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Ed Condry
I am Canon Treasurer of Canterbury Cathedral. I am very pleased to be raising money for the Kent Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance. We’ve completed all kinds of challenges over the years in aid of charity: cycling to Rome, rowing the Channel, rowing the length of the Thames, Lands End to John O’Groats in six days among them. This will be another great adventure in the company of some good friends.
Paul Barrett
Age 51, Managing Director of Barretts of Cantebury Ltd. Previous Challenges: Canterbury to Rome, Le Puy to Santiago de Compostela, Mont Ventoux. Most looking forward to riding with good friends. Dreading most the heat and the hills. Started training in earnest on January 3rd.
Kevin May
I am a Chartered Structural Engineer working for Canterbury City Council, as a club cyclist I enjoy riding socially with Canterbury Velo Club. Our Olympic ride team includes several riders who completed the challenging 2007 Canterbury to Rome Ride and I am proud to have been one of them. I am looking forward to the training, riding as part of an excellent team and the memories that we will create together.
Jerome Condry
I’m 21 and a student in my final year of preclinical medicine. When I was 10 I did a sponsored walk in the mountains of Morocco raising money for a local hospice. Since then I have cycled from Canterbury to Rome, rowed across the English Channel and down the Thames from Lechlade to London. I have rowed for my college at Oxford and cycle with the Oxford University cycling group. I’m really looking forward to cycling through Greece and all the mountains that are in the way of the Olympic Stadium in London. I’m dreading the heat that we’ll have to be cycling through in Southern Europe.
Ebrina Vogelaar-Kelly
Age 47, a fitness trainer and enthusiastic recreational cyclist. I have completed 2 Etape stages and La Marmotte in France. I am looking forward to the climbs, and dreading most the lack of toilet facilities en route. Training – At the moment I’m doing about 2/4 hours a day 6 days a week including pilates, spin, weight training and 1 longish bike ride – will aim not to over exercise in my work and focus on fitting in 2 long 3/4 hour rides (no coffee stops!) and 2 shorter 2 hour rides per week from end March.
Cliff Saffrey
Aged 50 and from Teynham, Kent. I am taking part in this ride to cycle with friends in what will be a fabulous trip and challenge to raise money for Kent Air Ambulance and a great way to celebrate the Olympics coming to England.
Velia Coffey
I am 54 and Deputy Chief Executive at Canterbury City Council. The challenge of cycling a long way in a short period, and for such a good cause, really appeals to me. I rode from Canterbury to Rome five years ago and now undergo an annual cycling trial including three Etape du Tours and La Marmotte. This one will be the toughest to date and I am not looking forward to the heat! I won’t be idle in the lead up and have begun a strict training and weight loss programme. I now train for seven hours a week and
will build up to more as O2O nears.
John Downie
Age 51, Building Surveyor. Previous experience includes: Canterbury to Rome, the Compostella (about 1000 miles of it) various longish (500 – 1000 miles) unsupported rides. I am looking forward to experiencing the camaraderie you get on a long ride as well as the being out of my comfort zone a little.I just don’t want to be to slow on the bike bearing in mind the team that is going!
Tina Downie
Age 43, Legal exec. Previous experience – very little, Tina started riding in April last year, previously a keen runner, she has progressed very quickly, longest ride so far 80 miles. On club rides she is by no means the slowest rider, youth, general fitness, a svelte frame and a ‘no quit’ attitude make her the training partner from hell! Tina fears the unknown, and the mountain climbs in Italy.
Mark Nugent
Dental Surgeon, 53 years old. Previous challenges include the Scope Mexico Atlantic to Pacific Bike Ride ,London to Paris 24hour challenge, and Le Puy,France to Santiago,Spain. Looking forward to cycling through Greece, Italy and over the Alps with a great group of cyclists. Just looking forward to the Challenge, happy to be part of the event.
Michael Robinson
62 years old – in Feb. Retired company director but still an engineer. Passionate about bicycles and cycling. This will be the longest ride I have attempted. To date – I have competed in 100 mile sportive, climbed Ventoux (twice) in under 2 hours. Training – have just started to build base fitness following much reduced level of cycling during December.
Felix Condry
Felix is the third Condry joining the expedition. He lives and works in London, and will be training on Boxhill (preparing for high speed Alpine descents) and weekend rides to Canterbury. Looking forward to spectacular hills and huge breakfasts all the way, but will no doubt be drawing heavily on filial competitiveness for extra fuel and speed. Delighted to be joining in to raise funds for the Air Ambulance and to celebrate the Olympic year.
Lucerne to the Olympic Stadium
William Warren
Aged 43- a Company director originally from Cork in Eire I’ve returned to cycling in my forties after a long layoff, primarily as a means to stay fit. I’ve done London to Paris and fair number of 100 and 200 KM Audax rides and this ride will be a great challenge and lots of fun. Am now working on a strict training programme and am losing a few lbs! Looking forward to the hills, the camaraderie and slightly nervous about the heat…..!
Alistair and Maggie Carnegie
We are both doctors and citizens of Sandwich. Hovering around the 60 mark, Alastair is a retiring GP and Maggie works in Occupational Health for the East Kent Hospitals. Last year’s London to Paris ride in aid of Canterbury Cathedral introduced us to the challenge and enjoyment of such events so this year we are keen to extend ourselves further in aid of this great cause. We are only doing Lucerne to London. We say “only” but that’s in awe of those doing the whole trip as for us Lucerne to London is quite sufficient! Thanks for letting us join in and we look forward to a fantastic week.
Katie MacKinnon
Age: 24. Enthusiastic amateur cyclist with the Canterbury Velo Club. Embracing the challenge despite a rather mediocre level of fitness, looking forward to good banter with friends and pushing myself. Very hill – averse so dreading any uphill stretches! Glad to be part of the team and to be raising money for such a worthy cause.
Darren Blunden
45 years young male, GSOH,WLTM similar like minded mad cyclists for trip from Lecurne to London. Age, size and gender not important but the ability to ride after a night out with Jonny Mac choosing the wine is essential.
Karen Mackinnon
I will be taking a break from my job as a skin cancer nurse specialist to support this incredible team. Having supported Canterbury Velo Club before in a similar role on last years Dijon ride.I will be van driver/lunch provider/and first aid person for the Lucerne to Olympic stadium leg. My husband, son and daughter will all be riding. Whilst I enjoy cycling, an average of 80 miles is double the amount I feel comfortable with for a day’s jaunt! Hence the reason I will be behind the wheel of the van. I admire all the riders and will be there with, baguettes and Brufen when required!
Pete Hudd
Hi all, my name is Pete, I’m 43, married to Dawn, with an 11 year old offspring called Joshua, and I’ve been riding for about 3 years. I work for Active Community Development, coaching and training children ranging in age from 4 to 17, in a range of sports, including Football, cricket, multi skills, and cycling!! I’ve tried a few 3 day rides, but nothing as mad as this! I’m looking forward to the test of the climbs, the company, and the warm weather (hopefully!!!)
Tanya Scott
I have been a chiropractor for 14 years and have run my own clinic in Barham for 10 years. I have a special interest in sports injuries and I am in awe of what the cyclists are about to undertake my own personal achievement has been completing the Great North Run in 2009 so I am hoping the inspiration will spur me into actually joining the next event using pedal power as apposed to motorbike power, courtesy of my chauffeur and husband Andrew. I feel very privileged to be part of the support team and my job will be to keep the riders as pain and ache free as possible and keep their legs in as good working order as possible. So my evenings will be busy tending tight sore muscles and any other joints that might need assistance. Looking forward to the beautiful scenery en-route and partaking in a little wine tasting!!
Andrew Nason
I’m really looking forward to being back on my Harley after a few years’ break from touring. My role is to act as chauffeur to my wife, Tanya, who is the team chiropractor / physio, and my only responsibility will be to ensure her safe arrival. We shall be visiting lots of lovely towns and villages and riding some of the most scenic roads in Europe. Being able to enjoy oneself at the same time as raising funds for the Kent Air Ambulance, which is a charity close to the hearts of all riders is fantastic. I am actually looking forward to the mountains whereas the cyclists will be dreading them! I also hope to subsidise my fundraising by offering tows up all the mountains and have already been approached by one member of the team, a ‘Motor Trader’, but as yet, no rates have been agreed upon!
Barbara Cooper
I am one half of the ‘Spartan Lites’ team. We will be cycling the the journey from Greece to Lucerne in 2 weeks and then meeting up with everyone else in Lucerne. This will be my first long distance trip (the longest previously was 3 days) so fear is my watchword. Having been persuaded by my husband that this would be a ‘fun adventure’ I have been training like mad. Hills continue to be a horrible challenge but I am assuming that some of it will be on the flat or downhill. As we will be carrying all our own luggage (until Lucerne) I now need to think about how few clothes I can pack to take across two countries without scaring the locals!
Robin Cooper
I am the other half of the Spartan Lites team of two. I am the Director of Regeneration Community and Culture at Medway Council in Kent. Some years ago I walked the 7000 coastline of Britain but that was some time ago. This is a great challenge for a very worthy cause. I have packed my tyre levers and John Bull repair kit and persuaded myself and Barbara that we can do it – and do it we will.
Michael Hunt
51 years old, the reason I am doing this ride is because Kent Air Ambulance was my choice of charity, when I rode from Canterbury to Rome. My place in the Team is to make sure everyone else looks good, especially when going up hills/mountains and to make sure Mr Reg Steel dose not lead the youngsters astray. training, fair weather only.
Reg Steel
Squash became difficult in my early forties – mind knew where I wanted to be on the court but the body got slower getting there. Result was I stopped playing and started to lose fitness and put on weight.
So what was the solution? Something that could become part of my normal life and not make huge inroads in terms of time. The answer was simple, buy a bicycle and commute from Petham where we lived to Canterbury, a return distance of some eleven miles. At first it was a big effort but after about three weeks it was starting to be enjoyable to the extent I wouldn’t any longer take the direct route (unless the weather was awful) and even started going for rides of a weekend.
Cycling on one’s own is all very well but soon palls so I persuaded some friends to join me and thus The Petham Hard Riders was formed (named thus because we found cycling hard). That was in the early eighties and I’ve been cycling on and off with various groups ever since. The greatest delight of all is to “convert” others to cycling and spread the word as to what fun it can be. The result is to be able to ride with a group of real friends who are also passionate about cycling.
Celia Glynn-Williams
A keen but rather amateur cyclist! I took up cycling three years ago (some might call it the mid-life crisis) and it’s the perfect antidote to a busy week in the communications team at Canterbury City Council and taxi-driving a young family around. Although I am still very much at the rear of the peleton I’m looking forward to this summer’s big challenge for such a important local charity. The training has been tough due not least to the terrible weather conditions for the first few months of the year but the fear of getting up a few steep climbs has forced me out! Normally one for a quiet life, this is the biggest sporting challenge I’ve taken on.
John MacKinnon
I’m a Consultant Anaesthetist based at the Kent & Canterbury Hospital and delighted that Kent Air Ambulance is our designated charity. Previous trips include Canterbury to Rome and Le Puy en Velay to Santiago de Compostella. Have provided medical support to riders and value for money based strategy towards challenge of where to refuel and rehydrate each evening. Looking to focus on the latter as this ride has great primary care, nursing and chiropractic support
Ian Brown
I’m 52 and a ‘keenish’ cyclist – I enjoy riding with the group events and the social side of our adventures. I particularly like the aspect of cycling which is ‘the journey’ and new places to discover – so this ride is very appealling (and if we can exceed the calories consumed in the evening’s socialising with those expended on the hills that will be a result !). The important side of this though is raising funds for the brilliant organisation which is Kent Air Ambulance – they’re the real heroes
Allan Buckwell
Having enjoyed myself wallowing in agricultural policy affairs all round Europe for 40 years wilfully ignoring all the lifestyle warnings about diet, alcohol, exercise and stress management I was brought up sharply with a wee cardiac drama in 2007. It still took me three years, and prod from my son Andrew, before the message finally dawned that road cycling was the thing for me. What better way of doing some real exercise, meeting a fascinating new group of people, and really relaxing away from work (albeit in the countryside where I can gather my own weekly crop monitoring report).
I discovered CVC meandering through cyberspace when I found a certain Mike Nee and his cycle2santiago. I went for my first CVC ride on my 63rd birthday in April 2010. At the time it seemed to me a daunting 52 mile circuit to Sandwich but the group were very considerate to the new-comer. It was not til later summer that year after the group returned from the Avignon tour, with tales that Ventoux was so easy some did it twice, that I started going out regularly. This time last year before the Dijon jaunt, I was scared stiff that I couldn’t cycle 75 miles a day six days in a row. Well it turned out that I could, did, and enjoyed it. I am now looking forward to the ‘downhill all the way’ ride from Lucerne to the French coast!
Matt Mackinnon
I’m 22 and just completing my second year of a business degree at Bournemouth University. I am a keen cyclist when I can make time and since joining the Canterbury Velo Club my most major trip has been Le Puy en Velay to Santiago de Compostela. It’s brilliant to be part of such an epic challenge and I’m looking forward to pushing myself whilst raising money for such a fantastic cause.