Superfit sisters plan 1,000-mile bike ride

Fiona Howard • Published 20 May 2010 11:10 0 Comments

TWIN sisters from Helensburgh will set off on Sunday to cycle the length of the UK in just 14 days.

Sue and Ali McKichan, born and brought up in Helensburgh but who now live in Edinburgh, plan to cycle the 1,000 miles from Land's End to John O'Groats averaging 60 miles a day, and spending over 100 hours in the saddle.

The sisters are both outdoors enthusiasts and members of British Military Fitness, outdoors exercise classes led by current and former military physical training instructors in parks all over the UK. The women needed a focus for all this training, so the bike ride idea was born. Their aim is to raise as much money as possible for Macmillan Cancer Support.

Sue said: "Ali and I are really excited about the adventure ahead. We know it'll be tough, but we've had such amazing support from corporate sponsors, family and friends with fantastic comments that will really help us as we battle the elements, the midges and the aching thighs.

The fact is we are both healthy and physically able to take on this bike ride. Those in need of Macmillan Cancer Support are not so fortunate. Our challenge is nothing compared to theirs."

In 1992-93 they both sailed round the world in Sir Chay Blyth's British Steel Challenge so they are used to tackling tough conditions.

Sir Chay, commenting on the sisters' adventure, said: "How wonderful it is that people like Ali and Sue McKichan go out on these very difficult challenges to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support. Their challenge to cycle 1,000 miles from Land's End to John O'Groats in 14 days is tough enough, but the girls are adding to the difficulty by going the 'back roads'. This indeed is a challenge and I wish them every success and knowing of their tough sailing backgrounds in the British Steel Challenge, they are up to this latest adventure."

There will be no support vehicles on the trip, and the sisters are carrying all their own kit in panniers on the bikes, staying in bunkhouses, youth hostels, and with friends and family along the way.

Their parents, Duncan and Leila McKichan, who have lived in the burgh for over 50 years said: "How did we produce such mad daughters? However, we are very proud of them in everything they do. We draw the line at cycling a leg of this amazing journey with them, but we will be supporting our girls all the way."

Asked if she'd any last minute thoughts before setting out on Sunday, Sue said: "After spending two or three months poring over maps and organising everything, the planning is sometimes tougher for us than the event itself. We're about to spend 11 hours on a train to Penzance so after all that it'll be nice to just get on the bikes. Our main enemy is the wind. We're just hoping it's not too windy."

Although they have no set fund -aising targets, Sue said: "We've already raised over £3,000 for Macmillan and to get to £4,000 or £5,000 would be fantastic."

To find out more about Sue and Ali's Big Bike Ride and to make a donation visit their website: http://aliandsuesbikeride.weebly.com

Tweet

Follow @helensburghadv

Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our News archives.