The first seed of a new Challenge

On my way home from 'Pulling Together Up Snowdon'  I was already thinking of another challenge, more prominent than Snowdon and less about helping and more about a mixed-ability team working together as equals to achieve something perceived as challenging for anyone. 

I also thought it would be good to create a challenge that would appeal to a wider audience that may not have heard of Jubilee Sailing Trust and Tenacious. To work towards an annual challenge using mixed-ability teams with the ethos of voyage crew.

The idea for new Challenge

The idea for 'Race the Ship' was to create a fundraising challenge that would be perceived as difficult for anyone. Then, by emulating voyage crew aboard S.V. Tenacious demonstrate that a mixed-ability team can overcome challenges by working together ashore.
 

'Race the Ship' is born

The challenge ‘Race the Ship’ was born, the idea was simple race the Tallship Tenacious 185 miles from Great Yarmouth to London  by any human-powered means and electric pedal assist for those that needed it.  

First challenge, how can I ride a bike.

For context: At the time I came up with the idea on 25th September 2022. It was and had been physically impossible for me to ride a bike for over a decade and it's extremely painful.

I started thinking that if I could adapt a bike it might just be possible. So I sourced a cheap and smaller framed women’s mountain bike and spent the following week modifying it, added shorter cranks so didn't need to bend my knees as much and over the next 10 days after lots of trial and error I discovered I was able to ride a bike in my own way.  Had a bit of an issue getting on/off and still can't walk any distance.

Discovered with research  that cycling is one of the most adaptive sports. I thought if I was going to get people to join this challenge, I needed to prove that it was possible. So I set myself some goals to get me started and to show that it was at least possible!.
 

In a moment of madness

And also to prove to others it was possible to ride a bike with a disability, I signed up for the 54-mile London to Brighton cycle ride on 18 June 2023.