Cycle for Jo: The 2017 Oxford-Cambridge Charity Bike Ride

Jan Brighting, College Nurse, usually accompanies the Oxford-Cambridge charity cycle ride as a support driver.  This year, despite a recent bout of pneumonia, she borrowed a racing bike and cycled 80 miles alongside students in aid of the Jo Cox studentship.  Here’s how it went.

At the Dean’s suggestion I decided to ride in the Oxford-Cambridge ride for the first time this year.  The cause this year is particularly inspiring and a wonderful way to honour everything that Jo Cox stood for. I was kindly lent a man’s racing bike by Andrew Rogers; the bike has an excellent pedigree as Andrew rode it across America so that was encouraging and daunting in equal measure.  With its many gears and racing handlebars, the bike was a veritable beast, and it took several days before I plucked up the courage to get on it, riding off with my newly acquired cycle helmet on back to front.  Fortunately I only made it as far as Trumpington Street before my aching head, running nose, and nerves stopped me.  A very sweet member of staff pointed out my back to frontness but promised never to share, which she hasn’t. Thanks Sally! Having been very visible in my fluorescent green jacket I was destined to persevere.

So persevere I did, and by the big day I had not only invested a small fortune in special go-faster shoes, aerodynamic clothes, chiropractor treatment, and safety gizmos. By now everyone in college knew I was doing the ride. Most were incredulous. Some were definitely horrified. But I had well and truly set myself up and there was no going back. I fantasised the possibility of using an electric bike for the hills, sneaking out early and catching a lift over the Chilterns. I obsessed about gradients, wind-speed and carbohydrates. I have always had a big appetite but suddenly I had to eat all day. I think I might even have turned students away from surgery on the dot of 12.30 as I had to eat (sorry kids!). I have become a cycling bore. I even recruited a student to train with and turned him into a cycling bore. And finally, all decked out, looking like Mrs Wiggins, laden down with a secret stash of go-faster flapjacks, Lucozade, several Ventolin inhalers, my day glo jacket, matching helmet (the right way on) and shimano shoes and pedals, I set off at the back of the ‘Slow Group’ as we wove through Oxford picking up students along the way and dropping layers off until finally at about 9.30 we left town and were on our way.

Hooray, the wind in my face was a little cool but I was happy, all going nicely, maybe the pace was a little faster than I thought was sustainable but no problems, I had trained for this, these kids were on pretty basic bikes and hadn’t trained, I had the advantage for sure. And then there was a hill. I don’t think it was a very long hill, and probably not even that steep. But too long and too steep for me, and those fit youngsters – basic bikes and lack of training and all -  just kept on pedalling as I wheezed my slow way to a grinding halt. And then to add insult to injury, I FORGOT to release my right foot from the pedal and came tumbling down. I don’t think anyone saw me; I jumped up as quickly as my oxygen depleted body would let me, took a few deep breaths, didn’t cry but wanted to and got back on my bike (saddle now off centre) and carried on, only because no one gives up after 5 miles, it is just ridiculous. To cut a long story short, I lost the pack, then I found the lads, who were also lost, we spent the next few hours lost together, I would lose them at junctions and then find them at junctions studying their maps and would tag along behind them until I lost them again. I was once more defeated by a gruelling hill, at which point the three students found themselves finally free of me.

Despite several arguments with hills I was surprisingly happy at this point, possibly down to altitude sickness and a Ventolin overdose but I lurched through a gate into a field, had a drink and a snack and off I went. 10 miles later, having been chased past a farmyard by a ferocious spaniel, been entertained by a wheeling Red Kite and stared at by a Muntjac, my euphoria faded rapidly, especially after I realized that this entire drama had only got me 10 miles from Oxford (as you can see from the picture, some questionable map reading led to a slightly longer route than advised...)

[caption id="attachment_28439" align="alignleft" width="300"] My route[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_28438" align="alignleft" width="300"] The planned route, a few miles shorter![/caption]

I phoned for help and help arrived in the form of Head Porter John Spelzini and the Dean. I was given food and drink, I warmed up in the van, I was taken to the next stop, put back on a bike and shoved off back into the ride, ahead of the pack and more than ready to finish the ride and get back to Cambridge! The rest is history; I rode with some lovely students, and 50 miles went by easily.

The Oxford-Cambridge bike ride is a marathon ride and perserverance, good humour, and team spirit are key to getting through the day. But done right, it’s an incredibly rewarding experience with an added bonus of raising money for a genuinely good cause. I do hope our efforts encourage anyone who reads this to donate any amount, however small, to the Jo Cox Studentship Fund. It will really go to a fantastic cause in Jo’s memory.

Jan’s Campaign: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Jan-Brighting

Pembroke's JustGiving Page: https://www.justgiving.com/campaigns/charity/pembroke-collegecambridge/cycleforjo