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Blog from Victoria Yates

So after 6 hours, half a pack of Jammy Dodgers, one stop for full english breakfast, countless wrong turns, one heartbreak hill near Keele!!!!!  First 60 mile training cycle ride completed for PFK and first cycle ride over 15 miles.  Just got to do 100 now!!!!

 

 

 

Blog from James and Ian Foster

Ian and I cannot wait for the Velo to roll around again this May! As we are both keen hockey players we have just seen the end to the 2018 – 2019 season and can now get stuck into the training for the Velo, we both enjoy riding through the Staffordshire and Shropshire countryside whenever we get the chance, and with the 100 miles to cover we definitely need all the training we can get but are never ones to say no to a challenge!

After completing the Velo last time it will be interesting to see how the new course and being in a great team of people turns out this year (fingers crossed for no punctures!) Especially as it is just two weeks before my wedding – I’m under strict instructions to not fall off my bike.

We have both completed numerous sportives over the years and the Velo is yet another event to tick off the list for 2019. So, lets raise as much money as possible for PFK.

 

Blog from Scott Lydon

I rediscovered cycling when asked to join a coast-to-coast ride in 2014 from Siloth to Newcastle with a group of like minded individuals from the construction industry.  This turned out to be a fabulous 3 day mountain bike adventure running parallel with Hadrian’s wall, the sense of adventure and thrill of being outdoors awakened something in me that I hadn’t felt since tearing around on a BMX as a nipper.

 

Whilst primarily focusing on mountain biking on the local trails in and around the Stourbridge and Black Country area I have recently added road biking to my outdoor pursuits and taken part in a number of social and industry related sportives and commute when I can to carry out the day job of Divisional Director for the Clancy Consulting Birmingham Office.  I’ve also managed to keep the mountain bike reasonably dirty with other cross country adventures such as another coast-to-coast trek from Barmouth to Chepstow and a completely mind boggling and eye opening 11 day cycling adventure across Vietnam & Cambodia for Challenge Cancer.

 

In the 5 years since I have rediscovered cycling it has become arecreational hobby #1 and whilst I don’t consider myself to be a rider of any significant technical ability, it is important enough to sometimes keep my bikes in the house.   I can’t wait to get stuck in to my first Velo riding with a fantastic bunch of people for PFK although this is not my first time supporting the charity as I also take part in The Snowball, the annual Christmas live music event that PFK host every year at the Jam House, as bass player for ‘Under Construction’ (recreational hobby #2)…..but that’s another story.’

 

 

 

 

 

Blog from Richard Pannell

Cycling for me took off in the 90’s when I realised I was part of the problem of too much road traffic commuting into Birmingham from leafy north Worcestershire.

It came at a time in my late 40s when as a Sports Exercise Academic at the University of Birmingham said “ if you don’t get fit in your 40’s you can’t turn the clock back in your 50’s.”

The following years cycling became quite self centred with foreign travel and Audax rides; the longest day ride though Wales being 300 km  (and a bit more).

It’ great to be doing a purposeful  Charity ride in a large group and encouraged on by my son Warrick who cycled for PFK last year.

 

Sam Cox and Natasha Saxton

I am a elite triathlete and Tash is a fantastic and enthusiastic swimmer, cyclist and runner  We train together most weekends and we love an adventure. I am a personal trainer and Tash is an Assistant Teacher at Highclare primary school.

We have never done the Birmingham Velo before but we are very much looking forward to the challenge and raising some money for Property For Kids!