Cycling duo raise £1,500 in lake challenge
25th June 2009
Andrew and Ashwell commercial property firm partners Jon Archer and Malcolm Grayson are riding high after completing the Vatternrundan, the world’s largest recreational cycle race in Sweden, raising over £1,500 for Leicestershire charities LOROS and the Laura Centre.
The 300-kilometre event (187.5 miles) around the long, natural lake Vattern in southern Sweden, involved a record 19,000 cyclists from 15 different countries in an overnight challenge hampered by wind and rain.
“We spent 11½ hours in the saddle, much of it in darkness and it rained for around five of them, but people cheered us on all the way. Conditions were not ideal, but it was not so different from the typically English weather we face in training,” said Jon.
Vätternrundan is not a competitive race, so there is no official time ranking of finishers, but Jon and Malcolm completed the circuit, including food stops, in under 13 hours, with no punctures and no wobbles. The challenge was the longest single ride they have made, despite extensive training.
“Jon and I cycle regularly to work, which is a 44-mile return trip for me and 24 miles for Jon,” said Malcolm.
“Other training rides included a 54-mile circuit of Rutland Water and the Vale of Belvoir, plus three days in Spain, where we cycled 200 miles.” Malcolm also cycles every Thursday night with the Belvoir Riders.
The dynamic duo are now planning further sponsored cycle challenges, including tours of the French Alps and Pyrenees, with a return visit to Sweden likely in 2015, when Malcolm said major birthday milestones would be reached.
“It’s a big incentive to keep fit and we can hopefully raise more money for our chosen charities,” he added.