Hampshire Firefighters complete the Six Ferries Challenge 2009

The next leg is the Hamble to Southampton stage approx 7 Miles hopefully we will get to So’ton around 11.45 and be across the water by 12.15.

The leg from Hythe – Lymington is approx 11 miles and were looking to be there by 13.30hrs in time to board the 14.00 ferry to Yarmouth. Nice long rest on the ferry!

The final push is Yarmouth – Fishbourne via the Chain link ferry at Cowes approx 11 miles.

The ferries to the main land run every 30 minutes from Fishbourne so there’s no worries as to what one we get, so if we need to rest at pub and partake in some light refreshment we can!”

The team were on the island at 16.00hrs and were met by Andrew Cooper, of the Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service, to guide them on their journey from Yarmouth to Fishbourne, via Cowes.

The team of twelve cyclists (many with little or no previous serious cycling experience) completed the 55 mile challenge and managed to raise over £1,000 for the Firefighters Charity (http://www.firefighterscharity.org.uk/

Wightlink kindly covered the cost for the team on the ferry routes from Lymington to Yarmouth and Fishbourne to Portsmouth.

The Firefighters Charity:

Every year, thousands of fire fighters are injured whilst protecting the public. Every 30 seconds in the UK, fire fighters are called to an incident, putting their lives on the line, and often sustaining physical injuries whilst carrying out their duties. The Fire Fighters Charity is here for fire fighters during their times of need, and assists over 13,500 individuals every year, by providing pioneering treatment and support services.

Related links:

Firefighters Charity

Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service

Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service

Isle of Wight Fire Service Sports and Athletics Association

Isle of Wight FSSAA Cycling Section

Fire Service Sports and Athletics Association

Wightlink

This involved them starting from Southsea fire station, Hampshire at 08.30 heading to the Gosport ferry.

 

On Friday 22nd May 2009 a team of Hampshire Firefighters (http://www.hantsfire.gov.uk/) completed the Six Ferries Challenge 2009.

Multi-sport Challenge – Adventure Racing, March 2009

On Saturday 30 March, brothers Lee and Ryan Copeland from the Isle of Wight travelled to the Brecon Beacons in South Wales to compete in a Multi-Sport Challenge, which included kayaking, mountain-biking, trail-running and navigation over a six hour period. They were competing for Wight Mountain/Red Funnel Team.

Their pre-event strategy to concentrate on the biking and kayaking was wrecked at the start. At the briefing competitors were told that they could only run to their kayak slot. For Team Wight Mountain/ Red Funnel they were given an unfavourable kayak slot in the middle of the 6 hours, effectively meaning they had to split the run and bike in to two even halves around their time on the water.

With an incredibly hot sun beating down, they choose their weakest discipline first.

They began a two and a half hour run up some very steep hills at some points having to clamber on all fours to get up the rocky tracks. Over the next eleven miles, Lee and Ryan jogged, ran and scrambled, jumped fallen logs, climbed stiles, gates, fences and danced over rocky river-paths on their way to the canal for the kayaking.

At the canal they jumped into their kayak and paddled to one checkpoint and returned to transition within a few minutes, sacrificing their kayaking to give them more time on the mountain bikes.

The next three hours were taken up with a fast and furious bike ride up some very steep hills and down some fast rocky descents. Covering another 27 miles, they road along farm tracks, country lanes, alongside a reservoir, across streams and bogs, whilst briefly admiring some stunning views. The highlights being a long technical climb up a narrow and rocky bridleway, before thundering down a rocky, slippery descent with drop-offs, jumps and switchbacks, where speed was a friend.

On the last few miles, due to the heat, both were getting cramp and overlooked a checkpoint worth 25 points within easy riding distance of the finish, ultimately costing them one position in their category.

Team Wight Mountain/Red Funnel finished their adventure challenge in 5hrs 45mins with 15 minutes spare, ample time to have got the extra 25-point checkpoint. However, Lee and Ryan still managed to finish 3rd in their category and 15^th overall from an entrant of 159.

Team Wight Mountain/Red Funnel are sponsored by:

Wight Mountain

Red Funnel

Spooky Horrortaxi with 650B wheels

Wight Mountain have built up a handbuilt ox-platinum steel Spooky Horrortaxi, these frames are handbuilt for Spooky by Niall Gengler and cost a stonking $1400 which converts to just shy of £1000 (I have pasted photos on here for you guys to see).

This wheel size has really taken off big in the US, for xc mainly even though i hear a few companies might do some DH bikes with these on?
They are exactly in between 26″ and 29″ ( 27.5″ ) The idea is to give you 700c rolling momentum with a wheel that will fit under a mountain bike fork but will also give you the feel of a normal mtb when it comes to threading them through the trees on a twisty trail!!

Also note this is not the old road bike time-trial wheel size, that was 650C!  Confused yet???????

When i took it out i found it felt just like a 26″ on the downhills, nice and forgiving on the pedally flats and rough trails ( not sure if thats the frame flex, bigger wheels or the tyres? but it was well smooth for a hardtail! ) and faster on the climbs! the only time i felt i was riding something out of the ordinary was standing climbs, it took longer to swing from side to side if that makes sense? ( bit like a 29er )  But on the whole i really liked it, not sure if it will take off but im kind of hoping it will? i see it as a bit of an xc made easy kinda thing, people who wana go out on ‘hacks’ not rides!!

Here is a link i have found on bike radar at the american handmade bike show which talks about Kirk Pacenti resurrecting the old/new 650b wheel size!

http://www.bikeradar.com/mtb/news/article/handmade-bike-show-road-steel-and-650b-wheels-14612

Also there is a 650b website for the geeks!!  www.650b.com

Available at Wight Mountain, Newport – telephone: 01983 520 530

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