose not to wear my leggings! The B riders did a flat ride out to Tatton Park (STRAVA) to get the legs working after the Christmas holidays. On the way back in, they took a selfie outside the homes4u, fallowfield branch, to enter into the weekly competition to win £60 of Nandos vouchers!
Written by William Adams
Apologies for the lack of a post from the weekend, it turned out to be relatively uneventful on the bike and hectic off it!
WEDNESDAY RIDES Armitage at 2pm. Weather forecast isn't the best, warm (12-14°C) but heavy showers apparently so pack a waterproof layer. Remember you also need food & drink, tubes, helmet mudguards (not essential but very appreciated) and front & rear lights (make sure they're charged!) A RIDE Because of the charity event going on on Thursday, we're keeping Wednesday relaxed, doing a quick spin out to Alderley Edge, up Wizard's hill and then back around the airport. ROUTE/GPX FILE (53km/33mi) B RIDE B riders are going in a similar direction but on different roads. ROUTE/GPX FILE (49km/31mi) CHARITY EVENT If you haven't seen anything yet don't worry, on Thursday we're (collectively) pedalling for 24 hours in support of our charity, Maggie's centres. You can sign up to either pedal with us (on your own bike on a turbo) or to help on the stand. Any help, even an hour would be greatly appreciated by all of us, you can get more info and sign up hours on the event page at: https://www.facebook.com/events/1655908031324775/ If you can't help in person, but would like to donate, you can visit our JustGiving page at https://www.justgiving.com/UMCCforMaggies/ Cheers, hopefully we'll see you tomorrow and Thursday/Friday! Tom
24 HOUR PEDAL-THON FOR MAGGIE'S CENTRES
As some of you may have seen, next Thursday we will be pedalling for 24 hours continuously outside the student union for the cancer charity Maggie's (FB EVENT HERE). Maggie's provide practical, social and emotional support for cancer sufferers and their loved ones. They are currently in the process of building and additional 8 centres to the 15 they already have, with two planned at The Christie and in Oldham. If you can come along and join us on the bikes then look for the posts on the FB event, you don't have to cycle either, it'll be nice to speak to some people to stave off the boredom! If you would like to make a donation then you can do so by visiting our JustGiving page below
On top of seeing us lot pedal away, you'll be able to have a go at our POWER challenge on a wattbike for a chance to win some Nandos vouchers courtesy of our sponsors Homes 4 U. So come along, give us and Maggie's some support and maybe you'll leave with some free chicken!
WEDNESDAY ROAD RIDES
A RIDE With most of the A riders taking a well-deserved week off, we had a small group of only five of us going out on a pretty solid ride for a Wednesday. We headed out to Marple Bridge, where John O'Brien quickly discovered that he had a gear other than his big ring on the climb up Col du Mellor. After descending back down and fixing a slow puncture, we made our way around the loop of Chinley Churn. The first climb was up a steep road, covered in grit and mud, we then made our way over to the next ascent via some very narrow and twisty roads. After climbing up Onions hill (just as last week), we started climbing up to the far side of Brickworks where disaster struck and John O'Brien and Ed Penrose went over the top, descending down the other side. Luckily enough we managed to contact them and after flying down a soaking wet and busy Brickworks, we caught them in Bollington and started to make our way back through the traffic and pitch black back home. Without too much fuss, we all ended up back at the Armitage knackered and glad to be back!
TRACK SESSION
On Thursday we had our first track session of the year. With a great turnout of 23 we met our new coach from British Cycling, Charlie Evans. He split us into three groups depending on how much time we'd spent on the track. The experienced group set off into their own groove with Charlie giving them pointers as they went through some exercises, while the intermediates began by riding individually before practicing some group-riding and some changeovers. Our beginner riders started by acquainting themselves with fixed gear riding and riding up and down the banking of a velodrome.
Double vision?
Don't worry if you missed your chance, we'll be revisiting lots of times, doesn't matter if you're a track newbie or Chris Hoy. Take a look at some of the photos below.
We'd like to give thanks to Joe Bennion for making this awesome video of the session!
SATURDAY RIDES
Armitage at 10am, as usual, try and turn up on time, don't necessarily rely on the routes as weather/numbers dependent we change them. Weather tomorrow is WET, it's going to be raining from 7:00AM until 1:00PM for everyone, regardless of elevation or location so make sure you have a good waterproof layer. Luckily enough it should still be warm ~14°C (thank you global warming) but you can still get cold surprisingly quickly if you're wet and standing around! Reminder that you'll need tubes, food & drink, helmet, mudguards and I'd also suggest a rear light as visibility can be poor. A RIDE Will is taking the A ride up Cat & Fiddle, though if the weather is truly terrible this may change. ROUTE/GPX FILE (92km/58mi) B RIDE Rhys is taking the B ride out on a loop of Dunham and Tatton park. ROUTE/GPX FILE (65km/40mi) Phew, we've been doing so much, hopefully you've enjoyed reading. Keep an eye out for more updates about our 24 Hour pedalthon next Thursday and here's a reminder that you can donate here for a very worthwhile cause! Tom Armitage at 2pm. Same message as last time, especially A riders, we don't want to be having to wait until 10 past to leave!
Weather is very reasonable tomorrow, should be no rain or wind and around 12°C ! Remember your tubes, food and drink, helmet and an extra layer just in case! Lights (front and rear) are both essential, and we do ask that you put mudguards on though it seems 90% have them already. A RIDE I will take an A ride out to New Mills via Marple, a loop of Chinley Churn, then climbing to the top of Brickworks (from the other side) going down it and back via Cheadle (lots of hills!). Route/GPX file here (76km/47mi) B RIDE Eleni will take the B ride on a flat loop of the airport. Route/GPX file here (55km/32mi) Any questions then chuck myself or Eleni a message on FB! Tom
ROAD RIDES
A RIDE With some great weather (for nearly November) we thought we may as well make the most of it and do some more climbing. While thinking of places to go riding I thought back to last year and remembered a horrendous ride we did in the November rain up a horrendous hill just outside Stoke-on-Trent called Mow Cop. Now this climb holds a special place in our hearts as one of those few hills where you just can't hold back, you've got to use pretty much all of your strength to just get up it. The worst stretch is along Top Station Road, where it stays at a relatively constant 28% as it passes the famous Cheshire View pub. We thought it'd be best to expose our newer riders to this before the cold made it too harsh.
The route out to Mow Cop is relatively flat and easy so our group of 11 powered along with a 20mph average without event and reached the bottom of the climb. Luckily enough the level-crossing barriers were up and John Brett launched off in an attack but he was immediately tailed by Will who kept him close for a while before overtaking after the set of bends at the bottom. After an oncoming van forced some of us to ride in the muddy and greasy verge for a a bit (not the easiest on a ~20% gradient!) we came out of the trees with the full view of the hill in front of us. It can be quite demoralising seeing another a few hundred metres until a vertical wall of tarmac but everyone dug deep and made their way up the hill. In retrospect I would've got better photos by stopping at the steep bit but, well, yeah.
After finishing the climb, we descended down the steep and twisting road on the far side and started to make our way back. With all of us fancying a cafe stop we went looking for one near our route and settled on Chapeau Cafe. After a quick coffee and cake (or a bacon sandwich and a caramel-syrup frothy latte in Tarn's case) we set off, deciding to bomb back along the A34 up to Alderley Edge. As we started, my knee began seizing and Alex's fatigue caught up with her so we formed the "hobble group" while Tarn and Will led a chain gang back, flying on the flat roads back into Manchester. Will kindly waited in Alderley Edge where we picked up another rider with a dodgy mudguard and slowly got back. Thanks to everyone for an awesome ride and for putting out a solid effort on Mow Cop!
B RIDE Ollie and Rhys led out the B ride to the club favourite, Jodrell bank. It's great to see 14 riders on the B ride, especially as we go into November and the weather really starts to become a challenge! Rather than do a silly climb like the A riders, they decided to some some undulating Cheshire lanes. After going out though Wythenshawe and around Altrincham, they finally hit some quiet lanes without traffic and made some progress past Knutsford to their stop at Jodrell Bank.
After some coffee, cake and brownie, they got back on their bikes and rode towards Alderley Edge where they climbed up Artist's Lane and descended down Wizard's hill into the town. Without a single mishap they all got back home having enjoyed an awesome ride!
MTB
Dave took the mountain bikers to Stalybridge to do a loop of the trails there. All in all it was a 14 mile ride, climbing 2 peaks, one to the trig point above Stalybridge with a steep decent down to Walkerwood reservoir, where Dave went OTB (over-the-bars for roadies) and Nick also did some uncontrolled front flips. Dave had actually hurt himself in the process so Jake gave him a makeshift bandage/sling and he made his own way back to the train station. The second steep climb had 900ft of ascent up to Alphin trig point for a total of 1500 ft of climbing with well deserved views! They then descended back into Mosley, following the road back to stalybridge! Everyone managed to get a lift home, due to Dave having to leave early to get the train home! We'd like to thank Jake and Bede for driving everyone out and back, and Alex for volunteering to get the train out. Hopefully we'll see Dave back on a bike soon!
CIRCUITS
We've still got circuits going on tonight at 7:15pm with the Aim Physical guys at Manchester Grammar School, it's only £3 a session so come along if you want to develop some core strength! TRACK SESSIONS We're heading over to the track on the 5th of November, if you want to go either look in the email again or message myself or Ollie Edwards on FB! KIT The committee have had a batch of the new kit arrive from Bodhi, we'll be wearing it on the rides so you have a chance to see it, you'll be able to order some soon! There's also some MTB kit order in the works, so look out on the FB group! Finally we also have some social kit (T-shirts, hoodies etc.) that will be available soon! That's all for now folks, have a look on here tomorrow for Wednesday's road rides! Tom A RIDE In a rare turn of events, we had a whole seven committee members out on the Wednesday ride (five on the A ride and two on the B), including honoured guest and MTB captain Dave Nobles. In preparation for the evening's plans we thought we should go and do some hills, especially as the weather wasn't half as bad as the forecast. Rhys decided to take the B ride on a similar route, but missing out the final two climbs of our route. After losing our first member almost immediately due to a broken cleat, we went out through Cheadle and hit our first incline at the Col du Lyme, where Gareth demonstrated his incredible ability to ride a bike in reverse down a hill. After rejoining, we hit the never-ending climb of the Brickworks, where Will once again set off and slaughtered us all. After another regroup, we descended down into Whaley Bridge (where Will hit a pothole at some speed, resulting in a highly sketchy wobble). In Whaley Bridge, Gareth and Tarn departed the group and headed home while the rest of us continued onwards to the climb up Eccles Road. As we started climbing, we noticed Will wasn't with us, but we thought he's self-sufficient and quick enough, plus he knows the routes so we'll crack on up the hill. It was at the top that my phone rang, Will told me he'd snapped his chain and was in a bike shop getting a quick link put in so we'd catch him in Stockport on our return journey. One quick puncture repair and then we continued onto the last climb of the day, a narrow and steep road known as Onions Hill (I guess it brings tears to your eyes?). It soon became apparent who had tiny cassettes on as Torin and Joseph ground up the hill, but everyone put in a solid effort and we were soon heading down the other side (after a bit of tyre pumping and offroading by myself). Riding down the equally steep and narrow descent I saw a cyclist bombing it up the hill in a familiar red jersey... Will rejoined us and told me how he'd just spent £16 on having his quicklink fitted, when myself, Ollie and Torin had four sets of quicklinks and a chain tool between us. To quote Will "I literally paid for my own arrogance there". We turned onto the A6 and tried to blast it home but you'd never guess that we hit traffic at just gone 5pm going through Stockport. With a bit of filtering, we managed to catch up with Rhys' B ride and rode back as a big mix of various groups. It was at this point that somehow Ollie Ivens got lost all of half a mile from the Armitage but he made it back to end a very successful ride. If you want to see a pretty interesting animation of the Will and the A & B rides splitting up and rejoining, have a look at this Strava flyby. B RIDE Numbers are staying up on the B ride with 10 people riding, including the famed MTB captain, David Nobles. Rhys's chain snapped pretty early on (Tom - Perhaps you should take up mountain biking?) - before Brickworks but after taking a link out all was good. James Hind showed us all how to do some acrobatics on the bike, resulting in a cracked frame but no injuries luckily. He managed to hobble back home with the rest of the B ride and we caught up with them in Stockport and rode back with them. SOCIAL As a group we thought we'd unleash the greatest horror known to man, a swarm of Gareths. Will had prepared several masks (sadly he ran out printer credit after a dozen) for some of us to wear, and Georgia had somehow procured "11 of Gareth's most distinctive tops from his very helpful flatmate Dave. The selection includes low V neck T's, vests and Irish rugby shirts". Gareth proudly told us that one of the T-shirts was 12 years old and that "you would never tell". We walked into La Qila donning our masks and gaudy tops and joined the 32 others already there, making us 43 in total, hands down the biggest curry gathering we've had! After some incredibly average curry and naans we left for the SU where we all threw around some dangerous moves and Alex kept trying to make a tent out of his ghost costume. NEW KIT We've had our first batch of new kit come in, you'll be able to see the committee members wearing it on rides and there will be a chance to order some for yourself very soon! We also had some photos taken alongside our sponsor Homes 4 U's new fleet of vehicles that we'll put up once we receive them! The kit is made by Bodhi and is absolutely top notch, it comes in three quality/price levels and there is a wide variety available including shorts, jerseys, jackets and bib tights. First order will be within three weeks, there'll also have a event in squirrels where you can come along and try stuff on. If you want some great kit and to represent the club then this is a must-buy! SATURDAY ROAD RIDES
Meeting at the Armitage at 10am. Please try and get there on time, as the days get colder the willingness to hang around waiting for people gets less and less! Was nice to see that most of you have you and your bikes prepared for weather, remember it's very easy to get cold in shorts and jersey waiting for someone's puncture so dress sensibly! Luckily enough, weather is mild and dry tomorrow (~12°C). Lastly: tubes, food & drink, helmet etc! A RIDE I will be taking the A ride down south to the lovely village of Mow Cop, it's a bit of a steep hill so if you haven't got yourself some easier gearing then now's your chance! GPX FILE HERE (100km/62mi) B RIDE Ollie will be taking you down to Jodrell Bank, with a probable cafe stop at Jodrell and then a quick reverse blast up Wizard's hill GPX FILE HERE (74km/46mi) Hopefully we'll see you tomorrow morning! Tom So here's what's going on tomorrow:
WEDNESDAY RIDES Armitage at 2pm, you know the deal now. It'll be wet when we set off tomorrow but should dry up around half way for the return journeys. Seems like you're all good at looking after yourselves but a quick reminder about tubes, food & drink, waterproof etc. As the clocks went forward this weekend, it will now be getting DARK at 4:45pm so again, front and rear lights are essential! We also ask that you put some (at least a rear one) mudguards on your bike, this is as much about letting the rider behind you see as it is keeping you dry/clean. Anyway enough of that. A RIDE We'll be going out to Whaley Bridge and doing some climbs around there (Brickworks, Eccles Rd and Onions Hill), route (65km/40mi) this will be a relatively hilly/fast ride and with the weather we won't want to be waiting around for ages... B RIDE Rhys will take the B ride on a similar but flatter route (Brickworks and Whaley Bridge but heading back) route (56km/35mi) SOCIAL If you haven't seen it already, we're going for a curry at La Qila after the rides and then heading over to the SU, more details HERE That's all, if we don't see you riding tomorrow hopefully we'll see you at the curry! Tom |