12-hour endurance ride raises awareness for PEDALL New Forest Inclusive Cycling

dan.goater@advertiserandtimes.co.uk

Published: 03:00, 28 September 2024

A CHARITY leader saddled up for a 12-hour cycling challenge in the New Forest to support a cause close to his heart.

Gareth Jones, operations leader for PEDALL New Forest Inclusive Cycling, took on the “Pass the Pedall” endurance challenge to raise money and awareness about the group’s work.

PEDALL aims to help people “enjoy and explore” the natural beauty of the Forest regardless of their physical or mental ability, age or confidence level.

Pedall operational lead Gareth Jones celebrates the end of one of his 200 laps (Photo: NPA)

Gareth’s epic ride saw him take 200 laps of the new park showground near Brockenhurst, between 7am and 7pm, just over a week ago.

The Pass the PEDALL event included hundreds of riders and volunteers, many of whom joined Gareth to cycle around the nearly 1km loop using PEDALL’s fleet of specialist bikes and their own bikes.

Regular PEDALL riders from Minstead Trust, Tiptoe Primary School, and New Forest MENCAP were among those taking part in the event, which organisers say has already raised thousands of pounds through donations and sponsorships.

Riders from Minstead Trust and PEDALL volunteers riding around the new park loop (NPA)

Gareth’s dawn to dusk ride saw him cover more than 180km, with New Forest National Park Authority and Forestry England rangers stopping by during the event to lend their support to riders.

After the ride, Gareth said: “I feel surprisingly okay, but my knees were a bit sore and my legs were a bit tight. We were very lucky with the weather. It was a bit windy but the sun had been out and was perfect.

“The support has been amazing. It’s heartwarming to know that PEDALL and the event means a lot to people – they genuinely appreciate what we do and I don’t think we’d be able to do these things without them, let alone without all the volunteers and the backing of partners like the National Park Authority and other businesses.

Supporters from the New Forest National Park Authority, Forestry England, and Southwestern Railway try out PEDALL's specialist fleet of bikes (NPA)

“We really wouldn’t be able to do it without our actual riders, so it’s great that so many came along. I just want to say a huge thank you for the support.”

Donations for the Pass the PEDALL event can still be made at pedall.org.uk/pass-the-pedall-2024

Charity New Forest Dan Goater