Otter-ly Great Cycling Pals 10k-50k Following an Iconic Activator

As we ebb away from the red-hot summer and flow towards autumnal leaves, we should enjoy another otter-ly great, steady-paced, Guided Ride adjacent to the River Don where otters have been photographed and filmed.

It’s also the final year of the centenary celebrations to remember the human sacrifice and suffering during "The Great War." Therefore, we should visit great, war memorials in Sheffield, as well, while following me (Paul Antcliffe, British Cycling Ride Leader) and Jonathan Buckley (who managers Sheffield Methodist Circuit Youth and Children’s Project), as we take turns riding an iconic, 26-year-old Raleigh Activator (that’s like “pedalling a tank” due to its steel frame and steel wheels) to raise vital funds for PXI (registered charity that performs miraculous work almost 24/7).

In 2016, as a response to the WW1 centenary celebrations, artist James Brunt collected 100 semi-dried leaves, worked with PXI Writers Group to develop a narrative of words, and then created a neverforgotten work of art by hand cutting the meaningful narrative into 100 leaves.

I was a very enthusiastic member of the community writing group, as well as a British Cycling Ride Leader, and mindful about group cycle rides helping to put unity in community, as I researched the Army Cyclists Corp. Then James Brunt handcut 100 autumnal leaves to celebrate old pals, new pals, happy pals, cycling pals, Sheffield Pals ... Now we have the 100 Leaves, WW1Centenary Artwork, 1916+100, which has been made into limited edition, high-quality prints to raise vital funds for the Royal British Legion.

I also feel blessed to have cared for a 96-year-old ex-serviceman, who served with the British Military Cyclists Corp. He watched me travel actively to his home, and then told me that my iconic Raleigh Activator (which was Raleigh’s first-ever bike with front suspension) reminded him about his military bike, which was like “pedalling a tank”.

However, the Activator’s telescopic front fork was in-house designed, and it’s like pedalling the heaviest tank that you could imagine. Then I fitted panniers and the huge British Red Cross Ride Leaders’ first aid kit. By the way, the original Army Cyclists Corp bicycle just had standard front fork.

We are going to visit the Quiet Garden at Yew Lane, home to PXI Writers Group, and we shall enjoy coffee and cake, as we look at the very remarkable, first-edition print. As PXI really is a registered charity that performs miraculous work almost 24/7, it would be greatly received if you could pay what you want for the refreshments.

Please find a link below to our Cycling Pals Charity Challenge page, because pedalling my iconic Raleigh Activator 50k is very challenging, and it would be otter-ly great if you could share the link with your family and friends.
www.give.net/OtterlyCycling

Indeed, for an easier challenge, we were even considering cycling the Coast to Coast on modern bikes in a day. Especially when considering we are going to discover what puts the “moo” into “Moo-vellous Moo-field Valley,” as we visit Hill 60 where the Sheffield Pals trained.

Whatever the weather, even if we must fit snow tyres, please bring your positive attitude to give this ride a go. Especially when it’s more about the benefits of riding with like-mined people in a group (and smiling at the red-face Ride Leader “pedalling a tank”). Certainly, it really doesn’t matter if you complete 10k, 20k or 50k – just come and give the great group ride a go.