Nightrider 2012 - Sue's story

UDS Fundraiser Sue Craig (www.justgiving.com/sueandrichardcraig) 

decided to take part this year .... 

Working for UDS I know how much a difference the funds raised from this event makes to us.  

Nightrider first started 3 years ago - and I persuaded my husband and some friends to take part.  I was originally going to join them, but a bad back prevented me.Last year, I convinced myself I was needed to be the support - our team was bigger and I felt that my efforts were best spent making sure that hot coffee and cheery greeting was waiting for them the following morning.

However this year, after commuting regularly from Teddington to Ealing by bike,  I decided I would have a go.  I managed to persuade my husband Richard, to take part again and training started in earnest with our friends Chris, Helen and Mandy.  All three of them had taken part the previous years - and Helen (who is also a UDS Trustee) did a splendid job in recruiting colleagues from Microsoft. 

The UDS Team ready at Crystal Palace

I really enjoyed the training - I was seeing parts of my local area that I had not discovered before - Esher Woods, Epsom Common, Windsor Great Park to name but a few.  I was very apprehensive about the night though - particularly as the weather was so dismal and I knew how high Alexandra Palace was. 

But I am pleased to say that for once the weather was in our favour.  We had a clear night - and a beautiful morning.  London looked lovely - although I wasn't allowed to stop to take photos by my husband.  Several of the hills had to be pushed up - but coming down from Hampstead to Camden was sheer delight!  We completed the ride in about 8 hours - which we felt was a respectable time (although nothing like as quick as Wayne!) 

Dawn over London from Alexandra Palace

Thank you all for your donations and kind words of support. Also to all the people who took part - and to Mark, Nicola and Ali who provided the back up this year.  Will we do it again next year? Probably!

Nightrider 2012 - Wayne's Cycling World

Various of our Nightrider particpants have contributed to our blog - here is one from Wayne Meyer (www.justgiving.com/Wayne-Meyer) a participant who lives in Maidenhead - and who decided to cycle to the start in Crystal Palace.....

Tower Bridge from Potter's Fields

Saturday night I started the night ride and finished up early hours of Sunday morning.. Whilst I had initially thought I would ride around 180km, this in fact turned out to be 227km – this was completed in 8hrs 29min,  The ride into London was a calm 60km with near perfect weather, the 100km starting from Crystal Palace became a race where 4 us tore through London in around 3.5 hrs (having to dodge traffic and party go’ers) … the ride home was thinking about  the funds I raised (little over £1,500) and how they would be used to make a change…

Working for Microsoft - any donation Wayne gets on his fundraising page is automatically doubled by his employer.  So please reward his efforts.  He has shared with us his map of the route he covered - and the amount of hills he tackled ...

The route followed by Wayne - Maidenhead/Crystal Palace/Nightrider Route/Maidenhead

And the amount of hills he climbed

Also some statistics about his training !

Just some of the (absolutely useless) data captured in training up for this event since Jan 1^st 2012

-          3,100 km cycled

-          104 cycling events

-          117 hours in the saddle

-          18,830m elevation gain (Everest is 8,848m)

-          Average speed 25km/h

-          Average cadence 85rpm (almost 600,000 peddle revolutions)

-          83,155 calories burned (that is 170 Big Mac burgers)

Where does he get the energy?

Do you fancy a challenge in the New Year? - Nightrider 2012

Nightrider 2012  
Do you fancy a challenge?  How about joining the UDS team for Nightrider 2012?

The Event is being held on 9 / 10 June 2012

It is a one day charity ride with a difference...it’s at night!

Nightrider™ - an exciting 100km moonlit ride past London’s iconic landmarks.

Tower Bridge, a deserted City of London, Canary Wharf, London Zoo, Piccadilly Circus, British Museum, London Eye, Houses of Parliament, Trafalgar Square and more...Click for full details of The Route and to see the FAQs

A unique London charity event in the 2012 Olympic year.

See the sights of London as never before whilst you cycle the deserted streets.  On June 9th, a team from UDS will be completing the 100km challenge and raising funds for our work in Uganda.

We have a number of guaranteed places for this popular event - all we ask is that you raise a minimum of £350.  Read about last year, find out more about the event and sign up.
 Any questions call 020 3286 3306.

An Exciting Challenge....

Double Your Money with Helen

Trustee Helen Putland is raising money for Ugandan Development Services on Sunday 9th October by running the Royal London Parks Half-Marathon.

The Royal Parks Foundation Half Marathon is one of the most scenic city runs in the world, starting and finishing in Hyde Park.  The beautiful 13.1 mile route races through four of London’s stunning Royal Parks (Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens, The Green Park and St James’s Park) and offers runners magnificent views of some of the capital’s most iconic landmarks, including Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament, the London Eye, Marble Arch and the Royal Albert Hall along the way.
Take a look ....... Royal Park Half Marathon 2011

After a strict training programme the event is now only days away and Helen's employer, Microsoft has agreed to match all donations made in support of Helens brave challenge in completing this 13.1 mile Marathon . Please support Helen by making a donation to Helen's Justgiving page . Remember All amounts will be doubled by the her employer Microsoft.
From all of us at Ugandan Development Services .......GOOD LUCK HELEN we will be CHEERING YOU ON!