The Road to Transylvania 2014 pt. 5 - The Ride of a Lifetime

Today's post is from our champion cyclist and fundraiser Paul Stevens who recounts his Transfagarasan cycle challenge, all in the name of raising money for Yes to Life. The total stands at over £2000 and if Paul's incredible efforts have been an inspiration to you then it is still possible to donate here. Congratulations Paul and a huge thank you from Yes to Life!

I have just arrived back from my Romanian cycle trip and I have to say it was one of the best times so far where scenery and memories were concerned, albeit the absolute worst so far in terms of cycling in pain! Coming back to find out I had exceeded my fundraising target however made it all worth while, so I want to say a massive thank you to everyone who sponsored me.

For those of you who have been following my adventure, or those taking a new interest in the inadvisable things you can attempt with a bicycle, here is a little about each day -

The Road to Transylvania 2014 pt. 4 - The Final Training Post

Today is our fourth post from Paul Stevens, a long-time Yes to Life supporter who is about to take on a mammoth cycle adventure to Transylvania, raising over £2000 for Yes to Life! Thanks Paul for your incredible effort and wishing you the very best of luck.

This year’s ride really started in Piccadilly in January, at a meeting between me and Robin Daly of Yes to Life. Having completed BIKEast, it was time to put in place BIKEast II. We planned and schemed and eventually, Robin left the whole thing in my hands. (Thanks Robin!!!) 

It was decided to make this years ride a ‘one-off’, allowing all of the trusty bikers to talk en-route about what we would like to do from 2015 onwards. (Watch this space!)

The Road to Transylvania 2014 pt. 3

Today is our third post from Paul Stevens, a long-time Yes To Life supporter who is taking part in our cycle adventure to Transylvania in September 2014 and hoping to raise lots of money on the way! 

D-Day minus one month is upon me and if training has not been too high on the agenda, it needs to be now! It is a matter of pushing yourself hard, as the joys of climbing the Romanian mountains twice is not so far away.

This diagram shows our first climb, which will take place on day two. If you can read it, it shows we will be ascending over 2000 meters in less than 9km, at an angle of almost 45 degrees! That's probably two hours of hard uphill graft, a fantastic incentive to keep training!

The Road to Transylvania 2014 pt. 2

Today is our second post from Paul Stevens, a long-time Yes To Life supporter who is taking part in our cycle adventure to Transylvania in September 2014 and hoping to raise lots of money on the way!

Well it’s been a while since my last writings and training has been going well. Well, it’s been going! To be fair I am still overweight and I really don’t think that will ever change!!!

I am cycling to work at least twice a week, still wishing the weather would actually brighten up. A beautiful sunny day is the best type of weather to cycle in and home.

The Road to Transylvania 2014 pt.1

Today's post is from Paul Stevens, a long-time Yes To Life supporter who is taking part in our cycle adventure to Transylvania in September 2014 and hoping to raise lots of money on the way!

I have begun my Romania training in earnest. I have started cycling to work again!!!

I live in Potters Bar and work near Oxford Circus. Getting up at 6am, cleaning my teeth and donning my lycra ready for the ride is hard, I don't deny it. It is however of great benefit as when I get home at night I don't have to train…Amazing!!

The great thing about this kind of training is two-fold. Firstly, all I want to do is get into work in the mornings and all I want to do at night is get home, so I push just that little bit harder on each journey, which makes for great ''interval training''. There are also a lot of other cyclists about, so it brings out the unspoken ''competitor'' in me, as I strive to catch up with people in front and not let others cruise past. The primary thing is stamina and leg strength, you need to get your legs used to constantly spinning. Nothing beats getting out on your bike, but if that's not convenient try a spin class or two, either instead of or as well as getting out riding.