THE FUNDRAISING APPEAL OF PEDAL POWER
The “largest bike in the world” comes to the Isle of Wight, on Saturday. Each of the 24 seats have been sponsored and teams will be completing 2.5 mile circuits around Ryde (from 8:15am, at Planet Ice) and Sandown (from 3pm). The cycle will also visit Havenstreet Railway at lunchtime, to pit pedal power against steam.
Among the teams of volunteer riders are IW Council employees, an exercise class, music group The Wight Bells (who’ll be playing instruments as they cycle) and Sandown fire station fire-fighters, escorted by their engine.
Joining those cycling around Ryde, at 9:15am, will be former Tour De France cyclist-turned- commentator Tony Doyle.
It’s hoped the event will make around £10,000, in aid of Newport’s Earl Mountbatten Hospice. Organiser Sue Birch told the IW Beacon Online that, alongside money from the Isle of Wight’s Primary Care Trust, it is only enough to keep the hospice running for two days.