Going 373 Miles For Soho Children
Donation protected
On 19 May, I will be riding my bicycle 373 miles (600 km) in a 40 hour stretch across Wales from the South to the North and back again, with all donations going to the Soho Parish School PSA charity, which supports the only school in the heart of London’s West End.
The route requires I push my bike up 8,000 meters of elevation - or over 5 miles skyward - almost the height of Everest. The ride is 'unsupported' in that it is just me, my bike and whatever I carry.
The local community and its primary school, where my children go, is under severe threat from the lengthy austerity cuts to services and education. The school is vital for its local children and the families, who would otherwise be made to travel much further afield through the congested city to the nearest alternatives. Having an active school in the area also provides a crucial foundation for the fragile community, which is under constant threat from relentless development.
I first moved to Soho in the 90’s with my partner and eventually raised a family there. Over the time I fell passionately in love with the area and its people.
Soho has given me so much that I want to give something back to the community, who have been so incredibly supportive of me and my own family.
Anything you can donate will help support the children whose education, wellbeing and future is so dependent on their school.
Spread the word xx
#rideforsohokids

———————-
Me And My Back Story
I used to race as a junior cyclist in my early teens and gave up when life, rock-n-roll and thrill seeking got in the way... until 5 years ago, when after having three kids, I decided to get back on my bike. I needed to get fit. I was not in great shape. I carried nearly 22 stone / 300 lbs / 135 kg in weight, suffered sleep apnoea, exhaustion, oedema in the legs, narcolepsy and many other associated conditions. I had made a promise to myself that I would lose weight in the hope I might become fit enough to keep up with the kids as they grew.
So, I fired up a food diary app, took a hand-me-down rickety vintage bike, some vague memories of teenage cycling triumphs and set off from London. After 110 Miles and 20 hours, I finally arrived in Poole on the south coast, where I collapsed at the in-laws house. This was the start of my journey to better health.
Now, having lost 7 stone / 98 lbs / 45 kg I can do the same trip within 7 hours (on a good day)
Today, I train and race my bike on the velodrome, I ride on the road and (try to) keep up with my racer mates, some of them have ‘elite’ status. Almost all of them rip my legs off on the hills; going uphill was never one of my cycling strengths. I also do long distance ‘ultra endurance’ cycling and like to motor-pace. This is where you chase motorbikes called dernys at speeds well in excess of 40 mph by taking advantage of their slip stream.
While I am used to doing long rides, this will be the greatest combination of miles and elevation gain I have done in a single ride. So, it is a properly testing challenge for me.
The ride starts from Chepstow and travels through Bronllys, LLanidloes , Dolgellau to Menai, then back through Dolgellau, Aberhafesp and Llandrindod Wells. It follows a route known as the Bryan Chapman Memorial, which I targeted some time ago as something I wanted to achieve.
Knowing people are backing me and I am raising money for a cause that means so much to me will help massively when I am tempted to quit during those inevitable darker moments...
———————-
The route requires I push my bike up 8,000 meters of elevation - or over 5 miles skyward - almost the height of Everest. The ride is 'unsupported' in that it is just me, my bike and whatever I carry.
The local community and its primary school, where my children go, is under severe threat from the lengthy austerity cuts to services and education. The school is vital for its local children and the families, who would otherwise be made to travel much further afield through the congested city to the nearest alternatives. Having an active school in the area also provides a crucial foundation for the fragile community, which is under constant threat from relentless development.
I first moved to Soho in the 90’s with my partner and eventually raised a family there. Over the time I fell passionately in love with the area and its people.
Soho has given me so much that I want to give something back to the community, who have been so incredibly supportive of me and my own family.
Anything you can donate will help support the children whose education, wellbeing and future is so dependent on their school.
Spread the word xx
#rideforsohokids
———————-
Me And My Back Story
I used to race as a junior cyclist in my early teens and gave up when life, rock-n-roll and thrill seeking got in the way... until 5 years ago, when after having three kids, I decided to get back on my bike. I needed to get fit. I was not in great shape. I carried nearly 22 stone / 300 lbs / 135 kg in weight, suffered sleep apnoea, exhaustion, oedema in the legs, narcolepsy and many other associated conditions. I had made a promise to myself that I would lose weight in the hope I might become fit enough to keep up with the kids as they grew.
So, I fired up a food diary app, took a hand-me-down rickety vintage bike, some vague memories of teenage cycling triumphs and set off from London. After 110 Miles and 20 hours, I finally arrived in Poole on the south coast, where I collapsed at the in-laws house. This was the start of my journey to better health.
Now, having lost 7 stone / 98 lbs / 45 kg I can do the same trip within 7 hours (on a good day)
Today, I train and race my bike on the velodrome, I ride on the road and (try to) keep up with my racer mates, some of them have ‘elite’ status. Almost all of them rip my legs off on the hills; going uphill was never one of my cycling strengths. I also do long distance ‘ultra endurance’ cycling and like to motor-pace. This is where you chase motorbikes called dernys at speeds well in excess of 40 mph by taking advantage of their slip stream.
While I am used to doing long rides, this will be the greatest combination of miles and elevation gain I have done in a single ride. So, it is a properly testing challenge for me.
The ride starts from Chepstow and travels through Bronllys, LLanidloes , Dolgellau to Menai, then back through Dolgellau, Aberhafesp and Llandrindod Wells. It follows a route known as the Bryan Chapman Memorial, which I targeted some time ago as something I wanted to achieve.
Knowing people are backing me and I am raising money for a cause that means so much to me will help massively when I am tempted to quit during those inevitable darker moments...
———————-
Organizer
Dave Holmes
Organizer
