I'm a double cancer survivor, cyclist and walker who does various challenges for different charities, mainly cancer-related.

In 2016 I climbed every single 'Birkett' in the Lake District - all 542 fells over 1,000' within the National Park, including all 214 Wainwrights. I've also done a three-week cycle tour of Tasmania in February 2015 and amongst other things, I've cycled from Land's End to John o'Groats (2003), Rotterdam to Lemvig (Denmark) (2005), walked the Pennine Way (2008) completed (my first) ascent of all 214 'Wainwrights' in the Lake District in only 55 days (2009), cycled 4,500 miles around the coast of Great Britain (2011), cycled all 42 of the accessible Western Isles of Scotland in under a month (2012), twice abseiled 230 ft from the top of The Big One in Blackpool, cycled the WWI Western Front from London to Compiegne via Ypres and Arras (2014), cycled 750 miles in the Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton (2014), done a bit of sky-diving and cycled Australia's Great Ocean Road - just before lockdown in 2020.

Altogether I've raised over £120,000 for my charities including The Christie, Cancer Research UK, the Rosemere Cancer Foundation, and ABF (The Soldiers' Charity) and I was mightily chuffed to receive the British Empire Medal in the 2014 New Year's Honours List.

I'm a Rotarian and give illustrated talks about my adventures in exchange for a donation to charity, so if you're looking for a speaker leave me a message. I am also Event Organiser for the Ribble Valley Ride Cycle Sportive, to be held this year on Sunday 5 September 2021 - more details at www.ribblevalleyride.org

You can also follow me on Twitter - @CancerBikeMan and on Facebook - just search for Bill Honeywell

Cancer Research UK is the world's leading charity dedicated to beating cancer through research, whilst The Rosemere does fantastic work for patients in Lancashire and South Cumbria.

Tuesday 12 October 2010

Autumn and Winter Training

When autumn arrives and the weather gets cold and wet, it's hard to find any motivation to go out on the bike. This year will have to be different - I need to keep up my fitness so that I'm not struggling to regain it come spring time.
Val bought me some good wet weather gear for my birthday last month, but that doesn't get over the problem of cold hands and feet. Big gloves are usually enough for the hands providing I don't stop for long, but my feet - aagghh! Even with Sealskins socks, then cycle shoes, then Neoprene overshoes, and an old pair of hiking socks over the top of that lot, making me look like the Abonimable Snowman on two wheels, they are still like two blocks of ice after an hour. If anyone knows the secret of warm feet, please post a comment!
Trying to keep warm on last year's freezing 'Christmas Cracker', with Richard Dugdale
I've covered over 2,000 miles on the bike so far this year, but no matter how much I do, my leg muscles don't seem to want to get any bigger. Everyone else seems to go up hills faster than me. Do muscles refuse to increase in size at age 58 or do I need to do some strength training? Again, if you know the answer, post a comment.
I'm off to Switzerland on Thursday for two days' walking. That's three trips away in five weeks, so I'll have some serious grovelling to do when I get back, before I start some serious work looking for sponsors - food, clothing, cycle spares, accommodation, and anything else I can think of.

2 comments:

  1. Count me in for a few days riding and support crew also for a few days.
    Cheers,
    Mick

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks Mick, will look forward to that! Bill

    ReplyDelete