We see a lot of press releases through the newsdesk here at Singletrack but this one’s piqued our interest. Cadair Idris is a big ol’ lump of rock and these guys want to tackle it on handbikes. Fair play…
On 20th April 2013, a small group of disabled riders will attempt to scale Cadair Idris, one of the tallest mountains in Snowdonia, using specially designed mountain bikes. The bikes, which are pedalled by hand rather than by foot, have especially low gears which will be essential on the steep and rocky upper slopes of the mountain. During the 10-hour epic, the riders will be assisted by a team of climbing and Mountain Rescue specialists who will help them negotiate the difficult stone chutes approaching the summit, and a team of MTB experts will form a guard of honour for the rapid return down the mountain.
The aim of the challenge, which is being organised by the ‘Challenge your Boundaries’ adaptive MTB project, is to raise the profile of adaptive mountain biking within the UK and to raise funds for a number of associated projects and local charities. Today, the project announced that 30% of all monies raised by the event would be donated to ‘Walking with the Wounded’ a UK based charity which funds both the re-training and re-education of wounded servicemen and women with the aim of helping them find long term employment after they have left the Armed Forces.
Graham O’Hanlon of ‘Challenge your Boundaries’ explained their choice. “I know there is so much more to this charity, but a key point for me has been how, with their choice of expeditions in extreme conditions, the charity has highlighted the extraordinary determination and courage of injured personnel. They also nicely illustrate that injury or impairment need not be a barrier to adventure, a message that fits in with what we are trying to achieve with our adaptive mountain bike project.”
‘Hand Bikes at Dawn’ will also be raising funds for Mawddach Rotary Club, Challenge your Boundaries adaptive MTB project and Aberdyfi Search and Rescue Team.
You can follow their progress at www.facebook.com/challengeyourboundaries and you can help by donating online at: http://www.justgiving.com/teams/handbikesatdawn
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Good luck guys!
‘kin’ ‘ell, I wish them all the luck in the world.
Would be interested to see the route they’re taking as Cader is challenging when able bodied and on 2 wheels.
With a bit of luck we’ll be there to see how they get on. As above, I’ve been up Cadair plenty of times on foot and never once felt the need to take a bike up, so fair play to them!
Cadair Idris is great on a bike, especially with the through-the-ferns ending option 🙂