B2B4 is our cycle challenge for 2023, marking the 10th Anniversary of the original BTB cycle challenge.
We will set off by minibus on Thursday 14th September to our "start point" at Llanfairpwllgwyngyll......gogogoch on Anglesey. Day 1 (Friday 15th) of the ride will take us from the Bridge over the Menai Straits on a 120 mile route to Bollington, near Macclesfield, for our first overnight stop. The following day will be a relatively short, but very challenging ride of 55 miles over the Pennines for our final overnight stay in Cudworth, near Barnsley. Sunday 17th is our final day in the saddle and will see us complete the route with a 75 mile ride - with a stop for photos at the Humber Bridge - back to a mid-afternoon homecoming reception at Beech Tree, Kirkella. Our focus in undertaking this cycle challenge is to raise funds for and awareness of the ground-breaking research work into a cure for spinal cord injury being supported financially by the Nicholls Spinal Injury Foundation, with all donations welcome and gratefully received via our Justgiving page - B2B4 Cycle Ride
Please take a moment to meet the B2B4 Team:
Andrew Cooney
Andrew first joined the "B2B Team" for our B2B2 (Forth Bridge, Edinburgh to Humber Bridge) in 2016, when even a mechanical issue which severely restricted his gearing, was not enough to stop him. He also rode with us in 2019 when B2B3 took us from Clifton Bridge, Bristol to the Humber Bridge. He is an experienced cyclist and one of the strongest riders in our group. After enjoying the experience of B2B3, Andrew was keen to help with our fundraising activities and very pleased to take up the opportunity to ride B2B4.
Ronnie Fletcher
Route planner and Road Captain, Ronnie has been one of our most prolific and longstanding fundraisers. Ronnie has taken part in all of our previous B2B rides and also the epic "Coast to Coast" ride in 2015 about which many tales are still told! Where B2B rides are concerned, we would be lost without Ronnie (...and sometimes with him!!) and the whole team is grateful for his efforts in organising the event.
Mark Hague
As NSIF is the chosen charity of the year 2023 for Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy, Hull Blade factory, we were pleased to extend an invite to an employee of SGRE to join us as a rider for B2B4. As a regular cyclist, Mark was keen to take part and we are delighted to welcome him to the B2B team.
Richard Hardy
Richard is also a veteran of our B2B rides, taking part in B2B2 in 2016 and B2B3 in 2019, both routes as detailed above. He is an all-rounder, being an experienced cyclist and marathon runner, and often leads the way on the B2B rides. Earlier this year, as part of his training, he has ridden some very challenging routes in Flanders, Belgium, which should help him in facing up to the challenges of B2B4.
Bobby Pye
Bobby is the youngest rider in the team (by more than a couple of decades!) and actually was part of our Support Team for the original B2B ride in 2013. After seeing first hand the effort required to complete a B2B challenge, but also the reward from the sense of achievement in raising valuable funds for the charity, he joined us as a rider for the last B2B3 in 2019 and it is great that he will be joining us again to ride B2B4.
Steve Pye
Steve is the inspiration for many of us taking part in the B2B challenges...and our other fundraising activities for NSIF. He was our Support Vehicle driver for the original B2B ride in 2013 and has been assistant to "Driver Dave" in each of the last two B2B rides, a role that he will once again fill for B2B4.
Grant Stables
Grant has been a regular rider with us and a great supporter of the charity, completing B2B2 and B2B3 despite him now being located in Edinburgh. With roots in South Yorkshire - hence his road name of "Our Kes"! - we are very grateful that Grant makes the effort to join us for our cycle challenges and no doubt he will be looking forward to our final overnight stop on B2B4 in Cudworth, near Barnsley.
Dave Waters
To give him his full title,"Driver Dave" is a key member of the B2B team. He has been the driver of our support vehicle for the last two rides and we are very fortunate - and grateful - for his continued service for B2B4. He ensures that we are kept fully fed and watered and the van is always where it should be - it is no exaggeration to say that without Dave's help, B2B4 could not take place!