Meg and Mark Tandem Bike Challenge

Mark and I love our tandem. We just can't get enough.

This year it's getting crazy as we tackle 3 challenging events to raise funds for Rescue Kitties

On 4th May 2025 we are Mad for it doing the Mad Manc tour de Manc Bike Event. 125 hilly miles across 10 boroughs..

On 14th June 2025 Trudie Tandem will be doing the Coast to Coast Bike Ride. This isn't for the faint hearted as we will pedal from Seascale to Whitby. This will be a gruelling 150 miles in a day. Those who know us may think, we have done this before but it is very challenging, factor in 10, 000 ft of hills. This is an all day thing from 5am till evening.

On 16th June 2025 we then pedal back from Seascale to Whitby, another hilly 150 miles in a day and on tired legs.

On 28th June 2025 we are challenging ourselves to the most cycled miles we have ever done. We are pedalling Stalybridge in Greater Manchester to London, approx 210 -217 miles in a day.

To highlight how challenging this event is and why ...

* To pedal over a hundred miles in a day means a lot of training. Not only on event day but in getting strong enough to cycle that many hours.

* To do 150 mins s in a day means cycling 5am till evening - imagine pedalling all that time and all that time is on the saddle, and it gets very uncomfortable on the old backside after so many hours. 150 miles doesn't sound bad given we cycle a lot. This is brutal ... Over 10, 000 ft of elevation. To put that in context it's 3 km of height to climb, or 3 Snowdonia Mountains. Then consider that a mere few miles after starting we have to ride up England's steepest road - Hardknott pass. Serious riders (and cars) struggle to get up this mountain (hill doesn't do it justice). It's a 1 in 3 gradient at it's steepest, and overall its 2km of pain. Remember we're trying to get a tandem up it, which are notoriously hard to climb on and we will be doing it on already drained legs. Just a couple of miles after Hardknott pass is Wrynose pass. This is another 30% gradient to climb up on already tired legs. We also need to descent down the other side of these mountains, which sounds easy. At least gravity is on our side. But on narrow roads, a one in three gradient, loose tarmac, hairpin bends, almost sheer drops to the side - it's not easy. Spare a thought for Meg on the back with no control and no brakes. Once this tough section is complete we only have another 130 odd miles to get to the finish line. Again on already tired legs. Then there is a 25% gradient 6 miles from the finish when we'll be desperate to get to the end. To have a chance of finishing we are setting off at 5am. If we average 12mph (a good speed given the hills and distance) then we have around 12 and a half hours on the saddle. If we average 11mph then that becomes 14 hours. It's difficult standing on the pedals on a tandem - all that time is on the saddle, and it gets very uncomfortable on the old backside after so many hours. Add in food and rest stops and we're finishing between 8pm and midnight. Remembering that each rest stop adds on time but at each rest stop it's harder and harder to get back on with tired, achy legs and sore bottoms.

* Add to this that after one day to rest we are pedalling from Whitby to Seascale that's approximately 160 miles in a day (to avoid descent of Hardknott Pass). We will be doing this on legs that are still tired and drained having already done 150 miles that weekend already.

*Cycling Manchester to London is 210 miles in a day means cycling from approx 4am till 11pm at a guess likely could be midnight . We will need to keep up pace to manage all those miles.

*The above events total over 625 miles in the saddle. With training each weekend that and we will pedal way over 1200 miles this year in total.

Why ??? So why not cycle for fun. Cats need rescuing, there are many homeless, poorly and sick cats need rescuing and we want to help.

Do you want to join me in making a difference? I'm raising money in aid of Rescue Kitties Ltd and every donation will help.

More information about Rescue Kitties Ltd: 'We rescue and rehome stray and injured animals,

Rescue Kitties is a feral, stray and at-risk cat charity that operates in the Greater Manchester area and was established in 2016. The team of home fosterers take in injured, lost and abandoned cats and are committed to helping cats and kittens that are the most in need. No case is too hard for them to handle, and they provide them with food, love, shelter and the necessary veterinary care to get them back on their paws and on to their forever home.'

Rescue Kitties is a non-profit organization and are run 100% by volunteers. The number of cats in foster with volunteers can vary and the charity relies completely on charitable donations to pay for such things as food, medication and veterinary care. All cats are fully vet checked, flea treated, microchipped and vaccinated before being rehomed and all rehoming is subject to home checks on those wishing to adopt.

Thank you in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much to me. Please don't feel obliged to make a huge donation. Every Penny really does count. No donations are too small.