After months of planning, our first ever Tissington Triangle Charity Cycle Challenge took place on April 6th. Everything was organised down to a tee apart from the weather. – SNOW! We were a bit worried that it might have to be cancelled but we decided to continue, and the ride went ahead, on time, with good support and difficult conditions to contend with.
The trail at Parsley Hay was icy and covered in a thin layer of snow. A cold northern wind was blowing but it was forecast to keep bright until about 2 o’clock. The snow was slowly melting. Cyclists were arriving from all over – Wolverhampton and Telford being about the furthest.
After Matlock Rotary President Paul set everybody off, on a mass start at 9.15, the first faller crashed out after 15 yards. Luckily she was not hurt too much but had to retire with a grazed knee. Riders set quite a pace to keep warm, it was so cold. The first back only took about two and a half hours for the 28 mile route. Others kept coming back until about 3 O’clock. A few dropped out and were picked up by car and brought back to the finish. All said that they enjoyed it.
About a thousand pounds to Helen’s Trust (which provides care at home for terminally ill people) was raised and the money is still coming in. It was a good start to what will be an annual event (weather permitting).
