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Return Party - Century -7.30 pm
Century provided a fantastic setting for a celebration of Rich, Ben and Sam's achievement.  With nearly 200 guests, including a number of popular soap stars and OK Magazine, there was an energetic atmosphere.  The Daily Mail's Lester Middlehurst was the fabulous compare for the Prize Auction, which included VIP tickets to see Oasis, a personal portrait by celebrity photographer James Rudland, and a signed Australian rugby shirt.  The raffle was also a great success.  Drum Jam were back with their spectacular drumming and the plasma screen slide show meant that everyone could see what the guys had been up to for the last month.

Thanks to Steve Smith for all his help with auction prizes and guests, Lester Middlehurst for his comparing, Excellent Development's Jemma Tabraham and Charlotte Churchill, and Helen Collins for help on the night.

And of course congratulations and a massive THANK YOU to Rich, Sam and Ben for rising to an incredible challenge; racing to Africa and back in 30 days!

Arrival - Thames Barrier Park -10.30 am
It was another early start for Rich and Ben who were joined by Sam for the last leg to the finish line.  Although the traffic was heavy and unfriendly, they wasted no time and reached east London a few minutes ahead of their deadline.  As they entered Thames Barrier Park they could hear the distant sound of African drums which grew louder as they cycled around the pathways towards the finish line.  As they turned the final corner they saw the crowd of family, friends and supporters who had gathered to welcome them back, with special guest Antonia Akonma, ITV's Bad Girls actress who had waved them off 30 days before.  They crossed the finish line to triumphant drumming, cheers and welcome banners.  After all the photos and interviews they were finally able to sit down with a coffee and croissant and enjoy their surroundings. 

Special thanks to Antonia, the fantastic John and Jason from Drum Jam, Michael Mooney and Alaisdair Smith for their filming and photography, and Thames Barrier Park for their refreshments and wonderful setting. 

Day 30, Portsmouth
Rich and Ben arrived in Portsmouth early in the morning after only a few hours sleep on the ferry.  It was straight on to the busy A3 - a shock to the system after the calm roads that brought them back through France.  They had cycled to London by 3 pm, stopping 20 miles west of their final destination: Thames Barrier Park.  There was time for a shower and a few glasses of wine while they sorted through their photos, putting together the slide show for the following day's events.  All they had to do now was cross central London by 10.30 am....

Day 29, Domfront - 80 miles
Rich and Ben needed to be in Caen by evening to catch the overnight ferry so speed was essential.  They averaged 19 miles per hour, covering the 80 miles that took them to the coast of the English Channel and their ferry.

Party Update - 1st June
OK Magazine have been confirmed as attending from 7.30.
Murphy's have sponsored welcome drinks for us - two cases of bubbly will be free for you to drink when you arrive.  Thanks to Century for foregoing the corkage, but be aware late arrivals may miss out!
Talking of late arrivals, please be aware that we are strictly limited on numbers - it is far best for you to order tickets on line - just add your name and tickets will be waiting on the door.  Book them here!

Day 28, Chateau Bauge - 110 miles 
Feeling rested and with full stomachs the lads enjoyed good weather again and covered 110 miles, arriving just outside Domfront by evening. Both Rich and Ben's ankles are still causing problems but with only two days left they are both trying to forget their discomfort.  If all goes well, tomorrow should see them reach the coast in Caen.

Return Party - Urgent Flash!
Please remember numbers are strictly limited to 200 - and we have sold 100 already - so please book your tickets now byclicking here.  It is first come, first served - and I know a lot of you that are planning to come haven't bought tickets yet - fire regulations will mean excess people will be turned away....  In addition it will be far easier for us to get the 28% tax relief back if you buy on line - so please do so asap to avoid disappointment!

Day 27 Chatellerault - 80 miles
Very hard day against head winds all the way - but they evntually got to Puy Notre Dame/Verchers-sur -Layon, 15 miles south of Saumur, by 6pm.  Thankfully this was were a friend of Simon's has a Chateau - so they were treated to a cup of tea, bath, washing machine, sparkling wine, french onion soup, roast lamb, more wine and a real bed for the night, roughly in that order!  The Chateau is beautiful with rented out 'Gites' and their own vineyard.  Their host Mel Lowis was delighted to help out and having run a fashion show at the weekend, raising £300 for the charity, she has supplied us with some wine for the party raffle and auction.  Mel and her partner Francois were original supporters of Excellent and provided vital funding for the pilotting of our work, so it was a fitting coincidence to get them all together today.  Many thanks to them!  Rich was in good spirits, looking forward to three hard days to get back in time. 

Rich's Challenge - Simon's Update - Monday 28th May - 22 miles
Back up to Cowley Lock for pub grub and chat with Rich and Mel on a beautiful evening. Coincidentally bumped into friends from Chiswick who had arrived with family for a meal.  Thankfully had the self-discipline to set off back before it got messy, arriving back in record time (half as quick as the boys would of done it, of course!).

Rich's Challenge - Simon's Update - Sunday 28th May - 30 miles
Well, on your bike indeed!  Made a great start, covering the first 6 miles in less than half an hour up to Bell's Bridge where I took the Paddinton Spur, which turned into 6 miles of a nightmare to Perivale on a very rough and loose track that was quite demoralising.  At least it gave me a sense of what it's like cycling into a headwind - although I only had an hour and a half to endure.  After getting geographically embarassed trying to find a place for a bite to eat - I ended up taking that long to cycle the 7 miles, settling for a pint and a bag of nuts!  The journey on to the beautiful Little Venice (making it 20 miles) was great though and I found an equally great place for food, which by this time was rather needed.  Having reminisced about a great mackerel fishing day whilst passing tow path anglers - I settled for barbequed mackerel and had the equally apt gooseberry fool for pudding - considering the middle of the journey!  I couldn't face the nightmare path again so I headed back along the canal to north of Shepherd's Bush and then went by road via Chiswick.  Still it was 30 miles or so, so feel I've done a little something.  I must admit though, how they do 100 miles a day at 50% faster speed, every day, I'll never know...  Having said that I feel better for it and am going to do another 22-28 miles today - I feel I should do the 100 really.  How about you?

Day 26, Saint Junien - 100 miles
A much cooler day brought welcome relief for Rich and Ben.  It made the going much easier and they quickly covered 100 miles to reach Chatellerault just before the rain started.  Faulty electrics on the van could have caused real problems but luckily driver Rich had it fixed the same day.

Rich's Challenge - Simon's Update - Saturday 28th May - 22 miles
Full of guilt about Rich's challenge, I built myself up to a 5-mile warm up ride today - the WaterRelief theme meaning I chose a Grand Union Canal route.  After 2.5 miles I felt great, so proceeded to the palnned Bells' Bridge junction for tomorrow at 6 miles - still felt good so proceeded to the pub at Cowley Lock at a grand 11 miles!  A half hour rest with a pint of Bass and a bowl of Mussels saw me return happily on my way to get to the 22 miles I was hoping to get away with tomorrow!  The Canal choice was mixed - quiet, good air and mostly good views - but sometimes very uneven paths, lots of annoying gates which killed rhythm and numerous "almost in the canal" moments!  Twelve locks made it not exactly flat - but nothing like the Pyrenees and I found myself gaining a better appreciation of the relentless day to day challenge of Rich and the boys.  However I thoroughly enjoyed the time and am planning to go to Bell's Bridge from Brentford - and then on to Little Venice near Paddington tomorrow.  A grand 40 miles in some sort of minor tribute to the guys' outstanding efforts.  How about you?  Donating £30 - or cycling 30 miles? I'd suggest you cycle first - it'll make you feel like donating £30!  And if you don't bother cycling... £60 should assuage the guilt...

Day 25, Saint-fort-sur-Gironde - 110 miles
Better day - ending up north-east of Limoges after 110 miles.  The 35 degree heat makes life difficult - so hot it's hard to eat, which is somewhat of a vital activity in the circumstances!  However, spirits remain high - even though Rich is waiting to hear news of others attempts to replicate their efforts in one way or another...

Day 24, Mimizan - 115 miles
Very hard day for the boys - perhaps a hangover from the night before the night before. The intense heat and midges made it almost impossible for anyone to get any sleep so all are very tired and sapped of energy.  It was an astounding effort to get 115 miles on the board.

Welcome Home Party - Urgent Flash!
The Celebrity Party at Century Club on Shaftesbury Avenue, London.  A dozen soap stars and OK Magazine are planning to be there along with some great raffle prizes and items for auction.
Numbers are strictly limited to 200 - and we have sold 100 already - so please book your tickets now by clicking here.  It is first come, first served - and I know a lot of you planning to come haven't bought tickets yet.  In addition it will be far easier for us to get the 28% tax relief back if you buy on line - so please do asap!

Day 23, Biarritz - 75 Miles
Astounding achievement considering they were up until 4 am celebrating the Liverpool win...

LATEST NEWS......Rich's Challenge..........LATEST NEWS
Rich is challenging you at home to either get on your bike and cycle 30 miles, or put your hand in your pocket and donate another £30 to WaterRelief.  With Rich, Ben and Sam clocking up over a 100 miles each day, the realisation of just what they are doing can start to wear off for those of you logging on each day.  Rich and the guys are really suffering and want you to share their pain!  So, either get on a bike and cycle a third of what they are cycling each day, or else, donate some more money if it's just too hard.  You'll have Rich to answer to on 3rd June if you do neither.  You have been warned....

Day 22, Pamplona - 80 miles
After 18 days of cycling in Spain, Rich and Ben crossed back into France, the only country left between them and the Finish Line.  It was another hot 80 miles through the Pyrenees to Biarritz, although they were spurred on by the prospect of a certain cup final later than evening.  By 7 pm they were both settled in a bar, nervously waiting for the start of what was to be a stomach-churning game.

Day 21,  Pamplona
Rich and Ben had a rest day while the support drivers changed over.  Rich managed to get his spokes replaced and they both had a chance to enjoy the sun in Pamplona.

Day 20, Agreda - 110 miles
After covering a huge amount of miles in the last few days, both Rich and Ben were starting to suffer physically.  Rich's ankle which has been sore since the start of the Race is now swollen and he's seeking  medical advice to check it's not going to give him permanent problems.  For Ben it's his knee that's painful.  More strong headwinds today didn't help, and neither did the broken spoke on Rich's wheel.  Both were looking forward to a rest day in Pamplona tomorrow as the support drivers change over for the final push home.

Day 19, Siguenza - 105 miles
Day 19 was hard work with really strong headwinds all day.  It was slow progress as they battled against the wind, taking it in turns to bear the brunt of it while the other found some relief in the slipstream.  At one point they were joined by a friendly Spanish cyclist who insisted on taking his turn at the front, giving them both a rest!  It was a relief to pass the 100 mile target and park up for the day, which they did in Agreda.

Day 18, Villamayer de Santiago - 110 miles
Another great day with similar weather and variable winds.  They made the town of Siguenza in 110 miles.

Day 17, Puertollano - 150 miles
Rich and Ben cycled 150 miles today - a new record!  They were helped along by tailwinds and blue sky but the 35 degree heat was draining and they both struggled to keep hydrated. Rich has had a while to acclimatise, but for Ben it's a shock to the system after Newcastle! The support vehicle got into trouble with a blow out on the caravan tyre, but Steve somehow kept control and was soon back on the road with a new tyre. By evening they had reached Villamayer de Santiago.

Day 16, Castro del Rio - 100 miles
It was another day of unrelenting sun, 30 degree heat and two big climbs as Rich and Ben continued north through central Spain.  They cycled 100 miles to reach Puertollano.

Day 15, Ronda - 127 miles
Rich set out alone on Day 15 while Steve went to pick up Ben from the airport.  They caught up with Rich 60 miles on, and Ben joined him for the rest of the day covering 127 miles in total and reaching Castro del Rio.  It was a good start for Ben although he was feeling the heat with high temperatures and strong sun for much of the day. Rich had a close encounter with a wasp earlier in the day which resulted in a sting in the mouth, but that was quickly forgotten when Steve cooked up a great barbeque that evening.


More Pictures!
 

Welcome Home Party - Newsflash!
We are having a Celebrity Party at Century Club on Shaftesbury Avenue, London.  A dozen soap stars and OK Magazine are planning to be there along with some great raffle prizes and items for auction.
Numbers are strictly limited - so please book your tickets now by clicking here.

    

Latest Pictures - including arrival in Algeciras

 

Sam's summary of the first two weeks to get to Africa
As the start of the event approached, both Rich and myself were getting pretty nervous. We'd done a lot of training in preparation but as most of this was in the winter it was weekend only training and not over the distances we would need to ride each day. We knew we would be able to ride 110 miles in a day but we didn't know how we would adjust physically to trying to do this day after day with no rest days in between. This was the main cause of nerves I think, that and the fact that 30 days did not allow much room for error should things not go our way.

The morning of the launch was overcast and quite cold but we didn't mind, we just wanted to get started. The waiting was over. Antonia Okonma of Bad Girls came to see us off and wish us luck and we were on our way. Of all the roads we travelled on the outward trip, the A3 out of London was easily the most worrying. Thankfully that was soon behind us and by the end of the day we were in Portsmouth waiting for the ferry to take us to France.

After three hours sleep on the boat we awoke in France and it felt like we were ready to begin in earnest. We were keen to make a really positive start and with the weather in our favour managed to do this and surprise ourselves with a 140 mile day which was a huge psychological boost. Two more good days later and we were starting to feel fitter, we were getting used to being on the bike each day and were getting into a routine.

The weather certainly helped through France, it stayed dry and we had gentle tail winds for the most part. The roads were undulating and direct which helped to cover the miles quickly. Having both been to France previously we had an idea what to expect but as we approached Spain we began to wonder what was in store for us as neither of us had ever been to any of the areas we would be passing through.

We crossed into Spain on the evening of day 5 and immediately began climbing the foot hills of the Pyrenees. After leaving the mountains behind on day 6 en route to Pamplona the scenery changed becoming much more open and arid. When the sun was out it was incredibly warm but for much of the time this was masked to some extent by a gentle but frustrating headwind. Again, some of the roads were straight for as far as the eye could see, lined by either maize fields or seemingly endless olive groves and from time to time we would have to cross some of the mountainous ridges which seem to be scattered all over Spain.

Some days it would take a couple of hours riding in the morning before our legs would feel like they were working properly but the weather played a big part in how well the day would go. There were two days in particular that I remember being really tough. The first was day 9 into a strong headwind all day which was physically and psychologically draining and then day 10 which dealt us a mix of big climbs, sun, showers, headwinds and then a torrential downpour to finish things off.

Knowing people were supporting us and watching our progress helped immensely but we were still desperately hoping for an improvement in the weather after two bad days. We were lucky, the sun came out for the rest of the way to southern Spain.

My part of the trip is over now and Ben and Rich have turned to ride back to London, I'm confident that they will make it. It's a pity I can't be so sure about the caravan's survival, gaffer tape is good stuff but the next two weeks will test it to the limit!!

A huge thank you once again to all who have supported and continue to support Excellent Development and the Race for Africa.

Day 14, Algeciras - 60 miles
Rich had to cycle Day 14 on his own while Ben was on his way to Spain.  With a new support driver in the form of Steve (who should be in Brentford doing Simon's decorating), it was back uphill all day as they left the coast behind.  Riding against a light headwind but enjoying more sunshine, Rich covered 60 miles in only a few hours and stopped for the night at a campsite in Ronda.  Steve was straight out shaking the Excellent Development tin at bemused campers but soon raised £20 in donations.

Day 13, Algeciras/Tangier
Rich and Sam were glad to leave the bikes behind for the day and jump on the ferry to Morocco for a day-trip in Africa! Although separated from Spain by a few miles of water, Tangier was a different world.  After picking up a local guide, more to deter all the other guides than anything else, they set off around the narrow streets of the Kasbah, taking in the markets before heading into the beautiful medina area.  The streets were packed with people, all seemingly busy doing nothing much at all.  After a traditional Moroccan lunch and haggling for some souvenir rugs, it was back on the ferry to Europe.
For Rich it was the milestone half-way point of the race, and reaching Africa in 13 days left him feeling confident about the return leg.  For Sam it was the end of his journey, as he headed straight off to Malaga airport. Although looking forward to a break from the saddle, he was sorry to leave the race after achieving so much with Rich.  Watch this space though, as brother Ben will be flying in tomorrow to join Rich for the journey home.

Day 12, Campillos - 110 miles
Rich and Sam enjoyed the final 110 miles that took them down from the hills to the Costa del Sol and the port of Algeciras. The weather was kind again, and they were finally able to relax with a good meal as the sun went down, looking forward to setting foot on African soil tomorrow.

Day 11, Montoro - 130 miles
After the storms yesterday, Rich and Sam enjoyed a great day's cycling with brilliant sunshine. Although temperatures were pushing 30 degrees, the crosswinds kept them cool and they managed another impressive 130 miles.
Their path was still hilly, making four climbs during the day as they passed through endless olive groves. They stopped in Campillos, 40 miles north of Ronda, with the port of Algeciras firmly in their sights for tomorrow.

A couple of Photos from Day 2!

 

Day 9, Huete - 105 miles
1000 miles in and the guys really started to feel the effects of averaging 100 miles a day without a break.  Just over 60 miles in to the day's cycling, Sam found himself too low on energy, losing consciousness briefly. After rest, shade, water and food, however, he was back on the road feeling good again.  They cycled 105 miles, keeping them on target and taking them to Daimiel, 20 miles north of Ciudad Real.


Day 10, Daimiel - 90 miles
The rain in Spain does fall mainly on the plain, as Rich and Sam found out on Day 10. Torrential rain for much of the day, strong headwinds and some hail thrown in made 90 miles seem like 900. They had to make 4 big climbs again, taking them to Montoro, 20 miles short of Cordoba. The good news is that Rich's ankle is getting better after being strapped up for a few days with gaffer tape, and Sam is back also to full strength. However, they are yet to have their second shower of the trip! Maybe a bit of rain isn't such a bad thing.

Day 8, Daroca - 110 miles 
Day 8 saw Rich and Sam passing through some of the most amazing scenery so far, between mountains and deep gorges.  They made eight separate and massive climbs during the day, over a total of 110 miles.  They stopped at Huete for the night, south east of Madrid.

Day 7, Tudella - 100 miles
The road to Tudella not only encompasses two large hills, but had a distinct lack of tarmac due to re-surfacing work.  Although this made the climb much harder for Rich and Sam with the terrain more suited to mountain bikes than road bikes, they made it without any damage to the bikes or themselves.  Rich, however is nursing an ankle injury.  By the end of the day they were 100 miles further south just outside Daroca.  Having parked up on top of a hill with great views, it was a peaceful spot to spend the night.

Day 6, Pamplona - 90 miles
Day 6 brought some of the challenges the guys had been expecting, but had managed to avoid so far.  As well as the first puncture of the trip the elements made life difficult, first with scorching sun, then followed by a storm.  They also started the day with 10 hard miles uphill, so covering 90 miles in total was a real achievement. Finally admitting they are tired, they guys also have a few niggling injuries but nothing that will slow them down at this stage.  They ended the day in Tudella looking forward to a good night's sleep, wondering if Spain is where it starts getting hard.

Day 5, Bordeaux - 100 miles
Following the coast road for 100 miles, Rich and Sam again enjoyed fast, flat roads all the way to Biarritz.  Then it was 35 miles uphill as they started their climb into the Pyrenees and crossed the border into Spain - hard work but some of the best cycling they had ever done.  By the end of the day they were 20 miles north of Pamplona having left France far behind... for now.

The enormity of their task is now becoming apparant as Sam commented, " I thought it was going to be a case of staying in the saddle all day, but this is a real race with us having to average 17 miles an hour all day".  Rich added, "We've been fortunate up until now with flat roads and a tail wind, which has enabled us to do so much.  However it's a long day; 6.30 am until dusk every day is a difficult task."  However, both Sam and Rich had enough energy to spare a thought for Millom School, who are attempting to keep up with their pace each lunchtime on exercises bikes.  "What they are doing is fantastic - from Sam and I - 'Keep going Millom School!'"

Day 4, Niort - 130 miles
Continuing south, the guys decided to avoid the centre of Bordeaux and instead cross the river Garonne on the ferry that links Blaye and Lamarque.  They then cut west to join the coast road that will eventually take them across the Spanish border.  Although physically both Rich and Sam were feeling good, the long, flat, straight roads were starting to numb the brain (insert own comment here) and they found themselves starting to appreciate the twists and turns of the Lakes roads they are more used to.  However, the straight roads allowed them to  cover an impressive 130 miles, stopping 20 miles south of Bordeaux for the night. Day 4 was also a milestone in that it saw their first shower of the trip!

Day 3, Angers - 140 miles
With the effects of the first two days cycling finally catching up with them, Rich and Sam had a quiet morning pedalling with their eyes and thoughts on the road ahead.  But good weather and roads meant another 140 miles clocked up, stopping just south of Niort for the night.

Day 2, Caen - 140 miles
Having spent the night on the ferry with only a few hours sleep, Rich and Sam arrived on French soil and were on the road a little later than planned at 9 am. With the weather cloudy but mild, they were soon enjoying the straight and relatively empty French roads. With friendly waves from many of the French drivers, everything seemed to be going a little too well .... until blue flashing lights pulled the convoy over.  Although the support vehicle is fully insured, a last minute rush meant the paperwork hadn't arrived in time, forcing the guys to leave without it, and unfortunately this cost them a French police fine of 90 euros.  Ouch!
Despite this they covered an amazing 140 miles that day, taking them all the way to Angers.

Day 1, London - 87 miles
At 10.30 am Richard and Sam set off from their launch at Kew Gardens on their epic challenge.  With Bad Girls actress Antonia Okonma making a special appearance to wave them off, they were also cheered on by friends, family and Excellent Development supporters. With the sun struggling to break through the clouds they covered 87 miles to reach the Portsmouth ferry in great time. With both cyclists feeling good after the first day, confidence is high.  Who said this was going to be hard!