This year the Cawleys team are taking to the roads for the Extra Mile Cycle Challenge raising valuable funds for charities CHUMS and Ride High. We’re doing a short series catching up with each of Cawleys team members to see how they are getting on with training and here we talk to Director of Sales & Resource Management, Tony Goodman, who will be tackling his ninth trip.

 

Q: So, how’s training so far?

 

Tony: Well it’s perhaps not quite as far ahead as I have been in previous years – it’s been a busy few months and I know that I’m going to be relying a bit on muscle memory to pull me through. However, it’s my ninth year, so I know what I’m doing.

 

I have been doing a fair bit of training whilst staying at my holiday home in Spain near Alicante. It’s been good practice getting up into the mountainside and getting used to some of the really steep gradients, building that stamina and strength. I know I might not be the quickest team member, but I’ll definitely make it to the top.

 

The southern mountains in Spain are a beautiful place to train, picturesque and so silent. You do have to be a bit careful though coming back down the mountains as some as the roads have some treacherous hairpin bends, so taking it a bit slower is essential.

 

This year’s Extra Mile Challenge is set in France and we set off from Orleans in the Loire Valley towards Massif Central, with a couple of nights at Clermont Ferrand – a little above 2000 ft above sea level. It’s going to be very hilly indeed!

 

Q: With all the steep gradients, will you have to tackle the race differently?

 

Tony:  Of course, every course has some steep climbs but this one will be particularly challenging. Normally, we take the ride in ten-mile stints in a leap frog fashion – so there’s only two team members actually cycling at any one time, the other two cyclists follow on in the support vehicle ready for their stint. With the hills on this route we might shorten the stints to just five miles each time which means you aren’t in the saddle too long and getting too sore.

 

Last year’s course also had its challenges – it was predominantly coastal roads through Normandy and the D-Day beaches, which was very emotive cycling through there. This did mean we were battling with coastal winds. It was fine when they were behind you, they gave you a little helping hand, but as soon as they start blowing towards you, it’s incredibly tiring. So, we needed good stamina for that too!

 

The route is always well sign posted but last year, both Phil and I, missed the route signs and ended up taking a several mile detour! It’s easily done, especially if you’ve got your head down concentrating. This year we’ll be keeping a special eye out for the indicators.

 

Q: What sort of bike will you be riding?

 

Tony: My trusty steed is an Italian Willer pro-bike. It’s carbon fibre with a compact gear set. It’s a light bike which is perfect for getting up those mountains. I’ve been training on a slightly heavier Spanish Orbier bike which is more stable than the Willer but heavier.

 

Q:  This is your ninth event, are you glutton for punishment?

 

Tony: Well as you can guess I’m a keen cycler – in training I’ve been clocking up two shorter 25-mile rides during the week and a longer forty-mile ride at the weekend. And the other thing I love about Extra Mile Challenge is the camaraderie between the team, I’ve got to know the guys really well and we function as a good unit.  I’ve always enjoyed team sports, especially rugby when I was younger, and I get that same feeling doing the challenge.

 

The other really good thing about the Extra Mile Challenge is of course the fundraising element – CHUMs, is a great charity that supports children who have suffered bereavement whilst Ride High, gives disadvantaged children the opportunity to learn to ride and all the transformative effects this has on their lives.

 

I’m really looking forward to it!

 

If you’d like to donate to the team’s effort, you can via the fundraising page here <<